Grants and Contributions:

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Title:
The use of wetlands to sequester and treat mine-influenced effluent containing arsenic
Agreement Number:
EGP
Agreement Value:
$25,000.00
Agreement Date:
Sep 20, 2017 -
Organization:
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Location:
British Columbia, CA
Reference Number:
GC-2017-Q2-04280
Agreement Type:
Grant
Report Type:
Grants and Contributions
Additional Information:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019).

Recipient's Legal Name:
Fraser, Lauchlan (Thompson Rivers University)
Program:
Engage Grants for Universities
Program Purpose:

Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. operates the Bralorne Gold Mine in southwestern British Columbia. Bralornex000D
Gold Mine has been operating under trial production since 2010, but the Company is developing a strategicx000D
operating plan to achieve a profitable operation. During monitoring of mine tailings water at Bralorne Goldx000D
Mine it has been determined that arsenic is the major contaminant of concern that will require treatmentx000D
following mine closure. Wetlands may provide a natural source for the uptake and sequestration of arsenic inx000D
non-toxic forms. Here we propose an analysis of arsenic in its various forms within the water, soils, and plantsx000D
of a natural wetland that receives an intermittent supply of mine-influenced arsenic-tainted effluent. We willx000D
use the synchrotron facility at the University of Saskatchewan's Canadian Light Source to analyze and mapx000D
arsenic speciation in our sample materials. Our goal is to test the capability of the synchrotron to analyzex000D
arsenic in mine samples and to identify the location of arsenic uptake in our wetland samples. By doing so wex000D
hope to better understand the dynamics of the chemical pathway of arsenic so that we can design efficientx000D
treatment methods for ecological restoration.