| Zdroj: |
Environmental Geology; Sep2008, Vol. 56 Issue 5, p815-824, 10p, 4 Diagrams, 6 Charts, 1 Graph, 1 Map |
| Abstrakt: |
Mercury (Hg) is one of the elements with increasing environmental significance. A total of 22 samples (soils, rocks and gels) were collected along a 6 km transect around the Valdeazogues River valley in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula (Almadén, Spain). Samples were characterized by different soil types of depositional sequences associated with mining tailings, type and system tracts: 15 surface soil samples included in the transect; 3 of a Haploxerept soil profile developed on slates; 2 of quartzite and slates rocks (reference rocks in the area). Moreover, two of a gel substance (in the lower tract of the river). Soil samples were analyzed for Hg, Cu, Ni, Cr, V, Pb, Cd and As, as well as for organic matter, pH abrasion and calcium carbonate content. All samples were collected from the Almadén mining district. The level of occurrence of the elements (especially Hg) and the effect of some properties on its concentration distributions were investigated. The total mercury contents varied in the range 7,315–3.44 mg kg−1. The mean concentration of total mercury in soils and rocks was 477.03 mg kg−1dry mass. This value is very high compared to the regional background value of other areas. Only rarely is it higher than 1%: in one sample (7,315 mg kg−1) it was almost eight times in comparison with the affected zones, with a high value of 1,000 mg kg−1. Significant differences between samples were found in the total content of mercury. A large percentage of the samples registered detectable levels of V, Cr, Ni, Pb, As and Cu. Cd readings were below the detectable range for all samples tested. Cr mean concentration was 216.95 mg kg−1 (minimun concentration 86, maximun 358); V mean concentration was 119.09 mg kg−1 (minimun concentration 69, maximun 1,209); As mean concentration was 51.24 mg kg−1 (minimun 13.3 and maximun 319.4); Ni... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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