Gert Asmund, David Boertmann & Poul Johansen, Department of Arctic Environment, National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University.
Olivine has been mined and exported at Seqi in <st1:place w:st="on">West Greenland</st1:place> since 2005. In 2004 and 2005 baseline studies were performed in order to describe the occurrence of fish, marine bottom invertebrates (crabs and shrimps), and birds in the area and to obtain information on sediment characteristics. An area in the inner parts of Tasiussarsuaq, close to the olivine deposit, was found to be anoxic at depths greater than 100 m. To assess possible impacts of the olivine deposit prior to mining, a range of elements was analysed in lichens, brown seaweed and blue mussels before the olivine mining started. There were no measurable natural elevations of elements originating from the olivine deposit.
In 2007 a spreading of dust was indicated after the mining started. The dust contains elevated concentrations of chromium and nickel and some other elements as reflected in the increased levels of these elements in lichens collected close to Seqi. In seaweed and blue mussels this dusting has resulted in elevated concentrations of chromium and nickel, but only at one station very close to the deposit. No chromium or nickel pollution could be detected in fish or in water samples from the lake. Thus the effect of the mine is very local.
Full report in english (2 MB)
