1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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  ~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

5. Project frame Techn. cooperation project Kyrgistan - Germany
Funding: 300,000 EUR - Ministry of Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany
Project Period:
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 , 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.

6. 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….

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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

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 U ( u g / l )
75 perc.
Median
25 perc.
Max.
Min.
15 µg/L
(WHO)
Status of …..

11. 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 ….

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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)

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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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