Salix acmophylla, Tamarix smyrnensis and Phragmites australis as biogeochemical indicators for copper deposits in Elazig, Turkey

The flora of Maden Cayl valley grows in a soil medium which is heavily cont aminated with Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and other metals derived from waste discharges to the Maden Cayl (stream) from the Maden Cu Mining works. Soil, water and plant samples were collected from 47 sites (mostly along the Maden Cayl va lley) and analysed for copper. In all the plant species, Cu was concentrate d more in the twigs of the plants than in their leaves and flowers. Correla tion coefficients (i) were calculated for the correlation between the conce ntrations of Cu in the twigs of plants and those of the corresponding soil. Statistics of correlation were as follows: Salix acmophylla r = 0.93 (n = 19, P < 0.01), Tamarix smyrnensis r = 0.93 (n = 20, P < 0.01) and Phragmite s australis r = 0.72 (n = 18, P < 0.01). Salix acmophylla, Tamarix smyrnens is and Phragmites australis are therefore good indicators of the copper con centrations in the soil and these species could be successfully used for bi ogeochemical prospecting. These species are typical and common species of t he semi-arid Anatolian climate. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r eserved.