Scholarship & Research
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Item Effect of two dolomitic industrial by-products on pH control, leachate chemistry and plant response in acidic-metalliferous mine waste(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1997) Kelly, Laureen SusanItem Band applications of elemental sulfur inoculated with Thiobacillus thioparus to enhance nutrient availability(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1987) DeLuca, Thomas HenryItem Chemistry and mineralogy of four acid sulfate soils from Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1989) Blodgett, Stephen DanielItem Acid tolerance of several plant species indigenous to hardrock mines in western Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1987) Johnson, Kathleen WheelerItem Alkaline industrial by-product effects on plant growth in acidic-contaminated soil systems(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2002) Mehlenbacher, Joel ThomasItem The evaluation of seven acid tolerant plant species grown on acidic, limed and unlimed tailings in South-western Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1986) Torrence, Tonia CarrItem Characterization of riparian wetland soils and associated metal concentrations at the headwaters of the Stillwater River, Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2007) Cook, Steven Allen; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Brian L. McGlynnI 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.Item Kinetics and community profiling of sulfate-reducing bacteria in organic carbon treated mine tailings(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Engineering, 2005) McBroom, Mark David; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Alfred Cunningham.Acid rock drainage (ARD) poses a significant health and environmental hazard worldwide via the discharge of highly acidic waters and potentially toxic levels of mobile metals. This is a result of weathering and microbial oxidation of pyretic minerals present in mine tailings. Sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB), which are often indigenous to mine tailings, have demonstrated promising potential in metabolically raising effluent pH and immobilizing metals through precipitation and biomineralization. The addition of an organic carbon source has the potential of stimulating the SRB and reducing ARD at its source. Often the success of a process based on implementing endemic microbial consortia for in situ bioremediation is highly dependent on an understanding of the community structure and potential activity of microbial community members when provided a specific substrate. The goal of this research was to identify viable methodologies that can be used to select and monitor successful bioremediation treatments. Differences in microbial community structure and activity of batch cultures inoculated with tailings were observed for independent treatments of whey and lactate as carbon sources. Community response to whey treatment of bench-scale columns was also observed. Development and optimization of DNA extraction and purification methods was required for the highly contaminated tailing samples. Microbial community structure and phylogeny were identified using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and automated sequencing. The methods used in this paper were successful at identifying pre- and posttreatment community structure of endemic microbial populations. Shifts in community structure were observed in treated columns and treated batch cultures. Sulfate reduction in treated batch cultures was highly variable between samples, suggesting microheterogeneities in community structure of sampled tailings. Selection for specific phylogenies was evident with respect to carbon source treatment, culturing conditions, and sampled inocula. Variability in community structure was roughly correlated to sulfate reduction in individual organic carbon treatments. Resulting community profiles were highly dependent on methods used in obtaining, amplifying, and isolating community DNA of phylogenetically distinct populations. The success of implementing molecular techniques to observe and optimize bioremediation is ultimately dependent on the methodology used.