The concentrations and distributions of major (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg), minor (Mn, P, Ti), and trace elements (Ag, As, Ba, Be, Co, Cr, Cu, Ag, La, Ni, Pb, Sc, Sr, Th, U, V, Zn, Zr), in the surficial sea ...bottom sediments were studied in an attempt to establish their distribution in the Adriatic Sea. Results indicate that major, minor and several trace elements are strongly related to the catchment geology, their distribution being essentially controlled by the type of sediments. However, the majority of trace elements are believed to have been introduced into the Adriatic from the riverine inflows that are also affected by the impact of industrial, mining and urban wastes. Other sources of these elements are located along the coast. The highest concentrations for several trace elements were thus recorded from the coastal ecosystems and from the most polluted Albanian and Italian rivers. The concentrations of trace elements generally decrease with distance from the coast. The regional distribution patterns are influenced by the counter-clockwise system of the Adriatic Sea currents which carry these elements away from the riverine inflows. Correlation analysis indicates that the trace elements are largely associated with the clay minerals, Fe and P contents rather than with the Mn concentrations. Magnesian minerals are suggested as the carrier for some trace elements (As, Co, Cr, Ni, Se and V) only in the southern Adriatic, which reflects their ophiolitic origin in the Albanian hinterland. Organic matter concentrations does not considerably influence the abundance and distribution of trace metals.
Stream and flood plain sediments along the valley of the Idrijca River were systematically sampled. Upstream of the mercury mining town of Idrija, the Hg in stream sediment varies around 2 mg/kg. ...Mecury contents in the region from Idrija downstream to the town of Spodnja Idrija are from 100 to 1, 000 mg/kg. Downstream from Spodnja Idrija, sediments contain lower Hg (from 5 to 300 mg/kg). Recent overbank sediments are enriched relative to the stream sediments downstream of Idrija. River flood plain sediments that represent an accumulation of polluted sediments have Hg contents of 100 to 200 mg/kg.
Soil samples were collected at 147 locations in a 1
km
2 grid pattern in southern Austria and northern Slovenia in order to evaluate natural versus anthropogenic influences of Pb–Zn mining and ...smelting activities in this area. The territory consists predominantly of Triassic limestones and dolomites containing Pb and Zn ore bodies. Total concentrations of 26 chemical elements in 507 soil samples were determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Elemental distributions were studied by univariate statistical analysis and by
R-mode factor analysis. 79% of the total variability in data is explained by four factors. The factor that is loaded with Pb and Zn explains more than 10% of the variance. Results of the statistical analysis were plotted as elemental and factor score geochemical maps. The results show that concentrations of most elements increase on the average with soil depth. Several elements (Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) tend to accumulate in organic horizons. They indicate heavy airborne technogenic pollution from the time of operation of the smelter at Žerjav. Geochemical maps indicate distinctions in elemental concentrations in soils on different bedrock and in different soil types as well as sources of elemental enhancement in soils. Besides the significant technogenic anomaly of Pb and Zn in the top few centimetres of the soil in the vicinity of the smelter, geogenic influence of mineralized bedrock on illuvial horizons in several places is indicated.
Idrija mine, the second largest mercury mine in the world, was in use since 1490. More than 107 000 tons of Hg were produced in its five centuries of history until 1990 when production was reduced to ...a few hundred kilos per year. The average recovery rate of mercury has been estimated to 73%; much of the remaining 27% was dissipated into the environment. In spite of present minimal levels of production, and only a few days of smelter operation per year, a real time survey with a mercury Zeeman analyser in a car showed relatively high mercury concentrations in the air. Amounts of 300--4000 ng Hg ^sup m-3^ have been found around both the major sources of mercury vapour, the smelter and mine ventilation shaft -- while the amounts at the Old Place, at the City Museum, and near the Nikova-Idrijca confluence are of the order of 50 ng m^sup -3^. Polluted air will be transported from those sources to a degree which depends on the weather conditions, mainly the direction and intensity of the wind. The high mercury contents in the air are not only due to anthropogenic sources (smelter and the ventilation shaft, dumps and smelter slag used in construction), but may also partly be natural as in the Pront area, where the outcropping bedrock contains native mercury.PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
The concentrations and distributions of major (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg), minor (Mn, P, Ti), and trace elements (Ag, As, Ba, Be, Co, Cr, Cu, Ag, La, Ni, Pb, Sc, Sr, Th, U, V, Zn, Zr), in the surficial sea ...bottom sediments were studied in an attempt to establish their distribution in the Adriatic Sea. Results indicate that major, minor and several trace elements are strongly related to the catchment geology, their distribution being essentially controlled by the type of sediments. However, the majority of trace elements are believed to have been introduced into the Adriatic from the riverine inflows that are also affected by the impact of industrial, mining and urban wastes. Other sources of these elements are located along the coast. The highest concentrations for several trace elements were thus recorded from the coastal ecosystems and from the most polluted Albanian and Italian rivers. The concentrations of trace elements generally decrease with distance from the coast. The regional distribution patterns are influenced by the counterclockwise system of the Adriatic Sea currents which carry these elements away from the riverine inflows. Correlation analysis indicates that the trace elements are largely associated with the clay minerals, Fe and P contents rather than with the Mn concentrations. Magnesian minerals are suggested as the carrier for some trace elements (As, Co, Cr, Ni, Se and V) only in the southern Adriatic, which reflects their ophiolitic origin in the Albanian hinterland. Organic matter concentrations does not considerably influence the abundance and distribution of trace metals.
