Gold King Mine’s toxic spill
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This month 3 million gallons of toxic material from a defunct gold mine flowed into the Animas River in Colorado, raising concerns about the possible long-term damage from the spill. Here’s how the disaster unfolded as the toxic plume made its way downriver.
Lake Powell
utah
COLORADO
arizona
NEW MEXICO
Detailed
Aug. 5
3 million gallons of mine waste are released after debris blocking the mine opening gives way during a clean-up operation.
GOLD KING MINE
The mine waste flows into Cement Creek, which feeds into the Animas River.
Cement Creek
Silverton
Aug. 5
Plume
Path of mine’s waste spill
The sludge turns the river water bright yellow. The color will change as the plume advances.
Aug. 7
Aug. 6
At Gold King Mine, discharge rate: 740 gallons per minute.
The waste plume reaches Durango by 8 p.m.
Durango
Cages with fish are placed in the river near Durango to monitor their reactions to the plume; two days later, one of the 108 fish dies.
COLORADO
NEW MEXICO
Aztec
Navajo dam
Farmington
Aug. 7
Aug. 8
Aug. 7
Plume reaches river confluence by morning. Gold King Mine discharge rate: 500 gallons per minute.
Farmington: All water intake pumps are shut down.
Navajo Dam’s water release is increased to dilute river contaminants.
Plume
Speed: 4 mph
Appearance: Muddy orange
Aug. 9
Aug. 8
EPA increases estimate of spill from 1 million gallons to 3 million gallons.
Plume reaches Kirtland by the afternoon and Nenahnezad by 3 p.m.
Plume
Speed: 2.5 mph
GOLD KING MINE
Silverton
Lake Powell
COLORADO
utah
Nenahnezad
arizona
Farmington
Lake Powell
Shiprock
Kirtland
NEW MEXICO
Aug. 12
Aug. 11
Aug. 10
After sample review, Utah Department of Health recom-
mends not drinking and washing at San Juan River.
At Shiprock, water
pH levels shows no acidity due to dilution.
Plume not visible.
Plume
Appearance: Red
What is in the mine waste?
The waste released from the Gold King Mine contains metal compounds that are linked to harmful side effects if consumed or someone comes into contact with them.
Arsenic: Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, feet and hand numbness, partial paralysis and blindness.
Copper: Gastrointestinal distress to liver or kidney damage.
Lead: Delays in physical or mental development, kidney problems and high blood pressure.
Manganese: Affects visual reaction time, hand steadiness and eye-hand coordination.
Zinc: Diarrhea, abdominal pain or vomiting.
The mine waste got deluted during the process as it made its way through the Animas River.
Lake Powell
utah
COLORADO
NEW MEXICO
arizona
Lake Powell
Detailed
Aug. 5
3 million gallons of mine waste are released after debris blocking the mine opening gives way during a clean-up operation.
GOLD KING MINE
The mine waste flows into Cement Creek, which feeds into the Animas River.
Cement Creek
Silverton
Aug. 5
Plume
The sludge turns the river water bright yellow. The color will change as the plume advances.
Path of mine’s waste spill
Aug. 6
The waste plume reaches Durango by 8 p.m.
Cages with fish are placed in the river near Durango to monitor their reactions to the plume; two days later, one of the 108 fish dies.
Durango
COLORADO
NEW MEXICO
Aug. 7
Aug. 7
At Gold King Mine, discharge rate: 740 gallons per minute.
Farmington: All water intake pumps are shut down.
Aztec
Navajo dam
Farmington
Aug. 7
Navajo Dam’s water release is increased to dilute river contaminants.
Aug. 8
Plume
Plume reaches river confluence by morning. Gold King Mine discharge rate: 500 gallons per minute.
Speed: 4 mph
Appearance: Muddy orange
Aug. 11
Aug. 9
Aug. 8
Aug. 10
At Shiprock, water
pH levels shows no acidity due to dilution.
EPA increases estimate of spill from 1 million gallons to 3 million gallons.
Plume reaches Kirtland by the afternoon and Nenahnezad by 3 p.m.
Plume not visible.
Plume
Plume
Speed: 2.5 mph
Appearance: Red
GOLD KING MINE
Silverton
Moctezuma Creek
Bluff
Aneth
Lake Powell
Mexican Hat
COLORADO
utah
NEW MEXICO
arizona
Farmington
Lake Powell
Shiprock
Nenahnezad
Kirtland
Aug. 12
After sample review, Utah Department of Health recommends not drinking and washing at San Juan River.
What is in the mine waste?
The waste released from the Gold King Mine contains metal compounds that are linked to harmful side effects if consumed or someone comes into contact with them.
Arsenic: Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, feet and hand numbness, partial paralysis and blindness.
Copper: Gastrointestinal distress to liver or kidney damage.
Lead: Delays in physical or mental development, kidney problems and high blood pressure.
Manganese: Affects visual reaction time, hand steadiness and eye-hand coordination.
Zinc: Diarrhea, abdominal pain or vomiting.
The mine waste got deluted during the process as it made its way through the Animas River.
Aug. 5
3 million gallons of mine waste are released after debris blocking the mine opening gives way during a clean-up operation.
Lake Powell
utah
COLORADO
NEW MEXICO
arizona
Lake Powell
Detailed
What is in the mine waste?
The waste released from the Gold King Mine contains some metal compounds that are linked to harmful side effects if consumed or someone comes into contact with them.
GOLD KING MINE
Arsenic: Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, feet and hand numbness, partial paralysis and blindness.
Cement Creek
Silverton
The mine waste flows into Cement Creek, which feeds into the Animas River.
Copper: Gastrointestinal distress to liver or kidney damage.
Lead: Delays in physical or mental development, kidney problems and high blood pressure.
Aug. 5
Plume
The sludge turns the river water bright yellow. The color will change as the plume advances.
Manganese: Affects visual reaction time, hand steadiness and eye-hand coordination.
Electra Lake
Zinc: Diarrhea, abdominal pain or vomiting.
San Juan National Forest
Path of mine’s waste spill
The mine waste got deluted during the process as it made its way through the Animas River.
Aug. 6
Lake Nighthorse
The waste plume reaches Durango by 8 p.m.
Durango
Cages with fish are placed in the river near Durango to monitor their reactions to the plume; two days later, one of the 108 fish dies.
COLORADO
NEW MEXICO
Aug. 7
Aug. 7
Farmington: All water intake pumps are shut down.
At Gold King Mine, discharge rate: 740 gallons per minute.
Aztec
Navajo dam
Aug. 7
Farmington
Navajo Dam’s water release is increased to dilute river contaminants.
Aug. 8
Plume
Plume reaches river confluence by morning. Gold King Mine discharge rate: 500 gallons per minute.
Speed: 4 mph
Appearance: Muddy orange
Aug. 11
Aug. 10
Aug. 9
Aug. 8
Plume not visible.
At Shiprock, water
pH levels shows no acidity due to dilution.
EPA increases estimate of spill from 1 million gallons to 3 million gallons.
Plume reaches Kirtland by the afternoon and Nenahnezad by 3 p.m.
Plume
Plume
Speed: 2.5 mph
Appearance: Red
GOLD KING MINE
Silverton
Moctezuma Creek
Bluff
Aneth
Lake Powell
Mexican Hat
COLORADO
utah
arizona
NEW MEXICO
Lake Powell
Farmington
Shiprock
Nenahnezad
Kirtland
Aug. 12
After sample review, Utah Department of Health recommends not drinking and washing at San Juan River.
Aug. 5
3 million gallons of mine waste are released after debris blocking the mine opening gives way during a clean-up operation.
Lake Powell
COLORADO
utah
arizona
NEW MEXICO
Lake Powell
Detailed
What is in the mine waste?
The waste released from the Gold King Mine contains metal compounds that are linked to harmful side effects if consumed or someone comes into contact with them.
GOLD KING MINE
Cement Creek
Silverton
Arsenic: Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, feet and hand numbness, partial paralysis and blindness.
The mine waste flows into Cement Creek, which feeds into the Animas River.
Copper: Gastrointestinal distress to liver or kidney damage.
Aug. 5
Plume
Lead: Delays in physical or mental development, kidney problems and high blood pressure.
The sludge turns the river water bright yellow. The color will change as the plume advances.
Electra Lake
Path of mine’s waste spill
Manganese: Affects visual reaction time, hand steadiness and eye-hand coordination.
San Juan National Forest
Zinc: Diarrhea, abdominal pain or vomiting.
The mine waste got deluted during the process as it made its way through the Animas River.
Aug. 6
The waste plume reaches Durango by 8 p.m.
Lake Nighthorse
Durango
Cages with fish are placed in the river near Durango to monitor their reactions to the plume; two days later, one of the 108 fish dies.
COLORADO
NEW MEXICO
Aug. 7
Aug. 7
Farmington: All water intake pumps are shut down.
At Gold King Mine, discharge rate: 740 gallons per minute.
Aztec
Navajo dam
Farmington
Aug. 7
Navajo Dam’s water release is increased to dilute river contaminants.
Aug. 8
Plume
Plume reaches river confluence by morning. Gold King Mine discharge rate: 500 gallons per minute.
Speed: 4 mph
Appearance: Muddy orange
Aug. 11
Aug. 9
Aug. 8
Aug. 10
GOLD KING MINE
Plume not visible.
At Shiprock, water
pH levels shows no acidity due to dilution.
EPA increases estimate of spill from 1 million gallons to 3 million gallons.
Plume reaches Kirtland by the afternoon and Nenahnezad by 3 p.m.
Plume
Silverton
Appearance: Red
Plume
Speed: 2.5 mph
Moctezuma Creek
Bluff
Aneth
Lake Powell
Mexican Hat
COLORADO
utah
arizona
NEW MEXICO
Lake Powell
Farmington
Shiprock
Aug. 12
Nenahnezad
Kirtland
After sample review, Utah Department of Health recommends not drinking and washing at San Juan River.
Aug. 5
3 million gallons of mine waste are released after debris blocking the mine opening gives way during a clean-up operation.
GOLD KING MINE
Lake Powell
Cement Creek
COLORADO
utah
arizona
NEW MEXICO
Lake Powell
Silverton
Detailed
The mine waste flows into Cement Creek, which feeds into the Animas River.
What is in the mine waste?
The waste released from the Gold King Mine contains metal compounds that are linked to harmful side effects if consumed or someone comes into contact with them.
Aug. 5
Plume
The sludge turns the river water bright yellow. The color will change as the plume advances.
Electra Lake
Arsenic: Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, feet and hand numbness, partial paralysis and blindness.
Path of mine’s waste spill
Copper: Gastrointestinal distress to liver or kidney damage.
San Juan National Forest
Lead: Delays in physical or mental development, kidney problems and high blood pressure.
Manganese: Affects visual reaction time, hand steadiness and eye-hand coordination.
Lake Nighthorse
Aug. 6
The waste plume reaches Durango by 8 p.m.
Zinc: Diarrhea, abdominal pain or vomiting.
Durango
Cages with fish are placed in the river near Durango to monitor their reactions to the plume; two days later, one of the 108 fish dies.
The mine waste got deluted during the process as it made its way through the Animas River.
COLORADO
NEW MEXICO
Aug. 8
Aug. 7
Aug. 7
Aug. 7
Farmington: All water intake pumps are shut down.
At Gold King Mine, discharge rate: 740 gallons per minute.
Plume reaches river confluence by morning. Gold King Mine discharge rate: 500 gallons per minute.
Navajo Dam’s water release is increased to dilute river contaminants.
Aztec
Plume
Speed: 4 mph
Appearance: Muddy orange
Navajo dam
Farmington
Aug. 12
Aug. 11
Aug. 10
Aug. 9
Aug. 8
GOLD KING MINE
At Shiprock, water
pH levels shows no acidity due to dilution.
After sample review, Utah Department of Health recommends not drinking and washing at San Juan River.
Plume not visible.
EPA increases estimate of spill from 1 million gallons to 3 million gallons.
Plume reaches Kirtland by the afternoon and Nenahnezad by 3 p.m.
Silverton
Plume
Appearance: Red
Moctezuma Creek
Plume
Bluff
Speed: 2.5 mph
Lake Powell
Aneth
Mexican Hat
utah
COLORADO
arizona
NEW MEXICO
Lake Powell
Farmington
Shiprock
Nenahnezad
Kirtland
Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Times reports
Lorena Iñiguez Elebee @latimesgraphics
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