An Investigation of Biogeochemical Anomalies for Li and Sr in the Kırka (Eskişehir -Turkey) Borate Mining Area

Biogeochemistry was founded by V.I. Vernadsky in the 1926. But a few journals were able to report all of the important developments in biogeochemistry in the 1950’s. Recently, biogeochemical prospecting methods are successfully used for detection of the new mineral deposits in the underlying substrate. This method involves the chemical analysis of some plants and determination of indicator plants for some elements. The aim of this study is to determine plant-soil relationships for the native plant species that grow directly on the Kırka (Eskişehir-Turkey) borate mining area. The information obtained from this study could be used to establish guidelines in order to determine of indicator plant species for Li and Sr. Genista aucheri Boiss, Euphorbia hirsuta L., Juniperus oxicedrus L. subsp. and Pinus nigra Arn. plant samples and soil samples of them were collected in and around the Kırka (Eskişehir-Turkey) borate mining area, at 46 stations. Plant and soil samples were analysed for Sr, Li, Cu, Zn, Mn, Co and, Ni, with the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS). In the same way the B concentrations in plants and soil samples were measured the absorbance at 420 nm by spectrophotometer. The Li and Sr contents of plant and soil samples were determined. Then, biogeochemical anomalies of them were investigated. Element contents of the plant samples were compared with the element level of the soil samples, and then indicator plants were founded. Statistical relations were established between Li, Sr values of soil samples and plant species (twigs of G. aucheri (n=18, r=0.6214), J. oxicedrus (n=24 r=0.7267 and leaves of J. oxicedrus (n=20, r=0.8293), P. nigra (n=19, r=0.6655) for Li, twigs of P. nigra (n=16, r=0.8567) and leaves of J. oxicedrus (n=16, r=0.6824), E. hirsuta (n=14, r=0.7511) for Sr. Furthermore, correlation analyses were made for determining the inter-elemental relationships between soil (for B, Sr, Li, Cu, Zn, Mn, Co and Ni) and indicator plants. Therefore G. aucheri E. hirsuta, J. oxicedrus and P. nigra are good indicators of the Li and Sr concentrations in the soil and these species could be successfully used in biogeochemical prospecting, patfinder plants for borat mining and environmental monitoring.