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The Geochemical Atlas of Northern Europe completed

The Geochemical Atlas of Northern Europe includes information from 28 national and international projects regarding the distribution of various chemical elements into the soil and water systems. The 296 maps of the Atlas describe natural loads caused by metals, the metal potential of regions, and the impact of human activities on the environment. The regions included in the study are northwest Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The projects were in operation between 1980 and 2005.

58,300 samples were collected from these countries, and 90,000 chemical analysis with 50 variables were performed. The variables included heavy metals, chemical elements and trace elements, acidity, and electrical conductivity.

Samples were taken from mineral soil, sediments, moraine, surface soil, organic soil, mosses, and surface waters. Mineral soil, river sediments, and moraine show the composition of the bedrock and ore deposits. Land use and human activity clearly influence mosses, organic soil, and surface soil. The impact of human activities, cities, and industry can also be seen in surface waters and rivers. The composition of surface waters is influenced by landscape proportions, such as elevation differences, the climate, and sea air in coastal areas.

The Atlas includes information on seventeen geochemically studied metal zones and 134 metalliferous areas that are connected to ore deposits. Most anomalies were generated by gold deposits. A large number of multimetal deposits (nickel-copper-lead) were observed. Platinoid groups, molybdenum, and vanadine also caused anomalies. Diamond deposits, chrome anomalies, and rare soil metals can also been seen in the maps. Industrial minerals are shown as anomalies as well.

The maps show the impact of human activity in relation to the background concentrations. For example, anomalous heavy metal contents in soil or water may be taken into account in the planning of urban areas, and chemical element anomalies caused by the bedrock can be utilised in land use.

The publication is available http://www.gtk.fi/publ/negatlas

Previously published similar atlases:

De Vos, W. & Tarvainen, T. (Chief-editors) et al. 2006. Geochemical Atlas of Europe. Part 2: Interpretation of Geochemical Maps, Additional Tables, Figures, Maps, and Related Publications. Geological Survey of Finland, Espoo 54, 690 p. http://www.gtk.fi/publ/foregsatlas/part2.php

Salminen, R. (editor in chief) & Batista, M. J.; et al. 2005. Geochemical Atlas of Europe. Part 1: Background Information, Methodology and Maps. Geological Survey of Finland, Espoo 48, 525 p. http://www.gtk.fi/publ/foregsatlas

Salminen, R. & Chekushin, V 2004. Geochemical Atlas of the Eastern Barents Region. Amsterdam: Elsevier. 548 p.

For further information, please contact:
Research Professor Reijo Salminen, tel. +358 (0) 40 501 6599, e-mail: reijo.salminen gtk.fi