The application of INAA in a study of environment geochemistry on the Xizang (Tibet) Plateau,China

INAA as a routine analysis method has been used in a study of environment geochemistry on the Xizang (Tibet) Plateau in China, and 34 elements in soil samples were determined by INAA with both short and long irradiations. This paper presents some primary results from the study, including mean element concentrations in Tibetan soil, paterns of element distribution in soils developed from main types of parent materials on the plateau. The results confirm the expectation that soil formed in such cold and dry environment on the plateau retained the main geochemical characteristics of the parent materials. However, the results still imply the possible migration of some elements in different bio-climatic environments during the soil formation. The elements in the top soils, mainly the alkalis and alkaline earths, and also As, Br, etc., were enriched or depleted in varying degrees in proportion to their abundance in the parent materials.