Giant Mine: Historical Summary

This report examines the history of arsenic pollution from Giant Yellowknife Gold Mine, and its environmental and public health impacts. It is based on extensive archival research in national and territorial archives, as well as oral histories (published and unpublished) and a review of public repor...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Keeling, Arn, Sandlos, John
Format: Report
Language:English
Published: Abandoned Mines in Northern Canada Project 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:https://research.library.mun.ca/638/
https://research.library.mun.ca/638/1/GiantMine_HistorySummary.pdf
https://research.library.mun.ca/638/3/GiantMine_HistorySummary.pdf
http://reviewboard.ca/upload/project_document/EA0809-001_Giant_Mine__History_Summary.PDF
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Summary:This report examines the history of arsenic pollution from Giant Yellowknife Gold Mine, and its environmental and public health impacts. It is based on extensive archival research in national and territorial archives, as well as oral histories (published and unpublished) and a review of public reports on the issue. Operating from 1948 to 2004, Giant Mine produced over 7 million ounces of gold mined from arsenopyrite ore formations located on the north shore of Yellowknife Bay. Gold processing entailed roasting the ore, producing as a byproduct arsenic trioxide dust, a highly toxic form of arsenic. In the early 1950s, arsenic emissions from Giant and Con mines totalled an estimated 22,000 lbs. per day. Though Con mine installed a scrubber in 1949, Giant mine (the source of most of the arsenic) did not install pollution control equipment until the end of 1951, after a Dene child died of acute arsenic poisoning at Latham Island. Local livestock also died as from arsenic poisoning. Government and mine officials met at the time to discuss how to address the problem of arsenic pollution, but never contemplated even a temporary shutdown of the mine. The capture of arsenic using a Cottrell Electrostatic Precipitator reduced but did not eliminate arsenic. Collection rates were further improved by the installation of a baghouse in 1958. Studies undertaken through the 1950s and 1960s revealed persistent high levels of arsenic on local produce and berries. Concerns remained about water pollution from both atmospheric deposition and arsenic- and cyanidelaced tailings effluent. The collection of arsenic, , also resulted in the fateful decision to store arsenic trioxide dust in underground chambers and mined-out stopes. Today, the 237,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide underground at Giant remains the central environmental challenge for the reclamation and remediation of the site. Public health studies undertaken in the 1960s suggested a possible link between arsenic exposure and elevated cancer rates in Yellowknife, but these ...