Hg in snow cover and snowmelt waters in high-sulfide tailing regions (Ursk tailing dump site, Kemerovo region, Russia)

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2018-07, Vol.202, p.446-459
• Main Authors: Gustaytis, M.A., Myagkaya, I.N., Chumbaev, A.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: High-sulfide Gold-bearing tailings; Snow; Snowmelt waters
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.03.076

Gold-bearing polymetallic Cu-Zn deposits of sulphur-pyrite ores were discovered in the Novo-Ursk region in the 1930s. The average content of mercury (Hg) was approximately 120 μg/g at the time. A comprehensive study of Hg distribution in waste of metal ore enrichment industry was carried out in the cold season on the tailing dump site and in adjacent areas. Mercury concentration in among snow particulate, dissolved and colloid fractions was determined. The maximal Hg content in particulate fraction from the waste tailing site ranged 230–573 μg/g. Such indices as the frequency of aerosol dust deposition events per units of time and area, enrichment factor and the total load allowed to establish that the territory of the tailing waste dump site had a snow cover highly contaminated with dust deposited at a rate of 247–480 mg/(m2∙day). Adjacent areas could be considered as area with low Hg contamination rate with average deposition rate of 30 mg/(m2∙day). The elemental composition of the aerosol dust depositions was determined as well, which allowed to reveal the extent of enrichment waste dispersion throughout adjacent areas. The amount of Hg entering environment with snowmelt water discharge was estimated. As a result of snowmelting, in 2014 the nearest to the dump site hydrographic network got Hg as 7.1 g with colloids and as 5880 g as particles. The results obtained allowed to assess the degree of Hg contamination of areas under the impact of metal enrichment industry. [Display omitted] •The tailings site corresponds to the high level of snow cover contamination with dust (247–480 mg/m2 day).•High value of the average daily yield of Hg (0.123–0.349 mg/m2 day) was determined on the dumps and in the leakage flux.•For snowmelt period, about 7 g of Hg in dissolved form (with colloids) and 5880 g as a suspension were taken to the river.