Salt Content Determination for Bentonite Mine Spoil: Saturation Extracts Versus 1:5 Extracts;Forest Service research note

摘要

The reliability of estimating salt content in saturated extracts from 1:5 (1spoil:5water) extract levels for bentonite mine spoil was examined by regression analyses. Nine chemical variables were examined that included pH, EC, Ca++, Mg++, Na+, K+, HCO(sub 3), SO(sub 4)=, and Cl-. Ion concentrations from 1:5 extracts were estimated with high predictability for Ca++, Mg++, Na+, SO(sub 4)=, HCO(sub 3), and EC conductivity. Overall, calculated ion concentrations from 1:5 extracts show significant relationships with saturation extracts, except for Cl- and K(sup +). The significant relationships we found suggest that 1:5 extracts can be used to reliably estimate salinity of bentonite mine spoils with less effort and expense. The objective of this study was to test the reliability of estimating salt content from 1:5 extracts as compared with saturation extracts of bentonite mine spoil.