Journals Information
Environment and Ecology Research Vol. 11(2), pp. 225 - 239
DOI: 10.13189/eer.2023.110201
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Elemental Composition of Soils in the Heterogeneous Geological Setting of the Mzymta River Basin on the Russian Black Sea Coast
Lalita Zakharikhina 1,*, Vadim Kerimzade 1, Yury Litvinenko 2
1 Federal Research Center the Subtropical Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2/28 J膩nis Fabriciuss, Krasnodar Krai, Sochi, 354002, Russian Federation
2 EcoGeoLit Ltd., 17 B Mosfilmovskaya St., Moscow, 119330, Russian Federation
ABSTRACT
This study examines the regional geochemical anomalies in the soil of the Mzymta River valley in Russia, which was affected by large-scale construction works for the 2014 Winter Olympics. The study found that the elemental composition of soils not affected by human activity is influenced by the chemically rich parent rock and the presence of mineralized zones. The abundance and concentrations of excess and deficient elements in the soil were determined using mass spectrometry for 61 elements, and factor analysis was used to identify the causes of the variations observed. The study identified geochemical indicators that can predict soil-forming factors and revealed both natural and anthropogenic sources of chemical elements in the valley soils. Natural sources include geochemically rich rocks that contributed most significantly to the soil chemistry. The anthropogenic sources of elemental variation in the soil were a result of the construction of Olympic transit infrastructure using local geochemically rich materials. The heavy crushing and subsequent intense weathering of this material resulted in an increase in the concentration of excess elements in the soil compared to the parent rock or mineralized zones. This indicates a significant alteration of the soil's elemental composition due to construction activities in the area. The findings of this study can be applied to predict potential soil contamination in similar river valleys that are experiencing both natural and anthropogenic pressures.
KEYWORDS
Geochemistry, Soil Ecology, Elemental Provenance, Rare Earth Elements
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Lalita Zakharikhina , Vadim Kerimzade , Yury Litvinenko , "Elemental Composition of Soils in the Heterogeneous Geological Setting of the Mzymta River Basin on the Russian Black Sea Coast," Environment and Ecology Research, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 225 - 239, 2023. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2023.110201.
(b). APA Format:
Lalita Zakharikhina , Vadim Kerimzade , Yury Litvinenko (2023). Elemental Composition of Soils in the Heterogeneous Geological Setting of the Mzymta River Basin on the Russian Black Sea Coast. Environment and Ecology Research, 11(2), 225 - 239. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2023.110201.