Mercury Mining

MERCURY :

Mercury set downs are minute and unbalanced, happening occasionally as dispersed deposits but frequently as vein lets. This excludes large-scale, extremely automated mining techniques. The majority of widespread technique of ore recuperation is subversive mining, with conformist drilling and gusting followed by scraping or perfunctory loading into ore cars.

 

For the cause that the majority of cinnabar as mined includes less than 1 percent of mercury, a assortment of mineral-processing techniques, such as jigging, shaking, screening, elutriation, and flotation, have been accomplished to contemplate the ore.

Flotation disconnection by the customary procedures for sulfide ores has had some accomplishment in the United States, but, for the reason that cinnabar is squashy and friable, devastating and grinding the ore to diminish it to a size small enough to unshackle the mineral may cause noteworthy losses as substances in the flotation container. Although an assortment of methods is well-organized in producing higher-grade contemplates of cinnabar for heating, they cannot contend economically with the unswerving heating of the ore either as mined or following beginning of sorting by hand.

HOW IS MERCURY OBTAINED?

Mercury is obtained from its chief ore mineral- cinnabar which is basically a soft, reddish-brown mercury sulfide. This mineral is found almost everywhere and generally occurs in all types of rocks, also in combination with gold, iron and zinc. Apart from this, there are 25 other minerals from which mercury is obtained. Highly mechanized mining techniques are followed for the mining the mercury containing ores. The process of hydrometallurgy can be executed for obtaining the metal which involves leaching the ores and treating the concentrate with sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide solutions. The metal is precipitated with aluminium or by the electrolysis process. Mostly the pyrometallurgy method is accepted for producing pure mercury as leaching is more costly when compared to ores of improper composition.

EXTRACTION AND DISTILLATION -PYROMETALLURGY :

 

distillation of mercury
 

The pyrometallurgical drawing out of mercury from its ore is basically a sanitization process. When high temperature is applied to the sulfide ore in the attendance of air, oxygen unites with the sulfur to shape sulfur dioxide, and the metal is enlightened at a heat above its boiling point. The gases are then approved through a series of U-shaped pipes to concentrate the mercury vapor to the fluid phase.A variety of upright furnaces have been utilized to haul out quicksilver in view of the fact that the most basic known crude furnaces were utilized at the Almadn Mine in Spain in the 12th century. The mainly widespread furnace in usage in Europe is the Cermak-Spirek streak furnace, which can care for either coarse feed (at least 4 centimetres, or 1.5 inches) or (by means of modification) finer substance. The furnace can also recognize dissimilar grades of ore. The ore is varied with charcoal or coke fuel and stimulated to the pinnacle of the furnace. Incineration of fuel by a explosion of hot air at the base produces hot gases, which, pass uphill through the falling ore and vaporize the freethinking mercury.

Retorts are utilized for mercury pulling out in diminutive mining procedures or to burn filth collected in the condensing tubes of huge furnaces. Retorts are reasonably priced to set up, but they are further expensive to function than furnaces because the substance in such consignment procedures must be physically excited and detached.


MERCURY TYPES :

Mercury is usually found in three different forms: elemental, inorganic, and organic.

Elemental Mercury is a silver-white metal that is liquid at room temperature. It is often used in thermometers, barometers, and other scientific instruments.

Inorganic Mercury is typically found in compounds such as mercuric sulfide and mercuric chloride. These compounds are used in industrial processes and may be found in some paints.

Organic Mercury is a form of mercury that is found in the environment. It is typically produced by natural processes such as the breakdown of certain minerals or from burning coal in power plants. Organic mercury can also be found in fish, which is why it is important to limit fish consumption for certain populations.

MERCURY MINING METHODS :

Mercury has been widely used in gold mining since the time of the Roman Empire. In modern times, mercury is still used in artisanal and small-scale gold mining. This method involves the extraction of the ore from the ground and then crushing it into a fine powder. The powder is then heated to release the mercury, which is captured and condensed in a retort. The gold is then amalgamated with the mercury, forming a gold-mercury amalgam. The amalgam is then heated to separate the gold from the mercury. The gold is then melted and poured into moulds to form gold bars. The remaining mercury is recycled back into the system and can be reused.

MERCURY MINING REFINING :

Mercury mining and refining is the process of extracting mercury from the earth and refining it into usable products. Mercury is a highly toxic element, and as such, the mining and refining of mercury is very carefully regulated by governments around the world. The process of mining and refining mercury is complex and can involve a variety of steps, including digging, crushing, grinding, and chemical processing. The most common method used to extract mercury is through open pit mining. This method involves digging a large pit in the ground and extracting the ore from the ground. Once the ore is extracted, it is then crushed and ground into a fine powder. This powder is then heated in a furnace to separate the mercury from the ore. The mercury is then refined further through a process of distillation, where the mercury is heated and the vapor is collected and cooled to separate the mercury from other impurities. Once the mercury is purified, it can be used in a variety of applications, including thermometers and other instruments, fluorescent light bulbs, and batteries.


TOP MERCURY PRODUCING COUNTRIES :

 

production of mercury

 

USES OF MERCURY :

* It is used in making alloys along with iron and steel for making bottles and flasks for trading purposes.

* It plays a significant role in electricity, because of which it is used in the manufacturing of electrical components and also casted as a moving cathode in many electrolysis processes.

* Since it is a good conductor of electricity, it is used in the making of switches, fluorescent bulbs, oscillators and power control switches.

* Mercury batteries have long life spans and continue to provide uninterrupted services irrespective of being continuously operated or not.

* The property of being able to expand and contract with temperature, makes mercury a chief component in thermometers for checking body temperatures.

* Mercury vapour lamps find their use in street lights, photography, heat therapies and motion-picture projections.

* Amalgams of mercury along with silver and tin are employed in repairing dental cavities.

* Various compounds of mercury are used in pharmacology, chemical industries as well as in the fields of agriculture.

 

ANNUAL MERCURY USAGE :

Mercury is a metallic element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is commonly used in many industries, such as thermometers, barometers, electrical switches, and fluorescent lamps. Mercury is also used in the production of chlorine and caustic soda, in the manufacture of batteries, and in the production of gold and silver.

The annual usage of mercury varies depending on the industry, but in general, it is estimated that around 3,000 tonnes of mercury are released into the atmosphere each year. This mainly comes from industrial processes, but it is also released from coal burning, waste incineration, and natural sources such as volcanoes.

The annual usage of mercury varies depending on the industry, but in general, it is estimated that around 3,000 tonnes of mercury are released into the atmosphere each year. This mainly comes from industrial processes, but it is also released from coal burning, waste incineration, and natural sources such as volcanoes.

To reduce mercury pollution, many countries have implemented regulations to limit its use and emissions. In the US, for example, the Clean Air Act requires companies to use the best available technology to reduce mercury emissions from power plants. In addition, the US has also banned the use of elemental mercury in thermometers, dental amalgam, and over-the-counter drugs.

Overall, the annual usage of mercury is decreasing as a result of increased regulation and awareness of its risks. However, it is still important to continue to monitor its usage and emissions in order to protect human health and the environment.


 

 

MERCURY PRODUCTION IN THE WORLD :

Mercury is basically a liquid used for various purposes and obtained from its one and only ore-cinnabar after undergoing complex processes of heating and condensing as mentioned above. Finding mercury in its native state is mostly a rare case and sometimes it is also found in association with silver. The Amalden mine in Spain is the global producer of mercury as it is known for its purely high quality mercury. Other places include Yugoslavia, United States and Italy. Also, small quantities of mercury are known to be found in Arkansas and Texas. The five topmost countries known for merucry production which include China, Mexico and Peru are as follows:

 

Rank

Country

Mercury production (thousand tonnes)

----

 World

4,500

1

 China

4,000

2

 Mexico

300

3

Kyrgyzstan

40

4

 Peru

40

5

 Tajikistan

30

 

 

 

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