CorrelationandpathanalysismethodswereusedtostudytherelationshipbetweensoilpropertiesandthedistributionofdifferentsoilHgfractionswithninerepresentativesoilsfromChongqing,China.Resultsshowedthatclay(＜2m)couldincreasewater-solubleHg(r=0.700*).Soilorganicmatter(OM)couldenhancetheincreaseofelementalHg(r=0.674*).Thehigherthebasesaturationpercentage(BSP),themoretheresidualHg(r=0.684*).OrganicHg,thesumofacid-solubleorganicHg.andalkali-solubleHg,waspositivelyaffectedbysilt(2～20μm)butnegativelyaffectedbypH,withthedirectpathcoefficientsamountingto1.0487and0.5121,respectively.ThepositiveeffectofOMandnegativeeffectofBSPonorganicHgwerethemostsignificant,withthedirectpathcoefficientsbeing0.7614and-0.8527,respectively.Theindirecteffectofclay(＜2μm)viaBSP(pathcoefficient=0.4186)wasthehighest,showingthattherealinfluencingfactorintheeffectofclay(＜2μm)onacid-solubleorganicHgwasBSP.SincetheavailableHgfraction,water-solubleHg,waspositivelyaffectedbysoilclaycontent,andthequiteimmobileandnotbioavailableresidualHgbysoilBSP,suitablereductionofclaycontentandincreaseofBSPwouldbeofmuchhelptoreducetheHgavailabilityandHgactivityinHg-contaminatedsoils.
