Bendigo Hg samples

Description

The dataset includes records of 54 sediment samples taken from eleven former gold mining and mineral processing sites on the Bendigo goldfield in Victoria, Australia. The aim has been to analyze the geochemical and geospatial distribution of mercury (Hg) in waste materials from the goldfield. Bendigo was a globally significant, large-scale mining centre and was one of the richest goldfields in the Indo-Pacific region in the 19th century. Miners at Bendigo recovered more than 500 tonnes of gold between 1851 and the First World War, contributing substantially to the social, economic and environmental transformation of Australia. Many waste piles from this era remain in situ today in the Bendigo metropolitan area, representing a potentially toxic legacy for modern residents and authorities. Our multidisciplinary program of testing and analysis of mine waste has sought to determine the levels of mercury present and to establish if mining technology is a factor influencing spatial variability in mercury concentrations.. Mercury concentrations across the study area show clear evidence of pervasive and highly heterogeneous contamination, consistent with the legacy of historical gold mining and processing. Most samples clustering at relatively low concentrations and a smaller subset exhibit extreme enrichment. This pattern indicates that mercury is not uniformly distributed but instead concentrated in discrete hotspots, likely associated with former processing locations such as roasting sites, battery residues, and tailings deposits. The results of analysis demonstrate that mercury contamination in the study area is governed by a combination of historical processing practices, material characteristics, and ore type. Materials associated with roasting (e.g. calcines and mixed residues) and pyritic contexts represent priority targets for site-specific risk assessments and management and remediation if required. Furthermore, the persistence of elevated mercury concentrations across all sample types highlights the need for ongoing monitoring and risk assessment, particularly in areas where human exposure or environmental mobilisation may occur.

Institutions

• La Trobe University

  Victoria, Melbourne

Categories

Funders

• Australian Research Council

  Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

  Canberra

  Grant ID: DP220101967

Licence