POSSIBILITIES OF MERCURY STUDIES IN SEISMIC HAZARD ASSESSMENT AND EARTHQUAKE FORECASTING
СЕЙСМИКАЛЫҚ ҚАУІПТІ БАҒАЛАУ ЖӘНЕ ЖЕР СІЛКІСІН БОЛЖАУДА СЫНАП-МЕТРИКАЛЫҚ ЗЕРТТЕУДІҢ МҮМКІНДІКТЕРІ
ВОЗМОЖНОСТИ РТУТОМЕТРИЧЕСКИХ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЙ ПРИ ОЦЕНКЕ СЕЙСМИЧЕСКОЙ ОПАСНОСТИ И ПРОГНОЗИРОВАНИЯ ЗЕМЛЕТРЯСЕНИЙ
Abdulaziz A. Irken K.
2026National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan
News of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Series of Geology and Technical Sciences
2026#2026Issue 18 - 17 pp.
Since the mid-1960s, research aimed at identifying earthquake precursors has been conducted in many countries. The identification of reliable earthquake precursors and the development of medium- and short-term forecasts of earthquake timing and location remain important scientific challenges. Mercurymetric methods have been applied in geological exploration since the second half of the twentieth century and have demonstrated their effectiveness in detecting concealed and buried geological objects. Mercury is characterised by low chemical reactivity in both oxidative and reductive environments and exhibits lower chemical activity compared to most chemical elements. The unique physicochemical properties of mercury, particularly its high migration capacity combined with relative inertness to other gases, make it suitable for application in short-term earthquake forecasting and tectonic fault mapping. Measurements of mercury concentrations in borehole waters, atmospheric air, soil gas, surface waters and groundwater in seismically active regions reveal anomalous variations prior to earthquakes and during the aftershock stage. Modelling studies suggest that mercury release from rocks is directly related to mechanical (geodynamic) stresses occurring during earthquake preparation and seismic events. A review of previous studies on mercury concentrations in environmental media within seismically active zones indicates the considerable potential of mercurymetric methods for addressing seismological problems. The availability of modern mercurymetric instrumentation enables the determination of ultralow mercury concentrations in various environmental components, supporting the feasibility of this approach.
earthquake precursors , earthquake prediction , fault mapping , groundwater , mercury concentration , mercurymetry , near-surface atmosphere , soil gas , tectonic faults
Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи
Academician of MANEB and MAIN, National Scientific Center for Seismic Observations and Research, Almaty, Kazakhstan
National Scientific Center for Seismic Observations and Research, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Academician of MANEB and MAIN
National Scientific Center for Seismic Observations and Research
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026