Concentrations of major cations, anions and 13 trace elements in supraglaci
al and bulk meltwaters from a glaciated Alpine catchment in southern Switze
rland underlain by a predominantly silicate lithology are reported. While s
upraglacial waters are very low in dissolved ions the bulk meltwaters are,
by contrast, strongly enriched. Surprisingly, several of the trace elements
determined in this study are present in the bulk outflow at concentrations
which are similar to, and in the case of Al, Ti, Fe, Co and U greater than
the world averages for surface waters. It is suggested, therefore, that ri
ver systems fed by glaciated headwaters may derive much of their trace elem
ent load from the headwater region.