Abstract
Early in 1972 Greenex NS obtained a license for mining operations of the zinc-Iead occurrence at Marmorilik in the Umanak district of central West Greenland. Tailings from the flotation plant, totalling approximately 450 000 tons/year, are dumped in the fjord Agfardlikavsa (fig. 4). Understandably the local population demanded assurance that no toxic effects would harm their main source of living - fishery of prawn and fish, and prior to mining the Ministry for Greenland set stringent limits for the levels of waste products permissible. In order to gain some knowledge of the natural background level of, in particular, heavy metals in an area so far unaffected by mining operations or industrial pollution, it was decided to investigate the natural environment before mining operations started in the autumn of 1973.
Highlights
Jan Bondam and Gert Asmund Early in 1972 Greenex NS obtained a license for mining operations of the zinc-Iead occurrence at Marmorilik in the Umanak district of central West Greenland
PH, oxygen content, turbidity and water temperature were measured in the field
Water depths range from 30 to 82 m along its profile from south-east to north-west, and it is separated by a threshold from Qaumarujuk
Summary
Bottom sediments were sampled at 6 localities (fig. 4). Core diameter was 50 mm, with core lengths varying from 12 to 49 cm. Bottom sediments were sampled at 6 localities Grain sizes from only one locality in Agfardlikavså and Qaumarujuk are given in fig. 5. The silt-like sediments are well known from other fjords in West Greenland, pointing to low ve10cities along the bottom; lower than 3 cm/sec. Due to marbles found in the area, the CaC03 content of the bottom sediments is exceptionally high. All minerals are of primary origin; no clay minerals have been detected. This is a common feature in the West Greenland silt deposits, which mainly carry locally derived rock debris. The high zinc content found in the bottom samples points to a local origin and low transportation rates of the bottom sediments. The geology of the area is given on the GGU map sheet Mårmorilik 71 V. 2 S
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