Distribution Of Various Elements Research Articles

Stress evolution in enamel coating/Ni-based alloy systems during isothermal oxidation

This paper utilizes a coupled chemomechanical model that integrates chemical reactions, diffusion, and mechanical deformation to describe the high-temperature interfacial reactions and stress evolution within an enamel coating/Ni-based super-alloy system. Through finite element simulation, we conduct a comprehensive analysis of multiple reactions and processes at the interface. Experimental characterization of the concentration distribution of various elements is employed to verify the accuracy of the proposed chemomechanical model. Additionally, the simulation reveals that the interface region experiences compressive circumferential stress, which can potentially lead to interfacial failure due to buckling. On the other hand, the enamel coating undergoes tensile circumferential stress, resulting in the formation of vertical surface cracks. These findings hold practical implications for the development of advanced coatings with enhanced durability and performance. Future research can further optimize coating design and enhance the reliability of high-temperature applications based on these results.

Fabrication of High Entropy Alloy by Powder Metallurgy Process

Recently, High entropy alloys have attracted a lot of interest because of their unique properties. which include outstanding strength, remarkable corrosion resistance, and consistent thermal stability. Powder metallurgy is one of the production procedures commonly used to manufacture these alloys. Metal powders are compacted and sintered to create a cohesive material in the production process known as powder metallurgy. The capacity to produce a fine-grained microstructure and a homogeneous distribution of various elements are two benefits of this technology for the synthesis of high entropy alloys. Moreover, powder metallurgy makes it possible to precisely combine various alloying constituents, which can improve the qualities of high entropy alloys even more. Powder metallurgy allows for the manufacture of intricate shapes and dimensions, rendering it well-suited to a range of uses. With the use of powder metallurgy, high entropy alloys can be fabricated with improved mechanical properties and enhanced performance.

PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL MODELING AND INVESTIGATION OF THE “HIGH-ENTROPY METAL MATRIX / TiC” SYSTEM COMPONENTS INTERACTION

The research carried out is aimed at developing the scientific basis for obtaining new composite materials based on high-entropy alloys, as well as developing the basic principles of processing and operation of such materials. It was necessary to conduct a theoretical and experimental study of the physical-chemical processes occurring during the interaction of high-entropy alloys with reinforcing TiC particles, as well as to study the effect of temperature and composition of interacting phases on the interaction process and its results. Thermodynamic and kinetic modeling of the interaction processes of the matrix components of high-entropy alloys based on the Cantor alloy (FeCoCrNiMn), including titanium and carbon with the formation of titanium carbide was carried out. Modern modeling approaches were used, which makes it possible to implement modern software. In particular, thermodynamic modeling using methods developed within the framework of the Calphad approach was carried out. Thermo-Calc software (includingTC-PRISMA kinetic modeling software) and FactSage software were used in the research process. An experimental study of the composition and structure of samples of TiC-reinforced metal matrix materials (using electron microscopy, X-ray spectral microanalysis and XRD) was also carried out. The distribution of various elements in the microstructure of materials and their phase composition were investigated. Comparison of the simulation results with experimental data allowed to make conclusions about the qualitative adequacy of thermodynamic and kinetic models of phase equilibria and phase transformations occurring during the formation, possible heat treatment and operation of TiC-reinforced metal matrix materials at high temperatures to the observed experimental data.

The vertical distribution of 27 elements in bottom sediments reflects the modern history of the hypersaline lagoon

Knowledge of the distribution of various elements in the bottom vertical cores helps to assess current levels and to reconstruct the history of a water body. There is little to no bioturbation of bottom sediments in hypersaline lagoons/lakes, and vertical distribution of elements in the sediments is not distorted. The vertical distribution of 27 elements was studied in one of the Crimean hypersaline marine lakes. Their determination was carried out in layers one centimeter thick, which were taken from a depth of 1 cm to 28 cm. Using the technogenic radionuclide 90Sr, the time intervals when various layers of bottom sediments were formed had been previously determined. The concentrations of most elements, as well as their ratio, changed quasi-cyclically. For most of the elements for which such changes were noted, the maximum peak values were in the layers that formed in 1976 and 2006. The authors concluded from this that there appears to be a natural rhythm with a period of about 30 years. Not only a concentration of technogenic radionuclide 90Sr but also Mo, Ba, Tl, Sb, Se, and Ag reacted strongly to the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986 due to atmospheric fallout and transportation of elements via the Dnieper river waters through the North Crimean Canal.

Crystal Phase Refinement and Optical Features of Highly Efficient Green Light Radiating Ca9Y(VO4)7: Er3+ Nanophosphors for Emerging Solid-state Lighting Applications.

Ca9Y(VO4)7 phosphor activated with Er3+ ions have been developed by the urea-aided solution combustion technique. XRD profiles assisted with Rietveld refinement executed over-developed Er3+-activated Ca9Y(VO4)7 powder, revealed a trigonal phase with the R3c space group. The electron microscope techniques namely TEM and SEM characterize the size and surface-linked qualities of the developed nanopowder, respectively. The uniform distribution of various elements in the nanocrystalline sample is authenticated by an energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) system. The Eg (band gap) value of 3.64eV for Ca9Y0.9Er0.1(VO4)7 and 3.74eV for Ca9Y(VO4)7 has been estimated. Upon 382nm excitation, Er3+: Ca9Y(VO4)7 phosphor gives rise to the bright green emission owing to the 4S3/2 → 4I15/2 transition. The concentration quenching after 10mol% composition of trivalent erbium ions is attributed to dipole-dipole interlinkages in accordance with Dexter's theory. The radiative lifetime (1.1083 ms), non-radiative rates (0.2079 ms- 1), quantum efficiency (79%), along with colorimetric parameters i.e. CIE x (= 0.2577), y (= 0.4566), and CCT quantities offer Ca9Y0.9Er0.1(VO4)7 as a proficient green radiating nanomaterial for RGB phosphors in solid-state applications.

Utilizing mollusk soft tissue and shells as biomarkers for monitoring heavy metal pollution in mangrove forests

The primary objective of the study was to examine the distribution of various elements, namely Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), and Lead (Pb), in the soft tissues, shells, and associated surface sediments of Cerithidea obtusa (C. obtusa) mangrove snails collected from Sungai Besar Sepang. To conduct the analysis, the preferred and most convenient methods employed were Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The results showed that the mean concentration of elements in the sediments and soft tissues followed the order Fe > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cd, while for the shell of C. obtusa, it was Fe > Ni > Cu > Pb > Cd.•Iron (Fe) showed the highest concentration among all elements monitored in sediments, soft tissues, and shells of C. obtusa.•The PF results indicated higher incorporation of Pb and Ni into shells.•BSAF results showed that C. obtusa shells accumulated more Cu and Cd from sediments, making them effective biomonitors.

Preparation and thermoelectric properties of high-entropy (Bi2/3Sb1/3)2(Te2/5Se2/5S1/5)3 alloy

Single-phased high-entropy (Bi2/3Sb1/3)2(Te2/5Se2/5S1/5)3 alloy with homogeneous distribution of various elements was prepared by way, based on preliminary growing single-crystalline precursor that was after grinding applied as starting powder for spark plasma sintering. Thermoelectric properties of the alloy were analyzed in comparison with medium-entropy BiSbTe1.5Se1.5 alloy. For both alloys, specific features in the properties due to intrinsic conductivity were observed. Owing to narrow energy gap (∼0.083 eV), these features for (Bi2/3Sb1/3)2(Te2/5Se2/5S1/5)3 are remarkably shifted to low temperatures. With growing temperature, thermoelectric figure-of-merit of high-entropy alloy increases to ∼0.3 at 570 K.

Spatial ionomics provides new insights into the accumulation and transport of mineral ions in rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Cadmium stress

The distribution of various elements in different organs is spatially specific, and the distribution of elements in different organs of rice under Cadmium (Cd) stress and nutrient deficiency conditions is unknown, these limit the creation of ideal crops. In this study, spatially-specific ionomics study was applied to the spatial distribution of ions in different organs of 14 different varieties of hybrid rice seedlings under Cd stress. Under Cd stress, magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) were found to accumulate mainly in the nodes, while Ca accumulated mainly in the mature leaves, and K mainly in the leaf sheaths and new leaves. Under Cd stress, the contents of Mg and Mn in all organs and Mg, Mn, Zn, Ca, Cu, and Fe in nodes decreased, but the accumulation of Fe in roots increased. In all organs, the concentrations of calcium (Ca), Mg, Mn, and Fe were almost positively correlated. Moreover, the ion transfer factors of Mg/Mn, Mg/Cu, and Zn/potassium (K) all showed positive correlations, indicating that these elements had similar chemical properties or biological functions. The accumulation of Cd in different organs of 4 varieties under Cd stress and K/Mn/Ca/Mg deficiency treatments was studied. Under Mg deficiency stress, the Cd concentration increased significantly. Under Ca deficiency stress, Cd transport was reduced. In conclusion, spatial ionomics was used to investigate the transport and accumulation of elements in different organs of O. sativa L., and these results provided theoretical support for the creation and production of ideal crops under Cd stress.

High entropy strategy on thermoelectric materials

High-entropy materials, which consist of multiple elements occupying a single sublattice in a disordered manner, have emerged as innovative material systems with various promising applications. Many macroscopic physical properties, such as electrical transport and thermal transport, are closely related to the periodic distribution of atoms. In high-entropy compounds, the long-range periodic arrangement of atoms is broken down by the disordered distribution of various elements, which would lead to changes in physical properties. Therefore, the high-entropy idea will open new avenues for designing these functional materials with promising performance and high reliability. This perspective focuses on the high-entropy strategies of thermoelectric materials, discussing how high entropy will alter their properties. The possible routes of designing high-entropy high-performance thermoelectric materials are prospected, which can also provide enlightenment for the development of high-entropy systems in other research fields.

A high-corrosion-resistant high-entropy alloys (HEAs) coatings with single BCC solid solution structure by laser remelting

• Preparation of FeCrCoAl x HEA coatings with BCC structure by laser remelting technique. • The FeCrCoAl 1 HEA coatings have high corrosion resistance. • Al played a critical role to improve the stability of the HEAs coatings. A high-corrosion-resistance high-entropy alloys (HEAs) coatings with single BCC solid solution structure was successfully prepared on Cr13 steel by laser remelting technology. The composition, microstructure, and corrosion properties of HEAs coatings with different Al contents were studied in detail. FeCrCoAl x HEAs coatings significantly improve the corrosion resistance of Cr13 steel, and the FeCrCoAl 1 HEAs coatings exhibits the best corrosion resistance, which were attributed to the uniform distribution of various elements in the coatings due to the higher △ S mix of HEAs and the preferentially formed uniform oxide films (mainly AlO x and CrO x ) on the coatings due to the lower △ G .

In Situ FIB-TEM-TOF-SIMS Combination Technique: Application in the Analysis of Ultra-Light and Trace Elements in Phyllosilicates

At present, a single technical method has difficulty in obtaining microscopic data of ultra-light elements, trace elements, and crystal structures in samples simultaneously. This work combined an in situ focused ion beam—transmission electron microscopy—time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (FTT) technique and analyzed the composition and crystal structure of four phyllosilicate samples. These materials were comprised of antigorite, clinochlore, and cookeite phases. An FIB sample preparation technique was found to provide a sample thickness suitable for TEM observations and a degree of surface roughness appropriate for TOF-SIMS analysis. In addition, the relative amounts and distributions of various elements could be obtained, as well as crystal structure data, such that the composition and crystal structure of each specimen were determined. The in situ FTT method demonstrated herein successfully combines the advantages of all three analytical techniques and offers unique advantages with regard to analyzing ultra-light and trace elements as well as the structural data of phyllosilicates.

Characterization of the corrosion products formed on Michael the Brave’s equestrian statue in urban atmosphere

The present work is focusing on the study of the corrosion products (natural patina) formed on the surface of the equestrian statue of Michael the Brave, Principe of Walachia, and on the patina formed on the bas-reliefs that decorated the marble of the statue pedestal. The statue is placed in the Mihai – Viteazul Square in the center of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, since 1976 and was restored in 2018 after 42 years of exposure in the urban atmosphere. The morphology and the chemical composition of the statue and of the natural patina formed on the statue’s surface, on the bas-reliefs surrounding the statue, as well as on one assembling element exposed in the urban atmosphere for almost 50 years, were determined by SEM - EDX supported by micro-Raman and XRD analyses. The X-ray maps pictured the distribution of various elements in the patina samples collected from the equestrian statue’s surface. The selective dissolution of the Cu, Zn, and Sn observed in the patina layer, was quantified by the dissolution factor based on EDX analysis. The corrosion products indicated the presence of malachite and brochantite, along with other various minerals. It was concluded that the analyzed patinas were affected by the pollution of the urban atmosphere, but their composition was mostly influenced by the composition of the different copper alloy substrates (high-leaded tin bronze or brass).

Nonadiabatic electron gun at an electron beam ion source: Commissioning results and charge breeding investigations

The electron gun of the REXEBIS charge breeder at the REX/HIE-ISOLDE facility at CERN has been upgraded from a standard magneto-immersed type to a gun using a nonadiabatic magnetic element. The results from the cathode emission and electron beam propagation tests are presented, as well as the charge breeding efficiency for the new design. Complete mass-scans of the extracted beam have been performed from which the level of cathode-originating contaminations could be established, as well as partial pressures of the most abundant residual gases in the ion trapping region. Furthermore, optimal breeding times for a broad range of elements and charge states, either introduced as a gas or externally injected as singly charged ions into the trapping region, are given for different electron currents. From these values, effective electron current densities have been derived. Finally, the axial ion energy distributions of various elements and charge states were also measured, and the derived ion temperatures were correlated with the ion and electron beam overlap factors.

Use of Pulsed RF Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy for the Study of Elemental Distribution of Li-NMC Cathode at Various State of Charge in Li-Ion Batteries

Glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES) is an analytical technique that provides both a surface and depth profile of the elemental composition and distribution of solid or porous samples. Although GDOES is a destructive technique, it provides the advantage of being a high throughput technique that is highly sensitive to all elements from H to U and can provide high resolution (from nm to µm) depth profiles of elemental distributions in practically any sample. Previous works have investigated and optimized the operating parameters of using GDOES to study negative electrode materials and from the data gathered therein [1] we used 5% H2 in Ar gas in this study to increase sputtering rate of Li-NMC cathode materials and to increase sensitivity to Li in the sample to provide a more detailed elemental distribution. This study investigates the use of GDOES as a method for analyzing elemental and specifically lithium distribution in Li-NMC cathode materials in extreme depth and with validation from other techniques such as x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) and with additional morphological analysis of cells using x-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT).In this study coin cells were assembled in an Ar filled glovebox using a 15 mm diameter double sided graphite anode coated on a Cu current collector, 14 mm double sided NMC 111 cathode coated on an Al current collector, either a Celgard 3401 or 5550 separator, and 75 µL of 1M LiPF6–EC:EMC (3:7) electrolyte. The coin cells were then brought outside and EIS data was taken on the freshly made cells. They were then allowed to rest for 12 hours before going through a formation cycle at a C-rate of C/20. After the formation cycle, all cells went through 10 charge/discharge cycles at a C-rate of C/5. After these cycles EIS data was taken again and the cells were then charged to different states of charge (SOC) of 0, 25, 75, and 100% and again EIS data was taken after this. The cells were then brought back into the glovebox where they were de-crimped and disassembled. The electrodes were then rinsed in DMC and dried. They were then analyzed using XPS for surface analysis, XRF for elemental mapping, and X-ray CT for analysis of electrode morphology. Finally, they were analyzed using GDOES and the through thickness Li atomic distribution was plotted for the SOCs listed. An example of atomic concentration distribution of various elements for a SOC of 0% is shown by Figure 1. This study aims to validate the use of GDOES to generate accurate Li distribution profiles and elemental distributions in Li-NMC cathode materials.[1] H. Takahara, A. Kojyo, K. Kodama, T. Nakamura, K. Shono, Y. Kobayashi, M. Shikano, and H. Kobayashi, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 29, 95–104 (2014). Figure 1

Dependence on the distribution of valuable elements and chemical characterizations based on different particle sizes of high alumina fly ash

Understanding the influence of the particle size on the distribution of various elements of high alumina coal fly ash (HAFA) is of significance to the utilization of valuable elements in fly ash. The distribution of valuable elements and the chemical characterizations of various particle sizes of HAFA were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis etc. in this work. It indicated that the contents of most of the metal oxides, including Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO, Ga2O3, TiO2, and Li2O, decreased as the particle sizes of HAFA increasing. The contents of the nonmetal oxides, including SiO2 and organics, however, increased with the sizes increasing. For the phases distribution, the spherical mullite crystalline phase and the corundum phase were more abundant in the smaller particle sizes, while the amorphous glass phase and quartz were more abundant in the larger particle sizes. In addition, the desilication efficiency increased from 38.08% to 39.30% though mechanical pretreatment method. Interestingly, it was observed that the glass phase Al2O3 reacted with the sodium silicate solution to form zeolites, which accounted for a 22.85% of the mass after desilication. Classification may be an important pretreatment step in the recovery of valuable elements from HAFA due to the differences between the different granularities.

旅游型乡村生态空间演化与重构——以茶陵县卧龙村为例

旅游型乡村生态空间系统重构是乡村可持续发展的关键。以典型旅游型乡村茶陵县卧龙村为例，结合PRA方法（Participatory Rural Appraisl，又称参与性乡村评估）反演生态空间不同发展阶段并分析其演变特征，运用生态敏感性评价及最小阻力模型等定量方法系统分析生态空间构成要素，探索生态空间重构方法。研究表明：卧龙村生态空间由6个生态源地、15条生态廊道和22个生态节点构成，各类要素存在空间分布不均衡，空间结构不合理，生态功能不强等问题。按生态空间发展的四个阶段分析，其演变特征呈现出明显的规模递减性、时空差异性和功能复合性。可采取新增源地、调整廊道、提升节点等措施，构建以7个生态源地、14条生态廊道和19个生态节点为主的生态空间重构路径，对空间要素采取分类管控、生态空间结构优化及生态规划引导等措施。生态空间重构研究可为乡村生态保护和乡村振兴战略实施提供理论参考与案例借鉴。;The systematic reconstruction of tourism rural ecological space is the key to the sustainable development of rural areas. Taking Wolong Village as a typical study area which located in Chaling County, this paper adopts participatory rural appraisal method to invert the different development stages of ecological space and analyze the evolution characteristics, and uses the quantitative methods such as ecological sensitivity evaluation and the least resistance model to systematically analyze the components of ecological space and explore the reconstruction methods of ecological space. It is found that the ecological space of Wolong Village is composed of 6 pieces of ecological source, 15 channels of ecological corridors, and 22 points of ecological nodes.The spatial distribution of various elements is unbalanced, the spatial structure is unreasonable, and the ecological function is not strong. According to the analysis of four stages of ecological space development, the evolution features of ecological space show obvious scale decline, spatio-temporal difference and functional complexity. In order to reconstruct the ecological space, new ecological sources should be added, ecological corridors and nodes should be adjusted or upgraded. In addition, a reconstruction path of 7 ecological sources, 14 ecological corridors and 19 ecological nodes should be constructed, and measures such as the classified control of spatial elements, optimization of ecologically spatial structure and guidance of ecological planning should be taken. The study of ecological space reconstruction provides theoretical reference and case reference for rural ecological protection and rural revitalization strategy implementation.

Investigation of Some Elements Concentrations and Distribution in Body parts and Organs of Japanese Quail Cotornix japonica

The presence, concentration and distribution of 42 trace and ultra trace elements in addition to rare earth elements (REE), yttrium(Y) and Thorium (Th) were analyzed using Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) in different body parts and organs of Japanese quail Cotornix japonica as a laboratory animal model. Twenty one of the investigated elements were below detection limit while the rest of the investigated elements varied in amount and distribution relative to organs and parts in which they were investigated. The existences, concentrations and distributions of Thallium (Tl) and europium (Er) are recorded in a higher living species by the present work. The present work also documented presence, concentration and distribution of Thulium (Tm) a living organism. The recorded concentrations and distributions of various elements may be related to their roles in structures and functions of organs in which they were distributed. From the present findings, we recommend better classification of elements according to distribution and concentration levels in individual organs. We also recommend investigation of the existence of Tm, Tl, and Er in other living species. We also recommend further investigation in the role of Tm, Tl, and Er in structure and metabolism of C. japonica parts and organs in which they were detected

Probing the Radial Chemistry of Getter Components in Light Water Reactors via Controlled Electrochemical Dissolution.

Getters are among the key functional components in the tritium-producing burnable absorber rods (TPBARs) of light water reactors (LWRs) and are used to capture the released tritium gas. They are nickel-plated zircaloy-4 tubes that, upon exposure to irradiation or tritium in the light water reactors, undergo alteration in structure, chemical composition, and chemistry. Understanding the radial tritium distribution is key to gaining insight into the evolution of new chemistry upon irradiation to predict getter performance. The holy grail is to develop a method akin to selectively peeling off the layers of an onion in an effort to get a radial map of elements and particularly tritium across the getter. Toward this goal, the overall aim of this work is to establish a correlative technique that can be used to determine radial tritium distribution across getters. To this end, this work specifically focuses on the validation of a correlative method for controlled radial dissolution of nickel-plated getters. Here, pristine getters as well as getters loaded with different mass ratios of hydrogen and deuterium are used as the nonradioactive surrogates of tritium, the idea being that the methodology can be readily extended to tritiated getter components. Here, the surface nickel layers as well as the bulk zirconium layers are sequentially dissolved in a controlled, uniform way using voltage-assisted electrochemical dissolution techniques. The dissolution is complemented by periodic elemental analysis of the electrolyte solution during and post dissolution. This is complemented by microscopic analyses on the exposed surfaces to provide a correlative technique for a complete picture of the radial distribution of various elements across the getter

Seasonal and spatial variations in elemental distributions in surface sediments of Chilika Lake in response to change in salinity and grain size distribution

Chilika lake, the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia, has a unique setting, where the north-eastern part receives freshwater from the terrestrial runoff, and the south-eastern part receives seawater from the Bay of Bengal. The seasonal variability in the quantity of inflowing water and their mixing in the lake controls the mobilization and precipitation of various elements. Seasonal sediment samples were collected from both the river and seawater influenced regions of the lake to understand the spatio-seasonal distributions of various elements along the salinity gradient. The major elements present in the sediments are mostly derived from the parent rock weathering in the source region and subsequently transported into the lake by the rivers. Seasonal variations in trace element concentrations are more prominent in the north-eastern part of the lake (i.e., low salinity region), and their higher concentrations have been observed during the post-rainy period. The affinity of the elements (Al, Fe, Mn, Li, V, Co, Cr, Cu, Th, and Zn) towards fine-grain sediments suggests that the size distribution pattern controls their accumulation, retention, and remobilization. The concentrations of Cr, Cu, and Pb exceeded the effects range low, and effects range median benchmarks indicating the potential biological risk in the low salinity region as compared to the high salinity region. The statistical analysis indicated that the concentrations of elements in the region proximal to the sea mouth are controlled by grain size and physicochemical condition of the lake water. In contrast, the element concentrations in the interior region are associated with anthropogenic activities and weathering processes. Continuous monitoring and assessment of element concentrations of the lake sediments can help to protect the lake ecology from the harmful element contaminations.

Assessment of geogenic input into Bilina stream sediments (Czech Republic).

Over the past 100years, the area along the River Bílina has been influenced by open-cast brown-coal mining, coal processing, petroleum refineries, and chemical plants. As a result, the extensive industrial activity has changed the overall character as well as the morphology of the landscape. A survey was underway to investigate the occurrence and distribution of various elements in the sediments of the River Bílina-a tributary of the River Elbe, a watercourse running through the Czech Republic and Germany-in order to discern the natural background from anthropogenic pollution. The study evaluated the content of selected elements (As, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni, V, and Cu) in stream sediments of the River Bílina. Samples were taken at 20 sampling sites throughout the 82-km-long watercourse. For all the samples, the content of the elements was determined using ICP-MS after each of the sample was digested using HF and HNO3. The results of analyses of elemental composition of stream sediments were compared with those found through such analyses made within the surrounding geological units-more specifically, Proterozoic crystalline, Tertiary volcanic, Quaternary loess, Neogene sediments, and Neogene coal. All the samples of the stream sediments examined revealed increased amounts of As, V, Ni, Cr, and Pb. Using the enrichment factor established on the basis of the regional geological background values proved that elevated levels of elements in stream sediments are not always the result of industrial contamination.