mercury quicksilver parsons m.b. & percival, j.b. (2005): mercury sources measurements cycles...
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MercuryQuicksilver
Parsons M.B. & Percival, J.B. (2005): Mercury Sources measurements cycles
and effects MAC Short Course 34 Halifax
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Chemicaland physical properties of
mercury
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Historical Uses• Since 4000 BCE Cinnabar used for the preservation of human bones including
Egyptians• Since Egyptian/Roman times cinnabar used as paint pigment, cosmetic, pottery glaze,
anti fouling on ships, red ink. • Romans: Extraction of elemental Hg by distillation and amalgamation with gold• Middle ages: Hg amalgamation used in alchemy and early chemistry leading to the
discovery of 22 elements• Medicinal use since 460 BCE (Hippocrates) and since 16th century as a cure for
syphilis, and as a diuretic, antiseptic, contraceptive• Still used in dental amalgam, preservative in flu vaccines (Thimerosal), herbal
remedies
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Industrial Use
• Chor-alkali process: Hg cathode in electrolytic production of NaOH and Cl from NaCl
• Pulp and paper industry (production of Cl)• Insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, bactericides; some
with very toxic alkyl mercury• Pendulum clocks• Thermometers, barometers, blood pressure gages• Electronics industry• Vacuum pumps• Liquid mirror telescope (rotating mercury produces a
perfect parabola)• Switches, thermostats, florescent lamps, batteries,
computers• Extraction of gold and silver
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Toxicity
• Knowledge of toxicity from miners. Roman slaves and Spanish convicts had an average life expectancy in the Hg mines of 3 years
• Causes loss of teeth, tremors, loss of strength, psychological problems.
• Mad Hatter disease due to use of mercuric nitrate in felting of fur for hats
• Methyl mercury extremely toxic
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Minerals
Cinnabar HgS
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Geological Formations
• Hydrothermal ore formation• Note the natural emissions of Hg to the atmosphere from volcanoes and fumaroles
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Mining
• Cinnabar mined at Amaden Spain since 430 BCE.
• HgS heated to release elemental Hg as a gas which is condensed
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Almeda Hg Mine Spain
• Continuous production for over 2000 years since Romans• Total production ~ 250,000 tons Hg, 1/3 of entire world production• During the Arab domination of Spain, The Moors operated the mine during
between the 8th and 13th centuries. Hg used in medicine and alchemy. • 12th century: mine 450 m deep with >1,000 workers. • 13th century Almadén was recaptured and held by Spanish Christians.• 16th century: amalgamation to extract gold and the silver discovered
causing major expansion of mine.• 16th and 17th centuries, most Hg was sent to Seville for American gold
extraction. • From 17th century, production reduced due to exhaustion of near surface
ore. • January 1755, a fire burned in the mines for >2 years, killing many people.• Early 19th century, labor problems due to the bad Spanish economy. • 1835 mercury was auctioned in London and mine economy improved. • 1916, special Council created for operation of the mines; technical and
safety improvements introduced. • 1941 After the Spanish Civil War, record production; 82,000 Hg flasks. • 1981 the Spanish government created the company Minas de Almadén y
Arrayanes, S.A. to operate the mine.
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Environmental Issues related to Hg Mining
• Secondary minerals – In roasted ore (calcines) 10-1000 ppm Hg, mostly metacinnabar– Forming in condensers, 100-10,000 ppm Hg, must be removed by
hand and discarded in tailings
• Waste Rocks and low grade ore• Emissions: adjacent soils have 10’s ppm Hg• Runoff from mine site and waste dumps are often adjacent
to streams• Wind blown particles, fine particles of calcine have high Hg• Mine drainage: open pit and underground
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Rathburn –Petray Hg Mine, Cashe Creek, CA
• Worked prior to 1892, greatest activity between 1892 and 1893 for use in gold mining operations in California. Minor production in 1960's and 1970's.
• Hg-bearing material exposed in cuts, slopes, open pits, mine waste piles, and storm water retention ponds.
• Ash from a brick retort contains elevated levels of mercury.
• Waste piles contain approximately 101,500 m3 Hg-bearing material.
• Surface water runoff during storm events erodes waste and tailings piles, overflows retention ponds, and transports Hg-laden sediment into tributaries of Cashe Creek. Contributes 6.8 to 53.1 kg/year Hg
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Anthropogenic sources now
Coal, Oil and gas