July 2016 Intra-lake survey of Arcellinida (Testate Lobose Amoebae) and Lake Geochemistry of Hambone Lake on the Tundra Mine property, Northwest Territories, Canada

Thirty sediment-water interface samples were collected, in July of 2016, from Hambone Lake located on the property of Tundra Mine ~240km northeast of the City of Yellowknife, NWT, Canada with the objectives of assessing the potential impact the mine has had on the lake through (1) assessing the concentrations of elements of concern (EOC) by analyzing the geochemistry of the lake, and (2) quantify the relationship between the intra-lake variability of the EOC and the spatial distribution of Arcellinida (or testate lobose amoebae). Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and ITRAX-XRF will be utilized to analyze the geochemistry of the lake and assess the concentration of EOC, specifically arsenic. Arcellinida will be identified and quantified in each sample until a statistically significant number (between 250-300 shells) is obtained. Multivariate statistics will be used in order to quantify the relationship between the identified Arcellinida assemblages and the spatial variability of the EOC. Results will help assess the potential of utilizing Arcellinida as bio-indicators for legacy mine contamination.