The Nature of Mercury in Chernozemic and Luvisolic Soils in Alberta

Contents of mercury in surface soil horizons of Chernozemic soils from Alberta were considerably lower than contents in respective C horizons. For eluviated soils, highest contents of mercury were found in B horizons, with lowest levels in A horizons. Results for content of mercury in particle-size separates together with profile distribution patterns for the element suggested that a significant portion of the mercury in surface mineral horizons was mobilized to the atmosphere. Pyrolysis studies indicated that the dominant form of mercury in the soils consisted of organically bound compounds.