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Where does mercury come from?

2025-11-02 12:42:29 Mother and baby

Where does mercury come from?

Mercury (mercury) is a unique metallic element best known for its liquid form and wide range of applications. However, many people know little about its origin and extraction process. This article will discuss the origin, extraction method and distribution of mercury in nature, and combine it with hot topics in the past 10 days to give you a comprehensive perspective.

1. Natural sources of mercury

Where does mercury come from?

Mercury is present in low concentrations in the earth's crust and is found primarily in ores in the form of mercury sulfide (cinnabar). The following is the main distribution of mercury in nature:

Source typeDescriptioncommon areas
cinnabar oreMercury sulfide (HgS) is the main mineral form of mercuryChina, Spain, Italy, United States
volcanic activityVolcanic eruptions release small amounts of mercury vaporPacific Ring of Fire
hydrothermal depositsSymbiosis with gold, silver and other metalssouth america andes mountains

2. Artificial extraction of mercury

Mercury is extracted industrially mainly by heating cinnabar ore. Here are the steps for traditional extraction methods:

stepsprocesschemical reaction
1. Ore crushingCrush cinnabar ore to appropriate particle sizeNone
2. Heating and calciningHeated in air to above 580°CHgS + O₂ → Hg + SO₂
3. Condensation collectionCondensate mercury vapor into liquid formNone

3. Hot topics related to mercury in the past 10 days

According to the search data of the entire Internet, the following is the recent high-profile content related to mercury:

topicheat indexMain discussion points
Phase out of mercury thermometers★★★★☆Environmental policies and alternative products
Ancient mercury refining process applied for World Heritage status★★★☆☆Cultural heritage protection and controversy
The impact of mercury pollution on marine ecology★★★★★Latest research report released

4. Modern applications and controversies of mercury

Despite mercury's unique properties, its toxicity raises widespread environmental and health concerns. The following are the current main application areas:

Application areasUsage formalternative trends
electronic equipmentswitches, relayssolid state electronic components
medical equipmentBlood pressure monitor, thermometerdigital equipment
industrial catalystChlor-alkali productionIon membrane technology

5. The history and cultural significance of mercury

Mercury has played an important role in human civilization. Ancient Chinese alchemists believed that mercury had magical properties, and large amounts of mercury were even used to simulate rivers in the Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang. In Western alchemy, mercury is regarded as one of the three principles, alongside sulfur and salt.

6. The future prospects of mercury

As environmental awareness increases, international agreements such as the Minamata Convention are driving global reductions in mercury use. Researchers are also developing safer alternatives, such as mercury alloys and functional liquid metals. It is expected that industrial mercury consumption will decrease by more than 80% in the next 20 years.

By understanding the sources and applications of mercury, we can not only understand the value of this special metal, but also view the environmental challenges it brings more rationally. Finding a balance between technological development and ecological protection will be the focus of future related research.

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