Türkiye Jeoloji Bülteni

Using Various Tree`s Leaves in Prospection of the Auriferous Quartz Veins and Sulphide Lodes (Hatay-Southern Turkey)

Abstract: This investigation is concerned with the effect of mineral content of soil to the tree leaves in Kisecik village and its surroundings located 11km NW of the city of Hatay.The leaves of Planatus oriantalis. Arbutus andrachne, Alnus glutinosa, Salix alba, Cistus creticus, Philyrea latifolia, Pistacia lentiscus,Quercus infectoria and Quercus coccifera were chosen for the study and 50 elements were analysed for 23 samples in the study area.The average values of the As, Zn, S, Au, Ag, Cd, Co, P, Na, K, Sb, Se, Y, Mn, Gd and Nd were determined to be higher in the leaves of thetrees having direct contacts with the auriferous quartz veins and sulphide lodes.On the other hand, the mentioned trees in the ultramafic area away from the auriferous quartz veins and sulphide lodes were found to beenriched in Mg, Ni, Fe, Mo, Cr, B, Sr, Ca, Ba, Al, Bi, Pr and Ce.The mean value of the Te, Ga, Sm and Dy were detected almost the same in the trees in the both area.Finally, U, Th, V, La, Ti, W, Tl, Ho, Tb, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu values of the leaves could not have been determined due to the low level of theseelements.As a results, some of the trees such as Cistus creticus and Salix alba were noticed to be the most sensitive trees affected by the soil. Pb, Ni,Co, Mn, Fe, Cd, Bi, P, Cr, Al, Na, Ga, Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd and Dy content of Cistus creticus is higher than the rest. On the other hand Salixalba is higher in Mo, Zn, Ca, Mg, Se, S (in mining area) and Co, Mn and Cd (in non-mining area).This result suggests that leaves can be used as indicator for the auriferous quartz veins and sulphide lod