Naturally elevated metal contents of soils in northeastern North Dakota, USA, with a focus on cadmium.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Association of element concentrations for the escarpment soils of northeastern North Dakota formed from different geologic parent materials was determined based on geochemical data. These soils overlie the Cretaceous Pierre Formation, and parent materials consist of shale rich glacial till, residual shale, and colluvial materials.

Materials and methods

Samples were analyzed for cadmium and other trace elements using nitric acid digestion followed by optical emission spectroscopy. Morphologic and laboratory analysis of soil cores indicate high clay content, indicative of the influence of shale residuum on the parent materials of the escarpment soils.

Results and discussion

An average, cadmium concentration of 0.24±0.22 mg/kg was determined for 136 samples from

SUBMITTER: Jyoti V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6054461 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature