Background levels of minor elements in some Canadian soils

Abstract

Background levels of some minor elements in 173 samples (53 soils) widely dispersed in Canada are summarized and discussed in relation to data for other soils in Canada and elsewhere. Mean levels (ppm) for the 173 samples are: Cr 43, Mn 520, Co 21, Ni 20, Cu 22, Zn 74, Se 0.3, Sr 210, Hg 0.06 and Pb 20. These are similar to means reported for soils of the United States and, with some exceptions, for world soils. Levels of several of the elements studied differed significantly among physiographic regions. The Ae (eluvial) horizons of Podzolic, Gleysolic and Luvisolic soils were markedly depleted, relative to the associated C horizons, of Mn, Co, Ni, Cu; depletion of Cr, Zn, Pb and Sr was less striking. Though levels of some minor elements are significantly correlated with other soil properties such as clay, organic C, Fe, etc., predictability of the levels of most minor elements from other soil properties is not good. One notable exception is that Sr in noncalcareous samples can be estimated from Ca.