Gold Mining in Siberia as a Source of Mercury Contamination of the Environment
373
is less than 10%. Because of lack of official data and according to a very
approximate estimation, the amount of mercury used in gold mining in Siberia
now accounts for about 10% of the annual total gold production. For example, in
1992 the total gold production in Siberia accounted for 124 53 tons, so mercury
expenses could account for about 12 tons, half of this amount as emission into
the environment.
A high level of mercury contamination of the environment was registered in
techno genic and residential areas impacted by the Luybov mine and at other sites
with direct use of metallic mercury. Hence, it is necessary to draw up a
programme to reveal such highly contaminated sites and restore mercurycontaminated soils with developed techniques. At present, the use of mercury at
gold-mining plants is illegal and uncontrolled. To prevent an increase in mercury
contamination of the environment in gold-mining areas, it is necessary to
prohibit mercury use or legalize objects where amalgamation of concentrates is
performed and to establish regular control over the extent of mercury
concentration in gas and water wastes and tailings dumps.
References
Anoshin GN, Malikova IN, Kovalev SI, Androsova NV, Sukhorukov FV, Tsibulchik VM, Shcherbov BL
(1995) Mercury in the environment of Southern West Siberia. Chern Sustainable Dev 3:63-104
Bodienkov GA (1984) Labour hygiene in gold mining and concentration with a dredge method. In:
Manyashin YA (ed) Problems of labour hygiene and professional pathology in gold mining in the
east of the country. Ministry of public health, Moscow, pp 20-28 (in Russian)
Foss GV (1963) Gold. Gosgeoltechizdat, Moscow (in Russian)
Ignatkin Y A (1994) Along wild steppes of Zabaikalye. Chita Publishing House, Chita (in Russian)
Karmanov NS (1985) Geochemical peculiarities of native gold on evidence of spark mass spectrometry
of the ore sites of Eastern Siberia. Author's abstract. IGG, Novosibirsk (in Russian)
Koledneva N (1994) The tricks of mercury. Zabaikalsky rabochy 1l:1 (in Russian)
Laperdina TG, Tupyakov AB, Yegorov AI, Melnikova MV, Askarova OB, Banshchikov VA, Khvostova
TE, Tsybikdorzhiev Z, Bochko OK (1995) Environment pollution by mercury in the zone of
influence of transbaikalian gold mining plants. Chern Sustainable Dev 3:53-62
Laperdina TG, Melnikova MV, Khvostova TE (1996) Mercury pollution of the environment due to
gold mining in Zabaikalye. In: Baeyens W, Ebinghaus R, Vasiliev 0 (eds) Proc NATO ARW,
Regional and global mercury cycles: sources, fluxes and mass balances. Novosibirsk, Russia, 10-14,
July 1995. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 415-427
Malgin MA, Puzanov AV (1995) Mercury in soils, surface and soil air of the Altai-Sayan mountainous
country. Chern Sustainable Dev P45-157 (in Russian)
Ministry Cabinet of the USSR (1988) The order of the Chief Department on precious metals and
diamonds Moscow. No. 124 of 29.12.1988. On the prohibition of mercury (amalgamation) in the
technological processes during concentration of gold-bearing ores and sands (in Russian)
Omelchenko MM (1985) Mercury at gold ore deposits of Yakutia and its role in geochemical
prospectings. Abstract. LGI, Leningrad (in Russian)
Ovchinnikov LN (1990) Applied geochemistry. Nedra, Moscow (in Russian)
Ozerova NA (1986) Mercury and endogenous ore deposition. Nauka, Moscow (in Russian)
Pfeiffer WC, Lacerda LD, Maim 0, Souza CMM, Silveira EG, Bastos WR (1989) Mercury
concentrations in inland waters of gold mining areas in Rondonia, Brazil. Sci Total Environ 87/
88:233-240
373
is less than 10%. Because of lack of official data and according to a very
approximate estimation, the amount of mercury used in gold mining in Siberia
now accounts for about 10% of the annual total gold production. For example, in
1992 the total gold production in Siberia accounted for 124 53 tons, so mercury
expenses could account for about 12 tons, half of this amount as emission into
the environment.
A high level of mercury contamination of the environment was registered in
techno genic and residential areas impacted by the Luybov mine and at other sites
with direct use of metallic mercury. Hence, it is necessary to draw up a
programme to reveal such highly contaminated sites and restore mercurycontaminated soils with developed techniques. At present, the use of mercury at
gold-mining plants is illegal and uncontrolled. To prevent an increase in mercury
contamination of the environment in gold-mining areas, it is necessary to
prohibit mercury use or legalize objects where amalgamation of concentrates is
performed and to establish regular control over the extent of mercury
concentration in gas and water wastes and tailings dumps.
References
Anoshin GN, Malikova IN, Kovalev SI, Androsova NV, Sukhorukov FV, Tsibulchik VM, Shcherbov BL
(1995) Mercury in the environment of Southern West Siberia. Chern Sustainable Dev 3:63-104
Bodienkov GA (1984) Labour hygiene in gold mining and concentration with a dredge method. In:
Manyashin YA (ed) Problems of labour hygiene and professional pathology in gold mining in the
east of the country. Ministry of public health, Moscow, pp 20-28 (in Russian)
Foss GV (1963) Gold. Gosgeoltechizdat, Moscow (in Russian)
Ignatkin Y A (1994) Along wild steppes of Zabaikalye. Chita Publishing House, Chita (in Russian)
Karmanov NS (1985) Geochemical peculiarities of native gold on evidence of spark mass spectrometry
of the ore sites of Eastern Siberia. Author's abstract. IGG, Novosibirsk (in Russian)
Koledneva N (1994) The tricks of mercury. Zabaikalsky rabochy 1l:1 (in Russian)
Laperdina TG, Tupyakov AB, Yegorov AI, Melnikova MV, Askarova OB, Banshchikov VA, Khvostova
TE, Tsybikdorzhiev Z, Bochko OK (1995) Environment pollution by mercury in the zone of
influence of transbaikalian gold mining plants. Chern Sustainable Dev 3:53-62
Laperdina TG, Melnikova MV, Khvostova TE (1996) Mercury pollution of the environment due to
gold mining in Zabaikalye. In: Baeyens W, Ebinghaus R, Vasiliev 0 (eds) Proc NATO ARW,
Regional and global mercury cycles: sources, fluxes and mass balances. Novosibirsk, Russia, 10-14,
July 1995. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 415-427
Malgin MA, Puzanov AV (1995) Mercury in soils, surface and soil air of the Altai-Sayan mountainous
country. Chern Sustainable Dev P45-157 (in Russian)
Ministry Cabinet of the USSR (1988) The order of the Chief Department on precious metals and
diamonds Moscow. No. 124 of 29.12.1988. On the prohibition of mercury (amalgamation) in the
technological processes during concentration of gold-bearing ores and sands (in Russian)
Omelchenko MM (1985) Mercury at gold ore deposits of Yakutia and its role in geochemical
prospectings. Abstract. LGI, Leningrad (in Russian)
Ovchinnikov LN (1990) Applied geochemistry. Nedra, Moscow (in Russian)
Ozerova NA (1986) Mercury and endogenous ore deposition. Nauka, Moscow (in Russian)
Pfeiffer WC, Lacerda LD, Maim 0, Souza CMM, Silveira EG, Bastos WR (1989) Mercury
concentrations in inland waters of gold mining areas in Rondonia, Brazil. Sci Total Environ 87/
88:233-240