Tellus Soils For rural soils, samples were collected at an interval of approximately one site per 2 km2 (about one site every 500 acres). Samples were collected from two depths (20 cm and 50 cm) at each site to provide an insight into vertical geochemical variations. The samples were analysed by XRF for Ag, Al2O3, As, Ba, Bi, Br, CaO, Cd, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe2O3, Ga, Ge, Hf, I, In, K2O, La, MgO, MnO, Mo, Na2O, Nb, Nd, Ni, P2O5, Pb, Rb, SO3, Sb, Sc, Se, SiO2, Sm, Sn, Sr, Ta, Te, Th, Tl, TiO2, U, V, W, Y, Yb, Zn, Zr. Au, Pt and Pd were analysed by 10g Fire Assay SO4 by Aqua Regia ICP-MS pH and Loss on Ignition were also recorded. The surveys followed the British Geological Survey's Geochemical Baseline Survey of the Environment (G-BASE) standard developed over many years that defines the specifications for mapping the regional geochemistry of the United Kingdom. For further information visit the Tellus webpages: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/gsni/tellus/