Chemistry as a tool for historical research: Identifying paths of historical mercury pollution in the Hispanic new world

Guerrero, Saúl

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127833 Copy

Description

Title

Chemistry as a tool for historical research: Identifying paths of historical mercury pollution in the Hispanic new world

Author(s)

Guerrero, Saúl

Issue Date

2012-09-15

Keyword(s)

• History
• Chemistry
• History mercury pollution hispanic new world

Abstract

This article uses the chem. of the reactions that occur during the amalgamation of silver ores to identify and quantify the different mercury loss vectors that resulted from the amalgamation process as practiced in the Hispanic New World. Generally, the impact of historical mercury loss from silver refining centers needs to be re-examd. on the basis that most of mercury would have been washed away or buried as solid calomel, together with the even larger amt. of detritus from the amalgamation operation. The combined risk that calomel and elemental mercury posed to people and the environment during two and a half centuries of continuous silver amalgamation in the Hispanic New World is currently under study.

Publisher

Division of the History of Chemistry

ISSN

1053-4385

Type of Resource

text

Genre of Resource

article

Language

eng

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127833

DOI

https://doi.org/10.70359/bhc2012v037p072

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2012 Division of the History of Chemistry

Owning Collections