RESULTS

The “Geochemical Atlas of Europe” was the first to be completed by 26 member institutions of the Association of Geological Surveys of Europe (EuroGeoSurveys, EGS).   Stream water and sediment, floodplain sediment, and three types of soil (organic topsoil, minerogenic top- and sub-soil) have been collected from almost 900 stations spread randomly in large and small catchment basins over the sampled countries at an average sample density of 1 site/4700 km2.  All soil and sediment samples were collected according to a common protocol and prepared at the same laboratory.  Samples of the same type were analysed by the same method at the same laboratory.  This approach guarantees that the results are directly comparable at the European scale.  Sixty-six individual chemical elements and other parameters (such as pH and grain size) were determined.  The results and interpretation are included in two printed volumes:

• Part 1 includes background scientific information, including the methodology used, as well as the geochemical distribution maps portraying the analytical results, and

• Part 2 is the interpretative part, with articles describing the distribution of the elements in soil, humus, stream and floodplain sediments and surface water.

This monumental reference work includes about 360 geochemical maps showing the distribution of chemical elements across Europe.  It provides European decision-makers with data about the chemical composition of the near-surface environment at the end of the twentieth century.  The results show that the distribution patterns of water and solid samples do by and large still reflect natural processes at the European scale (e.g., geology, weathering and climate).  Effects of anthropogenic activities (e.g., input via fertilisers) can be detected for some elements only.

The internet version of the Geochemical Atlas of Europe, including the analytical results, and photograph archive are freely available for downloading from http://www.gtk.fi/publ/foregsatlas/.