Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences

The purpose of this study was to identify the heavy metal compositions in top and bottom soils in eastern parts of Mersin Province, which has a complex land use (industrial, agricultural and urban). Industrial and agricultural activities and settlement sites overlap in the subject area. 64 samples, 32 from each of 2 depths (0-15 cm and 100 cm), were taken in the scope of this study. Mineralogical compositions of soils were identified using XRD, main oxide components were identified using XRF and trace element and heavy metal components were identified using ICP-MS. Soil in the area is composed of mica, amphibole, serpentine, clay, feldspar, quartz, dolomite and calcite minerals. Clay mineral components are smectite, chlorite, illite and kaolinite; smectites are the prevalent type of clay found in the soil of the area. V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sb and Pb heavy metals were analyzed. Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sb and Pb heavy metals are noticeably enriched within the topsoil, while V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co and Ni elements have similar distributions in top and bottom soil layers. Cu, Zn, Cd, Sb and Pb elements are likely abundant in topsoil due to high traffic and industrial activities. The abundance of As element in topsoil is due to agricultural activities. V, Mn, Fe, Cr, Ni and Co accumulated in top and bottom soils due to lithological factors in the study area.