PROCEEDING OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY                   AND THE CASE OF CYPRUS MINES Lefke Avrupa Üniversitesi/Şubat 2000

 

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF THE COPPER MINING ACTIVITIES IN LEFKE-GEMIKONAGI REGION OF NORTHERN CYPRUS : A REVIEW

 

Aysel T. ATIMTAY and E. Volkan SARIÇİÇEK

 

Middle East Technical University, Environmental Engineering Department,

06531  Ankara, TURKEY

 

Abstract

 

This paper will review the previous studies carried out on the environmental problems that the copper mines have caused in Lefke-Gemikonağı region due to mismanagement of the resources. The pollution generated in surface waters, groundwater and also in the marine environment will be discussed, and the dimensions of the problems will be emphasized.

 

 

1. INTRODUCTION

 

Copper has always been a very important material for Cyprus and the history of this dates back to 5000 years from today. Even the name Cyprus is believed to come from the word “Cuprous”. Cyprus is within the Trodos-Magmatic complex which is rich in iron, pyrite and copper (calcopyrite). Copper mining in Cyprus, especially in Lefke region, has begun in 1913 and continued until 1974. The companies which have produced copper, together with some by products like CuSO₄, H₂SO₄ and gold, in Cyprus have left the area in 1974 without taking any precautions or preventive actions against environmental pollution.

 

Sulfur mineralization at the region is the result of fluids loaded with heat (Hydrothermal) at the ocean bottoms. Apart from the raw ores in “Lefke” and “Karadağ” region, chemical wastes in Gemikonağı Harbour, heaps of scrap materials, wastes from gold production with cyanide, by-products of copper flotation process, pyrite waste ponds containing %25-30 sulfur cause not only soil, groundwater and sea pollution, but also air pollution by sulfur gases resulting from excess heating in summer time. Iron and sulfur with copper carried with surface waters might cause heavy metal pollution in potable and irrigation waters due to acid mine drainage.  According to many research reports, there are Arsenic, Barium, Cadmium, Chromium and Selenium in high amounts at the region. The region is an important shore ecosystem, too.

 

Basic environmental problems faced in the region can be summarized as follows:

1. The situation of abandoned mine sites  (Karadağ and Gemikonağı region) and their environmental impacts
2. Gemikonağı dam-lake and its pollution
3. Agricultural pollution caused by Gemikonağı dam-lake
4. The situation of abandoned CMC copper enrichment facilities and their environmental impacts

 

 

 

 

2. PREVIOUS RESEARCHES RELATED TO THE SUBJECT

 

There are several studies conducted in the last 10 years about the environmental problems created by these copper mines. Some of these studies are concentrated on:

 

1. Copper mines left as they are and their effects on the environment
2. Water pollution in some small dams in the mining region
3. Environmental pollution in agricultural areas which is due to using the polluted water in irrigation of these areas
4. Groundwater pollution due to leaching of mining wastes.

 

The important studies can be summarized as follows:

 

• In 1970 a committee formed in the Institute of Agricultural Research has studied mine dust precipitation on vegetation in Lefke. The leaves of plants in the region were analyzed and the chemical analysis of the leaves were conducted by the chemical laboratory of the Agricultural Research Institute. Results showed that there were accumulation of mine dust on the leaves, and decrease in sizes of fruits and trees were observed. Color, taste and other properties of fruits were also found to be adversely affected from mine dust (Reported by Dogan, 1999).
• Water samples have been taken from Gemikonağı dam-lake, from several creeks in the Lefke region and from several drinking water wells between the dates 15.04.1994 and 18.04.1994. The State Laboratory of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) analyzed these samples. The results were compared with the Turkish (TS 266) and international standards (EEC and WHO). As a result of this comparison Al, Fe, Mg and Mn concentrations in some samples were found higher than the values given in the standards (Report by the State Laboratory, 17.05.1994)
• Also, the laboratories of theGeneral Directorate of Mine Exploration in Ankara has conducted some analysis on the water samples taken from the Lefke region by the Municipality of Lefke, and reported their results on March 19,1997.
• Two water samples have been taken from drinking water in Lefke and from Gemikonağı dam-lake. These samples were analyzed in the Environmental Engineering Department Laboratories of Marmara University. In one of these samples Cr⁺⁶ which is included in the hazardous chemical class in TS 266 was found to be present in the drinking water sample. Also, the concentrations of Fe and Mn were found to be higher than the recommended levels given in the standards (Report by Marmara University, Environmental Engineering Department, 26.03.1997).
• It is reported in an article prepared by the Lefke Environmental Society that heavy metal concentrations were found very high (even 15-17 times more than standards) in some water samples obtained from  the Gemikonağı dam-lake water.  The analysis of the water samples were carried out by the State Laboratories of TRNC (Report of the State Lab. of the TRNC,18.3.1999).
• According to a report by the State Laboratory Directorate of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus dated 28 October 1999, 8 plant samples were taken from Gemikonağı Mining Operation Facilities of CMC on different dates and 3 plant samples were taken from outside of CMC facilities from places where no metal contaminations were expected. The results of the analysis are given in Table 1 (Report by the State Lab., 1999).
• Also Ege University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Soil Sciences has investigated the samples of soil and leaves collected in the region and analyzed for the heavy metal contents (Table 2). The results have shown alarming concentrations (Altınbaş,1999).

 

Table 1 . Results of the analysis of plant samples (Report by the State Lab.,1999)

 

Sampling Point	Sample	Amount for Analysis (gr)	Al (mg/kg)	Cr (mg/kg)	Cu (mg/kg)	Fe (mg/kg)	Mn (mg/kg)
Plant samples taken from CMC Gemikonağı Mining Facility	Şifa otu 1	2.5770	195.03	15.50	63.72		39.43
	Şifa otu 2	2.7391	185.28	16.53	75.32		38.92
	Pire otu 1	2.3499	207.41	3.24	77.28		27.55
	Pire otu 2	2.3497	213.01	10.42	58.60		32.14
	Gabbar 1	3.3694	48.79	0.79	7.13	70.04
	Gabbar 2	3.5786	43.59	0.65	7.37	60.58	28.11
	Ayrelli 1	2.3219	44.02	1.02	3.34		8.66
	Ayrelli 2	2.2342	43.13	0.86	3.90		9.38
	Akasya 1	2.3048	115.80	1.25	11.34	96.93	43.65
	Akasya 2	2.3749	89.39	1.20	11.26	96.68	43.24
	Ayrık otu1	2.0807	149.71	2.11	6.07	164.51	63.44
	Ayrık otu2	2.1228	204.02	3.26	46.17	164.83	42.91
	Kuzu otu 1	2.0349	234.56	6.51	5.32	163.74	69.14
	Kuzu otu 2	2.0045	391.47	2.87	9.14	226.29	69.99
	Çatırez 1	2.0403	64.11	1.33	0.42	52.10	12.86
	Çatırez 2	2.0178	63.14	2.25	17.55	180.74	17.44

 

Samples from  places that probaly clean	Şifaotu 1	2.3119	618.11	32.05	7.43	0.33	14.78
	Şifaotu 2	2.3905	648.82	22.40	10.57	0.26	9.54
	Pireotu 1	1.9515	67.38	1.04	3.99	176.33	7.35
	Pireotu 2	2.4124	121.99	1.37	4.39	102.84	7.68
	Gabbar 1	2.3339	82.95	0.89	5.49	82.99	11.48
	Gabbar 2	2.7112	70.49	0.66	4.74	77.42	9.93

 

 

    Table 2 . Carcinogenic heavy metal concentrations in leaves and soil (Altınbaş, 1999)     

                         

	Carcinogenic Heavy Metals in Leaves						Carcinogenic Heavy Metals in Soil
Sample point and Plant Type	Zn (ppm)	Cr (ppm)	Cd (ppm)	Pb (ppm)	Ni (ppm)		Depth     (cm)	Zn (ppm)	Cr (ppm)	Cd (ppm)	Pb (ppm)
							0-10	217.5	11.3	1.17	16.3
Tangerine  Leaf	15.0	6.0	0.90	14.5	5.3		10-28	132.5	9.2	1.02	12.5
							0-14	92.5	11.5	0.93	45.0
Orange Leaf	10.0	26.0	0.95	16.0	4.9		14-40	92.5	20.3	1.12	23.8
							0-14	87.5	25.9	1.07	22.5
Bean Leaf	27.0	2.0	0.48	22.5	5.3		14-33	80.0	4.5	0.78	11.3
							0-14	67.5	22.3	1.76	27.5
Cabbage Leaf	17.0	4.0	0.55	7.3	3.5		14-32	55.5	2.3	1.85	26.3

 

Measurements done by Prof Dr Ünal ALTINBAŞ in March 2^nd, 1999 in the Department of Soil at Ege Univ., Agriculture Faculty.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is determined that chromium concentration in samples of “şifa out” and “pire out” from contaminated area is very high as compared to samples of şifa otu from a distant place. It is a well-known fact that accumulated heavy metals in plants may pass through humans either by eating them directly or consuming the meat and milk products of animals that eat the plants.

 

The first preliminary report on the Environmental Problems of the Lefke-Gemikonağı region has been prepared by Erdem and his co-workers (Erdem, 1999). This report has shed light on many problems of the region.

 

 

3. Main Environmental Problems in the Region

 

 

A. THE SITUATION OF ABANDONED MINE SITES (KARADAĞ AND GEMİKONAĞI       AREA) AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

 

Open pit and underground mining were performed at Karadağ mine site and underground mining at Maden creek mine site. Mining wastes generated were discharged to creek beds in the region. Generally, these waste are low-graded ores containing approximately% 0.4 copper and % 8 sulfur. The approximate amount is 2 million tones.

 

Water drainage takes place with rainwater from mining sites as well as  material and waste storage sites. Acidic conditions occur with the reaction of present concentrated minerals (pyrite, Clcopyrite, galena, etc.) with rainwater and oxygen in air. Then contaminated water is transported to water collecting basin with surface waters and then mixes with ground water directly. Acid mine drainage increases metallic ions in waters in the region. As a matter of fact, samples taken from Gemikonağı dam-lake, water wells and surface waters verify this result. Results of the State Laboratory analysis are given in Table 3. Al, Cu, Fe, and Mn concentrations are very high in samples from bottom weir of dam-lake according to the Turkish Water Pollution and Control Regulation (1988) and water quality is 3^rd and 4^th class according to same regulation.

 

 

Table 3. Results of the analysis on water samples taken from the Gemikonağı dam-lake (State Laboratory Report, 1999)

 

 

^*3^rd Quality   (Turkish Water Pollution and Control Regulation, 1988)

 ^**4^th Quality (Turkish Water Pollution and Control Regulation, 1988)

 

 

 

 

B. GEMİKONAĞI DAM-LAKE AND ITS POLLUTION

 

The construction of the Gemikonağı dam, which is on the basin of Maden creek and mine production site, was completed in 1994. The capacity of the dam is 4 million m³ and it is constructed for irrigational purposes. The irrigation field of the dam is designed as 130 hectar. There are mining wastes at the sides of the hills surrounding the dam-lake. There are also two water wells at the upstream of the dam-lake. These wells were used for drinking water supply in the past but later they were started to use as irrigational water supply because of the possibility of pollution due to the acid mine drainage.

 

Acid mine drainage at the region was clarified dramatically by GÖKÇEKUŞ (1995) in the  “2^nd Water Convention” organized by ACTEAC in Feburary 23-24, 1995. At this period, totally 17 water samples were taken from creeks fed by Trodos Ophiolite Complex, from accumulated waters rich in mineral content, and from Gemikonağı dam-lake. The results of the analysis  are given in Table 4.

 

 

Table 4. Chemical Analysis Results of Water Samples (Gökçekuş, 1995)