Heavy Metal Contents in Four Mosses at Two Copper Mines in Northwest Guizhou,China

The Bakou and Changqinggou copper mines are both Emeishan basalt-type copper deposits.The copper is located mainly in the top and the upper part of the Permian Emeishan basalt.By using a Analyst 800 atomic absorption spectrophotometer,AF-640 atomic fluorescence spectrophotometer,and Optima 5300 V inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometer,we analyzed the contents of eight elements (Cu,Zn,Ca,Mg,Cd,Pb,Hg,and As) in Anoectangium thomsonii Mitt.,Oxystegus cylindricus (Brid.) Hilp.,Barbula rigidula (Hedw.) Mild., Regmatodon serrulatus (Dozy et Molk.) Bosch et Lac.,and corresponding substrates.The background values of Cu,Zn,Cd,and Hg exceeded the corresponding standard values.The background values of Hg and Cu were 1028 and 233 times as high as the corresponding standard values,respectively.Mercury pollution in the Changqinggou Copper Mine is more severe,while Cu content in the Bakou Copper Mine is higher.Correlation analysis showed that correlation of CuCd,ZnCa,CaPb,and HgAs were significant at the 005 level,while ZnPb was significant at the 001 level.The correlation of CuCd,ZnPb,and HgAs showed a synergistic effect,while ZnCa and CaPb showed an antagonistic effect.The accumulation coefficients of elements were prominent.The four mosses are regarded as indicators because of their absorptive capacity belong to the same level for Cu,Cd,and Pb. The four mosses could be constituted a combination for examining the enrichment of Cu, Cd, and Pb in the mining area. The use of Anoectangium thomsonii Mitt. as a characteristic indicator could control arsenic contamination and reduce content of arsenic in the mining area.