Mercury concentrations in surface waters from fluvial systems draining historical precious metals mining areas in southeastern U.S.A.

摘要

A study was carried out to evaluate several southern Appalachian Piedmont mining districts for Hg contamination in surface waters and to determine potential relationships between Hg discharged from historical mining operations and site-specific physical factors. Water samples were collected from three fluvial systems that drain areas where Hg was used to amalgamate Au from ore during the 19th century. Total Hg (Hg_T) determinations were made using cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectroscopy techniques. The correlation between Hg_T and total suspended solids (TSS) at the southern Appalachian sites was good.