Quality of ground water in southern Buchanan County, Virginia
Water-Resources Investigations Report
82-4022
By: Stanley M. Rogers and John D. Powell
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Abstract
In seven small contiguous stream basins in the coal area of southwest Virginia, ground water is predominantly bicarbonate in anion composition, with calcium as the major cation in the ridges and sodium the major cation in the lower altitudes. Sulfate is the major anion in water associated with coal seams and in stream waters draining areas extensively disturbed by mining activities. Water found along a major linear feature in the Big Prater Creek valley and water from deep wells in Levisa Fork basin contain chloride as the predominant anion. Hydrogen ion activities (pH) in the ground water range from 5.2 to 8.4. Iron concentrations as high as 14,000 micrograms per liter are present in domestic wells. The chemical composition of most streams changes with diminishing discharge and at baseflow is similar to the composition of local ground water. At high flows, streams draining mined areas are enriched with sulfate. (USGS)
Suggested Citation
Rogers, S.M., and Powell, J.D., 1983, Quality of ground water in southern Buchanan County, Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 82-4022, vi, 32 p. :ill., maps.; 12 over-size sheets, scale 1:48,000, https://doi.org/10.3133/wri824022.
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Quality of ground water in southern Buchanan County, Virginia |
| Series title | Water-Resources Investigations Report |
| Series number | 82-4022 |
| DOI | 10.3133/wri824022 |
| Year Published | 1983 |
| Language | ENGLISH |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey, |
| Description | vi, 32 p. :ill., maps.; 12 over-size sheets, scale 1:48,000 |
| Scale | 48000 |