Analysis of metal-bearing particulate matter from aeolian transport at the Jackpile-Paguate Mine, Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico

Andreanna Roros, MS Student

Earth & Planetary Sciences
Mentors: Adrian Brearley, Jose Cerrato, and Eliane El Hayek

There are thousands of abandoned uranium mines throughout the four corners region of the United States, disproportionately affecting Native American communities.

This includes the Pueblo of Laguna (POL) reservation, located in New Mexico, which has community centers ranging from 0.5-8 miles away from the abandoned Jackpile uranium (U) mine site. Chronic inhalation of metals through the respiration of particulate matter (PM) from these sites can lead to health conditions such as cancer, hypertension, kidney disease, and lung disease.

However, the potential exposure pathways to PM from legacy mine waste at the Jackpile Mine remain largely unknown. In this study we attempted to determine the absolute concentration, chemical composition, mineralogy, and morphology of uranium and co-occurring metals from aeolian transport of dust at the abandoned Jackpile Mine in POL.

Through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), we will better understand the type of windblown material that could be transported throughout the mine site and examine seasonal or site-based trends. This study will ultimately help guide future remediation efforts and answer questions the POL community has about dust impacting their health.