Geochemical properties of topsoil around the open coal mine and Oslomej thermoelectric power plant, R. Macedonia

摘要

The results of the first systematic study of the spatial distribution of trace metals in surface soil over the Kicevo region, Republic of Macedonia, known for its coal mine and thermal power plant activity are reported. The investigated region (148 km~2) is covered by a sparse sampling grid of 2x2 km; but in the urban zone and around the thermal power plant the sampling grid is denser (1 × 1 km). In total, 52 topsoil samples (0-5 cm) were collected. Inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was applied for the determinations of 18 elements (Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn). Based on the results of factor analyses, three natural geogenic associations of elements have been defined: F1: Cr-Ni-Li-Co-Fe-As; F2: Al-Ca-Mg-Sr; and F3: Ba-K-Cu. Even the distributions of typical heavy metals such as Pb and Zn which are not isolated into anthropogenic geochemical association by multivariate statistical methods still show some trends of local anthropogenic enrichment. First of all, the distribution of Pb is not only influenced by the open coal pit and"?Oslomej" thermal power plant, but also by river transportation processes from the"?Tajmi?te" iron mine into alluvial sediments of the river Zajaska. The distribution of Zn is influenced by the"?Metal industry Kicevo" operation and atmospheric transport.