Modelling of modern mercury vapor transport in an ancient hydrothermal system: environmental and geochemical implications

Abstract

Mercury has been used in some mineralizing hydrothermal systems as a significant pathfinder of Au and other elements. In addition, its geochemical behaviour reflects some characteristics related to the transport mechanism of metal-bearing fluids. In this work the authors analyse the geochemical aspects and the environmental impact of Hg mobilization from the old mining area of Valle del Azogue (VA), from smelting slags, mining waste and the partially exploited mineralization that remains a few metres underground. The main pathway of Hg is the transport of vapor from different foci, therefore a mathematical simulation of the process of Hg vapor transport was carried out in the Valle del Azogue (VA) mineral deposit. This is one of the two sites in Spain (the other being the famous district of Almaden), where Hg vapor emissions have been cited. The results obtained by means of mathematical simulation were compared with both the real Hg concentration values detected in the field (upper part of the mining area), and with the geochemical distribution patterns of Au and other elements related to the mineralization. A close relationship between the simulated Hg vapor distribution and soil gas concentrations was identified. It is proposed that the transport of Hg emissions from this old mining area could be the cause of present contamination of marine sediments in the area.