TY - JOUR
T1 - Contamination of arctic Fjord sediments by Pb-Zn mining at Maarmorilik in central West Greenland
AU - Perner, Kerstin
AU - Leipe, Thomas
AU - Dellwig, O
AU - Kuijpers, Anton
AU - Mikkelsen, Naja
AU - Andersen, Thorbjørn Joest
AU - Harff, null
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - This study focuses on heavy metal contamination of arctic sediments from a small Fjord system adjacent to the Pb-Zn "Black Angel" mine (West Greenland) to investigate the temporal and spatial development of contamination and to provide baseline levels before the mines re-opening in January 2009. For this purpose we collected multi-cores along a transect from Affarlikassaa Fjord, which received high amounts of tailings from 1973 to 1990, to the mouth of Qaumarujuk Fjord. Along with radiochemical dating by 210Pb and 137Cs, geochemical analyses of heavy metals (e.g. As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Zn) were carried out. Maximum contents were found at 12 cm depth in Affarlikassaa. After 17 years the mine last closed, specific local hydrographic conditions continue to disperse heavy metal enriched material derived from the Affarlikassaa into Qaumarujuk. Total Hg profiles from multi-cores along the transect clearly illustrate this transport and spatial distribution pattern of the contaminated material.
AB - This study focuses on heavy metal contamination of arctic sediments from a small Fjord system adjacent to the Pb-Zn "Black Angel" mine (West Greenland) to investigate the temporal and spatial development of contamination and to provide baseline levels before the mines re-opening in January 2009. For this purpose we collected multi-cores along a transect from Affarlikassaa Fjord, which received high amounts of tailings from 1973 to 1990, to the mouth of Qaumarujuk Fjord. Along with radiochemical dating by 210Pb and 137Cs, geochemical analyses of heavy metals (e.g. As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Zn) were carried out. Maximum contents were found at 12 cm depth in Affarlikassaa. After 17 years the mine last closed, specific local hydrographic conditions continue to disperse heavy metal enriched material derived from the Affarlikassaa into Qaumarujuk. Total Hg profiles from multi-cores along the transect clearly illustrate this transport and spatial distribution pattern of the contaminated material.
U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.01.019
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.01.019
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 20206943
SN - 0025-326X
VL - 60
SP - 1065
EP - 1073
JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin
JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin
IS - 7
ER -