EPA-560/6-77-001
ASBESTOS FIBERS IN
DISCHARGES FROM SELECTED
MINING AND MILLING
ACTIVITIES
FINAL REPORT
PART III
JANUARY, 1977
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460
-------
JANUARY 1977
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE of TOXIC SUBSTANCES
WASHINGTON, D, C. 20460
-------
EPA- 560/6-77-001
ASBESTOS FIBERS in DISCHARGES from SELECTED
MINING and MILLING ACTIVITIES
^
Final Report, Part HI
By
Ian M. Stewart
Richard E. Putscher
Howard J. Humecki
Richard J. Shimps
EPA Contract No. 68-01-2690
EPA Project Officer
»
Dr. Vincent deCarlo
For
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Toxic Substances
4th and M Streets, S.W.
Washington, D. C. 20460
January 1977
-------
NOTICE
This report has been reviewed by the Office of
Toxic Substances, Environmental Protection Agency, and approved
for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily
reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Mention of tradenames or commercial products is for purposes of
clarity only and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation
for use.
-------
ASBESTOS FIBERS in DISCHARGES
from SELECTED MINING and MILLING ACTIVITIES
Table of Contents
Introduction
General considerations
Map of site locations
Sampling and analysis methods
Results and discussion
Appendices A - F
A. Vermont Asbestos Group, Inc.
Hyde Park, VT 9
B. Union Carbide
King City, CA 15
C. Phelps Dodge Copper Mine
Morenci, AZ 19
D. Homestake Mining Company
Lead, SD 23
E. W.R. Grace and Company, Zonolite Division
Libby, MT 31
F. Gouverneur Talc Company
Gouverneur, NY 40
-------
Introduction
The Office of Toxic Substances of the Environmental Protection
Agency has sponsored a nationwide survey to determine the impact of point and
non-point sources on waterborne levels of asbestos.
Part I of the final report presented the results of analyses of
water from the ten Regional cities.
Part n of the final report presented the results of the analyses of
water from seven natural sources and 22 point sources manufacturing asbestos
products.
This report, Part m, presents the results of analyses of water
samples taken in and near 6 mining and milling operations in which asbestos
minerals may be present. Activities covered were the mining and milling of
asbestos, vermiculite, talc, copper and gold.
-1-
-------
General Considerations
Rock types in which asbestos minerals might be encountered lie
at or near the surface of about 30-40% of the continental United States. These
areas also include most of the economically important mineral deposits. Recovery
of these minerals, therefore, produces a potential for the release of asbestos
fibers to the environment.
For the purposes of this study the term "asbestos" is used as in
the Federal Regulations pertaining to asbestos viz. a particle is defined as asbestos
if it has an aspect ratio of greater than 3 to 1 and if it is serpentine, chrysotile,
or one of the amphiboles in the generic classes anthophyllite, tremolite-actinolite,
crocidolite, cummingtonite-grunerite (amosite).
Within the scope of the present program the selection of sites for
study was aimed at establishing the possible extent of this hazard from different
types of mining and milling operations rather than at determing the major contribu-
tors in this classification. The following activities, whose locations are indicated
in Fig 1, were therefore selected.
Site
Type
Site code
Vermont Asbestos Group
Union Carbide, Calidria Division
King City, CA
Phelps Dodge Corporation,
Morenci Division
Homestake Mining Company
W»R» Grace & Company,
Zonolite Division
Gouverneur Talc Company
Asbestos mining & milling
Asbestos milling
Copper mining
Gold mining
Vermiculite mining and
processing
Talc mining and milling
M2
M3
Al
A2
A3
A4
-2-
-------
Two of these facilities - Union Carbide, Calidria Division and Phelps Dodge
Corporation, Morenci Division were found to have no likelihood of effluent to sur-
face waters and were therefore only visited once. The remaining four were
visited twice.
It had originally been intended to sample an additional mine, the
Union Carbide Mine at Coalinga, CA. Active mining in this area, however, is
on a sporadic basis, with intensive mining for a few months once every three
years or so with stock piling of the ore. No mining was undertaken at this
location during the period of performance of the sampling program.
-3-
-------
t I
Location of sites described in this report (crosses)
with respect to areas of potential asbestos bearing rock types (shaded),
Figure 1
-------
Sampling and analysis methods
The method of grab sampling was used throughout the program.
Integrated samples were prepared by accumulating aliquots of individual grab
samples taken during the period of integration. This method was preferred to
automatic methods which generally involve comparatively narrow gauge tubing,
valving systems and a "dead space" in their automatic collection chambers which
X
it was felt might result in settling out of suspended solids. Additionally, separate
examination of the grab samples gives some measure of the variability of the
effluent resulting, for example, from variations in plant operations.
Individual samples were filtered on site in a specially equipped
mobile laboratory. Water used, for rinsing glassware and diluting the samples
where necessary, was filtered distilled water, purchased en route and filtered in
the mobile laboratory using a filtration apparatus reserved solely for this water
filtration. Aliquots of the samples were vacuum filtered through 47 mm diameter,
0,45 jum pore size Millipore filters which were then stored in Petri slides for
transporation back to the laboratory.
Segments of the filter samples were prepared for examination
on the transmission electron microscope by a direct transfer condensation
washing method. Nylon support grids were used to minimize spurious background
signals during x-ray analysis in EMMA-IV, the combined electron microscope
microanalyzer. Repeat samples were selected at random from the test series
as a check on reproducibility.
In measuring the samples the criteria for a fiber to be measured
and counted were that it should a) have an aspect-ratio greater than 3:1 and
b) yield a diffraction pattern of chrysotile or an amphibole. In the event that an
amphibole pattern was obtained an attempt was made to identify the amphibole
type present on the basis of energy dispersive x-ray analysis.
The sample preparation method and the criteria for the identifica-
tion of asbestos are substantially identical to. those described in the interim
procedure developed by EPA for asbestos determination. * It should be borne in
* available from Dr. Charles Anderson, SERL, EPA, Athens, GA.
-5-
-------
mind that the application of these identification criteria will result in the omission
of some asbestos fibers or, in extreme cases, all of the asbestos fibers from the
count due to such factors as overlap and contamination which obscures clear
diffraction patterns and modifies the apparent chemical composition. Sample counts
under such conditions, therefore, should only be regarded as minimum estimates
of the true asbestos fiber count and may be expected to show poorer reproducibility
than those from laboratory prepared standards or "clean" systems.
Fiber counts resulting from less than 5 fibers observed must be
treated with caution. In general, such numbers are of doubtful significance over
possible background levels. In the laboratory situation near zero background may
be achievable. In field sampling and filtration, however, background levels can
reasonably be expected to be higher and may vary considerably from plant to plant.
To place in perspective this question of background, it should be noted that
(1) background levels of 2 fibers per grid square have been reported by other
workers, (2) this background level is-equivalent to 2 fibers per 5 grid squares
in the current work which uses nylon grids having a smaller grid opening and
(3) when levels are recorded as "below the detection limit" this indicates that
no fibers have been observed in an area encompassing at least 40 and occasionally
as many as 120 grid squares,, The occurrence of 5 fibers in such an area, there-
fore, would still be at least 1/3 lower than the accepted background of some other
workers.
In some instances samples contained asbestos contents which were
impossible to count because of the abundance of fibers present. These are indica-
ted in the tables as "too numerous to count" (TNTC) and an estimated fiber con-
tent is given. This estimate is based on the equivalent fiber loading for 100 fibers
observed in 1 grid square. Although dilution of the sample might seem a ready
solution to this problem, many of the TNTC samples had already received
extreme dilutions, with effective volumes sampled on the 47 mm dia filter of less
than 0.01 ml.
-6-
-------
Results and discussion
The results are presented in tabular form in the accompanying
Appendices which describe the individual sampling locations. Because of the
variety of the operations covered few generalizations can be made from the results.
With the exception of the Morenci division of Phelps Dodge, however, all the
locations sampled did show asbestos fibers in their effluent. There is no discharge
of effluents at Unign Carbide's Calidria division at King City nor at W.R. Grace,
Zonolite division, Libby, where waste water is recycled after the addition of make
up water. Asbestos was present in the streams neighboring mining operations which
showed asbestos in their effluent — an observation that is not surprising, as those
streams are eroding and carrying detritus from the local rock. As was observed
in the natural sites previously studied, the asbestos level of these streams is also
highly dependent on seasonal variations in run off and in most cases shows little
increase due to the mining operations. Run off or effluent from the mines also
fluctuates seasonally as the source of this effluent is principally water which has
accumulated in the mine due to seepage or percolation.
-7-
-------
Appendices A - F
-8-
-------
Appendix A
Vermont Asbestos Group. Inc., Hyde Park, VT Site Code M2
The Vermont Asbestos Group (formerly GAF Nine Mile Mine) is
presently owned by the employees and is a major asbestos producer in the United
States. It is located in a rural area about 5 miles southeast of the town of Lowell
on Belvidere Mountain. The office at Hyde Park is located about 40 miles south
of Lowell. The adjacent mountain is called Serpentine Mountain because of the
great predominance of the mineral serpentine containing asbestos fibers. Even
though the asbestos concentration is higher than in many other asbestos producing
areas it still is less than 5% of the total rock and requires much crushing, grinding
and separation.
The mining and milling procedure is at present a dry operation.
The source of the upstream water samples is entirely from mountain run-off
streams and the volume of water varies with the rain fall.
The downstream water run-off is almost entirely from mine and
quarry drainage and, like the upstream run-off, varies with rain fall, water entering
the mines and quarry by seepage and percolation. The combined quarry and mine
run -off is fed through a swamp area into a collecting pond about one mile distant.
The drainage from No. 3 mine was intermittently pumped out into the combined run-
off. The discharge water eventually ends up in the Missisquoi River.
The mine was visited on two occasions. The first visit was
15-16 July 1975 and the second one was 8-10 October 1975.
The combined downstream run-off varies from a more normal flow
rate of 2 cu ft/sec (~57 liters/sec) noted in the October visit to about 12 cu ft/sec
(~340 liters/sec) noted in the July visit.
The upstream samples of two of the mountain streams were grab
samples taken by. dipping into the flowing streams.
*
The quarry discharge and mine run-off was collected about 1/4
mile from the office following a weir used to estimate the flow rate. The
collecting pond could only be sampled by dipping into the pond at the end of a small
-9-
-------
pier near a company owned cabin.
Although the combined effluent from the mining and milling opera-
Q
tions contains a very high asbestos fiber content, greater than 10 fibers per
fiber (f.p.l.) passage of this effluent through the swamp and the settling pond
effects a considerable reduction in the fiber content of the pond which on the first
g
visit had an average fiber content of about 10 f.p.l. with no fibers >5 pm long
g
and on the second, approximately 3.8 x 10 fop.l.
The most noticeable feature of the results from this area is the
rainfall dependence of the fiber content of the mountain streams. On the first day
g
of the July visit both the streams sampled had fiber contents in excess of 10 f.p.1.
following overnight rain which had resulted in a heavier than usual flow of run off
water. Weather during the 2 days of sampling was fair and warm with the result
that the flow rate was markedly reduced on the second day and so too was the
fiber content which dropped by 2 orders of magnitude for one stream and a factor
of about 50 for the other. In October the stream from Serpentine Mountain had
all but dried up and was only sampled on the first day, when no asbestos fibers
c
were confirmed in either stream. The second stream averaged about 50 x 10
f.p.l. on the remaining 2 days of the October visit with very few fibers more
than 5 pirn long.
-10-
-------
Table legend
Location = sampling point
Type = sample type; I
G
(R)
fpl
fibers per litre x 10
(A)
(Q
BDL
= Integrated
= Grab
= Repeat analysis
= amphibole
= chrysotile
= below detection limit - detection
limit given in parentheses
TNTC = too numerous to count. The
figure in the following column
is an estimated lower limit
based on a figure of 100 fibers
per grid square
THL = sample too heavily loaded for
examination
tss
na
= number of fibers >5^m long (fpl x 10 )
= total suspended solids in mg/1
= not available
-11-
-------
Appendix A
Table A - 1
Key to Sampling Points
Ul Stream run off from Serpentine Mountain
>
U2 Mountain stream
Dl Combined quarry and mine run off
D2 Collecting pond, away from inlet
-12-
-------
TABLE A - 1
See Legend, p. 11
Vermont Asbestos Group, Lowell, VT Site
7/15/75 7/16/75
Location
Ul
U2
Dl
w
D2
tss fibers
Type f.p.l. >5Mm mgA counted
G 490(C) 50 8 49
G 280(C) 13 4 64
I TNTC(C)>109 39
I(R) TNTC(C)>109 39
I 110(C) ^0 1 36
tss fibers
Type f.p.l. >5^m mgA counted
G 10(C) 2.3 5. 13
G 2.8(C) .0.5 8 11
I TNTC(C) >109 2
I 95(C) 04 24
-------
TABLE A - 2
Vermont Asbestos Group, Lowell, VT See Legend, p. 11
10/8/75 10/9/75
tss fibers tss fibers
Location
U1+
U2
i
!*• I
i
Dl
D2
Type f.p.1. >5Mm mg/1 counted
G BDL(0.25) 2 0
G *BDL(0.26) - 6 0
. i
I 1100(C) 32 3 34
I 110(C) 3.2 3 34
Type f.p.1. >5wn me A counted
i
G 53(C) 0 4 " 33
G(R) *BDL(0.13) 4 0
G 73(C) 0 6 46
I 1700(C) 33 7 52
I 280(C) 0 8 35
Type
Site Code M2
10/10/75
tss fibers
f.p.l. >5/jm mgA counted
60(C) 1.6 8
570(C) 16 10
38
36
750(C) 48 1 47
+ stream almost dry
-------
Appendix B
Union Carbide. King Cityt CA Site Code M3
The Union Carbide mill located in a sparsely populated area near
Ctw
King City, California produces Calidria asbestos from the material mined at
Coalinga, California. This material is a short fiber asbestos used principally
as a filler in such products as vinyl floor tile. The plant is claimed to be unique
in the U.S. in that it uses a wet milling process to produce the product.
Water for the process is derived from a well on the site and the
effluent, together with storm water, is fed to a deep, steep walled basin. Loss
of water from this basin is by evaporation and percolation only with no surface
run off or overflow. At the time of sampling (March 1975) there had been some
considerable rainfall but the water level in the basin was some distance below
the rim and it is difficult to envisage circumstances which might lead to escape of
the water to any surface water. For this reason sampling was restricted and only
1 day's sampling was carried out at this site.
During much of the sampling heavy rain was falling, and this brought
down numerous white specks from the atmosphere which proved to be chrysotile
asbestos. These settled on every surface exposed to the rain and could be seen
on clothing and trapped in rain drops running down the windows of the van.
Material drying out from clothing presented a contamination hazard when personnel
g
entered the vehicle and a high level of chrysotile (130 x 10 f.p.l.) was found in
a distilled water blank.
Because of the weather conditions no air sampling was performed
outside. An air sampler run inside the mobile laboratory showed no evidence of
asbestos. The quantity of material washed out from the atmosphere, however,
quite clearly suggests that this plant may well present an air rather than a water
problem.
The asbestos level detected in the effluent ditch was in excess of
10 fibers per liter in an integrated sample and could be expected to show some
-15-
-------
variation depending on rainfall, the extremes of total suspended solids at this
point varying from 515 rag/liter during heavy rain, due to wash out from the
earthen walls of the ditch and storm water carrying settled dust, to 32 ing/liter
when the rainfall ceased.
-16-
-------
Appendix B
Table B - 1
Key to Sampling Points
Ul Water faucet in laboratory
*
Dl Effluent from plant sampled at open ditch,
N.E. corner of electricity sub-station
Bl Filtered distilled water blank
-17-
-------
TABLE B- 1
Union Carbide. King City, CA.
', CA.
Location
Ul
Dl
Type
G
I
See Legend p. 11
3/7/75
f0p.l. >5um
BDL(0. 25)
TNTC(C) >10U
tss
mg/1
15
219
Site Code M3
v fibers
counted
0
mm
Bl G 130(C) 8 na 80
-------
Appendix C
Phelps Dodge Copper Mine. Morenci, AZ Site Code Al
The Morenci Copper Mine in Greenlee County, S. E. Arizona, is the
second largest copper mine in the U.S. processing approximately 150,000 tons of
ore per day. The operation at Morenci consists of an open pit mine, a
concentrator arid a smelter. A considerable amount of water is used, principally
in the concentrator. Most of this water is recycled through the 1200 acre settling
ponds but additional make up water is required for plant use and domestic use in
the towns of Clifton and Morenci. Most of this new water is pumped out of lower
Eagle Creek, a tributary of the Gila River, at a point approximately 5 miles west
of Morenci. About one-fourth of the water pumped from lower Eagle Creek is
natural stream-flowto which rights were established in the early days of mining
in the district. Some of the additional water taken from lower Eagle Creek is
water pumped from Company wells and discharged into upper Eagle Creek 28 miles
upstream from the pump station. The major portion of the additional water in
Eagle Creek, however, is water that has been taken from the Black River, a
tributary of the Salt River, at a point on the San Carlos Indian Reservation 26 miles
northwest of Morenci and pumped over a divide into the upper reaches of Eagle Creek.
The area lies approximately 75 miles to the Southeast of the chrysotile mining
regions of the Salt River Valley.
Only one visit was made to this site and only three samples were
examined. The intake to White Springs reservoir, a local holding reservoir for
the water from Eagle Creek, the tailings effluent sampled at the concrete trough
carrying tailings from the thickeners to the Tailings Basin, and the Tailings Basin
sampled at the recirculation pump identified as at the "back of No. 4 west".
Asbestos fibers were only detected in a rerun of the samples of
the White Springs reservoir intake. Agglomeration of both organic and inorganic
material was noted in both samples run from this location, making counting
difficult, and possibly obscure fibers in the sample recorded as "below detection
-19-
-------
limit". The fibers observed presumably originate from the Eagle Creek
source. No evidence was found of potentially asbestifonn minerals in the
rock types in the immediate vicinity of the mining operations and no asbestos
was observed downstream of the plant.
-20.-
-------
Appendix C
Table C -1
Key to Sampling Points
U3 Intake to White Springs Reservoir
Dl Tailings Launder
D2 Tailings Basin
-21-
-------
TABLE C- 1
3nci, AZ
Location
U3
U3
Dl
D2
Type
G
G(R)
G*
G
See Legend, p. 11
3/12/75
f.p.l. >5fim
BDL(6.3)
5400{C) 50
BDL(2500)
BDL(5. 7)
tss
mgA
87
87
11, 700
10
Site Code A - 1
K fibers
counted
0
32
0
0
* Effective vol. filtered = 0.0025 ml. Numerous inorganic fibers observed but are alumino-silicates containing
varying amounts of K, Fe and Ca.
-------
Appendix D
Homestake Mining Company, Lead, SD Site Code A2
The Homestake Mine in South Dakota produces more gold than any
other mine in the western hemisphere. Approximately 1.5 million tones of ore is
processed each year resulting in a recovery of over 340,000 ounces of gold.
Mining and extraction are carried out within the town of Lead in the Black Hills
region. Although the towns of Deadwood, Pluma and Center City are within
5 miles of the mine, the population density can still be considered low.
Ore from the multilevel mine is brought to the surface, via 2 shafts
— the Yates Mine shaft and the Boss Mine shaft — and is crushed and extracted by
the cyanidation process: amalgamation had been used at one time but this process
was phased out in an effort to reduce mercury emissions. As shown in Fig D-l,
the mine flow patterns are very complex and difficult to follow, having three prime
sources for process water and three minor ones. In addition, 20% city water is
employed. Recycle water from a settling dam furnishes 48% of the process water;
water pumped up from the mines, another 20%; a local stream (Hearst ditch), 6%,
and, city water, 20%. City water is obtained from Spearfish Creek at a point about
10 miles north of Lead. Homestake processes the water, uses some in its mining
operation and sells the rest to the city of Lead.
The processing plant can actually be divided into two areas for our
purposes, the sand plant and the slime or carbon-in-pulp plant.
Crushed ore from the mill is mixed with water, then flows into an
east and west sand plant, each containing a series of vats. This is a batch process
with several vats in various stages of extraction at a time. The residue from these
vats is fed back to the mine for stope filling. Approximately 1.5 mgd (6 million
liters/day) of excess water goes to waste. The vat overflow is fed to Dorr thickeners.
The clarified overflow from the Dorr thickeners is fed to a settling dam and is then
recycled to the mill. The thickened slime is fed to the carbon-in-pulp (slime) plant.
The tailings from the slime plant are fed to a nearby stream at a: volume of approxi-
mately 3 million gallons (12 million liters) per day.
-23-
-------
The mine was visited on 16 and 17 June and again on 20 and 21
August 1975.
Water samples were taken representing the 4 major sources,
including city water, both finished and at its source— Spearfish Creek north of
Lead. Process water was taken at the sand feed to the vats; at the vat drain; the
thickener overflow; the slime plant tails; the dam effluent and the stream carrying
off the effluent— both upstream and downstream of the discharge.
The operation at Homestake is extremely complex involving two
different mine shafts, several levels in the mine, and a batch extraction process.
As a result considerable variation is seen in the data from Homestake, with levels
9
of fibrous amphibole varying from below the detection limit to as high as 280 x 10
fibers per liter on different visits to the same location. We believe the results
observed reflect process variations and indeed they do appear self consistent for
any one day. Thus, although mineral fibers were observed on the first visit, they
did not appear to be amphiboles and hence are not classed as asbestos. Instead,
the diffraction patterns were hexagonal or pseudo-hexagonal and the chemical
composition indicated varying amounts of Mg, Si, Fe and Al. On the second visit
a fibrous grunerite-eummingtonite amphibole, Fe rich, was observed on the first
day at almost all sampling points whilst on the second day only the pseudo-hexagonal
structured fibers were present in the post-process samples.
One must conclude, therefore, that the effluent from Homestake
mine will show a varying amount of asbestos fiber, depending on the particular
mine level passing through the process line at any one time. As a result, final
Q
asbestiform amphibole effluent levels have been observed as high as 280 x 10
fibers per liter from the settling dam but the same location has also yielded
samples with no detecteable asbestos.
-24-
-------
Figure D - 1
Ore and water flow diagram, Homestake Mine,
Lead, South Dakota
-25-
-------
HOMESTAKE MINING CO., METALLURGICAL DEPARTMENT, LEAD, S. DAK.
ORE and WATER FLOW DIAGRAM - APRIL 1963
MILLING RATE 5800 TPD - ALL FIGURES TPD
City Water Supply
7385 TPD or 1231 GPM
1IG55
Ross Mine Pumps
Compressor Water
Mine Steady Flow
Hearst Ditch
B & M Mine Pumps
5730
Mill Storage Tanks
28425
Ore 5800
Water 175
00
I7J
5700 TPD
540
720
1800
375
^^^•^•^^
9135 TPD
13560
Mill and Primary Classification
Ore 58OO — Water 28600
0155 Dilution
[No. 4 Unit
-I Bowl Class.
[2nd. Cyclom
750
4555
Cyclone 850
Secondary Classification
Ore 5800 - Water 34755
Sand
Water
3445
1965
1145 Dilution
540 Vat filling*
330 Lime Slurry i
Slime
Water
2355
32790
1045
1750
i
'Slime 25
Sand Vats
Sand 3445'
Water 7675
' Compressor
Sand Charges
Sand 3420
Water 1145
990 Wash
Water
125 Sluicing
Vat Btms.
^ 2675
180 Lime Slurry
600 Sluicing
ir ''
Cooling
Vat O'flow
Slime 25
Water 6530
.475O Sluicing
1365
Mine Sand Dam
Sand 3420
Water 8975
Water
4040
Slime 25'
Water 350
Dilution Walei—1945-
rtrt-Fri
1750
Water 350
Thickeners
Slime 2380
Water 33140
Water
vao
U'flow
Slime 2380
Water 2740
2140^
To Mine
Sand 2735
Water 2245
Settling Dam
Water Tanks 8
Pump System
32960
4750
Slime Plant
Slime 2380
Water 2920
To Waste
Sand 685
Water 6730
230
1st
3>0
Jol'n.
Effl.
2400
at
a:
4830
23410.
Sa-SO
g CM
tu O-
@a
in!
dm m
%%
15 !
100
lint
1
-
M '-a a
^1 (O tt
^ IN •"
loo tŁ
,'^— u
iS i
i
s
9»-i °1
SvJ >[
°s
•as
'Q CJŁ
!<» °H !
2°
«i i' Ji
?3
eis
c5
-------
Appendix D
Tables D -1, -2
Key to Sampling Points
Ul Hearst ditch (local stream)-source of "^5% of process water
U2 Recycled water from settling dam (48% of process water)
*
U3 Ross Mine pumps (20% of process water, pumped from mine)
U4 Lead City water (20% of process water)
U5 Spearfish Creek (source of Lead City water)
Dl Slime plant tails
D2 Sand feed (ore slurry) to extraction vats
D3 Extraction vat drain effluent
D4 Clean overflow from Dorr thickeners to settling pond
D5 Stream above Home stake effluent
D6 Dam effluent
D7 Stream below Homestake effluent
-27-
-------
TABLE D- 1
ae stake Mine, Lead, SD
Location
131
U2
U3
U4
U5
Dl
D2
D3
D4
D5
D6
Type
G
G
G
G(R)
G
G
G
G
6/16/75
f.p.l. >5^m
BDL(0.87) -
BDL(1. 0)
BDL(1. 1)
BDL(1. 1)
BDL(4200)* -
BDL(390)* -
BDL(0. 56) -
BDL(3. 3)
See Legend, p. 11
tss fibers
mgA counted
13 0
53 0
12 0
12 0
498,000 0
285,000 0
3 0
137 0
Type
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G(R)
G
G
G
G(R)
6/17/75
f.p.l. ^>5jzm
BDL(2. 1)
BDL(2.4)
BDL(0.9)
BDL(0. 53)
BDL(0.81)
BDL(1500)*
BDL(450)*
BDL(0.71)
BDL(0.71)
BDL(2. 2)
BDL(82)*
BDL(630)*
BDL(630)*
tss
mgA
6
47
9
2
5
727,000
739,000
2
2
6
57,500
242
242
Site Code A 2
fibers
counted
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
* only very small vol. filtered ( <0.1 ml)
Several of the samples show fibers with a hexagonal or pseudo-hexagonal diffraction pattern, frequently
lath shaped and containing Fe, Mg, Al and Si.
-------
TABLE D- 2
Homestake Mine,
Location
Ul
U2
i
to
5wm
BDL(0.81) -
BDL(7.7)
21(A) 4.4
210(A) 36
230(A) 59
42(A) 8.7
130(A) 45
410(A) 10.6
BDL(0. 25) -
See
tss
mgA
8
1,900
26
26
58
57
220
220
19
Legend, p. 1]
fibers
counted
0
0
24
29
31
24
40
31
0
]
Site Code A 2
8/21/75
tss fibers
Type f.p.1. >5um mgA counted
21(A) 3.7
270(A) 51
84
17
I 380(A) 10.5 43 29
I(R) 50(A) 20 43 38
32
* Amphibole is a high - Fe member of the Cummingtonite-Grunerite series
-------
TABLE D - 2 con't.
o
I
Homestake Mine
, Lead, SD
See
Legend, p. 11
8/20/75
Location
Dl
D2
D3
D4
D6
D7
Type
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G(R)
G
f.P.l.
57000(A)
280000(A)
8600
3800
BDL(0.42)
BDL(0. 43)
100(A)
82(A)
190(A)
280(A)
890 00 (A)
>5Hm
16000
77250
1720
950
-
-
20
9.5
19
70
14000
tss
mgA
63100
447000
430
129000
10
na
60
110
70
70
8300
fibers
counted
32
29
15
12
0
0
31
26
31
44
32
Type
G
I
I
I
I
G
8/21/75
Site Code A 2
tss fibers
mgA counted
260000(A) 37150 4400
*BDL(63) - 2700
BDL(0.64) - 1.0
BDL(1.3) - 88
BDL(64) - 3600
22000 4714 24500
* fibers observed - not identified as amphibole - similar to fibers noted in June visit
42
0
42
-------
Appendix E
W. R. Grace and Company, Zonolite Division, Libby. MT Site Code A3
Zonolite is a major producer of domestic crude venniculite.
Both mining and processing are carried out at sites approximately 10 miles north-
east of the town of Libby. The region has a very low population density with no
cities of over 10,000 population within 80 miles.
The strip mine and processing plant are situated on a hill in
extremely rugged territory. Water is employed in a wet milling operation as well
as for carrying the tailings to settling ponds. Local sources supply the water but
the system is closed and there is no drainage into nearby streams or rivers. A
sieving plant on the shore of the Kootenai River does not use water.
Coarse tailings mixed with water are poured downhill into the first
of 2 settling ponds. Fine tailings and water from 2 thickening processes are mixed
before entering a distribution manifold at the first settling pond. Fleetwood Creek
supplies additional water to the pond which exits via a clarifier and underground
conduit downstream of an earthen dam which bounds the pond on the south. After
flowing approximately 1/4 mile, the stream empties into the second pond. This
pond has no outlet but is fed occasionally by water from Rainy Creek and the
Kootenai River. A pumphouse adjacent to this pond pumps water up to a mill
make up water tank for reuse.
The mine was visited first on 10 and 11 June 1975 when the weather
was clear and dry. There was drizzle and light rain falling on the second visit on
28 and 29 August 1975. It was said to have been a very short and wet summer.
Upstream samples were taken from the mill make up water tank,
Fleetwood and Rainy Creeks and the Kootenai River — upstream and downstream
of the sieving plant. Downstream samples were taken of the coarse tailings on
the hill, the fine tailings entering the first settling pond, the water clarifier outlet
from the first pond and second pond. These sampling locations are indicated in
the sketch, Figure. E -1.
-31-
-------
Although substantial amounts of asbestiform amphibole fibers are
found in the tailings from the vermiculite mining and milling operation these are
effectively contained by the tailings ponds. The first settling pond drops the fiber
9 10
level by about 3 orders of magnitude to around 10 to 10 fibers per liter. The
water from this settling pond does not escape but is recycled to the mill and indeed
it is necessary to add make up water from the creeks to both settling ponds. The
levels of fiber found in the Kootenai River downstream from the dry crusher range
6 8
from below the detection limit of about 10 f.p.l. to about 10 f.p.l. These
7
higher levels, however, compare with levels of the order of 10 f.p.l. upstream
Q
from the plant and 10 f.p.l. in Rainy Creek adjacent to the crusher. It is not
established whether these high levels in Rainy Creek are due to settled dust from
the crusher.
-32-
-------
Figure E - 1
Sketch of water cycle
W. R. Grace and Company, Zonolite Division, Libby, MT
-33-
-------
vtr.Mieui.iTC
COIICITN CITATION
AH3 D1XVIH-
COAIV--8 TAIl.lKiriO AMD WAT1*
iiXViHa
3«'" *•"•'•)
:4s-
I.. I J . J/M.H
" V /
-------
Appendix E
Table E - 1
Key to Sampling Points
Ul Mill make up water from 2nd settling pond
U2 Heetwood Creek - make up water to 1st settling pond
U3 Rainy Creek - make up water to 2nd settling pond
U4 Rainy Creek at Kootenai River
U5 Kootenai River, 1.9 miles upstream of sieving plant
Dl Coarse tailings at top of bill
D2 Fine tailings as they enter 1st settling pond
D3 Effluent from 1st settling pond, leaving clarifier outlet pipe
D4 Water entering 2nd settling pond
D5 Kootenai River about 1 mile downstream of sieving plant
-35-
-------
TABLE E--1
W. R. Grace & Co. , Zonolite
Libby, MT
Location
Ul
U2
o? U3
U4
U5
surface
mid depth
bottom
Type
G
G
G
G(R)
G
G
G
G
Division,
6/10/75
f.p.l. >5Mm
1700(A) 383
BDL(0.64) -
27 (C) 2. 25
82(A) 8.75
i
2.2(C) 0
2. 2(A) 0
190(A) 46
BDL(1. 3)
BDL(1. 1)
BDL(1. 3)
See
tss
msA
5
3
2
2
2
2
7
20
12
10
Legend, p. 11 Site Code A3
fibers
counted
71
0
12
37
3
3
37
0
0
0
6/11/75
tss fibers
Type f.p.l. >5^m mgA counted
G 1600(A) 448 4 100
G BDL(l.O) 3 0
G 170(A) 60 1 31
G(R) 4.1(C) 0.68 1 6
2.0(A) 2.0 1 3
•
G 1800(A) 1140 53 41
-------
TABLE E - 1, con't.
CO
W.R. Grace & C6., Zonolite Division, See Legend» p« n Site Code A3
Libby, MT
Location
;i
Dl
D2*
D3*
D4
D54'
2'
1/2'
i
6/10/75
tss fibers
Type f.p.l. >5jum mgA counted
G 27000(A) 14300 1758 85
G 840(A) 270 20 53
G BDL(0.74) 18 0
G(R) BDL(0.84) 18 0
G BDL(1.3) - 21 0
G(R) BDL(l.S) 21 0
6/11/75
tss fibers
Type f.p.l. >5Mm mgA counted
G 150,000(A) 111,000 26,400 31
I 970,000(A) 502,000 45,000 27
I 810(C) 0 23 31
160(A) 27 6
* D2 and D3 samples integrated over approximately 23 hrs - 6/10/75 - 6/11/75.
D3 difficult to count due to aggregation. Chrysotile occurs in "aggregated groups", all <1.5pim long.
-------
TABLE E - 2
W. R. Grace & Co. , Zonolite Division,
Libby, MT
Location
Ul
, U2
CO
00
1
U3
U4
U5
8/28/75
Type f.p.l. >5nm
G 380(A) 157
G(R) 710(A) 158
G 3. 1(A) 1. 24
G 430(A) ' 190
G 2300(A) 657
G 2.6(A) 1.3
G(R) BDL(1. 3) -
See Legend, p. 11
Site Code A3
tss fibers
mg/1 counted
17 29
17 27
8 5
25 34
473 28
4 2
4 0
A
8/29/75
tss fibers
Type f.p.l. >5Mm mg/1 counted
V
G 960(A) 76 15 38
G BDL(l.O) - 7 0
G(R) 4. 8 (A) 1.38 7 7
G *800(A) 340 32 47
G 6700(A) 1884 211 32
G 12 8.8 1 19
* Uneven loading - count may be high
-------
TABLE E - 2, con't.
CO
5jum
i
Dl
D2
D3
D4
D5 8'
41
2'
1/2'
G 850(A) 233 39
G BDL(1.3)
G 0.64(C) 0.64
6.1(A) 2.7
BDL(0.64) -
See Legend, p. 11
8/29/75
tss fibers
mgA counted
45,900 38
39 51
4 0
2 1
2 9
5 0
tss
Type f.p.l. >5/*m mg/1
G 160000(A) 97000 1390
I 700000(A) 400000 59500
I 1200(A) 357 54
G 860(A) 340 22
G 13(A) 3.4 1
G(R) 320(A) 93 1
G 48 (A) 17 na
G 22(A) 12 9
Site C
fibers
counted
38
44
74
53
19
24
28
26
-------
Appendix F
Gouverneur Talc Company (a Subsidiary of R. J. Vanderbilt Company),
Gouverneur. NY Site Code A4
The Gouverneur Talc Company is a major talc mining and producing
company. The mine is located in a rural area about 5 miles east of Gouverneur
near the small town of Balmat, New York. The talc is mined from open pit as
well as deep mines. It is crushed, graded and finally powdered by dry grinding
methods and no water is used in processing,,
The plant obtains its upstream water supply from Lake Sylvia.
Water discharged from the mill of the plant is largely condensate and
cooling water from the boilers. Water collects in the deep mines and varies in
quantity depending on rainfall and seepage. This seepage water from the three
mines is pumped out intermittently and, following natural streams, eventually ends
up in the Oswegatchie River. During discharge water flow from mine No. 1 averages
about 75 gal/min, mine No. 2 averages about 90 gal/min and mine No. 3 averages
about 100-120 gal/min.
The plant was visited twice. The first visit was made 11-14 July 1975
and the second visit on 3-4 November 1975.
The upstream water was sampled at Lake Sylvia. The downstream
water discharged from the mill was sampled as it was discharged into a small
stream near a railroad siding not far from the main office. The discharge water
from the No. 1 deep mine was sampled as it emerged from the outlet pipe to which
it was pumped. The open pit No. 2 mine was located about 1-2 miles northeast of
the office and the discharge was sampled here as it emerged from the pipe which
led down into the pit. The water from old No. 3 mine located about 5-7 miles east
was sampled as it emerged from the pipe into a small sump.
The Gouverneur talc body is an extremely complex ore body minera-
logically, showing admixtures of talc, tremolite, anthophyllite and serpentine in
varying proportions with associated minerals such as chlorite, magnesium and
calcium carbonates, pyroxene and quartz. Some of this complexity is reflected in
the analytical results in which 2 amphiboles have been observed — an anthophyllite
-40-
-------
type and a tremolitic type. Two serpentines were also seen — antigorite, a non-
asbestiform variety, and chrysotile. The levels detected were quite variable, in
the range from below a detection limit of approximately 10 fibers per liter to in
Q
excess of 10 f.p.l. some of this variability due no doubt to the intermittent nature
of the discharges.
-41-
-------
Appendix F
Tables F - 1. -2
Key to Sampling Points
Ul Lake Sylvia
Dl Mill effluent - mainly condensate cooling water
frgm boilers
D2 Drainage water from No. 1 deep mine
D3 Drainage water from No. 2 open pit mine
D4 Drainage water from old No. 3 mine
-42-
-------
TABLE F - 1
CO
I
Gouverneur Talc
Company,
Gouverneur, NY
Location
Ul
Dl
D2
D3+
D4
Type
G
G(R)
G
G
G
G
7/11/75
f.p.l. >5jLtm
BDL(0. 13) -
BDL(0. 13) -
230(C) 5.4
310(A) 21
2. 2(C) 0. 08
BDL(0. 08) -
1.9(C) 0
See Legend, p
tss fibers
mgA counted
6 0
6 0
62 43
62 59
15 26
41 0
12 15
• U Site Code A4
7/14/75
tss fibers
Type f.p.l. >5Mm mg/1 counted
V
G 40(C) 8.7 6 32
I* 210(C) 10.0 25 42
I 320(C) 0 14 38
17(A) 8.5 14 2
I BDL(0.13) 26 0
I 32(C) 4.8 9 40
+ Both D3 samples show large agglomerates rendering analysis both difficult and questionable, but no positive
asbestos observed.
* Large lathlike or platy fibers present containing Mg & Si,givingpseudo-hexagonal diffraction pattern, not
identifiable as asbestos.
-------
TABLE F- 2
Gouverneur Talc Company,
Gouverneur, NY
Location
Ul
Dl
fc
i^
D2
D3
D4
11/3/75
Type f.p.l. >5jmi
G BDL(0. 13)
G 8.4(C) 0
64(A) 20
I 30(A) 5
I BDL(0. 13)
G 5.9(C) 0
28 (A) 5.9
See Legend, p.
tss fibers
mg/1 counted
2 0
32 5
32 38
30
0
18 7
18 33
11 Site C
11/4/75
tss fibers
Type f.p.lt >5jLon mgA counted
G 20(A) 4.5 6 39
I 82(A) 13 15 31
I BDL(0.13) 4 0
I 54(A) 16 10 34
G TNTC(A) »108 22
G TNTC(A) >108 7
------- |