Results of evaluations and analyses regarding the mining disaster in İliç announced

Academics from Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University (EBYÜ) are continuing their efforts to investigate the environmental impacts of the landslide that occurred at the gold mine in the İliç district. 

EBYÜ Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Çağrı Çırak stated in a statement to journalists at the mine site that they were in the region as university faculty members to conduct evaluations and prepare reports regarding the environmental impacts of the landslide that occurred at the mining site.

Stating that they had toured the entire mining site, Çırak said, “We have seen firsthand the work carried out by the State Hydraulic Works, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, and the Provincial Disaster and Emergency Management teams. In addition to the teams, we have also evaluated all chemical analyses conducted at the mining site and all measurements obtained here. We wanted to share some evaluations regarding this with you, along with my colleagues. 

We can speak clearly not with our feelings, but with what we measure. The experimental data we currently have shows that cyanide was not found in any of the sampled points. It is meaningless for us to think as if there is something else. Scientific measurements did not detect any amount of cyanide in the dam. In other parts, the data is also far, far below the required amounts,” he said.

Department of Engineering Hydrology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yıldırım Dalkılıç stated that all analyses were performed with samples taken from the field and emphasized that all necessary precautions have been taken to ensure that the water of Sabırlı Creek does not come into contact with the leach area.

"ANALYSES ARE BEING CONTINUOUSLY MONITORED"

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dalkılıç said, “Water and soil quality measurements are being taken here. 'Is there a possible risk, are there any sudden spikes in certain values, do these pose a risk?' All analyses regarding these are being continuously monitored. A rock-fill barrier has been built in front of the landslide. This barrier is one of the measures taken to prevent the landslide from advancing toward the creek. The actual plan is to divert the water just before the leach area, changing the flow direction of the creek, to ensure it reaches the Karasu River directly without coming into contact with the landslide area. The planning was done by the State Hydraulic Works (DSİ), and work is currently ongoing."

EBYÜ Basic Sciences Research and Application Center Director Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kemal Volkan Özdokur also reported that samples were collected from underground and surface waters at 17 points within the regions determined and foreseen by the delegations from the universities.

Noting that underground and surface soil samples are also being examined, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özdokur said, “Hydrogen cyanide, cyanide analysis, total cyanide, free cyanide from underground and surface soil samples, each of these is being performed both here and verified by the results of these analyses at our ministry's reference laboratory. Furthermore, it is being tested and recorded by two private laboratories as well. 

"WE HAVE NOT DETECTED ANY POLLUTION"

We scientists are obligated to speak with data. We have water samples taken from those regions in our possession. The cyanide results of these samples are clear. Cyanide in the dam is not even at a level that the device can measure. We cannot even measure the level in the dam with our current standard measurement method. 

From February 14 to today, we have not detected any leakage or pollution approaching the maximum limit set by the European Environment Agency. The results we have obtained do not show us the presence of any leakage. Samples taken from the sampling wells at the Bağıştaş Dam are also seen to be below the level that the cyanide device can measure. No cyanide residue has been measured. The data we have obtained so far shows that there is no residue related to cyanide in the region," he said.

News Source: İHA