Mercury in the Tinto-Odiel Estuarine System (Gulf of Cádiz, Spain): Sources and Dispersion

The Tinto and Odiel are small rivers draining one of the largest sulphide deposits in the world. As a result of these deposits and a large industrial complex, the adjacent marine area receives a high amount of metal input. Mercury distribution in the Tinto-Odiel estuary, the Huelva Ría and the Gulf of Cádiz was assessed in water and suspended particulatematter (SPM) and sediments. In the rivers and estuaries, dissolved (HgD)and particulate (HgP) mercury showed wide variations (13 to 200 pM and0.3 to 330 nmol g^-1 respectively) depending on the presence or notof sulphidic waters, phosphogypsum deposits, detrital pyrite and oxyhydroxides.In the Ría, concentrations were lower than 10 pM and 4.5 nmol g^-1 for HgD and HgP respectively. In surface waters of the Gulf of Cádiz, the average HgD concentration (pm standard deviation) was 2.9 pm 0.9 pM, which is similar to that of North Atlantic Central Waters. The surface sediments collected in the rivers, the Ría and the Gulf showed systematically enriched mercury compared to pre-industrial levels. Vertical mercury profiles in dated sediment cores were typical of anthropogenically influenced environments starting in the early Roman age. These distribution features suggest that most of the Hg discharged by the Huelva Ría is trapped in the sediments of the Gulf of Cádiz.     

大气环境中汞污染的研究进展

总结了大气环境中汞污染的研究进展，包括大气环境中汞的来源、汞在大气环境中的化学演化和环境效应；介绍运用环境地球物理方法在大气颗粒汞研究的初步结果，并就我国汞污染研究提出有关建议。     

应用壤中气汞量测量找金的效果——以湖南青京寨、三德堂金矿为例

湖南青京寨和三德堂分别为破碎带蚀变岩型，残积红土型金矿床。地表存在较厚的残（坡）积覆盖层，应用壤中气汞量测量法寻找隐伏含Au构造蚀变带及金矿体。区内气汞异常带及其峰值与隐伏含Au构造蚀变带及金矿体具有较好的对应性，利用这种对应性并结合区内地质，地球化学特征，施工适当的工程进行验证。在青京寨对6条气汞异常带进行工程揭露验证，各带均发现含Au蚀变带。三德常矿区圈定的金异异常与气汞异常基本一致。壤中气汞量测量法不仅适有于寻找中代温热液型金矿床，而且也适于寻找刚化残积型金矿床。     

The effects of surface area, grain size and mineralogy on organic matter sedimentation and preservation across the modern Squamish Delta, British Columbia: the potential role of sediment surface area in the formation of petroleum source rocks

Surface sediment samples were collected from the Squamish River Delta, British Columbia, in order to determine the role of sediment surface area in the preservation of organic matter (OM) in a paralic sedimentary environment. The Squamish Delta is an actively prograding delta, located at the head of Howe Sound.Bulk total organic carbon (TOC) values across the Squamish Delta are low, ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 wt.%. The carbon/total nitrogen ratio (C_org/N) ranges from 6 to 17, which is attributed to changes in OM type and facies variations. The <25-μm fraction has TOC concentrations up to 2.0 wt.%, and a C_org/N ratio that ranges from 14 to 16. The 53–106-μm fraction has higher TOC concentrations and C_org/N ratios relative to the 25–53-μm fraction. The C_org/N ratio ranges from 9 to 18 in the 53–106-μm fraction and 5.5–10.5 in the 25–53-μm fraction. Surface area values for bulk sediments are low (0.5–3.0 m²/g) due to the large proportion of silt size material. Good correlation between surface area and TOC in bulk samples suggests that OM is adsorbed to mineral surfaces. Similar relationships between surface area and TOC were observed in size-fractionated samples. Mineralogy and elemental composition did not correlate with TOC concentration.The relationships between surface area, TOC and total nitrogen (TN) can be linked to the hydrodynamic and sedimentological conditions of the Squamish Delta. As a result, the Squamish Delta is a useful modern analogue for the formation of petroleum source rocks in ancient deltaic environments, where TOC concentrations are often significantly lower than those in source rocks formed in other geological settings.     

Total and methylmercury in a Brazilian estuary,Rio de Janeiro

Guanabara Bay, in Rio de Janeiro state, is impacted by organic matter, oil and heavy metals. The present study evaluated the total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations and the MeHg to THg ratio (%MeHg) in water samples from different points of the bay and in 245 organisms of three different trophic levels sampled between 1990 and 2000. Dissolved mercury concentration in estuarine water samples ranged from 0.72 to 5.23 ngl(-1). THg and MeHg in mussel, ranging from 11.6 to 53.5 microg THg kg(-1) wet wt. and 4.5-21.0 microg MeHg kg(-1) wet wt., varied according to sampling point and water quality. Planktivorous fish and mussel presented similar MeHg concentrations, meanwhile THg in planktivorous fish were lower than in mussel. Carnivorous fish showed higher THg and MeHg concentrations (199.5 +/- 119.3, 194.7 +/- 112.7 microg kg(-1) wet wt. respectively) than organisms from other feeding habits and lower trophic levels. There was a significant difference in the %MeHg among trophic levels: mussel presented lower MeHg percentage (33%) than planktivorous fish (54%) and carnivorous fish (98%).     

湖南洞庭湖地区土壤中Hg的来源

Hg污染已成为全球性的环境问题,尤其是Hg对土壤的污染,因其具有隐蔽性、不可逆性和长期性的特点,对陆生生态系统构成潜在的巨大威胁,因此查明土壤中Hg的来源非常重要。运用生态地球化学填图的指导思想,对湖南洞庭湖地区土壤剖面分析和成土过程研究后发现,表层土壤中Hg含量的高低与成土母质中Hg的含量有很好的对应性,成土过程对土壤中Hg的含量也有显著的影响。     

活动断裂带的壤中气汞量测量研究

在覆盖区应用壤中气汞量测量研究活动断裂是一种新方法,它不仅能较准确地确定活动断裂的位置,还可以确定其产状,规模,活动性及相对强度,甚至可以作为确定断裂力学性质的参考,本文简棕了断裂带壤中气汞量测量的基本原理,并以长江三峡,长春,吉林等地利用该种方法研究活动断裂的成果为例,说明该项研究的效果及应用前景。     

核地球物理和化探综合测量在上海市区工程地质调查中的应用

本文介绍在上海市区断裂构造调查中,核地球物理测量和化探的应用效果。应用α卡、地面伽马能谱U、Th、K和总量(Σ)及壤中气汞等测量方法,采用组合指标推断断裂构造,推断出的断裂构造与地震推断的结果相比较,具有较好的一致性。这些方法经济、快速、有效,有着广泛的应用前景。     

Detection of Hg pollution by stream sediment geochemistry in the Bisagno valley (Genoa, Italy)

 Systematic stream sediment investigation in a periurban area surrounding Genoa (Italy) revealed the existence of a significant mercury anomaly localized on the main (3rd rank) bed of the Bisagno river. Statistical multivariate analysis of elemental abundances points out the anthropic nature of this contamination. Because of the well-known bioaccumulation of Hg in contaminated media, attention must be focused on the risks associated with the discovered pollution. Received: 30 November 1999 · Accepted: 22 March 2000