The impact of early mining and smelting on the local tropospheric aerosol detected in ombrotrophic peat bogs in the Harz, Germany

Chemical analyses of dated ombrotrophic peat cores from the Sonnenberger Moor, Harz, Germany, were done to determine the effect of early mining and smelting on the tropospheric aerosol. Elemental concentrations in peat were determined using XRF. Pb, Cu and Zn enrichment factors (EFs), and Pb and Cu fluxes were calculated. The results show that the concentration of Pb and Cu as well as the calculated Pb and Cu EFs closely follow changes in the activities of man, especially those of the history of mining and smelting. In contrast to Zn which seems to be subjected to post-depositional migration, Cu appears to be immobile. Elevated Pb and Cu emissions, due to mining activities, can be followed back to pre-Medieval times. These findings were supported by other studies in the vicinity or in the Sonnenberger Moor itself, all revealing the strong impact of primitive mining and smelting on the local aerosol. Thus peat cores from ombrotrophic bogs are very useful for quantifying temporal changes in metal emissions.