Extrait de : France pittoresque ou Description pittoresque, topographique et statistique des départements et colonies de la France... avec des notes sur les langues, idiomes et patois... et des renseignements statistiques... accompagnée de la statistique générale de la France… T.3 (entre p. 10 et p. 11)
Siècle(s) traité(s) : 19
Droits : Domaine public
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SCH131900029i1

Éditeur(s) : Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd
Résumé : Sites of monomethylmercury (MMHg) production in Amazonian regions have been identified in hydraulic reservoirs, lake sediments and wetlands, but tailings ponds have not yet received sufficient attention for this purpose. This work evidenced high MMHg production within the water column and the interstitial water of two tailings ponds of French Guiana Au mines located; (i) in a small scale exploitation (Combat) where Hg was used for Au amalgamation, and (ii) in an industrial on-going Au mine (Yaoni) processing without Hg. The (MMHg)(D) maximum (2.5 ng L-1) occurred in the oxic water column above the sediment-water interface (SWI) of the most recent tailings pond (Combat), where the substrate was fresh, the redox transition was sharp and the pool of total Hg was large. In the Yaoni pond, the (MMHg)(D) maximum concentration (1.4 ng L-1) was located at the SWI where suboxic conditions prevailed. Using the (MMHg)(D) concentration as a proxy for Hg methylation rates, the present results show that Hg methylation may occur in various redox conditions in tailings ponds, and are favored in areas where the organic matter regeneration is more active. A 3-month long laboratory experiment was performed in oxic and anoxic boxes filled with high turbidity waters from the Combat Au mine to simulate tailings ponds. Slaked lime was added in an experimental set (2 mg L-1)and appeared to be very efficient for the reduction of suspended particulate matter (SPM) to environmentally acceptable concentrations. However, at the end of the experiment, large (MMHg)(D) concentrations were monitored under treated anoxic conditions with the (MMHg)(D) maximum located at the SWI above the Fe-reducing zones. No (MMHg)(D) was detected in oxic experiments. The use of slaked lime for SPM decantation appears to be an efficient and non-onerous process for Au miners to avoid Hg methylation in tailings ponds when it is combined with rapid drainage of the mine waters. A subsequent human intervention is however necessary for the recovery of soil structure through the cover of dried ponds with organic rich materials and reforestation to avoid the stagnation of rain waters and the occurrence of anoxia. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Applied Geochemistry (0883-2927) (Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd), 2011-02 , Vol. 26 , N. 2 , P. 222-229

Droits : 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00030/14117/12133.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2010.11.022
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00030/14117/

Éditeur(s) : EDP Sciences
Résumé : The present work was carried out on the hydroelectric reservoir Petit-Saut on the Sinnamary river in French Guiana. Measurements were performed during the wet and dry seasons along a longitudinal gradient, from upstream of the reservoir in two inflow rivers, to the Sinnamary estuary downstream of the dam. Gold extraction has led to a marked increase in suspended matter and total mercury (HgT) in one of the rivers. Dissolved monomethylmercury (MMHg) measured in surface waters were similar for both rivers: 0.03-0.05 ng l(-1) (1.0-1.7% of the dissolved HgT). These results indicate similar methylation efficiency and/or transfer of MMHg into the dissolved fraction of the water column, independently of the amounts of inorganic mercury transported. Dissolved MMHg concentrations in surface waters of the reservoir were similar to those in the rivers, but were more than 10 times higher in deep anoxic waters, up to 0.6 ng l(-1) (20 % of dissolved HgT). The MMHg concentration profiles in the water column suggest that methylation occurs mainly in anoxic waters and sediments in relation with the activity of sulfate reducing bacteria. Dissolved MMHg concentrations measured in the Sinnamary at the base of the dam were still high (0.5 - 0.6 ng l(-1); 20 to 35% of the dissolved HgT).
Journal de Physique IV (1155-4339) (EDP Sciences), 2003-05 , Vol. 107 , P. 327-331

Droits : EDP Sciences
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2003/publication-5283.pdf
DOI:10.1051/jp4:20030308
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/5283/

Éditeur(s) : Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd
Résumé : Total mercury (HgT) and monomethylmercury (MMHg) were investigated in a tropical head watershed (1 km(2)) of French Guiana. The watershed includes a pristine area on the hill slopes and a former gold mined flat in the bottomland. Concentrations of dissolved and particulate HgT and MMHg were measured in rain, throughfall, soil water and at three points along the stream. Samples were taken in-between and during 14 storm events at the beginning and middle of the 2005 and 2006 rainy seasons. Dissolved and particulate HgT concentrations in the stream slightly increased downstream, while dissolved and particulate MMHg concentrations were low at the pristine sub-watershed outlet (median = 0.006 ng L-1 and 1.84 ng g(-1), respectively) and sharply increased at the gold mined flat outlet (median = 0.056 ng L-1 and 6.80 ng g(-1), respectively). Oxisols, which are dominant in the pristine area act as a sink of HgT and MMHg from rain and throughfall inputs. Hydromorphic soils in the flat are strongly contaminated with Hg (including Hg droplets) and their structure has been disturbed by former gold-mining processes, leading to multiple stagnant water areas where biogeochemical conditions are favorable for methylation. In the former gold mined flat high dissolved MMHg concentrations (up to 0.8 ng L-1) were measured in puddles or suboxic soil pore waters, whereas high dissolved HgT concentrations were found in lower Eh conditions. Iron-reducing bacteria were suggested as the main methylators since highest concentrations for dissolved MMHg were associated with high dissolved ferrous iron concentrations. The connection between saturated areas and stagnant waters with the hydrographic network during rain events leads to the export of dissolved MMHg and HgT in stream waters, especially at the beginning of the rainy season. As both legal and illegal gold-mining continues to expand in French Guiana, an increase in dissolved and particulate MMHg emissions in the hydrographic network is expected. This will enhance MMHg bio-amplification and present a threat to local populations, whose diet relies mainly on fish.
Water Research (0043-1354) (Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd), 2011-04 , Vol. 45 , N. 8 , P. 2659-2669

Droits : 2011 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00035/14628/12134.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2011.02.022
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00035/14628/