Distribution of trace metals in stream sediments along the Trans-Amazonian Federal Highway, Pará State, Brazil

• Trace metal concentrations in stream sediments along the Trans-Amazonian Highway.
• Three tracks were defined based on PCA analysis.
• Metals geochemical associations are representative of the regional geology.
• Higher Zn, Pb and Cu concentrations associated with streams near to urban centers.

A total of 64 sediment samples were collected along a stretch of about 988 km of the Trans-Amazonian Federal Highway, between Marabá and Itaituba, Pará State, in order to characterize the distribution of metals and trace elements. Due to the lithological and geological diversity along this stretch of the Amazon, the study region was divided in three distinct tracks. Statistical data analysis (Spearman correlation and Principal Factor Analysis) shows strong signature and predominance of regional rocks chemistry, such as mafic-ultramafic-bearing elements (Ni and Cr) and hydrothermalism-bearing elements such as Cu and Pb. Enrichment factors were calculated for three different normalizer agents: 1) Fe and Mn, representing the Fe and Mn (hydr)oxides, 2) Al representing clay minerals, and 3) organic matter (OM). The Fe and Mn (hydr)oxides showed to be the most proficient metal carrier among the geological matrices, likely due to the larger lithological diversity. On the other hand, OM positively correlated to trace element distribution.