Mercury emissions from the Idrija mercury mine measured by differential absorption lidar techniques and a point monitoring absorption spectrometer

Mercury emission measurements from the Idrija mercury mine in Slovenia were performed during an early November 2003 campaign, where the differential lidar technique was used to map mercury concentrations and an attempt was made to quantify the total mercury flux from the most contaminated area, the abandoned cinnabar roasting oven complex. Lidar concentration data were compared with data recorded with a Zeeman modulated atomic absorption instrument, operated from a vehicle equipped with a GPS localization system. Concentrations and fluxes were comparatively low due to low temperature and rainfall. The average flux from the distillation plant was measured to approximately 2 g h−1.