Radiometric measurements, soil and water sampling in tin mining areas of Malaysia. (Report No. WC/95/062)

Abstract

This report presents the results of a preliminary environmental geochemical study of former tin mining areas in Malaysia, carried out as part of the project 'Environmental impact of alluvial tin mining' (93/8, R5566) under the Overseas Development Administration (ODA)/British Geological Survey Technology Development and Research (TDR) programme. The TDR programme forms part of the British Government provision of technical assistance to developing countries. A suite of water and soil samples were collected from tin mining areas in Malaysia during November and early December 1993. In addition, radiometric measurements were taken in order to determine the extent, if any, of contamination by heavy minerals derived from the tin mining activities. Sophisticated techniques were employed for water sampling so that well characterised samples were obtained. The soil and water samples have been analysed for a wide range of elements and radioisotopes to determine the levels of contamination, particularly that from heavy minerals. Although the work described here was intended to be a preliminary survey as part of a larger project, the results are important and show that widespread contamination of mining sites is not present, and that water contamination is in general low or absent. This Report is available to download in either full colour (4090 kb) or black and white (3779 kb)