190
6.7.4.1 Tracking the Lithogenic Anomalies in the Investigated Area
Multivariate analysis successfully reduced variables by extracting dominant
associations of elements. Detailed analysis of these associations, through thorough
study and comparative analysis with typical lithology and geologically dominant
formations, enabled the generation of the following analytical qualifications. Factor
1 [Ga-Nb-Ta-Y-(La-Gd)-(Eu-Lu)] clearly expresses the typical connection of some
basic earth forming process, due to the incorporation of the rare earth. Their sources
are mainly natural phenomena such as rock weathering and chemical processes in
soil. The second geochemical association (Be-Cr-Li-Mg-Ni) relays also on the
effect from the windblown dust from the surface soil layers. These determined elements are considered “natural” because their origin is primarily crustal-soil particles suspended and transported by wind. High factor loadings are related to some
old formation such as Paleogene flysch and Quaternary unconsolidated sediments.
The occurrence of Factor 4 (Ba-Cs-Sr-Rb-Pd-Tl-Zr-Hf) presents an interesting geochemical association, incorporating the incompatible/hygromagmatophile elements. Element enrichments occur in areas with predominance of Neogene
pyroclastite and sediments. According to generalized geology map (Fig. 6.3),
Kratovo-Zletovo region is the unique district in the region located along the continental margin and is closely related to the Tertiary volcanoes and hydrothermal
activities in this area. The sixth factor includes К-Na-Sc-Ti. Although it is the least
distinguished factor; nevertheless, this geochemical association is related with the
lithogenic dominance of the Neogene sediments and Paleogene flysch. Their occurrence in the environment is usually correlated with the major minerals in basaltic
and ultramafic rocks which have two kinds of cationic lattice sites: small tetrahedral
sites occupied by Si and Al (Balabanova et al. 2019).
6.7.4.2 Selecting Dominant and Silent Anthropogenic Markers
One of the more important goals of this research is to determine the success of this
multidisciplinary approach in determining anthropogenic markers (dominant and
recessive). Dominant and recessive markers of anthropogenic inputs were identified
after multivariate extraction. Factor 3 (Ag-Bi-Cd-Cu-In-Mn-Pb-Sb-Te-W-Zn) was
the most heterogenic geochemical association (Table 6.1). Enriched deposition
occurred dominantly on Rifeous shale. These very old rocks occur as transition
lithologic units between the Neogene and Paleogene volcanism in the investigated
area. Pb-Zn mines Sasa and Zletovo are located in the areas with dominantly presence of the Oligocene and Neogene volcanism appears sequentially and, in several
cases in sub-volcanic areas. On the other hand, the pyroclastites are most frequently
found in the Kratovo-Zletovo volcanic area, where the dacites and andesites are the
oldest formations. This geochemical association links typical elements which are
normally associated with air pollution (Cd-Pb-Zn) and usually are not influenced by
lithological background. Spatial patterns show intensive deposition in the area of
poly-metallic hydrothermal exploitations, Sasa, Zletovo and Bučim. This geochemiR. Šajn et al.
6.7.4.1 Tracking the Lithogenic Anomalies in the Investigated Area
Multivariate analysis successfully reduced variables by extracting dominant
associations of elements. Detailed analysis of these associations, through thorough
study and comparative analysis with typical lithology and geologically dominant
formations, enabled the generation of the following analytical qualifications. Factor
1 [Ga-Nb-Ta-Y-(La-Gd)-(Eu-Lu)] clearly expresses the typical connection of some
basic earth forming process, due to the incorporation of the rare earth. Their sources
are mainly natural phenomena such as rock weathering and chemical processes in
soil. The second geochemical association (Be-Cr-Li-Mg-Ni) relays also on the
effect from the windblown dust from the surface soil layers. These determined elements are considered “natural” because their origin is primarily crustal-soil particles suspended and transported by wind. High factor loadings are related to some
old formation such as Paleogene flysch and Quaternary unconsolidated sediments.
The occurrence of Factor 4 (Ba-Cs-Sr-Rb-Pd-Tl-Zr-Hf) presents an interesting geochemical association, incorporating the incompatible/hygromagmatophile elements. Element enrichments occur in areas with predominance of Neogene
pyroclastite and sediments. According to generalized geology map (Fig. 6.3),
Kratovo-Zletovo region is the unique district in the region located along the continental margin and is closely related to the Tertiary volcanoes and hydrothermal
activities in this area. The sixth factor includes К-Na-Sc-Ti. Although it is the least
distinguished factor; nevertheless, this geochemical association is related with the
lithogenic dominance of the Neogene sediments and Paleogene flysch. Their occurrence in the environment is usually correlated with the major minerals in basaltic
and ultramafic rocks which have two kinds of cationic lattice sites: small tetrahedral
sites occupied by Si and Al (Balabanova et al. 2019).
6.7.4.2 Selecting Dominant and Silent Anthropogenic Markers
One of the more important goals of this research is to determine the success of this
multidisciplinary approach in determining anthropogenic markers (dominant and
recessive). Dominant and recessive markers of anthropogenic inputs were identified
after multivariate extraction. Factor 3 (Ag-Bi-Cd-Cu-In-Mn-Pb-Sb-Te-W-Zn) was
the most heterogenic geochemical association (Table 6.1). Enriched deposition
occurred dominantly on Rifeous shale. These very old rocks occur as transition
lithologic units between the Neogene and Paleogene volcanism in the investigated
area. Pb-Zn mines Sasa and Zletovo are located in the areas with dominantly presence of the Oligocene and Neogene volcanism appears sequentially and, in several
cases in sub-volcanic areas. On the other hand, the pyroclastites are most frequently
found in the Kratovo-Zletovo volcanic area, where the dacites and andesites are the
oldest formations. This geochemical association links typical elements which are
normally associated with air pollution (Cd-Pb-Zn) and usually are not influenced by
lithological background. Spatial patterns show intensive deposition in the area of
poly-metallic hydrothermal exploitations, Sasa, Zletovo and Bučim. This geochemiR. Šajn et al.