Geochemical Atlas of Kavadarci and the Environs

Abstract

The subject of this study is to present the results of a first systematic study of spatial distribution of different chemical elements in surface soil over of the Kavadarci region known for its ferro-nickel industrial activity in the nearest past.There were several investigation of soil, vegetables and fruits produced in this region known but they were mainly concerned with contamination by nickel, iron, cobalt and chromium. Other elements were not determined though it is known that the minerals of many other heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Sb, Se, etc.) are present in iron-nickel ores used for the production of nickel in the smelter plants. The study on the atmospheric deposition of trace metals over the entire territory of the Republic of Macedonia identified the most polluted areas and characterize different pollution sources. However, it was found that the most important sources of trace metal deposition are ferrous and non-ferrous smelters including the area of Kavadarci and its surroundings. For this reason, the goal of this work was to determine the content of 36 major and trace elements in the soil from the the town og Kavadarci and its surroundings and to assess the size of the ferronickel smelter plant situated near the town