Effect of bicarbonate and phosphate on arsenic release from mining-impacted sediments in the Cheyenne River watershed, South Dakota, USA†
Researchers examined the mobilization of arsenic from riverbank sediments affected by the gold mining legacy in north-central South Dakota. Mining waste from the Homestake Mine discharged into Whitewood Creek and the Cheyenne River, leaving sediments with high arsenic concentrations. Laboratory experiments showed that arsenic release was strongly influenced by bicarbonate and phosphate, offering insights into how ion displacement processes affect water quality for nearby communities.
