Article

Historical pollution variability from abandoned mine sites, Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, New South Wales, Australia

March 2003
Environmental Earth Sciences 43(6):680-687

DOI:10.1007/s00254-002-0687-8

Authors:

Henk Heijnis

Diponegoro University

Graziella Caprarelli

University of Southern Queensland

Core and surface sediments from the Tonalli River, a tributary of the artificial lake, Lake Burragorang, in the Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales, Australia, were studied to evaluate the spatio-temporal distribution of pollutants from the Yerranderie silver-lead-zinc mine site, abandoned in the late 1920s. A sediment core was collected in the mouth of the Tonalli River, at its junction with Lake Burragorang, and surface sediment samples were collected in the Tonalli River and its tributaries. The concentrations of Pb, As, Zn, Cu, Cd, Hg and Ag in the sediments were determined by ICP-MS and ICP-AES techniques. Temporal variability of metal concentrations was established through 210Pb dating of the core sediments and compared with published historical records, rainfall records and bushfire data. Metal concentrations in core sediments showed an overall increase around the year 1950 as well as increases coincident with heavy rainfall. Spatially, metal concentrations were up to 400 times the guideline limit around mine sites but decreased rapidly with distance downstream of the mines.

Assessment of legacy mine metal contamination using ants as indicators of contamination

Article

Apr 2021

Most legacy mines contributed to contamination of the environment before and after cessation of mining. Contamination from waste rock, slag and tailings can introduce large concentrations of metals and metalloids to the surface soil and downstream sediments. Since ants are able to accumulate metals in their bodies, we investigated the possibility of using the elemental compositions of ants as indicators of metals at legacy mines developed on ores rich in copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), silver (Ag) and lead (Pb). Our results showed the concentrations of manganese (Mn) and Cu in ants were not significantly different between mine and reference samples and only Zn was significantly different between contaminated and reference areas. Crematogaster spp. and Notoncus spp. from reference areas accumulated larger concentrations of metals in their bodies compared to ants from the mine. Ants accumulated metals in different parts of their bodies. The abdomen was the main site for accumulation of Mn, iron (Fe) and Zn. Mandibles were only associated with accumulation of Zn. Copper and Pb showed no area of preferential accumulation and traces were detected in the whole body of the ants. Ants from five genera had similar regions for metal accumulation. The exoskeleton did not contribute to accumulation of metals; instead all metals were stored in internal organs. Not all genera were suitable for use as indicators; only Iridomyrmex spp. and Ochetellus spp. accumulated larger amount of metals in mine samples compared to reference samples.

Health condition assessment for vegetation exposed to heavy metal pollution through airborne hyperspectral data

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2017
ENVIRON MONIT ASSESS

Recent advancements in hyperspectral remote sensing technology now provide improved diagnostic capabilities to assess vegetation health conditions. This paper uses a set of 13 vegetation health indices related to chlorophyll, xanthophyll, blue/green/red ratio and structure from airborne hyperspectral reflectance data collected around a derelict mining area in Yerranderie, New South Wales, Australia. The studied area has ten historic mine shafts with a legacy of heavy metals and acidic contamination in a pristine ecosystem now recognised as Great Blue Mountain World Heritage Area. The forest is predominantly comprised of different species of Eucalyptus trees. In addition to the airborne survey, ground-based spectra of the tree leaves were collected along the two accessible heavy metal contaminated pathways. The stream networks in the area were classified and the geospatial patterns of vegetation health were analysed along the Tonalli River, a major water tributary flowing through the National Park. Despite the inflow of contaminated water from the near-mine streams, the measured vegetation health indices along Tonalli River were found to remain unchanged. The responses of the vegetation health indices between the near-mine and away-mine streams were found similar. Based on the along-stream and inter-stream analysis of the spectral indices of vegetation health, no significant impact of the heavy metal pollution could be noticed. The results indicate the possibility of the vegetation having developed immunity towards the high levels of heavy metal pollution over a century of exposure.

Spectroscopic analysis of soil metal contamination around a derelict mine site in the Blue Mountains, Australia

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2014

Abandoned mine sites pose the potential threat of the heavy metal pollution spread through streams and via runoff leading to contamination of soil and water in their surrounding areas. Regular monitoring of these areas is critical to minimise impacts on water resources, flora and fauna. Conventional ground based monitoring is expensive and sometimes impractical; spectroscopic methods have been emerged as a reliable alternative for this purpose. In this study, the capabilities of the spectroscopy method were examined for modelling soil contamination from around the abandoned silver-zinc mine located at Yerranderie, NSW Australia. The diagnostic characteristics of the original reflectance data were compared with models derived from first and second derivatives of the reflectance data. The results indicate that the models derived from the first derivative of the reflectance data estimate heavy metals significantly more accurately than model derived from the original reflectance. It was also found in this study that there is no need to use second derivative for modelling heavy metal soil contamination. Finally, the results indicate that estimates were of greater accuracy for arsenic and lead compared to other heavy metals, while the estimation for silver was found to be the most erroneous.

Spatio-temporal variability and source identification for metal contamination in the river sediment of Indian Sundarbans, a world heritage site

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2018
ENVIRON SCI POLLUT R

Metal pollution is a subject of growing concern as it affects the whole food chain of an ecosystem by bioaccumulation. Growing industrialization and anthropogenic intervention have put tremendous pressure on self-sustaining ecosystems worldwide. Sundarbans mangrove estuary, being a UNESCO World Heritage site, suffers severely from anthropogenic stress, urbanization, ecotourism, overexploitation of natural resources and discharges of industrial as well as municipal waste products. Our study unfolds the extent of metal pollution in the sediment of this estuarine mangrove ecosystem and also investigates the source and distribution of these metals. Extensive samplings were performed during three major seasons, namely pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon for two consecutive years at ten sampling stations along the major river networks of the mangrove estuary. Seasonal variations of these metals, physicochemical properties, and soil texture studies were performed to explore the sediment quality of the study area. Positive correlation was observed between the pollutants and siltation. Several environmental indices were investigated to explore the degree of metal pollution which revealed contamination of Cd, Cr, and Pb to cross the permitted safe index in the study area. Pollution load index indicates the spatial as well as seasonal variation of eco toxic metal load along the course of the rivers. Statistical analyses such as principal component analysis and correlation matrix identified different sources for metal contamination. Almost 700 tannery industries are located in the upstream region of the rivers, and several small- and large-scale battery industries seem to be the main possible source for Cd, Cr, and Pb pollution. Analysis of the results indicates the alarming condition of this heritage site. The metal concentrations beyond toxicity thresholds are responsible for gradual deterioration of this estuarine mangrove which may only be protected by developing sustainable management planning.

Influence of controlled burning on the mobility and temporal variations of potentially toxic metals (PTMs) in the soils of a legacy gold mine site in Central Victoria, Australia

Article

Dec 2018
GEODERMA

Controlled burns also known as managed burns or prescribed fires conducted in fire-prone areas are an efficient and economic option to reduce the frequency and intensity of wildfires. The objective of this study is to investigate the remobilization of potentially toxic metals (PTMs) in the soils of a legacy gold mine site in Central Victoria, Australia after a controlled burn and to describe their temporal variations in concentrations. Soil samples were collected two days before, two days after and five times later (3, 6, 9, 12 months and after major rainfall) in the post-burn environment after a controlled burn, from the Maldon legacy mine site and analysed for PTM concentrations. The results revealed PTM mobilization after the burn and most of the PTMs (As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn) evidenced an increase immediately after the burn but a reduction in the subsequent post-burn environment. The increase is postulated to be associated with addition of PTM enriched ash to the soil, while the decrease is due to the removal of ash and surface soil by wind activity as well as rainfall runoff and leaching. The PTM mobility is of specific concern due to the negative impacts on human and ecosystems health. Climate change and the resulting projection of increased forest fire frequency highlight the environmental significance, given the expected concomitant increase in PTM mobilization through wildfires and controlled burns. Hence, the practice of controlled burning should be carefully considered as a forest management option in any legacy mining areas and indeed in other areas where PTM contamination is reported.

210Pb and 210Po in Geological and Related Anthropogenic Materials: Implications for Their Mineralogical Distribution in Base Metal Ores

Article

Full-text available

May 2018

The distributions of²¹⁰Pb and²¹⁰Po, short half-life products of²³⁸U decay, in geological and related anthropogenic materials are reviewed, with emphasis on their geochemical behaviours and likely mineral hosts. Concentrations of natural²¹⁰Pb and²¹⁰Po in igneous and related hydrothermal environments are governed by release from crustal reservoirs.²¹⁰Po may undergo volatilisation, inducing disequilibrium in magmatic systems. In sedimentary environments (marine, lacustrine, deltaic and fluvial), as in soils, concentrations of²¹⁰Pb and²¹⁰Po are commonly derived from a combination of natural and anthropogenic sources. Enhanced concentrations of both radionuclides are reported in media from a variety of industrial operations, including uranium mill tailings, waste from phosphoric acid production, oil and gas exploitation and energy production from coals, as well as in residues from the mining and smelting of uranium-bearing copper ores. Although the mineral hosts of the two radionuclides in most solid media are readily defined as those containing parent²³⁸U and²²⁶Ra, their distributions in some hydrothermal U-bearing ores and the products of processing those ores are much less well constrained. Much of the present understanding of these radionuclides is based on indirect data rather than direct observation and potential hosts are likely to be diverse, with deportments depending on the local geochemical environment. Some predictions can nevertheless be made based on the geochemical properties of²¹⁰Pb and²¹⁰Po and those of the intermediate products of²³⁸U decay, including isotopes of Ra and Rn. Alongside all U-bearing minerals, the potential hosts of²¹⁰Pb and²¹⁰Po may include Pb-bearing chalcogenides such as galena, as well as a range of sulphates, carbonates, and Fe-oxides.²¹⁰Pb and²¹⁰Po are also likely to occur as nanoparticles adsorbed onto the surface of other minerals, such as clays, Fe-(hydr)oxides and possibly also carbonates. In rocks, unsupported²¹⁰Pb- and/or²¹⁰Po-bearing nanoparticles may also be present within micro-fractures in minerals and at the interfaces of mineral grains. Despite forming under very limited and special conditions, the local-scale isotopic disequilibrium they infer is highly relevant for understanding their distributions in mineralized rocks and processing products.

Coal Mine Water Pollution and Ecological Impairment of One of Australia’s Most ‘Protected’ High Conservation-Value Rivers

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2017
WATER AIR SOIL POLL

The environmental regulation of a coal mine in the greater Sydney area has failed to recognise the importance of and protect a high conservation-value river located in a World Heritage listed area. This study measured the water quality and ecological health (using macroinvertebrates) of the Wollangambe River and its tributaries near the point of the waste water discharge of a coal mine and assessed the longitudinal impact for 22 km downstream. The investigation revealed two important aspects. The first is the significant impact of the waste water discharge when compared to the otherwise near-pristine condition of the high conservation-value river system. The second is the spatial extent of the pollution from the mine that extends at least 22 km downstream from the outflow of coal mine wastes. The resulting water pollution is causing major impairment of the aquatic ecosystem, with reduced abundance, taxonomic richness and loss of pollution-sensitive macroinvertebrate groups. Water pollution from the mine includes thermal pollution, increased salinity and increased concentrations of zinc and nickel. The mine’s waste discharge also strongly modified the river’s ionic composition. The study also highlights the failure of the regulatory and governance systems that enable the mine to operate in a manner that causes major environmental impacts.

Ecosystem impacts of feral rabbits on World Heritage sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island: A palaeoecological perspective

Article

Jan 2014

The introduction and establishment of non-indigenousspecies through human activities often posesa major threat to natural biodiversity. In many parts of the world management efforts are therefore focused on their eradication. The environment of World Heritage sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island has been severelydamaged by non-indigenous species including rabbits, rats and mice, introduced from the late AD 1800s. An extensive eradication programme is now underway which aims to remove all rabbits and rodents. To provide a long-term context for assessingthe Island'spre-invasion state, invasion impacts, and to provide a baseline for monitoring its recovery, we undertook a palaeoecological study usingproxies in a lake sediment core. Sedimentological and diatom analyses revealed an unproductive catchment and lake environment persisted for ca. 7100 years prior to the introduction of the invasive species.After ca. AD 1898, unprecedented and statistically significant environmental changes occurred. Lake sediment accumulation ratesincreased >100 timesdue toenhanced catchment inputs and within-lake production. Total carbon and total nitrogen contents of the sediments increased by a factor of four. The diatom flora became dominated by two previously rare species.The results strongly suggest a causal link between the anthropogenic introduction of rabbits and the changes identified in the lake sediments.This study provides an example of how palaeoecology may be used to determine baseline conditions prior to the introduction of non-indigenous species, quantify the timing and extent of changes, and help monitor therecovery of the ecosystem and natural biodiversityfollowing successfulnon-indigenous species eradication programmes.

Unprecedented wind erosion and perturbation of surface geochemistry marks the Anthropocene in Australia

Article

Jan 2014

[1] Australia, the last continent to undergo industrial development, is an ideal environment in which to quantify the magnitude of human-induced environmental change during the Anthropocene because its entire agricultural and industrial history has occurred within this period. Analysis of an alpine peat mire showed that rapid industrial and agricultural development (both pastoral and cropping) over the past 200 years has resulted in significant environmental change in Australia. Beginning in the 1880 s, rates of wind erosion and metal enrichment were up to 10 and 30 times that of background natural conditions, respectively. Increased dust deposition and an expansion in dust source areas were found to map the progression of European farming across the continent, while dust deposition pulses in the mire matched known land degradation events. After 1990 dust deposition decreased, returning to pre-1880 rates. This was attributed to three factors: net soil loss following more than a century of agricultural activity, increased environmental awareness and soil conservation, and changing windiness. Metal enrichment in the mire reached approximately 2 times natural background accumulation rates by the 1980s as Australia's mining industry expanded. However, metal enrichment continued to increase after the 1980s reaching an average of ~5 times background rates by 2006 and reflecting increased mineral resource development in Australia. Collectively the results show that changes to Australia's geochemical and sedimentary systems, as a result of agricultural and industrial development, have profoundly changed the Australian environment during the past two centuries.

Legacy Contamination of River Sediments from Four Decades of Coal Mine Effluent Inhibits Ecological Recovery of a Polluted World Heritage Area River

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2022
WATER AIR SOIL POLL

A revised environmental licence that authorises the disposal of coal mine effluent has reduced the severity and spatial extent of water pollution and associated ecological impairment of a high conservation-value river flowing into and within the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. This study investigated water quality and the ecological condition of the Wollangambe River above and below a colliery effluent outfall and assessed the longitudinal impact 22 km downstream. Results are compared to a previous study conducted in 2012/2013 when the environmental licence allowed hazardous pollutant discharges (zinc, nickel) from the colliery. The current study revealed that water quality and river sediment at sampling sites in close proximity (< 2 km) to the effluent outfall continues to contribute ecologically hazardous concentrations of metals and river macroinvertebrates reflect diminished ecological health. However, further downstream monitoring has revealed a significant improvement in ecological condition that can be directly attributed to the revised pollution licence. We hypothesise that the ecological recovery of the most contaminated reaches of the river that lies proximate to the discharge point is constrained by four decades of accumulated zinc and nickel within river sediments. Nickel (978 mg/kg) and zinc (2080 mg/kg) exceeded ecosystem protection guidelines by 45 and 10 times, respectively. The study highlights the importance of appropriate and site-specific environmental licencing to protect riverine ecosystems of conservation significance from long-term contamination.

Mercury atmospheric emission, deposition and isotopic fingerprinting from major coal-fired power plants in Australia: Insights from palaeo-environmental analysis from sediment cores

Article

Jun 2021
ENVIRON POLLUT

Despite Australia's high reliance on coal for electricity generation, no study has addressed the extent to which mercury (Hg) deposition has increased since the commissioning of coal-fired power plants. We present stratigraphic data from lake sediments in the Hunter Valley (New South Wales) and Latrobe Valley (Victoria), where a significant proportion of Australia's electricity is generated via coal combustion. Mercury deposition in lake sediments increased in the 1970s with the commissioning of coal-fired power plants, by a factor of 2.9-times in sediments of Lake Glenbawn (Hunter Valley) and 14-times in Traralgon Reservoir (Latrobe Valley). Sediments deposited after the commissioning of power plants have distinct Hg isotope compositions, similar to those of combusted coals. Mercury emission, estimated using an atmospheric model (CALPUFF), was higher in the Latrobe Valley than in the Hunter Valley. This is a result of higher Hg concentrations in lignite coal, lax regulation and older pollution-control technologies adopted by power-plants in the Latrobe Valley. Near-source deposition of Hg in Australia is significantly higher than North America and Europe, where better emission controls (e.g. wet flue gas desulfurization) have been in effect for decades. The challenge for Australia in years to come will be to ratify the Minamata Convention and develop better regulation policies to reduce Hg emissions.

Integrating charcoal morphology and stable carbon isotope analysis to identify non-grass elongate charcoal in tropical savannas

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2022
VEG HIST ARCHAEOBOT

Fire is inextricably linked to the vegetation that provides the fuel load. For palaeofire records to contribute meaningfully to the reconstruction of past landscape fire history, it is helpful to identify the vegetation that has been burnt, for example, grassy versus woody vegetation in tropical savannas. The morphological characteristics of charcoal particles can provide useful information on source vegetation type, and the aspect ratio of charcoal particles has been proposed to identify the contribution of grasses to environmental records. Stable carbon isotope analysis of pyrogenic carbon can also chemically identify the proportion of C3 and C4 biomass in charcoal samples but has yet to be widely applied alongside charcoal morphological analysis. Using carbon isotope analysis we demonstrate that C3 sedges contribute elongate charcoal to a fire record where C4 grasses are absent. These results challenge the widespread assumption that elongate charcoal is primarily or exclusively derived from grass, as most experimental studies demonstrating this relationship were conducted in environments where graminoids (grass-like forms) did not significantly contribute to available fuels. In turn, this complicates the simple interpretation of elongate aspect ratios for charcoal in fire records as direct proxies for the proportion of grasses in an environment, beyond differentiating temperate forests from grasslands. Minimal work to date has been done on separating charcoal derived from different graminoid types and future studies would benefit from the ability to differentiate graminoids including Poaceae and Cyperaceae in fire records. These results highlight the benefits of a multi-proxy approach to the interpretation of fire records in tropical savannas.

Signature of modern glacial lake outburst floods in fjord sediments (Baker River, southern Chile)

Article

Apr 2021

Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) constitute a major hazard in glacierized regions. They are particularly pronounced in the Baker River watershed (Chilean Patagonia, 48°S), where 23 events occurred between 2008 and 2020. Although GLOF deposits have previously been studied in lake settings, how modern GLOFs are recorded in fjord sediments remains mostly unknown. To address this issue, ten sediment cores collected in the fjord immediately downstream of the Baker River (Martínez Channel) were investigated and compared to the recent GLOF history of the river. Results show that sediments accumulate at 2.0 to 3.4 cm year‐1 and that GLOF deposits can be distinguished from background sediments by their finer grain size (5.98 ± 0.82 μm) and lower organic carbon content (0.31 ± 0.06%), reflecting the release and transport in suspension of high amounts of glacial rock flour during GLOFs. Although 21 GLOFs from Cachet 2 Lake occurred between 2008 and 2017, the first events left a stronger imprint in the sediment, suggesting that more sediment of glacial origin was released during those initial events, possibly due to lake‐bed erosion. An older GLOF deposit was tentatively linked to the outburst of Las Lengas Lake in 1988. The sediment cores also contain fine‐grained turbidites, especially in the prodelta area. These turbidites confirm recent channel activity, but most of them seem to have been triggered by processes other than GLOFs. Overall, the results of this study suggest that GLOF deposits are distinct from typical flood turbidites. They are best identified by their low grain size and total organic carbon content, and best archived on the delta slope, away from any submarine channel influence. Finally, these results highlight the potential of fjord sediment archives to establish pre‐historical GLOF records and ultimately improve GLOF hazard assessments.

The Use of Mining Waste Materials for the Treatment of Acid and Alkaline Mine Wastewater

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2020

The mining of metal ores generates both liquid and solid wastes, which are increasingly important to manage. In this paper, an attempt was made to use waste rocks produced in the mining of zinc and lead to neutralizing acid mine drainage and alkaline flotation wastewater. Waste rock is a quartz‐feldspar rock of hydrothermal origin. It is composed of, besides quartz and potassium feldspar (orthoclase), phyllosilicates (chlorite and mica), and sulfides (chiefly pyrite). To determine its physicochemical parameters and their variability, acid mine water and flotation wastewater were monitored for 12 months. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is characterized by a low pH (~3), high zinc concentration (~750 mg·L−1), and high sulfate content (~6800 mg·L−1). On the other hand, the determinations made for flotation wastewater showed, among others, a pH of approximately 12 and ca. 780 mg·L−1 of sulfates. AMD and flotation wastewater neutralization by the waste rock was shown to be possible and efficient. However, in both cases, the final solution contained elevated concentrations of metals and sulfates. Premixing AMD with alkaline flotation wastewater in the first step and then neutralizing the obtained mixture with the waste rock was considered the best solution. The produced solution had a circumneutral pH. However, the obtained solution does not meet the legislative requirements but could be further treated by, for example, passive treatment systems. It is noteworthy that the proposed approach is low cost and does not require any chemical reagents.

Neoglacial increase in high-magnitude glacial lake outburst flood frequency, upper Baker River, Chilean Patagonia (47°S)

Article

Nov 2020

Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) constitute a major threat in glacierized regions. Despite a recent increase in the size and number of glacial lakes worldwide, there is only limited evidence that climate change is affecting GLOF frequency. GLOFs are particularly common in the Baker River watershed (Patagonia, 47°S), where 21 GLOFs occurred between 2008 and 2017 due to the drainage of Cachet 2 Lake into the Colonia River, a tributary of the Baker River. During these GLOFs, the increased discharge from the Colonia River blocks the regular flow of the Baker River, resulting in the inundation of the Valle Grande floodplain, which is located approximately 4 km upstream of the confluence. To assess the possible relationship between GLOF frequency and climate variability, four sediment cores collected in the Valle Grande floodplain were analyzed. Their geophysical and sedimentological properties were examined, and radiocarbon-based age-depth models were constructed. All cores consist of dense, fine-grained, organic-poor material alternating with low-density organic-rich deposits. The percentage of lithogenic particles, which were most likely deposited during high-magnitude GLOFs, was used to reconstruct the flood history of the last 2.75 kyr. Results show increased flood activity between 2.57 and 2.17 cal kyr BP, and between 0.75 and 0 cal kyr BP. These two periods coincide with Neoglacial advances that are coeval with periods of lower temperature and increased precipitation. Our results suggest that GLOFs are not a new phenomenon in the region. Although rapid glacier retreat is likely responsible for high GLOF frequency in the 21 st century, high-magnitude GLOFs seem to occur more frequently when glaciers are larger and thicker.

From an environmental historical archaeology to an historical ecoarchaeology

Chapter

Full-text available

Jul 2020

Diogo Menezes Costa

During the last twenty years, the natural world in historical archaeology gravitated from a more peripheral approach to a centralized one. This chapter is the result of a bibliographical review of the interpretation of environmental data found at historical archaeological sites around the world, and also a discussion about the environmental discourse used in historical archaeology studies early on and today. Covering subjects from theoretical-based works and applied case studies, the chapter is divided into topics such as landscape, ecology, pollution, and other areas that include economy and technology questions, as well as conflict and memory issues. The chapter concludes with the introduction of the contemporary Anthropocene debate in archaeology by suggesting a paradigm shift to a new proposed field of research called historical ecoarchaeology.

Assessing environmental contamination from metal emission and relevant regulations in major areas of coal mining and electricity generation in Australia

Article

Feb 2020
SCI TOTAL ENVIRON

The Hunter and Latrobe Valleys have two of the richest coal deposits in Australia. They also host the largest coal-fired power stations in the country. We reconstructed metal deposition records in lake sediments in the Hunter and Latrobe Valleys to determine if metal deposition in freshwater lakes have increased in the region. The current regulatory arrangement applied to metal emissions from coal-fired power stations in Australia are presented, discussing their capacity to address future increases in metal deposition from these sources. Sediment records of spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCPs), a component of flyash, were also used as an additional line of evidence to identify the contribution of industrial activities related to electricity generation to metal deposition in regions surrounding open-cut coal mines and coal-fired power stations. Sediment metal concentrations and SCP counts in the sedimentary records, from the Hunter and Latrobe Valleys, both indicated that open-cut coal mining and the subsequent combustion of coal in power stations has most likely resulted in an increase in atmospheric deposition of metals in the local region. In particular, the metalloids As and Se showed the greatest enrichment compared to before coal mining commenced. Although the introduction of bag filters at Liddell Power Station and the decommissioning of Hazelwood Power Station appear to have resulted in a decrease of metal deposition in nearby lakes, overall metal deposition in the environment is still increasing. The challenge for the years to come will be to develop better regulation policies and tools that will contribute to reduce metal emissions in these major electricity production centres in Australia.

Grain Size and Pollen of Sediments in Wanghu Lake (Central China) Linked to Hydro-Environmental Changes

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2019

Grain size of lake sediments is often measured in paleolimnological studies, especially investigations of past paleoclimatic and paleohydrologic changes. The implications of such measures, however, remain unclear, since watershed hydrology and the related transfer of materials to the lake are affected by local climate variables, hydrological shifts, and vegetation cover variables. Sediment from Wanghu Lake in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River have apparently been affected by land cover changes and lake-river system transitions caused by a sluice gate built at Fuchi in 1967. These changes influenced the watershed hydrology, thereby confounding paleoclimatic and paleohydrologic interpretations by proxy records in sediment cores. We collected sediment cores from the center of Wanghu Lake and analyzed trends in pollen and physical properties through sedimentary records to investigate land cover changes and hydrological transitions during the past 90 years. The grain size of the sediment core increased with precipitation and the significant relationships between pollen and grain size after 1967 indicated that sediment transfer to the lake was controlled by rainfall and land cover changes due to human-induced deforestation and farming in the lake catchment. Interestingly before 1967, there was no significant relationship between the pollen and grain size or between the precipitation and grain size, indicating that the sediment of WanghuLake was not simply from the lake catchment. The different relationships patterns before and after 1967 indicated that the sediments in the lake were not only transported following precipitation and discharge from the lake catchment but also came from the Yangtze River draining back into the lake during the flood seasons before 1967. These results highlight matters needing attention and the potential application of grain size of sediments for reconstructions of past hydro-environmental changes.

Rainforest, woodland or swampland? Integrating time, space and culture to manage an endangered ecosystem complex in the Australian Wet Tropics

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2020
LANDSCAPE ECOL

Context Transdisciplinary research is important where information from multiple fields is required to develop ecologically and culturally appropriate environmental planning that protects local conservation and socio-cultural values. Objectives Here, we describe research to inform ecosystem restoration and conservation of Chumbrumba Swamp within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, Australia. Many such open wetlands in the region have been degraded through agriculture and pastoral production, but there has been little research into their status, history and conservation needs. Methods The recent to pre-European settlement history of the site was explored, along with spatial variation of vegetation communities at the site, and these data integrated with historical and ethnographical information on the site and its cultural values. Results The botanical and palaeoecological analyses showed that Chumbrumba Swamp comprises a unique and highly sensitive ecosystem mosaic with high biodiversity. An endangered ecosystem complex, 82 vascular plant species, several disjunct or endemic taxa, and species at new northern range limits were recorded within its 20 ha area. The site comprises a stable swamp site with fringing woodland and rainforest that has persisted for around 5000 years. European settlement overlaid changes in the vegetation from disturbance (e.g. fire, clearing, grazing). However, fire also affected the swamp site during pre-European times. Conclusions Historical and ethnographic information contextualised the biophysical data and confirmed the cultural importance of the site and the dynamic interactions between ‘people and nature’. These results have been used to inform environmental restoration and validate the importance of a transdisciplinary and precautionary approach to planning wetland restoration and conservation.

Natural evolution of artificial lakes formed in lignite excavations based on diatom, geochemical and isotopic data

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2019
J PALEOLIMNOL

TR-31 and TR-33 are post-mining lakes located within the Łuk Mużakowa Geopark (western Poland). They were created after the end of lignite exploitation in the second half of the nineteenth century. Although they are located in neighbouring excavations and currently have neutral pH levels, they developed differently. Based on the diatom communities, elemental analyses and isotopic data, TR-33 experienced a natural neutralization process from an acidic state to nearly neutral due to the presence of lignite residuum at the bottom of the excavation. Pyrite is common in lignite deposits and gangue, and its oxidation causes acidity in aquatic ecosystems. The primordial state of the acidic water in TR-33 was confirmed by the development of diatoms belonging to the Eunotia genus, which can tolerate acidic environments. The excavation in TR-31 was filled by rain and groundwater, and the pH of the water was neutral or nearly neutral from the beginning of lake’s existence. This is indicated by the diatom assemblages during the initial phase of lake formation and the reconstruction of the water pH. The relatively low values of the C/N ratio in the deep layers of the core indicate the lack of lignite deposits at the bottom of TR-31.

How significant is atmospheric metal contamination from mining activity adjacent to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area? A spatial analysis of metal concentrations using air trajectories models

Article

Nov 2018
SCI TOTAL ENVIRON

This study investigated metal contamination from historical mining in lakes in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) and surrounding region. The largest increase in sedimentation and metal contamination occurred ca. 1930 when open-cut mining commenced and new mining technology was introduced into the region. The geochemical signal of lake sediments changed from reflecting the underlying geology and lithology to that reflecting mining activities. The HYSPLIT air particle trajectory model explains metal distribution in the lakes, with those in the northwest region closest to the mines having the highest metal contamination. Lake metal concentrations since mining activities commenced are in the order: Owen Tarn > Basin Lake > Perched Lake > Lake Dove > Lake Dobson > Lake Cygnus, with Perched Lake and Lakes Dove, Dobson and Cygnus in the TWWHA. Metal contamination affected centres up to 130 km down-wind of mining sites. Enrichment factors (EF) for Pb, Cu, As and Cd are >1 for all lakes, with Owen Tarn and Basin Lake having very high EFs for Cu and Pb (98 and 91, respectively). Pb, Cu, As and Cd concentrations are above the Australia/New Zealand lower sediment guidelines, with Pb, Cu and As above the high guidelines in Owen Tarn and Basin Lake. This study demonstrated the legacy of metal contamination in the TWWHA by mining activities and the consequences of a lack of execution of environmental regulations by past governments in Tasmania.

Evaluating the Radiocarbon Reservoir Effect in Lake Kutubu, Papua New Guinea

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2018
RADIOCARBON

We examined the radiocarbon ( ¹⁴ C) reservoir effect in Lake Kutubu using tephrochronology and terrestrial plant material to deliver a precise age-depth profile and sedimentation rates for this lake. Based on the presence of two tephra horizons (Tibito and Olgaboli), we found a reservoir age offset in sediments of between 1490 and 2280 ¹⁴ C yr using the sediment ages derived from the lead-210 ( ²¹⁰ Pb) dating method. The live submerged biological samples collected exhibited a higher reservoir age offset than the sediment. This is most likely a result of delayed transport of “bomb” ¹⁴ C from the atmosphere to aquatic and sedimentary system. The ¹⁴ C reservoir effect increased with distance from the lake inlet and also decreased with depth. Dissolution of ¹⁴ C-depleted carbon from surrounding limestone and direct in-wash of old soil or vegetation remnants from the catchment are the most likely causes of the ¹⁴ C reservoir effect. Based on limestone areas mapped in Papua New Guinea, we indicate lakes which may be subject to a significant ¹⁴ C reservoir effect. The results of this study demonstrate the magnitude of the ¹⁴ C reservoir effect in lakes and provide insights to the correct interpretation of past environmental and archaeological events in PNG.

Geochemical investigation of the South Wellesley Island wetlands: Insight into wetland development during the Holocene in tropical northern Australia

Article

Sep 2016

The South Wellesley Islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria, northern Australia, were the recent focus of a palynological investigation which found vegetation change during the Holocene was driven by coastal progradation and regional climate. Here, we present new elemental data from x-ray fluorescence core scanning which provides non-destructive, continuous and high resolution analysis from three wetlands across Bentinck Island, the largest of the South Wellesley Islands. Elemental data and grain size analyses are combined with lead-210 (210Pb) and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) carbon-14 (14C) dates. An open coastal environment was present 1250 cal. a BP on the south east coast of Bentinck Island, with sediment supply incorporating fluvial deposition and detrital input of titanium and iron from eroding lateritic bedrock. Prograding shorelines, dune development and river diversion formed a series of swales parallel to the coast by ~800 cal. a BP, forming the Marralda wetlands. Wetlands developed at sites on the north and west coasts ~500 and ~450 cal. a BP, respectively. Geochemical and grain size analyses indicate that wetlands formed as accreting tidal mudflats or within inter-dune swales that intercepted groundwater draining to the coastal margins. The timing of wetland initiation indicates localised late-Holocene sea level regression, stabilisation and coastal plain development in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Elemental data provide new records of wetland development across Bentinck Island, highlighting the value of a multi-proxy approach to understanding environmental change during the Holocene in tropical northern Australia

Palaeoecological evidence for sustained change in a shallow Murray River (Australia) floodplain lake: regime shift or press response?

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2017
HYDROBIOLOGIA

Paleolimnological techniques can reveal long-term perturbations and associated stable state transitions of lake ecosystems. However, such transitions are difficult to predict since changes to lake ecosystems can be abrupt or gradual. This study examined whether there were past transitions in the ecological regime of Kings Billabong, a shallow River Murray wetland in southeast Australia. A 94-cm-long core, covering c. 90 years of age, was analysed at 1 cm resolution for subfossil cladocerans, diatoms and other proxies. Prior to river regulation (c. 1930), the littoral to planktonic ratios of cladocerans and diatoms, and bulk sediment δ13C values were high, while the period from c. 1930 to c. 1970 experienced considerable changes to the wetland ecosystem. The abrupt nature of changes of planktonic cladocerans and diatoms, particularly after the onset of river regulation (1930s), was triggered by inundation, high rates of sedimentation and shifts in bulk sediment δ15N values. However, the transition of a once littoral-dominated community, to one favouring an increasingly turbid, plankton-dominated trophic condition following river regulation was relatively slow and lasted for decades. The progression to a new regime was likely delayed by the partial recovery of submerged plant communities and related internal dynamics.

Vertical distribution of diatoms in the sediment of Al-Huwaiza Marsh, Southern Iraq and their use as indicators of environmental changes

Article

Full-text available

May 2016

The Mesopotamian marshlands are one of the most internationally important wetlands in the Middle East as it constitutes a nursing ground for many species of birds migrating from North Europe as well as for its rich biodiversity. These marshlands have undergone significant environmental changes during the last three decades owing to decreasing freshwater discharge which has led to water quality deterioration and a changing hydrological regime. This has had a considerable effect on the fauna and flora of the marshes, diminishing their ecological value and significance. The work presented here is the first attempt to investigate the marshes environmental condition during the past two centuries using paleolimnology, specifically diatoms as bioindicators in a sediment core. 80 species of diatom belonging to 35 genera were identified. The taxa encountered in the core are a mixture of fresh and brackish water forms. These are epiphytic and benthic taxa, no planktonic species were found. The fossil diatom community shows that the marshes have been exposed to different periods of salinization as well as eutrophication. The dominance of pollution tolerant species in the core indicates poor water quality for the past 160 years. Paleolimnology is important to understand past environmental conditions and forms a milestone for successful future restoration process. Further work is required to extend the time scale to identify natural ecological states and thresholds to guide international aid restoration projects.

A novel coupled biokinetic-equilibrium model to capture oyster metal bioaccumulation in a contaminated estuary (Sydney estuary, Australia)

Article

Aug 2016
ENVIRON MODELL SOFTW

Enriched concentrations of metal contaminants have been reported in surficial sediments and tissues of aquatic organisms in Sydney estuary, New South Wales, Australia. Dietary ingestion of contaminated, suspended sediments is potentially a major route of metal exposure to the filter-feeder Saccostrea glomerata. A dynamically coupled biokinetic-equilibrium bioaccumulation model was developed to explore sediment-oyster-metal uptake interactions. The biokinetic component simulated the sediment dynamics and oyster uptake and loss kinetics while the ion equilibrium model accounted for the metal speciation reactions. Results of a laboratory-based mesocosm experiment as well as data from the literature were used to parameterise the model. The model demonstrated a good fit of the experimental data and indicated that dissolved and particulate organic matter were important determinants of metal bioavailability to this species. The model served also as a unique tool to formulate testable hypotheses and help to better explain the bioaccumulation patterns observed from the experiment.

The evolution of a mining lake - From acidity to natural neutralization

Article

Jul 2016

History of human impact on Lake Kutubu, Papua New Guinea: The geochemical signatures of oil and gas mining activities in sediments

Article

Jan 2016
CHEMOSPHERE

Sediment cores as archives of historical changes in floodplain lake hydrology

Article

Feb 2016

The accumulation of elements in plants growing spontaneously on small heaps left by the historical Zn-Pb ore mining

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2016
ENVIRON SCI POLLUT R

The study evaluated the levels of nine metals, namely Ca, Cd, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Pb, Tl, and Zn, in soils and tissues of ten plant species growing spontaneously on heaps left by historical mining for Zn-Pb ores. The concentrations of Cd, Pb, Tl, and Zn in heap soils were much higher than in control soils. Plants growing on heaps accumulated excessive amounts of these elements in tissues, on average 1.3–52 mg Cd kg⁻¹, 9.4–254 mg Pb kg⁻¹, 0.06–23 mg Tl kg⁻¹ and 134–1479 mg Zn kg⁻¹ in comparison to 0.5-1.1 mg Cd kg⁻¹, 2.1–11 mg Pb kg⁻¹, 0.02–0.06 mg Tl kg⁻¹, and 23–124 mg Zn kg⁻¹ in control plants. The highest concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn were found in the roots of Euphorbia cyparissias, Fragaria vesca, and Potentilla arenaria, and Tl in Plantago lanceolata. Many species growing on heaps were enriched in K and Mg, and depleted in Ca, Fe, and Mn. The concentrations of all elements in plant tissues were dependent on species, organ (root vs. shoot), and species-organ interactions. Average concentrations of Ca, K, and Mg were generally higher in shoots than in roots or similar in the two organs, whereas Cd, Fe, Pb, Tl, and Zn were accumulated predominantly in the roots. Our results imply that heaps left by historical mining for Zn-Pb ores may pose a potential threat to the environment and human health. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11356-015-5859-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

ITRAX Core Scanner Capabilities Combined with Other Geochemical and Radiochemical Techniques to Evaluate Environmental Changes in a Local Catchment, South Sydney, NSW, Australia

Article

Jul 2015

In this study, geochemical and radioanalytical techniques are used together with the ITRAX core scanner to reconstruct the environmental history of Mill Creek catchment, located on the southwestern fringes of Sydney. This ITRAX capability study was undertaken to investigate environmental changes in a local catchment which incorporates a nuclear research reactor, a small legacy nuclear waste burial ground, extensive new housing developments, a large rubbish tip, as well as quarries. This catchment changed from being near pristine in the 1950's to an extensively developed catchment with wide ranging land uses. This rapid development has led to silting up near the mouth of the creek, and there is also evidence of periodic siltation triggered by catchment disturbance from local bushfires, associated with peaks in magnetic susceptibility. The sedimentary environment changed from a creek system to a mangrove swamp and saltmarsh. Changes in Cu, Zn and Pb distributions over the last 60 years suggest an anthropogenically-driven input, although concentrations measured by WD-XRF indicate that the level of urbanisa-tion is lower in the study area than in many of the more industrialised and urban-ised neighbouring catchments of Sydney estuary and Botany Bay. The activities of 239 + 240 Pu and 241 Am in the sediment are below detection limit, which strongly suggests that the legacy nuclear waste has not entered the creek system.

ITRAX Core Scanner Capabilities Combined with Other Geochemical and Radiochemical Techniques to Evaluate Environmental Changes in a Local Catchment, South Sydney, NSW, Australia

Chapter

Jun 2015

In this study, geochemical and radioanalytical techniques are used together with the ITRAX core scanner to reconstruct the environmental history of Mill Creek catchment, located on the southwestern fringes of Sydney. This ITRAX capability study was undertaken to investigate environmental changes in a local catchment which incorporates a nuclear research reactor, a small legacy nuclear waste burial ground, extensive new housing developments, a large rubbish tip, as well as quarries. This catchment changed from being near pristine in the 1950’s to an extensively developed catchment with wide ranging land uses. This rapid development has led to silting up near the mouth of the creek, and there is also evidence of periodic siltation triggered by catchment disturbance from local bushfires, associated with peaks in magnetic susceptibility. The sedimentary environment changed from a creek system to a mangrove swamp and saltmarsh. Changes in Cu, Zn and Pb distributions over the last 60 years suggest an anthropogenicallydriven input, although concentrations measured by WD-XRF indicate that the level of urbanisation is lower in the study area than in many of the more industrialised and urbanised neighbouring catchments of Sydney Estuary and Botany Bay. The activities of 239 + 240Pu and 241Am in the sediment are below detection limit, which strongly suggests that the legacy nuclear waste has not entered the creek system.

Environmental context for late Holocene human occupation of the South Wellesley Archipelago, Gulf of Carpentaria, northern Australia

Article

Mar 2015
QUATERN INT

A 2400 year record of environmental change is reported from a wetland on Bentinck Island in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria, northern Australia. Three phases of wetland development are identified, with a protected coastal setting from ca. 2400 to 500 years ago, transitioning into an estuarine mangrove forest from ca. 500 years ago to the 1940s, and finally to a freshwater swamp over the past +60 years. This sequence reflects the influence of falling sea-levels, development of a coastal dune barrier system, prograding shorelines, and an extreme storm (cyclone) event. In addition, there is clear evidence of the impacts that human abandonment and resettlement have on the island's fire regimes and vegetation. A dramatic increase in burning and vegetation thickening was observed after the cessation of traditional Indigenous Kaiadilt fire management practices in the 1940s, and was then reversed when people returned to the island in the 1980s. In terms of the longer context for human occupation of the South Wellesley Archipelago, it is apparent that the mangrove phase provided a stable and productive environment that was conducive for human settlement of this region over the past 1000 years.

Tracking a century of change in trophic structure and dynamics in a floodplain wetland: integrating palaeoecological and palaeoisotopic evidence

Article

Mar 2015

1. The palaeoecological assessment, and the use of stable isotopes of carbon in subfossils of herbivores and omnivores, represents a novel approach to understand transitions in past food-web structure and the dynamics of lake ecosystems in response to natural perturbations and human impacts. Combined with records of subfossil assemblages of cladocerans and chironomids, it may be possible to decipher whether changes are attributable to external forces or internally derived system shifts. 2. A sediment record taken from the shallow (2.3 m depth) Kings Billabong in the River Murray floodplain (Australia) was analysed to explore changes in trophic dynamics over the past century. 3. The palaeoecological assessment revealed that littoral assemblages of cladocerans and benthic diatoms were gradually replaced by planktonic (planktonic and facultative planktonic) assemblages after river regulation in the 1920s. 4. The stable isotopic composition of carbon (d13C), derived from chironomid head capsules, was relatively constant down-core, ranging between �26.1& and �24.0&, and coincided largely with the d13C of bulk sediment samples (�25.6& to �22.0&). The d13C values of pelagic (Daphnia) and ubiquitous (Bosmina, Alona) cladocerans, however, varied markedly, with that for Daphnia between �29.8& (10–20 cm) and �23.2& (60–70 cm), and for ubiquitous cladocerans, between �29.4& (20–30 cm) and �24.5& (80–70 cm). 5. The temporal changes in the d13C values of cladocerans also suggest a gradual transition from a macrophyte-dominated state to a phytoplankton-dominated state after river regulation and further indicate changes in the horizontal migration behaviour of Daphnia depending on macrophyte abundance and predation risk. 6. Our study demonstrates the potential of reconstructing, more precisely, the trophic dynamics of large river floodplain lakes and their ecological resilience by combining subfossil analyses with stable isotope analyses of selected subfossil groups.

Contaminated Rivers: A Geomorphological-Geochemical Approach to Site Assessment and Remediation

Book

Jan 2007

Jerry R. Miller

The geomorphological, surficial and geochemical processes and conditions of rivers require a tailored set of strategies and programs to successfully clean up contaminated river reaches. The primary purpose of this book is not only to provide students and professionals with an introductory understanding of fluvial geomorphic principles but also to explain using a process oriented approach how these geomorphic principles can be integrated with geochemical data to cost-effectively characterize, assess and remediate contaminated river systems. Numerous case studies from North America and many other parts of the world are included. Audience: Upper level undergraduate and graduate students in geoscience, engineering, environmental science, geography, geochemistry, toxicology, and soil science studying the means to assess, remediate or restore contaminated streams and rivers. It also serves as a reference book for professionals who are working on contaminated aquatic systems, particularly rivers contaminated by trace metals. "River contamination is a problem of global significance. This book provides a comprehensive and highly readable review of the role of fluvial geomorphic processes in understanding and predicting the dispersal and fate of contaminants in aquatic environments. Aimed at both students and professionals it forms an excellent introductory text to this rapidly developing field, especially in river basins experiencing rapid environmental change." Mark G. Macklin, University of Aberystwyth, UK "This excellent book clearly and graphically explains the geochemical and geomorphological principles influencing the contamination of river systems, and cost-effective methods for contaminated river assessment and remediation. I shall certainly be recommending it to all of my students and colleagues." Karen Hudson-Edwards, Birkbeck, University of London, UK.

Application of Geochemical Tracers to Fluvial Sediment

Book

Jan 2015

Tracking a century of change in trophic structure and dynamics in a floodplain wetland: Integrating palaeoecological and palaeoisotopic evidence

Article

Dec 2014
FRESHWATER BIOL

The palaeoecological assessment, and the use of stable isotopes of carbon in subfossils of herbivores and omnivores, represents a novel approach to understand transitions in past food‐web structure and the dynamics of lake ecosystems in response to natural perturbations and human impacts. Combined with records of subfossil assemblages of cladocerans and chironomids, it may be possible to decipher whether changes are attributable to external forces or internally derived system shifts. A sediment record taken from the shallow (2.3 m depth) Kings Billabong in the River Murray floodplain (Australia) was analysed to explore changes in trophic dynamics over the past century. The palaeoecological assessment revealed that littoral assemblages of cladocerans and benthic diatoms were gradually replaced by planktonic (planktonic and facultative planktonic) assemblages after river regulation in the 1920s. The stable isotopic composition of carbon (δ ¹³ C), derived from chironomid head capsules, was relatively constant down‐core, ranging between −26.1‰ and −24.0‰, and coincided largely with the δ ¹³ C of bulk sediment samples (−25.6‰ to −22.0‰). The δ ¹³ C values of pelagic ( Daphnia ) and ubiquitous ( Bosmina , Alona ) cladocerans, however, varied markedly, with that for Daphnia between −29.8‰ (10–20 cm) and −23.2‰ (60–70 cm), and for ubiquitous cladocerans, between −29.4‰ (20–30 cm) and −24.5‰ (80–70 cm). The temporal changes in the δ ¹³ C values of cladocerans also suggest a gradual transition from a macrophyte‐dominated state to a phytoplankton‐dominated state after river regulation and further indicate changes in the horizontal migration behaviour of Daphnia depending on macrophyte abundance and predation risk. Our study demonstrates the potential of reconstructing, more precisely, the trophic dynamics of large river floodplain lakes and their ecological resilience by combining subfossil analyses with stable isotope analyses of selected subfossil groups.

A landscape-scale approach to examining the fate of atmospherically derived industrial metals in the surficial environment

Article

Feb 2015

Unearthing earthquakes and their tsunamis using multiple proxies: the 22 June 1932 event and a probable fourteenth-century predecessor on the Pacific coast of Mexico - International Geology Review

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2014
INT GEOL REV

Tsunami deposits have been widely studied in temperate latitudes, but the intrinsic difficulties associated with tropical coastal environments, and the intensity of bioturbation in these habitats, limit the possibilities of analysing these formations. Here, we investigate the deposits on the Colima coast of Mexico, which overlies the subducting Rivera and Cocos Plates, in order to reconstruct the tsunami inundation history and related hazard. We developed a multi-proxy study aimed to recognize and date historical and palaeotsunami deposits, including historical data on the effects of a known tsunami, geomorphological mapping, stratigraphic, grain size, organic matter content, diatoms, geochemical composition, magnetic susceptibility, and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility, together with radiometric dating (Pb-210 and C-14). We identified two probable tsunami deposits at Palo Verde estuary including a historical event associated with the Mw 6.9 earthquake on 22 June 1932 and a palaeotsunami most likely generated by a similar event in the fourteenth century. This work shows that it is possible to identify both historical and palaeotsunamis in the tropical environment of Mexico's Pacific coast. These data will serve to enhance our understanding of tsunami deposits in tropical environments and of the regional tsunami hazard.

Forensic Assessment of Metal Contaminated Rivers in the 21st Century Using Geochemical and Isotopic Tracers

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2013

Jerry R. Miller

Documentation of contaminant source and dispersal pathways in riverine environments is essential to mitigate the potentially harmful effects of contaminants on human and ecosystem health, and is required from a legal perspective (particularly where the polluter pays principle is in effect) in assessing site liability. Where multiple natural and/or anthropogenic sources exist, identification of contaminant provenance has proven problematic, and estimated contributions from a specific source are often the subject of judicial debate. The past, current, and future use of geochemical and isotopic tracers in environmental forensic investigations of contaminant provenance, transport, and fate are analyzed herein for sediment-associated trace metals in riverine environments, particularly trace metals derived from mining and refining operations. The utilized methods have evolved significantly over the past four decades. Of primary significance has been the growing integration of geomorphic and stratigraphic techniques with the use of an increasing number of geochemical tracers including stable isotopes. The isotopes of Pb have been particularly well studied, and have been applied to a wide range of environmental media. Advances in analytical chemistry since the early 1990s have allowed for the precise characterization of other non-traditional stable isotopic systems within geological materials. The potential for using these non-traditional isotopes as tracers in river systems has yet to be adequately explored, but a number of these isotopes (e.g., Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg, Sb, and Zn) show considerable promise. Moreover, some of these isotopes (e.g., those of Cu, Cr, and Hg) may provide important insights into biogeochemical cycling processes within aquatic environments. This review suggests that future environmental forensic investigations will be characterized by an interdisciplinary approach that combines the use of multiple geochemical tracers with detailed stratigraphic, geomorphic, and hydrologic data, thereby yielding results that are likely to withstand the scrutiny of judicial review.

Closure Planning in a Developing country – a case study from the Phu Kham Mine, Laos, South-east Asia.

Conference Paper

Full-text available

Jan 2012

High‐resolution analysis of sediments from Eighteen Mile Swamp (eastern Australia) records its transition from a fluctuating coastal lagoon to stable freshwater swamp

Article

Nov 2024
J QUATERNARY SCI

This research documents the paleoenvironmental evolution of Eighteen Mile Swamp on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah), Australia, from oscillating coastal lagoon into stable freshwater swamp over the last ca. 1600 years. We analyzed multiple sediment cores via physical description, acid sulfate soil assays, particle size analysis, diatom and pollen assemblages, photosynthetic pigment content, and Itrax XRF spectrometry, alongside ground‐penetrating radar cross‐sections. This provided a detailed ecological, geochemical and chronological framework, derived from radiocarbon, Pu and 210Pb dating, for the wetland's evolution. Results indicate spatial complexity in the timing of a pronounced shift in sedimentary conditions between ca. 300 and 1000 years ago, from estuarine mud to freshwater peat, marked by abrupt chemical and ecological changes. Unexpectedly, there were at least three and potentially many periods of dominant freshwater influence within the primarily estuarine phase, suggesting episodic estuarine closure and freshening by groundwater influx. Results provide critical insights into the complex response of subtropical wetland systems to environmental change, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in understanding both sedimentologic and geomorphic responses in coastal wetlands, and their potential vulnerability to future climate change. The study of Eighteen Mile Swamp is significant as it provides a detailed paleoenvironmental reconstruction that documents the wetland's evolving nature over the past two millennia. This research highlights the importance of understanding historical responses of wetlands to environmental changes, which helps inform their current and future management, conservation and restoration efforts, particularly in the context of climate change and human impacts. This study also serves as a tribute to the late Lynda Petherick, acknowledging her contributions in this field.

Coastal Wetland Elevation Dynamics, Sedimentation, and Accommodation Space Across Timescales

Article

Dec 2023

The capacity of coastal wetlands to maintain their position within a tidal frame is a key indicator of resilience to climate change. A range of techniques can be used to assess this capacity, but few studies have focussed on describing wetland elevation dynamics across timescales. In this study, annual-scale wetland elevation dynamics within intertidal coastal wetlands located at different tidal positions in south-eastern Australia were quantified using both shallow and deep rod surface elevation tables and marker horizon (rSET-MH) techniques. This was supplemented by analyses of sediment accumulation rates across the decadal-centurial timescale using 210Pb dating techniques. The rSET-MH technique indicated slight variation in surface elevation change between sub-sites and processes contributing to surface elevation gain was a product of processes occurring over the full substrate volume. This included sediment (both mineral and organic) accretion on the surface and belowground substrate expansion in tidal positions where accommodation space and inundation frequency were higher (i.e. in the mangrove). 210Pb data provided the means to consider sedimentation and wetland elevation trends over decadal timescales over which relative sea-level rise has been operating. Sedimentation responded to localised accommodation space processes, exceeding sea-level trends lower in the tidal frame, but corresponded to rates of sea-level rise where accommodation space was increasingly limited (i.e. higher in the tidal frame). We demonstrate that anticipated sea-level rise will create new accommodation space for wetland vegetation and that where sea-level rise is not matched by an equivalent increase in surface elevation, coastal wetlands will either die, retreat landwards, or transition to lower tidal positions that support mangroves.

Multiproxy approach to track changes in the ecological condition of wetlands in the Gunbower Forest, a Ramsar site

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2022

Gunbower Forest is bordered by the Murray River and Gunbower Creek and hosts several floodplain wetlands listed under the Ramsar Convention. Sediment cores were retrieved from three wetlands to trace changes to their ecological state over time. The basal sediments of the wetlands date back to the beginning of river regulation in the 1930s, suggesting that only after then were they inundated sufficiently often to allow for net sediment accumulation. The diatoms preserved in the lower levels of all cores suggest clear, freshwater conditions prevailed during that period. Increased sediment and nutrient loads are inferred by increased epiphytic forms and nutrient indicators. Over recent decades the wetlands have transitioned to plankton dominance, reflecting greater connectivity to the river and distributary, and a reduced light environment. This pattern resembles to that recorded both upstream and downstream, suggesting a regional-scale change in the wetlands of the southern Murray–Darling Basin.

A record of fallout 239Pu and 240Pu at World Heritage Bathurst Harbour, Tasmania, Australia

Article

Oct 2021
J ENVIRON RADIOACTIV

This study presents the first measurements of anthropogenic plutonium (²³⁹Pu and ²⁴⁰Pu) concentrations and atom ratios (²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu) for Tasmania, in sediment collected from Bathurst Harbour, in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, Australia. The weighted mean ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratio measured at this site was 0.172 ± 0.007 which is consistent with published data from mainland Australia and global and Southern Hemisphere averages. The ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratios ranged between 0.11 and 0.21 with the earliest recorded ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratios being the lowest, suggesting an influence of low atom ratio fallout from nuclear testing in Australia. Post-moratorium fallout ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratios were consistent with other records. Lead-210 (²¹⁰Pb) sediment chronologies indicate sediment accumulation rates have increased since the early part of the 19th century at this location.

Impact of climate change on the occurrence of late Holocene glacial lake outburst floods in Patagonia: A sediment perspective

Thesis

Full-text available

Mar 2021

Elke Vandekerkhove

Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) constitute one of the most notorious and destructive geohazards worldwide. They have occurred throughout recorded history and form a constant threat for local communities near glacierized regions. Although the recent deglaciation resulted in an increase in glacial lakes, both in size and number, worldwide, little is known about the possible relationship between climate variability and GLOF occurrence. Yet, it is generally assumed that GLOF frequency is currently increasing due to global glacier retreat. This is mainly due to a lack of continuous long-term flood records. Current records of GLOF occurrence, which are based on instrumental and historical data, are intrinsically limited to the last centuries. Consequently, the effect of climate change on GLOF occurrence and the likely evolution of GLOFs under future climate change scenarios remains unclear. However, a comprehensive understanding of the link between climate change, glacier variability, and GLOF occurrence is fundamental for future GLOF predictions and to improve flood hazard assessments. As in many other glacierized regions, GLOFs are a well-known phenomenon in the Patagonian Andes. They are particularly pronounced in the Baker region of Chilean Patagonia (47–48 °S), where repeated GLOFs occurred from the abrupt drainage of ice-dammed Cachet 2 Lake between April 2008 and November 2020. During these events, water from Cachet 2 Lake spills into Colonia River, a tributary of Baker River, and increases both river discharge and sediment suspended concentrations. Colonia GLOFs are able to block the regular Baker River flow and result in the inundation of large areas upstream of the Colonia-Baker confluence, such as the Valle Grande floodplain. Downstream, the Baker River triples in discharge and large amounts of sediment are transported, and ultimately deposited, in fjords. The repeated Baker River GLOFs during the 21st century and the location of the Baker River, which drains most of the eastern side of the Northern Patagonian Icefield (NPI) and therefore integrates meltwater from several lake-river systems, makes the Baker region ideally suited to investigate GLOFs and to study the impact of climate change on GLOF occurrence. To examine how GLOFs are recorded in fjord sediments, this study mapped the bathymetry of the head of Martínez Channel, i.e. the fjord in which the Baker River discharges, using multibeam echosounding. Results show that the subaquatic delta of Baker River is deeply incised by sinuous channels. The presence of sediment waves and coarser sediment within these channels suggest recent channel activity by turbidity currents. The latter is confirmed by sediment records collected at the head of the fjord, which reveal the presence of turbidites intercalated within silty background sediments, particularly on the delta plain in front of the main submarine channel. Although the turbidity currents are most likely generated by elevated river discharge and the associated relatively high suspended sediment loads, most turbidites are not related to GLOFs. Instead, they seem to represent other extreme discharge events, such as extreme precipitation or rain-on-snow events. By comparing geochemical and sedimentological results obtained on the sediment cores to the recent GLOF history of Baker River, we show that the recent 21st century Cachet 2 GLOF deposits can be distinguished from background sediments by their finer grain size and lower organic carbon content, reflecting the increased input of glacial sediments during GLOFs. In addition, the results obtained on the fjord sediment cores demonstrate that the 21st century GLOFs from Cachet 2 Lake, which occurred less than one year apart, are not recorded as individual layers but as units richer in sediment of glacial origin. This suggests that it is not possible to reconstruct GLOF frequency nor magnitude solely based on fjord sediments. Although 21 GLOFs from Cachet 2 Lake occurred between 2008 and 2017, the deposits with the clearest GLOF signature represent the initial events, implying that more glacial sediment was released during those first GLOFs, possibly due to lake-bed erosion. Consequently, it appears that sediment availability plays a more important role than flood magnitude in controlling GLOF deposit properties. Although GLOF frequency and magnitude cannot be accurately reconstructed using fjord sediments, high accumulation rates at the head of Martínez Channel highlight the potential of fjord sediment archives to establish pre-historical GLOF records at high temporal resolution. In addition, the bathymetric imagery and the sediment records obtained at the head of Martínez Channel show that site selection and multi-coring are fundamental to reconstruct the Baker River GLOF history, as fjord heads are dynamic sedimentary environments with rapidly migrating channels. Ideal locations to reconstruct GLOFs are found on the delta slope, away from any submarine channel influence. GLOF deposits are best identified close to the river mouth, as background sediments become progressively finer and less organic, thus more similar to GLOF deposits, with increasing distance from the lip of the Baker River delta. Given the unique context of the Baker River system, where a significant portion of the watershed is vegetated and where the fine and organic-poor signature of GLOF deposits clearly contrasts with the slightly coarser and organic background sediments, our results may only be applicable to fjord sediments from temperate regions. Distinguishing GLOF deposits from background sediments would likely be more challenging in high latitude fjords. Sediments deposited in floodplains constitute another faithful recorder of Baker River GLOFs. In the Valle Grande floodplain, which is located immediately upstream of the Colonia-Baker confluence, GLOFs are registered as organic-poor deposits intercalated within organic-rich background sediments. In contrast to marine archives, the sediments of the Valle Grande floodplain have lower accumulation rates, and can therefore be used to determine changes in GLOF occurrence on longer timescales (late Holocene). Based on four radiocarbon-dated sediment cores collected in the Valle Grande floodplain, our results show that high-magnitude GLOFs occurred intermittently in the upper Baker River watershed over the past 2.75 kyr. Two periods of increased flood activity occurred between approximately 2.57 and 2.17 cal kyr BP, and from 0.75 to 0 cal kyr BP. Comparison with independent proxy records of glacier variability reveals that these two periods of increased flood frequency match with Neoglacial advances. These advances seem to result from lower-than-average temperatures and wetter conditions. Based on these results, we suggest that there is a strong, yet indirect, link between climate variability and GLOF occurrence. We hypothesize that, on multi-millennial timescales, high-magnitude GLOFs from eastern NPI glaciers are more frequent at times when glaciers are larger and thicker, as such glaciers most likely form larger and stronger ice dams, which in turn are able to retain larger lakes. Our results therefore suggest that the probability that high-magnitude GLOFs occur decreases as glaciers thin and retreat. Conversely, the frequency of lower magnitude GLOFs tends to increase during glacier recession because of the rapid growth of glacial lakes and formation of new lakes. Although isolated cases of new lakes formed behind large glaciers could still produce large GLOFs locally, the likelihood of large lake drainage and therefore high-magnitude GLOF occurrence decreases. This study supports the use of sediment-based GLOF records in other GLOF-prone regions for proper flood hazard assessment. A broader knowledge of the impact of climate change on GLOF occurrence can help to prevent further development in flood-prone regions and will reduce the vulnerability of communities to floods. Long-term paleoflood records can be of great importance for integrating spatial planning and planned infrastructure projects, such as hydroelectric dams, particularly since electricity demand is increasing with economic growth.

History of environmental contamination at Sunny Corner Ag–Pb–Zn mine, eastern Australia: A meta-analysis approach

Article

Oct 2020
ENVIRON POLLUT

Environmental impacts associated with mining can be important even after cessation of ore extraction, particularly where sites are abandoned and unremediated. Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is a common concern in such legacy mines where sulfide ores were extracted. AMD can introduce large concentrations of heavy metals to aquatic systems and contaminate the environment for many kilometres downstream of old mines. Understanding the pattern and history of contamination from legacy mines can help environmental managers make better management decisions. Meta-analysis is a statistical tool that can help determine the significance of changes in metal contamination over the years since cessation of mining. Here we use meta-analysis to examine metal contamination at and downstream of Sunny Corner silver (Ag)-lead (Pb)-zinc (Zn) mine in eastern Australia. Copper (Cu), Zn and Pb concentrations in water increased from 1978 to 2018 within 2 km downstream of the main mine adit, whereas for stream sediment, only Zn concentrations increased significantly over the same period. In contrast, Pb concentrations in surface soil decreased over the years from 2000 to 2018.

Flood hazard assessment and heavy metal distributions around Um Gheig mine area, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Article

Nov 2016
J GEOCHEM EXPLOR

This study focuses on wadi Um Gheig and its associated Pb-Zn mine to quantify the possible dispersion pathways of heavy metals to the surrounding environment. The morphometric drainage system parameters were specified by ArcGIS 9.3. A total of 21 samples were collected and analyzed using XRF, XRD, ICP-OES and SEM. Different enrichment indices were applied to specify the degree and source of contaminations in the area upon transport mainly by flooding events. The wadi Um Gheig basin is characterized by dendritic to sub-dendritic drainage pattern with a moderate degree of hazardousness. Five groups of metal sources were identified by chemical and mineralogical patterns. Group I reflects the anthropogenic impact from the mine site by Pb, Zn, Cd, Ba, Sr, Mo, Sn, W, U, As, S, Cl, part of Mn and Fe, as well as from host rock minerals namely gypsum/anhydrite, calcite and dolomite. Group II covers the lithological background of the drainage system with schists, source of Cu, Co, Ni and Cr, part of Ti, and Fe, and granitoids represented by REE, Y, Nb, and Ta, and finally quartz from sands and sandstone acting as a dilutant. Group III comprises moderate to strong enrichment of heavy minerals from Group I and II. Moderate groundwater recharge promotes metal dissolution from the mine and continuous evaporation causes a slight enrichment due to capillary transport downstream (Group IV). Finally the sea water influence (Group V) enhances dilution of heavy metal carriers and enrichment due to efflorescence. The contamination factor, enrichment factor and the geoaccumulation index show a very strong contamination degree close to the mine site by Cd, Pb and Zn. Without suitable mine site rehabilitation strategies the Pb-Zn wastes along the Red Sea coast will suffer severe erosion, transport and contribute to the contamination of the sea environment.

Holocene ecosystem change in Little Llangothlin Lagoon, Australia: implications for the management of a Ramsar-listed wetland

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2017
HYDROBIOLOGIA

We present new chironomid and stable isotope (δ13C and δ15N) data from Little Llangothlin Lagoon, Australia that provides more detail on changes in this wetland since European settlement ca. 1840 AD. We also examine how the updated Holocene paleoecological record provides insights for management of this Ramsar-listed wetland. The current management strategy for Little Llangothlin is to restore the wetland and catchment to its natural state. This strategy is intended to protect the values that allowed it to be listed as a Ramsar wetland; i.e. its role as a drought refuge for waterbirds and to preserve or enhance threatened ecological communities. There are clear conflicts between the Ramsar listing criteria, management objectives and the management strategy in light of information provided by the palaeoecological record. In particular, restoration of terrestrial ecosystems through reforestation may jeopardise the wetlands role as a drought refuge. Some activities, such as artificial raising of the water level in 1989 are intended to restore, but actually introduced a state that did not exist prior to human settlement. We recommend a more integrated management approach that heeds the information provided by the palaeoecological record and focuses more on maintenance or enhancement of ecosystem services and biodiversity.

Indicators of Anthropogenic Change and Biological Risk in Coastal Aquatic Environments

Chapter

Jun 2014

Emma Thompson

Since the industrial revolution, anthropogenic impacts have been affecting estuaries and coastal waterways worldwide. The propensity to develop estuaries and coastal waterways has led to these areas becoming highly industrialized and urbanized, which has exacerbated the problems. While some contaminants are purely man-made, other naturally occurring compounds have increased in the environment due to uses in industry and urban development. The introduction of these waste products into rivers and estuaries has led to a significant increase in contamination of these areas where they have the potential to induce changes in biota and ecosystems.

Human Disturbance and the Paleolimnological Record of Change in the Zooplankton Community of Lake Harriet, Minnesota

Article

Full-text available

Jun 1983

Distributions of pollen and diatom microfossils and sediment chemistry from a 75-cm Pb-dated sediment core were used to reconstruct the impact of human disturbance on the zooplankton of Lake Harriet, Minnesota over the last 700 yr. During presettlement times Bosmina remains were most abundant but small numbers of Daphnia pulex postabdominal claws were present. Coincident with the colonization of the lake watershed by European farmers, as indicated by increases in Ambrosia pollen, Bosmina carapaces and antennules increased in size. This suggests increases in levels of invertebrate predation. Daphnia galeata appears at the same time storm sewer construction caused a major increase in lake trophic status as indicated by diatom fossils. The appearance of D. galeata indicates the establishment of a two-tiered Daphnia community with D. galeata in the epiliminoin and D. pulex in the hypolimnion. When northern pike (Esox lucius) were introduced into the lake in the mid-1950's, their predation caused a change in the dominant zooplanktivore, which in turn led to a decline in both Daphnia species. The changes recorded in the Lake Harriet core suggest that fossil zooplankton are more sensitive indicators of predation than of lake trophic status.

Anthropogenic inventories and historical and present accumulation rates of copper in Great Lakes sediments

Article

Full-text available

Jan 1998
APPL GEOCHEM

Sediment cores were collected from depositional basins in lakes Michigan, Ontario and Superior to assess spatial and temporal variations in Cu accumulation rates and inventories. Sediment chronologies were determined via 210Pb dating, and 210Pb inventories were used to correct for the effects of sediment focusing. Among the lakes studied Cu loading histories generally decrease to the present, signifying a regional reduction in the anthropogenic release of Cu to the environment. Focusing-corrected Cu accumulation rates in surficial sediments vary significantly within lakes Michigan and Ontario, suggesting that recent inputs of Cu to these 2 lakes may have been dominated by localized sources. Variations in Cu accumulation rates within Lake Superior are interpreted to be insignificant, suggesting either that Lake Superior is well-mixed with respect to copper inputs or that the lake is dominated by a single source for Cu. Recent measurements of atmospheric fluxes of Cu within the Great Lakes region generally indicate that the atmosphere accounts for less than 50% of the Cu accumulating in surficial sediments. Historical Cu accumulation rates from Lake Superior are poorly correlated with Cu production associated with local smelters, agree favorably with national production rates. Trends in historical Cu accumulation rates within all 3 lakes may indicate that recent declines in Cu loading can be attributed to the enactment of stricter environmental regulations as well as changes in the use of Cu. Focusing-corrected Cu inventories in lakes Michigan, Ontario, and Superior are generally invariant within a given lake. Indicating that, historically these lakes have been dominated either by a single source or were well-mixed with respect to Cu inputs. The disparity between the results from recent accumulation rates and historical inventories may reflect differences in how the Great Lakes respond to contaminant loading on short (e.g: years) versus long (e.g decades) timescales.

Pb-210 as a tracer for sediment transport and deposition in the Dutch-German Wadden Sea

Article

Jan 1989

Pb-210 activity has been measured in tidal flat sediments from the Dutch-German Waddensea. It is shown that it can be successfully used to estimate the rate of deposition in areas of intertidal mud deposition, which could be ascertained by absolute dates obtained from soundings and pollen. There is a marked grain size efect and there are indications that Pb-210 and/or Po-210 are enriched in the organic fraction. The degree of reworking was estimated by comparing the Pb-210 age of undisturbed mud layers with absolute ages estimated from repeated soundings. At least 40–90% of the deposited mud was reworked from older sediments. Resuspended old mud acquires within 6.5–9.5 days a Pb-210 activity as is usually found in fresh recent muds. The residence time of Pb-210 in the Waddensea is 43 days.

Book Review: El Nino, Southern Oscillation and climatic variability

Article

Apr 1999
PROG PHYS GEOG

Mike Hulme

Sampling sediment under warm deep water

Article

Dec 1996

The following devices and their operation are described: (a) modifications to the Mackereth corer allowing 12 m long cores to be taken routinely; (b) a development of the ‘frozen finger’; which recovers two plates of mud, each 120 cm × 12 cm, at each operation together with equipment for facilitating its sub-sampling; and (c) a new design of hammer-driven piston corer.

Determination of recent sedimentation rates in Lake Michigan using Pb-210 and Cs-137

Article

Mar 1975
GEOCHIM COSMOCHIM AC

This paper describes the use of 210Pb and 137Cs radioactivity measurements to determine the rates of sedimentation in the Great Lakes. Cores from eight locations in Lake Michigan were chosen for examination to cover as wide as possible a range of sedimentation rates and representative sedimentary environments. The surficial 210Pb activity in the sediments varies between 7 and 23 pCi/g dry wt and its profile in each core shows the expected exponential decrease with depth consistent with the assumption of uniform sedimentation rate over the last hundred years and secular equilibrium between supported 210Pb and 226Ra (0.5-1.0 pCi/g dry wt). Companion measurements of 137Cs indicate that the coring technique satisfactorily recovered the uppermost levels of the deposit and that the mobility of both radionuclides within the sediment is probably small.Based on the limited number of cores analyzed to date, it appears that modern sedimentation rates are not very different from average rates for the last 7000 yr. The excess 210Pb appears to originate primarily from atmospheric fallout, but a further inventory of the 210Pb distribution over the lake bottom must be made to properly assess the significance of other sources. The spatial distributions of both 137Cs and 210Pb at certain stations suggest that the mode of transport of these radionuclides are comparable and involve attachment to settling particles. A mathematical model is developed which accounts for the observed limited mobility of both 210Pb and 137Cs in several of the cores in terms of post-depositional redistribution by physical or biological mixing processes.

Geochronology of lake sediments Proposed Warragamba Dam auxiliary spill-way: environmental impact statement Hazardous wastes from large-scale metal extraction

Jan 1971
407-4141278

Martin Jm Meybeck

S, Lal D, Martin JM, Meybeck M (1971) Geochronology of lake sediments. Earth Planet Sci Lett 11:407– 414 McCotter RF (1996) Proposed Warragamba Dam auxiliary spill-way: environmental impact statement, vol 2. ERM Mitchell McCotter, Crows Nest, New South Wales Moore JN, Luoma SN (1990) Hazardous wastes from large-scale metal extraction. Environ Sci Technol 24:1278–1285

Pb-210 as a tracer for sediment transport and deposition in the Dutch–German Wadden Sea Geochronology with lead-210

Jan 1962
237-253

D Berger
Gw
C Wei-Yue
Jian

D, Berger GW, Wei-Yue C, Jian S (1987) Pb-210 as a tracer for sediment transport and deposition in the Dutch–German Wadden Sea. In: Proc KNGMG Symp on Coastal Lowlands, Geology and Geotechnology, pp 237–253 Goldberg ED (1963) Geochronology with lead-210. In: Proc Symp on Radioactive Dating held by the International Atomic Energy Agency in cooperation with the Joint Commission on Applied Radioactivity (ICSU), Athens, 19–23 Nov 1962. IAEA, Vienna, pp 121–131

Pollution history in Narragansett Bay as recorded in its sediments Pb by mineral soils and sediments

Jan 1977
549-561117

Ed
Griffin E Jj Gambles
Kiode

ED, Gambles E, Griffin JJ, Kiode M (1977) Pollution history in Narragansett Bay as recorded in its sediments. Estuarine Coastal Mar Sci 5:549–561 Pb by mineral soils and sediments. J Environ Radioactivity 30(2):117–137

Empirical testing of 210 Pb-dating models for lake sediments Lake sediments and environmental history

Jan 1984
94-124

F Appleby
Pg

F, Appleby PG (1984) Empirical testing of 210 Pb-dating models for lake sediments. In: Hayworth EY, Lund JWG (eds) Lake sediments and environmental history. Leicester University Press, Leicester, UK, pp 94–124

The source of anthropogenic heavy metals in fluvial sediments of a rural catchment: Coxs River The pore-water geochemistry and the mineralogy of the vadose zone of sulfide tailings Pollen indicators of land-use change in southern Connecticut

Jan 1978
13-35327

G M Siaka
Owens

G, Siaka M, Owens C (2001) The source of anthropogenic heavy metals in fluvial sediments of a rural catchment: Coxs River, Australia. Water Air Soil Pollut 126:13–35 Blowes DW, Jambor JL (1990) The pore-water geochemistry and the mineralogy of the vadose zone of sulfide tailings, Waite Amulet, Quebec, Canada. Appl Geochem 5:327–346 Brugam RB (1978) Pollen indicators of land-use change in southern Connecticut. Quat Res 9:349–362 Brugam RB, Speziale BJ (1983) Human disturbance and the paleolimnological record of changes in the zooplankton community of Lake Harriet, Minnesota. Ecology 64(3):578–591

Historical pollution variability from abandoned mine sites, Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

No full-text available

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