http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Index ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:1078 Wed 07 Apr 2021 13:32:06 AEST ]]> http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:861 > Al >> Zn > Mn >> As > Pb > Cu ≈ Ni ≈ Cr > Co. Mean levels of Zn (273 mg/kg) and As (39 mg/kg) in soils were well above normal global ranges and could be of local importance as a source of contamination. Extreme soil levels of Ni, Cr, Pb, and Fe were found in old mining waste material and pointed to the anthropogenic influence on the environment. Most of the measured elements showed marked spatial variations except Co. As contents were significantly higher than the tolerable level (ANZECC (1992) guidelines), with values up to 395.8 mg/kg around the mine tailings site. Mn soil contents were strongly associated with Co and Ni contents in most soils. High Fe contents (average approximately 41,465 mg/kg) in soils developed on basalt bedrock were correlated with Zn contents (average 400 mg/kg), and it is highly likely that Fe-oxides serve as sinks for Zn under near-neutral soil pH (6.3) conditions. Between the two major bedrock lithologic units, Ordovician sediments and Tertiary basalt, a clear enrichment of metals was found in the latter that was reflected in high background levels of elements. Among the various size fractions, silt (average approximately 45.1%) dominated most of the soils. In general and with a few exceptions, the concentrations of measured elements did not show significant correlations to other measured soil parameters, e.g., clay, silt and sand size fractions, organic matter, soil pH, and cation exchange capacity. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.]]> Wed 07 Apr 2021 13:31:51 AEST ]]>