Mercury species in solid matter of dispersion of the Ursk tailing dispersion train (Ursk village, Kemerovo region, Russia)

Abstract

Mercury species are highly toxic, and methylmercury is the most dangerous for environment and biota. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the distribution of mercury speciations (HgX2 (were X is O, SO24-, Cl and et al.), CH3Hg+, HgS) in diffuse halation high-sulfide waste of piles at the Ursk massive sulfide ore deposits which are being mined since the 1940s. To determine the mercury speciation, the method of thermal analysis with atomic absorption spectrometry as detector was applied.

Keywords

• mercury speciation
• sulfide waste