The geochemistry of niobium and its distribution and relative mobility in agricultural soils of Europe

Scheib, A.J.; Flight, D.M.A.; Birke, M.; Tarvainen, T.; Locutura, J.. 2012 The geochemistry of niobium and its distribution and relative mobility in agricultural soils of Europe. Geochemistry: exploration, environment, analysis, 12 (4). 293-302. 10.1144/​geochem2011-096

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Abstract/Summary

The Geochemical Mapping of Agricultural and Grazing Land Soil (GEMAS) project provides soil geochemical data for over 50 elements at a density of 1 sample per 2500 km2 across the European continent. Median baseline total concentrations of niobium (Nb) determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in the <2 mm fraction of 2108 ploughed agricultural soil (0–20 cm) and 2024 grazing land (0–10 cm) samples are 13 and 12 mg/kg, respectively. These concentration levels are more than 23 times higher than the median extractable concentration of Nb obtained by aqua regia digestion. Thus >95% of Nb in soils can be considered ‘immobile’. All anomalous soil concentrations can be related to geogenic processes. Many of the elevated Nb concentrations are underlain by Hercynian granitic intrusions and alkaline volcanic rocks. High Nb levels also correspond to the occurrence of residual soils over karst areas of southeast Europe and, to some extent, loess deposits of central and Eastern Europe. Lowest Nb concentrations are found in soils developed on most recent glacial sediments of northern Europe.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1144/​geochem2011-096
Programmes:	BGS Programmes 2010 > Land Use, Planning and Development
Date made live:	06 Feb 2013 10:23 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/500006

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