The GEMAS (geochemical mapping of agricultural soil) project collected 2108 Ap horizon soil samples from regularly ploughed fields in 33 European countries, covering 5.6 million km2. The <2 mm fraction of these samples was analysed for 53 elements by ICP-MS and ICP-AES, following a HNO3/HCl/H2O (modified aqua regia) digestion. Results are used here to establish the geochemical background variation and threshold values, derived statistically from the data set, in order to identify unusually high element concentrations for these elements in the Ap samples. Potentially toxic elements (PTEs),

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A reliable overview of measured concentrations of TC, TN and TS, TOC/TN ratios, and their regional distribution patterns in agricultural soil at the continental scale and based on measured data has been missing - despite much previous work on local and the European scales. Detection and mapping of natural (ambient) background element concentrations and variability in Europe was the focus of this work. While total C and S data had been presented in the GEMAS atlas already, this work delivers more precise (lower limit of determination) and fully quantitative data, and for the first time high-quality TN data. Samples were collected from the uppermost 20cm of ploughed soil (A horizon) at 2108 sites with an even sampling density of one site per 2500km for one individual land-use class (agricultural) across Europe (33 countries). Laboratory-independent quality control from sampling to analysis guaranteed very good data reliability and accuracy. Total carbon concentrations ranged from 0.37 to 46.3wt% (median: 2.20wt%) and TOC from 0.40 to 46.0wt% (median: 1.80wt%). Total nitrogen ranged from 0.018 to 2.64wt% (median: 0.169wt%) and TS from 0.008 to 9.74wt% (median: 0.034wt%), all with large variations in most countries. The TOC/TN ratios ranged from 1.8 to 252 (median: 10.1), with the largest variation in Spain and the smallest in some eastern European countries. Distinct and repetitive patterns emerge at the European scale, reflecting mostly geogenic and longer-term climatic influence responsible for the spatial distribution of TC, TN and TS. Different processes become visible at the continental scale when examining TC, TN and TS concentrations in agricultural soil Europe-wide. This facilitates large-scale land-use management and allows specific areas (subregional to local) to be identified that may require more detailed research.

The state of the mineral resource base of Ukraine for a number of the elements that are essential for the development of green power energy of Europe is analyzed. Four groups can be distinguished that differ in degree of geologic certainty, available reserves and stages of potential and/or commercial development: 1) iron, manganese, graphite - large-scale deposits that have been developed for a long period time in Ukraine and have almost unlimited resources/perspectives for further production; 2) lithium, rare-earth elements - deposits that are mostly explored and possess considerable reserves. These deposits are not under exploitation but can be brought into commercial production pending appropriate geologic and economic evaluation; 3) cobalt, nickel - deposits that are discovered but their reserves are rather small and some technological problems of ore beneficiation exist. These deposits can be developed only in case of additional confirmation of their economic feasibility by objective economic-geological evaluation; 4) aluminum, lead - small deposits and manifestations that are known but their reserves and ore grades are rather low. As a result, their exploitation is doubtful and perspectives for commercial output are not clear.Supplementary material at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5913018

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