Completion plan for the Geochemical Baseline Survey of the Environment (G-BASE)

In response to NERC national capability (NC) prioritisation which seeks to end systematic regional geochemical mapping, this report contains options and recommendations for the completion of a national geochemical baseline by the G-BASE project by 31st March 2016. The plan delivers samples and analyses from southern England, an area estimated to be 35,500 km2, approximately 7,000 km2 of which is underlain by Chalk (and so would be unsuitable for drainage sampling). A number of options for completing a national geochemical baseline are presented based on the current G-BASE strategy but with an overall reduced sampling density. The Panalytical arrangement for XRFS analysis until January 2016 substantially reduces the analytical budget required, and is therefore a most important criterion of the completion plan. However, the Panalytical deal should not be the sole factor that drives the strategy for finishing off G-BASE. In order to maximise the science and opportunities for collaborative research secondary options are proposed for the collection of a variety of sample media from areas of greatest environmental interest. These secondary options will require additional funding to complete the non-XRFS analyses of samples which could include contributions from external organisations. The proposed work plan is primarily concerned with the “observe and monitor” part of NERC national capability. It excludes any proposal for the data interpretation, modelling and knowledge exchange, and adding value to current geochemical baseline tasks (e.g. London Earth and Clyde Basin) or anything beyond the data gathering phase of completing the geochemical mapping of southern England. It is important that the completion plan does not drive the BGS geochemistry activity into just a sample and data gathering exercise. We must continue to deliver science and information outcomes alongside completing the G-BASE baseline or we will lose the capacity to deliver any science in the future

A mineral reconnaissance of the Dent-Ingleton area of the Askrigg block, northern England

The western margin of the Askrigg Block has been investigated by regional geochemical reconnaissance. This took the form of a drainage basin survey with the collection of stream sediments (306 samples), panned concentrates (149 samples), and waters (278 samples) over an area of c.450 km2. In addition, following an observation of a moss-like plant with tolerance to high levels of base metals, a soil survey was carried out on Tow Scar, 3 km to the northwest of Ingleton. The drainage basin survey reveals no new major mineralisation though minor mineral shows have been located following investigation of some anomalous sites. The soil survey led to the discovery of minor mineralisation, which suggests that similar occurrences might exist adjacent to the Craven Fault system east of Ingleton

Normal background concentrations of contaminants in the soils of England : available data and data exploration

This draft report describes the completed Work Package 1 and 2 tasks of the Defra commissioned Science and Research Project SP1008 - Establishing data on normal/background levels of soil contamination in England. Work Package 1 (WP1) has investigated the available soil data sets that can be used to determine the Normal Background Concentrations (NBCs) for contaminants in soils from England. A database of available data set information has been created investigating the sample coverage, the sampling strategy and methods, the laboratory procedures, and the robustness, format and availability of the data. Key data sets are the British Geological Survey’s G-BASE topsoils for urban and rural areas and the National Soil Inventory (XRFS reanalysed) data which, although at a reduced sampling density compared to G-BASE, has complete coverage for both England and Wales. Supplementary minor data sets are also included in the Project’s extensive bibliographic database. There are also large data sets available that specifically target a particular land use or activity, i.e. not systematically collected, e.g. the BGS Mineral Reconnaissance Programme (MRP) soils. Such data will not be used to estimate NBCs as they will cause a substantial bias in the determinations. This data and information gathering phase will underpin subsequent work packages of this project. Work Package 1 has also addressed some key questions such as, “what are the priority contaminants?” and “what is meant by a normal background concentration?

Reduction and related phenomena in the New Red Sandstone of south-west England

This report gives an account of the geological setting of reduction features in New Red Sandstone sediments from the area around Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton in south-west England, along with a review of the state of research and investigation into these phenomena. The abundance and significance of the commonest reduction phenomena (green spherical spots) are assessed, together with geochemical and mineralogical data from recent investigations on nodule material. The lack of identifiable fossil material within the Aylesbeare Mudstone suggests that the hypothesis that the formation of reduction spots and nodules is dependent upon the presence of organic matter is neither adequate nor appropriate for the occurrences in this area. Earlier investigations had identified in some of the nodules, carbon-containing substances, the origin of which was not clear; the possible relationship of this material to the formation of the reduction features is considered

Normal background concentrations (NBCs) of contaminants in English soils : final project report

The British Geological Survey (BGS) has been commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to give guidance on what are normal levels of contaminants in English soils in support of the Part 2A Contaminated Land Statutory Guidance. This has initially been done by studying the distribution of four contaminants – arsenic, lead, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and asbestos – in topsoils from England. This work was extended to a further four contaminants (cadmium, copper, nickel and mercury) which enabled methodologies developed to be tested on a larger range of contaminants. The first phase of the Project gathered data sets that were: nationally extensive; systematically collected so a broad range of land uses were represented; and collected and analysed to demonstrably and acceptable levels of quality. Information on the soil contaminant concentrations in urban areas was of particular importance as the normal background is considered to be a combination of both natural and diffuse anthropogenic contributions to the soil. Issues of soil quality are most important in areas where these affect most people, namely, the urban environment. The two principal data sets used in this work are the BGS Geochemical Baseline Survey of the Environment (G-BASE) rural and urban topsoils (37,269 samples) and the English NSI (National Soil Inventory) topsoils (4,864 samples) reanalysed at the BGS laboratories by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS) so both data sets were highly compatible. These two data sets provide results for most inorganic element contaminants, though results explored for mercury and BaP are drawn from a variety of different and much less extensive data sets

Technical assistance in Nigeria : developing geoscience skills for tomorrow

The World Bank funded Nigerian Geochemical Mapping Technical Assistance Project was started in 2008 within the Nigerian Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, and is now nearing completion. Staff from the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), the Nigerian academic community, British Geological Survey, and Geological Survey of Finland, have worked alongside one another in a comprehensive program of practical training and knowledge exchange. This program has enabled researchers from a range of backgrounds and experience in Africa and Europe to exchange knowledge and develop important geoscience skills. As part of this program key skills in many areas including; GIS, statistics, QC, data management, laboratory analysis, sampling methodologies, has developed the knowledge and skills base within the Nigerian geosciences community, and has maintained momentum for Nigeria’s national geochemical mapping program. An important objective of the Project is knowledge exchange during training of Nigerian geoscientists in conducting regional geochemical surveys as part of a long term mapping program across Nigeria. Practical training in methodologies for geochemical mapping formed the basis of a major field campaign in 2009, during which over 100 personnel were trained in geochemical mapping techniques. A similar number of personnel were involved in specialist training through a series of workshops and training courses in Nigeria and the UK. Two field areas were selected for the geochemical mapping training — one in central Nigeria (the ‘Minna Cell’) and one in south-western Nigeria (the ‘South-western Cell’) — covering a combined area of 52 000 km2. Key challenges involved the procurement of field equipment and consumables, and modernisation of sample preparation laboratories and archiving facilities at the National Geosciences Research Laboratory, Kaduna. New sample preparation and analytical equipment has been purchased and the laboratory staff have received training in the use of the new equipment. In the long-term it is envisaged that the analytical facilities will be developed further, and that all samples will be prepared, analysed and archived in Nigeria. A national geochemical mapping programme involving multi-element analysis of stream sediment samples is used as a primary dataset in the exploration for new economic mineral deposits. Establishing a geochemical baseline is necessary in order to monitor the effects of anthropogenic activities e.g. contamination caused by industrial waste and mining activities, for environmental investigations and medical geology studies both in rural and in urban areas, as well as studies within the agricultural and forestry sectors

GSUE: urban geochemical mapping in Great Britain

The British Geological Survey is responsible for the national strategic geochemical survey of Great Britain. As part of this programme, the Geochemical Surveys of Urban Environments (GSUE) project was initiated in 1992 and to date, 21 cities have been mapped. Urban sampling is based upon the collection of top (0.05 to 0.20 m) and deeper (0.35 to 0.50 m) soil samples on a 500 m grid across the built environment (1 sample per 0.25 km2). Samples are analysed for c. 46 total element concentrations by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRFS), pH and loss on ignition (LOI) as an indicator of organic matter content. The data provide an overview of the urban geochemical signature and because they are collected as part of a national baseline programme, can be readily compared with soils in the rural hinterland to assess the extent of urban contamination. The data are of direct relevance to current UK land use planning, urban regeneration and contaminated land legislative regimes. An overview of the project and applications of the data to human health risk assessment, water quality protection and contaminant source identification are presented