Pilot Studies

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Task Contacts: Martin Goldhaber, David B. Smith

Task Objectives

The Soil Geochemistry Workshop recommended a sampling design, sample collection protocols, and analytical protocols to conduct a soil geochemical survey of North America. The protocols involve a very detailed horizon-based sampling at each site combined with extensive major and trace element chemical analysis, determination of bioavailability via selective extractions, analysis of selected organic compounds to address the issue of longrange transport of organics and the distribution of pesticides and their breakdown products. Before applying these protocols at the continental scale, they must be tested and refined as needed to optimize the North American scale survey.

The objectives of this task are to carry out the recommended protocols from the Soil Geochemistry Workshop on a limited number of pilot study areas. Different options for sample design will be tested and the recommended sample collection and analytical protocols will be evaluated. Based on these pilot studies, the recommendations of the Soil Geochemistry Workshop will be refined and modified and final protocols for the soil geochemical survey of North America will be developed.

California Pilot Study

Continental-scale Transects

Upper Midwest Pilot Study

Statement of Work

This year our primary goal is to finalize the manuscripts detailing results from both the continental-scale pilot study and the regional-scale pilot study in northern California. These papers will be published in a special volume of the journal Applied Geochemistry that should be ready for publication in late 2008 or early 2009. Approximately 20 manuscripts are being prepared for review at the time of this writing.

A meeting will be held in Mexico during November 2007 to hear results from the Mexican pilot studies and to discuss the future of the North American soil geochemical survey from the Mexican perspective.

We plan to continue in the second year of sampling for the full North American survey. In 2007, we completed the New England states and Nebraska. Those samples will be submitted for chemistry as funding allows. Quantitative mineralogy will be determined by the X-ray diffraction lab. Sampling will focus on those states whose State Geological Surveys have agreed to carry out the work on a cost-per-sample basis. We would like to access at least 700 sites during the fiscal year.

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