Charles N Alpers

Research Chemist

Short Biography

Since 1991, as a Research Chemist with USGS, Dr. Alpers has led numerous water-quality investigations involving the environmental effects of historical mining. This work has including research on acid mine drainage at the Iron Mountain Superfund site, including documentation of negative-pH water and associated sulfate minerals. Since 1999, he has been lead scientist for several multi-disciplinary studies regarding mercury contamination, transport, and bioaccumulation associated with historical gold mining in the Sierra Nevada of California.

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS AND CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

1980

1. Alpers, C.N., 1980, Mineralogy, Paragenesis, and Zoning of the Luz Vein, Uchucchacua District, Central Peru: Senior honors thesis, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 138 pp.

1985

2. Brimhall, G.H, Alpers, C.N., and Cunningham, A.B., 1985, Analysis of supergene ore‑forming processes and ground‑water solute transport using mass balance principles:  Economic Geology, v. 80, p. 1227‑1256. [I assisted with derivation of equations and wrote about half of results section.]

1986

3. Alpers, C.N., 1986, Geochemical and Geomorphological Dynamics of Supergene Copper Sulfide Ore Formation and Preservation at La Escondida, Antofagasta, Chile: Ph.D. dissertation, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 220 pp.

1987

4. Stoffregen, R.E. and Alpers, C.N., 1987, Woodhouseite and svanbergite in hydrothermal ore deposits: Products of apatite destruction during advanced argillic alteration:  Canadian Mineralogist, v. 45, p. 201‑211. [I contributed electron microprobe data and shared equally in the interpretation of results.]

1988

5. Alpers, C.N. and Brimhall, G.H, 1988, Middle Miocene climatic change in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile:  Evidence from supergene mineralization at La Escondida:  Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 100, p. 1640-1646.

1989

6. Alpers, C.N. and Brimhall, G.H, 1989, Paleohydrologic evolution and geochemical dynamics of cumulative supergene metal enrichment at La Escondida, Atacama Desert, northern Chile:  Economic Geology, v. 84, p. 229-255.

7. Alpers, C.N., Nordstrom, D.K., and Ball, J.W., 1989, Solubility of jarosite solid solutions precipitated from acid mine waters, Iron Mountain, California, U.S.A.:  Sciences Géologiques, Bulletin, v. 42, p. 281-298.

1990

8. Alpers, C.N., and Nordstrom, D.K., 1990a, Stoichiometry of mineral reactions from mass balance computations for acid mine waters, Iron Mountain, California, in Acid Mine Drainage— Designing for Closure, J.W. Gadsby, J.A. Mallick, S.J. Day, eds., Bi-Tech Pub. Ltd.: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, p. 23-33.

9. Alpers, C.N. and Whittemore, D.O., 1990, Hydrogeochemistry and stable isotopes of ground and surface waters from two adjacent closed basins, Atacama Desert, northern Chile:  Applied Geochemistry, v. 5, p. 719-734.

10. Alpers, C.N., Dettman, D., Lohmann, K.C., and Brabec, D., 1990a, Stable isotopes of carbon dioxide in soil gas over massive sulfide mineralization at Crandon, Wisconsin:  Journal of Geochemical Exploration, v. 38, p. 69-86.

11. Bussell, M.A., Alpers, C.N., Petersen, U., Shepherd, T.J., Bermudez, C., and Baxter, A.N., 1990, The Ag-Pb-Zn-Mn skarn, vein, and replacement deposits at Uchucchacua, Peru:  studies of structure, mineralogy, metal zoning, Sr isotopes, and fluid inclusions:  Economic Geology, v. 85, p. 1348-1383. [I wrote the sections on mineralogy and metal zoning, about 1/3 of the paper.]

12. Nordstrom, D.K., Burchard, J.M., and Alpers, C.N., 1990, The production and variability of acid mine drainage at Iron, Mountain, California: A Superfund site undergoing rehabilitation, in Acid Mine Drainage—Designing for Closure, J.W. Gadsby, J.A. Mallick, S.J. Day, eds., Bi-Tech Pub. Ltd.: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, p. 13-21. [I assisted with preparing graphics and with interpretations.]

1991

13. Alpers, C.N., and Nordstrom, D.K., 1991, Evolution of extremely acid mine waters at Iron Mountain, California: Are there any lower limits to pH?, in Proceedings, Second International Conference on the Abatement of Acidic Drainage, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, September 16-18, 1991, MEND (Mine Environment Neutral Drainage):  Ottawa, Canada, v. 2, p. 321-342.

1992

14. Alpers, C.N., Nordstrom, D.K., and Burchard, J.M., 1992a, Compilation and interpretation of water-quality and discharge data for acidic mine waters at Iron Mountain, Shasta County, California, 1940-91.  U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 91-4160, 173 p.

15. Alpers, C.N., Rye, R.O., Nordstrom, D.K., White, L.D., and King, Bi-Shia, 1992b, Chemical, crystallographic, and isotopic properties of alunite and jarosite from acid hypersaline Australian lakes:  Chemical Geology, v. 96, p. 203-226.

16. Stoffregen, R.E. and Alpers, C.N., 1992, Observations on the cell dimensions, water contents and δD of natural and synthetic alunite:  American Mineralogist, v. 77, p. 1092-1098. [I participated fully in all aspects of the work and wrote about 1/3 of the paper.]

1994

17. Alpers, C.N. and Blowes, D.W. (eds.), 1994a, Environmental Geochemistry of Sulfide Oxidation. ACS Symposium Series, v. 550, American Chemical Society: Washington D.C., 681 p.

18. Alpers, C.N., and Blowes, D.W., 1994b, Preface: In Environmental Geochemistry of Sulfide Oxidation, Alpers, C.N., and Blowes, D.W. (eds.), ACS Symposium Series, v. 550, American Chemical Society: Washington D.C., p. xii-xiv.

19. Alpers, C.N., Blowes, D.W., Nordstrom, D.K., and Jambor, J.L., 1994a, Secondary Minerals and Acid Mine-Water Chemistry: In Environmental Geochemistry of Sulfide Mine-Wastes, Jambor, J.L., and Blowes, D.W. (eds.), Mineralogical Association of Canada, Short Course Notes, v. 22, Waterloo, Ontario, p. 247-270.

20. Alpers, C.N., Nordstrom, D.K., and Thompson, J.M., 1994b, Seasonal variations in the Zn/Cu ratio of acid mine drainage from Iron Mountain, California:  In Environmental Geochemistry of Sulfide Oxidation, Alpers, C.N. and Blowes, D.W. (eds.) ACS Symposium Series, v. 550, American Chemical Society: Washington D.C., p. 324-344.

1995

21. Alpers, C.N., 1995, Responsibilities and Activities of the U.S. Geological Survey related to Mining and the Environment.  In Workshop Report: Mine Waste Technical Forum, Las Vegas, NV, July 25-27, 1995, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., p. 3-53 to 3-63.

22. Hamlin, S.N., and Alpers, C.N., 1995, Hydrogeology and Geochemistry of Acid Mine Drainage in Ground Water in the Vicinity of Penn Mine and Camanche Reservoir, Calaveras County, California: First-Year Summary: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 94-4040, 45 p. [I wrote or rewrote more than half of the report.]

23. Nordstrom, D.K., and Alpers, C.N., 1995, Remedial investigations, decisions, and geochemical consequences at Iron Mountain Mine, California: Proceedings of Sudbury ‘95 - Mining and the Environment. Hynes, T.P., and Blanchette, M.C. (eds.), May 28 - June 1, 1995, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, CANMET, Ottawa. v. 2, p. 633-642. [I participated in all aspects of the study and wrote about 1/5 of the report.]

1996

24. Hamlin, S.N., and Alpers, C.N., 1996, Hydrogeology and Geochemistry of Acid Mine Drainage in Ground Water in the Vicinity of Penn Mine and Camanche Reservoir, Calaveras County, California:  Second-Year Summary, 1992-93:  U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4257, 44 p. [I wrote or rewrote more than half of the report.]

1997

25. Rye, R.O., and Alpers, C.N., 1997, The stable isotope geochemistry of jarosite:  U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97-88, 28 p. [I supplied many of the samples analyzed, and assisted with interpretation and with editing the manuscript.]

1999

26. Alpers, C.N., and Nordstrom, D.K., 1999, Geochemical modeling of water-rock interactions in mining environments, in Plumlee, G.S., and Logsdon, M.J. (eds.), The Environmental Geochemistry of Mineral Deposits.  Part A.  Processes, Methods, and Health Issues,  Society of Economic Geologists, Reviews in Economic Geology, v. 6A, chapter 14, p. 289-323.

27. Alpers, C.N., Hamlin, S.N., and Hunerlach, M.P., 1999a, Hydrogeology and Geochemistry of Acid Mine Drainage in Ground Water in the Vicinity of Penn Mine and Camanche Reservoir, California:  Summary Report, 1993-95.  U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4287, 59 p.

28. Church, S.E., Alpers, C.N., Vaughn, R.B., Briggs, P.H., and Slotton, D.G., 1999, Use of lead isotopes as natural tracers of metal contamination — A case study of the Penn Mine and Camanche Reservoir, California, in Plumlee, G.S., and Filipek, L. (eds.),  The Environmental Geochemistry of Mineral Deposits.  Part B.  Case Studies,  Society of Economic Geologists, Reviews in Economic Geology, v. 6B, chapter 30, p. 567-583. [I designed the study, assisted with interpretation, and wrote about 1/5 of the paper.]

29. Hunerlach, M.P., Rytuba, J.J., and Alpers, C.N., 1999a, Mercury contamination from hydraulic placer-gold mining in the Dutch Flat mining district, California, in Morganwalp, D.W., and Buxton, H.T. (eds.), U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program -- Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, Charleston, South Carolina, March 8-12, 1999, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4018B, p. 179-189. [I assisted with study design, interpretation, with writing and editing.]

30. Jamieson, H.E, Alpers, C.N., Nordstrom, D.K., and Peterson, R.C., 1999a, Substitution of zinc and other metals in iron-sulfate minerals at Iron Mountain, California: in Proceedings, Sudbury ‘99 — Mining and the Environment II, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. [I assisted with field work, interpretation, writing, and editing.]

31. Nordstrom, D.K., and Alpers, C.N., 1999a, Geochemistry of Acid Mine Waters, in Plumlee, G.S., and Logsdon, M.J. (eds.), The Environmental Geochemistry of Mineral Deposits.  Part A.  Processes, Methods, and Health Issues,  Society of Economic Geologists, Reviews in Economic Geology, v. 6A, chapter 6, p. 133-160.

32. Nordstrom, D.K., and Alpers, C.N., 1999b, Negative pH, efflorescent mineralogy, and consequences for environmental restoration at the Iron Mountain Superfund site, California, in Smith, J.V.,(ed.), Geology, Mineralogy, and Human Welfare, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, v. 96, p. 3455-3462. http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/96/7/3455

33. Nordstrom, D.K., Alpers, C.N., Coston, J.A., Taylor, H.E., McCleskey, R.B., Ball, J.W., Ogle, S., Cotsifas, J.S., and Davis, J.A., 1999a, Geochemistry, toxicity, and sorption properties of contaminated sediments and pore waters from two reservoirs receiving mine drainage, in Morganwalp, D.W., and Buxton, H.T. (eds.), U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program -- Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, Charleston, South Carolina, March 8-12, 1999, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4018A, p. 289-296. [I designed the study, organized and directed the field work, and wrote about 1/3 of the report.]

2000

34. Alpers, C.N., and Hunerlach, M.P., 2000, Mercury contamination from historic gold mining in California.  U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-061-00, 6 p. http://ca.water.usgs.gov/mercury/fs06100.html

35. Alpers, C.N., and Nordstrom, D.K., 2000, Estimation of pre-mining conditions for trace metal mobility in mineralized areas:  An overview, in Proceedings, International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage 2000, May 21-24, 2000, Denver, Colo., Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., Littleton, Colo., p. 463-472.

36. Alpers, C.N., Antweiler, R.A., Taylor, H.E., Dileanis, P.D., and Domagalski, J.L., 2000a, Metals transport in the Sacramento River, California, 1996-97. Volume 2. Interpretation of metal loads.  U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 00-4002, 106 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wrir00-4002/

37. Alpers, C.N., Jambor, J.L, and Nordstrom, D.K. (eds.), 2000b, Sulfate Minerals: Crystallography, Geochemistry, and Environmental Significance.  Mineralogical Society of America and The Geochemical Society, Washington, D.C., Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 40, 608 p.

38. Alpers, C.N., Jambor, J.L, and Nordstrom, D.K., 2000c, Preface, in Alpers, C.N., Jambor, J.L, and Nordstrom, D.K. (eds.), Sulfate Minerals: Crystallography, Geochemistry, and Environmental Significance.  Mineralogical Society of America and Geochemical Society, Washington D.C., Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 40, p. iii-iv.

39. Alpers, C.N., Taylor, H.E., and Domagalski, J.L. (eds.), 2000d, Metals transport in the Sacramento River, California, 1996-97.  Volume 1. Methods and data.  U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4286, 428 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wrir_994286/

40. Cain, D.J., Carter, J.L., Fend, S.V., Luoma, S.N., Alpers, C.N., and Taylor, H.E., 2000, Metal exposure to a benthic macroinvertebrate, Hydropsyche californica, related to mine drainage in the Sacramento River: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, v. 57, no. 2, p. 380-390. [I designed the study, wrote the proposal for funding, and handled coordination with the funding agencies. I also assisted with field work, interpretation of results, and editing of the manuscript.]

41. Domagalski, J.L., Knifong, D.K., Dileanis, P.D., Brown, L.R., May, J.T., Alpers, C.N., and Connor, V., 2000a, Water Quality in the Sacramento River Basin, California, 1995-98. U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1215, 36 p. http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/circ/circ1215/ [I wrote a small section and proof-read the report.]

42. Domagalski, J.L., Dileanis, P.D., Knifong, D.L., Munday, C.M., May, J.T., Dawson, B.J., Shelton J.L., and Alpers, C.N., 2000b, Water-Quality Assessment of the Sacramento River Basin, California -- Water-Quality, Sediment and Tissue Chemistry, and Biological Data, 1996-1998. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-391. http://ca.water.usgs.gov/sac_nawqa/waterindex.html [I wrote a small section and proofread the report.

43. Jambor, J.L., Nordstrom, D.K., and Alpers, C.N., 2000, Metal-sulfate salts from sulfide mineral oxidation, in Alpers, C.N., Jambor, J.L, and Nordstrom, D.K. (eds.) Sulfate Minerals: Crystallography, Geochemistry, and Environmental Significance.  Mineralogical Society of America and Geochemical Society, Washington D.C., Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 40, p. 303-350. [I helped to define the scope and outline of the chapter, and I contributed to each section, especially "Compositions and crystal chemistry..." and "Paragenesis"; I was responsible for producing several of the figures and tables, and I edited the entire chapter.]

44. Marvin-DiPasquale, M.P., Agee, J., Alpers, C.N., and Hunerlach, M.P., 2000, Microbial mercury cycling in sediments associated with historic mining in California, in Proceedings, Workshop on Assessing and Managing Mercury from Historic and Current Mining Activities, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, November, 2000, San Francisco, CA., p. 63-67. [I helped design the study, assisted with field work, and helped with interpretation of data.]

45. May, J.T., Hothem, R.L., Alpers, C.N., and Law, M.A., 2000, Mercury bioaccumulation in fish in a region affected by historic gold mining: The South Yuba River, Deer Creek, and Bear River watersheds, California, 1999.  U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-367, 30 p. http://ca.water.usgs.gov/archive/reports/ofr00367/index.html  [I designed the study, coordinated with the cooperating agencies, wrote the section on quality assurance, and edited the report.]

46. Nordstrom, D.K., Alpers, C.N., Ptacek, C.J., and Blowes, D.W., 2000, Negative pH and extremely acidic mine waters from Iron Mountain, California: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 34, no. 2, p. 254‑258. http://pubs.acs.org/hotartcl/est/2000/research/es990646v_rev.html  [I designed and implemented the sampling program, prepared the pH standards and calibrated the electrodes, did preliminary geochemical modeling to compute pH values for standards and unknowns, and was responsible for analysis of solid sulfate samples. I also assisted with writing and editing the manuscript.]

47. Robbins, E.I., Rodgers, T.M., Alpers, C.N., and Nordstrom, D.K., 2000, Ecogeochemistry of the subsurface food web at pH 0-2.5 in Iron Mountain, California, USA: Hydrobiologia. v. 433, p. 15-23. [I assisted with field work, provided geochemical data, and assisted with interpretation, writing, and editing.]

48. Seal II, R.R., Hammarstrom, J.M., Foley, N.K., and Alpers, C.N., 2000a, Geoenvironmental models for seafloor base- and precious-metal massive sulfide deposits:  Tools for mitigation and remediation, in Proceedings, International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage 2000, May 21-24, 2000, Denver, Colo., Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., Littleton, Colo., p. 151-160. [I assisted with interpretations and with editing the manuscript.]

49. Seal II, R.R., Alpers, C.N., and Rye, R.O., 2000b, Stable isotope systematics of sulfate minerals, in Alpers, C.N., Jambor, J.L, and Nordstrom, D.K. (eds.), Sulfate Minerals: Crystallography, Geochemistry, and Environmental Significance.  Mineralogical Society of America and Geochemical Society, Washington, D.C., Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 40, p. 541-602. [I helped to define the scope and outline of the chapter and contributed to several sections, especially the section "Processes that cause stable isotopic variations"; I also edited the entire chapter.]

50. Stoffregen, R.E., Alpers, C.N., and Jambor, J.L., 2000, Alunite-jarosite crystallography, thermodynamics, and geochronology, in Alpers, C.N., Jambor, J.L, and Nordstrom, D.K. (eds.), Sulfate Minerals: Crystallography, Geochemistry, and Environmental Significance.  Mineralogical Society of America and Geochemical Society, Washington, D.C., Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 40, p. 453-479.  [I helped to define the scope and outline of the chapter and contributed to several sections, especially "Crystallographic data," "Geochemistry and occurrences," and "Geochronology"; I was responsible for production of nearly all of the illustrations and all of the tables, and I edited the entire chapter.]

2001

51. Domagalski, J.L., Knifong, D.K., Dileanis, P.D., Brown, L.R., May, J.T., Alpers, C.N., and Connor, V., 2001, Water Quality in the Sacramento River Basin, California, 1995-98. U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1215, 36 p. [I contributed material to the section on metals transport, and I edited and proofread the text of the report.]

52. Parsons, M.B., Bird, D.K., Einaudi, M.T., and Alpers, C.N, 2001, Geochemical and mineralogical controls on trace element release from the Penn Mine base-metal slag dump.  Applied Geochemistry, v. 16, p. 1567-1593. [I contributed to the study design and assisted with a portion of the field work, interpretation and screening of water-quality data, model development, illustration of results, and editing of the manuscript.]

53. Roth, D.A., Taylor, H.E., Domgalaski, J., Dileanis, P., Peart, D.B., Antweiler, R.C., and Alpers, C.N., 2001, Distribution of inorganic mercury in Sacramento River water and suspended colloidal sediment material. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, v. 40, no. 2, p. 161-172. [I designed the study, assisted with sample collection and processing, and contributed to the presentation and interpretation of the data.]

2002

54. Seal II, R.R., Hammarstrom, J.M, Foley, N.K., and Alpers, C.N., 2002, Geoenvironmental models for seafloor massive sulfide deposits, in Seal, R.R. II and Hammarstrom, J.M. (eds.) Progress on Geoenvironmental Models for Selected Mineral Deposit Types, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-195, Chapter L, p. 196-212.  http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2002/of02-195/  [I contributed data and assisted with interpretation and editing.]

2003

55. Alpers, C.N., Hunerlach, M.P., Hamlin, S.N., and Zierenberg, R.A., 2003a, Reconnaissance of Acid Drainage Sources and Preliminary Evaluation of Remedial Alternatives at the Copper Bluff Mine, Hoopa Valley Reservation, California.  U.S. Geological Survey, Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4253, 53 p. http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/wri024253

56. Alpers, C.N., Nordstrom, D.K., and Spitzley, J., 2003b, Extreme acid mine drainage from a pyritic massive sulfide deposit: The Iron Mountain end-member.  In: Jambor, J.L., Blowes, D.W., and Ritchie, A.I.M., (eds.) Environmental Aspects of Mine Wastes. Mineralogical Association of Canada, Short-Course Volume 31, p. 407-430.

57. Domagalski, J.L., Alpers, C.N., Slotton, D.G., Suchanek, T.H., Ayers, S.M., 2003a,  Mercury and methylmercury concentrations and loads in the Cache Creek Watershed, California, January 2000 through May 2001, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-3047, 105 p. http://loer.tamug.tamu.edu/calfed/Report/Final/USGSCacheloadings.pdf  [I contributed to study design, field and laboratory work, data interpretation, preparation of illustrations, and editing.]

58. Domagalski, J.L, Slotton, D.G., Alpers, C.N., Suchanek, T.H., Churchill, R., Bloom, N., Ayers, S.M., and Clinkenbeard, J., 2003b, Summary and Synthesis of Mercury Studies in the Cache Creek Watershed, California, 2000-2001. U.S. Geological Survey Water –Resources Investigations Report 03-4355, 30 p. http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/wri/wri034335/  [I contributed to study design, data interpretation, preparation of illustrations, and editing.]

59. Hunerlach, M.P, and Alpers, C.N., 2003, Mercury contamination from hydraulic gold mining in the Sierra Nevada, California, in Gray, J.E., ed., Geologic Studies of Mercury by the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1248, 41 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2003/c1248/  [I wrote about half of the report and contributed to the preparation of the illustrations.]

60. Kuwabara, J.S., Alpers, C.N., Marvin-DiPasquale, M., Topping, B.R., Carter, J.L., Stewart, A.R., Fend, S.V., Parchaso, F., Moon, G.E., and Krabbenhoft, D.P., 2003, Sediment-water interactions affecting dissolved-mercury distributions in Camp Far West Reservoir, California, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4140, 64 p. http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/wri/wri034140/  [I contributed to study design, assisted with field work, and edited the report.]

2004

61. Domagalski, J.L., Alpers, C.N., Slotton, D.G., Suchanek, T.H., Ayers, S.M., 2004, Mercury and methylmercury concentrations and loads in the Cache Creek Watershed, California. Science of the Total Environment. v. 327, p. 215-237. http://loer.tamug.tamu.edu/calfed/Report/Publications/Cachestoen.pdf  [I contributed to study design, field and laboratory work, data interpretation, preparation of illustrations, and editing.]

62. Hunerlach, M.P., Alpers, C.N., Marvin-DiPasquale, M., Taylor, H.E., and De Wild, J.F., 2004a, Geochemistry of fluvial sediment impounded behind Daguerre Point Dam, Yuba River, California, U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5165, 66 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2004/5165/  [I was responsible for the study design, shared equally in the field work, data interpretation, and writing of the report.]

63. Saiki, M.K., Slotton, D.G., May, T.W., Ayers, S., and Alpers, C.N., 2004, Summary of total mercury concentrations in fillets of selected sport fishes collected during 2000–03 from Lake Natoma, Sacramento County, California. U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 103, 21 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/ds103/ [I assisted with study design and data interpretation, wrote the section on quality assurance, assisted with preparation of illustrations, and edited the report.]

64. Snyder, N.P., Allen, J.R., Dare, C., Hampton, M.A., Schneider, G., Wooley, R.J., Alpers, C.N., and Marvin-DiPasquale, M.C., 2004a, Sediment grain-size and loss-on-ignition analyses from 2002 Englebright Lake coring and sampling campaigns:  U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2004-1080 http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1080/.  [I designed the study, supervised and assisted with the field and laboratory work, and edited the manuscript.]

65. Snyder, N.P., Alpers, C.N., Flint, L.E., Curtis, J.A., Hampton, M.A., Haskell, B.J., and Nielson, D.L., 2004b, Report on the May-June 2002 Englebright Lake deep coring campaign:  U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2004-1061 http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1061/  [I designed the study, supervised and assisted with the field  work, and edited the manuscript.]

66. Snyder, N.P., Rubin, D.M., Alpers, C.N., Childs, J.R., Curtis, J.A., Flint, L.E., and Wright, S.A., 2004c, Estimating rates and properties of sediment accumulation behind a dam: Englebright Lake, Yuba River, northern California, Water Resources Research, v. 40, W11301, doi:10.1029/2004WR003279 http://www2.bc.edu/~snyderno/snyder_etal_2004.pdf  [I designed the study, supervised and assisted with the field and laboratory work, and edited the manuscript.]

2005

67. Alpers, C.N., Hunerlach, M.P., May, J.T., and Hothem, R.L., 2005a, Mercury contamination from historical gold mining in California, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2005-3014, 6 p. http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/fs/2005/3014/

68. Alpers, C.N., Hunerlach, M.P., May, J.T., Hothem, R.L., Taylor, H.E., Antweiler, R.C., De Wild, J.F., and Lawler, D.A., 2005b, Geochemical characterization of water, sediment, and biota affected by mercury contamination and acidic drainage from historical gold mining, Greenhorn Creek, Nevada County, California, 1999–2001, U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5251, 278 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2004/5251/

69. Curtis, J.A., Flint, L.E., Alpers, C.N., and Yarnell, S.M., 2005, Conceptual model of sediment processes in the upper Yuba River watershed, Sierra Nevada, CA: Geomorphology, v. 68, p. 149-166. doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2004.11.019 [I participated in study design and interpretation of data, and I edited the manuscript.]

70. Jamieson, H.E., Robinson C., Alpers, C.N., McCleskey, R.B., Nordstrom, D.K., and Peterson, R.C., 2005a, Major and trace element composition of copiapite-group minerals and coexisting water from the Richmond Mine, Iron Mountain, California: Chemical Geology, v. 215,  p. 387-405. doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2004.10.001  [I designed the study, assisted with field and laboratory work, data interpretation, preparation of tables and figures, and edited the manuscript.]

71. Jamieson, H.E., Robinson C., Alpers, C.N., McCleskey, R.B., Nordstrom, D.K., Poustovetov, A., and Lowers, H.A., 2005b, Geochemistry of jarosite-group minerals and associated waters from the Richmond Mine, Iron Mountain, California: Canadian Mineralogist, v. 43, no. 4, p. 1225–1242.

72. May, J.M., Hothem, R.L., and Alpers, C.N., 2005, Mercury Concentrations in Fishes from Select Water Bodies in Trinity County, California, 2000-2002, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1321, 14 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1321/ [I contributed to study design, preparation of illustrations, editing, and proofreading the report.]

73. Montero-Sanchez, I.C., Brimhall, G.H., Alpers, C.N., and Swayze, G.A., 2005, Characterization of waste rock associated with acid drainage at the Penn Mine, California by ground-based visible to short-wave infrared reflectance spectroscopy assisted by digital mapping: Chemical Geology. v. 215, p. 453–472. doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2004.06.045  [I assisted with study design and data interpretation, and edited the manuscript.]

74. Saiki, M.K., Martin, B.A., May, T.W., and Alpers, C.N., 2005, Total mercury concentrations in fillets of bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass, and other fishes from Lake Natoma, Sacramento County, California: California Fish and Game, v. 91, no. 3, p. 193–206. [I assisted with study design and data interpretation, assisted with preparation of illustrations, and edited the report.]

75. Seal II, R.R., Jambor, J.L., and Alpers, C.N. (eds.), 2005a, Geochemistry of Sulfate Minerals in High- and Low-Temperature Environments: A Tribute to Robert O. Rye, Special issue of Chemical Geology, v. 215, 536 p. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00092541 [I took the lead in organizing the GSA Topical Sessions on which the special issue was based and prepared the proposal to the journal for the special issue. I acted as primary editor for 11 of the 23 papers (the low-temperature section), handling colleague reviews, correspondence with the authors, and detailed editing.]

76. Seal II, R.R., Jambor, J.L., and Alpers, C.N., 2005b, Preface, Geochemistry of Sulfate Minerals in High- and Low-Temperature Environments: A Tribute to Robert O. Rye, Special issue of Chemical Geology, v. 215, p. 1–4. [I edited the manuscript and rewrote several paragraphs.]

2006

77. Alpers, C.N., Hunerlach, M.P., Marvin-DiPasquale, M.C., Antweiler, R.C., Lasorsa, B.K., De Wild, J.F., and Snyder, N.P., 2006, Geochemical data for mercury, methylmercury, and other constituents in sediments from Englebright Lake, California, 2002: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 151, 95 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/2006/151/

78. Bambic, D.G., Alpers, C.N., Green, P.G., Fanelli, E., and Silk, W.K., 2006, Seasonal and spatial patterns of metals at a restored copper mine site: I. Stream copper and zinc: Environmental Pollution, v. 144, p. 774-782. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2006.02.019 [I rewrote much of the paper, assisted with illustrations, and helped with editing and proofreading.]

79. Bruns, T.R., Alpers, C.N., and Carlson, P., 2006, Distribution, thickness, and volume of fine-grained sediment from precipitation of metals from acid-mine waters in Keswick Reservoir, Shasta County, California: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006-1377. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1377/ [I designed the study, assisted with field work, and edited the report.]

80. Curtis, J.A., Flint, L.E., Alpers, C.N., Wright, S.A., and Snyder N.P., 2006a, Sediment transport in the upper Yuba River watershed, California, 2001–03, U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5246, 74 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2005/5246/  [I participated in study design and interpretation of data, and I edited the manuscript.]

81. Majzlan, J., Navrotsky, A., McCleskey, R.B., and Alpers, C.N., 2006, Thermodynamic properties and crystal structure refinement of ferricopiapite, coquimbite, rhomboclase, and Fe₃(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₅, European Journal of Mineralogy, v. 18, p. 175–186. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/schweiz/ejm/2006/00000018/00000002/art00004 [I assisted with interpretation of chemical data and wrote parts of the Introduction and Discussion sections.]

82. Snyder, N.P., Wright, S.A., Alpers, C.N., Flint, L.E., Holmes, C.W., and Rubin, D.M., 2006, Reconstructing depositional processes and history from reservoir stratigraphy: Englebright Lake, Yuba River, northern California: Journal of Geophysical Research, Earth Surface. v. 111, F04003. doi:10.1029/2005JF000451 [I was responsible for study design, led the field sampling effort, assisted with splitting and describing cores, and helped edit and proofread the manuscript.]

2007

83. Church, C.D., Alpers, C.N., Wilkin, R.T., and Rye, R.O., 2007, Microbial sulfate reduction and metal attenuation in pH 4 acid mine water. Geochemical Transactions. v. 8, paper 10. doi:10.1186/1467-4866-8-10   http://www.geochemicaltransactions.com/content/8/1/10  [I helped design the study, contributed to interpretation of geochemical and isotopic data, and helped edit and proofread the manuscript.]

2008

84. Alpers, C.N., Eagles-Smith, C., Foe, C., Klasing, S., Marvin-DiPasquale, M.C., Slotton, D.G., and Windham-Myers, L., 2008a, Mercury conceptual model. Sacramento, Calif.: Delta Regional Ecosystem Restoration Implementation Plan, 62 p. http://www.science.calwater.ca.gov/pdf/drerip/DRERIP_mercury_conceptual_model_final_012408.pdf

85. Alpers, C.N., Stewart, A.R., Saiki, M.K., Marvin-DiPasquale, M.C., Topping, B.R., Rider, K.M., Gallanthine, S.K., Kester, C.A., Rye, R.O., Antweiler, R.C., and De Wild, J.F., 2008b, Environmental factors affecting mercury in Camp Far West Reservoir, 2001–03. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5008, 358 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2006/5008/

86. Caruso, B.S., Cox, T.J., Runkel, R.L., Velleux, M.L., Bencala, K.E., Nordstrom, D.K., Julien, P.Y, Butler, B.A., Alpers, C.N., Marion, A., and Smith, K.S., 2008, Metals fate and transport modelling in streams and watersheds: state of the science and USEPA workshop review. Hydrologic Processes, v. 22, p. 4011–4021. DOI: 10.1002/hyp.7114 http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/121382110/ [I contributed to a small section on mercury load calculations using S-LOADEST.]

87.  Dunlap, C.E., Alpers, C.N., Taylor, H.E., Unruh, D.M., Flegal, A.R., 2008, The persistence of lead from past gasoline emissions and mining drainage in a large riparian system: evidence from lead isotopes in the Sacramento River, California. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 72, p. 5935–5948. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2008.10.006 [I designed the study, led the field sampling effort, assisted with data interpretation, and helped edit and proofread the manuscript.]

88.  Stewart, A.R., Saiki, M.K., Kuwabara, J.S., Alpers, C.N., Marvin-DiPasquale, M., and Krabbenhoft, D.P., 2008, Influence of plankton mercury dynamics and trophic pathways on mercury concentrations of top predator fish of a mining-impacted reservoir. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, v. 65, p. 2351–2366. doi:10.1139/F08-140  [I helped design the study, assisted with field work, and contributed water-quality data to the paper.  I also assisted with proofreading the galleys.]

2009

89. Marvin Di-Pasquale, M., Alpers, C.N., and Fleck, J.A., 2009, Mercury, methylmercury, and other constituents in sediment and water from seasonal and permanent wetlands in the Cache Creek Settling Basin and Yolo Bypass, Yolo County, California, 2005−06: U.S. Geological Survey, Open File Report 2009-1182, 69 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2009/1182/ [I helped design the study, assisted with field work, and contributed water-quality data to the report. I also assisted with proofreading the galleys.]

90.  Saiki, M.K., Martin, B.A., May, T.W., and Alpers, C.N., 2009, Mercury contamination in fish from a Sierra Nevada foothill reservoir located downstream from historic gold-mining operations.  Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 14 p. doi:10.1007/s10661-009-0836-6. Published online March 13, 2009. [I helped design the study, assisted with writing introductory sections of the article, and help proofread the galleys.]

2010

91.  Tangalos, G.E., Beard, B.L., Johnson, C.M., Alpers, C.N., Shelobolina, E.S., Xu, H., Konishi, H., and Roden, E.E., 2010, Microbial production of isotopically light iron(II) in a modern chemically precipitated sediment and implications for isotopic variations in ancient rocks: Geobiology, v. 8, p. 197-208.  DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-4669.2010.00237.x

92. Windham-Myers L., Marvin-DiPasquale M., Fleck J., Alpers C. N., Ackerman J., Eagles-Smith C., Stricker C., Stephenson M., Feliz D., Gill G., Bachand P., Brice A. and Kulakow R., 2010, Methylmercury cycling, bioaccumulation, and export from agricultural and non-agricultural wetlands in the Yolo Bypass. U.S. Geological Survey Cooperator Report to California State Water Resources Control Board, Agreement 06-232-555-0, 266 p. http://swrcb2.swrcb.ca.gov/centralvalley/water_issues/tmdl/central_valley_projects/delta_hg/other_technical_reports/

2011

93. Fleck, J.A., Alpers, C.N., Marvin-DiPasquale, M., Hothem, R.L., Wright, S.A., Ellett, K., Beaulieu, E., Agee, J.L., Kakouros, E., Kieu, L.H., Eberl, D.D., Blum, A.E., and May, J.T., 2011, The effects of sediment and mercury mobilization in the South Yuba River and Humbug Creek confluence area, Nevada County, California: Concentrations, speciation, and environmental fate—Part 1: Field characterization: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2010-1325A, 104 p.  http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2010/1325A

94. Marvin-DiPasquale, M., Agee, J.L., Kakouros, E., Kieu, L.H., Fleck, J.A., and Alpers, C.N., 2011, The effects of sediment and mercury mobilization in the South Yuba River and Humbug Creek confluence area, Nevada County, California: Concentrations, speciation and environmental fate—Part 2: Laboratory experiments: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2010−1325B, 54 p.  http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2010/1325B

95. Porter, Keith, Wein, Anne, Alpers, Charles, Baez, Allan, Barnard, Patrick, Carter, James, Corsi, Alessandra, Costner, James, Cox, Dale, Das, Tapash, Dettinger, Michael, Done, James, Eadie, Charles, Eymann, Marcia, Ferris, Justin, Gunturi, Prasad, Hughes, Mimi, Jarrett, Robert, Johnson, Laurie, Dam Le-Griffin, Hanh, Mitchell, David, Morman, Suzette, Neiman, Paul, Olsen, Anna, Perry, Suzanne, Plumlee, Geoffrey, Ralph, Martin, Reynolds, David, Rose, Adam, Schaefer, Kathleen, Serakos, Julie, Siembieda, William, Stock, Jonathon, Strong, David, Sue Wing, Ian, Tang, Alex, Thomas, Pete, Topping, Ken, and Wills, Chris; Jones, Lucile, Chief Scientist, Cox, Dale, Project Manager, 2011, Overview of the ARkStorm scenario: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2010-1312, 183 p. and appendixes. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2010/1312/

My Science Topics

My USGS Science Strategy Areas

- acid mine drainage

- sulfate minerals

- mercury fate and transport

- arsenic bioavailability and bioaccessibility