Metals entering streams in association with milling waste particles and spoil leachates have produced toxic concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and zinc in fluvial deposits. To understand metal transport dynamics in streams requires the integration of knowledge from several disciplines, including geomorphology, sedimentology, and geochemistry. The complexity of such integration helps explain why few investigators have attempted to describe metal dispersion in terms of the sedimentary units in which they are stored. This doctoral dissertation research project will focus on determination of the physical and geochemical controls on the distribution of trace metal storage in fluvial sediments in the Upper Mississippi Zinc-Lead District. The research will describe the spatial patterns of metal storage by (1) mapping of surface and subsurface floodplain and channel deposits; (2) analyzing total metal concentration, particle size and mineralogic composition; and (3) identifying sediment-meal phase relationships. A goal of the project is development of a model that characterizes the interaction of watershed sediment and metal pollutant budgets. This project will contribute to a better understanding of the geomorphic and geochemical factors that determine the distribution and residence times of metal storages in mined watersheds. It will increase our understanding of the effects of nonpoint pollution sources on long-term water quality problems and the use of geochemical tracers in environmental-based studies. This project also will provide an excellent opportunity for a promising young scholar to continue to develop independent research skills.
