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The project objective is to define ecological burden caused by small-scale mining for gold and use of mercury during dressing of gold ores and to monitor the degree of contamination of soils and surface and groundwaters in areas being extensively mined. Long-term monitoring of mining and ore dressing methods in hard rock and placer gold deposits should improve environmental protection in the Selenge river catchment. Application of modern mercury-free ore dressing technologies and development of capacities and mechanisms reducing the use of mercury in gold extraction applicable in Mongolia are an integral part of the project. The application of suggested technologies during small-scale mining will contribute to the reduction of mercury pollution in surface waters of the river Selenge thus enabling sustainable development during mining for gold in central Mongolia. The project implementation will improve the local environment during mining operations and contribute to the development of tools safeguarding efficient protection of fluvial, river-bank and steppe biodiversity.
The Selenge river basin lies in the territory of Mongolia and the Russian Federation. The catchment occupies 425 245 km2, which is 20.4 % of the entire territory of Mongolia, and belongs to a large area that is drained to the Arctic Ocean. The largest Mongolian river originates at the confluence of the rivers Delger murun and Ider. The river Egijn Gol is the richest in water sinistral tributary of the Selenge river, which springs from the Chubsgul lake that is the most important resource of surface potable water in Mongolia. The river Ongon with its tributary Tuul river and the river Kharaa and Yuruu are right-hand tributaries of Selenge in central Mongolia. The total length of the river Selenge is 1 024 km. It is the most important inlet of the Baikal Lake. The majority of industrial and mining operations are concentrated in eastern part of the Selenge river basin. This part has also crucial importance in agricultural mainly plant-growing production of Mongolia. The major and most important deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum and coal are concentrated in the upper part of the Selenge catchment in the Mongolian territory. Mining for minerals plays dominant role in the economy of Mongolia being an impetus of development of the country. The mining and mineral production takes 30 - 40 % share in gross national product of Mongolia and participates by 65-70% in total export of the country. Substantial part of these operations is implemented just in northern Mongolia. It is obvious that this concentration of mining and manufacturing capacities in a number of mining districts has negative impact on the environment.
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