Geochemical Atlas of Europe, Part 1, Background Information, Methodology and Maps

The IUGS/IAGC Global Geochemical Baseline Programme aims to establish a global geochemical reference baseline for >60 determints in a range of media for environmental and other applications. The European contribution to the programme has been carried out by government institutions from 26 countries under the auspices of the Forum of European Geological Surveys (FOREGS). The main objectives of this European survey were: 1) to applay standardised methods of sampling, chemicval analysis and data managment to prepare a geochemical baseline across Europe ; and 2) to use this reference network to level national baseline datasets. Samples of stream water, stream sediment and three types of soil (organic top layer,…