Abstract |
The occurrence of copper (II) in the Keweenaw Waterway, Michigan from past use of the waterway as a dumping basin for copper-bearing mine tailings is a matter of concern because of the toxic effects of copper (II) on aquatic organisms. From 1972 to the present soluble copper as well as several other cations and anions were monitored at varying depths in water exposed to mine tailings. The study attempts to describe the most important factors involved in the water chemistry of copper in the waterway. A model proposed as a description of soluble copper concentration control predicts Cu(+2), CuCO3 (soluble), CuOH+, and Cu (organic) to be the principal copper species in solution. Cu (organic) is at times equal to 50 per cent of the total dissolved copper. (Modified author abstract) |