A researcher from Laurentian University is preparing to initiate a study using honey bees to aid in remediation efforts at the Côte Gold Mine near Gogama, Ontario. Mateus Pepinelli secured a $100,000 grant from IAMGOLD to collaborate on a two-year research project. The bees will gather environmental DNA from the re-greened areas surrounding the mine site.
Describing honey bees as research assistants, Pepinelli highlighted their role in data collection for the project. This summer, Pepinelli and an IAMGOLD team will establish three apiaries near the mine’s remediated zones. Each apiary will feature a small fan with a filter to capture DNA traces brought in by the bees.
The captured filters will be retrieved by Pepinelli and his team for subsequent extraction and analysis of environmental DNA in a laboratory setting. This process enables the identification of various plant and micro-organism species, including pathogens and undesired elements like varroa mites.
Jessica Tratnik, IAMGOLD’s environmental and social governance lead at the Côte Gold Mine, emphasized the utility of bee-derived data in monitoring the progress of rehabilitation efforts. By analyzing the information obtained through the bees, researchers can gain insights into ecological changes and potential deficiencies in plant species or pollination patterns.
Tratnik underlined the efficiency of using bees to consistently provide ecological data over time, enhancing the company’s understanding of landscape dynamics. This proactive approach aligns with IAMGOLD’s commitment to ongoing land rehabilitation, ensuring a sustainable transition post-mining operations.
Graeme Jennings, IAMGOLD’s vice president of investor relations, noted the long-term viability of the Coté Gold Mine, projecting over 20 years of operational life. Tratnik emphasized the importance of continuous land rehabilitation to expedite the return of eco-sites to their natural state, rather than waiting until production ceases.