The results of the fi rst systematic study of the spatial distribution of trace metals in surface soil over the Kičevo region,
Republic of Macedonia, known for its coal mine and thermal power plant activity are reported. The investigated region
(148 km2) is covered by a sparse sampling grid of 2×2 km; but in the urban zone and around the thermal power plant
the sampling grid is denser (1×1 km). In total, 52 topsoil samples (0–5 cm) were collected. Inductively coupled plasma
– atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was applied for the determinations of 18 elements (Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co,
Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn). Based on the results of factor analyses, three natural geogenic associations
of elements have been defi ned: F1: Cr-Ni-Li-Co-Fe-As; F2: Al-Ca-Mg-Sr; and F3: Ba-K-Cu.
Even the distributions of typical heavy metals such as Pb and Zn which are not isolated into anthropogenic geochemical
association by multivariate statistical methods still show some trends of local anthropogenic enrichment. First of
all, the distribution of Pb is not only infl uenced by the open coal pit and“„Oslomej” thermal power plant, but also by
river transportation processes from the“„Tajmište” iron mine into alluvial sediments of the river Zajaska. The distribution
of Zn is infl uenced by the“„Metal industry Kičevo” operation and atmospheric transport.