Use of trace elements from historical mining for alluvial sediment dating

Abstract

We examined whether it is possible to relate concentrations of trace elements in alluvial sediments with records concerning the intensity of mining, and use them as a means of dating. We conducted our research in the medieval mining district of the town of Kutná Hora in the Czech Republic. Samples were collected under the pond dam and analysed for clay, silt and sand content and for As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, V and Zn concentrations. We observed two main peaks of element concentrations (Be, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, V and Zn), independent of grain fractions. The peaks were interpreted as a result of human activity. The concentration curves, stratigraphy and location of the dam/alluvium boundary were compared with historical records of mining production. This means of dam dating into the 16 th century agreed with historical dating from written sources. Trace elements were also successfully used as stratigraphic markers. The comparison between concentration patterns of V and other well interpreted elements (Be, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) enabled to recognize a material directly originating from the mines. The elements thus helped to interpret local sedimentation history.

Contamination characteristics of the confluence of polluted and unpolluted rivers - range and spatial distribution of contaminants of a significant mining centre (Kutná Hora, Czech Republic)

“…the opposition to the previous findings from St. Anne's fish pond or Mladý Hlízov, sites in the Klejnárka floodplain closer to Kutná Hora, with differences in the vertical development (Horák & Hejcman 2013). The absence of distinctive peaks could be interpreted as a result of an inactive contamination source in the Kutná Hora region at the time of sedimentation of these alluvial layers.…”

“…We found similar patterns to the findings of Hudson-Edwards et al (1996): the decrease in the contamination was probably caused by the dilution of the contaminated water, transported material and sediment after the confluence. As it was presented in some of the previous studies (Veselý & Gürtlerová 1996;Horák & Hejcman 2013), vertical trends in the Kutná Hora region can record outstanding peaks or diversity. The trends found in the probes of the confluence area recorded no outstanding peaks (compare values for every probe on Figures S9-S13 in ESM).…”

Neolithic Occupation of Svratka Alluvial Plain; Case Study from Brno-Přízřenice, Czech Republic

“…The studies of Neolithic buried soils, for example, under tumuli or ramparts, have already brought much interesting information (Hejcman, Gojda 2013;Barczi et al 2006;Breuning-Madsen et al 2009;Andrews, Fernandez-Jalvo 2012) about former landscapes. Comparison studies between buried and recent soils may answer questions connected with the past soil environment -as well as questions connected with the intensity of the anthropogenic impact (Wells 2000;Dreibrodt et al 2009;Elberling et al 2010;Horák, Hejcman 2013). During the last few decades the term "dark earth" has started to be commonly used.…”

Spatial differentiation of ecosystem risks of soil pollution in floodplain areas of the Czech Republic

“…Cluster 7 involved 3 samples that are featured by high contributions of As to estimated ERs. One sample was located in a floodplain of the Klejnárka stream draining the Kutná Hora ore region renowned for its high contamination by TEs (especially As, Zn) (Horák & Hejcman 2013). The predominant As contribution to estimated ERs was accompanied by elevated contributions of Cu and Zn in the sample.…”