Kaminak Lake

Infobox_lake
lake_name = Kaminak Lake
image_lake =
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Northern Canada
coords = coord|62|13|N|95|00|W|region:CA_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type =
inflow = Ferguson River
outflow = Hudson Bay
catchment =
basin_countries = Canada
length = Convert|40|mi|km|0|abbr=on
width = Convert|1|mi|km|0|abbr=on-
Convert|22|mi|km|0|abbr=on
area = Convert|600|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation =convert|53|m|ft|0|sp=us
islands =
cities = Convert|60|mi|km|0|abbr=on west of Tavani (abandoned)

Kaminak Lake ("KA-min-ak") is located in a permafrost region of southwestern Nunavut in northern Canada. It is part of the Herne Domain Western Churchill province of the Churchill craton, which is the northwest section of the Canadian Shield. The sub-Arctic lake is one of 11 lakes of the Ferguson River system which ultimately flows into the northwestern Hudson Bay.

Around 1971, after reviewing 2,000 samples, the Geological Survey of Canada discovered: "an unusual and unsuspected distribution of above background Mercury concentrations in natural waters". While this offered the potential for mineral explorations, it was also notable as commercial fishing occurs in Kaminak Lake. [cite web |url=ftp://ftp.nrcan.gc.ca/ess/geochem/files/publications/pub_0491/paper71-43.pdf |title=Mercury in Permafrost Regions: Occurrence and Distribution in the Kaminak Lake Area, Northwest Territories |author=E.H.W. Hornbrook |co-author=I. R. Jonasson |date=1971 |publisher=Geological Survey of Canada, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources |accessdate=2008-01-18] In the mid 1970s, the Kaminak Lake fishery was moved further up the Ferguson River to Qamanirjuaq ("Kaminuriak") Lake; it did not exhibit elevated Mercury levels. [cite web |url=http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/shilts/shilts-0097.shtml |date=2007-08-28 |title=Shallow 'cave' with local ritual significance in highly folded orthoquartzite of Hurwitz Formation |publisher=University of Illinois |accessdate=2008-02-12] Other prospecting and mapping studies followed and exploration companies found gold at the lake, including on an island within the lake. [cite news |url=http://www.fullmetalminerals.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=91722&_Type=News&_Title=Mac-Cache-Exploration-Update-New-Showings-Found |title=Mac & Cache Exploration Update - New Showings Found |date=October 29, 2004 |publisher=fullmetalminerals.com |accessdate=2008-01-18]

Kaminak Lake is part of the barren-ground caribou migration area. [cite web |url=http://www.nwtwildlife.com/Publications/FileReports/FileReports/file91.htm |title=Beverly and Kaminuriak caribou monitoring and land use controls |author=L. Chalmers |date=1989 |publisher=netwildlife.com |accessdate=2008-01-18]

References

External links

* [http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/shilts/shilts-0097.shtml Photo, Shallow ‘cave’ with local ritual significance in highly folded orthoquartzite of Hurwitz Formation]