Abstract
Twenty one samples of surface soils were collected in Haweja area of Kirkuk, Iraq. From the samples analysis the following heavy metal concentration (range) were obtained (in ppm): Mn(401-722), Cu(23-42), Zn(32-62), Co(30-43), V(28-60), Ni(110-189), Cr(270-360), Zr(110-212) and Fe ( in wt %)(0.85-2.27).
The results indicate that, in comparison with Kirkuk soils, surface soils in Haweja area have elevated metal concentration as a whole, except those of Cobalt and Vanadium. R-mode factor analysis reveals three elements associations and two singular elements (Co, Zr), accounting for 86.92% of the total data variance. The three associations are: Zn-Cu; Mn-Fe and V-Cr. The geoaccumulation indices show that surface soils in Haweja area are unpolluted to slightly polluted.