1989
DOI: 10.1007/bf01740583
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Geochemistry of sediments in the back bay and Yellowknife Bay of the Great Slave Lake

Abstract: ABSTRACT/Gold mining activities generated wastes with high concentrations of arsenic and zinc in the vicinity of YelIowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Some of the waste material has been discharged into Yellowknife Bay of Great Slave Lake. Concentrations of arsenic and zinc were determined in sediment cores collected at the depositional areas of Yellowknife Bay. Sedimentation rates were estimated using two different radiometric approaches: the depth profiles of Cs-137 and Pb-210. Geochemical composition … Show more

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Cited by 37 publications
(18 citation statements)
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“…By contrast, arsenic and metal concentrations in the sediment core from Pocket Lake peaked later, in approximately 1970, after which concentrations declined and returned to pre-impact conditions. Sedimentary arsenic profiles from Yellowknife Bay, an embayment of Great Slave Lake at Yellowknife, more closely followed the emission history of Giant Mine, exhibiting increases in arsenic concentrations consistent with the initiation of mining operations at Giant Mine and peaking in approximately 1960 [27,28]. There are two competing hypotheses to explain the delayed peak in metal(loid)s in Pocket Lake: (i) post-depositional remobilization of metal(loid)s in the sediments interfere with the use of the sediment core from Pocket Lake as a historical archive of Giant Mine emissions; and (ii) the delayed peak in metal(loid) concentrations in Pocket Lake is related to retention in the catchment, providing a source of continued influx of metal (loid)s into Pocket Lake after atmospheric emission reductions.…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
See 1 more Smart Citation
“…By contrast, arsenic and metal concentrations in the sediment core from Pocket Lake peaked later, in approximately 1970, after which concentrations declined and returned to pre-impact conditions. Sedimentary arsenic profiles from Yellowknife Bay, an embayment of Great Slave Lake at Yellowknife, more closely followed the emission history of Giant Mine, exhibiting increases in arsenic concentrations consistent with the initiation of mining operations at Giant Mine and peaking in approximately 1960 [27,28]. There are two competing hypotheses to explain the delayed peak in metal(loid)s in Pocket Lake: (i) post-depositional remobilization of metal(loid)s in the sediments interfere with the use of the sediment core from Pocket Lake as a historical archive of Giant Mine emissions; and (ii) the delayed peak in metal(loid) concentrations in Pocket Lake is related to retention in the catchment, providing a source of continued influx of metal (loid)s into Pocket Lake after atmospheric emission reductions.…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…During the full operational history of Giant Mine, an estimated 20 million kg of As 2 O 3 were released to the environment [25], and thus the legacy of contamination during the course of the Giant Mine operation is substantial. Increases in arsenic concentrations in sediment core profiles from Yellowknife Bay (Great Slave Lake), adjacent to the Giant Mine lease, have been reported consistent with the opening years of the mine in approximately 1950 [27,28], and arsenic remains elevated in surface waters within approximately 15 km of the mine (figure 1) [18,19].…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…One of the most toxic and bioaccessable forms of As, As 2 O 3 [51], is present abundantly in the lake sediments and streams in the Yellowknife area due to gold smelting associated with several mining operations, primarily the Giant Mine [36]. Previous research carried out on assessing the As levels in various mediums in the Yellowknife region suggest that current As background level in lake sediment is between ∼10 to 35 ppm [52][53][54] and can reach to 150 ppm in soil [55]. However, these studies also show that As level can reach extreme levels in soil (500 to 9300 ppm; [56,57]), lake sediment (1764 to 3821 ppm in the Baker Creek watershed; [58], and surface water samples (1500 to 20,400 μg/L; [59,60]).…”
Section: Arsenic Bioavailabilitymentioning
confidence: 98%
“…114°22′W) in Great Slave Lake, Canada. Maximum water depth in Yellowknife Bay is 40 m, but near the outlet of Baker Creek measures 2 to 15 m (Mudroch et al 1989). For the most part, water exiting Baker Creek flows in a southwesterly direction in Back Bay due to discharge from the Yellowknife River to the north.…”
Section: Fish Collectionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Higher concentrations of arsenic have been measured in sediments near the mouth and adjacent areas south of Baker Creek. Sediments and metals have been shown to accumulate in the shallow waters around Latham Island in Back Bay (Moore 1989;Mudroch et al 1989).…”
Section: Fish Collectionmentioning
confidence: 99%