Differentiating sources of dissolved lead in mine waters using lead isotope techniques, Sullivan Mine, British Columbia

This study investigates the use of Pb isotopes in acid rock drainage studies and outlines a protocol for sampling and analysis of dissolved Pb in mine waters. Groundwaters and surface waters were sampled at the Sullivan Mine, British Columbia, to quantify Pb isotope ratios and to identify possible sources of Pb in mine effluent and back groundwaters, respectively. The Sullivan Deposit is a sediment-hosted Fe-Pb-Zn massive sulphide deposit with a well-defined homogeneous Pb isotopic composition, which provided a suitable end-member for the isotopic study. The Pb isotopic compositions of water samples define a mixing line between the homogeneous Pb isotopic signature of the Sullivan Ore and at least one other more radiogenic end-member. This end-member may correspond to Pb in the host rocks (Aldridge Formation), Pb from aerosols that have infiltrated the local surficial deposits with recharge, or Pb from the surficial deposits themselves. Further study is needed to more completely characterize the composition of potential isotopic end-members in the study area. The study demonstrates that different source regions for Pb have distinct and measurable isotopic compositions, which enable ``fingerprinting'' sources of Pb contamination that result from ore deposits or from other sources.