The Kittilä gold mine has a major environmental challenge. Photo: Wikipedia
Mining chemicals threaten Lapland rivers
Company Agnico Eagle has major problems at its gold mine in Kittilä, northern Finland, as mining chemicals leak from a waste deposit.
October 30, 2015
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The company, a Canadian-based gold producer, in mid-September discovered ruptures in the dam which holds poisonous chemical wastes from the nearby Kittilä gold mine.
The leakage now threatens the nearby rivers of Seurujoki and Ounasjoki, Finnish broadcaster Yle reports.
The reason for the rupture remains unclear. However, the company appears to have filled the dam with too much waste waters, experts say.
The chemical substances include magnesium, natrium, sulfats and nitrogen and could make fish from the rivers for unsuitable for human consumption.
The gold mine is located near Kittilä in the Finnish Lapland province. It produced its first gold bars in 2009.
Kittila has probable reserves of 3.2 million ounces. The gold will initially be extracted via open pit followed by underground mining via ramp access.
The mining operation is feeding a 3,000 tonne per day surface processing plant.
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