Geology topics

C. F. Myette

Publications and source records attributed to C. F. Myette.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1991

Hydrology, water quality, and simulation of ground-water flow at a taconite-tailings basin near Keewatin, Minnesota

Taconite tailings, a waste product from processing of iron ore, have been deposited in a 2.5-square-mile containment basin near Keewatin, Minnesota, The basin, which is bounded by earthen dikes of compacted drift and clayey bouldery till, contains saturated tailings consisting of chert and other silica-rich particles that range from clay to coarse-sand size. Runoff from the tailings is slight and occurs only after heavy rains and snowmelt. Average discharge from the basin from April 1982 through June 1984 was about 0.6 cubic foot per second. Instantaneous discharge ranged from zero during much of the period to about 140 cubic feet per second following snowmelt in spring 1982. Daily mean discharge from the basin exceeded 20 cubic feet per second on two days during the period of study. Water levels in wells range from 0 to 25 feet below the tailings surface; seasonal fluctuations range from 2 to 8 feet. Ground water flows radially from a mound in the north-central part of the basin under a hydraulic gradient of 4.7 x 10 -3 feet per foot. Vertical flow also is downward to drift deposits beneath the tailings. Vertical gradients range from 7.0 x 10 -3 to 6.0 x 10 -1 feet per foot. Saturated thickness of the tailings ranges from about 1 to 35 feet. Estimated horizontal hydraulic conductivity ranges from about 1 to 500 feet per day. Transmissivities range from about 25 feet squared per day in fine tailings to about 350 feet squared per day in coarse tailings. Ground-water recharge from precipitation was 11.8 inches from October 1982 through September 1983. Ground-water outflow as leakage to the underlying drift deposits was 9.9 inches for the same period. Water collected from wells completed in the tailings and from the drainage ditch at the basin outlet is of a mixed type in which the magnesium concentration only slightly exceeds concentrations of calcium and sodium plus potassium, expressed in milliequivalents, and concentrations of sulfate and bicarbonate, expressed in milliequivalents, are equal. Concentrations of arsenic, fluoride, and nitrite plus nitrate in water from the tailings were notably greater than in water from adjacent aquifers. However, only fluoride, manganese, and nitrite plus nitrate concentrations equalled or exceeded State drinking-water standards. Suspended-sediment concentrations in streamflow ranged from less than 1 milligram per liter during low-flow periods to about 4,600 milligrams per liter following snowmelt in the spring of 1982. Numerical-model simulations of ground-water flow near the vicinity of the tailings basin indicate that, if areal recharge were doubled during spring and fall, water levels in wells could average about 4 feet above 1983 levels during these periods. Model results indicate that water levels in the tailings could possibly remain about 5 feet above 1983 levels at the end of the year. Water levels in the tailings at the outlet of the basin could be about 1 foot above 1983 levels during the spring stress period and could be nearly 1.5 feet above 1983 levels during the fall stress period. Under these hypothetical climatic conditions, ground-water contribution to discharge at the outlet could be about 50 cubic feet per second during spring and about 80 cubic feet per second during fall.

Minnesota↗

USGS1986

Hydrogeology of sand-plain aquifers in Carlton, Kanabec, and Pine Counties, east-central Minnesota

Sand-plain aquifers in parts of Carlton, Kanabec, and Pine Counties in east-central Minnesota constitute a major aquifer system. They consist predominantly of fine to medium outwash sand with a combined areal extent of nearly 500 square miles. Saturated thickness in localized areas is as much as 90 feet. Depth to water generally is less than 20 feet. Transmissivities range from about 100 to 25,000 feet squared per day. Yields to properly constructed wells locally may exceed 2,000 gallons per minute. A reconnaissance of sandstone units underlying the outwash indicates that transmissivities of the sandstone aquifers range from 1,850 to 2,200 feet squared per day, and specific capacities range from 9 to 12 gallons per minute per foot of drawdown. Locally, wells may be capable of supplying several hundred gallons per minute. Regionally, the sand-plain and sandstone aquifers are poorly connected hydraulically at all locations tested except in a small localized area near Quamba in Kanabec County. Ground water in the sand-plain aquifers can be classified chemically, based on predominant ions, as a calcium bicarbonate type that is moderately hard. Concentrations of dissolved solids range from 30 to 610 milligrams per liter. Except for locally high concentrations of iron and manganese, the quality of water is within State drinking-water standards and is suitable for most uses. There are no major differences between the quality of water in the sand-plain and sandstone aquifers. Ground-water flow, aquifer response, aquifer development, and drought conditions were simulated for sand-plain aquifers areally extensive enough to be hydrologically significant. Simulation of expanded ground-water development and drought in northern Pine County indicates that regional ground-water levels may be lowered as much as 12 feet and ground-water discharge to streams may be reduced as much as 42 percent. Simulation of expanded development and drought in southern Pine County indicates that regional ground-water levels may be lowered as much as 25 feet and ground-water discharge to streams may be reduced as much as 65 percent. The simulations also indicate that each area, especially the northern Pine County area, will support substantial additional development without dewatering the aquifer or reducing streamflow significantly.

Minnesota↗

USGS1984

Appraisal of water from surficial-outwash aquifers in Todd County and parts of Cass and Morrison counties, central Minnesota

Outwash deposits consisting of medium to very coarse sand constitute a major aquifer in Todd County and in parts of Cass and Morrison Counties. The outwash ranges in thickness from 0 to 150 feet. Depth to water is generally less than 15 feet, and annual water-level fluctuations are less than 5 feet. Aquifer-test results indicate that transmissivities range from 4,600 to 18,500 feet squared per day and storage coefficients range from 0.10 to 0.25. Yields of more than 2,000 gallons per minute can be obtained locally from properly constructed wells. Average annual precipitation is 25.93 inches, and average annual recharge to the aquifer is estimated to be 8 inches. Base-flow measurements of the Long Prairie River between Long Prairie and Motley during October 1978 and October 1979 indicate average net gains of 0.85 and 1.3 cubic feet per second per river mile. The water is a calcium bicarbonate type and is generally suitable for most uses. However, elevated concentrations of selected chemicals in local areas may require treatment of the water for specialized uses. The water is hard to very hard with dissolved-solids concentrations ranging from about 200 to 400 milligrams per liter. Locally, nitrate concentrations are as much as 6.4 milligrams per liter. Residuals of pesticides are present but do not exceed recommended limits as established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for domestic consumption. Results from numerical modeling experiments indicate that, with proper development, the ground-water system can accommodate additional withdrawals. One experiment indicated that reduction in recharge from 8 to 4 inches annually over 4 years, and anticipated increases in pumping from 2.1 million gallons per day (1978 pumpage) to 7.7 million gallons per day, would cause water levels to decline regionally only about 9 feet and ground-water discharge to streams to decline only about 20 percent.

Minnesota↗

USGS1982

Baseline water-quality data for sand-plain aquifers in Hubbard, Morrison, Otter Tail, and Wadena counties, Minnesota

Tapping the surficial sand-plain aquifers in west-central Minnesota has raised the possibility for degradation of water quality. The sand-plain areas are generally overlain by sandy soils that permit rapid infiltration of precipitation and, possibly, of surface contaminants. One hundred twenty-five wells were sampled in Hubbard, Morrison, Otter Tail, and Wadena Counties during 1979-81 to establish regional baseline water quality. The wells were chosen to provide optimum areal coverage based on geology, direction of ground-water flow, and extent of aquifer development. Water from the sand-plain aquifers is of the calcium bicarbonate type. The water is hard to very hard with dissolved solids ranging from about 100 to 700 milligrams per liter. Locally, concentrations of dissolved solids, iron, manganese, and nitrate exceeded limits recommended by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Minnesota↗