86 



R. T. Prentki et al. 



concentrations are 2- to 4-fold higher than values reported for Linsley 

 Pond, but are well within the range normally found in noncalcareous 

 sediments. 



TRACE METALS 



Total dissolved copper, lead, and zinc in Pond B in 1971 and Ponds B 

 and C in 1972 were analyzed by anodic stripping voltammetry. Pond B in 

 1972 had aberrantly high trace metal concentrations, apparently caused by 

 contamination from equipment buried close to the pond; therefore, only 

 Pond B 1971 and Pond C 1972 data were used to construct averages. 



Copper averaged 1.0 ^g liter ^ (6 analyses), lead 0.7 ^g liter"' (5 

 analyses) and zinc 4.9 ^lg liter ' (one analysis). The 1972 Pond B samples 

 averaged 2- to 3-fold higher than these, with copper concentrations 

 reaching 10 ^g liter ~ ' in early August (Figure 4-6). 



The trace metal concentrations in the uncontaminated ponds are very 

 similar to those of other northern Alaskan lake waters summarized in 

 Hobbie ( 1 973). Kalff ( 1 968) however has reported much higher amounts of 

 trace metals in his Barrow Pond III, including 14 ^g Cu and 55 ^g Zn 

 liter"'. Brown et al. (1962) have analyzed trace metals in a large number 

 of streams and lakes throughout northern Alaska, but the concentration 

 procedure they used precludes comparisons outside their own data. The 

 ponds and northern Alaskan waters in general are low in trace metals 

 compared to most temperate fresh waters: Hutchinson (1957) quotes an 

 average of 26 Mg Pb and 62 ng Zn liter"' for North American waters and 



12 



10 



4. 



a. 

 a. 



8 4 



I I 1 1 1 r- 



PondB 

 1972. 



20 



Jun 



10 20 

 Jul 



10 20 

 Aug 



FIGURE 4-6. Concentration of total dissolved 

 copper in Ponds B and C, 1971-1972. 



