The Finnish Geological Survey is carrying out field work this summer: a large environmental geochemical mapping project together with Russian partners, covering large parts of Northwestern Russia with low-density geochemistry. The results should also be of some interest for explorationists. The laboratory at the Survey is working with great success on decreasing detection limits for Au and PGE analyses in soils, sediments, plants and rocks. One reason for this development is renewed interest for PGE exploration in Finland. If anybody wants to get Au or PGE analyses with really exciting low detection limits and very good quality, get in touch with Heikki Niskavaara in the Rovaniemi branch of GTK (Phone +358 205 504344).

Geochemistry at the Norwegian Geological Survey is focussing more and more on urban geochemistry - town after town. The survey is also trying to earn some money in development aid projects, but at present these are mostly geared at geological mapping and hydrogeological studies rather than on geochemical exploration and mapping.

Olle Selinus at the Swedish Geological Survey is organising a seminar on medical geology somewhere near Uppsala this fall. Anybody interested should contact Olle directly at Olle.selinus@sgu.se (Phone +46 18179000).