The Effects of Heavy Metal on the Flora of the Copper Basin

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The Effects of Heavy Metal on the Flora of the
Copper Basin

• Sean A. Flatt
• Undergraduate
• Tennessee Technological University
• Cookeville, Tn

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Project Summary

• Objective To determine the effects of heavy
  metals on the flora in the Copper Basin
• ICP Analysis of soil, water, and plant samples
  will determine the concentration of heavy metals
• Expected Results Prove the existence of heavy
  metals in high concentrations in water and soil
• Goal Identify species of flora able to
  accumulate heavy metals

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Background

• The Copper Basin is an area of approx. 60,000
  acres in the extreme southeast corner of TN
• Site of the only deep shaft mines east of the
  Mississippi

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Background, continued

• First the land was cleared of trees to fuel the
  smelters
• The Sulfur released rained back down as Sulfuric
  Acid, destroying the remaining vegetation
• Massive soil erosion followed

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Background, continued

• Remnants of ore wastes have contaminated North
  Potato Creek and Davis Mill Creek, both
  tributaries of the Ocoee River
• In total, an estimated 9,000 hectare (35 square
  mile) area was decimated (Faulkner and Miller,
  2003)
• Once considered our country