Physical Object:
The physical scope of the project consists of the preparation of a handbook – a standard guide – containing instructions for soil sampling, standardization, and sample analysis, as well as the design of a suitably adapted soil sampling grid that will cover the entire Greek territory.
The handbook will be tailored to the geomorphological and climatic conditions of Greece and will be field-tested on a pilot basis. It will also define the appropriate sampling materials, locations, methodologies, and equipment; the preparation of samples; their mineralogical and chemical analysis; quality assessment and control procedures (QA/QC); and data processing methods. The ultimate goal is the creation of soil geochemical atlases to be used by the research community and the extractive industry—for identifying areas of interest related to the presence of energy or mineral raw materials, environmental protection, and establishing geochemical reference values.
This integrated framework will lead to the development of the necessary technical specifications that will support a national research program for mapping the geochemical composition of Greek soils, creating a database of their chemical composition, and producing geochemical maps of trace element distribution.
Purpose – Expected Results:
The objectives of the handbook are:
- To provide guidelines adapted to the geological conditions of Greece for the preparation of soil geochemical maps showing the distribution of trace elements.
- To establish the technical specifications necessary for implementing a national research program focused on mapping soil geochemistry, developing a database of soil chemical composition, and producing trace element distribution maps.
The guide will serve as a reference point and a valuable tool not only for HSGME scientists but also for the wider scientific community and geology students at universities across the country.
