This study reports history and the original architectural design of the Miners’ Theatre in Idrija. This theatre is usually considered to be the oldest such building in Slovenia and in 2001 it was ...declared a cultural monument of national importance. The building shape was typical of numerous small stand-alone theatres throughout Central Europe in the 18th century. The original design was later changed several times until it has reached the actual aspect. To analyse the acoustic characteristics of the current room (often named “Film Theatre”), an acoustic survey was carried out and several acoustic parameters defined in the ISO 3382-1 standard, were calculated and analysed. To study the acoustic characteristics of the theatre in its original shape, a numerical model was realized and properly validated. The simulations of three different scenarios were performed and the results obtained from the simulation have been analysed and commented.
Suspended matter (SM) plays an important role in the transport of mercury (Hg) in aquatic systems. Information about Hg-species in this material is crucial to understand risk potential, especially ...for Hg methylation and bioavailability. In the Idrija Hg mine (Slovenia) cinnabar (α-HgS) was mined and processed for centuries. These activities caused contamination of the Idrijca river system by dumping of ore roasting residues, as well as atmospheric Hg deposition in soils attributed to excessive Hg emissions from the roasting plant. Cinnabar is the dominant Hg-species in the coarse-grained sediments of the Idrijca river where Hg methylation is generally low, whereas natural-organic-matter-bound Hg (NOM-bound) has caused intense Hg methylation in the Gulf of Trieste (GT), the final sink for Hg released from the Idrijca catchment. Hydrology of the Idrijca river is characterized by high discharge events during heavy rains and snowmelt, which transports large amounts of SM towards the GT. However, the dominant Hg-species transported in SM and their specific source under varying hydrological conditions is largely unknown, yet crucial to predict future transport of bioavailable Hg forms from the mining area to the GT.
We analyzed Hg concentrations and Hg-species (Hg-thermo-desorption) in SM and different grain size fractions of soils from the Idrijca catchment to evaluate changes in solid phase Hg-species under low and high flow conditions. Concentrations of dissolved Hg did not change significantly during low and high flow (median: 21.3–28.1 ng L−1, respectively). Hg concentrations in SM in tributaries decreased with distance (∼30 km) from the mine from 32.7 to 0.47 mg kg−1 related to Hg concentrations in fine particulate soil fractions (0.45–20 μm) which ranged from 56.2 to 0.53 mg kg−1. Hg speciation in SM was dominated by NOM-bound Hg forms at low flow (median: 95.5%) which decrease during high flow conditions (median: 53.8%) attributed to increased mobilization of cinnabar from riverbanks and mine residues. Our results show that aqueous Hg transport in the Idrija mining area is dominated by heavy rain events and mobilization of NOM-bound Hg from soils indicating that the frequency of heavy rain events will control transport of bioavailable Hg to the marine environment.
•Idrija-soils are the main source of bioavailable mercury for the aquatic system.•Organically-bound Hg forms are transported as river-suspended matter.•Erosion of coarse-grain fractions increase the relative abundance of cinnabar.•Mercury speciation is grain-size dependent.•Weather conditions and hydrology predominantly control mercury species distribution.
A crucial step towards developing a more complete understanding of mercury (Hg) biogeochemical cycling in coastal environments is the measurement of the fluxes of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), at ...the water-air interface (W-A interface). A floating flux chamber coupled with a real-time atomic adsorption spectrometer (Lumex-RA 915M) was applied to measure GEM concentrations, and to estimate the diurnal evasion flux at the W-A interface during three seasonal campaigns at four selected sites: two in a lagoon-based fish farm, one in an open lagoon environment highly impacted by long-term activities from the Idrija mercury mine (Slovenia), and an uncontaminated area of the Gulf of Trieste, the Bay of Piran (Slovenia). In this study, the regional background concentration measured at the uncontaminated site of atmospheric GEM (from 1.60 ± 0.95 to 2.87 ± 1.52 ng m−3) was determined. GEM fluxes at the W-A interface were found to be significantly higher during the summer (from 51.2 ± 8.8 ng m−2 h−1 to 79.9 ± 11.4 ng m−2 h−1) and correlated to incident solar radiation and water temperature. This finding confirms the importance of these two parameters in the photoreduction and biotic reduction of Hg2+ to dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM), which is volatile and easily released to the atmosphere in the form of GEM. These new insights will be of help for future estimates of Hg mass balance in one of the most contaminated areas in the Adriatic Sea.
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•Diurnal fluxes of elemental mercury were investigated at the water-air interface.•A dynamic floating chamber and absorption spectrometer were used in the field.•Solar radiation and water temperature significantly influenced mercury evasion.•Highest fluxes of gaseous elemental mercury were found during summer season.•Night testing is needed to detect possible mercury evasion without sunlight.
The northern Adriatic Sea is well known for mercury (Hg) contamination mainly due to historical Hg mining which took place in Idrija (Slovenia). The formation of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) and ...its subsequent volatilisation can reduce the amount of Hg available in the water column. In this work, the diurnal patterns of both DGM production and gaseous elemental Hg (Hg0) fluxes at the water-air interface were seasonally evaluated in two selected environments within this area, a highly Hg-impacted, confined fish farm (VN: Val Noghera, Italy) and an open coastal zone less impacted by Hg inputs (PR: Bay of Piran, Slovenia). A floating flux chamber coupled with a real-time Hg0 analyser was used for flux estimation in parallel with DGM concentrations determination through in-field incubations. Substantial DGM production was observed at VN (range = 126.0–711.3 pg L−1) driven by both strong photoreduction and possibly dark biotic reduction, resulting in higher values in spring and summer and comparable concentrations throughout both day and night. Significantly lower DGM was observed at PR (range = 21.8–183.4 pg L−1). Surprisingly, comparable Hg0 fluxes were found at the two sites (range VN = 7.43–41.17 ng m−2 h−1, PR = 0–81.49 ng m−2 h−1), likely due to enhanced gaseous exchanges at PR thanks to high water turbulence and to the strong limitation of evasion at VN by water stagnation and expected high DGM oxidation in saltwater. Slight differences between the temporal variation of DGM and fluxes indicate that Hg evasion is more controlled by factors such as water temperature and mixing conditions than DGM concentrations alone. The relative low Hg losses through volatilisation at VN (2.4–4.6% of total Hg) further confirm that static conditions in saltwater environments negatively affect the ability of this process in reducing the amount of Hg retained in the water column, therefore potentially leading to a greater availability for methylation and trophic transfer.
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•Direct investigation of 24 h gaseous mercury fluxes in highly impacted coastal area.•Floating flux chamber coupled with a real-time spectrometer was used in the field.•Notable Hg dark reduction and evasion during night at impacted confined fish farm.•Relevant emissions due to turbulence at open coastal site despite low Hg levels.•Static conditions can increase Hg residence time and availability in water column.
Road sediments from gully pots of the drainage system and stream sediments from local streams were investigated for the first time in the urban area of Idrija town, the central part of the second ...largest and strongly contaminated Hg mining district in the world. Hg concentrations in road sediments were lower than in stream sediments. They ranged from 16 to 110 mg/kg (Md = 29 mg/kg) for <0.125 mm particles and from 7 to 125 mg/kg (Md = 35 mg/kg) for <0.04 mm particles, while Hg concentrations in stream sediments ranged from 10 to 610 mg/kg (Md = 95 mg/kg) for <0.125 particles and from 10 to 440 mg/kg (Md = 105 mg/kg) for <0.04 mm particles. High Hg loadings in stream sediments were successfully linked with identified mercury sources (rocks containing mercury ore, areas of former ore roasting sites, ore residue dumps), because they are located in the drainage areas of streams, from which the sediments were collected. Links between Hg loadings in road sediments and identified mercury sources were not recognized. Solid phases of Hg were determined by thermo-desorption technique and are similar for both types of sediments. Results show the occurrence of three different forms: elemental mercury, mercury bound to matrix components and cinnabar. Approximately 50 % of Hg in samples consist of non-cinnabar fractions. This is important, since they are potentially bioavailable. An interesting new discovery according to previous research of environmental media from Idrija area by solid-phase Hg thermo-desorption technique is that elemental mercury was determined in almost all investigated sediments in minor amounts (Md = 3 %).
The distribution and transport of Hg and other elements were studied in aquatic systems draining contaminated ancient Hg ore roasting sites Pšenk and Frbejžene trate in Idrija surroundings. Hg ...concentrations in sediments at the studied roasting site areas were found extremely high, ranging from 18 to 1240mg/kg (average 387mg/kg) in the <0.063mm grain-size fraction, and from 48 to 1080 (average 456mg/kg) in the <0.125mm fraction. Further downstream along the Padarjeva grapa Stream, which drains both contaminated areas, Hg concentrations were 330–2040 (average 721mg/kg; for <0.125mm) and 380–840 (average 531mg/kg; for <0.04mm). Increased Hg concentrations were found in the Idrijca River sediments downstream of the Padarjeva grapa Stream confluence. The results of our investigation have proved that Hg-loaded materials are not only still present at the roasting sites, but are intensively eroded and transported downstream during high waters. Consequently they have significant influence on the Idrijca River sediment contamination. Delivery of Hg contaminants from historically contaminated roasting sites via Padarjeva grapa Stream during heavy rainfalls was most intense during operation of the roasting sites, but remains an ongoing issue.
•Stream sediments are highly contaminated with Hg.•Strong effect of ancient Hg ore roasting sites on the Idrijca River sediment contamination•Delivery of Hg by storm waters from ancient roasting sites is an ongoing issue.
Although the mining activity of the Idrija mine in Slovenia ceased in 1995, a large amount of mining dregs containing high concentrations of mercury remains in the area. The mining dregs were ...transported with river flow and deposition along the Idrija River. To estimate the dispersion and change in the chemical form of mercury, a total of 28 soil core samples were taken around the river. The individual core samples were separated into layers for the analysis of their chemical composition, carbon contents, total mercury (T-Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations. The chemical composition measured by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry was useful to estimate the dispersion of tailings: the fluvial terrace soil had a chemical composition similar to that of the tailings and could be distinguished clearly from the forest soil. The highest T-Hg concentration, 1,100 mg kg
−1
, was observed in the fluvial terrace soil near the mine. Although the concentration decreased gradually along with distance from the mine, concentrations higher than 200 mg kg
−1
of T-Hg were still observed in the fluvial terrace soil approximately 20 km downstream from the mine. In the vertical distribution of T-Hg in the hillslope soil, a higher value was observed in the upper layers, which suggests the recent atmospheric deposition of mercury. The concentration of MeHg was the lowest at the riverside and higher in the hillslope soil, which was the opposite of the T-Hg distribution. The total organic carbon content tracked similarly with the distribution of MeHg and a linear relation with a significantly high correlation coefficient was obtained. The distinction may be related to the different dispersion process of mercury, and the organic carbon contents may be an important factor for MeHg formation.
Several archaeological sites from the Late Iron Age have recently been discovered in Posočje, a region along the upper and middle reaches of the River Soča/Isonzo (NW Slovenija, NE fringes of Italy), ...which compel us to re -examine the Latenisation of the region. Supra -regional La Tène forms began to appear in the material culture at the end of the Early Iron Age, in the late 4th and early 3rd centuries BC. This was followed by a marked decrease in habitation remains, a ‘hundred -year crisis’ with very little archaeological evidence available for the time between the initial decades of the 3rd and the mid-2nd century BC. The picture then changed again with the rise of the Late Iron Age Idrija group, as most of the sites connected with this group date between 150/130 BC and the Augustan period. This is also the period of the first ancient literary sources mentioning the wider area, which inspire ever newer attempts at ethnic identifications of the population living there. The sources reveal that the Romans appear to have associated the area with the Carni.
Located in central Europe at the junction of the Southern Alps and the Dinarides, the ≈100km long Idrija fault, striking N310 and dipping ≈80°NE is often considered as the potential source of the ...historical 1511 earthquake (estimated macroseismic magnitude: Mm 6.8). Using 1/25,000 to 1/5000 topographical maps, satellite images (SPOT5), 12.5m illuminated DEM and airborne LiDAR data-derived 1-m-DEM, we examined in detail the Idrija fault trace along a 20-km-long swath in the central portion of the fault. Combining topographic and remote sensing data allows characterizing the recent activity along the Idrija fault and estimating its cumulative displacement along strike.
Between Tolmin and Godovič, the fault trace is mostly linear but appears divided into three disconnected segments of 11–20-km-long. Morphological evidences such as offset streams and ridges and major drainage abandonments suggest ongoing movement. At three sites, field observations and LiDAR-DEM analysis allow measuring cumulative dextral offsets comprised between 35 and 65m. We found two larger offsets of ≈140m and ≈360m at the southeasternmost site. The vertical component is significant and revealed by a rake ranging from 0 to 33°. The derived N303–N310 striking slip-vector is in agreement with the motion along this fault as suggested by the geodesy. Assuming that the smallest measured offsets have been recorded after the last glacial maximum (LGM, about 20ka ago), the minimum slip-rate for the Idrija fault is about 1.5mm/yr over this period of time.
•We provide a detailed mapping of the central portion of the Idrija fault trace.•We quantified cumulative offsets along the fault ranging between 35 and 360m.•A significant vertical component has been found beside the main horizontal motion.•The calculated slip-vector across the fault is in agreement with geodetic data.•The estimated Idrija fault slip-rate is comprised between 1.8 and 3.9mm/yr.
The presented study deals with the distribution of mercury (Hg) binding forms, water-soluble Hg fraction and bioaccessible Hg fraction in the urban soil of Idrija, where the world's second largest Hg ...mine is situated. Mercury had been extracted for 500years, leaving behind a legacy of highly contaminated soils and aqueous ecosystems.
The soil was sampled at two different depths (0–10cm and 10–20cm) in 45 locations situated in urban green spaces. Additionally, four garden soil samples were collected in order to compare the results with respect to land use. Solid-phase Hg binding forms were determined with the Hg thermal desorption technique, aqueous Hg mobility with the use of water leaching test and gastric bioaccesibility with the use of simulated stomach acid extraction.
The results of the Hg thermal desorption measurements detected the presence of matrix-bound Hg and cinnabar, which are very similarly distributed at both soil depths. The median relative amount of matrix-bound Hg, which is potentially transformable, is ~40%, whereas that of cinnabar is mostly immobile, at ~60%. Water-soluble Hg concentrations range between 3.9 and 106.5μg/kg corresponding to 0.002%–1.2% of aqua regia soluble Hg (ARS Hg) in topsoils (n=45), and between 2.7 and 178.7μg/kg (0.001%–0.29% of ARS Hg) in subsoils (n=45). In garden soils (n=4), water-soluble Hg ranges between 20.3 and 48.8μg/kg (0.01%–0.09% of ARS Hg), and the concentrations remain within the concentrations in adjacent urban top- and subsoil. Gastric bioaccessible concentrations range between 0.9 and 166.1μg/kg (0.002%–3.3% of ARS Hg) in topsoils (n=44). Gastric bioaccessible Hg in garden soils (n=4) ranges between 74.7 and 442.2μg/kg (0.02%–2.04% of ARS Hg), showing similar or higher concentrations than in adjacent urban topsoils, which indicates a possible positive influence of gardening practices on gastric Hg bioaccessibility.
Both water-soluble and gastric bioaccessible concentrations in Idrija's urban soil are increased and, as such, important for the local population due to their long-term daily-based exposure. While water-soluble Hg may lead to elevated Hg concentrations in edible plants or groundwater, gastric bioaccessible Hg may lead to elevated concentrations of Hg in the target vulnerable groups of population (children and gardeners), who often undergo hand-to-mouth exposure.
•The study uses a comprehensive dataset of geochemical data.•Hg distribution and mobility was tested in a critically Hg polluted urban soil.•Water-soluble and bioaccessible Hg concentrations are elevated in Idrija's soil.•About 40% of Hg is bound to potentially transformable Hg matrix components.
