The Tellus Project : geochemical and geophysical surveys in Northern Ireland

Abstract

The Tellus Project collected geophysical and geochemical data across Northern Ireland between 2004 and 2006 that will inform management and monitoring of contaminated land. Detailed low-level airborne geophysical data were acquired; pollution plumes and waste dumps may be detected by these means under certain conditions. 22,000 soil and stream samples were collected in rural and urban areas for geochemical analysis. These geochemical results provide a new and consistent baseline standard for some 55 elements and compounds across Northern Ireland. The new geochemical maps of soils and streams provides a standard against which to monitor change and a means of identifying abnormally depleted or potentially toxic levels of elements or compounds. Levels of certain metals, notably nickel, chromium, arsenic and copper exceed the Soil Guideline Values over large areas of Northern Ireland, which largely reflects natural levels of these elements in underlying bedrock. Levels of certain metals are high over parts of Belfast, and may partly reflect industrial activity, but levels of most metals are generally lower than other industrial cities of UK surveyed in this way by the British Geological Survey