ANOMALOUS NATURAL SULFATE IN WATER WELLS OF THE GREENBRIER GROUP, WEST VIRGINIA¹

Abstract

Many water wells developed in the Middle Mississippian Greenbrier Group of central Greenbrier County, West Virginia, are very productive because of the abundant solution conduits in this karst aquifer. Water from these wells, all of which (with one exception) are clustered in a small area about eight kilometers northwest of Lewisburg, West Virginia, is typically very hard (calcium‐magnesium‐bicarbonate type). Of 74 wells sampled, eight showed sulfate concentrations ranging from 600 to 1700 mg/l. These wells also showed a much higher than average concentration of calcium, magnesium, chloride, sodium, and, in a few cases, iron. The water from several of these wells was not potable. Previously unpublished work has suggested that dolomite and gypsum dissolution have contributed magnesium and sulfate ions to the ground water. It is also likely that, where sodium, chloride, and iron concentrations are above background, halite dissolution and pyrite oxidation are contributing to the problem. All of these minerals are often associated with the basal waterbearing strata of the Greenbrier Group. In addition, it is possible that the wells are receiving deeply circulating ground waters, via fracture zones, which feed many other well‐known sulfur and/or thermal springs in the central Appalachians.

Further hydrogeologic investigations in the Davis Spring drainage basin, Greenbrier County, West Virginia

“…This sudden shift to the west may not mean anything, but it may indicate a zone of preferential east-west movement within the aquifer. This is near an area which Heller described as containing elevated levels of sulfate ( >250 mg/L) (Heller, 1980;Heller and Rauch, 1986). This sulfaterich area extends northeastward towards Weaver Knob.…”

“…This was the first to divide the Greenbrier Group into individual formations (Heller, 1980). Heller expanded on her dissertation in subsequent publications (Heller, 1985;Heller, 1991;Heller and Rauch, 1986). Dore (1990)published some information on the Scott Hollow Cave System in Monroe County, WV in 1990.…”