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Re: Biogeology [Was: Plants and Pb]

In article <DEoo2C.AKx@planet.mh.dpi.qld.gov.au>,
staplei@planet.mh.dpi.qld.gov.au (Ian B Staples) wrote:

> "Gordon A. Fox" <gfox@ucsd.edu> writes:
> >hortus@ix.netcom.com (Joel Kroin ) wrote:
> >>Many years ago some researchers found some plants which have an
> >>affinity to absorb gold from soil over gold mine trailings. The process
> >>was not economically feasible. I doubt if further work was done.
> 
> >I don't know about anyone being foolish enough to try to make money this 
> >way, but I do know that (1) a lot of mineral exploration has been done 
> >based on plants w/ known tolerances for particular minerals, and that did 
> >pay off, at least some of the time, and (2) there's now a growing body of 
> >experience in which plants are used for remediating contaminated soils. 
> >There are obviously limitations and problems, but I don't think the idea 
> >is one that should be scoffed at.
> 
> A couple of (rather old) references for those interested in this topic:
> 
> BROOKS, R.R. (1968).  Biogeochemical prospecting in New Zealand.
>         _NZ Sci. Review_ v.26(1): 9-12
> 
> ANTONOVICS, J., BRADSHAW, A.D., and TURNER, R.G. (1971). Heavy metal
>         tolerance in plants.  _Advances in Ecological Research_ v.7: 1-85.
> 
> The former refers, for example, to "... species such as _Viola calamina_,
> which grow only over zinc deposits in Western and Central Europe."
> 
several other references on this topic:

Levinson, A.A. (1974) Introduction to Exploration Geochemistry. Applied
Publishing Ltd., Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A.

    --- this book has a section on the use of vegetation surveys (that is
where veg. samples are analyzed for their chemical content).  The idea is
that some plants concentrate particular elements above what would be found
in the soil.  Also, a tree's root system "samples" to a greater depth than
could be done by digging a soil pit.

A book by Brooks that might be a bit easier to find than the article
listed by the previous poster:

Brooks, R.R. (1972) Geobotany and Biogeochemistry in Mineral Exploration.
Harper and Row.

Hope this helps.

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Article 2368 of alt.sustainable.agriculture:
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From: steved@ncatfyv.uark.edu (Steve Diver)
Newsgroups: alt.sustainable.agriculture
Subject: Re: architect seeks info on ecological fishfarming
Date: 22 Feb 1994 21:41:43 -0500
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Thomas--

The New Alchemy Institute ceased functions in 1991 due 
primarily to financial problems.  Just recently, New 
Alchemy publications have become available through a 
group of former New Alchemists who still live in the
area.  The Green Center can provide a list of for-sale
publications.  

Talk about a history of appropriate technology and 
alternative agriculture, New Alchemy's publications still 
provide a decent introduction to aquaculture systems, composting 
greenhouses, bioshelters, cover crops for the Northeast, etc. 
Contact:

    The Green Center
    237 Hatchville Rd.
    East Falmouth, MA  02536
    (508) 564-6301

Re: ecological fishfarming.  Some of the most advanced 
models of water purification and sustainable food production 
are the 1) solar aquatic ponds (pioneered in part by
John Todd, formerly of New Alchemy) that use plants like water
hyacinth to purify waste water and 2) recirculating hydroponic 
systems in which vegetable beds are fertigated with 
effluent from tilapia aquaculture.
 

> 
> Hi, are you involved with ecological fishfarming ? I'd be 
> interested in ecological fishfarming and waterpurification.
> Please don't hold back your most precious information.
> As a postgraduate student I'm doing a architectural project
> on fishfarming. 
> Do you know the phone or fax number of the NEW ALCHEMY INSTITUTE
> East Falmouth, Massachusetts 02536 USA ????
> Do they have an e-mail address ???
> 
> Thank you for your help!!!
> 
> You can contact me at the UoW FAX: 071-911 5190 PHONE: 071-911 5000 ext 3332
> 
> Thomas Reinke, Arch. Dip. I
> 
>