Feasibility study on the use of soil washing to remediate the As-Hg contamination at an ancient mining and metallurgy area

► Abandoned mining-metallurgy sites are usually affected by As-Hg pollution. ► We examine soil washing alternatives for an As-Hg polluted site. ► We apply novel techniques (grindability and specific-gravity tests) for washing feasibility. ► Soil washing approach proposed includes grinding of particles above 125 μm and hydrocycloning.