Suspended particulate matter and sediment of Penobscot Estuary

Author (Your Name)

Craig M. Pochini, Colby College

Date of Award

1997

Document Type

Honors Thesis (Open Access)

Department

Colby College. Chemistry Dept.

Advisor(s)

Thomas W. Shattuck

Second Advisor

Donald B. Allen

Third Advisor

Bradford P. Mundy

Abstract

An automated scanning electron microscope with an energy dispersive spectrometer was used to gather morphological and chemical information on individual particles from the suspended particulate matter of the Penobscot Estuary and the sediment of Goose Cove/Pond. The goals of the Penobscot Estuary study were to investigate the transport of particles into and through an estuary, the speciation of elements, the abundance of heavy metals, and the background levels of heavy metals. The majority of particles were aluminosilicates originating from a riverine source. Heavy metals were not abundant in the Penobscot Estuary. The objectives of the Goose Cove/Pond study were to examine a local source of heavy metals and to explore their transportability into the estuary. Goose Pond was the site of an open pit copper and zinc mine. Mining is a known anthropogenic source of heavy metals. The abundance of heavy metals was determined to be elevated. Evidence of V, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Se, Cd, Ce, and Pb has been uncovered.

Keywords

Estuarine sediments -- Maine -- Penobscot Bay Region, Particles -- Maine -- Penobscot Bay Region

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