Distribution of Trace Metals and the Iron Mineral Phases in Urban Soils of Anápolis-Go, as Support for Environmental Management

Urban soils represent complex environmental systems strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities associated with population growth and industrialization. Assessing soil quality in urban environments requires integrated approaches capable of linking physicochemical properties, mineralogical composition, and metal contamination. Potentially toxic metals such as Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, and Fe interact with iron-bearing minerals, modifying their magnetic properties and influencing metal retention and mobility. In this context, Mössbauer spectroscopy, combined with surface and microscopic characterization techniques, offers a powerful tool for investigating mineral-metal associations in soils. This study aims to evaluate urban soils subjected to intense urbanization processes by applying Mössbauer spectroscopy, microscopic analyses, and metal quantification to eleven soil profiles collected in the municipality of Anápolis, Goiás State, Brazil, an area characterized by rapid industrial expansion. The integrated analytical approach allowed the identification of iron mineral phases and their oxidation states, providing insights into the role of ferrous materials in controlling metal behavior. The results highlight the relevance of iron-containing minerals as key components governing metal accumulation in urban soils. Overall, the combined use of Mössbauer spectroscopy and surface characterization techniques contributes to a better understanding of geochemical processes in urban environments and represents an effective strategy for environmental assessment, monitoring, and urban soil management.