Comparison of Mercury Concentrations in Modern Lake Sediments and Glacial Drift in the Canadian Shield in the Region of Ottawa/Kingston to Georgian bay, Ontario, Canada

  • W. B. Coker
  • I. M. Kettles
  • W. W. Shilts

Abstract

An ongoing problem in evaluating the significance of mercury (Hg) in surficial materials is distinguishing sources of natural (spatial) variation of the geological/geochemical environment from sources (airborne, waterborne, etc.) of anthropogenic (temporal) variation. The Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) has carried out a series of sampling programs, including one in the southeastern part of the geologically complex Canadian Shield, in order to link the easily observable lithological variations of bedrock with the chemical composition of overlying glacial deposits and lake sediments. This research aims to provide a base against which observed variations in life systems can be judged as natural or anthropogenic. In the study area, high concentrations of Hg and other trace elements in lake sediment and glacial sediments can be related to glacial dispersal from mineralized bedrock and/or bedrock with high natural background concentrations of these elements.

Keywords

Lake Sediment Mercury Concentration Glacial Deposit CANADIAN Shield Glacial Sediment 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Baer, A.J., Poole, W.H., and Sanford, B.V.: 1977, G.S.C., Map 1334A.Google Scholar
  2. Coker, W.B., Hornbrook, E.H.W., and Cameron, E.M.: 1979, G.S.C., Econ. Geol. Rpt. 31, 435–477.Google Scholar
  3. DiLabio, R.N.W., Rencz, A.N., and Eggington, P.A.: 1982, Can. Jour. Earth Sci. 19, 2297–2305.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Friske, P.W.B. and Hornbrook, E.H.W.: 1991, Trans. I.M.M., 100, B47-B56.Google Scholar
  5. Geological Survey of Canada: 1977a, b, G.S.C., Open Files 405 & 406.Google Scholar
  6. Hornbrook, E.H.W., Kettles, I.M., and Shilts, W.W.: 1986, Water, Air and Soil Pollut. 31, 969–979.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. Hornbrook, E.H.W., Lund, N.G. and Lynch, J.J.: 1984a, b, G.S.C., Open Files 899 & 900.Google Scholar
  8. Jonasson, I.R., Lynch, J.J., and Trip, L.J.: 1973, G.S.C., Paper 73–21, 22 pp.Google Scholar
  9. Kettles, I.M. and Shilts, W.W.: 1989, G.S.C., Paper 89–20, 97–112.Google Scholar
  10. Kettles, I.M., Shilts, W.W. and Coker, W.B.: 1991, J. Geochem. Explor. 41, 29–57.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. Kettles, I.M. and Shilts, W.W.: 1994, G.S.C., Bull. 463, 58 pp.Google Scholar
  12. Lindqvist, O., Engstrom, D.R., Brigham, M.E., Henning, T.A. and Brezonik, P.L.: 1991, Science 257, 784–787.Google Scholar
  13. Loukola-Ruskeeniemi, K.: 1990, Geol. Soc. Finland, Bulletin 62(2), p. 167–175.Google Scholar
  14. Norton, S.A., Dillon, P.J.D., Evans, R.D., Mierle, G. and Kahl, J.S.: 1990: Acidic Precipitation, 3, 73–102.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. Rasmussen, P.E.: 1993, Ph.D. Thesis, Earth Sciences Depart., Univ. of Waterloo, 379 pp.Google Scholar
  16. Sangster, A.L.: 1982, Geol. Assoc. Can., Special Paper 25, 91–125.Google Scholar
  17. Shilts, W.W.: 1984, Groundwater as a Geomorphic Agent, Allen and Unwin, Boston, 135–156.Google Scholar
  18. Shilts, W.W., Card, K.D., Poole, W.H., and Sandford, B.V.: 1981, G.S.C., Paper 81–14, 7pp. and 3 maps.Google Scholar
  19. Shilts, W.W. and Coker, W.B.: 1995, Water, Air and Soil Pollut. this volume.Google Scholar
  20. Sinclair, I.G.L.: 1979, Geochemical Exploration 1978, Assoc. Explor. Geochemists, 487–495.Google Scholar
  21. Swain, E.B., Engstrom, D.R., Brigham, M.E., Henning, T.A. and Brezonik, P.L.: 1992, Science 257, 784–787PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 1995

Authors and Affiliations

  • W. B. Coker
    • 1
  • I. M. Kettles
    • 1
  • W. W. Shilts
    • 1
  1. 1.Geological Survey of CanadaNatural Resources CanadaOttawaCanada

Personalised recommendations