Geochemical Risks of Diamond Mining in Siberia

Abstract

Geochemical risk is caused by the release of hazardous chemicals to the earth surface. Primary diamond deposits are located in difficult mining and geological conditions. They represent natural geochemical anomalies associated with the mineral composition of rocks and groundwater, which contain a number of impurity elements with high toxic properties (Tl, Di, As, Cd, Hg), increased concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Ti, V and others). The paper presents the physical-geographical and mining-geological conditions of the diamondiferous region, where three large mining and processing divisions operate: Udachninsky, Aikhalsky and Nyurbinsky. pH, organic matter (humus), total nitrogen, physical clay were identified in the study samples, by using potentiometric, photoelectric colorimetric, spectrophotometric methods and pipette method for particle size analysis. Gross and mobile forms of trace elements were determined by atomic absorption and emission spectrometry. The groups of elements were identified, that determined the natural and man-made anomalies. The accumulation of Cr, Ni and Co determines the influence of kimberlite magmatism in general. Cu, Sr and Li are accumulated in the soils of the Daldyn-Alakit diamond-bearing region. Increased concentrations of Mn and Cu are typical in the soils of the Sredne-Markhinsky diamond-bearing region. An assessment of the ecological and geochemical state of the study areas was carried out according to the indicator of total pollution (Zc), which is the sum of the excess of the concentration coefficients of chemical elements accumulating in anomalies. Areas of pollution and zones of the greatest risk are localized, which occupy up to 75% of the total area of industrial sites. They confined to quarry-dump complexes and to areas of impact of tailing dumps of processing plants.

An Update on Eukaryotic Viruses Revived from Ancient Permafrost

“…One could imagine that very deep permafrost layers (i.e., million-year-old), such as those extracted by open-pit mining, could release totally unknown pathogens [ 22 ]. Finally, the abrupt thawing vertically operating along the whole wall of permafrost bluffs (consisting of specific ice-rich deposits called “yedoma”) such as seen in the Kolyma lowland or around the Yukon River, Alaska, causes the simultaneous release of ancient microorganisms from frozen soils dating from the whole Holocene to the late Pleistocene (i.e., up to 120,000 years ago) [ 23 ].…”

An update on eukaryotic viruses revived from ancient permafrost

“…On a shorter time scale, the periodical return of anthrax epidemics devastating reindeer populations has been linked to the deeper thawing of the permafrost active layer at the soil surface during exceptionally hot summers, allowing century-old Bacillus anthracis spores from old animals burial grounds or carcasses to resurface [19][20][21] One could imagine that very deep permafrost layers (i.e. million-year-old), such as those extracted by open-pit mining, could release totally unknown pathogens [22]. Finally, the abrupt thawing vertically operating along the whole wall of permafrost bluffs (consisting of specific ice-rich deposits called "yedoma") such as seen in the Kolyma lowland or around the Yukon river Alaska, causes the simultaneous release of ancient microorganisms from frozen soils dating from the whole Holocene to the late Pleistocene (i.e.…”

“…One could imagine that very deep permafrost layers (i.e. million-year-old), such as those extracted by open-pit mining, could release totally unknown pathogens [22]. Finally, the abrupt thawing vertically operating along the whole wall of permafrost bluffs (consisting of specific ice-rich deposits called “yedoma”) such as seen in the Kolyma lowland or around the Yukon river Alaska, causes the simultaneous release of ancient microorganisms from frozen soils dating from the whole Holocene to the late Pleistocene (i.e.…”