The Fly River, Papua New Guinea
Environmental Studies in an Impacted Tropical River System

Barrie R. Bolton (Edited by)

9780444529640, Elsevier Science

Hardback, published 5 December 2008

656 pages
24 x 16.5 x 3.5 cm, 1.32 kg

In 1984 the OK Tedi Mining Company Limited began mining copper and gold mineralization from Mt. Fubilan, which is located at the headwaters of the OK Tedi. Subsequent mining in the region followed in 1990. Since this time there has been intense monitoring of the environment undertaken by those in the field in order to better understand the possible impact of mining. This book assembles and summarizes research spanning two decades undertaken by leading experts with firsthand experience. Much of this research is contained in internal company reports, giving the reader rare insight and firsthand knowledge.

Preface. Part 1. The Physical Environment. 1. Geomorphology, Hydrology and Climate of the Fly River System. 2. Texture, Geochemistry, and Mineralogy of Sediments of the Fly River System. 3. The Rapid Spread of Mine-Derived Sediment across the Middle Fly River Floodplain. 4. Processes, Sediments, and Stratigraphy of the Fly River Delta. 5. Variable Styles of Sediment Accumulation Impacting Strata Formation on a Clinoform: Gulf of Papua, Papua New Guinea. 6. A Mass Balance for Sediment and Copper in the Rivers, Estuaries, Shelf and Slope of the Gulf of Papua, Papua New Guinea. Part 2. Predicting the Impact of Mining on the Physical Environment. 7. Modeling the Impact of Tailings and Waste Rock Disposal on the Fly River System. 8. Floodplain Inundation Modeling and Forecasting for the Middle Fly. Part 3. Copper Biogeochemistry, Bioavailability, and Toxicity. 9. Biogeochemistry of Copper in the Fly River. 10. Speciation, Bioavailability and Toxicity of Copper in the Fly River System. Part 4. Fish Biology, Assemblages and Habitat. 11. The Biology of Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) in the Fly River System. 12. Use of Changes in Fish Assemblages in the Fly River System, Papua New Guinea, to Assess Effects of the Ok Tedi Copper Mine. 13. Effects of Mine-derived River Bed Aggradation on Fish Habitat of the Fly River System, Papua New Guinea. Part 5. Fauna, Vegetation, and Food Webs. 14. Insects of the Fly River System. 15. Vegetation of the Ok Tedi-Fly River System. 16. Fauna and Food Webs of the Fly River Basin. 17. Development of Aquatic Food Web Models for the Fly River, Papua New Guinea, and their Application in Assessing Impacts of the Ok Tedi Mine. Subject Index

Subject Areas: Environmental science, engineering & technology [TQ], Social impact of environmental issues [RNT], Applied ecology [RNC], The environment [RN], Limnology [freshwater RBKF], Hydrology & the hydrosphere [RBK], Geology & the lithosphere [RBG], Earth sciences [RB], Ecological science, the Biosphere [PSAF], Mining industry [KNAT]