Discovered in 1793, the Elizabeth mine is an abandoned copper mine located in Orange County, Vermont. According to the Untied States Environmental Protection Agency, “the ore was initially valued for its iron content, and then its pyrrhotite content from which copperas (iron sulfate) was produced. Circa 1830, the deposit was primarily exploited for its copper content based upon the recognition that a significant amount of chalcopyrite (copper iron sulfide) was disseminated in the pyrrhotite.” The mine was used from the early 1800s until early 1958. It produced 100.5 million pounds of copper in its lifetime.

The mine is restricted from use because there is a level of contamination found at the site. There is a high level of waste at this site, as there are mine tailings piles, waste rock piles, and heap leach piles. Due to the waste, acid mine drainage and metal (iron and copper) contaminated the nearby water that ran through local communities. The effects of this water contamination are detrimental to human health. According to First Nations Environmental Health Innovation Network, because the water is contaminated, it can cause lung and skin issues if consumed.

Cleanup at the Elizabeth mine included treated the water contaminated by the mine, as well as converting the site into 27 acres of solar arrays in order to generate energy. While this was an expensive project for the community, the cleanup process reduced about 99% of the copper and iron levels in the water, as well as powering about 1,200 homes in Vermont (VTDIGGER). The cleanup process at this mine site not only corrected the water contamination, but reversed its environmental impact.

References:

https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.Cleanup&id=0102071#bkground

Long-running Elizabeth Mine Superfund cleanup begins final phase – VTDigger

Acid-Mine-Drainage-FNEHIN.pdf (focs.ca)