Glahder, C.M., Asmund, G. & Riget, F. 2009: Environmental monitoring at the Nalunaq Gold Mine, South Greenland, 2008. National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Denmark. 30 pp. – NERI Technical Report No. 698.

 

Summary

This fifth monitoring study was carried out in the Nalunaq gold mining area, Nanortalik, South Greenland, on 20-27 August 2008. Fourteen shipments of ore had been transported to Canada for gold extraction since the last monitoring study performed July 2007.

 

Blue mussels, brown seaweed and shorthorn sculpin were sampled at 4 marine stations in the Kirkespir Bay, resident Arctic char were caught in the river and lichens Cetraria nivalis were collected at 20 stations in the valley and along the bay. In addition, lichens were transplanted from an uncontaminated area (AMI1) to the mining area (Fig. 1). Collected samples were analysed for 12 elements (Hg, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, As, Se, Co, Mo and Au) and the results were compared both to background levels and to pervious monitoring studies.

 

No elevated concentrations were found in mussels and sculpin livers, while seaweed had slightly elevated Co concentrations at one sampling station. Co was also elevated in seaweed from the same station in 2006 and 2007. The impact from the mining activities on the marine environment was in 2008 found to be very low.

 

In resident Arctic char livers no concentrations were elevated. In previous years, Cr, Co and Cd were slightly elevated in 2004 and 2006, while no elevations were found in 2005 and 2007.

 

In lichens, concentrations of Cu, Cr, As and Co were, like in previous years, significantly elevated compared to the background level in the depot and the camp area. Elevations in the two areas in 2008 were 4-5 times for Cu and Cr, 19 times for As and 9 times for Co. Concentrations of the four metals in the two areas during the period 2004-2008 showed differences in temporal trends. Concentrations of As and Co increased significantly during the period in both areas, whereas concentrations of Cu and Cr did not show significant temporal trends during the period. As was the only metal that showed differences between the two areas, with significantly higher levels in the camp area. The relationship between the concentrations of Cu, Cr, As and Co in lichens and the distance to the gravel road was tested; the test included differences in levels among years. All concentrations of the four metals showed a significantly decrease with increasing distance. Metal concentrations above the background level could, as in previous years, be found to a distance of about 1000 m from the road. 

 

It is remarkable that transplanted lichens in just one year had concentrations equal or even higher than in lichens growing naturally in the Kirkespir area. This indicates higher dust pollution in some areas (e.g. the pier and depot areas) in 2007-2008 than in 2006-2007.

 

In 2008, an impact from the mining activities was primarily seen in the Kirkespir Valley and originated from dust dispersal. For the first time temporal trends with increasing concentrations of As and Co in lichens were demonstrated.

 

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