Abstract:
Landscape geochemical investigations were conducted upon
portions of a natural uniform landscape in southern Norway.
This consisted of sampling both soil profile samples and
spruce tree twigs for the analysis of twelve chemical elements.
These elements were cobalt, copper, nickel, lead, zinc,
manganese, magnesium, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium and
aluminum which were determined by atomic absorption analysis
on standardized extraction techniques for both organic and
inorganic materials.
Two "landscape traverses" were chosen for a comparative
study of the effects of varying landscape parameters upon the
trace element distribution patterns throughout the landscape
traverses. The object of this study was to test this method
of investigation and the concept of an ideal uniform landscape
under Norwegian conditions. A "control traverse" was
established to represent uniform landscape conditions typical
of the study area and was used to determine "normal" or
average trace element distribution patterns. A "signal
traverse" was selected nearby over an area of lead mineralization
where the depth to bedrock is very small. The signal
traverse provided an area of similar landscape conditions to
those of the control traverse with significant differences
in the bedrock configuration and composition. This study was also to determine the effect of the bedrock mineralization
upon the distribution patterns of the twelve chemical elements
within the major components of the two landscape traverses
(i.e. soil profiles and tree branches).
The lead distribution within the soils of the signal
traverse showed localized accumulations of lead within the
overburden with maximum values occurring within the organic A
horizon of soil profile #10. Above average concentrations of
lead were common within the signal traverse, however, the
other elements studied were not significantly different from
those averages determined throughout the soils of the control
traverse.
The spruce twig samples did not have corresponding
accumulations of lead near the soil lead anomaly. This is
attributable to the very localized nature of the lead dispersion
pattern within the soils.
This approach to the study of the geochemistry of a
natural landscape was effective in establishing: a) average
or "normal" trace element distribution patterns b) local
variations in the landscape morphology and c) the effect of
unusually high lead concentrations upon the geochemistry of
the landscape (i.e. within the soil profiles and tree branches).
This type of study provides the basis for further more
intensive studies and serves only as a first approximation of
the behaviour of elements within a natural landscape.
