Mobility of metals in northern environments

这个环境地球科学研究项目的目标是了解加拿大北极地区含金属颗粒的性质和流动性。总体目标是捕获和表征微小矿物颗粒，包括矿物纳米颗粒，这些颗粒从矿山废物和风化矿床中释放出来，并以空气尘埃和水胶体的形式传播，重点是含有砷或铅等潜在危险元素的颗粒，目的是澄清对人类和生态健康的风险。就人类健康而言，直接摄入或吸入微小的矿物颗粒可能导致负面的健康影响，这取决于灰尘颗粒中金属的化学形式。在生态影响方面，风沙可能是金属从点源向地表水迁移的重要机制，胶体颗粒可随地下水移动，并造成金属污染。 矿产勘探和资源开发的增加，与气候变化相关的极端天气事件，敏感的北极环境以及社区靠近废弃矿山，都增强了我们了解金属运输机制的必要性。我们的研究结果应导致更好的风险评估，基线数据和采矿作业的补救设计，包括废弃的网站。 3名博士生、1名硕士生和5名本科生将在北方进行实地考察。北方学生将被聘为研究助理。我们将与包括西北地区地球科学办公室、加拿大印第安人和北方事务部以及阿瓦隆稀有金属公司在内的合作伙伴组织进行互动，阿瓦隆稀有金属公司是一家有意在耶洛奈夫东南部开发稀土存款的矿业公司。实地地点包括纳汉尼国家部分附近麦肯齐山脉的未开采矿藏， .

The objective of this environmental earth science research program is understand the nature and mobility of metal-bearing particles in the Canadian Arctic. The overall aim is to capture and characterize tiny mineral particles, including mineral nanoparticles, which are released from mine waste and weathering mineral deposits and transported as airborne dust and waterborne colloids.The emphasis will be on particles that contain potentially hazardous elements such as arsenic or lead, with the aim of clarifying the risk to human and ecological health. In terms of human health, direct ingestion or inhalation of tiny mineral particles can lead to negative health effects which depend on the chemical form of the metal in the dust particles. In terms of ecological impact, windblown dust may be an important mechanism of metal transport from a point source to surface water, and colloidal particles can move with groundwater and contribute to metal contamination. Increased mineral exploration and resource development, extreme weather events associated with climate change, sensitive Arctic environments and the proximity of communities to abandoned mines all enhance our need to understand metal transport mechanisms. Our research results should lead to better risk assessment, baseline data and remediation design for mining operations included abandoned sites. Three PhD students, 1 MSc student, and 5 undergraduate students will conduct fieldwork in the North. Northern students will be hired as research assistants. We will interact with partner organizations including the Northwest Territories Geoscience Office, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Avalon Rare Metals, a mining company interesting in developing a rare earth deposit southeast of Yellowknife. The field sites include unmined deposits in the Mackenzie Mountains near the Nahanni National Part, .