Contamination assessment of heavy metals associated with an alteration area: Demirören Gumushane, NE Turkey

Soil samples collected from Demirören Alteration area, Gümüshane NE Turkey were analyzed for heavy metals by using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry and the contamination level of heavy metals was assessed on the basis of Geoaccumulation Index, Enrichment Factor, Pollution Index and Integrated Pollution Index. The results indicated that, in comparison with background value of upper crust, soil samples in Demirören alteration area have elevated levels of metal concentrations as a whole. High Geoaccumulation Indexes and Enrichment Factors for molybdenum, lead, selenium, bismuth, cadmium and copper in alteration area indicated that there is a considerable amount of especially molybdenum, lead and copper pollution, which mainly originate from alteration in the area.