Impact of placer gold mine technology on water quality: A case study of Tuul river valley in the Zaamar goldfield, Mongolia

Abstract

The paper finds that placer gold mining operation has significant impact on the surface water quality, which varies from mine to mine depending on the types of gold recovery technologies applied. Only primitive gold recovery technologies are dominating in the Zaamar goldfield. We assume that the mines with foreign ownership have cleaner technologies with less impact on the water quality than the local ones. But results from the water quality measurement and surveys at the field show that mines with joint ownerships of Russian or Chinese companies in Zaamar area have more polluting technologies than the local smaller companies. © 2011 WIT Press.