John Chermak

Adjunct Geochemistry Faculty and Instructor

5107 Derring Hall

+1.540.231.1785 (Phone)

+1.540.231.3386 (FAX)

4044 Derring Hall (0420)
Blacksburg, VA 24061

Ph.D., Virginia Tech, 1989

Appointments

1/2004 - present
Geosciences Instructor, Virginia Tech

6/2003 - present
Senior Geochemist/Environmental Consultant

9/2003 - 12/2003
Chemistry Laboratory Instructor, Roanoke College, Roanoke VA

1994 - 6/2003
Senior Geochemist, Project Manager and Staff Manager,
MFG/Shepherd Miller, Inc., Fort Collins, CO

1993 - 1994
Assistant Professor,
Department of Geology, Georgia State University

1990 - 1993
Post Doctoral Research Assistant,
University of Bern, Switzerland

1988 - 1989
Research Assistant,
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Summer 1988
Geochemist, ARCO Oil & Gas Company, Plano, TX

1984
Geochemist, United States Geological Survey, Reston, VA

Teaching Experience

Introductory Geology
Introductory Environmental Geology
Environmental Geology
Clay Minerals Seminar
Laboratory Courses given:
Introductory Geology
Introductory Environmental Geology
Introductory Historical Geology
Engineering Geology
Environmental Resources Geology
Hydrogeology
Aqueous Geochemistry
Introduction to Chemistry

Research Experience

Determined the reaction rates of lead and zinc sulfide in the weathering environment as applied to acid rock drainage and stream contamination

Evaluated the interactions of soils and organics associated with petroleum using surface geochemical techniques

Estimated the thermodynamic properties of numerous silicate minerals

Determined the rate of transformation of kaolinite to muscovite

Characterized and evaluated the reactions that occur in shales under high pH conditions

Collected and analyzed water and rock data relevant to low and high-level radioactive waste disposal in Switzerland and the United States.

Characterized numerous clay minerals using scanning force microscopy

Determined changes in water quality due to sulfate-salt dissolution in a large watershed

Evaluated the mineral reactions and the effectiveness of self-sealing hardpan barriers on infiltration through sulfide material

Characterized hydrologic conditions for a watershed during storm events

Evaluated numerous water treatment alternatives that would effectively remove dissolved metals from a creek.

Determined water quality controlling geochemical reactions in several pit lakes

Representative Consulting Experience

Dr. Chermak has been actively involved in the geochemical and hydrologic aspects of mining or industrial activities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Tennessee, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming, and internationally in Australia, Bolivia, Indonesia, Peru, Portugal, Norway, and Switzerland. His experience includes:

Managed interdisciplinary teams to evaluate the geochemistry and hydrology at several large mine sites including risk based river and stream evaluation of dissolved constituents

Proposed and implemented closure plans for numerous metal mines. Closure and associated water management issues addressed include; heap leach facilities, waste rock piles, tailings impoundments, pit lakes, and development of passive treatment systems

Evaluated numerous cost-effective water treatment alternatives for a large drainage basin

Planned and implemented site characterization studies and remedial alternatives for several large mine sites

Determined natural background concentrations of mining impacted areas

Evaluated the effectiveness of self-sealing hardpan barriers on infiltration through overburden, ore, and tailings piles at numerous mine sites

Evaluated numerous tailings and waste rock cap and cover alternatives which ultimately were constructed

Designed and implemented horizontal drains in a large active landslide area

Installed and monitored numerous groundwater wells used for water quality characterization

Developed an interim water treatment plan addressing acid rock drainage site issues for a large mine site in Indonesia

Designed and implemented lime water treatment systems using the Neutra-mill for acid rock drainage issues in pit lakes and on tailings pond

Designed and implemented sampling programs to determine acid generating potential of waste rock and tailings

Short Courses, Seminars, and Workshops

Acid Drainage Technology Initiative, 1997-present. A member of a working group which is in the process of developing a summary of possible mitigation methods dealing with acid rock drainage issues at mining and milling sites in the United States.

Integrated Mining and Land Reclamation Planning Short Course, April, 1997, 1999, 2001, Reno, Nevada. Analyzing, Controlling, and Reducing Environmental Risks of Acid Rock Drainage. Pit Lake Water Quality and Acid Rock Drainage: Conceptualization, Prediction, Mitigation, and Regulatory Issues. Successful Mine Closure.

Northwest Mining Association Annual Meeting, Seminar Chairman on Natural Background Determination, 1997, Spokane, Washington. Speaker on Methodology for Determining Natural Background Chemistry at Former Mining and Milling Sites, Iron Mountain, California.

Publications

Chermak, J.A., B. Wielinga, G. Wyatt, and F.K. Miller. 2004. "Cost-effective metals removal from a large mining-impacted watershed in South-Eastern Tennessee." Environmental Science and Technology, In Prep.

Chermak, J.A., J. Taylor. 2004. "Cost-effective acid rock drainage water treatment applied to mining-impacted watersheds." The Americam Society of Mining and Reclamation, In Prep.

Colarusso, L.A., J.A. Chermak, J.C. Priscu, and F.K. Miller. 2003. "Modeling pit lake water column stability using Ce-Qual-W2." In Proceedings of the tenth International Conference on Tailings and Mine Waste. Vail, Colorado. October. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam.

Hannula, S.R., K.J. Esposito, J.A. Chermak, D.D. Runnells, D.C. Keith, and L.E. Hall. 2003. "Estimating groundwater discharge by hydrograph separation, Iron Mountain, CA." Groundwater, vol. 41, No. 3, pp. 368-375.

Keith, D.C., D.D. Runnells, K.J. Esposito, J.A. Chermak, D.B. Levy, S.R. Hannula, M. Watts, and L. Hall. 2001. "Geochemical models of the impact of acidic groundwater and evaporative salts on Boulder Creek at Iron Mountain, California." Applied Geochemistry, vol. 16, pp. 947-961.

Keith, D.C., D.D. Runnells, K.J. Esposito, J.A. Chermak, and S.R. Hannula. 1999. "Efflorescent sulfate salts – Chemistry, mineralogy, and effects on ARD Streams." In Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Tailings and Mine Waste. Fort Collins, Colorado. January 24-27. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam.

Hannula, S.R., D.C. Keith, K.J. Esposito, J.A. Chermak, and D.D. Runnells. 1999. "Estimating groundwater discharge by hydrograph separation, Iron Mountain, CA." In Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Tailings and Mine Waste. Fort Collins, Colorado. January 24-27. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam.

Chermak, J.A. and D.D. Runnells. 1997. "Development of Chemical Caps in Acid Rock Drainage Environments." Mining Engineering, June, 5 pp.

Chermak, J. A. and D.D. Runnells. 1996. "Self-sealing Hardpan Barriers to Minimize Infiltration of Water into Sulfide-bearing Overburden, Ore, and Tailings Piles." Tailings and Mine Waste ‘96, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 265-273.

Dove, P.M. and J.A. Chermak. 1994. "Mineral Water Interactions: Fluid Cell Applications of Scanning Force Microscopy." CMS Workshop Lectures, vol. 7.

Rimstidt, J.D., J.A. Chermak, and P.M. Gagen. 1994. "Rates of Reaction of Galena, Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite, and Arsenopyrite with Ferric Iron in Acidic Solutions." Environmental Geochemistry of Sulfide Oxidation, ACS Symposium #550, pp. 2-13.

Chermak, J.A. 1993. "Low Temperature Experimental Investigation of the Effect of High pH KOH Solutions on the Opalinus Shale, Switzerland." Clays and Clay Minerals, vol. 41, pp. 365-372.

Chermak, J.A. 1992. "Low Temperature Experimental Investigation of the Effect of High pH NaOH Solutions on the Opalinus Shale, Switzerland." Clays and Clay Minerals, vol. 40, pp. 650-658.

Chermak, J.A. and J.D. Rimstidt. 1990. "The Hydrothermal Transformation Rate of Kaolinite to Muscovite/Illite." Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta, vol. 54, pp. 2979-2990.

Chermak, J.A. and J.D. Rimstidt. 1990. "Estimating the Free Energy of Formation of Silicate Minerals at High Temperatures from the Sum of Polyhedral Contributions." American Mineralogist, vol. 75, pp. 1376-1380.

Chermak, J.A. and J.D. Rimstidt. 1989. "The Estimation of Thermodynamic Properties (ΔG⁰_f and ΔH⁰_f) of Silicate Minerals at 298 K from the Sum of Polyhedral Contributions." American Mineralogist, vol. 74, pp. 1023-1031.