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METAL MINING AND MERCURY

METAL MINING AND MERCURY

W. Charles Kerfoot & Noel Urban (Michigan Tech University) Ron W. Charles Kerfoot & Noel Urban (Michigan Tech University) Ron (Michigan Tech University), Ron Rossmann (EPA-Grosse Isle), John Robbins (NOAA-GLERL)

(Michigan Tech University), Ron Rossmann (EPA-Grosse Isle), John Robbins (NOAA-GLERL)

Lab Setting-Water ViewLab Setting-Water View

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Funding SourcesFunding Sources

NOAA/NSF KITES Project (NSF OCE)NOAA/NSF KITES Project (NSF OCE)NOAA/NSF KITES Project (NSF OCE)U.S. EPA Region V Grant to Baraga Tribal CouncilMichigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)U S ACE Vicksb g ERDC EL (LiDAR

NOAA/NSF KITES Project (NSF OCE)U.S. EPA Region V Grant to Baraga Tribal CouncilMichigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)U S ACE Vicksb g ERDC EL (LiDAR U.S. ACE Vicksburg ERDC-EL (LiDAR CHARTS)U.S. ACE Vicksburg ERDC-EL (LiDAR CHARTS)

Changing BeliefsChanging Beliefs

Mining is a serious source of Mining is a serious source of Mining is a serious source of atmospheric mercury discharge in the world & U.S. (historic legacy, current practice)The mineral cinnabar (HgS) is present in the Lake Superior watershed

Mining is a serious source of atmospheric mercury discharge in the world & U.S. (historic legacy, current practice)The mineral cinnabar (HgS) is present in the Lake Superior watershed in the Lake Superior watershed Mercury is associated with metal mining (Copper, Iron) in the Upper Peninsula

in the Lake Superior watershed Mercury is associated with metal mining (Copper, Iron) in the Upper Peninsula

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Solid Solution Substitution Of Hg For

Zn In Sphalerite (Schwartz 1997)

Solid Solution Substitution Of Hg For

Zn In Sphalerite (Schwartz 1997)

Exhalativedeposits SEDEX

VOLCEX

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Sources For Atmospheric Hg Discharges (2000 Environment Canada vs 1997 U.S.

EPA Report To Congress)

Sources For Atmospheric Hg Discharges (2000 Environment Canada vs 1997 U.S.

EPA Report To Congress)

On Site Mercury Releases (atmospheric):

2001 EPA Region #9

On Site Mercury Releases (atmospheric):

2001 EPA Region #9

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Mercury In Gold Ore Samples: Geographic Comparisons

Mercury In Gold Ore Samples: Geographic Comparisons

Mercury In Lake Sediment (Can. Geol. Survey)

Mercury In Lake Sediment (Can. Geol. Survey)

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Lake Superior Watershed: Precious And Base Metal Mining

Lake Superior Watershed: Precious And Base Metal Mining

Lake Superior Watershed: Cinnabar And

Mercurian Sphalerite

Lake Superior Watershed: Cinnabar And

Mercurian Sphalerite

Hemlo Gold Deposit near Hemlo Gold Deposit near Hemlo Gold Deposit near Marathon:Williams, Golden Giant, David Bell Mines (Michibayashi 1995; Powell and Pattison 1997; Tomkins et al. 2004): Hg 6% in ore samples, 6.7% in concentratesMassive Sulfide Deposits (12 locations)

Hemlo Gold Deposit near Marathon:Williams, Golden Giant, David Bell Mines (Michibayashi 1995; Powell and Pattison 1997; Tomkins et al. 2004): Hg 6% in ore samples, 6.7% in concentratesMassive Sulfide Deposits (12 locations) Massive Sulfide Deposits (12 locations), includes Flambeau Mine, Ladysmith, Ws (Motti et al. 1999): 0.11% Hg in Cu, 1.13% in Ag

Massive Sulfide Deposits (12 locations), includes Flambeau Mine, Ladysmith, Ws (Motti et al. 1999): 0.11% Hg in Cu, 1.13% in Ag

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Lake Superior Basin-Estimated Atmospheric Mercury Releases (kg/yr)

Lake Superior Basin-Estimated Atmospheric Mercury Releases (kg/yr)

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Quincy ShafthouseQuincy Shafthouse

Keweenaw National Keweenaw National Keweenaw National Park (Native Copper Mining)140 Mines, 40 Stamp Mills5 SmeltersTorch Lake

Keweenaw National Park (Native Copper Mining)140 Mines, 40 Stamp Mills5 SmeltersTorch Lake Superfund SiteSuperfund Site

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Keweenaw Peninsula: Smelter, Mine, Mill Sites

Keweenaw Peninsula: Smelter, Mine, Mill Sites

Stamp Mills

Keweenaw Peninsula Coring Sites

Keweenaw Peninsula Coring Sites

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Copper/mercury profiles (NSF/NOAA KITES Project) From Deep Water (LSDH) to

L’Anse Bay

Copper/mercury profiles (NSF/NOAA KITES Project) From Deep Water (LSDH) to

L’Anse Bay

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Anthropogenic Copper Inventories: Spatial Pattern

Anthropogenic Copper Inventories: Spatial Pattern

Anthropogenic Mercury Inventories: Spatial Pattern

Anthropogenic Mercury Inventories: Spatial Pattern

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Mercury Concentrations In Ore Samples

Mercury Concentrations In Ore Samples

A) Keweenaw native A) Keweenaw native A) Keweenaw native copper and silver ores

B) World (Cu, Au, Ag) ores and Sphalerite (ZnS)

A) Keweenaw native copper and silver ores

B) World (Cu, Au, Ag) ores and Sphalerite (ZnS)

C) Solid solution substitution (native metal-natural amalgamation) or for Zn in Sphalerite

C) Solid solution substitution (native metal-natural amalgamation) or for Zn in Sphalerite

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Torch Lake Superfund ProjectTorch Lake Superfund Project

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Radioisotope Profiles: Keweenaw Waterway (Portage Lake)

Radioisotope Profiles: Keweenaw Waterway (Portage Lake)

33A) 137Cs dating

B) 210Pb dating

C) Varves (X-ray b d C i h)

A) 137Cs dating

B) 210Pb dating

C) Varves (X-ray b d C i h)bands, Cu-rich)-Insertbands, Cu-rich)-Insert

Copper And Mercury Flux Profiles: Keweenaw Waterway (CG: Near Dollar Bay Smelter)

Copper And Mercury Flux Profiles: Keweenaw Waterway (CG: Near Dollar Bay Smelter)

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Portage Lake Sediment Profile

Portage Lake Sediment Profile

Torch Lake 210Pb ModelTorch Lake 210Pb Model

Unsupported Unsupported Unsupported 210Pb profile (20m site)CIC-CRS modelModified CRS model

Unsupported 210Pb profile (20m site)CIC-CRS modelModified CRS modelmodelmodel

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Torch Lake Sediment Profile

Torch Lake Sediment Profile

Stamp Sands Discharged By Stamp Mills Along Keweenaw Coastline

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Historical Erosion Of Tailings Cone

Historical Erosion Of Tailings Cone

1938 air photo of the original stamp sand discharge pile (white)

1938 air photo of the original stamp sand discharge pile (white) discharge pile (white) superimposed upon a 1999 air photo (red line, natural shoreline; inner pink line, 1999 shoreline of pile and reworked sands ; outer pink, estimated underwater 1999

discharge pile (white) superimposed upon a 1999 air photo (red line, natural shoreline; inner pink line, 1999 shoreline of pile and reworked sands ; outer pink, estimated underwater 1999 underwater 1999 dispersal of eroded stamp sands)

underwater 1999 dispersal of eroded stamp sands)

Gay Stamp Sand SiteGay Stamp Sand Site

The above-water and underwater extent of the Gay Stamp Sand tailings in Grand Traverse Bay, MI.

The above-water and underwater extent of the Gay Stamp Sand tailings in Grand Traverse Bay, MI. Grand Traverse Bay, MI. Note the natural white sand beach to the south of the Traverse River (diagram after Army Corps 2001)

Grand Traverse Bay, MI. Note the natural white sand beach to the south of the Traverse River (diagram after Army Corps 2001)

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Stamp Sands Threaten Buffalo ReefStamp Sands Threaten Buffalo Reef

Bathymetry and substrate characterization around Buffalo Reef off Gay coastline, Keweenaw Bay. Studies conducted jointly by NWRI (National Research Institute Environment Canada) and GLIFWC (Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission).

Bathymetry and substrate characterization around Buffalo Reef off Gay coastline, Keweenaw Bay. Studies conducted jointly by NWRI (National Research Institute Environment Canada) and GLIFWC (Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission).

US Army Corps of Engineers

(Detroit) Remediation

US Army Corps of Engineers

(Detroit) Remediation

Positions of proposed revetment, groin And dredging zonePositions of proposed revetment, groin And dredging zone

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MSS Traverse River JettyMSS Traverse River Jetty

Tailings Are Washing Across Traverse & Tobacco Rivers

Tailings Are Washing Across Traverse & Tobacco Rivers

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SummarySummaryHistoric mining is the dominant source of mercury to Lake Superior; voluntary industrial reporting is just not working

Historic mining is the dominant source of mercury to Lake Superior; voluntary industrial reporting is just not workingp g j g$15M Torch Lake Superfund Program covered interior stamp mill sites with soil layer; benthos not remediated (800+years); Hg methylationMine tailings & smelter sites continue to contaminate many Lake Superior

p g j g$15M Torch Lake Superfund Program covered interior stamp mill sites with soil layer; benthos not remediated (800+years); Hg methylationMine tailings & smelter sites continue to contaminate many Lake Superior contaminate many Lake Superior watersheds (U.S. & Canadian sides)Gay Site was not included in Torch Lake Project; tailings piles are currently contaminating miles of the Keweenaw Peninsula shoreline

contaminate many Lake Superior watersheds (U.S. & Canadian sides)Gay Site was not included in Torch Lake Project; tailings piles are currently contaminating miles of the Keweenaw Peninsula shoreline