TRACE-ELEMENTS IN WATER, SEDIMENTS, POREWATER, AND BIOTA POLLUTED BY TAILINGS FROM AN ABANDONED GOLD MINE IN BRITISH-COLUMBIA, CANADA

The concentrations of major and trace elements in different environmen tal compartments (e.g., water, suspended and bottom sediments, sedimen t porewater, and biota) of Jack of Clubs Lake (JCL), Wells, British Co lumbia (Canada), were determined to assess the biogeochemical effects of abandoned gold mine tailings on the aquatic ecosystem of JCL in the Fraser River drainage basin. Arsenic and Pb were transported from the tailings to the lake, where they accumulated in bottom sediments in c oncentrations up to 1104 and 281 mug/g, respectively. Although the ben thic community in the lake was only partially affected, there was evid ence that the tailings inhibited a variety of microbial activities in the lake sediments. The concentrations of As, Cd, Cu and Pb in inverte brates collected from streams flowing through mine tailings, and from vegetation growing on the tailings, suggest a potential for contaminat ion of the food chain of the surrounding ecosystems.