Wawa Sulphur Kill

Comments

• 
  pmjw

  Large iron ore deposits were discovered in Wawa area in late 19th century. The Helen Mine started production in 1900 to supply the steel mills at Sault Ste Marie. In 1939, the Algoma Steel Corporation constructed the first iron sinter plant at Wawa (known as Algoma Ore Division or AOD) to process the ore mined from these deposits. The sintering process improved the physical properties of iron ore for subsequent use in blast furnaces. High levels of SO2 were released from the sintering plant until it closed in 1998. In the initial years (1939 to 1954), iron ore with a high sulphur content (15%) was heated, and in the process enormous quantities of SO2 gases were released. The high concentrations of SO2 severely damaged most of the vegetation for approximately 13 km to the northeast. Damaged vegetation could be observed up to 50 km away. A number of forest fires consumed the dead vegetation and organic surface soil, creating bare moonscapes in some areas. In addition, soil and vegetation surrounding the kill zone have been contaminated with iron, arsenic and manganese, and acidified by acid rain from the SO2 and NOx emissions. Two new 76-metre high stacks were erected in the 1950s and, commencing in 1962, the plant utilized iron ore with a low sulphur content (<4%) during the growing season. These measures were taken in order to reduce SO2 concentrations so as to improve environmental quality in the Wawa region and to reduce damage to vegetation. Still, SO2 emissions of up to 6000 tonnes per WEEK were still the norm. The sinter plant closed in 1998.

  17 years ago | reply | hide comment