Multi-element, multi-medium regional geochemistry in the European Arctic: element concentration, variation and correlation

A multi-medium, multi element regional geochemical survey has been carried out in an 188,000 km(2) area in the Central Barents Region, Finland, Norway and Russia. Four different sample materials (terrestrial moss, O-, B- and C-horizons of podzol) were collected at the same sites throughout the area at a density of 1 site/300 km(2). While moss predominantly reflects the atm ospheric input of elements, the O-horizon reflects the complex interplay be tween atmosphere, biosphere and lithosphere. The B-horizon can be used to s tudy the influence of soil-forming processes? while the C-horizon represent s the composition of the lithosphere at each sample site and thus the geoge nic background. The concentration, variation and correlation between 24 ele ments (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Si, Sr, Th, V, Zn) analysed with similar techniques in all 4 materials are compared. Some rare trace elements (Ag, As, Bi, Cd. Pb) appear to be consi derably more enriched in the O-horizon of podzoIs than the main pollutants in the survey area (Ni, Cu, Co from the Russian nickel industry in Monchego rsk and Nikel-Zapoljarnij). Biological processes play an underestimated rol e in determining regional geochemistry at the earth's surface. (C) 2001 Els evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.