Location of trace elements in soil profiles: total contents of particle-size separates

Abstract

Total contents of 21 trace elements were determined in particle size separates from the horizons of four profiles, two freely drained and two very poorly drained, of Scottish soils on drifts of basic igneous and granitic origin. Trace elements, including Co, Cu, Li, Mn, Ni, V, Zn and also Fe contained in the more easily weathered ferromagnesian minerals, tend to accumulate in the clay and silt. Elements such as Ti and Zr and also La and Y contained in resistant minerals accumulate in the silt or fine sand. Ti and Zr are mobilised to some extent, however, as these elements are present in the clay separates and in some cases show enrichment therein.The alkali metals Li and Rb accumulate in the silt and clay particularly in the granitic soils, while the alkaline earth metals Ba and Sr occur in greatest concentrations in the sands due to their being held largely in resistant feldspar minerals. On release these elements are not strongly adsorbed by the clay.Very poor pedological drainage leads to increased weathering and release of such elements as Co, Cu, Ni, V and Zn from the coarse or fine sands with correspondingly greater enrichment of the associated silt and clay. Weathering and enrichment of the fine fractions takes place largely in situ, there being little evidence of downward translocation due to leaching.