Geochemical Baseline Survey of the Environment (G-BASE)
The Geochemical Baseline Survey of the Environment (G-BASE) is a major BGS project tha an annual campaign of geochemical sampling within many parts of the UK. Our core function is to provide a national capability in baseline geochemical mapping.
Beginning in the late 1960s, the primary focus was mineral exploration, however the project has now evolved into a multi-media, high-resolution geochemical survey producing baseline data relevant to many environmental issues. G-BASE a focal point for geochemistry within the BGS.
G-BASE is a project within the Geochemical Baselines and Medical Geology Team area. Its main activities can be classified as either Regional or Urban geochemical baseline mapping. Recent work has focused on the geochemical mapping of London — the London Earth project.
Our capability in geochemical mapping is applied to International projects and the samples and data from our work is used in many Research Activities.
Latest G-BASE news
Environmental Geochemical Atlas of Central and Eastern England
Covering digital soil, stream sediment and stream water geochemical maps of ten environmentally sensitive elements, including Arsenic (As), Barium (Ba), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Selenium (Se), Uranium (U), Zinc (Zn) and acidity (pH).
Download Central and Eastern England Atlas 40MB pdf
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National geochemical maps
G-BASE regional stream sediment data for a selection of elements (Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, La, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, U, V, Zn and Zr) and acidity (pH) and conductivity data in stream waters across Great Britain.
Download National geochemical maps 36MB pdf
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London Earth
As part of G-BASE the London Earth project has completed a high-density soil survey of the Greater London Authority area collecting over 6600 soil samples from three depths, the deepest being 50cm.
More about the various field campaigns, sample site distribution and contact details for data enquiries at London Earth
Further information
Contact Cathy Scheib for further information.
