STUDY OF THE STRUCTURE RADIAL REDISTRIBUTION OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS IN THE HIGH MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPES OF THE GREATER CAUCASUS

Abstract

The structure of the radial redistribution of chemical elements in the high-altitude belts of the high-mountain landscapes of the Greater Caucasus (upper reaches of the Terek river basin) is revealed. Such a structure represents a specific sequence in the change in the intensity of the radial migration of chemical elements between the soil and heterogeneous soil-forming rocks within regional geosystems with the same biological cycle. The determination of the radial differentiation of chemical elements between soils and heterogeneous soil-forming rocks within altitudinal belts was carried out on the basis of information on the content of 25 chemical elements in rocks and soils. Their concentrations were investigated by the method of spectral emission analysis. Data were obtained on the structure of the radial redistribution of chemical elements in the following high-altitude zones: subnival, high-mountain meadows, coniferous and mixed forests. Structures between the radial redistribution of chemical elements in the soils of different altitudinal belts with the same complexes of soil-forming rocks are compared. It is revealed that the leading factors for the formation of the structures of the radial redistribution of chemical elements in high-altitude landscapes are geological (for Cu, Co, Y, Yb, Nb, V, Sn, Ni, Li, Ga and Be) and biological (Zn, Pb, Ag, Mo, W, Ba, Mn, Ti, Cr, Ge, P, Sr and Sc)