Mercury EcogeochemistRy (Abstract)

Ozerova, N.A.¹; Mashyanov, N.R.²

1 – Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry RAS, Russia;

2 – St. Petersburg State University, Russia

 

We propose to mark out special section of geochemistry of mercury (Hg) - ecogeochemistry of mercury, which would study some rules of Hg concentration in various natural formations with the subsequent estimation of an ecological situation while drawing those formations in treatment. The main process supplying heightened Hg concentrations, is the process of degasification of abyssal parts of the Earth through zones of lineament structures. As the result there were formed various types of mineral fields and deposits: Hg-containing ore deposits of various genetic types and of different structure, oil-and-gas fields, etc. The analysis of their allocation has allowed us to find a new natural regularity: connection of all these fields and deposits with the same mantle tectonic structures. That permits to distinguish mercury zones of a new type. The separation of such zones is a basis for ecological evaluation in regional scale. Among the local factors most important are: presence of minerals-concentrators of mercury, intensity of manifestation of a post-ore metamorphism, depth and total reserves of a deposit. In a number of cases the heightened concentrations of mercury in ore concentrates economically are profitable to its accompanying extraction. But even, if it is inexpedient, the evaluation of mercury contents within ore deposits is very important from the point of view of probable Hg infection of an environment in areas of mining-and-metallurgical complexes. The relevant information is given by studies of Hg thermoforms in minerals and ore concentrates. They correspond to maximas of Hg extraction during continuum heating of samples accompanied by continuum registration. These data are beneficial for determination of Hg extraction in those or diverse sites of a technological circuit at metallurgical works. But the significant part of Hg vanishes to atmosphere and is accumulated in soil. Within gas-condensate fields the significant part of Hg concentrates in condensates and at their processing practically all Hg goes to gasoline. Ecogeochemistry of mercury is a basis for the forecast of mercury risk caused by natural resources processing.

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