Mercury in Geologic Reference Samples

Abstract

The mercury contents of 109 reference samples of 12 organizations have been determined by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. The homogeneity of mercury in the six USGS samples issued in 1964 was tested twice, a year apart, using unopened bottles of samples. The analysis of variance of these data in the form of a design with a single variable of classification showed that the mercury contents of the 12 sets can be considered homogeneous at F0.95 and that 10 of these sets can be considered homogeneous at F0.90, a more stringent test. Data for other reference samples were generally obtained using Youden Squares. This experimental design was used so that we could determine the significance of the variation attributable to some cause on the days on which mercury was determined, to the order in which the determinations were made on the several days, and to the mercury contents of the samples in each design. For the latter, one may assume that the mercury contents of samples will differ and that a significant F ratio may be obtained. For the principal variable of classification, the variation attributable to some cause on the days on which mercury was determined was significant for only 1 of 9 analyses of variance of sets of data but we have not been able to explain the cause of the significance. The mercury contents of the several types of samples, except for micas, dunites, and perhaps the granodiorites, depend on the origin of the samples. The mercury contents of ande‐sites and basalts of continental origin are higher than those for similar samples originating in island arcs or the circum‐Pacific belt. We conclude that the high and extremely variable mercury content of W‐1 is probably due to mercury resulting from the use of mercury fulminate detonators in the quarry prior to the collection of the sample.

Anomalous Hg contents in soils of Niue Island, South Pacific.

“…Taken from the really not mineralised the results for Hg in the soils are exceptional. They are typical of those found in soil over mineralised ground (Flanagan et al, 1982), for example, the results in the Hg-rich area at Ngawha, New Zealand (Davey and Van Moort, 1986). An origin of Hg from limestone is im probable.…”

“…( Fieldes et al, 1960), which although typically containing 500-700,ug kg-' Hg (Aidinyan et al ., 1965), is only a minor component in the soils and cannot therefore account for the Hg found. Although a global mean for Hg in soils (Stock and Cucuel, 1934) is 50,ug kg-', lateritic soils probably contain more typically 200,ug kg-' (Flanagan et al, 1982). Gibbsite (taking bauxite as a surrogate mineral) contains 200 700,ug kg-' (Flanagan et al, 1982;Abdullaev, 1970;Yakhnin et al, 1978;Miloslavskaya and Memedov, 1984).…”

“…Although a global mean for Hg in soils (Stock and Cucuel, 1934) is 50,ug kg-', lateritic soils probably contain more typically 200,ug kg-' (Flanagan et al, 1982). Gibbsite (taking bauxite as a surrogate mineral) contains 200 700,ug kg-' (Flanagan et al, 1982;Abdullaev, 1970;Yakhnin et al, 1978;Miloslavskaya and Memedov, 1984). The authors of those papers suggested adsorption of Hg had taken place from groundwater.…”

Die invloed van verpoeiering op die kwikinhoud van verskeie gesertifiseerde verwysingsmateriale

“…Buiten die element se vlugtigheid (Marie et al 2015) en chalkofiele geaardheid (Kromer, Friederick & Wallner 1981), is baie min bekend rakende die geochemiese gedrag van kwik in stollingsgesteentes. Verskeie analitiese benaderings is die afgelope aantal dekades gebruik vir die bepaling van kwik in aardmateriale, insluitend atoomabsorpsie-spektrometrie (AAS) (Casas & Vaquer 1979;Chan & Bina 1989;Flanagan, Moore & Aruscavage 1982;Sighinolfi, Gorgoni & Santos 1980;Terashima 1994), atoomfluoressensie-spektrometrie (AFS) (Chen et al 2010;Han et al 2007;Li et al 2008;Xin et al 2004), induktief gekoppelde plasma-massaspektrometrie (IGP-MS) (Smichowski et al 2003;Zhang et al 2004) en neutronaktiveringsanalise (Dissanayake & Vincent 1975;Ehmann & Lovering 1967;Morris & Killick 1964). Die afgelope paar jaar het direkte kwikanalise, wat 'n proses is van termiese ontbinding met goudamalgaam voor konsentrasie en die bepaling van kwik deur middel van AAS, uitgestyg as die beste metode om die element kwik in aardmateriale te bepaal (Hall & Pelchat 1997;Lehloenya & Roelofse 2013;Marie et al 2015;Pettruzzelli et al 2012;Roy & Base 2008;Zintwana et al 2012).…”

The elemental content of Niue Island soils as an indicator of their origin

“…Ranges taken from Bowen (1979). Values for lateritic soils taken from Schellmann (1986) except for the value for Hg taken from Flanagan et al (1982). Units are in mg/kg.…”