Magnetic susceptibility as indicator of environmental pollution of soils in Tallinn

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Abstract

Low-field magnetic susceptibility (κ) and concentration of 40 elements were determined for 531 samples collected from top-soils on the territory of the biggest industrial centre of Estonia. This study was carried out during a small-scale geochemical mapping and monitoring of soils in the frame of the project 'Urban geochemistry of Tallinn' supported by NATO. The main purpose was to establish the sources of pollution and to study applicability of κ for determining geochemical anomalies. Relationship between κ and element concentrations in the topsoil was studied by means of correlation and factor analyses. Higher than average κ values were observed in soils on the territory of phosphorite deposits at Maardu. The susceptibility anomaly is caused by particular geological circumstances and can be related to high contents of ferromagnetic minerals in the host rocks. Strong positive correlation of magnetic susceptibility with Cr, Pb, Zn and Cu observed in soils from the central part of the city are conditioned by industrial contamination mainly by metal-working factories and by traffic. These heavy metals, known as the most hazardous elements, are easily extracted by plants from the soils in the studied area. In addition to traditional geochemical mapping, the magnetic susceptibility was successfully applied in determining heavy metal pollution of soils on the city territories.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)829-835
Number of pages7
JournalPhysics and Chemistry of the Earth, Part A: Solid Earth and Geodesy
Volume24.1999
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Oct 1999

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