Contents and spatial distributions of chemical elements in soil at the ancient roasting site Pšenk (Idrija area, Slovenia)

Abstract

Analysis for 35 chemical elements (Ag, Al, As, Au, B, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sr, Th, Ti, TI, U, V, W, Zn) was performed in soil and SOM (soil organic matter; 0-5 cm) at the ancient roasting site Pšenk in the surroundings of Idrija, which is highly contaminated with Hg. It was estimated that natural values of AI, Ba, Fe, K, Mn, Ni and Zn show normal distribution, while for the elements As, Au, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ga, La, Mg, Mo, P, Pb, Sc, Se, Sr, Th, TI, U in V the logarithms of elemental contents were considered normally distributed. Contents of the analyzed elements in the sampling material are mostly within the normal values for soils as also within Slovenian and European averages for soil. High contents of As were determined in soils from investigated roasting site, reaching as much as 122 mg/kg in the depth of 5-20 cm. Additionally Cd, Mo, Pb and U contents in the soil (5-20 cm) are higher compared to natural soils. Cd and Mo show somewhat increased contents also in SOM from studied roasting site.