Hg Contamnation from New World Gold & Silver Mine Tailings
85
mercury from the tailings is the erosion of mercury-contaminated particles by
gravity, rain, storm events, and subsequent reworking of the deposits in river or
lake systems.
Terrestrial and aquatic vegetation on tailings deposits shows elevated mercury
levels. Indicator organisms like snails and mollusks reflect the mercury
concentrations in the tailings deposits.
It is expected that the use of mercury for gold and silver mining will continue
in the future in tropical areas. Unfortunately, although current information
shows an impact on the environment, little information is available on long-term
risk assessment in these areas, let alone on available measures to remediate or
contain the tailings.
References
Allan R (1995) Impact of mining activities on the terrestrial and aquatic environment with emphasis
on mitigation and remedial measures. In: Salomons W, Forstner U (eds) Heavy metals: problems
and solutions. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 119-140
Andrade jC, Bueno MIMS, Soares PV, Choudhuri A (1988) The fate of mercury released from
prospecting areas (Garimpos) near Guarinus and Pilar, Goias (Brazil). An Acad Bras Cine 60:293-303
Archer I, Marshman NA, Salomons W (1988) Development of a revegetation program for copper and
sulphide-bearing mine wastes in humid tropics. In: Salomons W, Forstner U (eds) Chemistry and
biology of solid wastes. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 166-184
Aula I, Braunsweiller H, Leino T, Malin I, Porvari P, Hatanaka T, Lodenius M, juras A (1994) Levels of
mercury in the Tucurui reservoir and its surrounding area in Para, Brazil. In: Watras C), Huckabee
jW (eds) Mercury pollution: integration and synthesis. Lewis Pub I, Boca Raton, pp 21-40
Baeyens W, Leermakers M, Dedeuwaerder H, Larsens P (1991) Modelization of the mercury fluxes at
the air sea interface. Water Air Soil Pollut 56:731-744
Benzing DH (1981) Mineral nutrition of epiphytes: an appraisal of adaptive features. Selbyana 5:219223
Browne CL, Fang SC (1978) Uptake of mercury vapour by wheat: an assimilation model. Plant Physiol
61:430-433
Bycroft BM, Coller BAW, Deacon GB, Coleman DJ, Lake PS (1982) Mercury contamination of the
Lerderderg River, Victoria, Australia, from an abandoned gold field. Environ Pollut Ser A 28:135-147
Callaham JE, Miller jW, Craig JR (1994) Mercury pollution as a result of gold extraction in North
Carolina, USA. Appl Geochem 9:235-241
CETEM (1989) Relatorio Anual do Projeto Pocone. Centr Tecnol Mineral, Rio de janeiro, 287 pp
CETEM (1992) Diagnostico preliminar dos impactos ambientais gerados por garimpos de ouro em
Alta Floresta/MT: Estudo de caso Centro de Tecnologia Mineral, Rio de janeiro, p 190
Ching L, Hongxiao T (1985) Chemical studies of aquatic pollution by heavy metals in China. In: Irgolic
KJ, Martell AE (eds) Proc Workshop Environm Inorganic Chern, San Miniato, Florida, pp 359-371
Crowder A, St-Cyr L (1991) Iron oxide plaques on wetland roots. Trends Soil Sci 1:315-329
Ernst WHO (1988) Response of plants and vegetation to mine tailings and dredge materials. In:
Salomons W, Forstner U (eds) Chemistry and biology of solid wastes. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg
New York, 305 pp
Farid LH (org) (1992) Diagnostico preliminar dos impactos ambientais gerados por garimpo de ouro
em Alta Floresta, MT. Ser Tecnol Ambiental CETEM 2:1-190
Ferrara F, Petrodino A, Maserti E, Seritti A, Barghigiani C (1982) The biogeochemical cycle of mercury
in the Mediterranean Part II. Mercury in the atmosphere, aerosol and in rain of a northern
Tyrrhenian area. Environ Technol Lett 3:449-456
Ferrara R, Maserti BE (1994) Mercury degassing rate in some Mediterranean areas. In: Proc Int Conf
Mercury as a Global Pollutant. Whistler BC, Abstract Section 8B
85
mercury from the tailings is the erosion of mercury-contaminated particles by
gravity, rain, storm events, and subsequent reworking of the deposits in river or
lake systems.
Terrestrial and aquatic vegetation on tailings deposits shows elevated mercury
levels. Indicator organisms like snails and mollusks reflect the mercury
concentrations in the tailings deposits.
It is expected that the use of mercury for gold and silver mining will continue
in the future in tropical areas. Unfortunately, although current information
shows an impact on the environment, little information is available on long-term
risk assessment in these areas, let alone on available measures to remediate or
contain the tailings.
References
Allan R (1995) Impact of mining activities on the terrestrial and aquatic environment with emphasis
on mitigation and remedial measures. In: Salomons W, Forstner U (eds) Heavy metals: problems
and solutions. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 119-140
Andrade jC, Bueno MIMS, Soares PV, Choudhuri A (1988) The fate of mercury released from
prospecting areas (Garimpos) near Guarinus and Pilar, Goias (Brazil). An Acad Bras Cine 60:293-303
Archer I, Marshman NA, Salomons W (1988) Development of a revegetation program for copper and
sulphide-bearing mine wastes in humid tropics. In: Salomons W, Forstner U (eds) Chemistry and
biology of solid wastes. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 166-184
Aula I, Braunsweiller H, Leino T, Malin I, Porvari P, Hatanaka T, Lodenius M, juras A (1994) Levels of
mercury in the Tucurui reservoir and its surrounding area in Para, Brazil. In: Watras C), Huckabee
jW (eds) Mercury pollution: integration and synthesis. Lewis Pub I, Boca Raton, pp 21-40
Baeyens W, Leermakers M, Dedeuwaerder H, Larsens P (1991) Modelization of the mercury fluxes at
the air sea interface. Water Air Soil Pollut 56:731-744
Benzing DH (1981) Mineral nutrition of epiphytes: an appraisal of adaptive features. Selbyana 5:219223
Browne CL, Fang SC (1978) Uptake of mercury vapour by wheat: an assimilation model. Plant Physiol
61:430-433
Bycroft BM, Coller BAW, Deacon GB, Coleman DJ, Lake PS (1982) Mercury contamination of the
Lerderderg River, Victoria, Australia, from an abandoned gold field. Environ Pollut Ser A 28:135-147
Callaham JE, Miller jW, Craig JR (1994) Mercury pollution as a result of gold extraction in North
Carolina, USA. Appl Geochem 9:235-241
CETEM (1989) Relatorio Anual do Projeto Pocone. Centr Tecnol Mineral, Rio de janeiro, 287 pp
CETEM (1992) Diagnostico preliminar dos impactos ambientais gerados por garimpos de ouro em
Alta Floresta/MT: Estudo de caso Centro de Tecnologia Mineral, Rio de janeiro, p 190
Ching L, Hongxiao T (1985) Chemical studies of aquatic pollution by heavy metals in China. In: Irgolic
KJ, Martell AE (eds) Proc Workshop Environm Inorganic Chern, San Miniato, Florida, pp 359-371
Crowder A, St-Cyr L (1991) Iron oxide plaques on wetland roots. Trends Soil Sci 1:315-329
Ernst WHO (1988) Response of plants and vegetation to mine tailings and dredge materials. In:
Salomons W, Forstner U (eds) Chemistry and biology of solid wastes. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg
New York, 305 pp
Farid LH (org) (1992) Diagnostico preliminar dos impactos ambientais gerados por garimpo de ouro
em Alta Floresta, MT. Ser Tecnol Ambiental CETEM 2:1-190
Ferrara F, Petrodino A, Maserti E, Seritti A, Barghigiani C (1982) The biogeochemical cycle of mercury
in the Mediterranean Part II. Mercury in the atmosphere, aerosol and in rain of a northern
Tyrrhenian area. Environ Technol Lett 3:449-456
Ferrara R, Maserti BE (1994) Mercury degassing rate in some Mediterranean areas. In: Proc Int Conf
Mercury as a Global Pollutant. Whistler BC, Abstract Section 8B