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GEOCHEMICAL DISTRIBUTION OF Ti, Mn, V, Fe, Zn AND Pb IN STREAM SEDIMENTS IN RELATION TO GEOLOGY, LITHOLOGY AND ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES: OLTET RIVER BASIN, ROMANIA

Adriana Ion

Abstract

This study examined the spatial relations of the selected metals in stream sediments tributary of the Oltet River in longitudinal profile, along the entire length (185 km) in relation to geology, lithology and anthropogenic activities. Differences in regional geology from the northern to the southern of the Oltet River Basin are reflected in stream sediment geochemistry. The Olte? River crossing crystalline formations belonging to the Danubian Domain represented by metamorphic rocks (schist, gneisses, mica-schiste) and the Pre-Alpine granite and granitoide massifs (Su?i?a, Tismana, Novaci, C?rpini? type) associated (granitoide rocks are crossed by veins of microgranite, aplite, pegmatite and lamprophyre) of Upper Carboniferous, Permian and Mesozoic ages, followed by the Cenozoic formations belonging to the Dacian Basin. From the sequence of Cenozoic deposits, are remarkable the Pontian ? Romanin deposits composed of clays, marnes, sands, that are characterized by the presence of lignite seams. Over Cenozoic deposits, in the midline and to the confluence with the Olt River zone, occurs the Quaternary formation (Lower, Middle and Upper Pleistocene). The Lower Pleistocene, rich in vertebrate fossils is composed by marnes, sands, gravels, with lenticular sandy-clay sequences and layers of coal. The Middle Pleistocene deposits are separated as sand-dusty deposits with high content of clays, whereas Upper Pleistocene is represented by the alluvial deposits (sands, gravels, clays) belonging to the Olt terrace. The type of methodology used in this study consists of geochemical sampling of stream sediments, mineralogical analysis, and quantitative determination of metals, GIS database and comparison of the stream sediments content with standards and levels recorded in the literature. Most metal concentrations can by spatially correlate to the regional geology, structural trends and the local effects of individual rocks units. Higher concentrations of vanadium, lead in stream sediments may have resulted from some anthropogenic activities. Activities that appear to have affected stream sediment include exploitation of the lignite in open pit and urban centers.

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