Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Atmospheric mercury concentrations above mercury contaminated mill tailings in the Carson River Drainage Basin, NV

  • Published:
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

During processing of the historic Comstock Ore, Virginia City, NV, an estimated 5.5 × 109 g of metallic mercury (Hg) were released into the Carson River Drainage Basin. The Bessels Mill site is one of at least 75 locations where Hg was used to amalgamate the gold and silver from the ore. Although the mill is no longer standing, Hg contaminated tailings attest to its past location. Mercury concentrations in samples of tailings from the Bessels Mill site are as high as 1570 μg/g. Mercury concentrations vary spatially over the site. Total Hg concentrations in air measured directly over the site are well above regional background levels (1 to 7.1 ng/m3). The highest average atmospheric Hg concentration measured at the site was 240 ng/m3 for October 1993. The estimated range of Hg flux to the atmosphere from the site was 37 to 500 ng/m2 hr. Atmospheric Hg concentrations varied seasonally, diurnally and spatially. Atmospheric Hg concentrations varied as a function of Hg concentration, soil and air temperature, wind speed and surface morphology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

References

  • Andersson, A.: 1979, In:The Biogeochemistry of Mercury in the Environment, Nriagu, J. O. (Ed.), Elsievier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, pp. 79–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Desilets, M.: 1994, personal communication.

  • Gustin, M. S., Taylor, G. E. Jr., and Leonard, T. L.: 1994,Env. Health Perspec., in press.

  • Kim, K. H., Lindberg, S. E., Hanson, P. J., Meyers, T. P. and Owens, J.: 1993,Proceedings of the Ninth International Converence on Heavy Metals in the Environment, pp. 328–331.

  • Lindberg, S. E., Jackson, D. R., Huckabee, J. W., Janzen, S. A., Levin, M. J. and Lund, J. R.: 1979,J. Env. Qual. 8, 572–578.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindqvist, O., Johansson, K., Asstrup, M. Andersson, A., Bringmark, L., Hovsenius, G., Iverfeld, A. Meili, M. and Timm, B.: 1991,Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 55, 1–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J. R., Lechler, P. J., and Rowland, J.: 1993, In:Perspective for Environmental Geochemistry in Tropical Countries, Abbr, J. J. et al. (Eds.), pp. 131–135.

  • Smith, G. A.: 1943,Nevada Bureau of Mines Bulletin 1–297.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental and Resource Sciences, University of Nevada, 89506-0220, Reno, NV

    M. Sexauer Gustin, G. E. Taylor Jr. & T. L. Leonard

Authors
  1. M. Sexauer Gustin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. E. Taylor Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. T. L. Leonard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Gustin, M.S., Taylor, G.E. & Leonard, T.L. Atmospheric mercury concentrations above mercury contaminated mill tailings in the Carson River Drainage Basin, NV. Water Air Soil Pollut 80, 217–220 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01189670

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01189670

Keywords

Search

Navigation