Macquarie Harbour (1989) Trace Metals

Bathurst Harbour and Macquarie Harbour are estuarine systems on the west coast of Tasmania, Australia. While Macquarie Harbour is grossly polluted from mine operations via contamination of the King River, Bathurst Harbour is surrounded by World Heritage wilderness and is essentially free of anthropogenic influences. The vegetation of the catchments of both harbours is similar and the waters of both harbours are deep brown due to the presence of humic substances. A hydrographic survey of the pristine Bathurst Harbour estuarine system was carried out over 4 days in January/February of 1990 (Austral Summer). Sampling and laboratory analyses for a range of trace elements (Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn) were made using non-contaminating procedures. Comparison of results from this survey, with those from Macquarie Harbour in the summer of 1989, provided a clearer assessment of the effects of mining operations on trace metal concentrations in Macquarie Harbour.

巴斯斯特港（Bathurst Harbour）与麦格理港（Macquarie Harbour）均为澳大利亚塔斯马尼亚西海岸的河口系统。其中麦格理港因国王河（King River）受采矿作业污染而遭到严重污染；巴斯斯特港周边为世界遗产荒野区域，基本未受人为活动影响。两座港口的汇水区植被特征相似，且二者水体均因腐殖质（humic substances）的存在而呈深褐色。1990年1月/2月（澳大利亚夏季），研究人员对未受污染的巴斯斯特港河口系统开展了为期4天的水文测量。本次研究采用无污染实验流程，对镉（Cd）、钴（Co）、铜（Cu）、铁（Fe）、锰（Mn）、镍（Ni）及锌（Zn）等多种微量元素开展了采样与实验室分析。将本次测量结果与1989年夏季麦格理港的实测数据进行对比后，可更清晰地评估采矿作业对麦格理港内微量元素浓度的影响。