Bach, L & Larsen, MB. 2016. Environmental monitoring at the Nalunaq Gold Mine, South Greenland, 2015. Aarhus University, DCE – Danish Centre for Environment and Energy, 30 pp. Scientific Report from DCE – Danish Centre for Environment and Energy No. 181. http://dce2.au.dk/pub/SR181.pdf
This twelfth environmental monitoring was conducted in the Nalunaq area to discover and avoid unwanted environmental impacts of the former mining industry. Since the monitoring in 2014, the area has been without any activity. The mining company Angel Mining Gold A/S closed its gold production in November 2013 whereafter the Nalunaq area was affected by decommissioning and restoration until August 2014. The gold was extracted by chemical extraction with cyanide (carbon-in-pulp). Due to the use of cyanide, the outflow of cyanide from the mine to the Kirkespir Valley has been monitored during the production period, and monitoring will continue for five years after the closure. Also, extensive monitoring has been conducted to reveal release of metals into the Kirkespir Valley and the Kirkespir Bay environment. The content of metals in the terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environment in the Kirkespir Valley and Bay is decreasing and is considered minor. DCE and GINR assess that no requirement for further actions to reduce the environmental impact is needed.
Environmental monitoring will continue in 2016 and 2019.
