T254 Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Petrology, and Volcanology Student Session (Posters)

Wednesday, 25 September 2024
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Hall D

METAL ACCUMULATION IN FRESHWATER MOLLUSKS OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA

Paper number: T254-11
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in freshwater mollusks has been used to provide information concerning concentrations of heavy metals in streams to measure water quality. The study aims to use geochemical analysis methods to find potential sources of metal origins. The different species of freshwater mollusks collected during this study have shown different heavy metal accumulation sensitivities, providing a more dynamic understanding of low-level and intermittent sources of metal pollution. This study was conducted by collecting water samples, Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) and River Snails (Pleurocera sp. a Campeloma sp.) along the Juniata River locality and comparing them to the metal accumulation concentrations to freshwater mollusks collected from the Susquehanna River in Central Pennsylvania. The addition of Campeloma sp. collected from the Susquehanna River provided a more complex insight to metal accumulation across species. Analysis of 14 different elements were conducted with particular interest in cadmium, copper, lead, aluminum, iron, strontium, and mercury for ion concentrations. Collection sites were intentionally selected for their different hydrogeologic conditions, including differences in stream discharge rates, geologic formation, and lithology. All snails showed higher levels of metal accumulation compared to clams taken from the same site collection location consistently. While the snails’ metal accumulations were higher compared to clams, the elements that appeared in higher concentrations in the snails differed by collection site location. Highest metal content existed in snails and clams from Sinking Valley which can be attributed to weathering of sulfide minerals.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 56, No. 5

doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-405487

© Copyright 2024 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.