In. Malikova et al., On irregular distribution of mercury in the upper soil horizon: A case study of the Altai region, GEOCHEM INT, 38(12), 2000, pp. 1212-1220
The influence of various factors on mercury distribution in upper soil hori
zons is reviewed in this paper on the example of the Altai region. A conclu
sion is drawn that the chemical composition of rocks and the soil type are
not critical for mercury accumulation in turf and humus-accumulating horizo
ns. At the same time, retention of mercury accumulated by soils depends on
specific features of the landscape (hydromorphic properties, susceptibility
to deflation, etc.). The influence of geochemical features of soil-forming
rocks can be revealed generally by the comparison of statistical data on s
oils of background areas and natural mercury anomalies. In the background a
reas, the irregularity in the mercury distribution over an area and the reg
ular decline of its contents down the vertical sections of soils is governe
d largely by global (regional) atmospheric precipitations and by variations
in organic matter contents. In the areas of natural mercury anomalies, the
mercury concentrations and their variations in the soil-forming bedrock pl
ay a major role in element distribution. Elevated Hg concentrations in soil
s with the vegetation cover supplying large quantities of organic matter in
to them can be accompanied by a lower degree of Hg emission into the atmosp
here in the local biochemical migration cycles. This phenomenon should be m
ost efficient in background areas.