This study compares the differences between the distribution of trace elements and rare-earth elements (REEs) formed under reducing and oxidizing soil conditions during pedogenesis on carbonate ...bedrock. Terra rossa (TR) soils, representing pedogenesis under oxic conditions, and Cretaceous palaeosols (CP), representing pedogenesis under reducing conditions, were sampled on the Istrian peninsula. They were studied by ICP-MS, ICP-OES, XRF, XRD, sequential extraction and statistical analyses. The differences in trace-element behaviour between the TR and CP stem from different redox conditions, but the most remarkable difference was observed in the behaviour of the REEs. Statistical analyses revealed that in TR soils all the REEs showed a very positive correlation, while in CPs the light REEs and heavy REEs showed an internal, very positive correlation. TR soils have almost twice as much REEs as CPs. This difference is pedogenetic, as both materials have a very similar amount of REEs in the residual fraction. While TR soils have the same amount of REEs in fractions other than the residual fraction, CPs have almost no REEs in these fractions. Different REE patterns obtained from sequential extraction, such as a middle-REE enrichment and a positive Ce anomaly in TR soils and light-REE depletion, heavy-REE enrichment, positive Ce and Eu anomalies in CPs, contributed to an understanding of the redox and pedogenetic processes. This study successfully emphasized the influence of different redox conditions on the behaviour of trace and rare-earth elements during pedogenesis on a carbonate bedrock and the ability of the REEs to track pedogenetic processes.
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•Reducing and oxidizing conditions during soil formation on carbonate bedrock produce significant differences.•Trace element behaviour differs strongly between terra rossa and Cretaceous palaeosols.•Multivariate statistical analysis of REE revealed striking differences in both materials.•Rare earth element data reliably captured the pedogenetic history of both materials.•Cerium anomalies were observed in both materials.
The Kombat tailings dam, surrounded by agricultural lands, has been exposed to water and wind erosion over a long period of time. The objectives of this research were: (1) to characterize the ...tailings and the surrounding agricultural soils with respect to the mineral and trace element composition; (2) to determine the degree of soil pollution using soil contamination indicators; (3) to assess the environmental risk of polluted agricultural soil; and (4) to identify dominant type (mechanical and/or chemical) and dominant agent (water and/or wind) of metal dispersion from the tailings. A sequential extraction procedure was used to determine binding mechanisms involved in the retention of metals in tailings and soils under the influence of tailings, which indicate the trace metals bioavailability, the threat to groundwater pollution, as well as the dominant type of dispersion. Among seven analysed elements, copper and lead showed significantly high concentrations in tailings, especially in dry season (up to 9086mg/kg and 5589mg/kg, respectively). As a consequence, adjacent arable soils have high concentrations of Cu and Pb (up to 150mg/kg and 164mg/kg, respectively). Enrichment factors for lead and copper reveal severe contamination, while geoaccumulation indices disclose moderate to strong contamination by both elements. The combined pollution index points out high contamination. The main binding phase for Cu and Pb is the reducible fraction (oxides, hydroxides, oxyhydroxides). Similar metal distributions in the sequential extraction fractions of tailings and soils support the assumption that wind and water disperse tailings predominantly by mechanical transport to the surrounding agricultural soil. Although agricultural soils are contaminated with Pb and Cu, these metals are relatively strongly bound to the soils and are of medium risk for their mobilisation after The Risk Assessment Code (up to 20% for Cu and up to 36% for Pb). Though rehabilitation of tailings dam, as well as limitation of certain crop use on polluted agricultural land, is recommended.
•Arable soil adjacent to Kombat tailings is highly polluted by Pb and Cu.•Environmental risk of Pb and Cu in soil is medium.•It is recommended to limit the use of certain crops in order to reduce health risk.•Wind prevails over water as the agent of material transfer from tailings into soil.
Stream sediment is widely used as a medium in geochemical surveys. This study examined major element chemical composition of stream sediment produced by weathering in lithologically diverse terrain. ...Such sediment represents mixed sediment, therefore, the aim was to interpret its provenance and model the transitions within its major element composition. The particular interest was to link major element composition, mineral composition and the sediment source rocks. In order to interpret the sediment origin principal component analysis was employed and representative samples with highest and lowest scores were analysed for mineral composition. Scores also suggested four lithology-based groups of stream sediment samples. Transitions between groups were described with linear models for compositional data. Despite the ambiguity, links between major element composition, mineral composition and provenance were established. Besides sorting out sources of mixed sediment and minerals which control the transitions, this study contributes to general understanding of the Psunj Mt. geology, while the results can be used in geochemical surveys in areas of a similar geological setting.
•Provenance of stream sediment from the Psunj Mt. is interpreted.•Transitions in chemical compositions are modelled.•Links between major element and rock-forming mineral compositions are established.•Compositional data statistical methodology is employed.
Consideration of multiperiod archaeological sites to understand the mechanisms of large-scale cultural changes is still a very rare research topic in Croatia. Technological traditions are of great ...importance, especially in the context of considering continuity, innovation, and change. In this paper, we used an archaeometric approach to investigate pottery technology. Therefore, this article presents an analysis of petrography and mineralogy of archaeological ceramics and potential raw materials collected in the vicinity of the multi-period archaeological site (the Neolithic through the Medieval period) Jagodnjak-Krčevine located in eastern Croatia, i.e. the south-western part of the Pannonian Basin. The primary goal is to determine what kind of clay recipe (clay and temper) potters used to make vessels in order to better understand their variability in the context of techno-functional features. The additional objective is to examine the availability and quality of clays for pottery production and to study their distribution in the local landscape. The analytical methods applied in the research are optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and grain size analysis. The comparison of archaeological ceramics with clayey materials established that ancient potters used locally available clays, and the selection of temper material added to the clay represents a strong element of techno-tradition, which is more pronounced for prehistoric communities. Furthermore, these results represent the first research in Croatia focused on a discussion about distances that potters travelled to obtain their resources in the different periods of the past, which can contribute to the study of a regional system of production and landscape use.
Groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) include valuable ecosystems such as springs, wetlands, rivers, lakes and lagoons. The protection of these systems and services they provide is highlighted by ...international agreements, i.e. Ramsar convention on wetlands, and regional legislation, i.e. the European Water Framework Directive. Groundwater provides water, nutrients and a relatively stable temperature. However, the role of groundwater in surface ecosystems is not fully understood. The ecosystem can depend on groundwater directly or indirectly, and the reliance can be continuous, seasonal or occasional. This has implications for the vulnerability of ecosystems, as some may be easily affected by external pressure. Conceptual models and quantitative assessments of how groundwater interacts with the environment are needed. GDEs are also threatened by different land use activities and climate change. Hence, we need to understand how GDEs are affected by changes in groundwater quantity and quality, as severe groundwater changes have been observed in many regions. This study examines key aspects of GDEs (hydrogeology, geochemistry and biodiversity) in order to improve conceptual understanding of the role of groundwater in such ecosystems. The status and baseline of different types of GDEs are discussed, with particular emphasis on past evidence of environmental change and potential thresholds and threats in GDEs in various parts of Europe with different land use, climate and geology.
The Adria region which includes the countries of: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, and corresponds to the Dinarides, northwesternmost Hellenides, and ...the Vardar zone, has a long history of mining. Here, the main strengths and challenges of the mineral sector of the Adria region were assessed using the following methodology: (1) presentation of the current status of mineral exploration and exploitation, (2) SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis on parameters including geological potential, economic environment, legal and regulatory framework, innovation and technology framework, environmental protection and land use planning, governmental and social potential, human resources and educational potential, (3) Gap analysis, and (4) integration of the results obtained in the development of a roadmap for the actions required to promote investments in the mineral sector in the Adria region. The main strengths of the regional mineral sector include the significant mineral potential due to a favourable geological setting, significant reserves, a long mining tradition, and active exploration areas, as well as a significant number of active and abundant mines and the availability of secondary raw materials. Nevertheless, there are many challenges that the mineral sector faces, such as difficulties in ensuring social acceptance, a lack of new exploration campaigns in many areas, estimation of resources or reserves that do not follow international codes and standards, regulations related to environmental issues in the mineral sector of Adria countries that do not comply with European legislation, and the limited availability of qualified technical, scientific and managerial personnel involved in the whole mineral cycle. Therefore, actions and measures such as awareness campaigns to highlight the significance of Raw Materials in the sustainable development of the region, further exploration, reserves calculation in alignment with internationally recognized codes, harmonization with spatial plans, and reforms to attract investors and capacity building programs should be taken for further development of the Adria region’s mineral sector in a sustainable manner.
(2022), who present the main metallic mineral resources (bauxite, lead and zinc), abundant non-metallic mineral resources (industrial minerals and construction materials) and secondary mineral ...resources (in particular, aluminous red mud and Pb and Zn operational and abandoned mine tailings, bottom and fly ash from thermal power plants, slag from steel production, and marlstone and limestone from hanging walls of coal deposits) and waste rock for aggregate production. (2022) have produced a basic characterization of selected tailings of active and abandoned mines in Serbia (Bor, porphyry Cu/Au; Krivelj, porphyry Cu/Au; Blagodat, hydrothermal Pb-Zn; Lece, epithermal Au; Rudnik, hydrothermal/ skarn Pb-Zn) and North Macedonia (Sasa, Pb-Zn; Probištip, PbZn; Bučim, porphyry Cu; Lojane, fault-bound vein-type low-temperature As, Sb, Cr at the contact of rhyolite and serpentinite). Social acceptance of future mining operations no longer depends solely on the economic or strategic value of the discovered resources, but also the transparency and community inclusion, wider-society benefits, and sustainability of the presented projects.
Weathering processes cause significant changes in the engineering properties of rocks. Slope instability in flysch rock formations along the northern Adriatic coast of Croatia is related to the ...effects of weathering on the shear strength of siltstones from the flysch rock mass. Therefore, changes in geotechnical properties according to weathering grade are of immense importance in relation to instability processes. In this work, we investigated siltstones from flysch rock masses in the study area, and evaluated changes in engineering properties due to weathering. The research began with field observations and determination of the strength of different weathering grades of siltstones in the area. Mineralogical and laboratory studies were subsequently conducted, and mineral content was determined for siltstones of different weathering grades. We also performed a series of drying–wetting cycles to simulate natural conditions of the weathering process involved in the disintegration of the rock material into sand-sized and smaller particles. This weathering process resulted in disintegration of the siltstone rock mass into smaller particles that were not a unique rock block, with the soil-like material consisting of unbound particles of rock. Laboratory tests were also carried out on the soil-like material to determine the specific gravity, grain size distribution, Atterberg limits and residual shear strength for the different weathering grades of siltstones. Based on this research, we determined the changes in engineering properties for different weathering grades. Our results underscore the significant influence of the weathering process on mineral content, cation exchange capacity, liquid limit and residual shear strength, thus affecting slope stability in siltstones in flysch rock masses.
This paper presents a conceptual model of the Zagreb aquifer system. The conceptual model can be applied to groundwater status risk assessment and pollution risk assessment at the local scale, thus ...satisfying both environmental and preventative/limitation objectives of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Groundwater Directive (GWD). Its main purpose is to apply a risk assessment procedure, according to the WFD requirements, and to serve as a foundation for setting up a numerical model of flow in both the saturated and unsaturated zones in order to identify pressure and impact effects on groundwater quality. The model is divided into two parts, taking into account the WFD requirement to assess a risk for a wide range of source-pathway-receptor relationships. The Global Conceptual Model (GCM) provides insight into the processes and pressures at the level of the groundwater system. It contains the geological and hydrogeological characterization of the Zagreb aquifer system and the description of the most significant point and diffuse sources and pathways of pollution and processes influencing pollutant behaviour in saturated and unsaturated zone of the groundwater system. The main pollutants of the Zagreb aquifer system are potentially toxic metals, nitrates, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and chlorinated aliphatics. A Local Conceptual Model (LCM) supports parameterization of the whole groundwater system through the description of heterogeneities and flow and solute parameters of the system components at two sites representing local conditions in the saturated (Stara Loza) and unsaturated (Kosnica) zones. This concept can be regarded as an effective tool for groundwater management of the groundwater system and its compartments and for communicating the conditions in complex groundwater systems with experts, policy makers and general public in an understandable way.
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