BIOGRAPHY OF A RIVER

Chiras, Daniel D., Environmental Science, High School Edition, Addison-Wesley,Menlo Park, CA, 1989.Water Analysis Kit, page F-69, Water Testing Fact SheetWHAT TURNED THE CREEK9-12 ORANGE?OBJECTIVESThe student will do the following:1. Describe how land disturbed by surface miningbecomes more porous, permeable, and vulnerable toleaching--properties not necessarily fixed by reclamation.SUBJECTS:Science (Earth and Physical)TIME:1 class period2. Demonstrate how water leaches elements from soilsand rocks, dissolves minerals, and carries themelsewhere through groundwater.3. Explain how large concentrations of elements naturallypresent in small amounts can adversely affect plantgrowth. (Extension)BACKGROUND INFORMATIONWhen land has been mined in a way that removes coal or otherresources from a shallow depth, the surface of the ground isdisturbed over many acres. It may be disturbed down to adepth of 30-50 feet. All the soil is removed, and ground thatmight have more or less solid rock beneath the soil is broken upto excavate the seam of coal.To prevent large-scale erosion at closed surface mining sites,mining companies are now required by law to reclaim the site byreplacing soil and planting cover vegetation and trees. Aftermining, an attempt is made to contour the surface and directMATERIALS:sample of iron ore (limonite,hematite, or magnetite)weak acid (vinegar will do)bag of soft cookies with chocolatechips or raisinstoothpicksnewspaper sheetsPVC pipe, 6-8 inches diameter,12-18 inches long, with 4-6 holesabout 0.25 inch diameter) holesabout 4 inches from endsandplastic dishpan or shallow panabout 15" x 15"jug of waterpackage of Koolaid ® - cherry ororangeoptional: gravel-sized crushedsandstonerunoff toward a settling pond. If this is correctly engineered, erosion and damaging runoff are controlledwhile plants establish themselves and a natural reclamation occurs. After reclamation, if the land looks3-83