Geochemistry of Nettle Creek, Champaign County, Ohio

Abstract

Nettle Creek, located in Champaign County Ohio, was sampled on October 1, 1997. The results of the analyzed samples show that the concentrations of major and minor elements are consistent with the Paleozoic carbonate rocks that underlie glacial drift in this area and do not vary significantly downstream with one exception. Sample N-8 has unusually high concentrations of Sr (1 1,160 ppb), Na (1 66 ppm), K (1 0,626 ppb), P (1,120 ppb), Mo (35 ppb), Ni (18 ppb), and Zn (12 ppb). The concentrations of Mg and Ca in this sample are slightly below average. The anomalous chemical composition of sample N-8 is due to the discharge of wastewater from domestic septic systems in Millerstown, which is located close to where sample N-8 was collected. The source of the high Sr concentration in the wastewater could be Sr-rich groundwater recovered in wells by the inhabitants of Millerstown.