The environmental impact of the abandoned mercury mines on the settlement and agricultural lands; Ladik (Konya, Turkey)

Abstract

There are many abandoned mines that have completed their economic life in the world and in our country. Because of limited capital power and manpower, it is very difficult to recover all abandoned mines to their pre-mining state. Therefore, environmental problems and their impacts related to abandoned mines are frequently observed. To investigate the impact of the abandoned mercury quarry representing the Ladik neighborhood and its surroundings, 21 samples were collected from the field to represent the creek beds, settlement, pasture, agricultural area and areas separated as abandoned quarries. The results of the chemical analyses obtained from the samples were evaluated using statistical methods. In the dendrograms prepared as soil and placer (cluster analysis), prominent groups were distinguished and interpreted together with the geological structure and anthropogenic factors of the region. The results of the Potential Ecological Risk Index were determined as Zn < M < Cr < Cu < Ni < Pb < As < Hg in the geoaccumulation index, contamination factor, potential ecological risk index and potential ecological risk factor. The concentration of mercury in stream beds in the study area is higher than that in soils. Although the primary factor of this accumulation is of geogenic origin, it has been determined that mining and human activities in the region have an effect.