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

• Main Authors: Trajče Stafilov, Robert Šajn, Florije Sulejmani, Katerina Bačeva
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Croatian Geological Survey 2014-02-01
• Series: Geologia Croatica
• Subjects: geochemistry, multivariate statistics, potentially toxic elements, geochemical mapping, Kičevo
• Online Access: http://www.geologia-croatica.hr/ojs/index.php/GC/article/view/613
• ISSN: 1330-030X; 1333-4875

The results of a first systematic study of spatial distribution of different elements in surface soil over of the Kičevo region, Republic of Macedonia, known for its coal mine and thermal power plant activity are reported. The investigated region (148 km2) is covered by sparse sampling grid of 2×2 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 factor analyses three natural geogenic associations of elements havebeen defined: Cr-Ni-Li-Co-Fe-As; Al-Ca-Mg-Sr; Ba-K-Cu and 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 statisticalmethods but they still show trends of local anthropogenic enrichment. First of all the distribution of Pb is influenced by the coal open pit and thermal powerplant “Oslomej” but also by river transport of eroded material from the ironmine “Tajmište” in alluvial sediments of the river Zajaska. The distribution of Zn is influenced by the “Metal industry Kičevo” operation and this distributionis result of atmospheric transport.