From Tailings to Tree Tops: Understanding Metal(loid) Chemistry and Movement in Gold Mine Tailings Restoration
Date
2024-09-25
Authors
Lundell, Levi
Stewart, Katherine
Peak, Derek
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan
ORCID
Type
Conference Presentation
Degree Level
Abstract
There are hundreds of abandoned and active metal mine tailings cells, containing a variety of toxic metal(loid)s, across Canada’s boreal forest. Many of these tailings are either being naturally or actively revegetated, but how boreal plants interact with substrate metal(loid)s is poorly understood. By understanding how tailings chemistry affects plant growth, and if plants sequester these toxic elements in their tissues, ecologically sound restoration of these sites
can be improved. I am studying boreal plants growing in gold tailings using traditional lab techniques and spectroscopic and imaging methods from the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron.
Description
Keywords
Metal mine, Mine tailing, Boreal plants, synchrotron
Citation
Lundell, L., Stewart, K. & Peak, D. (2024) From Tailings to Tree Tops: Understanding Metal(loid) Chemistry and Movement in Gold Mine Tailings Restoration. Agriculture Research Day 2024. College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan. https://agbio.usask.ca/events/2024/09/agriculture-research-day.php