PROCEEDING OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND THE CASE OF CYPRUS MINES

 

AFFECTS OF CMC MINNING ON NATURAL RESOURCES IN LEFKE

 

 

¹ prof.dr. Ünal ALTINBAŞ, ²prof.dr.  Ümİt ERDEM and ² N. Ozan VERYERİ

                                                              ¹ Ege University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Soil Science,Turkey

² Ege University, Centre for Environmental Studies, Turkey

 

 

SUMMARY

 

All forms of life surrounding us are dependent on the natural sources like soil, water and air that they find life on, within strong bounds of harmony. Unbroken and constant existence of natural life is the result of these healthy and delicately balanced interrelations. Any kind of material introduced in natural life or an ecosystem resulting with natural life fragmentation is determined as “a pollutant”. Pollutants may be the reasons of chemical and/or physical change in ecosystems in a stretch of time or may exist in a stable form for relatively longer time periods, in environment.

Copper mine plantations located around Gemikonağı Harbour of Lefke Region in Cyprus have a history of 5000 years. The name of the island “Cyprus” is generated over the terms of Cyprium, Cuprum, and finally Cyprus that all mean “copper”. Cyprus is known to be the place where copper is produced in form of metal for the first time on world.

Crude gem of the reserve plantations, an uncovered one at Lefke, a covered one at Karadağ and chemical wastes, accumulated wastes, wastes of copper process with cyanide, mayor wastes of copper flotation establishment, waste pools with pyrite consisting 25-30 % sulphur at Gemikonağı harbour at the region of  Karadağ, south west of Lefke, north part of Trodos magmatic solid are the sources of soil, vegetation, underwater and sea water pollution and beside all, air pollution by particles of  mine and sulphur gasses relevant to high temperatures at summer times.

By Gemikonağı puddle where has been constructed over Maden (Mine) Stream as soil filled dam we see areas of mine. Likewise at these locations, iron, coppered sulphur and tailing carried to surface waters are the source of acidic environment for drinking and irrigation waters relevant to condensation of heavy metals.

In pools for wastes, mean soil reaction (pH) 2.35 and extremely acidic, total soluble salt  1.29% and strongly saline, total sulphur (S) 9.18 %, total copper (Cu) 672.46 ppm, total iron (Fe) 8.15 % total manganese (Mn) 232.06 ppm, total cobalt (Co) 60.34 ppm, total lead (Pb) 34.75 ppm, total chrome (Cr) 32.19 ppm, electrical permeability in some of the waters 1350 mmhos/cm, pH 6.13 (weak acid) are the measured values whereas C3S1 represents the quality of the irrigation water. On the samples of vegetation, Fe, Pb, Cu in bean leaves, Cu in orange, cabbage and mandarin, and Cr in the leaves of orange are definite pollutants.

It is vital to have below precautions urgently for the natural resources under pollution of sulphur and some heavy metals at the region;

 

1.      Preventing the penetration of tailing and mine accumulations in the drainage basin to Gemikonağı Puddle at Lefke Mine stream. Periodic controlling of the puddle waters and the wells that the puddle is the foundation of and preventing the use of these waters for the serve of drinking and irrigation.

2.      Accumulated wastes of mine, wastes of chemicals, wastes of scraps left behind after the completion of establishments at Gemikonağıı are also the sources of visual pollution beside natural resource pollution at soil, vegetation, and waters. Thus observing the sources of pollution continuously  in order to define the chemical functions so taking samples from the depths 0-1 m, 1-2.5 m, 2.5-4 m, 4-5.5 m, 5.5-7 m, 7-8.5 m to be analysed, for this aim.

3.      Preventing the access of human and any animal to the area by green fence convenient to ecology of the region or by wire fence. Putting emphasis on creating the green fence and making use of its resistance and acceptable impermeability to storms that will help in decreasing the level of pollutants spreading around.

4.      Preventing the penetration of rain waters to the area of waste at the south part of the region by constructing circulation channels at the above parts of the basin is vital and urgent to prevent the decharge of the heavy metals soluble, beside very acidic reactions, in these waters.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Copper mines that are  located around Gemikonağı Harbour in Lefke, North Cyprus Turkish Republic, have a history of 5000 years.

 

The region is in  Trodos magmatic complex and located  in Trodos lava pads of iron (pyrite), and copper (calcopyrite). As a natural result of long term history of copper production, the name of the island “Cyprus” is generated over the terms of  "Cyprium” and “Cuprum” that finally combined together in the word “Cyprus” meaning “copper”.

 

Trodos solid is an area where ocean sheet has reached to earth surface. Mines rich of sulphur involving pyrite, calcopyrite, marcasit, sfalarid, galen, bornit, with copper, zinc, iron and  sulphur lairs. These lairs mostly occur at the base or upper part of the lava pads in upper levels of  the Trodos solid.

Sources of pollutants that have threatened the livelihood of  soil, underground waters and sea ecosystems where as air pollution caused by sulphur gases and mine particles due to the high temperatures of summer time have been the crude gem reservoirs  -  an uncovered one at Lefke, and a covered one at Karadağ - and chemical wastes, accumulated wastes, wastes of gold process with cyanide (Figure 1), major wastes of copper flotation plants, waste pools with pyrite consisting 25-30 % sulphur at Gemikonağı harbour in the region of  Karadağ, south west of Lefke, and north part of  Trodos magmatic solid ( Figure 2,3). There are mines as well at Gemikonağı puddle which have been constructed over Maden (Mine) Stream as a soil filled dam. Like the reservoirs mentioned above, this dam carries iron and coppered sulphur and tailings to the surface waters causing acidic environment for drinking and irrigation waters because of the condensation of heavy metals.

 

 

Figure 1. The little wastes hill containing cynanide

 

 

 Figure 2. Waste pools in CMC area

 

 

 

Figure 3. Waste pools in CMC area

Figure 4. The CMC plant process

Figure 5. The CMC plant process

Lefke- Gemikonağı gem plantation is intensively operated by  Cyprus Mine Company (CMC) since 1913 till year 1974 of  end of the activities (Figure 4), leaving back all the wastes produced in this activity term their fate in form of a valley of death (Figure 5,6,7,8).

 

Figure 6. The wastes of CMC in area	Figure 7. The CMC plant process wastes	Figure 8. The wastes of CMC in area

 

Local pollution caused and left after the mine plantation indicates four distinctive level of  image from sea level to mountain areas.

 

These are:

1.      Wastes of gold having the possibility consisting in cyanide at the entrance area of Gemikonağı plantations,

2.      Eastes of copper flotation at the entrance areas of  Gemikonağı plantations,

3.      Waste pools consisting in condensed pyrite mineral having 30 % sulphur in, separated to uprising 6 branches of waste pools,

4.       Low copper accumulations and also wastes of trailing in apparent streams at Karadağ region due to mine production extractions. At the regions of copper plantations  and near areas of uncovered inactive gem production plantations, at areas of stock for gem and gem wastes, have the tendency of  penetrating to sea ecosystem due to rain waters and land inclinations by surface flow. Beside, wastes founded on the surface like calcopyrite (CuFe₂),pyrite ( FeS₂ ), and  mineral rich of sulphur getting in reaction with rain waters and free oxygen and rising the condensation of the wastes and acid level of waters thus give pollution parameters in surface waters, surrounding soils, coastline and sea water. Also a coastline of 5 km length and 800 m width, the  Mediterranean  sea marine band is observed to get in an abnormal color where color condensation increases after precipitation (Figure 9). Increase in the amounts of  Fe, Cu, Pb ions is the result of condensation in acidity. Sulphuric ions and complexes, condensation of  H ion pollution, diminish the natural qualities of soil and water.

 

The source of the blue color that we observe at the upper parts of Gemikonağı puddle and direct connection points of  Maden stream with the same puddle is the copper element (Figure 10). Gem wastes, chemical material wastes, solid wastes left after the gem plantation observed from sea level to upper areas at Gemikonağı, enlarged the environmental problems.

 

Figure 9. Mediterranean waters by the coastline	Figure 10. It’s another waste pools and It has blue colour from copper, and reddish from iron	Figure 11. Researchers group in 1999 at CMC area

 

 

Material and method

 

Sample materials that are used in pollution analyses are taken from mine wastes, soil, water and plant under influence of CMC in Lefke Region, Cyprus, at dates 25.03.1999 and 9.10.1999 (Figure 11). Physical, chemical and heavy metal analyses completed with these samples within the principles defined in the nearby presented literature (Slavin,1968;Merck,1973;Chen,1991).

 

 

 

 

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

 

Below diagram gives data on some laboratory analyses of the 4 different samples taken from the waste pools 1,3,5,6. These pools are among the ones which are by the previous mine plantation waste area, located in gradually different heights down to sea level giving an image of  set.

 

Table 1. Waste Analyse Results (Waste pools are given number considering their locations from upper to lower in altitude, that is a numeric order  from Karadağ to Gemikonağı)

 

 

 

Reaction of saturation percentage ( pH) is ultra acid, total soluble salt in water, strongly saline. Data on potential microelements and heavy metals, are maintained from the HClO₄ + HF solution which wastes are fragmented in. According to these data; sulphur (S) 4.85-16.82% ; iron (Fe), 3.8713-14.7719 %, manganese (Mn) 0.0051-0.0209 %; zinc (Zn) 0.0043-0.0110 %, copper (Cu) 0.0281-0.1103 %; cadmium (Cd) , 0.0001-0.00015 %; cobalt  (Co) 0.0023-0.0099 %; lead (Pb) 0.0012-0.0083 %; chrome (Cr) 0.0010-0.0060 %; molybdaen  ( Mo) 0.0018-0.0296 % in dispersion levels (Figure 12).

 

Figure 12. Reddish colour from iron, yellowish from sulpfur

 

According to maintained research data, the gem plantation kept active economically by CMC consisted in 1.3 % Cu and more than 45 % S up to 1974 and before years  till they are exhausted. Following this phase  the same firm researched for new potential areas of reservoirs and determined and calculated that at Lefke A1 reserve 0.35 % Cu, Lefke A2 0.56 % Cu, where as Lefke A3  0.36 % Cu are potential mines in these reservoirs.  In waste pools Cu gem is in concentration of  0.0281-0.1103 % levels. Thus we understand that the gem plantation has drained 1/20 percentage of the potential Cu into the waste pools and this caused concentration of  Cu in these pools 10 times higher than the percentages of lithosphere. We observe that in 3^th and 5^th pools  zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and chrome (Cr), in 1^st and 6^th pools iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), lead (Pb) and molybdean (Mo) are concentrated according to analyse data.

Dispersion of sulphur is at maximum level of concentration at 1. waste pool and this datum reaches up to 16.82 % . Considering the level of sulphur dispersal as 0.08 % in lithosphere, percentage of wastes are calculated to be 200 times more. Current intense data of high accumulation percentages indicate the dimensions of sulphur pollution at the area.

Reactions (pH) in the waste pools are very acidic. This concentrates the chemical defragmentations and at the end the heavy metals are freed. This last phase leads penetration of heavy metals into underground waters, surface waters , sea water and nearby lands causing an increase in environmental pollution every passing day. At the sampling phase from the upper sections it is realised that the surrounding is in intense odour of sulphur. Due to condensation of very high acid in solution of  sulphureos and sulphuric acid, while taking samples in touch with the surrounding material it is observed that our skin is effected from this acidic condition very negatively (Figure 13). Beside all clay+silt particles spreading around up to 70-80 % extend by the help of surrounding winds in form of dust clouds create environmental pollution rich of heavy metals and sulphur (Figure 14).

 

	Figure 13. An affected leg of a man from CMC wastes

 

              

Figure 14. Clay deposit as hexagonal in CMC area

 

Samples are taken from the soil, plant and water under the influence of copper plantation Gemikonagi, Lefke, North Cyprus Turkish Republic at date 09.10.1999 and analysed (Table 2,3,4). The garden of Mehmet Ozakdenizli is found to be very acidic and consisting in very high levels of salt which are the indications of intense affection from CMC wastes (Figure 15).

 

 Table 2. Some physical and chemical analyse results of soils

 

 

Table 2.

Heavy metal distribution as Iron (Fe) 2.08-6.10 %, copper (Cu) 24-504 ppm, manganese (Mn) 687.3-1099.8 ppm., zinc (Zn) 55.0-217.5 ppm, cadmium (Cd) 0.78-1.85 ppm, cobalt (Co) 14.0-38.0 ppm., lead (Pb) 11.3-45.0 ppm, chrome (Cr) 2.3-25.9 ppm, aluminium (Al) 0.18-5.18 % are the dispersion levels that generally increase along the depths of surface soil (Table 3).

 Table 3. Soil samples observed to consist in above heavy metal measurements

 

Referring to analyse results given above, element of iron is relatively in high levels in garden of Mehmet Özakdenizli and this data indicated, 6.10 % maximum level of condensation. Iron element is founded to be increasing in condensation through under surface horizons indicating 1.surface wash of soil, 2. mine plantation as the source of this character of condensation . In general iron concentration at this type of soil is found to be at 2.00-3.50 % dispersal levels. In previously covered research studies at the direct mine wastes, iron concentration is founded to be 14.77 %.

The level of copper on the researched soil is definitely in higher concentration than the accepted average values 5-110 ppm of  this kind of soil. Accept the garden of  Özdemir Şamlıdağ there is a definite copper pollution of soil.

The level of manganese  concentration is in higher values than the 200-600 ppmlevels of this kind of soil.

Likewise, cobalt level is in higher concentration according to analyse results considering the expected 15 ppm level  at surface soil.

Average dispersal concentration of lead at the lithosphere is 16.0 ppm but analyse results indicate a general higher level. An accumulation of lead at the surface soil is definitely existing as sample analyse from the garden of Altan Öksüz is giving the result of 45.0 ppm lead element. This is because of organic material holding the lead in surface soil.

Like lead element chrome has a tendency to accumulate at biologically rich humus soil and indicates a concentration at the surface soil that is 25.90 ppm at some surface layers.

Referring to analyse results on water sample reactions (PH) it is slight acidic at Gemikonagi and slight alcaline at  upper parts of the same area. Electrical permeability specifications determined by cation  and anion dispersal, there is a concentration of Na⁺ cation and relevantly SO₄ and CI ions concentration in waters used by Altan Oksuz, Rayif Altıner and Mehmet Ozakdenizli. Likewise in all these three samples there is a pollution of evaporation remnant. The seawater indicates a very profound pollution with all specifications. (Table 4).

Table

In water samples from the bottom sluice at the very low section of Gemikonagi puddle, iron (Fe) 0.17ppm, copper (Cu) 0.282 ppm, manganese (Mn) 0.168 ppm.,zinc (Zn) 0.200 ppm., cadmium  (Cd) 0.0029 ppm., cobalt (Co) 0.033 ppm., aluminium (Al ) 0.407 ppm. data is maintained as analyse results while very low concentration of lead and chrome is defined. According to these analyse results there is a pollution of copper from CMC wastes in water (Figure 16).

 Table 5. (Continuing). Heavy metal concentrations in Water Samples

T

   

Figure 15. View of CMC wastes area	Figure 16. Reddish colour from iron, yellowish from sulphur in CMC area

   

            According to heavy elements concentration dispersal results maintained from the leaves of particular plants, boran is found to be most condense in the orange leaves and 31.1 ppm; magnesium in bean leaves and 0.66 ppm; iron in bean leaves and 175.0 ppm, manganese in cabbage leaves 141.0 ppm, zinc is bean leaves and 27.0 ppm, copper in bean leaves 24.2 ppm, molybdean at level of microamount in all samples, cobalt in cabbage leaves 4.95 ppm, chrome in orange leave 26.0 ppm, nicel in mandarin and bean leaves and 5.3 ppm are the identified data (Table 6).

            According to above data there is a condensed accumulation of iron in bean leaves. Consentration of copper in cabbage and mandarin leaves are nearly reaching the level of toxic while exceeding in orange and bean. Chrome is found to be 26 ppm in leaves of orange and as this level is higher than the 5-20 ppm criteria, chrome exceeds the acceptable level. When we consider lead dispersal in plants, lead in cabbage is lower but in bean is higher than 5-20 ppm criteria while the lead in other plants are in this spectrum. So there is lead pollution in plants also.