Fw: [MongolBioweb] ERDENET CITY and ERDENET MINE [4 Attachments]
Ochiroo
From: Robin Grayson <emi...@magicnet.mn>
To: Mongol...@yahoogroups.co.uk
Sent: Mon, November 8, 2010 4:19:34 PM
Subject: [MongolBioweb] ERDENET CITY and ERDENET MINE [4 Attachments]
Dear all at BioBeers
Please look at the attached satellite images…
Erdenet Mine and Erdenet City are starkly visible in high definition Google Earth.
The images were taken as recently as 2009 and 2010 [September 9th 2009 and May 28th 2010].
It’s a case of “the GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY”
THE GOOD - Spreading of topsoil has begun on the top of the Erdenet Mine dumps. Have a look at ‘Erdenet – rehabilitation progress.JPG’.
As present, its only a small area, and a slow start makes sense in order to ‘get it right’. However the rate of rehabilitation is still much slower than the rate of loss of land by the mining.
THE BAD - Leakage of fluids is now occurring from the base of the Erdenet Mine dumps. Have a look at ‘Erdenet – leakage from dumps.JPG’.
Leakage now seems permanent, as shown by the satellite images of 9th September 2009 and 28th May 2009. There is no way of telling if the leakage is of acid mine drainage rich in heavy metals, but it is highly likely. There is no evidence of remedial measures such as interceptor trenches or lined treatment lagoon, instead the fluids are allowed to drain over the landscape. It merits attention.
THE UGLY - loss of trees has continued, and I cannot see a single tree having been planted in mitigation. Have a look at ‘Erdenet – Cu leach – loss of trees.JPG’. This shows a time series of satellite images, with trees and scrub present in 2004, being chopped down in 2009 (lots of felled logs visible), and being buried in waste on 28th May 2010. Look elsewhere around the edge of the dumps and hundreds of trees have been buried, and many hectares of topsoil buried. Except in one limited area, I can see no sign of topsoil being stripped, as required by law.
The updated satellite images also show how the very large tailings dam has been raised in height since 2003, and how the tailings lagoon has got appreciably larger: have a look at ‘Erdenet – tailings lagoon.JPG’.
Modern copper mines keep their tailings submerged under water to deprive them of oxygen and so slow down the rate of chemical generation of acids from pyrite, acids capable of leaching heavy metals out of the tailings and so posing a problem. However, as can be seen, the Erdenet Mine lagoon has tailings left exposed to the air, and even with some lime application to help neutralize the tailings, the risk of acid generation is rather high.
Hopefully, now the issues are visible on Google Earth for the whole world to see, the Russian-Mongolian joint venture will be encouraged to comply with Mongolian legislation and minimal international standards.
Now would be a good time for someone to do a Stategic SEIA on Erdenet City and its Mine, using the remarkable Google Earth images, and pulling together the fragmented data on water quality (see below for examples).
best regards
Robin
Mr Robin Grayson MSc - emi...@magicnet.mn
ECO-MINEX - www.mine.mn
SOME BACKGROUND READING ON ERDENET POLLUTION....
www.gisat.cz/content/en/applications/geology--soil-science?project=39#project_detail
Land Cover/Use Changes in Erdenet (Mongolia) Duration 2004-2005. Customer GEOMIN (Czech Republic)
ABSTRACT: "The main goal of the project was interpretation of land cover/use changes in Erdenet region in accordance with copper mining and industry development. Satellite images Landsat 5, ASTER and Quickbird from period 1992-2003 were used for monitoring of land cover/use changes. Georeferenced images were evaluated according to interpretation key: mine area, dump from mining and industry, industrial units, settlements, military area, water bodies, pastures, arable land, forest, other anthropogenic areas. Results of the project were presented in form of thematic maps and change tables".
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www.cprm.gov.br/33IGC/1339869.html
Munkhtsengel Baatar, Gerel Ochir and Noriyoshi Tsuchiya (20XX). Environmental assessment of Erdenet Mine area, Northern Mongolia.
Main objective to know how is heavy metal, especially Cu and Mo contamination in soil and river water in the area of Erdenet Mine, how the pollution is distributed in far extended area. We collected soil (totally 110) and river water (14) samples from 150 x 120 km area. Soil samples were analyzed for major, trace elements and heavy metal contents (XRF) and water samples for the trace element and heavy metals (ICP-MS and AAS). Soil samples are also collected by cross section from seven sites depending on their location and distances from the origin of heavy metal distribution. Evaluation of obtained analysis of soil samples indicates that some of heavy metals; especially Cu and Mo are enriched in soils near open pit and tailing dam. There is clear evidence that Cu and Mo distribution differs by direction and distance from the origin. Heavy metals, especially target metal Cu and Mo, are distributed higher in closer places to open pit and tailing, especially just between the open pit and tailing dam and in eastern side compare to other places. For instance, Cu content of soil decreases in far eastern side of open pit and Mo in river water show similar distribution within the area.
The experimental analysis of HCl acid extraction of soil shows the heavy metal content that not exceeded than environmental standard limit.
Based on cross section analysis, it is clear that Cu and other heavy metals pollute the surface than lower sections and this behavior is clearer in cross sections near the open pit and tailing dam.
Some elements such as As, B, F, NO3- and Fe are higher than drinking water standard in river water samples from the Erdenet River site close to the tailing dam. In order to better understand the correlation between elements through environment, we conducted multivariate elemental calculation on rock, soil and river water samples from the study area. The software, ThinkSTAT for Excel Multivariate Analysis is applied for the calculation of elemental correlation. Based on correlation coefficient (r) we discuss the element relationships within the samples.
Correlation coefficient of Cu and Mo is moderate (r = 0.59) within Erdenet Porphyry Association rock samples, which are source of those two elements, while it is increased in soil (r = 0.83) indicating the later effect of Cu and Mo to the soil, in a current situation the Erdenet mining impact.
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http://ir.library.tohoku.ac.jp/re/bitstream/10097/37625/1/T1H193909.pdf
Munkhtsengel Baatar (20XX). Magmatic and Mineralization Processes of the Erdenetiin Ovoo Porphyry Copper-Molybdenum Deposit and Environmental Assessment. Northem Mongolia.
"Objective of Chapter 4 was to display how heavy metals distribute in Erdenet mining area and as well as far distanced area from the mine based on soil and river water chemistry and create GIS database. Based on element distribution map Cu. Mo, Pb, Co, As and Zn are much more accumulated in soils close to the mine and their content decreases with distances far from open pit and tailings. Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Mn and Fe are higher in Erdenet and Khangal river waters near the Erdenet Mine, even though those are not exceeded than standard. Possible reason of Cu and Mo enrichment in east side of the mine could be explained by dominant wind and river stream direction from west to east."
"Mo compare to Cu because Mo is more soluble in alkaline soil than Cu. Evaluation of analysis of soil and river water samples show that open pit mining pollution is developed in study area some near place to the open pit and tailings. Element distribution 3D and contour maps of soil sarnples suggest that within ca. 5 km vicinity of the mine is much more polluted by Cu and Mo".
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G. Ganbold, Sh. Gerbish, M. V. Frontasyeva, S. S. Pavlov, T. M. Ostrovnaya and N. Baljinnyam (2006). ASSESSMENT OF HAZARDOUS IMPACT ON THE PASTURED ANIMALS OF NON-FERROUS INDUSTRY IN THE TOWN OF ERDENET, MONGOLIA.
1: Inner organs of animals (sheep and goats) are suitable and useful as biological indicators for health monitoring studies of pastured animals.
2: The Nuclear Analytical (INAA) Technique has sensitivity and accuracy method for the heavy metal and trace element studies of biological (such as inner organs) indicators.
3: Cr, Cu, Mo, Zn, As, Sb, W, Pb are elevated in the tailings.
4: The accumulation of biogenic elements such as Na, Mg, Cl, K, Ca and Fe is higher in internal organs of pasture animals. Also, some microelements (Cu, Zn, Mo, Ag, Au) have been found to be higher than others in inner organs of pastured animals.
5: The main pathway of these elements to internal organs is from the grasses growing on the soils of the polluted area and the waste water of the rivers Khangal and Govil near the storage of slag-heap tail.
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http://isinn.jinr.ru/17/pdf/Balj.pdf
Baljinnyam N., Gerbish Sh. , Ganbold G., Lodoysamba S., Frontasyeva M.V. and Pavlov S.S. (20??). HEAVY METALS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTS OF NON-FERROUS INDUSTRIAL REGION OF MONGOLIA, THE TOWN OF ERDENET
This study is the first attempt to evaluate levels of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals and some trace elements near industrial and mining city Erdenet, using specific types of lichen biomonitors growing in the arid climate of Mongolia. The lichens (Parmelia separata) were used to study the atmospheric deposition of trace elements. It was shown that the suggested types of lichens could be used as suitable biomonitors to estimate the concentration levels of heavy metals and trace elements in Erdenet atmospheric deposition. Lichen samples collected at sites located 10–15 km from the Erdenet Metallurgical Concern. The results are compared to the data of atmospheric deposition of a clear area of Mongolia (Ulaan taiga).
1: Results show INAA has sensitivity and accuracy for the complex monitoring measurement of heavy metals and trace elements for studying the environment.
2: Mean content of Mg, Cl, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, As, Sr, Zr, Mo, Ba, Cs, La, Dy, W, Au, Th in lichen samples collected from the polluted area (Erdenet town) is higher than in lichens from a clean area (Khubsugul, Ulaan Taiga).
3: Hg, Sb, Ba, Sr, Cs, Al, Rb, Zr, Nb, Au, Br, Sc, La, Tm, Hf, Ta, W, Th, U and some REE (Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy) were determined in samples of sediments and soils.
4: Concentrations of heavy toxic metals in river water (Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Sr and Pb exceed the MPMCL accepted in Mongolia.
5: Mn in technological water from the Power plant and Zn content in tap water are higher than MPMCL accepted in Mongolia.
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http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2010RM/finalprogram/abstract_171905.htm
Charles Tinant, Bruce Berdanier, Don Belile, Devon Wilford, Helene Gaddie, and M.R. Hansen (2010).Environmental Impacts of the Erdenet Copper Molybdenum Mine in north central Mongolia. Rocky Mountain - 62nd Annual Meeting (21-23 April 2010) Paper #15-6.
1: Surface and ground water and alluvial deposits were sampled in 2008 at six locations in north central Mongolia along the Khangal River, and three locations within the tailings storage complex. Metals concentrations were determined using atomic absorption (AA) flame and graphite furnace and x-ray florescence.
2: Chromium (Cr) from 0.1 to 7.1 mg/kg, arsenic (As) from 1.8 to 5.1 mg/kg, lead (Pb) from 0.1 to 0.9 mg/kg, and copper (Cu) from 2.7 to 58.7 mg/kg were detected in stream and terrace deposit sediment samples.
3: Chromium (Cr) from 6.9 to 13.1 mg/kg, arsenic (As) from 9.3 to 10.7 mg/kg, lead (Pb) from 0.2 to 2.3 mg/kg, and copper (Cu) from 61.4 to 96.1 mg/kg were detected in tailings storage facility samples.
4: Arsenic was identified as a parameter of concern in water samples with values ranging from 6.0 to 13.8 ug/L in ground water and 3.7 to 24.6 ug/L in surface water. Based on measured stream flow rates, arsenic loading rates ranged from 40 to 470 g/day. Naturally high levels of arsenic occur in the study area ground water, however, arsenic levels in the stream are elevated by mining activities. Wind direction and distance from the mine tailings on copper concentration in sediments were analyzed by linear, exponential, and curvilinear model fitting. The linear distance model best fit the data with a Pearson’s correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.77.
5: The linear distance model predicted metal concentrations return to baseline levels at a distance of 6.4 km from the mine tailings dam.
6: Future work is to independently test our linear distance model using street dust and tree bark samples taken at the time of the stream sediment sampling.
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http://www.olc.edu/~jtinant/webfolder/web_docs/Tinant-Erdenet-WQ_Final.pdf
www.sdgs.usd.edu/bhdma/2009-09/pdf/Tinant-SDGIS_final.pdf
Charles Tinant, Bruce Berdanier, Don Belile, Devon Wilford, Helene Gaddie, and M.R. Hansen (2009). Preliminary Water Quality Results for the Erdenet - Khangal River near Erdenet Copper Molybdenum Mine in North Central Mongolia.
1: Water quality sampled in 2008 at 6 locations along the Erdenet-Khangal River: outfall of the Erdenet mine tailings pond, in the Erdenet mine filtration pond, in the wetlands below the Erdenet mine filtration pond, and in 2 shallow alluvial wells located topographically above the Khangal River.
2: Water samples tested for metals using an atomic absorption (AA) graphite furnace.
3: Arsenic identified as a parameter of concern with sample values ranging from 6.0 to 13.8 ug/L in ground water and 3.7 to 24.6 ug/L in surface water. The World Health Organization standard for arsenic in drinking water is 10 ug/L. The flow rate of the Khangal River during sampling ranged from 0.06 to 0.37 m3/sec. Multiplying flow rate and concentration at each site yielded arsenic loading rates ranging from 40 to 470 g/day. The results suggest that naturally high levels of arsenic occur in ground water, however, arsenic levels in the stream are elevated by an industrial point source.
4: Focused water quality testing should be conducted to identify specific arsenic sources.
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www.sdgs.usd.edu/bhdma/2009-09/pdf/Tinant-SDGIS_final.pdf
Charles Tinant, Bruce Berdanier, Helene Gaddie, Don Belile, Gerald Giraud, Devon Wilford and M.R. Hansen (2009).
Air and Water Quality Analyses for Khangal River near Erdenet Copper Molybdenum Mine.
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http://www.geomin.cz/menu/erdenet/E-08.jpg
Arsenic concentrations.
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http://isinn.jinr.ru/16/pdf/Gerbish.pdf
Sh. Gerbish, N. Baljinnyam, G. Ganbold and G. Ganchimeg (20XX). DETERMINATION OF MAJOR AND MINOR ELEMENTS IN SEDIMENTS OF SOME CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MONGOLIAN RIVERS USING INAA.
Erdenet, plus Ulaanbaatar. Ulaanbaatar has above average U and Th due to "burning brown coal in power plants and heating systems".
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http://203.250.99.31/pub/docu/en/AN/BA/ANBA2006AAA/ANBA-2006-AAA.PDF
Joint Research between Korea and Mongolia on Water Quality and Contamination of Transboundary Watershed in Northern Mongolia.
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www.springerlink.com/content/l583510322v7x08g/
D.F. Pavlov, I.I. Tomilina, V.V. Zakonnov and E. Amgaabazar (date?). Toxicity assessment of bottom sediments in watercourses in Selenga River basin on the territory of Mongolia. Earth and Environmental Science Water Resources, volume 35, pages 92-96. "Toxic bottom sediments are found in a brook in the region of the Erdenet Mining and Concentration Complex".
Attachment(s) from Robin Grayson
4 of 4 Photo(s)
dugersuren sukhgerel
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