Soil Ontario, Quebec 1997

Soil sampling survey, Rouyn-Noranda area, Ontario and Quebec, 1997-1999.  


Geological Survey of Canada, Terrain Sciences Division

Survey Description

Humus, upper B-horizon and C-horizon soils were sampled at 106 sites within 100 km radius of Horne Cu smelter at Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec during 1997-1999. Sampling density decreased with distance from the smelter. Detailed soil profile sampling was also undertaken at 12 sites. In 1997, sampling was focused along two transects extending east and west from the smelter. The bulk of the regional work was undertaken in 1998 and limited follow-up sampling was completed in 1999. The data are published in Geological Survey of Canada Open File 4169.

Data Description: Digital data files; CD-ROM.

Quantities Analysed: <2mm fraction of humus by INAA for 35 elements (1997 samples only); litterfall and humus by ICP-AES after aqua-region (HNO3-HCl; 1:3) for 26 elements; for Hg by cold vapour-AAS; by ICP-AES after HF-HClO4-HNO3-HCl; by ICP-MS after sodium pyrophosphate (0.1 M) for 51 elements; further selective extractions and analysis on residue from sodium pyrophosphate treatment.; <0.063 mm and <2 mm fraction of mineral soils by ICP-AES after aqua-regia and for Hg by cold vapour-AAS analysis; <2 mm of mineral soils by INAA, by ICP-AES after HF-HClO4-HNO3-HCl and by ICP-MS after hydroxylamine hydrochloride for Fe and Mn oxides.

Other Analyses: Carbonate (<0.063 mm fraction (LECO)); soil pH, grain size (<2 mm fraction).



Publication History

Henderson, P.J., Knight, R., McMartin, I. (1999). Heavy-metal concentrations in soils surrounding Canadian base-metal smelters; a comparative study. In Current Research, Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 1999-D, p. 17-26.

McMartin, I., Henderson, P.J., Plouffe, A., Knight, R.D. (2002). Comparison of Cu-Hg-Ni-Pb concentrations in soils adjacent to anthropogenic point sources: examples from four Canadian sites. Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis, v.2 p.57-73.

Henderson, P.J., Knight, R., McMartin, I. (2002). Geochemistry of soils within a 100 km radius of the Horne smelter, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. Geological Survey of Canada Open File 4169, 398 p. or CD-ROM.


Project History

1997-2002 Rouyn-Noranda area, Ontario and Quebec soil sampling carried out in 1997-1999.
  Soil sampling was carried out in a 100 km radius from the Horne copper smelter at Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec in 1997-1999. The soil sampling study was part of a multi-disciplinary program designed to examine the distribution of smelter emissions in various sample media, including lake sediment and water, peat, trees and soils. The soil study was aimed at examining variations in trace metal concentrations in glacially-derived surficial sediments and developing criteria for differentiating anthropogenic from geogenic metal enrichment. The data are published in Geological Survey of Canada Open File 4169.



Minimum Latitude Maximum Latitude Minimum Longitude Maximum Longitude

47.25º

49.25º -80.75º -77.5º