Open Pit Mine

Overview

Map of Open Pit Mine:

Longitude: -111 24 4.0187        Latitude: 35 54 18.9744


Image of Open Pit Mine:
Non-Radioactive Contaminants:
Aluminum (Al): Above Limit
Arsenic (As): Above Limit
Barium (Ba): Above Limit
Beryllium (Be): Above Limit
Cadmium (Cd): Above Limit
Iron (Fe): Above Limit
Lead (Pb): Above Limit
Manganese (Mn): Above Limit
Vanadium (V): Above Limit*
Radioactive Contaminants:
      Alpha Particles: Above Limit
      Beta Particles: Above Limit
      Lead210: Above Limit*
      Radium226: Above Limit
      Radium228: Above Limit
      Thorium228: Above Limit*
      Thorium230: Above Limit*
      Thorium232: Above Limit*
      Uranium234: Above Limit
      Uranium238: Above Limit


Characteristics of water with excess Aluminum (Al):
Excess Aluminum in water can cause water coloration and metallic deposits in pipes. Read more from the US EPA.

Possible Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Arsenic (As):
Skin damage or problems with circulatory systems, and may have increased risk of getting cancer. Read more from the US EPA.

Possible Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Barium (Ba):
Increase in blood pressure. Read more from the US EPA.

Possible Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Beryllium (Be):
Intestinal lesions. Read more from the US EPA.

Possible Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Cadmium (Cd):
Kidney damage. Read more from the US EPA.

Characteristics of water with excess Iron (Fe):
Rusty color; sediment; metallic taste; reddish or orange staining. Read more from the US EPA.

Possible Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Lead (Pb):
Delayed physical or mental development and slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities in infants and children. Kidney problems, high blood pressure in adults. Read more from the US EPA.

Characteristics of water with excess Manganese (Mn):
black to brown color; black staining; bitter metallic taste. Read more from the US EPA.

Possible Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Vanadium (V):
Vanadium fumes may cause eye, nose, throat, or skin irritation and chronic bronchial damage. Read more from OSHA.

Possible Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Alpha Particles:
Increased risk of cancer. Read more from the US EPA.

Possible Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Beta Particles:
Increased risk of cancer. Read more from the US EPA.

Possible Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Lead210 Particles:
Increased risk of cancer. Read more from the California EPA's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (PDF).

Possible Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Radium226:
Increased risk of cancer. Read more from the US EPA.

Possible Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Radium228:
Increased risk of cancer. Read more from the US EPA.

Possible Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Thorium228:
Studies have shown that inhaling thorium dust causes an increased risk of developing lung cancer, and cancer of the pancreas. Bone cancer risk is also increased because thorium may be stored in bone. Read more from the US EPA.

Possible Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Thorium230:
Studies have shown that inhaling thorium dust causes an increased risk of developing lung cancer, and cancer of the pancreas. Bone cancer risk is also increased because thorium may be stored in bone. Read more from the US EPA.

Possible Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Thorium232:
Studies have shown that inhaling thorium dust causes an increased risk of developing lung cancer, and cancer of the pancreas. Bone cancer risk is also increased because thorium may be stored in bone. Read more from the US EPA.

Possible Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Uranium234:
Increased risk of cancer, kidney toxicity. Read more from the US EPA.

Possible Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Uranium238:
Increased risk of cancer, kidney toxicity. Read more from the US EPA.

About this data: This data was collected by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and published by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) between 1994 and 2000. All raw data displayed on this website is in the public domain. An indication of "NA" for a particular contaminant means that contaminant was not tested for. The limits cited come from US EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). For those contaminants which do not have EPA MCLs (as indicated by a star), the preliminary remediation goals of the USACE availble were used instead. Information about health effects is derived from US government websites, to learn more, click the link next to each one. Please Note: Navajo Nation policy is that livestock-use-only wells are not to be used for human drinking water. Additionally, this website does not contain information about other possible contaminants this water source may have, such as E coli and various bacteria.

Raw Data

"MCL" stands for Maximum Contaminant Level, the highest allowable amount of a given contaminant in public drinking
water, as set by the US EPA. For those contaminants which do not have EPA MCLs (as indicated by a star), the preliminary
remediation goals of the US Army Corps of Engineers were used instead.

Download the EPA's dataset which includes this water source (large PDF file)
Stable Metallic Contaminants
Measurements in Micrograms per Liter (µg/L)
Contaminant Amount MCL
Aluminum (Al) 463,000.0 1,000
Antimony (Sb) 4.3 6
Arsenic (As) 145.0 50
Barium (Ba) 7,690.0 1,000
Beryllium (Be) 42.5 4
Cadmium (Cd) 6.4 5
Chromium (Cr) 44.8 100
Copper (Cu) 468.0 1,300
Iron (Fe) 139,000.0 300
Lead (Pb) 343.0 15
Manganese (Mn) 4,140.0 50
Mercury (Hg) 0.44 2
Nickel (Ni) 82.5 730*
Selenium (Se) 3.6 50
Silver (Ag) 0 100
Thallium (Th) 0 2
Vanadium (V) 322.0 260*
Zinc (Zn) 444.0 5,000
Radioactive Metallic Contaminants
Measurements in Pico-curies per Liter (pCi/L)
Contaminant Amount MCL
Alpha Particles 474.00 15
Beta Particles 735.00 50
Lead210 36.20 0.047*
Radium226 21.800 5
Radium228 20.400 5
Thorium228 18.000 0.21*
Thorium230 14.800 1.3*
Thorium232 14.700 1.5*
Uranium234 30.10 20
Uranium235 1.180 20
Uranium238 25.80 20
About this data: This data was collected by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and published by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) between 1994 and 2000. All raw data displayed on this website is in the public domain. The limits cited come from US EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). For those contaminants which did not have EPA MCLs (as indicated by a star), the preliminary remediation goals of the USACE availble were used instead. Information about health effects is derived from US government websites, to learn more, click the link next to each one. Please Note: Navajo Nation policy is that livestock-use-only wells are not to be used for human drinking water. Additionally, this website does not contain information about other possible contaminants this water source may have, such as E coli and various bacteria.

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