Mercury emission and dispersion models from soils contaminated by cinnabar mining and metallurgy

Researchers found that mercury emissions from contaminated soils near decommissioned mining sites vary significantly with distance, temperature, and solar radiation. The study, conducted at the Almadén mercury mining district in Spain, revealed that emissions decrease with distance from point sources but increase with higher soil temperatures and sunlight exposure. Soils with higher proportions of soluble mercury emitted more mercury than those dominated by cinnabar. Using laboratory flux measurements and dispersion models, the team estimated yearly mercury emissions from a former smelter at 16.4 kg per year, with seasonal variations showing larger plumes in warm, dry periods compared to colder, windier seasons. These findings highlight the dynamic nature of mercury emission from contaminated soils and underscore the importance of environmental factors in dispersion modeling.

Llanos, W., Kocman, D., Higueras, P., & Horvat, M. (2011). Mercury emission and dispersion models from soils contaminated by cinnabar mining and metallurgy. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 13(12), 3460. https://doi.org/10.1039/c1em10694e