EVALUATION AND TRNSFER OF CYANIDE TO THE RIGHT BRANCH OF THE RIVER SARUGH TAKAB AND ZONING THE RESULTS USING GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS)

Right branch of Sarugh River is the main river in Takab city, north western
Iran, which is located at downstream of present gold extraction plants. Cyanide leak aging from
tailings dams of plants is a serious threat to the river health. This study had conducted to evaluate
Cyanide concentration and transfer of cyanide to the river.
Materials & Methods: In this cross sectional study, total Cyanide with some parameters such as
Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Temperatuer, Total Dissolved Solids, Electrical Conductivity,
Nitrate, Ammonia and Sodium measured monthly at 5 stations located along the river during spring
and summer; 2011. Cyanide concentration was determined in the station and compared with standard
level (0. 07mgl-1). Cyanide concentration along river at sampling stations was zoned by ARC GIS9. 3.
Results: In the stations located at upstream plants, the Cyanide concentration was below the detection
limit (0. 002 mgl-1). The highest concentration of cyanide (0. 28 mgl-1) and soduim (74. 94 mgl-1) were
at station C(downstream of Puya Zarkan plant). The cyanide concentration had sudden drop at station
D(downstream of Pars Kani plant). Average concentration of cyanide in high- water season was higher
than the low- water season.
Conclusion: As results showed precipitation can caused to discharge the contents of the Pars Kani
tailings dam into the river. Results showed the concentration of Cyanide along the river in sampling
stations near gold extraction plant was higher than the standard levels and it is necessary to control
leakage from the plants