ABSTRACT
The Geological Survey of Sweden started a national mapping programme in 1982. The purpose of this programme is to compile a geochemical atlas of the entire country. The colour maps therefore show the metal contents relative to the average contents in Sweden. Monitoring surveys are carried out at regular time intervals. Thirty sampling stations represent background conditions in different geological, climatological and physiographical environments in Sweden. Aerial parts of plants may however respond to the availability of heavy metals in the growth medium provided the metal concentrations are below the physiological barriers. This means that sampling of aerial parts of plants are not usually suitable for geochemical prospecting or mapping. The geochemical patterns have been smoothed in the colour maps shown by the Kriging method. The bedrock of Sweden consists mainly of precambrian granites, gneisses and volcanic rocks. The most southern part of Sweden however consists of mesozoic sediments.
