Geochemical ore prospecting using samples of humus and peat in Finnish Lapland

Authors:
Harry Uosukainen

Book:
After Wise Use – The Future of Peatlands, Proceedings of the 13th International Peat Congress: Chemical, Physical and Biological Characteristics of Peat

Keywords:
finland, humus, lapland, ore-prospecting, peat

Documentfile:
Uosukainen 2008: Geochemical ore prospecting using samples of humus and peat

Summary:

Ore prospecting using peat and humus samples was carried out in Lapland on a nickel critical area. The metals that were enriched in peat most readily were nickel, cobalt and molybdenum, while chromium was enriched in both peat and humus, and copper and lead in humus and rhizomorphous material. Zinc tended to favour the latter material. Geochemical anomalies in organic surficial deposits were also found in places where no mineralised bedrock is currently known, although that may be revealed upon closer examination. In critical areas the distance between transects should be less than 100 m, so that no ores are missed.