Geochemical Flows in Landscapes

Abstract

This classic description by Goldschmidt of biogeochemical cycling of elements in a forest ecosystem is an example of the Holistic geochemical approach to the study of the circulation of elements in landscapes. More recently Kozlovskiy (1972) provided a series of conceptual models and principles, from the viewpoint of theoretical landscape geochemistry, that together summarize neatly the principal flow patterns of elements in landscapes. His paper provides a broad conceptual basis for the discussion of the cycling of elements in landscapes together with the inflow and outflow of elements to and from landscapes in groundwaters and the atmosphere.

“I think one could imagine some process which may be effective in that manner, a process connected with plant life, for instance in a forest. The soil solutions dissolve the organic constituents of the subsoil according to their solubility as we normally only have a small amount of solvent compared with the bulk of the mineral matter. These solutions enter the plant organism through the roots of the plants, and at the place of strongest evaporation, especially in the leaves the greater part of the mineral matter is deposited. The dead leaves accumulate at the surface of the ground, decaying into humus substances. The most soluble mineral constituents of the leaves and their products of decay, such as carbonates and sulphates of lime, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and humates of iron are swept downwards by circulating rainwater, insoluble or sparingly soluble compounds are filtered in the humus layer, perhaps in some cases being precipitated as organic complex compounds. By such processes many different chemical elements have been found to become concentrated in the uppermost layer of forest soils:”

V. M. Goldschmidt, The Principles of Distribution of Chemical Elements in Minerals and Rocks, Journal Chemical Society of London, 1937, p. 670.