Decoupling of scandium and rare earth elements in organic (nano)particle-rich boreal rivers draining the Fennoscandian Shield

Only few datasets on scandium (Sc) and rare earths and yttrium (REY) in rivers are available and the behaviour of Sc in the hydrosphere is poorly understood. We determined Sc and REY concentrations in the dissolved fraction of twelve boreal rivers in Sweden, which show low conductivity, circumneutral pH and elevated dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Scandium concentrations vary between 189 and 1170 pmol/l and are at the high end of the range reported for rivers worldwide. Unusually high Sc concentrations in the Dalsälven and Västerdalälven could be tracked to the Vanån, a tributary to the headwaters of the latter. Increasing Sc with increasing DOC and Yb concentrations suggest that organic ligands play a major role in the distribution of Sc. The REY(SN) patterns are similar for all rivers (except the Västerdalälven) and are slightly light REY-depleted with negative Ce and Eu anomalies, and positive Y anomalies. These patterns appear to be a general feature of freshwater draining the Fennoscandian Shield into the Baltic Sea for at least the past 28 years. Our results clearly demonstrate that Sc and REY are fractionated in river waters relative to their crustal source and that they should not be discussed jointly as “REE”.