Baseline geochemical analysis of stream water samples, collected from streams in the northern and western regions of Ireland, has been completed as part of the Tellus programme. Data analysis has been carried out to explore spatial and statistical patterns in the data relating to geology and human activity. Univariate and multivariate analysis techniques, including Exploratory Data Analysis, Principal Component Analysis, Cluster Analysis and Random Forests have been undertaken and they demonstrate that there are coherent geochemical patterns related to underlying bedrock geology, subsoil composition and the influence of agriculture on water quality.

The findings are relevant for the assessment of substances of concern in the environment, including Specific Pollutants, Priority Substances and nutrients. They also show that stream water chemistry has the potential to be employed in mineral exploration.

The Executive Summary, Report and Appendices can be downloaded below:

The latest stream waters data from the Tellus project, managed by the Geological Survey Ireland. The stream water samples were analysed for 66 different elements by: pH, electrical conductivity, alkalinity (bicarbonate); organic carbon (NPOC) analyser; ion chromatography; ICP-MS. The survey was conducted on foot; samples were collected approx. every 4 km from first and second order streams. Stream sediment samples were also collected at each site.

The following elements were analysed: Aluminium, Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Bicarbonate, Bismuth, Boron, Bromide, Cadmium, Caesium, Calcium, Cerium, Chloride, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Dysprosium, Erbium, Europium, Fluoride, Gadolinium, Gallium, Hafnium, Holmium, Iron, Lanthanum, Lead, Lithium, Lutetium, Magnesium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Neodymium, Nickel, Niobium, Nitrate, Nitrite, Organic carbon, Orthophosphate, pH, Phosphorus, Potassium, Praseodymium, Rubidium, Samarium, Selenium, Silicon, Silver, Sodium, Specific electrical conductivity, Strontium, Sulphate, Sulphur, Tantalum, Terbium, Thallium, Thorium, Thullium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Uranium, Vanadium, Ytterbium, Yttrium, Zinc, Zirconium (NPOC, Cl-, SO42-, NO3-, Br-, NO2-, HPO42-, F-, Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Nb, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th, U)

The current coverage includes: Tellus Border survey block (2011-2013, Co Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth) Data downloads are delivered in Irish National Grid, all webservices have been converted to Irish Transverse Mercator.

https://data.gov.ie/dataset/tellus-geochemistry-stream-water?package_type=dataset