The Mahoning Valley Mushroom Farm

North Lima, Ohio

AMD Investigation

Department of Geology and Environmental Science

The University of Akron

Theresa McQuade

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Division of Mineral Resources Management

Cheryl Socotch

April 15, 2013

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Mahoning Valley Mushroom Farm

The Problem The Problem --

�� OSM identified in formal letter to ODNROSM identified in formal letter to ODNR--MRM in 2007 that Forfeited Permit (DMRM in 2007 that Forfeited Permit (D--0371) 0371) had generated mine drainage and required had generated mine drainage and required action. action.

�� Issue for MRM Issue for MRM –– Final surety release for this Final surety release for this permit occurred in March 1995 permit occurred in March 1995 –– no mine no mine drainage problems assessed at time of drainage problems assessed at time of release. release.

�� Response Response –– MRM need for thorough MRM need for thorough evaluation of mine drainage issues at this evaluation of mine drainage issues at this permit. permit.

2012

AMD Issues and problemsAMD Issues and problems

Pre-existing AMD seepage west of house

Rental house

Pre-existing drainage east of house

Site Conditions Site Conditions

Laminar AMD flow from basement

Wetland across access road – under SR 164

Laminar AMD flow across drive

Historical Mining in AreaHistorical Mining in Area

�� CC--1442 D&D Mining 1442 D&D Mining ––Issued May 1981Issued May 1981

41.8 acres41.8 acres�� RepermittedRepermitted byby……

�� DD--0371 Ferris Coal Co 0371 Ferris Coal Co –– Issued January 1985Issued January 1985

51.4 acres total51.4 acres total

�� Ferris completed total Ferris completed total backfill (Phase I) by backfill (Phase I) by 1988 although 1988 although forfeited bond prior to forfeited bond prior to resoilingresoiling (Phase II) (Phase II)

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Local GeologyLocal GeologyMiddle Pennsylvanian,

Allegheny Group

(USGS, 2010)

9(USGS, 2013)

Extent of Mining in AreaExtent of Mining in Area

Middle Kittanning #6

Lower Freeport #5

Upper Freeport #7

What MRM did knowWhat MRM did know……

�� Earlier complaint by rental property Earlier complaint by rental property –– ironiron--rich water in basement (1990)rich water in basement (1990)

�� MidMid--9090’’s rental home evacuated s rental home evacuated

�� MRM/OSM increased in flows from seeps MRM/OSM increased in flows from seeps and house over timeand house over time

�� No other discharges directly from mine No other discharges directly from mine sitesite

�� Seeps were preSeeps were pre--existing existing –– PrePre--law issueslaw issues

Permit Permit

ApplicationApplication--

Hydro Map Hydro Map

AML/AMD program investigationAML/AMD program investigation

Existing Well intercept mine void 40’ below surface

New MW (artesian) intercept mine void ~ 15’

Monitor Wells Monitor Wells

What we knew at this timeWhat we knew at this time……

�� Not much water in backfill spoil Monitor wells Not much water in backfill spoil Monitor wells

�� Artesian flow in MW 1 and 11Artesian flow in MW 1 and 11

�� Water quality in mine backfill water netWater quality in mine backfill water net--alkaline alkaline mine drainagemine drainage

�� Water quality at Rental house severe acidicWater quality at Rental house severe acidic-- high high metalsmetals

�� Flows dramatic increase since original complaint Flows dramatic increase since original complaint

�� Active mining in #7 coal seam elevation Active mining in #7 coal seam elevation –– AMD AMD discharging at lower elevationdischarging at lower elevation

�� Source of severe mine drainage problem? Source of severe mine drainage problem?

Hypothesis:Hypothesis:

I hypothesize that there is a detectable I hypothesize that there is a detectable

geochemical difference between acid mine geochemical difference between acid mine

drainage that results from a surface or deep drainage that results from a surface or deep

mine.mine.

Objectives:Objectives:

�� Establish groundwater flow regimeEstablish groundwater flow regime

�� Compare water chemistry from surface mine with Compare water chemistry from surface mine with

underground mineunderground mine

�� Identify geochemical signature based on mine typeIdentify geochemical signature based on mine type

�� Identify reason for AMD seep at surfaceIdentify reason for AMD seep at surface

�� Location of AUMLocation of AUM

The MF SiteThe MF Site

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Surface Water Locations:

Groundwater Locations:

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Methods:

Chemical Analyses:

•Spectrophotometry

•Ion chromatography

•Atomic absorption (AA)

•Inductively coupled

•WebPHREEQ

(aqueous geochem modeling)

• Groundwater flow maps

• Sy calculations

• Aerial Photo Analysis

Fe2+, Fetot, SO2-4, Mn, Mg, Ca, Na, K, Al, Cl

temperature, pH, conductivity, DO

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20

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1 ft pixel resolution LiDAR (ORGRIP)sampling/well locationGW flow direction

WebPHREEQ Results

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Surface sample GW sample

Geochemical Signatures

1

Surface sample GW sample

BH1

stream

basement window

BH11

24

1120

1110

1100

fee

t a

bo

ve

se

a le

ve

l

1090

elevation=1115 ft.

TD=1090 ft

brown silty sand

to dry ss

saturated brown ss

open void ending

at underclay

BH11

elevation=1112 ft.

TD=1099 ft

brown silty

clay

clay

BH1

Artesian Wells!

BH1

stream

basement window

BH11

(facing east)

(facing northeast)

window

Flow direction

Abandoned mine entrance

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Abandoned Underground Mine

MW-1

BH-11

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Potential AUM location

GW flow direction

A. Mushroom Farm Site, North Lima, OH

MW-1BH1

BH9

BH10

BH11

BH1MW-1

BH11

1130

1115

1110

1105

1100

1095

1090

1085

1080

1120

1125

Feet above s

ea level

BH11

TD=26’

TD=245’

MW-1

swl=1113’

swl=1098’

Potential mine void

(distance=~1030 ft)

B.

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Iron, Sulfate, pH

AMD

Northern half

Southern half

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Aerial Photo AnalysisAerial Photo Analysis

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19591959 19651965 19721972 19811981 19831983 19851985 19941994 20002000 20052005 20062006 20092009 20102010 20122012Lake SW of MF Lake SW of MF

propertyproperty

MF'ingMF'ing structure structure

MF rental houseMF rental house

Crops grownCrops grown

Surface mining on Surface mining on

MF property MF property

(permit# D(permit# D--371)371)

Seepage around Seepage around

BH1 locationBH1 location

Appearance of Appearance of

stream channel stream channel

sampling locationsampling location

Drainage pond NNE Drainage pond NNE

of MF structureof MF structure

Seepage behind Seepage behind

rental houserental house

Backfilling of Backfilling of

surface mined area surface mined area

completecomplete

Rental house Rental house

tenants report "red tenants report "red

water" in basementwater" in basement

Drainage pond Drainage pond

directly behind MF directly behind MF

structurestructure

Appearance of Appearance of

wetland sampling wetland sampling

locationlocation

Final reclamation Final reclamation

and reand re--vegetation vegetation

completecomplete

Seep W of BH7 Seep W of BH7

locationlocation

ODNR observation ODNR observation

wells drilledwells drilled

Seep along railroadSeep along railroad

Aerial Photo Analysis

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Change in Infiltration and PermeabilityChange in Infiltration and Permeability

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precipitation

AMD seep

Pre-surface mining:

During surface mining:

Post-surface mining:

ConclusionsConclusions

�� Radial groundwater flow patternRadial groundwater flow pattern

�� Geochemical signature for AMD coming from Geochemical signature for AMD coming from

the mine void established at BH11, BH1, the mine void established at BH11, BH1,

window, and streamwindow, and stream

�� AMD discharging around the house = most AMD discharging around the house = most

severesevere

�� Mine void connects BH11 and MWMine void connects BH11 and MW--1, possibly 1, possibly

contains some amount of refusecontains some amount of refuse

�� AMD discharging is a direct result of change AMD discharging is a direct result of change

in surface infiltrationin surface infiltration32

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Thank you,

Questions?