Environmental behaviors of mercury and lead in the soil of polymetallic deposit areas in western Hunan Province

Western Hunan Province is one of the most typical assembling areas of cryogenic metallic deposit in China, as well as a main ore-forming zone for some heavy metals. In the region, Hg and Pb pollution was caused by abnormally high concentrations of Hg, Pb in the natural environment and Hg, Pb exploiting/smelting and other human activities, which make the damage to human health more complicated. Generally, heavy metal pollutants in soil are often long-lasting and consequent, with their emission and/or transport into the environment, resulting in growing hazards to human health posed by elevated heavy metal concentrations in air, water, and food. Therefore, monitoring and understanding their behaviors in soil environment is the most important and urgent task. In this paper, the environmental behaviors and pollution characteristics of soil polluted by Hg and Pb in typical Hg and Pb mining areas in western Hunan were studied. Main results are presented as follows： （1） Western Hunan Province is a high regional geochemical abnormal region on Hg and Pb. The concentrations of Hg and Pb in soils in mercury mining areas were 1 315 and 3. l times higher than the average background of soils in China, respectively. While those in soils in lead mining areas are 14.1 and 6.1 times higher. By using the index of geoaccumulation （Igeo）, it was found that either mercury mining area or lead mining area in western Hunan Province has been polluted by the two elements, the majority of soils in mercury mining areas are seriously polluted by Hg, moderately or light polluted by Pb, while the majority of soils in lead mining areas are moderately or moderately-highly polluted by Pb and moderately-highly polluted by Hg. （2） By the BCR extraction procedures, both Hg and Pb in soils are dominated by residual form, followed by organic-sulfide form. Fe-Mn oxides and acid-exchangeable form are rather low. The total concentrations and each species of Hg and Pb in soils show positive correlations with the concentrations of sands, and negative ones with the concentrations of clays in soils.     

Mercury and lead in a single strand of pinnule of snow petrel （Pagodroma Nivea） in the Antarctic

In this study, we applied synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence technique （SR-XRF） to investigate the heavy metals including Hg and Pb in a few single strands of pinnule of the outermost wing feather of snow petrel （Pagodroma Nivea） collected in the Antarctic. The microscopic distributions of Hg and Pb along with the strand of pinnule show significant variation and the types of distribution are different for pinules, suggesting that external contamination may have an important impact on the levels of Hg and Pb, rather than reflecting levels in the blood during feather formation. This should be taken into account in future monitoring studies. The sources of Hg and Pb detected in the feather were also discussed. Using feathers of snow petrel to investigate the springtime mercury depletion events （MDEs） in the Antarctic were proposed.     

Mercury concentrations in a contaminated river system in Kazakhstan and biomonitoring of the local population

The River Nura in central Kazakhstan has been heavily contaminated by mercury （Hg） from an acetaldehyde plant located in the industrial city of Temirtau. The plant released Hg-containing wastewater into the river from the 1950s until the mid 1990s and strongly contaminated the bed sediments up to 25 km downstream. In addition, a local power station released an estimated 6 million tonnes of fly-ash into the water which has adsorbed much of the Hg and has become mixed with the natural sediments. River water,fish and agricultural land in the floodplain are also contaminated by Hg. Humans are exposed to Hg primarily via the consumption of contaminated fish from the river. A survey was undertaken in June/July 2005 to investigate Hg concentrations in river water, drinking water, sediments and fish. To estimate the risk posed to the local population, approximately 300 hair samples were collected from people living in villages near the most contaminated section of the river, at a distance of between 5 and 30 km downstream of the acetaldehyde plant, and their dietary habits were recorded. Mercury concentrations in river water ranged from 2-3 ng/L upstream of the source of the pollution to 348 ng/L downstream of the factory outfall pipe. Some drinking water wells close to the river were contaminated, but deeper wells had Hg concentrations below the detection limit.     

Enrichment and mobility of cadmium and other heavy metals in the area of the Three-Gorges Reservoir

This study focused on the geochemical distribution patterns and ecological effects of Cd and other heavy metals such as As, Hg, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in rock, soil, water, sediment and crops in the area of the Three-Gorges Reservoir within Chongqing, and aimed at the protection of ecological environment and rational application of the local lands. This study found that the metals of Cd, Hg and Pb presented pollution in the surface environment along the Yangtze River, that is Cd〉Hg〉Pb （Cu）〉Zn〉As〉Ni〉Cr. The pollution of Cd in sediment was mainly attributable to the regional black shales, and partly to the urban sewage and garbage. The geochemical modes of metals in the sediment varied. Cr, Hg, Ni, and Pb mainly existed as residues, and Cd as carbonate. Cd exited as a high proportion in the modes of ion-exchange, carbonate, and iron-manganese oxidation, up to 63 percent. The contents of heavy metals in soiland sediment were correlated to the host clay minerals, such as illite, montmorillonite, kaolinite and chlorite. It is shown that Cd was transported with clay minerals in the Yangtze River over long distance and formed the regional anomaly. In the abnormal area of Jianping in Wushan County, higher Cd contents are reported in the local crops and local villagers＇ hairs than from the background areas.     

Environmental impacts of the abandoned mercury mine in Podljubelj, Slovenia

The Podljubelj mercury mine lies in the NW part of Slovenia. The ore is of hydrothermal-vein type. The ore deposit was exploited between the years 1557 and 1902. Total production of the mine was 110000 tons of ore （360 tons of Hg）. A smelter located close to the mine had been in operation since 1855. The waste material from the mine and the smelter was dumped in close vicinity of the mine. Total quantity of the waste has been estimated at 170000 tons. In order to establish environmental impacts, soil and stream sediment samples were investigated. Soil samples were collected at two different depths （horizons A and B） in a 100 m grid within an 88 ha area. In the vast area also 11 samples of stream sediments were considered. Heavy metals were determined by means of cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry CV-AAS after aqua regia digestion. Based on the chemical analyses of samples, the estimated mercury mean for soils is 3.67 mg/kg （0.35-244 mg/kg） for horizon A and 1.39 mg/kg （0.17-71.7 mg/kg） for horizon B. The estimated mercury mean for stream sediments is 0.64 mg/kg （0.065-1.36 mg/kg）. The concentrations of mercury in soils generally decrease with depth and distance from the mine. The highest content of Hg was determined in a sample taken in the immediate vicinity of the smelter （719 mg/kg）. The results have shown that on the 9 ha of the study area, the contents of Hg in soils exceeded the officially set limit value for soils （10 mg/kg）. High contents of Hg in soil around the abandoned smelter are a consequence of former atmospheric emissions and technological losses. High contents of Hg were also found in the mine and smelter waste dump. At the edges of the study area and in the samples of stream sediments, Hg concentrations are low.     

Hydrocarbon migration characteristics of the Lower Cretaceous in the Erlian Basin

The paper systematically analyzes the hydrocarbon migration characteristics of the Lower Cretaceous in the Erlian Basin, based on the geochemical data of mudstone and sandstone in the main hydrocarbon-generating sags. (1) The source rocks in K1ba and K1bt1 are estimated to be the mature ones, their hydrocarbon expulsion ratio can reach 32%-72%. The Type-I sags in oil windows possess good hydrocarbon generation and expulsion conditions, where commercial reservoirs can be formed. (2) According to the curves of the mudstone compaction and evolution of clay minerals, the rapid compaction stage of mudstones is the right time of hydrocarbon expulsion, i.e., primary migration. (3) The timing between hydrocarbon generation and expulsion is mainly related to the accordance of the oil window and the rapid compaction stage of mudstones in the hydrocarbon generation sags of Type-I. That forms the most matching relation between hydrocarbon generation and migration. (4) The faults and unconformities are the important paths for the secondary hydrocarbon migration. Especially, the unconformity between K1ba and K1bt1 has a favorable condition for oil accumulation, where the traps of all types are the main exploration targets. (5) Hydrocarbon migration effect, in the Uliastai sag, is most significant; that in the Saihan Tal and Anan sags comes next, and that in the Bayandanan and Jargalangt sags is worst.     

Mercury in coal from the People＇s Republic of China

The Peoples＇ Republic of China produces and consumes the largest quantity of coal in the world; about 2.19 billion tons of coal were produced in 2005. It is estimated that coal consumption will reach 7 billion tons by 2020. Although the nationwide percentage of electrical production from coal is falling due to increased coal-fired power generation efficiency and alternative sources, China will bum more coal than any other country for the foreseeable future. China also is estimated to be the largest producer of Hg emissions （Dastoor and Larocque, 2004, Atmos. Envirn. 38：147-161）. A recent comprehensive study of anthropogenic Hg emissions in China （Streets et al., 2005, Atmos. Envirn. 39：7789-7806） produced a figure of 536 tons of Hg for the year 1999 with coal combustion （all types） accounting for 38% of the total. Atmospheric Hg emission is an international problem as the upper atmosphere provides effective global transport of mercury. Although the estimates vary, China produces about three times more Hg/t of coal burnt than the USA because of the lack of modem technology for pollution control and limited use of cleaned coal. Knowledge of the mercury content, mode of occurrence, and regional distribution in Chinese coal is vital in order to assess the global atmospheric contribution from Chinese coal combustion.     

Heavy metal contamination in the sediment of the Second Songhua River

The Second Songhua River was subjected to a large amount of untreated effluent from petrochemical industries in Jilin City in the 1960s to the 1970s. The objectives of this study were to investigate the mercury and other heavy metal contamination in the sediment of the river. The river bottom sediment was sampled from the river segment between Jilin City to Haerbin City in 2005. Total concentrations of Hg, Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Zn, Ni, As, Sc, and major cations （A1, Fe, Mg, Ca, K, Na） in the sediment were measured by atomic fluorescence spectrometer, ICP-MS, and ICP-OES, respectively, following digestion with various acids. We found the concentrations of most elements in the uncontaminated sediment were significantly correlated to those of Sc.     

Ultraviolet absorbance titration for the determination of conditional stability constants of Hg（Ⅱ） and dissolved organic matter

Strong interaction between natural dissolved organic matter （DOM） and Hg（Ⅱ） may influence the transport, conversion, toxicity and bio-validity of mercury in the environment. In this paper ultraviolet （UV） absorbance titration was employed for the first time for the determination of the conditional stability constants of Hg（Ⅱ） and （DOM）. With increasing Hg（Ⅱ） concentrations, the UV absorbance of fulvic acid, humic acid, and DOM in river increases progressively. By linear and non-linear model fitting, the conditional stability constants （lgK） of Hg（Ⅱ） and DOM were worked out to be 3.54-4.93 and 3.64-4.85, respectively. The results are consistent with those acquired by the typical fluorescence quenching titration method, with the maximum relative error of lgK being 2.6% and the average relative error being 0.2%. The UV absorbance titration method has the advantages of rapid determination, simple performance, and it will probably become a new approach to studying interactions between DOM and trace metallic ions.     

Tectonic Environments of Cenozoic Volcanic Rocks in China and Characteristics of the Source Regions in the Mantle

Extensive volcanism is one of the important features of Cenozoic geology in China.Based on temporal-spatial distribution,the volcanism was associated with three major different geological settings:1)the continental rift basalts in Northeast and North China;2)the tension-fault basalts on the continental margins of Southeast China; and 3) the collision-zone high-K volcanics in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and its vicinities.The characteristics of “depletion in the south and enrichment in the north“of the China continental mantle are strongly supported by isotopic evidence.The Cenozoic continental cal characters,into the following geochemical provinces:1)the depleted mantle in South China;2)the primary mantle in Northeast and NorthChina; 3)the hybrid and transi-tional mantle in the region of Shandong ,Anhui,Jiangsu and northern Zhejiang;4)the depleted mantle around the Bohai Bay and the Lower Liaohe River;5)the K-metasomatic enriched mantle in the northern part of Northeast China;and 6)the re-cycled enriched mantle in the ancient subduction zone in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and its surround-ings.These geochemical characteristics on a regional scale must be a reflection of the nature of lithosphere evolution.     

Tectonodynamic Adjustment of Crustal Materials in the Middle-Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River

Under the tectonodynamic process, crustal materials tend to experience two modes of adjustment: (1) structural (physical) adjustment, manifested by folding, faulting, uplifting, downwarping, etc.: (2) compositional adjustment, represented by element migration, concentration and dispersion, crystalline and dynamic differentiation of crystals, metamorphism, etc. (Yang Kaiqing. 1986; Yang Kaiqing et al., 1986). The dynamic adjustment of crustal materials in the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze mainly occurred in the Mesozoic under the conditions of intense collision between the North China (Dabie) massif and the Yangtze massif. The structural adjustment refers to various types of deformation within the two massifs and the intensive shortening of the stratigraphic coyer of the Yangtze massif, whereas the compositional adjustment implies the structural remelting of the basement and the ore. and rock- forming processes in the two massifs.     

Preliminary Study of the Characteristics and Genesis of Arsenate Minerals in the Oxidized Zone of the Debao Skarn-Type Cu-Sn Ore Deposit in Guangxi

Through the study of the oxidized zone of the Debao skarn-type Cu-Sn deposit in Guangxi, the authorshave found 14 arsenate minerals, most of which are for the first time reported in China. They are mainly Cuarsenate minerals with subordinate Cu-Pb arsenate minerals and minor Fe-Pb-Ba varieties. Based on their paragenesis these minerals may be divided into the following series: (1) the clinoclasite-olivenite-cornwallite- cornubite- debaoite- copper silicarsenate association, (2) the scorodite- carminite- beudan-tite-bayldonite- duftite association, and (3) the scorodite-Ba-bearing pharmacosiderite- dussertite association. Arsenate minerals are formed generally in the oxidized zone of the sulfide-type deposits which lie in thewarm, humid and rainy torrid-subtropical zone with pH=6-8 and contain large amounts of arsenopyrite andcarbonate rocks.     

Seasonal distribution of total mercury and methylmercury in sediments of the Wujiangdu Reservoir, Guizhou, China

The concentrations of total mercury and methylmercury in sediments were determined at the dam of the Wujiangdu Reservoir in different seasons. Total mercury (HgT) levels in the whole sediment profile were 254.2±47.0 ng/g in winter, 254.2±31.6 ng/g in spring, and 256.7±60.8 ng/g in summer, without significant variations in different seasons or at different depths. In contrast, the methylmercury (MeHg) compounds were most abundant at the sediment-water interface and decreased progressively with depth. MeHg contents of the sediments during different seasons are highly dependent on microbial activity, and seem to be higher when Hg (II)-methylating microorganisms are active. Thus, MeHg levels tend to rise in the loci where nutrient supplies and biological productivity are favorable. The percentage of HgT that is present as MeHg in the sediments increased gradually from December 2003 to April 2004 and to July 2004.     

Implications of the Precambrian Non-stromatolitic Carbonate Succession Making up the Third Member of Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang Formation in Yanshan Area of North China

A particular non-stromatolitic carbonate succession making up the third member of the Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang (高于庄) Formation might demonstrate that a stromatolite decline of the Mesoproterozoic occurring at ca. 1 450 Ma besides other three events of the Proterozoic,respectively,occurred at ca. 2 000 Ma,ca. 1 000 Ma,and ca. 675 Ma. The forming duration of this non-stromatolitic carbonate succession can be generally correlative to that of a similar depositional succession in North America,i.e. a non-stromatolitic carbonate succession made up by the Helena Formation of the Belt Supergroup,which suggests that the stromatolite decline occurring at ca. 1 450 Ma may be a global event. This information endows the non-stromatolitic carbonate succession making up the third member of the Gaoyuzhuang Formation in the Yanshan (燕山) area with important significance for the further understanding of Precambrian sedimentology. The Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang Formation in Yanshan area is a set of more than 1 000 m thick carbonate strata that can be divided into four members (or subformations). The first member (or the Guandi (官地) subformation) is marked by a set of stromatolitic dolomites overlying a set of transgressive sandstones; the second member (or the Sangshu'an (桑树鞍) subformation) is a set of manganese dolomites with a few stromatolites; the third member (or the Zhangjiayu (张家峪) subformation) is chiefly made up of leiolite and laminite limestones and is characterized by the development of molar-tooth structures in leiolite limestone; the fourth member (or the Huanxiusi (环秀寺) subformation) is composed of a set of dolomites of stromatolitic reefs or lithoherms. Sequence-stratigraphic divisions at two sections,i.e. the Jixian (蓟县) Section in Tianjin (天津) and the Qiangou (千沟) Section of Yanqing (延庆) County in Beijing (北京),demonstrate that a particularly non-stromatolitic succession making up the third member of the Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang Formation is developed in the Yanshan area of North China,in which lots of grotesque matground structures (wrinkle structures and palimpsest ripples) are developed in beds of leiolite limestone at the Qiangou Section and lots of molar-tooth structures are developed in beds of leiolite limestone at the Jixian Section. The time scale of the Gaoyuzhuang Formation is deduced as 200 Ma (from 1 600 Ma to 1 400 Ma). The duration of an obvious hiatus between the Gaoyuzhuang Formation and the underlying Dahongyu (大红峪) Formation is deduced as 50 Ma to 100 Ma,thus the forming duration of the GaoyuzhuangFormation is thought as 100 Ma (1 500 Ma to 1 400 Ma). Furthermore,the age of the subface of the third member of the Gaoyuzhuang Formation that is just in the mid position of the Gaoyuzhuang Formation can be deduced as about 1 450 Ma,which is the basis to infer a stromatolite decline of the Mesoproterozoic occurring at ca. 1 450 Ma. Importantly,several features of both the molar-tooth structure and the stromatolite,such as the particular forming environment,the important facies-indicative meaning,and the episodic distribution in the earth history,might express the evolutionary periodicity of the surface environment of the earth and can provide meaningful clues for the understanding of the Precambrian world,although their origin and forming mechanism is highly contentious. Therefore,like other three stromatolitic declines,respectively,occurring at ca. 675 Ma,ca. 1 000 Ma,and ca. 2 000 Ma,the identification of the stromatolite decline occurring at ca. 1 450 Ma during the Golden Age of stromatolites (2 800 Ma to 1 000 Ma) has important meaning for the further understanding of the evolving carbonate world of the Precambrian.     

Damming effect on the distribution of mercury in Wujiang River

Seasonal changes in total mercury concentrations in surface water were observed for the Wujiang River, with higher values at the time of greater flow. The total mercury in this river was mostly associated with suspended particles, particulate mercury accounting for 84% of the total mercury flux on average during the high flow period, and 52% of the total mercury flux on average in the low flow period. Significant losses of Hg from the water were observed in the downstreams of the reservoir. In addition, the concentrations of particulate mercury in the downstreams of reservoir appeared to have been enhanced by sediment re-suspension and shoreline erosion caused by flood discharge, while the filtered portion decreased. These observations suggested that reservoirs played an important role in controlling the transport and fate of mercury in the Wujiang River.     

Hg and As Minerals in Fluid Inclusions from the Williams Mine,Hemlo,and Their Genetic Implications

The Hemlo mineralization is enigmatic compared to general Archean lode gold deposits based on the fact that is characterized by an exotic mineralogy containing elements such as As,Hg,Sb,Ba,V and Mo.The genetic concepts range from syngenetc to epigenetic types of mineralization.This reconnaissance study was designed to examine the relationshp of Hg-As minerals with respect of fluid inclusions in the Williams mine(formerly known as the Page Williams mine)covering the A and C ore zones.     

Sedimentary Evolution of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in Cenozoic and its Response to the Uplift of the Plateau

We have studied the evolution of the tectonic lithofacies paleogeography of Paleocene–Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, and Pliocene of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau by compiling data regarding the type, tectonic setting, and lithostratigraphic sequence of 98 remnant basins in the plateau area. Our results can be summarized as follows. (1) The Paleocene to Eocene is characterized by uplift and erosion in the Songpan–Garzê and Gangdisê belts, depression (lakes and pluvial plains) in eastern Tarim, Qaidam, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil, and the Neo-Tethys Sea in the western and southern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. (2) The Oligocene is characterized by uplift in the Gangdisê–Himalaya and Karakorum regions (marked by the absence of sedimentation), fluvial transport (originating eastward and flowing westward) in the Brahmaputra region (marked by the deposition of Dazhuka conglomerate), uplift and erosion in western Kunlun and Songpan–Garzê, and depression (lakes) in the Tarim, Qaidam, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil. The Oligocene is further characterized by depressional littoral and neritic basins in southwestern Tarim, with marine facies deposition ceasing at the end of the Oligocene. (3) For the Miocene, a widespread regional unconformity (ca. 23 Ma) in and adjacent to the plateau indicates comprehensive uplift of the plateau. This period is characterized by depressions (lakes) in the Tarim, Qaidam, Xining–Nanzhou, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil. Lacustrine facies deposition expanded to peak in and adjacent to the plateau ca. 18–13 Ma, and north–south fault basins formed in southern Tibet ca. 13–10 Ma. All of these features indicate that the plateau uplifted to its peak and began to collapse. (4) Uplift and erosion occurred during the Pliocene in most parts of the plateau, except in the Hoh Xil–Qiangtang, Tarim, and Qaidam.     

The Effects of Applying the Association of Al, K, and Sn in Stream Sediments for Gold Exploration in Different Landscapes

Geochemical data of altered wall rocks are important for the metallogenic prognosis of hydrothermal gold deposits. Indicator elements of altered wall rocks such as K, Al, As, Sb, and Hg have been successfully used to assess gold anomalies in lithogeochemical survey. However, such researches have rarely been done in stream sediment survey for the exploration of gold from various landscapes. On the basis of the geochemical analysis of altered wall rocks of gold deposits in the cold desert areas of Gansu (甘肃) Province in Northwest China, it is found that the combination of Al, K, and Sn could serve as an important indicator of hydrothermal gold deposits and can be used to evaluate the metallogenic prospective of gold anomalies in stream sediments. More studies performed in the cold grassland areas and the moderate-low relief mountainous areas showed that, both weak and strong geochemical anomalies can be extracted, if strictly abiding by the ways of calculation and addition of the binary values of the indicator elements with equal weight, and this provides the sound delineation of metallogenic perspective areas.     

An Experimental Study of Mixture Corrosion Effects of Carbonate Rocks in the Transitional Zone of Littoral Karst Areas

The mechanism for development of littoral karst differs from that of inland karst, and the mixture corrosion effects are one of the most important factors that control the development of littoral karst. Through seven groups of static experiments carried out in a closed CO2-H2O system, basic conclusions can be drawn as follows: (1) the basic law of corrosion process in a transitional zone of seawater-freshwater in littoral karst areas is identical with that in the fresh water, i.e., the lithologic characteristics and rock structure are the main factors which control the development of littoral karst; (2) the mixture corrosion rate of the carbonate rock in the above transitional zone is faster than that in fresh water or seawater; (3) the mechanism for development of carbonate rocks differs at various pressures of CO2 in a transitional zone in littoral karst areas.     

Evolution of Apatites in the Diagenesis

Apatites occurring in sedimentary rocks are carbonate fluorapatites (C-F apatites) with differentCO_2 contents. During diagenesis. the CO_2 in the C-F apatites gradually decreased with the increasing strengthof diagenesis. resulting in the systematic changes in refractive index. specific gravity, cell parameters and crystalchemistry of apatites. On the basis of X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopic analyses, the author proposes twoparameters for determining diagenetic stages. i.e.. the crystallinity index (CR) and sharpness index (SH). Thesetwo parameters serve as new criteria for the determination. which due to the common existence of phosphorousnodules and bands and argillo-crystalline cement in sedimentary rocks, most likely have wide prospects for ap-plication.