The Relationship between Mercury in Water and Sediment with Physicochemicals of Water of Stream Near an Amalgamation and Cyanidation Unit of Talawaan-Tatelu Traditional Gold Mine, North Sulawesi

摘要

Traditional gold mining in Talawaan-Tatelu, North Sulawesi, has been going on since about 20 years ago. Initially, the management of gold in the region carried out by the amalgamation techniques and then combined with cyanidation techniques. This mining release mercury into the environment and is considered can cause negative impacts on living organisms that live around the mine. This study aims to examine the relationship between levels of mercury in river water and sediment with physicochemical parameters of water (chemical oxygen demand (COD), Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), Total Hardness (CaCO_3), Temperature, and Conductivity) of stream near the amalgamation and cyanidation unit. Data of mercury content in water and sediment with physicochemical parameters of water were analyzed using Pearson Bivariate Correlation. The results showed that there were positive significant correlation between: the contents of mercury in water and sediment (r= 0.419, 0.05 level, 2-tailed); the contents of mercury in sediment and total hardness (r= 0.545, 0.01 level, 2-tailed); COD and conductivity (r= 0.409, 0.05 level, 2-tailed); and temperature and total hardness (r= 0.384, 0.05 level, 2-tailed).