Geological constraints on the distribution of naturally occurring uranium and thorium in soils of southwestern Spain

Naturally occurring uranium (U) and thorium (Th) concentrations in soils of southwestern Spain were explored to assess their spatial variability, establish regional geochemical baselines, and identify anomalies. A total of 505 soil and 95 bedrock samples were collected from distinct geological domai...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Martín García, Domingo, Fernández Caliani, Juan Carlos, Romero Baena, Antonio, Delgado Rodríguez, Joaquín María, González Díez, Isabel
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Huelva (UHU)
Repositorio:Arias Montano. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ariasmontano.uhu.es:10272/27405
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10272/27405
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Geochemical baseline
Anomaly detection
Lithological control
Radioactive elements
Southwestern Spain soils
2503 Geoquímica
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spelling Geological constraints on the distribution of naturally occurring uranium and thorium in soils of southwestern SpainMartín García, DomingoFernández Caliani, Juan CarlosRomero Baena, AntonioDelgado Rodríguez, Joaquín MaríaGonzález Díez, IsabelGeochemical baselineAnomaly detectionLithological controlRadioactive elementsSouthwestern Spain soils2503 GeoquímicaNaturally occurring uranium (U) and thorium (Th) concentrations in soils of southwestern Spain were explored to assess their spatial variability, establish regional geochemical baselines, and identify anomalies. A total of 505 soil and 95 bedrock samples were collected from distinct geological domains across the Iberian Massif, Betic Cordillera, and Guadalquivir Basin. Total U and Th concentrations (size fraction < 2 mm) were determined by ICP-OES, with median values of 2.30 mg kg−1 for U and 8.80 mg kg−1 for Th in topsoil, slightly exceeding those in subsoil and bedrock. Parent rock lithology was found to be the primary factor controlling U and Th concentrations in soils. The highest contents were observed in Cambisols developed on granitic rocks over the Central Iberian Zone and the Ossa-Morena Zone of the Iberian Massif. Geochemical baselines were established, with upper limits of 18.0 mg kg−1 for Th and 4.7 mg kg−1 for U in topsoil, and 16.1 mg kg−1 for Th and 4.2 mg kg−1 for U in subsoil. Anomalies exceeding these threshold values were mainly observed in samples from monzogranites of the Los Pedroches batholith and tonalites of the Santa Olalla stock. Statistical analysis revealed strong correlations between Th and light rare earth elements, suggesting that Th is primarily hosted by monazite. The variability in U and Th concentrations could have environmental monitoring implications, as elevated levels may influence radiation exposure. Future work should integrate high-resolution mapping, mineralogical analysis, and radiological assessments to refine anomaly detection and evaluate potential risks.Springer20252025-01-0120252025-01-01journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501VoRhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/10272/27405reponame:Arias Montano. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelvainstname:Universidad de Huelva (UHU)Inglésengopen accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2Attribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:ariasmontano.uhu.es:10272/274052026-06-02T14:58:11Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Geological constraints on the distribution of naturally occurring uranium and thorium in soils of southwestern Spain
title Geological constraints on the distribution of naturally occurring uranium and thorium in soils of southwestern Spain
spellingShingle Geological constraints on the distribution of naturally occurring uranium and thorium in soils of southwestern Spain
Martín García, Domingo
Geochemical baseline
Anomaly detection
Lithological control
Radioactive elements
Southwestern Spain soils
2503 Geoquímica
title_short Geological constraints on the distribution of naturally occurring uranium and thorium in soils of southwestern Spain
title_full Geological constraints on the distribution of naturally occurring uranium and thorium in soils of southwestern Spain
title_fullStr Geological constraints on the distribution of naturally occurring uranium and thorium in soils of southwestern Spain
title_full_unstemmed Geological constraints on the distribution of naturally occurring uranium and thorium in soils of southwestern Spain
title_sort Geological constraints on the distribution of naturally occurring uranium and thorium in soils of southwestern Spain
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Martín García, Domingo
Fernández Caliani, Juan Carlos
Romero Baena, Antonio
Delgado Rodríguez, Joaquín María
González Díez, Isabel
author Martín García, Domingo
author_facet Martín García, Domingo
Fernández Caliani, Juan Carlos
Romero Baena, Antonio
Delgado Rodríguez, Joaquín María
González Díez, Isabel
author_role author
author2 Fernández Caliani, Juan Carlos
Romero Baena, Antonio
Delgado Rodríguez, Joaquín María
González Díez, Isabel
author2_role author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Geochemical baseline
Anomaly detection
Lithological control
Radioactive elements
Southwestern Spain soils
2503 Geoquímica
topic Geochemical baseline
Anomaly detection
Lithological control
Radioactive elements
Southwestern Spain soils
2503 Geoquímica
description Naturally occurring uranium (U) and thorium (Th) concentrations in soils of southwestern Spain were explored to assess their spatial variability, establish regional geochemical baselines, and identify anomalies. A total of 505 soil and 95 bedrock samples were collected from distinct geological domains across the Iberian Massif, Betic Cordillera, and Guadalquivir Basin. Total U and Th concentrations (size fraction < 2 mm) were determined by ICP-OES, with median values of 2.30 mg kg−1 for U and 8.80 mg kg−1 for Th in topsoil, slightly exceeding those in subsoil and bedrock. Parent rock lithology was found to be the primary factor controlling U and Th concentrations in soils. The highest contents were observed in Cambisols developed on granitic rocks over the Central Iberian Zone and the Ossa-Morena Zone of the Iberian Massif. Geochemical baselines were established, with upper limits of 18.0 mg kg−1 for Th and 4.7 mg kg−1 for U in topsoil, and 16.1 mg kg−1 for Th and 4.2 mg kg−1 for U in subsoil. Anomalies exceeding these threshold values were mainly observed in samples from monzogranites of the Los Pedroches batholith and tonalites of the Santa Olalla stock. Statistical analysis revealed strong correlations between Th and light rare earth elements, suggesting that Th is primarily hosted by monazite. The variability in U and Th concentrations could have environmental monitoring implications, as elevated levels may influence radiation exposure. Future work should integrate high-resolution mapping, mineralogical analysis, and radiological assessments to refine anomaly detection and evaluate potential risks.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2025-01-01
2025
2025-01-01
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv journal article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
VoR
http://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85
dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/10272/27405
url https://hdl.handle.net/10272/27405
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
eng
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
Attribution 4.0 International
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.rights.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
Attribution 4.0 International
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Arias Montano. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
instname:Universidad de Huelva (UHU)
instname_str Universidad de Huelva (UHU)
reponame_str Arias Montano. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
collection Arias Montano. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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