Meromictic Investigations for Northern Ecosystem Sustainability (MINES)

在接收含有高浓度矿井排放物硫酸盐的水的湖泊中，水柱可发生混成或不完全混合。这些升高的硫酸盐水比背景水密度更大，并下沉到湖底。这种密度差阻止了正常的湖泊更替，导致底部水域的氧气含量相应降低，金属的释放和鱼类栖息地的丧失。有毒的硫化氢的积累也可能发生在沉积物中，限制底栖生物的定植。矿业公司已受到管理机构越来越多的关注，以防止或恢复成因。然而，对天然湖泊混生现象的形成及其对生物区系的影响的认识有限。因此，Barrick-Hemlo和第一量子矿业有限公司与湖首大学之间建立了研究伙伴关系，以研究这种情况。该研究对水体进行了详细的化学和物理采样，并对存在的底栖动物、远洋动物和大型植物群落进行了采样。毒物学和污染物的生物积累进行了评估，并与在其中一个湖泊中重新建立鳟鱼的可能性有关。该研究开发了计算机模型，量化了受影响湖泊中的水平衡和污染物的化学质量传递，确定了生物群落变化的原因，并为受影响湖泊制定了预防和补救方案。其结果是矿业公司可以使用的工具来预测如何以及何时纠正分生条件的发生，并使湖泊恢复到正常的整体状态。该研究将涉及现场技术的整合，包括用于收集水生群落参数的适用采样方法，以及使用自动分析仪、滴定器、消化器、离子色谱和光谱调查的实验室技术。除了为符合可接受的环境标准的采矿作业提供长期可持续性外，这项研究还将为加拿大北部采矿部门的五名研究生和两名本科生提供培训。

Meromictic or incomplete mixing of the water column can occur in lakes receiving water with high concentrations of sulphates from mine discharges. These elevated sulphate waters are more dense than background water and sink to the bottom of the lakes. This density difference stops normal lake turnover with corresponding lowering of oxygen in the bottom waters, release of metals and a loss of habitat for fish. Build up of toxic hydrogen sulphide can also occur in the sediment restricting colonization by benthic rganisms. Mining companies have received increased attention from regulatory agencies to prevent or rehabilitate meromictic conditions. However the understanding of the formation of meromixis and its effect on the biota in natural lakes is limited. Consequently, a research partnership between Barrick-Hemlo and First Quantum Mining Ltd., both with meromictic lakes, and Lakehead University has been established to study this situation. The research conducts detailed chemical and physical sampling of the water bodies as well as for the benthic, pelagic and macrophyte communities present. Toxicology and bioaccumulation of contaminants are assessed and related to the possibility of re-establishing brook trout in one of the lakes. The research develops computer models that quantify the water balance and chemical mass transfer of contaminants in the impacted lakes,determines the causes of changes to the biological communities and develops prevention and remediation scenarios for the impacted lakes. The outcome are tools that can be used by mining companies to predict how and when to correct the occurrence of meromictic conditions and return the lakes to a normal holomictic condition. The research will involve the integration of field techniques including applicable sampling methods for the collection of aquatic community parameters with lab techniques using autoanalyzers, titrators, digesters, ion chromatography and spectroscopic investigations. In addition to producing long-term sustainability for mining operations that meet acceptable environmental standards, the research will provide training for fivegraduate and two undergraduate students for the mining sector in Canada's north.