Heavy Metal Pollution from Listvenitization: In Case of Alakeçi (Bayramiç-Çanakkale/West Türkiye)

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the risk of element/heavy metal pollution caused by listvenitization. In this context, the heavy metal pollution risk of listvenite-derived soils in the region where listvenitized ultrabasic rocks are present as a result of hydrothermal alterations in the vicinity of Alakeçi (Bayramiç Çanakkale/Western Türkiye) was investigated with pollution index, geoaccumulation index and integrated pollution risk parameters. For this purpose, Cu, Zn, Pb element concentrations of 350 soil samples collected from the field were determined, and Pollution Index (PI) and Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo) parameters for each element and Integrated Pollution Index (IPI) parameters for each sampling point were calculated. In addition, distribution maps of PI, Igeo and IPI parameters were plotted. When the site is considered in terms of IPI parameter, it has been determined that the site has medium and high pollution risk. When the field is considered in terms of PI and Igeo parameters, a remarkable level of pollution has been detected in the field, especially by Ni, Co and As elements. When the distribution maps of the PI, Igeo and IPI parameters are examined, it has been determined that the pollution risk is higher than the other areas, especially in the areas where hydrothermal alteration is intense and in the tectonic line areas. Although listvenitizations and listvenite zones are important target areas especially for epithermal gold mineralizations, this study has shown that listvenitization areas are also areas at risk of heavy metal pollution. Therefore, listvenitization zones are areas that should be investigated in terms of heavy metal pollution risk as well as epithermal gold mineralization potentials.