Assessment of Metal Attenuation in a Natural Wetland System Impacted by Alkaline Mine Tailings, Cobalt, Ontario, Canada

Authors: Kelly, J.; Champagne, P.; Michel, F.

Source: Mine Water and the Environment, Volume 26, Number 3, September 2007 , pp. 181-190(10)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

A natural wetland in the Farr Creek drainage basin near Cobalt, Ontario was studied because its floor is covered with alkaline mine tailings that contain elevated levels of metals, including As, Co, Cu, and Zn, due to mining that occurred intermittently from 1904 to the 1980s. Our objectives were to characterize the biogeochemical interactions occurring throughout the wetland and to assess its ability to effectively attenuate the metal contamination. We were not able to conclusively determine if this wetland is a net source or net sink for As, Co, Cu, and Zn; it is not clear whether this wetland has reached its capacity for attenuating these trace elements. Both oxidizing and reducing bacteria were quantified and found to be prevalent throughout the wetland, with similar population densities. It is likely that the presence of localized oxic zones in the root zones of Typha latifolia supported the oxidizing bacteria populations observed. The results indicate the importance of understanding the conditions in systems being used to treat mine drainage, as well as the importance of having a detailed understanding of the metals of concern in the mine waste.

Keywords: Acid producing bacteria; Alkaline mine drainage; Iron reducing bacteria; Phytoremediation; Sequential extraction; Sulfate reducing bacteria; Trace metals; Typha latifolia

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10230-007-0007-3

Affiliations: 1: Email: kelly_ja@shaw.ca

Publication date: 2007-09-01