Numéro
J. Phys. IV France
Volume 107, May 2003
Page(s) 773 - 776
DOI https://doi.org/10.1051/jp4:20030415


J. Phys. IV France
107 (2003) 773
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:20030415

Spatial variation of heavy metals within surficial sediments of a subtropical coastal plain, Bells Creek catchment, Southeast Queensland, Australia

T. Liaghati, M. Preda and M. Cox

School of Natural Resource Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD Australia


Abstract
Geochemistry and mineralogy of 45 samples of unconsolidated surficial sediments and soils were used to analyse spatial trace element variations in a non-industrialised coastal plain (Bells Creek catchment, southeast Queensland, Australia) and to investigate the main controls over this distribution. Due to the heterogeneous nature of these sediments, absolute metal concentrations were transfonned by a normalisation procedure to enable interpretation of the data. While V was the only enriched element within sediments, soils were dominantly enriched in Zn and Cr. It is concluded that, mineralogy and land-use practices are main controls over the variations determined in metal concentrations.



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