The peat bog at Zinnwald-Georgenfeld revisited after 25 years: Geochemical investigation of water, Sphagnum moss and peat cores

From 1992 to 1994, trace metal concentrations of bog water, Sphagnum mosses and peat cores of the bog Georgenfelder Hochmoor at Zinnwald-Georgenfeld in the Eastern Ore Mountains (Germany) were investigated. A sampling campaign in September 2019 allows the comparison of the older measurements with today's trace metal concentrations. No changes were found in the bog waters, while the trace metal concentrations of the Sphagnum mosses have decreased significantly. Due to the low growth rate of the peat and despite certain heterogeneity between the peat cores, the investigated elemental data for the peat sampled in the 1990s and in 2019 are in the same concentration range. The maximum concentrations are measured in the upper samples of all peat cores for the analysed elements (except sulphur). Compared to upper crustal data, a different behaviour of the elements is observed: Cr, Sc, Ti, and V, rare earth elements show crustal ratios, while Al and Si are also influenced by crust-air fractionation. Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn are additionally enriched by anthropogenic atmospheric inputs from industry and transport. These results confirm the assumption that peat cores record past atmospheric deposition.

Automated summary

The study investigated the trace metal concentrations in bog water, Sphagnum mosses, and peat cores in the Eastern Ore Mountains of Germany. The results showed no changes in bog waters, while the concentrations of trace metals in Sphagnum mosses significantly decreased. The elemental data of the peat sampled in the 1990s and in 2019 were found to be in the same concentration range, indicating a low growth rate of the peat.