Trace elements in alluvia of the upper Vistula as indicators of palaeohydrology

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Abstract
In the Vistula valley near Góra, at the northern foreland of the Carpathians Mountains, there are young alluvia deposited in the historical period. These alluvia are difficult to date precisely because of the lack of organic interbedded material. In the Vistula drainage basin upstream of Góra since the second half of 18th century small centres of metal, textile, motor, and petrochemical industries have been developed. Concentrations of trace elements such as: Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and of some macroelements were used as indicators of the age of different alluvial fills. The main part of the Vistula valley floor was built up by sediment accumulation before the development of industry but after the medieval phase of rural colonization of the Carpathians. Deposits filling the abandoned channels dissecting the valley floor have an increased content of some trace elements and deposits date from the second half of the 18th century, when the first foundries and blacksmith's shops were developed. A drastic increase of concentration of the most abundant trace elements in the youngest alluvial fill indicates that the fill dates from the last decade of rapid industrial development.