Mercury Concentration of the Soil Profiles of the Abandoned Mercury Mine in Sta. Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines

Abstract

This study measured the total mercury (THg) concentration in Palawan Quicksilver Mines, Inc., Sta. Lourdes, Philippines. A relatively variable but higher mercury concentration was found in this mine site (23.40 and 250.00 mg-kg–1) than the background global mercury concentration for pristine soil (0.045–0.16 mg-kg–1). The O and A horizons contained the highest mercury concentration, where humic substances abound. The B horizon, composed mainly of clay material, had a mercury level ranging from 23.40–188.00 mg-kg–1. The soil profiles have a substantial amount of clay minerals that could hold a labile fraction of mercury, and infiltration into the groundwater was improbable. Revegetation could help improve soil structure stabilization and may help stabilize soil particles containing mercury from erosion or runoff.

Heavy metal contamination in the soil and Taal Lake Post-Taal Volcano eruption

“…This may have also contributed in the arsenic detection in the soil. Meanwhile, there are local studies (Nolos et al, 2022;Posadas et al, 2022) that assessed for heavy metal contamination in the soil and cadmium and mercury were detected, respectively. Their findings are similar with the result of this study.…”