The Distribution of Uranium and Companion Elements in Lichen Heath Associated with Undisturbed Uranium Deposits in the Canadian Arctic

Nieboer et al. (1978) and Nieboer and Richardson (1981) have given a comprehensive summary of the range of element levels found in lichens. The data they present show tremendous concentration ranges correlating with different or contrasting environments and in particular 10–100 fold increases in metal concentrations near ore smelters. The origin of the elements found in lichen thalli is twofold: from particulate atmospheric “fallout” and from ionic solutions. The latter may be delivered to the thallus either directly as rainfall or indirectly as surface runoff.