Bach, L. & Larsen, M.B. 2018. Environmental monitoring at the Nalunaq Gold Mine, South Greenland, 2017. Aarhus University, DCE – Danish Centre for Environment and Energy, 34 pp. Scientific Report from DCE – Danish Centre for Environment and Energy No. 278. http://dce2.au.dk/pub/SR278.pdf
The mining company Angel Mining Gold A/S closed its gold production in the Nalunaq area in November 2013 after which the area was decommissioned and restored until August 2014. This thirteenth environmental monitoring was conducted to detect any undesired environmental impacts of the former mining industry. The content of 12 metals was determined in the marine, the freshwater and the terrestrial environment to reveal potential spreading 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 further actions are needed to be taken to reduce the environmental impact. Due to the use of cyanide, cyanide outflow from the mine to the Kirkespir Valley was monitored during the production period. In 2017, no signs of cyanide could be detected in any of the samples from the freshwater environment.
Environmental monitoring will continue for minimum five years after the closure and will expectedly be completed with environmental studies in 2019.
