Mercury in Gas and Oil Deposits
239
gases. Mercury content in condensates is n x 10- 4 -1.5 X 10- 3 gIl; but it is
mercury in condensates that stipulates the reserves of mercury in the gascondensate deposits. Metal mercury was revealed in transport tubes in some gas
and gas-condensate deposits (Mirnenskoye deposit in the North Caucasus,
Kultuk in the Middle Asia of the fSU).
Mercury in the hydrocarbon gases occurs in Precambrian, Caledonian and
Hercynian tectonic structures and young folded belts of gas-oil and gas deposits.
Mercury-bearing gases are localized in practically all the stratigraphic deposits of
the Paleozoic, Mezozoic and Cenozoic where gas deposits exist. The lithological
composition of the rock-collectors differs greatly (Ozerova and Pikovsky 1982;
Ozerova 1986), so there is no stratigraphic or even lithologic control for gases
with higher mercury component in the oil-gas area.
We analyzed the structural-geologic pecularities of all the known natural gas
deposits with a mercury concentration of more than 1 x 10- 6 g/m 3 (Ozerova
Pikovsky 1982; Ozerova 1986). Analysis shows that the localization of these
deposits in the crossing zones of longitudinal deep faults, which are parallel to
the young folded systems, by large transverse planetary lineaments is their
general feature. Both lineament systems are, as a rule, fault zones thousands of
kilometres long looking like graben-like depressions or uplifts in the sedimentary
cover. These fault zones are surrounded by subparallel marginal faults, which are
characterized by abruptly deep gradient of the crystallic basement and Moho
discontinuity and modern tectonic activity. The latter is impressed in modern
movements with two times and more higher heat flow, compared to nearby
regions and hydrothermal activity including mercury etc.
This could be illustrated by the example of the Karpinsky lineament, well
studied by us. It is distinctly seen in Fig. 1 that the mercury-bearing deposits of
the European continent occur at the crossing conjunction of the Karpinsky
lineament and two of the largest Rhine-Lybian and Arabian-African mantle
lineaments (rift belts).
All these data infer the conclusion that the mercury content in natural gases is
stipulated by rising of mercury-containing fluid fluxes from the Earth's mantle
along the deep fault zones during their activization.
This clearly illustrated by the seismological sections through the Karpinsky
lineament (Ozerova 1986). The gas deposits of the Altmark province in Germany
with high mercury concentrations (average 3, up to 14 mg/m 3 ) are obviously
related to the zone of deep mantle faults (Fig. 2). Localization of the gas deposits
Oposhnya and Gadach of the Dnieper-Donetsk graben in the seismological
sections are similar (Fig. 3). The highest mercury concentration, up to 11 mg/m3
in the gas deposits in the fSU studied by us was revealed in the Oposhnya deposit.
The highest mercury potential, incidentally, was firstly prognosed for this
deposit by us based on the localization of this deposit in the crossing zone of the
Karpinsky lineament structures and the similar large zone of transverse deep
faults (Fig. 4). Secondly, based on the activization of faults in the Alpine epoch
(illustrated by submeridional river orientation along these faults, direct
geophysical observations of the vertical and horizontal movements, strong
emissions of gases in the mines of Krivoy Rog, Ukraine etc.). All these factors are
favorable for the mercury rising from the Earth's depths (Ozerova 1986).
239
gases. Mercury content in condensates is n x 10- 4 -1.5 X 10- 3 gIl; but it is
mercury in condensates that stipulates the reserves of mercury in the gascondensate deposits. Metal mercury was revealed in transport tubes in some gas
and gas-condensate deposits (Mirnenskoye deposit in the North Caucasus,
Kultuk in the Middle Asia of the fSU).
Mercury in the hydrocarbon gases occurs in Precambrian, Caledonian and
Hercynian tectonic structures and young folded belts of gas-oil and gas deposits.
Mercury-bearing gases are localized in practically all the stratigraphic deposits of
the Paleozoic, Mezozoic and Cenozoic where gas deposits exist. The lithological
composition of the rock-collectors differs greatly (Ozerova and Pikovsky 1982;
Ozerova 1986), so there is no stratigraphic or even lithologic control for gases
with higher mercury component in the oil-gas area.
We analyzed the structural-geologic pecularities of all the known natural gas
deposits with a mercury concentration of more than 1 x 10- 6 g/m 3 (Ozerova
Pikovsky 1982; Ozerova 1986). Analysis shows that the localization of these
deposits in the crossing zones of longitudinal deep faults, which are parallel to
the young folded systems, by large transverse planetary lineaments is their
general feature. Both lineament systems are, as a rule, fault zones thousands of
kilometres long looking like graben-like depressions or uplifts in the sedimentary
cover. These fault zones are surrounded by subparallel marginal faults, which are
characterized by abruptly deep gradient of the crystallic basement and Moho
discontinuity and modern tectonic activity. The latter is impressed in modern
movements with two times and more higher heat flow, compared to nearby
regions and hydrothermal activity including mercury etc.
This could be illustrated by the example of the Karpinsky lineament, well
studied by us. It is distinctly seen in Fig. 1 that the mercury-bearing deposits of
the European continent occur at the crossing conjunction of the Karpinsky
lineament and two of the largest Rhine-Lybian and Arabian-African mantle
lineaments (rift belts).
All these data infer the conclusion that the mercury content in natural gases is
stipulated by rising of mercury-containing fluid fluxes from the Earth's mantle
along the deep fault zones during their activization.
This clearly illustrated by the seismological sections through the Karpinsky
lineament (Ozerova 1986). The gas deposits of the Altmark province in Germany
with high mercury concentrations (average 3, up to 14 mg/m 3 ) are obviously
related to the zone of deep mantle faults (Fig. 2). Localization of the gas deposits
Oposhnya and Gadach of the Dnieper-Donetsk graben in the seismological
sections are similar (Fig. 3). The highest mercury concentration, up to 11 mg/m3
in the gas deposits in the fSU studied by us was revealed in the Oposhnya deposit.
The highest mercury potential, incidentally, was firstly prognosed for this
deposit by us based on the localization of this deposit in the crossing zone of the
Karpinsky lineament structures and the similar large zone of transverse deep
faults (Fig. 4). Secondly, based on the activization of faults in the Alpine epoch
(illustrated by submeridional river orientation along these faults, direct
geophysical observations of the vertical and horizontal movements, strong
emissions of gases in the mines of Krivoy Rog, Ukraine etc.). All these factors are
favorable for the mercury rising from the Earth's depths (Ozerova 1986).