Geochemical baseline for chemical elements in top- and subsoil of Idrija

This study is a continuation of our previous study (Bavec et al., 2015), where the geochemical baseline levels\udof potentially harmful elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn) in Idrija top- and subsoil (0-10 cm\udand 10-20 cm) at 45 locations were reported. Here we summarise our previous work and present baseline levels of\udadditional 33 elements (Ag, Al, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Ce, Cs, Fe, Ga, Hf, In, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Nb, P, Rb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn,\udSr, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, Y and Zr) in order to round off the fist systematic geochemical survey of soil in Idrija town\udand establish a data set of soil elements, which will serve as a baseline for monitoring future changes in the soil\udchemical composition of the studied area.\udThe baseline levels were determined after aqua regia digestion, their statistical distribution was examined and\udthe medians were compared to the recently established European grazing land and Maribor urban soil medians.\udTo investigate relationships between elements, a correlation-matrix-based hierarchical clustering method was\udperformed and the spatial distribution of their highest levels was examined. The results showed that in general,\udthe median levels of elements in Idrija soil are mostly similar or slightly higher than in European and Maribor\udsoil, with exception of Hg. Elements Al, Bi, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Ga, Hf, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Nb, Ni, Rb, S, Sc, Th,\udTi, Tl, V, Y and Zr are enriched in the rural surroundings, while elements Ag, Ba, Cu, Hg, P, Pb, Se, Sb, Sn and Zn\udare enriched only partly in the rural surroundings, but mostly in the urban part of the study area. It is assumed\udthat elements, which are enriched only in the rural surroundings, are of natural origin, while elements, which are\udenriched also in the urban area, are to a certain extent inflenced by anthropogenic activities