Geochemistry of serpentine agricultural soil and associated groundwater chemistry and vegetation in the area of Atalanti, Greece

Amsterdam

2015

22-33

Sonderdruck

12646S

40000897

The soil geochemistry was studied in the area of Atalanti, Greece, an area characterized by presence ofmafic and ultramafic rock members of an ophiolite complex. The objectives of the study were to evaluate their impact on soil chemistry and to establish the geochemical baseline of soil with respect to elements derived from the ophiolite rocks. A total of 118 agricultural soil samples were collected and found to be enriched in Ca (7.6%), Co (31 mg/kg), Cr (230 mg/kg), Cu (37 mg/kg), Mg (2.9%) and Ni (330 mg/kg) relative to the median values of both European and Greek soils. Soil baseline concentrations of the ophiolite derived elements (Cr, Ni, Co) were estimated within two sub-areas and the variation in their concentration was assessed along two toposequences characterized by different intensities of weathering of parent rock. Differences in groundwater chemistry were also demonstrated for the aquifers developing within the two subareas. The results of this study can be utilized in future studies on serpentine soil in temperate climate by providing an objective basis for setting realistic threshold values for pollution assessment and remediation.Schlüsselwörter: Ni-Kontamination; Cr-Kontamination; Verwitterung; Geochemische Kartierung; Serpentinischer landwirtschaftlicher BodenKeywords: Ni-contamination, Cr-contamination, Weathering, Geochemical mapping, Serpentine agricultural soil