The scientific thrust of the IAGC takes place through its Working Groups (many of which organize regular symposia) and the official journal, APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY. The interests of the Working Groups cover a wide spectrum of geochemical activities including:
- Urban Geochemistry
- water-rock interaction
- global geochemical baselines
- applied isotope geochemistry
- Geochemistry of the Earth's Surface
Although partial financial support for the Working Groups comes from IAGC, most are self-sustaining. Participants in the Working Groups may include geochemists who are not Individual Members of IAGC.
If you are interested in participating in the activities of any of these groups, contact the WG Chairman or the IAGC Business Office at iagc@granite.mb.ca. A complete list of Working Group Chairmen and their addresses can be found on the Contact page.
Working Groups
Water-Rock Interaction
Chairman: Yousif Kharaka (USA) ykharaka@usgs.gov
The main purpose of the Working Group on Water-Rock Interaction is to organize international symposia that are held every three years, generally in different countries and are co-sponsored by various earth science associations, academies of sciences, private and governmental agencies, the International Association of GeoChemistry (IAGC), and others. The symposia are organized by National WRI Organizing Committees, which are selected by the Working Group on Water-Rock Interaction. This Working Group was formed in 1970, with WRI-1 convened in Prague, Czech Republic, in 1974. There is no official list of members, but those attending WRI conferences carry out theoretical, laboratory and field investigations in almost all the earth science disciplines, including: geology and hydrogeology, geochemistry and hydrochemistry, petroleum geology, ore deposits, environmental sciences and hazard geology. The participation and interactions of experts from different part of the world and with expertise in different earth science disciplines at these Symposia and field trips provide inspiring new knowledge and opportunities for scientific cooperation.
The last conference, WRI-11, was held June 27-July 2, 2004, in Saratoga Springs, New York, USA. WRI-11, led by its Secretary General, Dr. Susan L. Brantley, Director of the EMS Environment Institute and Professor of Geosciences at Penn State University, attracted a total of 341 participants from 34 countries. At registration, participants received two hard cover proceeding volumes, edited by Richard B. Wanty and Robert R. Seal, II (both of the USGS), and published by A. A. Balkema, that include 334 papers and a record total of 1684 pages.
During 2006, most of the work of WRI was carried out by Professor Yanxin Wang (China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China), the Secretary General of WRI-12 and his WRI-12 Organizing Committee. WRI-12 is planned for July 31-August 5, 2007, in the beautiful 'spring' city of Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. Prof. Yanxin Wang and his WRI-12 Committee have organized a tremendous program of science and culture for the participants, including field trips to Tibet, Three Gorges Dam and Stone Forest. We are expecting about 500 participants at WRI-12. For detailed information about timelines, registration, program, venue and field trips, please visit the WRI-12 web site at:
" http://www.wri12.org/".
During 2006, and as Chairman of WRI Working group, I contacted several scientists from different countries and asked them to submit plans to host WRI-13 in their countries during 2010. Spain, Canada, Switzerland and Mexico are interested and likely will present detailed plans to host WRI-13. At the business meeting in Kunming during WRI-12, the assembled delegates will select the venue for WRI-13.
WRI Executive Members:
Tomas Paces (Czech Republic) paces@cgu.cz
Yves Tardy (France) yvtardy.montgeard@wanadoo.fr
Brian Hitchon (Canada) hitchon@arc.ab.ca
Hitoshi Sakai (Japan) hsakai@apple.email.ne.jp
Halldor Armansson (Iceland) h@os.is
Mike Edmunds (UK) wme@bgs.ac.uk
Yousif Kharaka (USA) ykharaka@usgs.gov, Chairman
Oleg Chudaev (Russia) olegchud@hotmail.com
Brian Robinson (New Zealand) B.Robinson@gns.cri.nz
Luca Fanfani (Italy) lfanfani@vaxcal.unica.it
Susan Brantley (USA) brantley@essc.psu.edu
Yanxin Wang (China) yx.wang1108@gmail.com
Global Geochemical Baselines
Chairman: David Smith (USA) dsmith@usgs.gov
Start-up meeting for new exiting European-scale geochemical mapping project led by the IAGC Vice President (Clemens Reimann).
The EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry working group had a meeting in Berlin from March 5-7, 2008. At this meeting the GEMAS-Project (Geochemical Mapping of Agricultural Land and Grazing Land Soils of Europe) was officially started. 34 European Geological Survey Organisations have agreed to collect samples of arable land (ploughing layer, 0-20 cm) and of land under permanent grass cover (0-10 cm) at a density of 1 site per 2500 km2 in their territory. The total area covered will be about 5.8 Million km2. The project is a continuation and extension of the Baltic Soil Survey (Reimann et al., 2003) which resulted in a very successful geochemical atlas, one of the few geochemical atlasses that is sold out. The meeting in Berlin was used for field training for the new project. More than 40 participants went together into the field to harmonize sampling methods. The project is led by Clemens Reimann, IAGC Vice President. Clemens managed to obtain substantial industry funding for this project. The European metals industry, represented by EuroMetaux in Brussels, will back this project with 4 x 130.000 Euros, over a period of four years.
Reference
Reimann, C., Siewers, U., Tarvainen, T., Bityukova, L., Eriksson, J., Gilucis, A., Gregorauskiene, V., Lukashev, V.K., Matinian, N.N., & Pasieczna, A. 2003. Agricultural Soils in Northern Europe: A Geochemical Atlas. Geologisches Jahrbuch, Sonderhefte, Reihe D, Heft SD 5, Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart, ISBN: 3-510-95906-X.
1. TITLE OF CONSTITUENT BODY
IUGS/IAGC Working Group on Global Geochemical Baselines.
2. OVERALL OBJECTIVES
To prepare a global geochemical database, and its representation in map form, to document the concentration and distribution of chemical elements and species in the Earth’s near-surface environment. The database and accompanying maps can then be used to create a geochemical baseline against which future human-induced or natural changes to the chemistry of the land surface may be recognised and measured. In the short to medium term, this involves implementation of the recommendations given by Darnley et al. (1995), namely:
collection and analysis of a series of multi-media geochemical samples - the Global Reference Network (GRN);
design and publication of a Field Manual detailing sampling methods for collection of the GRN samples;
design and production of an Analytical Manual detailing methods for analysing the GRN samples.
3. FIT WITHIN IUGS SCIENCE POLICY
Current IUGS scientific policy objectives relate to global earth science issues, such as identification of mineral resources, global change, geological hazards, environmental geology and sustainable development. The work of the Global Geochemical Baselines Working Group relates directly to all of these objectives through the establishment of a land-surface global geochemical reference network, providing multi-media, multi-element baseline data for a wide variety of environmental and resource applications. The project is also consistent with the strategic plan published by the IUGS Strategic Planning Committee (2000), and the International Year of Planet Earth (2005-2007) of ‘Earth Sciences for Society’.
4. ORGANISATION
The project is led by a Steering Committee which co-ordinates the activities of five Technical Committees and contributions made by individual country representatives.
Steering Committee
Honorary President Dr Arthur Darnley (deceased) Geological Survey of Canada
Co-Leaders Prof Jane Plant Imperial College, UK Dr David Smith US Geological Survey
Scientific Secretary Mr Shaun Reeder British Geological Survey
Treasurer Mr Alecos Demetriades IGME, Greece
Analytical Committee
Chair Ms Gwendy Hall Geological Survey of Canada
Co-ordinates the work plan for the analysis of GRN samples, the activities of the laboratories, and the supervision of analytical quality control data.
Sampling Committee
Chair Prof Reijo Salminen Geological Survey of Finland
Supervises development and co-ordination of sampling protocols in the various climatic and geomorphic provinces throughout the world.
Data Management Committee
Chair Dr Timo Tarvainen Geological Survey of Finland
Supervises sampling strategy, co-ordinates the sampling progress of the participating countries, manages the database of sample information and analytical results.
Regional Co-ordination
Chair Prof Reijo Salminen Geological Survey of Finland
Coordinates project activities of groups of neighbouring countries and reports back to Steering Committee.
Public Relations and Finance Committee
Chair Mr Alecos Demetriades IGME, Greece
Advertises and promotes the aims, objectives and achievements of the project world-wide,
including by use of the World Wide Web, and takes responsibility for trying to secure
funding for the project.
5. EXTENT OF NATIONAL/REGIONAL/GLOBAL SUPPORT FROM SOURCES OTHER THAN IUGS
The project does not have any other source of direct funding. However, within Europe, National Geological Surveys, and associated Institutes, have provided staff time and support to the project to complete the preparation of the European GRN as part of the FOREGS programme as an input to the IUGS/IAGC Global Geochemical Baselines project. A few other countries, including China, Russia, Colombia, India, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States have provided funds through their National Geological Surveys or related institutes for pilot studies on establishing the GRN.
6. INTERFACE WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
This project is closely associated with the work of the EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Working Group (previously the Forum of European Geological Surveys, FOREGS Geochemistry Working Group). In addition, the INCO-COPERNICUS project, a laboratory standardisation project involving Western European and former Soviet Block countries, is associated with this project. The project also has links with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and potential links with GTOS, the Global Terrestrial Observing System. The Working Group has also established closer links with the European Soil Bureau over the past few years, and was actively involved in the European Commission’s ‘Soil Thematic Strategy Group’ for the preparation of the EU’s Soil Protection Document. The EuroGeoSurveys Secretary General is trying to link the project to other European Commission projects, such as the GMES Forum (Global Monitoring of Environment and Security), and INSPIRE (Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe). In North America, the project has established links with the tri-national soil geochemical survey involving the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC), the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and the Servicio Geológico Mexicano (SGM).
7. CHIEF ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2006
Scientific Progress: There has been continued progress in a number of areas, most notably:
India: Dr. Pradip Govil of the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) in Hyderabad reports that sampling of soils and stream sediments from the 160 x 160 km cells of the Global Reference Network in India has been completed. The samples are currently being processed at the NGRI and will be analysed by XRF, ICP-MS and ICP-AES for major and trace elements. Geochemical maps showing the distribution for selected elements will be prepared during 2007. Higher resolution sampling based on 10 x 10 km cells will begin after the lower density data has been interpreted.
North America: The US Geological Survey and the Geological Survey of Canada completed pilot studies in 2006 in preparation for a soil geochemical survey of North America. Similar studies in Mexico by the Servicio Geologico Mexicano will be completed in early 2007. In July 2006, a symposium to present the results of the US and Canada portions of the pilot studies was convened at the 18th World Congress of Soil Science in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA). In addition, Dr. David Smith presented a Goldschmidt Lecture at the Geological Survey of Norway in which he discussed these studies. The complete results of the pilot studies will be published in a special issue of Applied Geochemistry. Manuscripts will be prepared during early 2007 with a projected publication date of late 2008. Final sampling protocols will be published and the initial continental sampling phase for North America will begin in 2007. This multi-year project will involve collection of soil samples at 13,215 sites throughout the North American continent. These sites, representing an approximate density of one sample per 1,600 square km, were selected by a Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) design with the assistance of the US Environmental Protection Agency. This design results in a spatially balanced array of points throughout the continent without being tied to a fixed grid. Each of the GRTS sites represents the centre of a 1 km x 1 km area within which the actual sampling site will be chosen. The actual sampling site within the 1 square km area will be selected based on the most representative landscape within the dominant soil type in the area. Initial sampling during 2007 will focus on the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada and the states of Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire in the US.
Mexico: Jorge Chipres from Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, has reported that his group have mapped some Central Mexican cells and have asked GTK in Finland for help with map production.
Cyprus: The floodplain sediment samples collected, during the geochemical baseline mapping in 2005, in the part of Cyprus controlled by the Republic of Cyprus, have been prepared, according to the specifications of the IUGS/IAGC/FOREGS project (Salminen et al., 1998, 2005), by the Cyprus Geological Survey Department (GSD). It is noted that this is the first project that has been carried out through a private sponsorship, GeoInvest Ltd, a Cypriot based company (http://www.geoinvest-cy.com). Following consultation with Manfred Birke from the German Geological Survey (BGR), and exchange of letters between the Working Group Co-Chair David Smith and the President of BGR, Professor Dr. B. Stribrny, it has been agreed to analyse the floodplain sediment samples by XRF on a free gratis basis; it should be considered that BGR is in a sense another sponsor. An aliquot of the sample suite has been sent by GSD to the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (Athens, Greece), where the samples will be homogenised and sub-sampled before despatch to BGR. The XRF analytical data should be ready in the first quarter of 2007. Besides the XRF analyses to be performed at BGR, the Cyprus Geological Survey Department has started the aqua regia analysis on the samples, and all results will be available and published in 2007.
Europe: Within Europe, the FOREGS Geochemical Atlas of Europe was completed. Following on from Part
1: Background Information, Methodology and Maps, published in summer 2005, Part 2: Interpretation of Geochemical Maps, Additional Tables, Figures, Maps and Related Publications, was published in both printed and electronic forms in Autumn 2006. Both volumes are available from http://www.gsf.fi/publ/foregsatlas/. The complete European database of all field and geochemical data collected as part of this project and the related digital photo archive are also freely available at this website. The FOREGS/EuroGeoSurveys Geochemical Atlas of Europe was officially launched to European Commission officers and other interested parties at the DG Environment headquarters in Brussels on the 21 September.
Progress was made on harmonising activities of the FOREGS Working Group with the European programme INSPIRE (Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe). The intention would be to identify five different Working Groups with specific responsibilities: - WG1 INSPIRE; - WG2 spatial harmonisation of the Pan-European River and Catchment Database and the FOREGS data; - WG3 harmonisation of soil monitoring data with JRC IES (the European Soil Bureau, ESB), with a focus on heavy metals; - WG4 hyperspectral analysis of the FOREGS and national sample archives; - WG5 laboratory standardisation for heavy metal analysis, and interpretation of pollution in soils, sediments and water. Meetings are planned at JRC in Ispra, Italy, early next year to move this initiative forward.
Public Relations and Finance Committee: The new structure for the Committee agreed at the 2002 Annual Business Meeting (Chair: Alecos Demetriades; Deputy Chair: Andrew Grosz, three committee members, and affiliated members from each participating country) has not yet been activated, because it is important to firstly organise a section in the IUGS Website for the Global Geochemical Baselines project. With the publication of Part 2 of the Geochemical Atlas of Europe in 2006, this work should be finalised during 2007. To begin with, a hotlink should be established between the IUGS website and http://www.gsf.fi/publ/foregsatlas/. The intention is for this web page to represent a forum for information exchange and promotional activities with products from the EuroGeoSurveys (past FOREGS) and other pilot projects. Following the publication of Part 2 of the Geochemical Atlas of Europe, all data have become public and may be freely downloaded from the above URL. Therefore, there are no longer any legal aspects concerning the public release of the data, as noted in the 2005 annual report. The IUGS Webmaster needs to decide whether to upload all the data and information on the IUGS website or keep a link to the existing website, managed by Timo Tarvainen of the Geological Survey of Finland.
The Committee continued its activities for the promotion of the global programme, including the raising of funds through discussions with marketing and public relations consultants, and with senior staff from international mining companies. With the publication of the two-volume FOREGS/EuroGeoSurveys Geochemical Atlas of Europe, which is considered the spearhead of promotional activities, together with the results of the Chinese Environmental Geochemical Monitoring Network project (EGMON), the raising of funds should be easier, since most people contacted in the past for sponsorship have wanted to see results. It is stressed that significant funding (in the order of £75K to £100K) is required just to start making progress with the marketing and fund-raising initiatives. The suggestion of the first marketing consultant to raise the public image of the fund raising campaign by having a celebrity figurehead or patron will be pursued now that the results of the FOREGS/EuroGeoSurveys and EGMON projects have been made public.
Financing the global project with EU funds, as part of the EU Commission’s Global Monitoring of Environment and Security Forum, is still a possible solution. A presentation of the FOREGS/EuroGeoSurveys Geochemical Atlas of Europe to European Commission officers and other interested parties was made on the 21 September in Brussels. European Union Commission Officers were informed of the results and the significance of the global project. Therefore, the situation for direct EU funding will be further explored, based on information from the previous Director of DG Environment (June 2003) on the possibility of funding projects of European or global concern from 2005-6.
Discussions with the Greek Orthodox Churches of Western Europe over potential financial assistance, which started in 2002, will be pursued further. Discussions with other Greek and international companies will be pursued in 2007 now that the FOREGS/EGS data and the Chinese EGMON results are publicly available, following installation of hot links from IUGS and Geological Surveys website. Personal contact with all potential sponsors is essential, hence the necessity for IUGS to provide the required seed money for the fund raising campaign.
After the Cyprus experience, the Public Relations and Finance Committee will be looking for local companies, such as the Cypriot GeoInvest Ltd to finance the sampling, and if possible the analysis, and to collaborate with the national Geological Surveys. We will also pursue international companies that have investment interest in certain countries.
The Hellenic Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration has purchased 100 copies of Parts 1 and 2 of the FOREGS/EuroGeoSurveys Geochemical Atlas of Europe for promotional purposes. It has already donated 50 copies to University libraries, Ministries, Institutional libraries, Chamber libraries, etc. Also, different international working groups have been informed about the publication of Parts 1 and 2, as well as the website address from which the atlas can be viewed, downloaded or purchased.
8. CHIEF PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN 2006
The main problem still facing the project is the lack of funding that is required to achieve the aims and objectives of the project at the global scale. Although the geochemical baseline project in Europe has now been completed, through funding by the participating European Geological Surveys, it is still considered unlikely that the global programme will go ahead without significant funding from all possible sources, including IUGS. Funds are required for training, transportation, additional analytical services and quality control.
Mr Alecos Demetriades of IGME, Greece, and Dr Andrew Grosz of USGS, in their roles as chair and deputy chair of the Public Relations and Finance Committee, have specific responsibilities for carrying out marketing initiatives in an effort to secure funding. In order to carry out these initiatives more successfully, assistance is requested from the IUGS committee in the form of:
(i) seed money for promotional purposes,
(ii) supply of addresses of all Geological Surveys in the World for the purposes of promoting
the global project in these countries, and the development of contact points, and
(iii) designing an Internet section dedicated to the project within the IUGS Website in collaboration with the IUGS Web Master. In this section, it is proposed that all project material will be stored and all Geological Surveys will have hot links to this page. It is stressed that this is a very important promotional activity, not only for providing information to scientists and the public in general, but also to create an exchange platform with contact points all over the world, and for fund raising.
9. CHIEF PRODUCTS IN 2006
FOREGS Geochemical Atlas of Europe
The second volume of the ‘FOREGS/EuroGeoSurveys Geochemical Atlas of Europe’, Part
2: Interpretation of Geochemical Maps, Additional Tables, Figures, Maps and Related Publications’ was published in August 2006 in both printed and electronic forms. The electronic versions of both part 1 and 2 of the Atlas, as well as the complete digital geochemical data and the digital photo archive are available at http://www.gsf.fi/publ/foregsatlas/.
Papers
Demetriades A, Batista M J, Bidovec M, De Vivo B, De Vos W, Duris M, Gilucis A, Gregorauskiene V, Halamic J, Heitzmann P, Lima A, Jordan G, Klaver G, Klein P, Lis J, Locutura J, Marsina K, Mazreku A, O'Connor P J, Olsson S Å, Ottesen R T, Petersell V, Pirc S, Plant J A, Reeder S, Salminen R, Salpeteur I, Sandström H, Siewers U, Steenfelt A and Tarvainen T. 2006. FOREGS Geochemical Atlas of Europe. INTERFACE, Newsletter of the Association of Environmental Geochemistry and Health.
Gough L P, Wang B, Smith D B and Gustavsson Nils. 2005. Geochemical landscapes of Alaska - New map presentations and interpretations for 23 elements in surficial materials:
U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1716, 36 p. [http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/2005/1716/]
Wang B, Gough L P, Smith D B and Guvtasson Nils. 2006. Geochemical landscapes of Alaska: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Cordilleran Section, 38(5), p. 74.
Smith D B, Smith S M, Goldhaber M B, Kilburn J E, Cannon W F and Woodruff L G. 2006. Spatial patterns in soil geochemistry of the United States: The relationship between scale and process: Abstracts of the 18th World Congress of Soil Science, July 9-15, 2006, Philadelphia, PA (CD-ROM).
Goldhaber M B, Morrison J M, Plulmee G S, Wanty R B, Helsel D R, Wolf R E, Smith D B, Hageman P L, Morman S A and Holloway J M. 2006. Regional-scale soil geochemistry in northern California: Natural and anthropogenic sources of soil constituents: Abstracts of the 18th World Congress of Soil Science, July 9-15, 2006, Philadelphia, PA (CD-ROM).
Smith D B, Woodruff L G, Cannon W F, Kilburn J E, Garrett R G, Klassen R, Eilers R G, Goldhaber M B, Horton J D and Morrison J M. 2006. A proposed soil geochemical and microbiological survey of North America: Continental-scale pilot study in Canada and the United States: Abstracts of the 18th World Congress of Soil Science, July 9-15, 2006, Philadelphia, PA (CD-ROM).
Other Presentations, Posters, Abstracts and Dissemination of Promotional Material
Oral: The FOREGS Geochemical Atlas of Europe: A contribution to IUGS/IAGC Global Geochemical Baselines. Presented by Alecos Demetriades at the Geology Department of the University of Athens, Greece, 2 February 2006.
Oral: The FOREGS Geochemical Atlas of Europe: A contribution to IUGS/IAGC Global Geochemical Baselines. Presented by Alecos Demetriades at the Geology Department of the University of Thessaloniki, Greece, 10 March 2006.
Oral: Geochemical Atlas of Europe on-line: articles, databases, maps & photos - an ArcView and ArcIMS application. The EuroGeoSurveys’ contribution to IUGS/IAGC Global Geochemical Baselines. Presented by Alecos Demetriades at the 21st European Conference for ESRI Users, Athens, Greece, 8 November 2006.
Oral: Spatial Patterns in Soil Geochemistry of the United States: Results from a Pilot Study for a Soil Geochemical Survey of North America. Presented by David Smith as a contribution to the Goldschmidt Lecture Series at the Geological Survey of Norway, Trondheim, Norway, 14 November 2006.
Presentations at the launch of the Geochemical Atlas of Europe to the European Commission in Brussels on 21st September 2006:
(1) Oral: The Geochemical Atlas of Europe – A voluntary initiative of the European
Geological Surveys. Presented by Patrice Christmann, EuroGeoSurveys’ Secretary
General.
(2) Oral: Geochemical Atlas of Europe – General overview. Presented by Reijo Salminen,
Geological Survey of Finland, and EGS-FOREGS Geochemistry Working Group
Chairman.
(3) Oral: Geochemical Atlas of Europe: Application of Geochemical Data to Health Related
Issues. Presented by Patrick O’Connor, Geological Survey of Ireland.
(4) Oral: Geochemical Atlas of Europe: Benefits and Utilisation. Presented by Clemens
Reimann, Geological Survey of Norway, and new Chairman of the EuroGeoSurveys
Geochemistry Working Group.
(5) Oral: Geochemical Atlas of Europe: Wider Perspectives and Future Activities. Presented
by Alecos Demetriades, Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, Greece.
(6) Oral: The new EuroGeoSurveys Geochemical Data Base: the French Example. Presented
by Ignace Salpeteur, Geological Survey of France (BRGM).
(7) Poster: European Geochemistry and Natural Background Values in Soil. Prepared on
behalf of the EGS Geochemistry Working Group by Alecos Demetriades, with
contributions by other members.
(8) Poster: European Geochemistry and Health. Prepared on behalf of the EGS Geochemistry
Working Group by Alecos Demetriades with the assistance of Olle Selinus, with
contributions by other members.
(9) Four page leaflet of the Geochemical Atlas of Europe.
Various oral presentations of results of the Geochemical Atlas of Europe by Olle Selinus (Geological Survey of Sweden):
Two presentations at the European Environment Agency, Copenhagen, Denmark
Geological Survey of Sweden
Geological Survey of Denmark
University of Uppsala, Sweden
University of Lund, Sweden
Royal University of Technology, Stockholm,
University of Gothenburg
In local Municipalities in Sweden
Royal Academy of Sciences, Stockholm
9th Annual Health Force Protection Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Three lectures at 7th International Symposium on Environmental Geochemistry and Health in
Beijing, one of them a plenary lecture covering geochemical databases.
Presentation in Monaco to Prince Rainier
Bangladesh
Poster: Geochemical Baseline Mapping of European Soils: A FOREGS project as an input to IUGS/IAGC Global Geochemical Baselines. By R Salminen, M J Batista, M Bidovec, A Demetriades, B De Vivo, W De Vos, M Duris, A Gilucis, V Gregorauskiene, J Halamic, P Heitzmann, A Lima, G Jordan, G Klaver, P Klein, J Lis, J Locutura, K Marsina, A Mazreku, J Mrnkova, P J O'Connor, S Å Olsson, R T Ottesen, V Petersell, S Pirc, J A Plant, S Reeder, C Reimann, I Salpeteur, H Sandström, U Siewers, D Smith, A Steenfelt and T Tarvainen. Presented at the 18th World Congress of Soil Science, July 9-15, 2006 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Posters: Three posters entitled European Geochemistry and Natural Background Values in Soil, European Geochemistry and Health, and Geochemical Atlas of Europe for citizens, decision- and policy-makers, prepared on behalf of the EGS Geochemistry Working Group by Alecos Demetriades. 21st European Conference for ESRI Users, Athens, Greece, 8 November 2006.
Meeting: 3rd Plenary Meeting of the Group on Earth Observation, the governance body of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) Programme (www.earthobservations.org), of which EGS is a Participating Organisation. Bonn, Germany, 28-29 November 2006.
10. SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES IN 2006
The Working Group has received 1500 USD from IUGS in 2006. This amount is very small for the planned promotional activities, and even for assistance to developing country participants. It was decided, therefore, to keep it for future small promotional activities, and in the hope that IUGS will approve the requested amount.
The cost of the FOREGS programme over the past year is estimated to be in excess of US $0.1M. These funds were provided from the Geological Institutes of the participating countries within Europe. The cost of pilot studies in the US and Canada for the proposed soil geochemical survey of North America is estimated to have been approximately US $0.5M. There has also been considerable expenditure within India, China and Brazil.
11. WORK PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR
The FOREGS Geochemical Mapping Field Manual (Salminen et al., 1998) will be revised in 2007 to include new details on sampling in karstic terrains prepared by A Demetriades, S Pirc, M Bidovec and F Sustersic, and other key terrains, such as tropical, desert and arctic.
Countries outside Europe will be encouraged to observe the work done by the FOREGS Geochemistry Working Group, and to try to formulate similar working relationships and sampling programmes. The Public Relations and Finance Committee will continue in its plan of marketing initiatives in an effort to secure external funding. However, seed money is required from the IUGS to proceed with the fund raising campaign.
The newly formed EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Working Group, under the chairmanship of Clemens Reimann, is planning many activities for next year, the details of which will be agreed at the inaugural meeting of the WG in the spring of 2007.
Collaboration with the Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy, is planned following a kick-off meeting on 19-20 April 2007. The collaboration concerns a two-year research project to utilise the results of the Geochemical Atlas of Europe in relation to datasets held by the European Soil Bureau. For this purpose a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between EuroGeoSurveys and the European Commission;
Seminars will be arranged for young geochemists in collaboration with Geological Departments of Universities, since it is very important for the methodology that has been developed over the years to be transferred.
Reactivation of contact points in all countries is a significant that will be pursued by circulating the Newsletter that has been prepared by the EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Working Group.
12. COMMUNICATION PLANS
The IUGS/IAGC/FOREGS Working Group plans to participate in national and international symposia, conferences and workshops for the promotion of the project, including the “Soil Geochemical Patterns at International, National, and Regional Scales” symposium to be convened at the 18th World Congress of Soil Science in Philadelphia, PA (USA), July 2006.
Communication will also be achieved through continued output of oral presentations, posters and promotional materials.
13. SUMMARY BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR AND POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES OUTSIDE IUGS
Without securing substantial financial contributions from external sources, it will be very difficult for the IUGS project to achieve its global objectives. It is hoped that the publication of the European Atlas will be useful in marketing and helping to secure funds over the next year. The Public Relations and Finance Committee will be taking a proactive role in trying to secure funds for the global project from a wide variety of potential sources.
Any other support from IUGS/IAGC towards the advancement of this project in developing countries would be most welcome. In particular, the Public Relations and Finance Committee is requesting seed money for travel and promotional purposes in the order of Twenty thousand US dollars (20,000 USD). We understand the financial problems of IUGS, but we strongly believe that this is an important project, which must be given the priority it deserves.
14. CHIEF ACCOMPLISHMENTS 1998-2006
1998 Publication of Salminen R, et al. (1998) FOREGS Geochemical Mapping Field Manual. Geological Survey of Finland Guide Number 47.
1998 Release of the IUGS/IAGC Global Geochemical Baselines website, hosted by the British Geological Survey at www.bgs.ac.uk/IUGS.
1998 Annual Meeting was held in Naples, Italy (1-3 October 1998) in conjunction with
the FOREGS Geochemistry Working Group Annual Meeting.
1998 European GRN sampling programme commenced.
1999 Completion of pilot study for geochemical mapping carried out in Colombia.
1999 The Committee for Coastal and Offshore Geoscience Programmes (CCOP) agreed
to act as a Regional Co-ordinator for their member countries (China, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Malasia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and Korea) in SE Asia.
2000 Symposium on geochemical baseline activities was organised as part of the 31st International Geological Congress in Rio de Janeiro.
2000 First draft of promotional papers to possible sponsors prepared and sponsorship campaign commenced.
2000 Annual Business Meeting of the IUGS/IAGC and FOREGS Working Groups held in Athens, Greece (14 to 17 November).
2001 Sampling and the majority of analysis completed in FOREGS countries. Preliminary maps of geochemical data for Europe prepared and preliminary interpretation begun.
2001 Meeting held with CCOP member countries during the Seminar on Regional Geochemical Exploration, Beijing, China to discuss their participation in the global project.
2002 Annual Business Meeting of the IUGS/IAGC and FOREGS Working Groups held in Svincice, Czech Republic (22 to 25 April 2002).
2002 Sampling and analysis completed in Southern India. Pilot studies partially completed within Colombia and Brazil. A major new campaign under the auspices of the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia is currently in the planning stages.
2003 Annual Business Meeting of the FOREGS Working Group held in Dublin, Ireland (18 to 21 March 2003).
2003 Quality control of the analytical results of the FOREGS project completed.
2003 FOREGS poster, as the European contribution to IUGS/IAGC Working Group on Global Geochemical Baselines, and a two-page flyer prepared for promotional purposes.
2003 Annual Business Meeting of the IUGS/IAGC and FOREGS Working Groups held in Edinburgh, Scotland (9 September 2003).
2004 IUGS/IAGC/FOREGS Working Groups’ workshop (DW016) at the 32nd International Geological Conference, Florence, Italy, 20-28 August 2004, held on 22 August 2004.
2005 Production of Part 1 of the FOREGS Geochemical Atlas of Europe, including background and introductory texts and geochemical maps for a wide range of sample media and chemical elements.
2006 Production of Part 2 of the EuroGeoSurveys/FOREGS Geochemical Atlas of Europe, including interpretation, papers on specialised data treatment, and supplementary tables, and figures and maps.
2006 Launch presentation of the Geochemical Atlas of Europe to the European Commission in Brussels on 21 September 2006.
15. ANTICIPATED OBJECTIVES AND WORK PLAN 2006-2010
The FOREGS Geochemical Mapping Field Manual will be extensively revised to cover all terrain types. Similarly, a FOREGS Analytical Manual will be released with details of all the analytical procedures used in the analysis of European samples, including quality control procedures, etc.
A popular, well illustrated, version of the FOREGS atlas will be prepared in 2007-8. It will be aimed at decision makers, but also the general public and educational institutions.
To aid in the training of field sampling teams, an illustrated version of the Field Manual showing, in picture form, all stages of sampling will be produced as a PowerPoint presentation to be distributed on CD-rom or downloaded from the Working Group’s website.
Ongoing efforts will be made to increase the extent of the participation in the global GRN project for countries outside of Europe.
19. REFERENCES
Darnley A G et al. 1995. A Global Geochemical Database for Environmental and Resource Management: Recommendations for International Geochemical Mapping. Final Report of IGCP Project 259. Earth Sciences 19, UNESCO, Paris.
International Union of Geological Sciences Strategic Planning Committee. 2000.
International Earth Science in the 21st Century. Science and Organisational Strategy for the International Union of Geological Sciences. Trondheim, Norway, International Union of Geological Sciences, 49p.
Salminen R et al. 1998. FOREGS Geochemical Mapping. Field Manual. Geologian tutkimuskeskus - Geological Survey of Finland, Opas - Guide 47. Also available at http://www.gsf.fi/foregs/geochem/fieldman.pdf.
Salminen R et al. 2005. FOREGS Geochemical Atlas of Europe: Part 1 – Background information, Methodology and Maps. Geological Survey of Finland. Also available at http://www.gsf.fi/publ/foregsatlas/.
De Vos W et al. 2006. FOREGS Geochemical Atlas of Europe: Part 2 – Interpretation of Geochemical Maps, Additional Tables, Figures, Maps, and Related Publications. Geological Survey of Finland. Also available at http://www.gsf.fi/publ/foregsatlas/.
NAME: Mr Shaun Reeder
POSITION: Scientific Secretary
DATE: 8 December 2006
ADDRESS: British Geological Survey
Keyworth, Nottingham, United Kingdom, NG12 5GG
TELEPHONE: +44 (0)115 936 3523
FACSIMILE: +44 (0)115 936 3261
E-MAIL: s.reeder@bgs.ac.uk
Applied Isotope Geochemistry
Martin Novak novak@cgu.cz
Some important decisions regarding future AIG Symposia have been made this year. Prof. Jodie Miller of the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, obtained a go-ahead from her University officials, and confirmed she would serve as the Head of the Organizing Committee for the AIG-7 Symposium. (This was not a trivial achievement, since Stellenbosch will be hosting Hutton’s Symposium just weeks before AIG-7). She enhusiastically started her job, created a very informative web site for the Symposium (September 10-14, 2007), assembled an International Scientific Committee, and made a number of decisions regarding the venue, field trips, budget and financial support for student presenters. This was preceded by a visit of the Chairman of the WG, Martin Novak, at Stellenbosh in May 2006. His trip was kindly supported by the Czech Geological Survey. The Czech Geological Survey (which co-hosted the previous AIG-6 Symposium in Prague in 2005) became one of the sponsoring organizations for the forthcoming AIG-7. The Survey has covered the printing cost of several thousand large and small AIG-7 posters, and AIG-7 leaflets with a Call for Abstracts. Roughly one half of these materials have been sent to potential AIG-7 participants directly from Prague, the other one half was sent to Jodie Miller and forwarded to several international events, such as the December 2006 AGU Meeting in San Francisco. The poster features the Cape of Good Hope, one of the major attractions near the Symposium venue (Stellenbosch is located close to Cape Town). Electronic messages are being simultaneusly mailed out using databases of attendees of similar past symposia. AIG-7 materials were also available at Goldschmidt in Melbourne (Australia), BIOGEOMON (UC Santa Cruz, US) and elsewhere.
Another two important decisions have been made in 2006. Two colleagues have approached the WG chairman and submited bids for organizing AIG-8 and AIG-9, respectively. If, indeed, these colleagues obtain their institutional approval, AIG will be proud to see three consecutive bi-annual meetings organized by noted female scientists. The plan is to hold AIG-8 in Rammelsberg, Germany, in 2009, hosted by Dr. Anette Giesemann of the Federal Agricultural Institute, and to hold AIG-9 in Montreal, Canada, in 2011, hosted by Dr. Martine Savard, herself a participant in almost all the previous meetings in the series.
All details about the forthcoming 7th International Symposium on Applied Isotope Geochemistry (AIG-7) can be found at www.sun.ac.za/geology/aig7.htm
Geochemical Training in the Developing Countries
U. Aswathanarayana anarayana01@sify.com
1. The activities of the W.G. are aimed at integrating geochemical sciences and technologies with earth, space and information technologies to improve the quality of life of the people in the Developing countries.
2. Under the auspices of the 93rd. Indian Science Congress, and as a part of the event, “Science and the Millennium Development Goals”, a Panel Discussion entitled, “Biophysical and Socioeconomic Dimensions of Food Security in the Developing Countries” was organized by U. Aswathanarayana on Jan. 6, 2006 in ANGR Agricultural University, Hyderabad, India. The output of the Panel Discussion was the development of an integrated strategy to make use of the consilience among bio-, nano-, and information technologies, innovative agricultural and management practices and administrative policies, to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goal of halving, by 2015, the number of undernourished people (about 850 million) in the world. The Panel Discussion was noticed internationally ( An Integrated Strategy for Food Security in the Developing Countries, Eos, v. 87, no.31, Aug. 1, 2006 ; Report in Elements, v.2, no.4, p. 237, Aug. 2006). A volume entitled, Food and Water Security, incorporating the presentations made in the Panel Discussion plus a number of solicited chapters, is being edited by U. Aswathanarayana and will be published by Taylor & Francis. U.K. The volume (~35 chapters) has three sections: (i) Biophysical dimensions – More crop per drop, (ii) Socioeconomic dimensions, (iii) Governance of Food Security, under various agroclimatic environments.
3. The Second International Conference on “Hydrology and Watershed Management, with focal theme on Improving Water Productivity in Agriculture” was held in the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, and Dec. 5-8, 2006. IAGC contributed $ 2000/- for bringing out the Proceedings volumes. Under the auspices of the IAGC W.G., a Colloquium was held on “Challenges of Training and Research in Hydrological Sciences and Technologies in the Twentyfirst Century” on Dec. 7 (v. 1, p. 87-91, of the Proceedings).
4. A volume entitled, “The Indian Ocean Tsunami” (edited by Tad S. Murty, U. Aswathanarayana and N. Nirupama, 528 pp., USD 169.95 ; Taylor and Francis, U.K.) was released in Bombay, India, on Dec. 25, 2006 at the time of the Anniversary meeting of the Indian National Science Academy. The volume covers all the aspects (Biophysical and Socioeconomic Dimensions of Tsunami Damage, Geostructural environments of tsunami genesis, Modelling of the tsunami genesis and propagation, Tsunami detection and monitoring systems, Preparedness systems, etc.) of the Tsunami of Dec. 26, 2004, including the nature and extent of hydrogeochemical, pedogeochemical and biogeochemical impacts of the Tsunami in different countries. The volume is likely to be used as a core text for a three-week, country-customized Training programme for the Indian Ocean countries on Warning and Preparedness systems for Tsunamis and Storm Surges.
Geochemistry of the Earth's Surface
Sigudur Gislason: sigrg@raunvis.hi.is
This has been an active year for GES. Sigurdur R. Gislason, a research professor at University of Iceland, became the Working Group chairman in February 2006. Previous presidents of GES are: Yves Tardy, 1986-1990, Robert Berner, 1990-1996, Blair Jones, 1996-2002 and Robert Berner 2002-2006.
A Special Issue of Journal of Geochemical Exploration was published in March 2006, containing the Extended Abstracts presented at the 7th Symposium on the Geochemistry of the Earth's Surface (GES-7). Journal of Geochemical Exploration, Volume 88, Issues 1-3 , January-March 2006, pages 1-462. The Special Issue was edited by J.D. Meunier, the Secretary General of GES-7, C. Keller, O. Radakovitch and J. Rose.
Preparations are under way for the 8th Symposium on the Geochemistry of the Earth’s Surface. The meeting will be held at the Natural History Museum, London August 18 –22nd in 2008. The meeting is being organized by Mark Hodson University of Redding http://www.shes.rdg.ac.uk/Staff/StaffDetails.asp?PID=MEH (m.e.hodson@reading.ac.uk).
The meeting will have the following themes: Mineral weathering, contaminated environments and toxicology, biomineralisation, synchrotrons and environmental science, marine records of climate change and environment and Health
The scientific committee comprises Steven Banwart (Sheffield), Vala Ragnarsdottir (Bristol), Martin Lee (Glasgow), Dave Polya (Manchester), Eva Valsami-Jones (NHM), Sam Shaw (Leeds), Vernon Phoenix (Glasgow).
To date sponsorship has been guaranteed by the Natural History Museum (provision of lecture theatre, poster boards etc. free of charge), the Mineralogical Society of Britain and Ireland (costs for some speakers, advertising costs, underwriting meeting) and the European Association for Geochemistry (costs for a speaker). Additional sponsorship is being sought from the Geochemical Society, British Society for Soil Science, Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, World University Network, Daresbury and Diamond Synchrotrons and various instrument manufacturers.
The central London venue should prove an attractive destination for overseas visitors. Affordable accommodation will be provided via the Imperial College, university of London, accommodation office including student accommodation at approximately £110 (Eur 162, US$ 220).
The GES organization was started by Yves Tardy, Daniel Nahon and Rafael Rodriguez-Clemente as the Geochemistry of Weathering and Diagenesis of Sediments (GWDS), a working group under the aegis of the International Association of Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry (IAGC). The first meeting was in Granada, Spain 1986 with Rafael Rodriguez-Clemente as Secretary-General. The second meeting was at Aix-en-Provence, France 1990 with Daniel Nahon as Secretary-General. The third meeting was at Pennsylvania State University, USA 1993 with Lee Kump as Secretary-General. The fourth meeting, under the new name of GES (Geochemistry of the Earth’s Surface) was at Ilkley, Yorkshire, UK 1996 with Robert Raiswell as Secretary-General. Subsequent meetings have been held in Reykjavík, Iceland 1999 (Sigurdur R. Gislason), Honolulu, Hawaii 2002 (Fred T. Mackenzie) and Aix-en-Provence, France 2005 (Jean Dominique Meunier).
These conferences have covered the geochemistry of the immediate surface of the earth; air, rocks, water and life as they occur both naturally and as perturbed by man. The overall goal of the research that is discussed at the meetings and that is pursued through field, laboratory and theoretical studies, is to understand the processes governing chemical reactions at the earth’s surface. This understanding will provide solutions to many present and future global and local environmental problems. Extended abstracts from all the conferences have been published in books or as special issues of international journals.