Mercury content in the superficial geological formations of Hungary

Fügedi, Ubul and Vatai, József and Kuti, László (2009) Mercury content in the superficial geological formations of Hungary. Central European Geology, 52 (3-4). pp. 287-298. ISSN 1788-2281

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Abstract

Abstract Among the periodic system's elements, mercury (Hg) is most liable to dispersion and, simultaneously, most liable to secondary enrichment. Consequently, mercury enrichments can occur as a result of a number of geologic as well as anthropogenic processes. If the geologic processes cease, quite extended dispersion halos can form around a former accumulation center. Hydrothermal mineralization is a typical process giving rise to mercury concentration. As a result, regional mercury impacts can occur in the floodplains of rivers flowing from the mining and heavy industrial regions of Transylvania and Slovakia. Elsewhere, mercury anomalies detectable at the intermediate scale (1:50,000) can be found in the Zemplén and Mátra Mountains and, subordinately, in the Börzsöny Mountains. Typically mercury anomalies develop above major structural lineaments as well, unless they are buried under thick young sediments. A remarkable example is the deep fault separating the Pilis and Visegrád Mountains. Another group of Hg anomalies is caused by well-known mercury contamination sources (Kazincbarcika, Balatonfűzfő), which are truly local: they cannot be detected at the scale of the given study.

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