COPPER (Cu) DISTRIBUTION IN TUZLA'S TOPSOILS

Abstract

The main goal of the research was to determine to which extent the copper (Cu) is dominant in the topsoils of
Tuzla's area. Considering the defined goal, the detailed soil analyze for the presence of this element in the
area of Tuzla, was carried out. The terrain work was based on soil sampling (240 samples) from the area of
about 303 km2. The sampling network for the urban part of the town was 1x1 km, and for the rural part
1,5x1,5 km and according to URGE instructions. The Cu concentrations are obtained by the most sophisticated
laboratory method (ICP-MS), with a highly sensitive detection threshold (0.02 to 10,000 ppm). Elevated
concentrations of copper in the Tuzla’s topsoil are recorded in 64 samples. The copper concentrations in these
samples ranges from 50 ppm to 156,1 ppm. Highly exceeded concentrations are recorded in samples No: 64,
66, 163, 170, 171, 182, 187, 195, 214 and 249a, located mostly in the western part of the Tuzla. The increased
concentrations copper are primarily a consequence of anthropogenic impacts in enviroment.