Applying foraminiferal stratigraphy as a biomarker for heavy metal contamination and mining impact in a fiord in West Greenland

Elberling, Bo; Knudsen, Karen Luise; Kristensen, Peter; Asmund, Gert

doi:10.1016/s0141-1136(02)00219-2

Cited by 77 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Some studies report a fast repopulation of the tailings by the benthic community after deposition has ceased [104], while other studies present data which indicate that benthic community structures suffered strongly from contamination and open the way to opportunistic species, with a reduction in biodiversity [100,105]. Toxicity effects were detected in some species [62,94,106]; (4) Failure of the tailings tubing (technical problems, tides, earth quakes, tsunamis or storm events) and subsequent dispersion of the tailings in the sea without any control and associated pollutions [61,62]; (5) Dispersion of the tailings to greater distances than predicted by models and increase of turbidity and plume shearing (e.g., Misima Mine, Papua New Guinea); (6) Re-deposition of the tailings in more shallow levels, due to upwelling and unforeseen currents (e.g., Island Copper Mine, Canada; Bahía Portman, Spain). This will increase the risk of sulphide oxidation in the euphotic zone; (7) Toxicity of the flotation reagents.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similar conditions occurred in the Chilean case Ensenada Chapaco (dissolution and reductive dissolution). One, two, and three decades since operation at Black Angel ceased, independent scientific studies showed that the pollution persists [93][94][95][96][97][98] and is having significant long-term effects on the benthic macro fauna through the presence of heavy metals [99,100]. The study of Josefson et al [100] showed that 33 years after deposition ceased at the Black Angel Mine, degradation of the integrity of the benthic community was directly correlated with persisting, high Pb concentrations in the sediment (>200 mg/kg).…”

Section: Black Angel Mine Greenland (Ceased Since 1990)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Submarine Tailings Disposal (STD)—A Review

Dold¹

2014

Minerals

100

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Abstract:The mining industry is a fundamental industry involved in the development of modern society, but is also the world's largest waste producer. This role will be enhanced in the future, because ore grades are generally decreasing, thus leading to increases in the waste/metal production ratio. Mine wastes deposited on-land in so-called tailings dams, impoundments or waste-dumps have several associated environmental issues that need to be addressed (e.g., acid mine drainage formation due to sulphide oxidation, geotechnical stability, among others), and social concerns due to land use during mining. The mining industry recognizes these concerns and is searching for waste management alternatives for the future. One option used in the past was the marine shore or shallow submarine deposition of this waste material in some parts of the world. After the occurrence of some severe environmental pollution, today the deposition in the deep sea (under constant reducing conditions) is seen as a new, more secure option, due to the general thought that sulphide minerals are geochemically stable under the reduced conditions prevailing in the deep marine environment. This review highlights the mineralogical and geochemical issues (e.g., solubility of sulphides in seawater; reductive dissolution of oxide minerals under reducing conditions), which have to be considered when evaluating whether submarine tailings disposal is a suitable alternative for mine waste.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Black Angel Mine Greenland (Ceased Since 1990)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Submarine Tailings Disposal (STD)—A Review

Dold¹

2014

Minerals

100

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“…Presence or absence of key taxa, as well as their abundance and distribution , often can be statistically linked to contaminant sources. Response of foraminiferal assemblages to contaminant gradients have been described and such response can be represented by drastic assemblages changes [40], step wise faunal changes [41] or fluctuations in faunal assemblages and species abundance[42].…”

Section: Organic Matter ( Mll -1 )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic Impact on the Pulicat Lagoon Monitoring with Foraminifera, East coast of India

C¹,

Jayaraju²,

R³

2012

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Coastal lagoons are well investigated areas because of their economical and ecological importance. Pulicat Lagoon system which is a store house of all resources is under great threat following the anthropogenic pollution. This complex lagoon ecosystem's surface area is about 500 sq.kms. In spite of the System's conservation statutes its structure has been degenerating rapidly because of pressures fishing, tourism and agricultural activities. Fishing production of Pulicat Lagoon System is approximately 52 tons/ha/year. Although a serious fishery pressure has been determined in the area, according to mortality rate and age compositions, it has been found that the growth of marine life in the environment is in unhealthy condition. The date show that land based and atmospheric sources account about two-thirds of the total impact of contaminants in to the marine lagoon constituting 44 % and 33 % respectively. A total of 30 sediment samples were collected with in the depth zone of 5 fathoms from the lagoon. The study yielded 50 benthic foraminiferal species belongs to 24 genera, 16familys, 8 super families and 3 sub-orders. Variations are also reflected on the foraminiferal test morphology, diversity and distribution. A high percentage of foraminifers almost exclusively Ammonia have damaged shells with a few channels to entire whorl missing. The phenomenon is stress response to the anthropogenic pollution. The Ammonia-Elphidium assemblage is dominant in all stations followed by Spiroloculina -Bolivina assemblage.Suggestions for development of the lagoon management and maximum sustainable marine life production have been offered by determining the present lagoon management and some a biotic characteristics of this ecosystem. Many studies assume or conclude that foraminiferal assemblages and the frequency of deformed tests are proxy indicators of pollution, but others present confounding results. Under studying the complexity of anthropogenic pollution, coastal waters and sediment is critical to the design and interpretation of meaningful studies.Keywords Lake, Foraminifera, Ecology, Anthropogenic Pollution, Ecological Parameters 1.IntroductionThe study area, is located in the Survey of India toposheets nos: 66 B/2, 66 B/3, 66 C/2 respectively at the scale of 1: 50,000. The study area lies between longitudes 80o 02' -80o 20' E and latitudes 13o22'-13o 45' N (Fig.1). The total area of the lagoon is about 500 sq kms. The lake is marked by steeply rising ridges, having a height of about 17m from the mean sea level (MSL) and composed of Quartzites of Cuddapah Super group (Proterozoic) [1]. The steep and plain topography is due to the great difference in age between the Archean of the plain country and the Proterozoic of the high lands and also due to the greater resistance for erosion offered by quartzites compared to gneisses. The important ephemeral rivers that join the lake include Arani and Kalangi (Fig.1)[2]. Enormous quantities of fresh water influx along * Corresponding author: sundherreddy@gmail.com (Sundar...

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“…Alterations and rapid changes in ecological parameters, such as salinity variations, temperature, solubility of calcium carbonate, dissolved oxygen, illumination, anthropogenic heavy metal pollution or heavy metals carried by groundwater are suggested to cause abnormal test development in foraminifers (Boltovskoy et al 1991, Almogi-Labin et al 1992, Yanko et al 1998, Stouff et al, 1999a, 1999b, Geslin et al 2000, 2002, Elberling et al 2003. Abnormal test morphology have been reported from many locations worldwide (Cushman 1929, Cimerman and Langer 1991, Loeblich and Tappan 1994 and are known to be common in certain foraminifer genera and species (Geslin et al 1998, Stouff et al 1999a, 1999b.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%