BGSs 250,000 shovels of mud : why each one counts and what it means

Geochemistry is the study of the distribution and movement of chemical elements within the Earth and at its surface. A geochemical baseline establishes the natural chemical status of the Earth’s surface, and allows us to monitor changes resulting from natural and man‐made influences on the environment (Johnson and Breward, 2004). We explain how a geochemical baseline is established and what it means for the everyday man and the contaminated land community. The British Geological Survey’s (BGS) G‐BASE (Geochemical Baseline Survey of the Environment) project is part of the Environmental Modelling Group, who can apply geochemistry to improve environmental, societal and economic well‐being through measurement, understanding and modelling. The G‐BASE project has been ongoing for almost 50 years. Its focus has evolved from mineral exploration to answering questions related to the environment. G‐BASE data helps us to understand processes occurring within the environment, and relate these processes to questions including those associated with contaminated land, sustainable development, human and agricultural health, and agricultural productivity. The data can help identify man‐made modifications to the baselines or background geochemistry, and supports policy development and implementation in relation to several areas including land planning regulations, land use and its quality (Johnson et al., 2005).