Within eastern Vermont sits the Ompompanoosuc River, running adjacent to the now EPA superfund site, Elizabeth Copper Mine. While functional from 1809 to 1958, the mine removed large amounts of copper and iron ores from its landscape. The mining process led to the introduction of many heavy metal pollutants and contaminants into the local waterways and soil. The aim of this experiment was to locate a direct source point of pollution and analyze the spatial disparity of heavy metal contaminants and pH values within water and soil samples. Using Inductively Coupled Plasma- Optical Emission Spectroscopy, it was determined that soil samples contained significantly higher amounts of heavy metals and water samples contained amounts of aluminum, iron, and manganese all above EPA guidelines which did not decrease in concentration until much further downstream.

Determining the metal pollutants from the Elizabeth Mine: An EPA superfund site in Vermont

2019 Spring National Meeting

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