Calgary scientists have identified what they believe to be some of the most acidic natural water in the world in the Northwest Territories. The thawing of permafrost and slumping from the Smoking Hills Formation, driven by climate change, is causing the release of toxic metals and highly acidic solutions into rivers, bays, and potentially the Arctic Ocean.
Research scientist Stephen Grasby from the Geological Survey of Canada visited the area on the territory’s north shore in 2017 and 2023. He was struck by the scale of toxicity and acidity in the ponds surrounding the Smoking Hills. Grasby expressed awe at nature’s ability to produce extremely toxic acidic waters, surpassing what humans can create in industrial settings.
The phenomenon is attributed to toxic metals trapped in pyrite, also known as “fool’s gold,” buried underground 85 million years ago during volcanic activity in Arctic Canada. The exposure of pyrite to oxygen due to slumping has led to the release of significant quantities of metals into the water bodies around the Smoking Hills.
During Grasby’s visits, he observed a drastic transformation in the landscape with increased slumping. The once-water-like ponds turned black, resembling oil, and exhibited such high acidity that standard equipment struggled to measure the pH accurately.
Furthermore, the ground temperature around the water was too hot to be measured accurately, indicating temperatures exceeding 1,200°C just beneath the surface layer. This has led to the formation of hot rocks, or paralava, creating a scenario where walking on the ground exposes the scorching layer underneath.
The thawing of permafrost due to climate change exacerbates the situation by exposing the ground to erosion. Elliott Skierszkan from Carleton University emphasizes that while permafrost thawing is not new, its impact on water quality is a growing concern that requires further study.
The potential environmental consequences of this phenomenon are still unknown, raising worries about metals leaking into other water bodies. As metals flow downstream, they can harm river ecosystems, affecting aquatic life. Research is ongoing to understand the implications of these processes on the Arctic environment and to drive further scientific exploration.
