Background Concentrations of Trace Elements in Soils and Rock of the Georgia Piedmont. (6506)
Authors:
E.I. Albright* - Univ. of Georgia
W.P. Miller - Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA L.T. West - Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA
Abstract:
Background concentrations of trace elements are unknown for the Georgia Piedmont and are important from both a regulatory and environmental impact standpoint. The purpose of this study was to establish background concentrations for 16 trace elements in surface soils, subsoils, and parent rocks of the Georgia Piedmont. Soils (A, B, and C horizons) and parent rocks were sampled from remote areas, based on observed and mapped parent rock type (grouped as felsic, mafic, and intermediate), and analyzed for selected major and minor elements (Si, K, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Ba, Hg, Pb, and U). Trace metal content varied little between soil horizons and was non-normally distributed.
Mafic soils and rock were clearly higher in a suite of elements (including Cr, Mn, Ni, and V), while felsic soils and rocks were higher in certain heavier elements (Pb and U). In the case of V, Cr, Co, and Ni in mafic soils, concentrations observed were above soil cleanup levels in the State of Georgia.
Implications are that regulatory levels of trace elements should be referenced to parent rock for a given site.
Speaker Information: Evalyn Albright, Univ. of Georgia, 4328 Baker Ave. NW, Seattle, WA 98107; Phone:
206 218 3469; E-mail: [email protected]
Session Information: Monday, November 1, 2004, 2:25 PM-5:30 PM Presentation Start: 4:00 PM
Keywords: Trace elements; Background concentrations; Georgia Piedmont; Georgia soils
