Mercury in Forest Soils of Maine and West Virginia.

The distribution of mercury (Hg) is examined within and among pedons of some extensively mapped soil series in Maine (ME) and West Virginia (WV). Hg concentrations generally decrease with depth, and are generally higher among the O horizons of series in ME than those of WV. Distributions of Hg within profiles indicate interesting patterns of translocation. Those in ME reflect Hg concentrations indicating illuviation and reprecipitation coincident with albic and spodic soil properties, respectively. Relationships to site parameters such as elevation are explored.