Frank Wagner, Hagen Jung, Sven Altfelder, Impact of Uranium Mill Tailings on Water Resources in Mailuu Suu, Kyrgistan Frank Wagner, Hagen Jung, Sven Altfelder, Thomas Himmelsbach Federal Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) Hannover - Germany …….. During previous presentation we already have heard a lot about the remediation activities in the Mailuu Suu area. In frame of this context, BGR has carried out a bilateral project focusing on the risks of water resources by U-Mill tailings in M-S area.

BGR Mission / Responsibilities “Improvement of Living Conditions by Sustainable Use of the Geo-Potentials” BGR Mission / Responsibilities To advise the Federal Government and the German industry in all questions related to geosciences and natural resources. Budget and Personnel € 65 million core budget approx. € 15 million additional funds 765 staff of which approx. 50 % upper level civil servants approx. 50 % upper middle-level, middle level and lower level civil servants and 28 trainees (in 2011) Just before, please allow to take 2 minutes to introduce the BGR, since most of you might not be familiar with our institution. Briefly said, the BGR has the task to advise…. It has core budget of …. , received from the German Ministry of Economy. And addititonal funds of … from industry, national research programs, and other ministries.

4 Departments (thematic), 17 Sub-Departments Organisation 4 Departments (thematic), 17 Sub-Departments GeoBusiness Commission‘s Office 1. Energy Resources, Mineral Resources 2. Groundwater and Soil Science 3. Underground Space for Storage and Economic Use 4. Geoscientific Informat., Internat. Cooperation Raw Materials Agency ( DERA) Geology of Mineral Resources Geology of Energy Resources, Polar Geology Exploration of Marine Geochemistry of Geophysical Exploration, Technical Mineralogy Basic Information, Groundwater and Soil Groundwater Resources, Quality and Dynamics Soil as a Resource, Properties and Dynamics Geological-geotechnical Exploration Geological-geotechnical Site Assessment Subsurface Use, Geological CO2 Storage Geological-geotechnical Safety Analyses International Cooperation Geodata, Geological Information, Stratigraphy Central Seismological Observatory, Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Geo-Hazard Assessment, Remote Sensing BGR is subdivided into 4 dpt. And subdpt. – our group is part of the Sub-dep of GW-Resources….. By the way, since 2012 a new working unit has been installed in our Sub-Dep, which has the task to directly advice the Ministry of Economy & Techn. in frame of the WISMUT remediation activities.

Impact of Tailings from U-Mining on Water Resources in Mailuu-Suu Project Background Background & Motivation Mining and processing of uranium ore in Mailuu-Suu from 1946-1968  ~3 Mio. m³ waste rock and tailing material deposited in vicinity of rivers and instable slopes. Direct/indirect exposure of the deposits by tectonic activity/ landslides. Scenario: Erosion, mobilisation, contamination downstream ( Fergana Basin, Uzbekistan) The possible hazard in Mailuu-Suu attained international awareness (TACIS)  World Bank initiated „Disaster Hazard Mitigation Project“ Tailing 5 Lets focus the main theme of the presentation: The situation in Mailuu Suu aleady has been presented before, briefly summarized: 1. 2. 3. Tailing 3

Project frame Techn. cooperation project Kyrgistan - Germany Funding: 300,000 EUR - Ministry of Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany Project Period: 2006 - 2008 Long-term expert seconded to Mailuu-Suu (08/2006 – 05/2008) Partner Institutions: Ministry of Emergencies of the Kyrgyz Republic (MOE) Local authorities, e.g. the Sanitary-Epidemic Station (CEC) Institute for Radiation Protection and Radioecology, University Hanover (ISR), Germany World Bank “Disaster Hazard Mitigation Project” (DHMP) The results i present have been developed in frame of a biateral technial cooperation project Kyrg-Germ. Relatively small project with a funding of ….., provided by Project period was 2006-2008, which was generally before the major technical activities of the World bank project started. (Overlapping in 2008). Technical activities in Mailuu-Suu have been carried out by the long term expert Hagen Jung. Supported by the members of the MOE and local authorities …. We infolved also the ISR, wich has done radiochemical analysis of collected samples as well as radioecological assessments. Finally, we were of course in close coordination and cooperation with the DHMP Programme.

Objectives of BGR project System understanding: Baseline Study assessing initial contamination status of water resources, as well as their vulnerability for future contaminations. Studying the mobility and transport path of relevant contaminants in Mailuu-Suu. (Ground-)Water Resources Monitoring: Implementation of a monitoring network to assess impacts of geotechnical activities on surface and groundwater resources. Installation of Monitoring stations, supporting sustainable monitoring by local authorities Capacity Development: Providing monitoring equipment, guidelines, professional training. Assessing & improving laboratory capacities Awareness Raising, disseminating recommendations in public events The project had three major objectives: Since there was only quite limited information esp. regarding water quality data available, we had to do baseline study in order to…. . Another aim was to get insight into the mobility and transport path of relevant contaminants in within the Tailing bodies. 2. The implementation of a water resources monitoring network comprising the installation of monitoring stations and supporting local authorities to do a sustainable monitoring. 3. Esp. A sustainable monitoring by following a Capacity Development approach which means that we provided …. To local technical staff. We tried to assess and improve ….. And we aimed to raisie awareness of the local population and dessimitaded….

Geographical & Geological Frame Mailuu Say river valley with strong relief, major tributaries feed Mailuu Say 23 Tailing impoundmends, 13 waste rock dumps in close vicinity of Rivers Central water supply partly available for Mailuu Suu, city area, domestic wells tapping shallow aquifers are used in S´ M-S Cretaceous ore bearing rocks outcrop in central Mailuu Suu. Scetch cross section Let me give you a brief physiographic frame: M-S river valley…. 23 Tailing…. 13…, (map) partly located in close vicinity There is a central water opstream of the mining area provides clean River water for a part of M-S city. In S M-S, most citizen rely on private wells or other water sources. Geological section: Uranium ores are located in cretaceous hard rocks which from an anticline in Central M-S. Overlain by Tertiary sandstones and shallow sediments in the river valleys  main source for domestic tube and dug wells.

Hydrochemical Monitoring of Water Resources Station 10 Station M1 Station 28 72°25'30"E 72°27'30"E 72°30'0"E 4 1 ° ' " N 6 3 9 500 1000 1500 Meters 14 23 2 13 12 16 20 21 22 11 17 18 8 19 10 7 5 29 30 28 M1 33 M2 M4 M5 35 M6 M9 26 24 25 M8 M7 31 27 15 M10 M11 34 38, 39, 36, 37, 32, 10 Tailings Dumps, waste of uncondition ores Sampling Station City area Station 14, Tailing 16 Assessing contamination status and risk potential of water ressources based on: 39 existing sampling locations Seepage water (dumps, tailings) River water Springs Shallow wells (Holocene aquifer) Deep wells (hardrock aquifer) + 11 wells drilled by BGR in shallow aquifer (M1-M11) Sampling 2x / year, observed parameters: Major cations, anions, Trace elements (incl. U, Th, As, … ) Stable isotopes (2H, 18O) Radiochemical analysis Station 11, Tailing 5 We assessed the contamination status of water resources based on 39 sampling locations comprising …. Additionnally, we installed 11 monitoring wells in the shallow aquifer, to fill gaps (esp. in densely populated areas). Observed parameter: full analysis, one sampling campaign also stable isotopes and radio… Impressions sampling stations: seepage water from simple drainage / water catchment installations, Old existing wells, in comparison to new BGR well with steel protection.

Aquifer Identification & Characterization Piper diagram „Hydrochemical Fingerprinting “ approach to: Characterization of water samples Identification of genetical relationships Water samples form distinct groups of different origin (river, technogene, aquifer) Hydraulic connection M-S river - shallow GW River water samples along a mixing line, end members upstream M-S and Kulmin-Say River M-S Ca,Mg-HCO3 N  S River K-S (Na,Mg-SO4) „Technogene“ Na-SO4,HCO3 (Ca,Mg) Cluster analysis GW - spring Isolit GW - Holocene GW - well Lamp-F GW - springs GW - Artesian Examples for data interpretation – we used the „hydrochemical fin..“ approach to ….. We apllied 2 different tools: the Piper diagram which is able to visualize the major water chemistry into one diagram Multivariate statistics which is able to determine correlative relationships between a number of parameters (here 23). Major results: …. "Technogene" (Tailing/dumps) Tributaries M-S River M-S River K-Z Dump pit 10

Status of Contamination Samples Contaminant % < MDL (ICP-MS/ ICP-OES) % < Standard, WHO 2004 % > Standard, WHO 2004 20 40 60 80 100 % U SO 4 F As 108 Generally, >50% of sampled river and ground water fail international drinking water criteria. Dissolved substances of chemotoxic relevance: U (up to 36 mg/L), SO4 (up to 5 g/L), F (up to 10 mg/L), As (max. 1.8 mg/L) Dissolved Uranium in natural water resources: Mailu Suu River: NS trend, 0.3 µg/L  2 µg/L Higher U levels in Tributaries, Kulmin-Say (>100 µg/L) Shallow GW: central Mailuu Suu (up to 30 µg/L), locally even higher WHO 2004: U 15 µg/L, SO4 500 mg/L, F 1,5 mg/L, As 10 µg/L Deep GW River M-S Tributaries Shallow Technogene: Tailings, Dumps 0.0 0.1 1.0 10.0 100.0 1000.0 10000.0 100000.0 U ( u g / l ) 75 perc. Median 25 perc. Max. Min. 15 µg/L (WHO) Status of …..

Risk potential of tailings as a contamination source I Methods Collecting solid tailing material (TACIS!) from Tailing No. 3 and associated pore water. Mineralogical & radiochemical analysis of solid samples regarding Uranium, Thorium, Radium and Polonium. Laboratory (batch) experiments studying specific mobilisation rates (pH, redox, CO3).  Understanding the dissolved species, their transport behaviour and path. We also studied the mobilisation behaviour of radionuclides within the Tailing bodies. Therefore, we collected…. We performed ….

Risk potential of tailings as a contamination source II Relevant results improving process understanding: Uranium (238, 234) radionuclides dominate radioactivity of pore water, other radionuclides negligible. Identified major uranium source minerals: Brannerite, Uraninite (picture)  mobilisation rate ~1,5 mg m-2 d-1 Dissolved Uranium form stable, highly mobile species ((Ca-)Uranyl-Carbonates). Major limiting factors: pore water exchange; hydraulic connection of basis to shallow aquifer. (SEM coupled EDX) Summary of the results which improved our process understanding: - Picture of uraninite identified by scatter electron microscope coupled with EDX Major limiting factors: Figure visualising the three identified steps of Uranium mobilisation: Oxidation of uraninite surfaces  U(VI) mobilisation  U(VI)transport

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

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

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

Major Recommendations & Lessons Learnt Survey if contaminated seepage water is still evident, catchment / disposal is recommended to reduce environmental contamination Continuation of systematic information campaigns to improve awareness and reduce risks of affected local population Advisory companionship of the monitoring activities in Mailuu suu. Proposed monitoring approach:  Upgrading laboratory capacities  long-term allocation of funds, expertise Approach Objective Frequency Determinands 1. Surveillance monitoring To define baseline and long-term trends annually / 3 yearly Full water analysis 2. Operational monitoring To observe water resources „at risk“ 6 monthly responsive parameters 3. Investigative monitoring To identify/observe pollution sources high frequency indicator parameters As conclusion, i would like to summarize the major recommendations from our study: Survey if contaminated seepage water is evident even after remediation activities, in this case their catchment and safe disposal (if not treatment) is recommended Information campaigns of the … should be continued systematically We propose a monitoring approach subdivided into 3 monitoring systems: 1st. … , 2nd … 3rd….  upgrading of lab capacities requires not only international resources but in the long term also national efforts

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

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