ISSN 2169-303X
International Journal of Medicinal Plant Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 4(1), pp. 296-308, March, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Introducing hyperaccumulator indicator plants for As, Mo, Cd, Hg, and Sb in Masjed–Daghi, Julfa (Iran)
Farnoosh Farjandi1*, Hassan Bastani1 and Sara Soleimani1
1Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran, Iran
E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 15 March 2012
Abstract
The aims of present study are investigation of endemic plants at Masjed-Daghi area introducing hyperaccumulator and indicator plants for As, Mo, Cd, Hg, and Sb elements and also describe the biogeochemical response pattern over Azerbaijan area. The Masjed-Daghi prospecting area is covered by Eocene flysch, andesite, trachyandesite, dacite, rhyodacite, Oligocene agglomerate, and Quaternary deposits. Previous researches reported copper porphyry mineralization and related epithermal gold veins in this area. This study presents that plants with high metal intake enabled us to obtain invaluable information about natural concentrations of chemical elements in the substrate and to recognize new potential areas for mineral prospecting. S. inflata has biological absorption coefficient mean exceeding or near hyperaccumulating criterion >1 for most of the elements investigated then could be as a hyperaccumulator. The indicator values belong to S. inflata, Artemisia sp., Salvia sp., Astragalus sp., P. harmala, M. coerulea and Cousinia sp.
Key words: Biogeochemical exploration, hyperaccumulator, indicator, biological absorption coefficient, Geobotany, copper porphyry, Masjed–Daghi, Julfa (Iran).