Why was the water from the Gold King Mine spill so brown in color?
The Gold King disaster was caused by a contract EPA crew that was checking out the mine for future cleanup work. As they used heavy machinery to peel back a layer of rock and dirt covering the opening — or adit — orange-colored water began spilling out.
How did they clean up the Gold King Mine Spill?
The EPA is currently compiling a cleanup plan for each mine. The agency also built a temporary water treatment plant near the Gold King. It removes arsenic, lead, and other heavy metals from mine discharge.
Who is responsible for the Gold King Mine Spill?
EPA
EPA workers and contractors caused the spill while trying to drain ponds near the mine entrance. More than 3 million gallons of bright-yellow mine water laced with heavy metals flowed into Cement Creek and then the Animas River, the state Environment Department said in a statement.
Who paid for the Gold King Mine spill cleaned up?
Under the settlement with the Navajo Nation, Sunnyside Gold Corp. — a subsidiary of Canada’s Kinross Gold — will pay the tribe $10 million. The spill released 3 million gallons (11 million liters) of wastewater from the inactive Gold King Mine in southwestern Colorado.
Is it safe to eat fish from the Animas River?
DENVER— Fish tissue sampling by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has determined trout from the Animas River are safe to eat. Levels of mercury, selenium and arsenic in rainbow and brown trout were within the range of levels in fish previously sampled in the state.
Is the Animas River still polluted?
Despite the many Stakeholders Group successes, water quality in the Animas River in recent years has diminished, mainly from the mines leaching into one of the river’s tributaries, Cement Creek. In 2014, the EPA decided pollution had gotten so bad that it stepped in with a $1.5 million cleanup project of its own.
Why is the Animas River Yellow?
The Animas River between Silverton and Durango within 24 hours of the spill. The river turned yellow from the oxidation of dissolved iron in the escaped waste water.
Why is the Animas River orange?
The Environmental Protection Agency was trying to remove some heavily polluted wastewater from a mine near Silverton, Coloroado, when it accidentally spilled some into the nearby Animas River, causing it to turn orange. While doing this, toxic water started pouring into a tributary of the River.
Is there gold in the Animas River?
As you might expect, the Animas River that flows from the high country in Silverton has gold throughout. Even all the way down to Durango can produce a bit of “color” in the bottom of your pan.
Was the Gold King Mine abandoned?
The Gold King Mine was abandoned in 1923. Prior to the spill, the Upper Animas water basin had already become devoid of fish, because of the adverse environmental impacts of regional mines such as Gold King, when contaminants entered the water system.
Why is the Animas River Green?
According to officials, the recent color of the Animas River is a result of typical monsoonal conditions. With snowmelt all but complete and monsoons in full swing, residents can expect periodic discoloration of the Animas River, a public health official said Thursday.
Can you still find gold in Colorado Rivers?
Gold can be found all through the South Platte River, with some of Colorado’s richest discoveries being made along the South Platte in Park County. After gold was found in the river, hard rock mines were established in the mountains near the headwaters of the South Platte River.
When did the Gold King Mine near Silverton close?
The event drew attention to toxic drainage from many similar abandoned mines throughout the country. Gold mining in the hills around Gold King was the primary income and economy for the region until 1991, when the last mine closed near Silverton. The Gold King Mine was abandoned in 1923.
What was the outcome of the Silverton mine spill?
After the spill, the Silverton Board of Trustees and the San Juan County Commission approved a joint resolution seeking Superfund money.
Where was the Gold King Mine spill in 2015?
2015 Gold King Mine waste water spill. The Animas River between Silverton and Durango within 24 hours of the spill. The river turned yellow from the oxidation of dissolved iron in the escaped waste water.
How did the Gold King Mine spill affect the Navajo Nation?
The effects of the Gold King Mine spill on the Navajo Nation has included damage to their crops, home gardens, and cattle herds. The Navajo Nation ceased irrigating their crops from the San Juan River on August 7, 2015.