Geochimical composition of the fluvial suspended load: A tool environmental analyses

The preliminary results based on a geochemical and hydrological approach and aimed at defining the environmental conditions of the Reno hydrographic basin, Northern Italy, are presented. The environmental conditions of the discussed case study are determined with a geochemical analysis of the solid suspended load carried out for the four major hydrographic sub-basins (Gaiana, Lavino, Sillaro and Savena). The chemical analyses of the fluvial suspended load was carried out during extreme flow events. The collected sediments were analysed with the X-Ray fluorescence method thus allowing to define the geochemical composition of the sediments and their relation with the rocks outcropping within the hydrographic basins as well as the present-day background values of the principal chemical elements.