Distribution of Trace Metals at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, Berks and Chester Counties, Pennsylvania

Hopewell Furnace, located approximately 50 miles north-west of Philadelphia, was a cold-blast, charcoal iron furnace that operated for 113 years (1771 to 1883). The purpose of this study by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service, was to determine the distribution of trace metals released to the environment from an histori-cal iron smelter at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site (NHS). Hopewell Furnace used iron ore from local mines that contained abundant magnetite and accessory sulfide minerals enriched in arsenic, cobalt, copper, and other metals. Ore, slag, cast iron furnace products, soil, groundwater, stream base flow, streambed sediment, and benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled for this study. Soil samples analyzed in the laboratory had concentrations of trace metals low enough to meet Penn-sylvania Department of Environmental Protection standards for non-residential use.

Author: U. S. Department of the Interior

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Publication Date: Jul 23, 2014

Number of Pages: 92 pages

Binding: Paperback or Softback

ISBN-10: 1499556535

ISBN-13: 9781499556537