The aim of our study was to test whether surficial geochemical techniques are applicable under arctic conditions where pedogenesis is slow or absent, and where the vegetation is arctic dwarf shrub tundra. To this end, we sampled vegetation and topsoil at a known Zn-Pb-Ag anomaly at Kangerluarsuk, northwest Greenland. This Zn-Pb-Ag mineralization surfaces in part of the test area and is deeply buried in other parts. The surface mineralization could readily be identified by element analysis of the omnipresent plant S. glauca. The strongest signal came from the pathfinder element Tl. The target elements Pb and Ag gave only weak signals and Zn gave no signal, probably because the cellular concentration of these elements is actively regulated by the plant. The use of regulated plant micronutrients as reference elements gave a small reduction of analytical noise in Tl/Cu and Tl/B concentration ratios at low Tl concentrations which improved identification of the deep mineralization. Pathfinder elements in plants may thus prove useful when combined with a detailed geophysical model. Tl, Zn, Pb and Ag concentrations in topsoil identified the surface mineralization but failed to identify the deep mineralization. This difference between samples of S. glauca and topsoil is probably because target elements from the deep mineralization must be mobile to reach the surface. Mobile elements may be more accessible for ion-exchange and uptake into the plants compared to the recalcitrant and crystalline fraction in the topsoil.

中文翻译：

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以植被为基础的地表勘探检测北极矿化的试验：深埋的Kangerluarsuk Zn-Pb-Ag异常

我们研究的目的是测试地表地球化学技术是否适用于成土缓慢或不存在的北极条件下，以及植被为北极矮灌木苔原的地方。为此，我们在格陵兰西北部的 Kangerluarsuk 对已知的 Zn-Pb-Ag 异常处的植被和表土进行了采样。该 Zn-Pb-Ag 矿化在部分测试区浮出水面，在其他部分深埋。通过对无处不在的植物 S. glauca 进行元素分析，可以很容易地确定表面矿化。最强的信号来自探路者元件 T1。目标元素 Pb 和 Ag 只给出微弱信号，而 Zn 没有给出信号，可能是因为这些元素的细胞浓度受到植物的主动调节。使用受调控的植物微量营养素作为参考元素，在低 Tl 浓度下，Tl/Cu 和 Tl/B 浓度比的分析噪音略有降低，从而改善了对深层矿化的识别。因此，当与详细的地球物理模型结合时，植物中的探路者元素可能会很有用。表土中的 Tl、Zn、Pb 和 Ag 浓度确定了表面矿化，但未能确定深层矿化。S. glauca 和表土样品之间的这种差异可能是因为来自深层矿化的目标元素必须能够移动才能到达地表。与表土中的顽固和结晶部分相比，移动元素可能更容易进行离子交换并被植物吸收。表土中的 Pb 和 Ag 浓度确定了表面矿化，但未能确定深层矿化。S. glauca 和表土样品之间的这种差异可能是因为来自深层矿化的目标元素必须能够移动才能到达地表。与表土中的顽固和结晶部分相比，移动元素可能更容易进行离子交换并被植物吸收。表土中的 Pb 和 Ag 浓度确定了表面矿化，但未能确定深层矿化。S. glauca 和表土样品之间的这种差异可能是因为来自深层矿化的目标元素必须能够移动才能到达地表。与表土中的顽固和结晶部分相比，移动元素可能更容易进行离子交换并被植物吸收。