The distribution of trace elements in bedrock, soils and plants, was studied in twelve areas of British Columbia where mineralization was known to occur below different kinds and depths of overburden. Samples were taken from two soil profiles and the bedrock at each location, and second and third year twigs of the principal vegetation found within a radius of fifty feet of each profile were also collected. The bedrock, soil and plant samples were analysed. The soil samples were used for the determination
of pH, organic matter content, percentage of material <80 mesh, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable heavy metals, and content of Cu, Mo, Zn, Pb, As, Co, Ni, Fe and Hg. The same elements were determined in the bedrock and vegetation samples.
The results were examined graphically for relationships between elemental contents of the bedrock, soil horizons and vegetation. The data were then statistically analysed.(a) soil horizons and plant relationship with bedrock. (b) inter-elemental relationship of individual horizons of soils and of plants, as well as all horizon relationships. (c) multiple correlation study of cation exchange capacity, percentage of organic material and -80 mesh of element content of individual and all soil horizons.
These studies showed that, although most of the soil horizons were developed from transported materials, (glacial, alluvial, etc.), there was a highly significant correlation with B and C horizons and bedrock that confirmed the value of soil sampling in prospecting, since horizon development includes the upwards migration of the elements from bedrock.
The secondary dispersion of the halo elements (Mo, Zn, Pb, As, Co, Ni, Hg) proved useful as pathfinders where major economic elements may have been masked during the upward migration process. Secondary dispersion may also be in some degree, helpful in identifying the origin of soils and plants.
A great divergence in the affinity of various plants for different elements, and of the same species at different locations, was noted. It was also observed that plants have a closer relationship to the soils than to the bedrock itself, but even so, indicate mineralization.
The important relationships between elemental distributions in soil horizons and in plants with bedrock, indicated a logarithmic relationship.
The multiple correlation study indicated that some of the major factors of influencing the level of element content in soils developed on transported material-covered areas, are the size of the soil particles and frequently the pH of the soil.
In general, the study indicated that the distribution of trace elements is highly complex and that bedrock, soils, and plants, should all be combined into one study; since the study of one of these alone would be incomplete without the others. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UBC/oai:circle.library.ubc.ca:2429/36253 |
| Date | January 1967 |
| Creators | Barakso, John (Ja'nos) |
| Publisher | University of British Columbia |
| Source Sets | University of British Columbia |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis/Dissertation |
| Rights | For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use. |
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