An overview of trace elements in soils of Keana-Awe Brine-Fields, Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria

The objective of this study was to determine the concentration of trace elements in soils of Keana-Awe brine-fields. Composite soil samples were randomly collected at a depth of 0–15 cm and were analysed for molybdenum, zinc, arsenic, lead, cobalt, chromium, copper, barium and nickel using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Quantification of the degree of soil contamination by these trace elements was carried out using the enrichment factor (EF) and the geo-accumulation index (Igeo). The data were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA). The average concentrations were 1.56 ppm molybdenum, 1116.42 ppm zinc, 23.80 ppm arsenic, 71.40 ppm lead, 17.64 ppm cobalt, 237.35 ppm chromium, 24.16 ppm copper, 254.67 ppm barium and 143.71 ppm nickel. Cobalt, nickel and chromium showed positive loadings in component 1 with a total variance of 29.56%. Zinc, copper and lead showed positive loadings in component 2 with a total variance of 18.79%, while copper showed negative loading in component 3 with a total variance of 14.79%. Considering the concentration of trace elements in the soils and statistical analyses, we conclude that soils of the study area were severely enriched in molybdenum, cobalt, chromium, copper, barium, nickel, while arsenic and zinc are in excessive concentrations in the soils. These trace elements could have originated from geogenic and anthropogenic sources.DHE

Chemical composition of soil and lake sediments - an indicator of geological processes in Lithuania

Long-term multipurpose geochemical studies in Lithuania show that the chemical composition of surface sediment can be used as an indicator of geological process: duration of weathering, soil formation and thickness of sediment. The chemical composition of upper and lower soil layers and of lake sediments gives information on past sedimentation: the type and age of Quaternary deposits and the location and depth of Pleistocene glaciolacustrine basins. We therefore have a baseline to predict changes in surface chemistry provoked by current anthropogenic pressures

Vertical distribution patterns of trace and major elements within soil profile in Lithuania

The vertical distribution of the total contents assayed by Dc-Arc ES analysis of 28 trace elements and 6 major elements measured by ICP-MS within 53 complete soil profiles in Lithuania are presented. Models of the soil profiles were created, each having the master soil horizons A, E, B and C. Median values of elements in the master horizons of different texture were used in place of missing samples, while aberrant samples were discarded. The absolute average deviation () was taken to measure the variability of the data subsets and thus to check the reliability of location of the element contents within the soil profile. Within the context of the different actions of the various soil-forming processes (podzolization, lessivage, gleyfication, humification and so on) the general patterns of vertical element distribution were revealed. Element depletion is dominant in the soils of Lithuania. Themost easily removed are the alkaline elements Ca and Mg, while U, B, Th, As, Co, Cr, Sr, Y, Mo, La, Sc, Yb, Ti, P and K are depleted through the whole soil profile. Ag, Pb, Sn and Mn were defined as the accumulative elements in the surface A-horizon and might be influenced by anthropogenic or biogenic processes. A relative accumulation of Zr, Ba and Nb was observed in the surface A-horizon, and this seems to be related to the weathering of resistant minerals. Levels of Fe, Li, Al, V, Zn, Ga, Ni, Cu and Rb were ascribed to elements precipitated in the soil illuvial B-horizon due to soil formation processes. Na, K, Sr, B, U, As, Co Rb and Yb were found to be the most immobile elements within typical soil profiles, while Ag, Zn, Sc, Ba, Cu, Zr, Fe La, Th and Ca are themostmobile elements and affected by a variety of natural and human factors