Impact of Uranium Mill Tailings on Water Resources

Impact of Uranium Mill Tailings on Water Resources in Mailuu Suu, Kyrgistan Frank Wagner, Hagen Jung, Sven Altfelder, Thomas Himmelsbach Federal Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) Hannover - Germany IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012

BGR Mission / Responsibilities To advise the Federal Government and the German industry in all questions related to geosciences and natural resources. Budget and Personnel € 65 million core budget 765 staff of which approx. € 15 million additional funds § approx. 50 % upper level civil servants (in 2011) § approx. 50 % upper middle-level, middle level and lower level civil servants § and 28 trainees IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012

Organisation 4 Departments (thematic), 17 Sub-Departments Geo. Business Commission‘s Office 1. Energy Resources, Mineral Resources 2. Groundwater and Soil Science 3. Underground Space for Storage and Economic Use 4. Geoscientific Informat. , Internat. Cooperation § Raw Materials Agency ( DERA) § Geophysical Exploration, Technical Mineralogy § Geological-geotechnical Exploration § International Cooperation § Geology of Mineral Resources § Basic Information, Groundwater and Soil § Geological-geotechnical Site Assessment § Geology of Energy Resources, Polar Geology § Groundwater Resources, Quality and Dynamics § Subsurface Use, Geological CO 2 Storage § Central Seismological Observatory, Nuclear Test Ban Treaty § Exploration of Marine Resources § Soil as a Resource, Properties and Dynamics § Geological-geotechnical Safety Analyses § Geo-Hazard Assessment, Remote Sensing § Geochemistry of Resources IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012 § Geodata, Geological Information, Stratigraphy

Project Background & Motivation • Mining and processing of uranium ore in Mailuu-Suu from 1946 -1968 ~3 Mio. m³ waste rock and tailing material deposited in vicinity of rivers and instable slopes. • Direct/indirect exposure of the deposits by tectonic activity/ landslides. Scenario: Erosion, mobilisation, contamination downstream ( Fergana Basin, Uzbekistan) • The possible hazard in Mailuu-Suu attained international awareness (TACIS) World Bank initiated „Disaster Hazard Mitigation Project“ Tailing 5 Tailing 3 IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012

Project frame Techn. cooperation project Kyrgistan - Germany Funding: 300, 000 EUR - Ministry of Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany Project Period: 2006 - 2008 – Long-term expert seconded to Mailuu-Suu (08/2006 – 05/2008) Partner Institutions: – Ministry of Emergencies of the Kyrgyz Republic (MOE) – Local authorities, e. g. the Sanitary-Epidemic Station (CEC) – Institute for Radiation Protection and Radioecology, University Hanover (ISR), Germany – World Bank “Disaster Hazard Mitigation Project” (DHMP) IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012

Objectives of BGR project 1. System understanding: • Baseline Study assessing initial contamination status of water resources, as well as their vulnerability for future contaminations. • Studying the mobility and transport path of relevant contaminants in Mailuu-Suu. 2. (Ground-)Water Resources Monitoring: • Implementation of a monitoring network to assess impacts of geotechnical activities on surface and groundwater resources. • Installation of Monitoring stations, supporting sustainable monitoring by local authorities 3. Capacity Development: • Providing monitoring equipment, guidelines, professional training. • Assessing & improving laboratory capacities • Awareness Raising, disseminating recommendations in public events IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012

Geographical & Geological Frame • Mailuu Say river valley with strong relief, major tributaries feed Mailuu Say • 23 Tailing impoundmends, 13 waste rock dumps in close vicinity of Rivers • Central water supply partly available for Mailuu Suu, city area, domestic wells tapping shallow aquifers are used in S´ M-S • Cretaceous ore bearing rocks outcrop in central Mailuu Suu. Scetch cross section IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012

Hydrochemical Monitoring of Water Resources 72° 25'30"E 72° 30'0"E 1 41° 19'0"N 30 3 39 existing sampling locations 4 29 18 • Seepage water (dumps, tailings) 6 7 • River water M 1 28 5 12 Station 10 22 41° 16'30"N + 11 wells drilled by BGR in shallow aquifer (M 1 -M 11) 14 11 13 6 33 Station 14, Tailing 16 14 M 7 26 23 4 1 17 M 2 3 9 19 22 10 21 23 2 35 25 17 27 M 9 13 15 M 5 31 M 8 • Trace elements (incl. U, Th, As, … ) M 6 24 41° 14'0"N 8 9 M 10 12 34 M 11 0 72° 27'30"E 72° 25'30"E 38, 39, 36, 37, 32, 10 – UMREG Station IAEA 11, Tailing 5 Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012 20 18 8 M 4 • Major cations, anions, • Radiochemical analysis 7 16 Sampling 2 x / year, observed parameters: • Stable isotopes (2 H, 18 O) 19 5 16 • Shallow wells (Holocene aquifer) • Deep wells (hardrock aquifer) 11 21 20 41° 16'30"N • Springs 2 City area Station M 1 Tailings Dumps, waste of uncondition ores 500 1000 1500 Meters 41° 14'0"N Assessing contamination status and risk potential of water ressources based on: 72° 27'30"E 72° 30'0"E Sampling Station 28

Aquifer Identification & Characterization „Hydrochemical Fingerprinting “ approach to: • Characterization of water samples • Identification of genetical relationships Water samples form distinct groups of different origin (river, technogene, aquifer) Hydraulic connection M-S river - shallow GW River water samples along a mixing line, end members upstream M-S and Kulmin-Say Piper diagram „Technogene“ Na-SO 4, HCO 3 (Ca, Mg) River K-S (Na, Mg-SO 4) River M-S Ca, Mg-HCO 3 N S Cluster analysis GW - spring Isolit GW - Holocene GW - well Lamp-F GW - springs GW - Artesian IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012 "Technogene" (Tailing/dumps) River M-S River K-Z Dump pit 10 Tributaries M-S

Status of Contamination Samples Generally, >50% of sampled river and ground water fail international drinking water criteria. Dissolved substances of chemotoxic relevance: U (up to 36 mg/L), SO 4 (up to 5 g/L), F (up to 10 mg/L), As (max. 1. 8 mg/L) Contaminant 108 U 108 SO 4 108 F 108 As 0 20 40 % > Standard, WHO 2004 % < MDL (ICP-MS/ ICP-OES) Dissolved Uranium in natural water resources: • Shallow GW: central Mailuu Suu (up to 30 µg/L), locally even higher 80 100 % WHO 2004: U 15 µg/L, SO 4 500 mg/L, F 1, 5 mg/L, As 10 µg/L 100000. 0 Max. 10000. 0 • Mailu Suu River: N S trend, 0. 3 µg/L 2 µg/L 75 perc Median 25 perc 1000. 0 U (ug/l) • Higher U levels in Tributaries, Kulmin-Say (>100 µg/L) 60 Min. 100. 0 15 µg/L (WHO) 10. 0 1. 0 0. 1 0. 0 Deep GW IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012 Tributaries Technogene: Tailings, Dumps River M-S Shallow M-S GW

Risk potential of tailings as a contamination source I Methods • Collecting solid tailing material (TACIS!) from Tailing No. 3 and associated pore water. • Mineralogical & radiochemical analysis of solid samples regarding Uranium, Thorium, Radium and Polonium. • Laboratory (batch) experiments studying specific mobilisation rates (p. H, redox, CO 3). Understanding the dissolved species, their transport behaviour and path. IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012

Risk potential of tailings as a contamination source II Relevant results improving process understanding: • Uranium (238, 234) radionuclides dominate radioactivity of pore water, other radionuclides negligible. • Identified major uranium source minerals: Brannerite, Uraninite (picture) mobilisation rate ~1, 5 mg m-2 d-1 • Dissolved Uranium form stable, highly mobile species ((Ca-)Uranyl-Carbonates). • Major limiting factors: pore water exchange; hydraulic connection of basis to shallow aquifer. IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012 (SEM coupled EDX)

Results of Technical Activities Hydrochemical monitoring of water resources in M-S: • Elevated levels of U and other contaminants in rivers and shallow GW • Downstream transport of contaminants (N S) in both shallow aquifer and Mailuu-Say river, major contribution through tributaries • Successful genetic clustering of the sampled water using hydrochemical fingerprints • Uranium mobilisation within tailing impoundments has been quantified • Still not quantified: - Percolation of seepage water from tailings into basis layer; - Contribution deep aquifers, e. g. flooded mines IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012 Conceptional understanding of the Uranium contamination path in Mailuu Suu

Building Capacities in Water Monitoring 1. 5 -day Monitoring Seminar in Mailuu Suu (local authorities, M-S inhabitants, Mo. E/PIU): - Introduction to hydrogeological and monitoring concepts, - Handover of monitoring equipment, field kits, training in maintenance and usage, - Establishing a local monitoring group, training-on-the-job 2. Kyrgyz laboratory capabilities: Round Robin tests to evaluate laboratories with ability to determine dissolved U No national laboratory with sufficient analytical skills identified (criteria: max. detection limit for dissolved U 15 µg/L) IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012

Awareness Raising Campaign Organizing public information events / press conferences, in cooperation with Mo. E (Mailuu Suu), dissemination of information in local media, e. g. local press, leaflets: • Informing local community about aim and purpose of monitoring stations • Informing about health risks and indications for contaminated water • Recommending specific water usage behaviour water consumption as well as food chain Recommended water consumption and usage in Mailuu Suu valley. Standard parameters potentially indicating contaminated water Water source Drinking Livestock Irrigation Centr. water supply yes yes Deep wells (No)* yes Indicator Limit Unit Shallow wells No no no Alkalinity 350 mg/L Mailuu-Say River (Yes)** no yes Sulphate 180 mg/L Other rivers No no no * Some artesian wells provide water with drinking water quality. ** Boiling before consumption recommended IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012 1000 µS/cm Electr. Cond. Note that direct determination of contaminats cannot be substituted.

Major Recommendations & Lessons Learnt 1. Survey if contaminated seepage water is still evident, catchment / disposal is recommended to reduce environmental contamination 2. Continuation of systematic information campaigns to improve awareness and reduce risks of affected local population 3. Advisory companionship of the monitoring activities in Mailuu suu. Proposed monitoring approach: Approach Objective Frequency Determinands 1. Surveillance monitoring To define baseline and long-term trends annually / 3 yearly Full water analysis 2. Operational monitoring To observe water resources „at risk“ 6 monthly responsive parameters 3. Investigative monitoring To identify/observe pollution sources high frequency indicator parameters Upgrading laboratory capacities long-term allocation of funds, expertise IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012

Acknowledgements Our gratitudes for kind cooperation and continuous support to: - All PIU members from the Ministry of Environment Mo. E - Mailuu-Suu authorities, esp. Sanitary. Epidemic Station CEC - University Hannover, ISR (Institute for Radiation Protection and Radioecology) - Members of the DHMP (Worldbank), incl. colleques from WISUTEC & WISMUT --------------------------Involved colleques from BGR: Dr. Hagen Jung Mr. Frank Schmidt Dr. Frank Wagner Mrs. Cornelia Koch Prof. Dr. Thomas Himmelsbach IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012 The monitoring group on the job…. Thanks for your kind attention !

i IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012

IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07. 11. 2012