Limnological conditions were studied in two abandoned granite quarries in George Friedrich Park, St. Cloud, Minn. These quarries were excavated from 1886 to 1890 and left shallow due to inadequate water pumping systems at the time. The quarries were less than one hectare in area and had mean depths of 7.3 and 8.2 m. The annual heat budget was about the same for both quarries, 10,535 gm. cal/cm•. Concentrations of [chemical symbols] were determined. Very low concentrations of nitrate nitrogen were found ([chemical symbols]). The hypomimia of both quarries contained hydrogen sulfide throughout the study. Data show West Quarry to be meromictic while East Quarry was holomictic. With no outlet, except seepage, salts accumulated through the years, partially accounting for the eutrophic nature and chemical concentration of the quarries. Eutrophication was essentially artificial, from the addition of debris

Knutson, Keith M.

English

University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM): Digital Well

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science Volume 35 Number 2 Article 14 1968 Morphology and Water Quality in Three Abandoned Granite Quarries Keith M. Knutson North Dakota State University, Fargo Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/jmas  Part of the Fresh Water Studies Commons Recommended Citation Knutson, K. M. (1968). Morphology and Water Quality in Three Abandoned Granite Quarries. Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science, Vol. 35 No.2, 107-110. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/jmas/vol35/iss2/14 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at University of Minnesota Morris Digital Well. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science by an authorized editor of University of Minnesota Morris Digital Well. For more information, please contact skulann@morris.umn.edu. LIMNOLOGY Morphology and Water Quality in Three Abandoned Granite Quarries KEITH M. KNUTSON* ABSTRACT - Limnological conditions were studied in two abandoned granite quarries in George Friedrich Park, St. Cloud, Minn . These quarries were excavated from 1886 to 1890 and left shallow due to inadequate water pumping systems at the time. The quarries were less than one hectare in area and had mean depths of 7.3 and 8.2 m. The annual heat budget was about the same for both quarries, 10,535 gm. cal/cm•. Concentrations of H.S, Fe+>·••, Ca••, Mg••, ci-1, SO,-', PO,-', CO3" ', CO,, 0,, SiO,, NO,-1, NHo, and -log [H · 'J were determined. Very low concentrations of nitrate nHrogen were found ( < 0.02 mg/1 N-NO.-). The hypolimnia of both quarries contained hydrogen sulfide throughout the study. Data show West Quarry to be meromictic while East Quarry was holomictic. With no outlet, except seepage, salts accumu-'lated through the years, partially accounting for the eutrophic nature and chemical concen-tration of the quarries. Eutrophication was essentially artificial, from the addition of debris. To this date no descriptive limnological work has been done on granite quarries in central Minnesota, one of the world's large granite-producing areas. The area contains numerous abandoned quarries which are in effect granite basins that eventually fill with water from seepage and runoff. The purpose of this study was to make a seasonal survey of aquatic environmentai conditions in two ap-parently different abandoned quarries by determining: ( 1) the physical conditions and (2) the qualitative and quantitative chemical characteristics in each. The two quarries, located in George Friedrich Park, St. Cloud, Minn. (Sec. 6, T 35N. R 30W. Sherburne County), were the largest of the Hilder Quarries, named for the original owner, G. J. Hilder. Their local names are Horseshoe Quarry and Dodd No. 20, but they are identified in this study as East Quarry (EQ) and West Quarry (WQ). They were excavated from 1886 until 1890, when lack of adequate water pumping systems necessitated their abandonment, leaving them shallower than quarries excavated after more efficient pumping equipment became available. They are within 200 m of the site of the first Minnesota granite quarry, where the State Reformatory now stands. Materials and Methods The investigation was conducted from September 1, 1966, to August 15, 1967. One sampling station was established for each quarry at the site of greatest depth. Temperatures were taken with a YSI Model 425C ther-mistor. Bottom samples were taken with a 14.8 x 14.8 cm Ekman dredge. Water transparency was measured by a Secchi disc, 20 cm in diameter. A Beckman RB3 Solu-Bridge conductivity meter was used to obtain specific conductance. A Kemmerer water sampler was used for chemical and oxygen analysis. Dissolved oxygen was de-,. Keith M. Knutson is presently Fellow in Zoology under the National Defense Education Act at North Dakota State Uni-versity, Fargo, N.D. This paper is a portion of Mr. Knutson's master's degree thesis submitted at St. Cloud (Minnesota) State College in August of 1967. Journal of, Volume Thirty-five, Nos. 2 and 3, 1968-1969 termined by the Winkler method, using 0.025 N pheny-larsene oxide (PAO) rather than thiosulfate as the ti-trant. All chemical procedures were according to Stand-ard Methods ( 1965) and Hach ( 1966a, 1966b). With pH readings (Beckman Model 180) and bicarbonate alkalinity values, the nomogram of Theroux, Eldridge, and Mallmann ( 1943) was used to estimate free carbon dioxide. Results: Basin Morphology EQ had a maximum depth of 20 m and mean depth of 8.2 m. The total surface area was 5,162.6 m~ (1.27 acres) . The shoreline was smooth, taking the shape of a horseshoe, with vertical granite walls (Fig. 1). The shoreline development value of 1.09 indicates that EQ approaches a circle, while WQ ( 1.35) was more irreg-ular. Other physical parameters are included in Table 1. The littoral zone was confined to several small granite shelves around the quarry. In each quarry, the bottom was rough and consisted of irregularly placed granite chunks with large, ooze-filled crevices, no surface outlet or inlet was observed, and seepage was the only means of loss or addition of water other than evaporation and precipitation. WQ had a maximum depth of 15 m and mean depth TABLE 1. Basin morphology of two granite quarries. Parameter East Quarry West Quarry Volume (V) 42,201 m' 61,249m 3 Area (A) 5,162 m' 8,312m' Maximum Depth (Zm) 20 m 15 m Mean Depth (z) 8.2 m 7.3 m Shoreline Perimeter (L) 273 m 429m Length ( 1) 110 m 141 m Breadth (bx) 63 m 92 m Shoreline Development (DL) 1.09 1.35 Volume Development (z:z.,) 0.41 0.49 Elevation (EL) 327 ID 327 m 107 Hydrologic maps, with depths in meter N r FIGURE 1. East Quarry. e ;Soai plln,:; Sta ~1.on 0 Mlflll 20 40 FIGURE 2. West Quarry. of 7.3 m. The total surface area was 8,312.2 m2 (2.05 acres). The shoreline was irregular, shaped somewhat like the United States (Fig. 2). The littoral zone was confined to one large granite shelf in the southwest cor-ner, and a small shelf in the northeast corner. WQ de-creases in area faster than EQ, which was also indicated by WQ volume development value of 0.49 (Table 2) . Results: Physical Characteristics The surface temperature of both quarries ranged from 0.0 to 25.0 C. The bottom temperature of WQ fluctu-ated between 4.8 and 6.1 C, and EQ ranged from 3.2 to 5 .5 C. Both quarries developed a thermocline in a band of 2 to 9 m. The seasonal cycles of temperatures are shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Ice ½ inch thick covered both quarries on November 23, 1966. Ice thickness was greatest in March (EQ, 22 inches; WQ, 19 inches) , and melted completely on both quarries by April 8, after 132 days of ice cover. Bottom ooze samples from both quarries indicate sim-ilar watershed types and organic sediments. The ash-free dry weight of mud in EQ was 24.9% and in WQ 23.6%. The sediments were black, organically rich, and sapropel-like. EQ was most transparent, reaching a maximum Secchi disc reading of 9 m 23 November. WQ Secchi disc max-imum was 5 .6 m 22 September. Light penetration was measured through ice holes during the winter months, and both quarries reached their lowest values during this period. Secchi disc values with respect to the thermocline are shown in Figs. 5 and 6. 108 Results: Water Quality Both quarries contained moderate concentrations of electrolytes. The waters were hard and quite alkaline. Throughout the investigation, surface pH values never dropped below 7.2 and averaged about 8.0. WQ devel-oped a tremendous amount of free carbon dioxide at the bottom in late November and December; values greater than 100 mg/ 1 were recorded. At this time the bottom water pH dropped to 6.4. WQ maintained dissolved oxygen throughout the sea-son and reached a low 20 March with a surface value of 1.4 mg/1, and 0.3 mg/1 at 6 m. EQ had 0.5 mg/l from top to bottom 20 December and 0.0 mg/l in March (Fig. 5). Clinograde oxygen curves were shown for both quarries before fall circulation. During the autumn overturn, dissolved oxygen in EQ gradually moved to the bottom with the more dense wa-ter, and vertical circulation was complete (Figs. 3 and 5). WQ did not circulate completely (Fig 4) . Dissolved oxygen did not penetrate below 12 m nor did the temper-ature of the bottom waters change to the temperature of the dense vertical mixing water. Neither quarry expe-rienced a complete spring overturn, just thorough mixing of surface water. This was determined by observing the gradual movement of dissolved oxygen from the high oxygen-saturated surface to lower depths. As water be-neath the ice warmed to about 4 C, it sank to the depth of equal density. For EQ this depth was about 2 m and for WQ about 5 m (Figs. 3 and 4) . The greatest oxy-gen concentration, in surface water, occurred April 15 with saturation values of 11.6 and 15.1 mg/l in EQ and WQ respectively. m li: 5 +> ., :>: <I .... .c110 +> "" ., A ~10 "" ., A Seasonal temperature cycles FIGURE 3. East Quarry. FIGURE 4 . West Quarry. The Minnesota Academy of Science TABLE 2. Morphometric features of two granite quarries. Depth Area Quarry (m) Acres % of Total 0 1.270 100.00 5 0.917 72.20 East 10 0.421 33.14 15 0.152 11.96 20 0.083 6.53 0 2.054 100.00 West 5 1.445 70.35 10 0.643 31.30 15 0.268 13.04 * Area decrease between 5 m contours. The most striking chemical feature of both quarries was the low concentration of nitrates. None were de-tected with the method used, which had a lower limit of 0.02 mg/l nitrate nitrogen. The presence of many auto-trophic species clearly indicated existence of a usable concentration of nitrates. Ammonia was qualitatively detected below the thermocline in both quarries. WQ was very high in sulfates (157 mg/ 1) and deviated con-siderably from the lower central Minnesota surface lake water values (Moyle, 1945). EQ averaged 44 mg/ 1 sul-fates, about ¼ the concentration of WQ. Silica was de-tected in both quarries at the concentration of about 1.0 mg/ 1 SiO2 (August sample). No hydrogen sulfide was detected in surface waters in WQ, but predominated throughout the survey at lower depths (Fig. 6). When EQ "froze out" in January, values of 0.5 mg/ 1 hydrogen sulfide were detected under the ice and lasted until March (Fig. 5). Calcium and mag-0-Seasonal variations ·rhermocline---• Secchl dlsc----Oxy gen o mg/1 a2s be low- - - - - - -1s+-..---r--.....e...,....=---r----r--.-.--r----.---r--. 0 S O N D J F M A M J J A FIGURE 5. East Quarry. ,----''', I ,.._, ,1 , ___ _ / / fhera:ocHne---• I "-., / Seochl dlso--------.__ _____ _ /Oxygen O mg/1 ;; 2s be low- - - - - - -1s~·1-----..-""T"--,---.----r--=,=-=,--...,.="""'F= ,-----, S O N D J F M A M J J A FIGURE 6. West Quarry. Journal of, Volume Thirty-five, Nos. 2 and 3, 1968-1969 Area-Depth Volume Stratum Decrease* m (Acres) m• % of Total 0-5 0.353 22,036.09 52.23 5-10 0.496 13,216.67 31.38 10-15 0.268 5,615.38 13.18 15-20 0.144 1,333.63 3.20 Total 42,201.78 100.00 0-5 0.608 35,220.16 57.45 5-10 0.802 20,590.83 33.40 10-15 0.616 5,438.07 9.10 Total 61,249.07 100.00 nesium cations were the major ions responsible for water hardness. The calcium to magnesium ratio was 5: 1 for both quarries. Surface total hardness averaged 225 mg/1 as CaCOa in WQ; 140 mg/l as CaCOa in EQ. Other water quality values can be found in Table 4. Discussion Although granite quarries are man-made, they are still open to classification except for basin origin. Eutrophica-tion is the aging of a body of water by natural or un-natural processes (Welch, 1952). The quarries are roughly only 75 years old, yet they have aged more rap-idly than most other water bodies. Natural allochthon-ous material was very limited because a small watershed exists, however campers and visitors have used WQ as a waste receptacle for many years, and many loads of raw manure were dumped into EQ from Great Northern Railroad stock cars. Thus, eutrophication has been rapid and artificially stimulated for these bodies of water. An interesting difference between the quarries was that EQ was holomictic and WQ appeared to be meromictic. EQ circulated completely during the autumnal overturn, and on December 20 dissolved oxygen was detected on the bottom. Several important factors contributed to the meromictic state of WQ. No dissolved oxygen was pres-ent near the bottom; nor water at the temperature of vertical mixing water during or after the autumnal cir-culation period. Sulfates in excess of 200 mg/l and total alkalinity values of 320 mg/1 were recorded near the bottom. In August 1967 conductivity from the 12 and 13 m depths abruptly increased, presumably from the effects of summer stagnation. But the possibility of mineral springs or trapped nutrients in a monomolimnion con-tributing to this increase in conductivity cannot be ig-nored (Hutchinson, 1957). Shoreline trees at all but its east end gave WQ greater wind protection than EQ, whose west and northwest sections were nearly treeless. The small surface areas and vertical granite walls gave TABLE 3. Energy budgets of two granite quarries for 1967. Area Heat Income gm cal/cm• Quarry (ha) Zm z Summer Winter Annual East 0.51 20 8.2 8,475 2.067 10,542 West 0.83 15 7.3 8,579 1,949 10,528 109 both quarries additional wind protection not generally found in lakes. Wind-initiated horizontal circulation was also hindered by the vertical granite walls. Wind protection and the combination of high biologi-cal activity (biogenic) and mineral springs ( crenogenic), were considered tbe major reusons for the accumulation of compounds and electrolytes in this highly reductive anaerobic profundal region. More data are needed to show that the meromictic nature of WQ was not just temporary. The igneous granite rocks in the St. Cloud area are the result of eroded mountain tops (Schwartz and Thiel, 1963). The weathering of granite rocks contributes no sulfate compounds (Turner and Verhoogen, 1960), and the high concentration of sulfates in WQ (lower in EQ) resulted from mineral springs and leaching of watershed soil. The action of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria on alloch-thonous organic matter also must be considered. The low concentration of nitrate nitrogen in both quar-ries may be attributed to the fact that the small patches of soil around the perimeter became eroded and leached of soluble nitrates during rainfall and runoff, thus elim-Nationa I Conference On Adva need Placement In Chemistry in June A three-day national Advanced Placement Conference to promote college-level courses in high schools will be held June 26-28 at Hamline University, St. Paul, Minn. The conference director is Olaf Runquist of the Chemis-try department at Hamline. The Advanced Placement Program has two goals : to make it possible for capable students to complete col-lege-level courses while they are still in secondary school and to help participating colleges to encourage ~rnd rec-ognize such achievement. Course descriptions and the assistance of professional consultants to help high schools establish the advanced courses are provided by the program. It prepares, ad-ministers, and grades examinations based on these courses and communicates grades and other supporting materials to the coUcges for appropriate placement and credit. The program is in its fourteenth year as an activity of the College Entrance Examination Board, aided by Educational Testing Service of Princeton, N.J. This year Advanced Placement Examinations are to be given in 11 subjects, including chemistry. Course descriptions and examinations are prepared by examin-ing committees of five or more teachers. The examinations are to be administered during the third week of May. Each is three hours in length, and essay questions predominate. Advanced Placement Conferences in biology, mathe-matics, and physics are projected for 1970. 110 inating the nitrogen source. The greatest nitrate sources are the watershed and inflowing water (Hutchinson, 1957) This low concentration of nitrogen could be con-sidered a limiting factor in the two quarries studied, and possibly in most granite quarries with reduced water-sheds. With no outlet except seepage, salts accumulated through the years, partially accounting for the eutro-phic nature and chemical concentration of the quarries. Plankton populations of EQ and WQ will be considered in another study. Acknowledgments The author is deeply grateful for the suggestions and criticisms provided by Drs. Max Partch, A. Hopwood, H . Barker, Alfred Grewe, and J. Peterka. References Hach Procedures for Water and Sewage Analysis: using the B and L Spectronic 20 Colorimeter. 1966a. Hach Chemical Co. , Ames, Iowa. 115 p. Hach Procedures for Water and Sewage Analysis. 1966b. Catalog No. 9. Hach Chemical Co. , Ames, Iowa. 108 p. HUTCHINSON, G.E. 1957. A treatise on limnology. Vol. I. Geography, Physics, and chemistry. John Wiley, N.Y. 1015 p . JuDAY, C. l940. The annual energy budget of an inland lake. Ecology. 21 ( 4): 43 8-450. KELLEY, D. W. 1953. A study of suitability of aban-doned granite quarries near St. Cloud, Minnesota, for put-and-take fishing of brown and rainbow trout. Minn. Dept. Cons. Invest. Rep. No. 141. (Mimco. ) 9 p. Minnesota Fisheries Research Unit. 1950. Conditions in abandoned granite quarries near St. Cloud, Minnesota. (Mimeo). 6 p. MOYLE, J. B. 1945. Some chemical factors influencing the distribution of aquatic plants in Minnesota. Am. Midi. Nat. 34: 403-420. REID, G. K. 1961. Ecology of inland waters and estu-aries . Reinhold. N.Y. 375 p. RUTTNER, F. 1963. Fundamentals of limnology. Univ. of Toronto Press, Toronto. 295 p. SCHWARTZ, G. M., and G. A. THIEL. 1963. Minnesota's rocks and waters. Univ. of Minn. Press, Minneapolis. 366 p. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 1965. 12 ed. Am. Pub. Health Ass., N .Y . 769 p. THEROUX, F. R., ELDRIDGE, E . F. , AND w. L. MALL-MANN. 1943. Laboratory manual for chemical and bacterial analysis of water and sewage. McGraw-Hill. N .Y. 274 p . TURNER, F. J ., AND J. VERHOOGEN. 1960. Igneous and metamorphic petrology. McGraw-Hill. N.Y. 694 p. WELCH, P. S. 1948. Limnological methods. McGraw-Hill. N.Y. 381 p . WELCH, P. S. 1952. Limnology. McGraw-Hill. N.Y. 538 p. The Minnesota Academy of Science 

Morphology and Water Quality in Three Abandoned Granite Quarries

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Morphology and Water Quality in Three Abandoned Granite Quarries

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