Ore Knob consists of three distinct areas of former mining activity: the 19th century operations area, 1950s mine and mill, and the main tailings pile or tailings impoundment. The mine intermittently produced copper ore from the 1850s to 1962, with most mining occurring in 1873 to 1883 and 1957 to 1962. Ore Knob primarily produced copper; however, iron, silver, and gold were also mined. Residences are currently located on some portions of the property, and other areas are used for limited recreational activities.
Five sources of contamination have been identified on the property including: a 20-acre tailings pile, a two-acre tailings pile; two areas of contaminated soil, and multiple piles that were aggregated into one waste pile source. About four mine adits (that discharge low pH water) are also located at Ore Knob. Hazardous substances detected in the sources on the property and nearby surface water bodies include arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, and zinc. Polychlorinated biphenyls and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons have also been detected in site soil samples.
Acid mine drainage from the three principal source areas has degraded downstream waters, including the entire 1.5-mile length of Ore Knob Branch, the entire 2.25-mile length of Little Peak Creek, about 2.9 miles of Peak Creek from its confluence with Ore Knob Branch to its confluence with South Fork New River, and South Fork New River for an unknown distance downstream of Peak Creek. The increased load caused by mining disturbances in the Ore Knob Branch and Little Peak Creek watersheds results in an annual discharge of 28.6 tons of dissolved metals and 518 tons of sulfate to South Fork New River. A study of biological taxa concluded that life could not be sustained in Ore Knob Branch due to high metals concentrations and low pH. Copper and aluminum concentrations in reaches of Peak Creek and Little Peak Creek affected by acid mine drainage have resulted in acute toxicity.
Source. US EPA