Atmospheric Mercury Emissions from the Almaden Cinnabar Mining Area

摘要

The most important mercury mines in the world are located in the Almaden district in Spain. A mobile differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system was used in conjunction with point monitors to study the spatial and temporal distribution of atmospheric atomic mercury in and around the town of Almaden. Atmospheric mercury concentrations from 0.1 to 5 mug/m~3 were measured close to the smelting plant, near the ventilation outlet from the underground mine and above old deposits of roasted cinnabar. Vertical lidar scans combined with wind data estimated the total mercury flux into the atmosphere to 800 g/h from all sources.