(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2007) Cook, Steven Allen; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Brian L. McGlynn
I investigated the spatial and vertical distribution of metals in an alpine riparian wetland downstream of acid rock drainage in the New World Mining District, Cooke City, Montana. The McLaren ore deposit was discovered on Fisher Mountain in 1933, and underground and open-cut mining occurred until 1953. Fisher Mountain is the primary source of acid rock drainage in this part of the New World Mining District. Both natural and mining related processes released acidity and metals (particularly copper, lead, and zinc) into Daisy Creek and the upper Stillwater River in the form of dissolved metals and metal-rich sediment. The Stillwater River flows through the 66-hectare Stillwater wetland before entering the Beartooth Wilderness Area. This wetland has had the potential to accumulate metals beginning with retreat of the glaciers from the Beartooth plateau approximately 11,000 years ago. I investigated the spatial and vertical distribution of metals (copper, lead, and zinc) using XRF and ICP-AES laboratory analysis, and the timing of metal deposition using 14C and 210Pb age-dating techniques.
