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Geochemical Programme, MAFI
The Geochemical Programme at the Environmental Geology Department, Geological Institute of Hungary (MAFI), headed by Gyozo Jordan, has two major activities: (1) Geochemical Mapping and (2) Geochemical Modelling.
ACTION 1. GEOCHEMICAL MAPPING
Past Activities and Results
Geochemical mapping activities have been on-going for decades at MAFI. Most important results are the following:
(1) Geochemical Atlas of Hungary (1:500,000)
Sampling strategy: catchment-based, sample media: stream sediment samples, content: multi-element, coverage: whole country, completion: 1995-1998. Details are available here.
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| Figure 1. Geochemical Atlas of Hungary. Example: As in stream sediments. Geological Institute of Hungary |
An important result from the Atlas is the identification of the Geochemical Landscape Regions of Hungary based on Principle Components Analysis (PCA) of Atlas data (Figure 2).
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Figure 2. Multi-scale environmental geochemical survey, an example in Hungary. A. Regional survey: geochemical atlas of Hungary, As content in stream sediment. B. Geochemical atlas of Hungary, regional element associations in stream sediment based on PCA. Key: 1: no association; 2: Co, Cr, Ni; 3: Ca, Mg, Sr, (and SO4); 4: Ag, As, Au, Cu, Pb and Zn. C. Combined anomaly map of the stream sediment survey based on Pb, Zn, As, Cu and Cd at mineralisations in the Matra Mts., Hungary. 1: drainage basins; 2: location of the detailed investigations; 3: abandoned ore mines; 4: Asztagko Hill; 5: low-temperature hydrothermal mineralization zone; 6: poorly prospective; 7: prospective; 8: with proven ore mineralization or strongly prospective. C. High-resolution geochemical survey at mineralizations. Natural As anomaly at the Korom Hill, Hungary. Sample locations along transects are shown. Geological Institute of Hungary
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(2) Geochemical Atlas of Uplands in Hungary (1:500,000)
Sampling strategy: catchment-based, sample media: torrential sediment samples, content: multi-element, coverage: hilly (headwater) areas in the country, completion: 1995-1998.
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| Figure 3. Geochemical Atlas of Uplands in Hungary. Zn in torrential deposits in headwater areas. Colour shading: green-yellow-red shows increasing concentration. Geological Institute of Hungary |
(3) European Geochemical Atlas (1:1,000,000)
Sampling strategy: catchment-based, sample media: stream water, stream sediment, soil (top soil, subsoil), floodplain sediment, content: multi-element, coverage: whole Europe, completion: 1986-2005. This Atlas is the European contribution to the Global Mapping Programme under IUGS by the EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Expert Group. MAFI contributed the Hungarian samples and data interpretation.
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| Figure 4. Geochemical Atlas of Europe. Zn in floodplain sediments. EuroGeoSurveys |
(4) Regional and local scale mapping
Several mapping studies were carried out at regional and local scales. See for example Figure 2.
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Current Activities
Current geochemical mapping activities include the interpretation of existing maps (see above) and contribution to international projects.
(1) Geochemical Landscape Regions in Hungary
This activity attempts to interpret the geochemical landscape regions resulting from Principle Components Analysis (PCA) of national geochemical Atlas data (Figure 2). Most notably, investigation of the carbonate region in the middle of the country by means of detailed site investigations and analysis of soil samples is carried out.
(2) Geochemical Mapping of Agricultural & Grazing Lands in European (GEMAS)
EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Expert Group has started the geochemical mapping of agricultural and grazing land soils in 33 European countries by request and support of the mining industry. Sampling strategy: land use polygons, sample media: topsoil, subsoil samples, content: multi-element, coverage: whole Europe, completion: 2008-2010. MAFI contributes the Hungarian samples and data interpretation.
(3) Geochemical Mapping of Groundwater Quality in Europe
EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Expert Group has the geochemical mapping of groundwater in Europe as one of its Priority Areas. The objective is to support European water resources policies, the Water Framework Directive and the Groundwater Directive implementation in the first place. As a first step, we are collecting bottled mineral waters (registered at national and/or European levels) from throughout Europe using EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Expert Group Network and analyse them for a wide range of components. MAFI contributes the Hungarian samples (bottled mineral waters) and data interpretation.
(4) (A) Urban Geochemical Mapping in Europe, (B) Geochemical Mapping and Assessment of Mining Areas in Europe
Both topics are Priority Areas of EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Expert Group and they are both in the planning phase.
The objective of Urban Geochemical Mapping in Europe is to help the highly urbanised society of Europe to improve the living environment and to contribute the long-term and well-established experience of urban geochemical mapping of EuroGeoSurveys Member geological surveys to solve environmental problems in urban areas.
The objective of Geochemical Mapping and Assessment of Mining Areas is to provide support for the implementation of EU Mine Waste Directive. This activity is co-headed by Gyozo Jordan.
ACTION 2. GEOCHEMICAL MODELLING
Geochemical modelling activities focus on contamination modelling in mining areas ( acid mine drainage, heavy metals).
(1) Geochemical Modelling of Contamination in Mining Sites and Catchments
This activity includes thermodynamic reaction and transport modelling of liquid (AMD) and solid (soil and sediment particles) at sources (mine waste rock and tailings dumps, mine workings, natural contamination at mineralised areas), along transport pathways (surface water and sediments, eroded soils/sediments, groundwater), to the final receptors (floodplain sediments, receiving water bodies).
(2) Other Geochemical Modelling Activities
This activity includes the development and application of landscape geochemical methods, time series analysis of water quality monitoring data by signal processing methods, geochemical studies in small catchments.
