Meromictic Investigations for Northern Ecosystem Sustainability (MINES)

在接受矿山排放的硫酸盐浓度较高的水的湖泊中，可能会发生水柱的混合或不完全混合。这些升高的硫酸盐水比背景水密度更高，并下沉到湖底。这种密度差异阻止了正常的湖泊周转，相应地降低了底层水域的氧气，释放了金属，并失去了鱼类的栖息地。有毒的硫化氢也可在沉积物中积聚，限制底栖生物的定居。矿业公司受到了监管机构越来越多的关注，以防止或恢复商业状况。然而，对于分生现象的形成及其对天然湖泊生物群的影响，人们的认识是有限的。因此，巴里克-海姆洛和第一量子矿业有限公司之间建立了一个研究伙伴关系，这两个公司都拥有美罗米特湖，以及湖头大学来研究这种情况。这项研究对水体以及现有的底栖、远洋和大型植物群落进行了详细的化学和物理采样。对污染物的毒理学和生物积累进行了评估，并与在其中一个湖泊重新建立小河鲑鱼的可能性有关。这项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传质，确定了生物群落变化的原因，并制定了受影响湖泊的预防和修复方案。结果是，矿业公司可以使用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全息条件。这项研究将涉及利用自动分析仪、滴定仪、消化器、离子层析和光谱调查等实验室技术整合现场技术，包括用于收集水生群落参数的适用采样方法。除了为达到可接受的环境标准的采矿作业提供长期可持续性外，该研究还将为加拿大北部矿业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.