Tracking the metal distribution in the tropical Valencia lake catchment: Soil, rivers and lake

In tropical areas, the relations between soil, rivers, and lakes are poorly understood as regard to the physicochemical transformation that occurs when solid materials are transferred among them. In order to ascertain the natural dynamics of Na, K, Mg, Ca, Al, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, and Co, as well as the perturbations by human activity, soils and sediments from a tropical catchment were studied. To accomplish the above mentioned objective, the Valencia Lake catchment was subdivided into three systems, i.e. soils, rivers and lakes. Original data and those previously published by Mogolló;n and Bifano (1994), and Mogolló;n et al. (1995, 1996) were used to establish the numerical relation between the average concentration in the three systems. The percentage labile fraction and metal distribution in different particle size fractions were studied in selected samples. A total of 410 samples was analysed.Lithology and topography are the main factors that differentiate the physicochemical characteristics of soils and sediments. Processes coupled with solid material transport from the upland to lowland area cause the increase of the HNO₃ (1M) extractable metal concentration, and of the percentage labile fraction, metal redistribution towards fine particle fraction. In spite of the tropical climate, the pedogenesis of exposed sediments and the transport along the river courses, have very low influence. Most of the transformations seem to occur during the soils – river transfer of materials. The carbonate precipitation in the lake causes further increase of metal concentration and the percentage labile fraction. The pollutant input increases metal concentration, the percentage labile fraction and the trend of accumulation toward fine particles.