Antimony in the environment: Lessons from geochemical mapping |
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| Authors: | Clemens Reimann Jörg Matschullat Manfred Birke Reijo Salminen |
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| Institution: | 1. Geological Survey of Norway, 7491 Trondheim, Norway;2. Interdisciplinary Environmental Research Centre (IÖZ), TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Brennhausgasse 14, 09599 Freiberg, Germany;3. Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR), Postfach 510153, 30631 Hannover, Germany;4. Geological Survey of Finland, P.O. Box 96, 02151 Espoo, Finland |
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| Abstract: | The distribution of Sb in a variety of sample materials, including soils, plants and surface water, was studied at different scales, from continental to local, combining published data sets with the aim of delineating the impact and relative importance of geogenic vs. anthropogenic Sb sources. Geochemical mapping demonstrates that variation is high at all scales – from the detailed scale with sample densities of many sites per km2 to the continental-scale with densities of 1 site per 5000 km2. Different processes govern the Sb distribution at different scales. A high sample density of several samples per km2 is needed to reliably detect mineralisation or contamination in soil samples. Median concentrations are so low for Sb in most sample materials (below 1 mg/kg in rocks and soils, below 0.1 mg/kg in plants, below 0.1 μg/L in surface water) that contamination is easier to detect than for many other elements. Distribution patterns on the sub-continental to continental-scale are, however, still dominated by natural variation. Given that the geochemical background is characterised by a high variation at all scales, it appears impossible to establish a reliable single value for “good soil quality” or a “natural background concentration” for Sb for any sizeable area, e.g., for Europe. For such a differentiation, geochemical maps at a variety of scales are needed. |
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| Keywords: | Exploration Contamination Background Soil Sediment Biogeochemistry |
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