Drivers of rare earth elements (REEs) and radionuclides in changing subarctic (Nunavik, Canada) surface waters near a mining project.

The emergence of mining projects for rare earth elements (REEs) in response to rising global demand and geopolitical factors introduces environmental concerns, such as the suspected release of anthropogenic REEs to aquatic systems and the coexistence of radionuclides (U, Th). Northern regions confro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Hazardous Materials
Main Authors: Marginson, H, MacMillan, G A, Wauthy, M, Sicaud, E, Gérin-Lajoie, J, Dedieu, J-P, Amyot, M
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Elsevier Science 2024
Subjects:
Arctic
Ce anomaly
Climate change
Dissolved organic matter (DOM)
Lanthanides
Speciation
Thermokarst
Trace metals
Nunavik
Canada
Subarctic
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134418
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38688225
Description
Summary:The emergence of mining projects for rare earth elements (REEs) in response to rising global demand and geopolitical factors introduces environmental concerns, such as the suspected release of anthropogenic REEs to aquatic systems and the coexistence of radionuclides (U, Th). Northern regions confront heightened challenges from limited research and accelerated climate change. Drivers of REEs in surface waters (including George and Koroc rivers, their tributaries, and thermokarst lakes) were studied (2017-2023) in subarctic Canada within a climate transition zone, near a prospective REE mine. Dissolved REEs (<0.45 μm) correlated positively with Al, Fe, Th, U, Cl- and DOC. A novel relationship with water temperature demonstrated an approximate 10-fold decrease in REE concentrations over the environmental gradient (2-20 ℃), suggesting complex implications for REE speciation under climate pressures. Optical analyses further predicted REEs were mobilized by humic-rich, terrestrial DOC, with correlations presenting a possible co-transport with Al, Fe and Th. Relationships for redox-sensitive Ce anomalies (Ce/Ce* = 0.18-1.2) with multi-valent trace metals (Al, Fe, Ti) and DOC were suggestive of a preferential adsorption of Ce by inorganic colloids in low-DOC systems. Findings emphasized the potential for changes in REE geochemistry with ongoing northern surface warming and vegetation shifts.

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