Between 2011-2019, Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) conducted a massive soil sampling campaign across Ireland as a part of their Tellus survey in an effort to collect substantial geophysical and geochemical data.

From this survey, 200 sites were chosen from the original Tellus sampling site set based on geochemical composition.

With the help of the School of Geography, Archaeology & Irish Studies at the University of Galway, sites that were the most and least geochemically concentrated were selected and mapped. 

Following the original Tellus GPS coordinates to these 200 sites, the MMeSH and TellSoilBio team have had the opportunity to sample in fields, forests, and on beautiful coastlines. 

The team has also had the chance to interact with valuable stakeholders in the process. Communicating with farmers and land owners is a vital part of our field work days!

The original Tellus GPS coordinates mark the centre point at which the first set of samples is taken.  

Cores of 0-5 cm and 5-10cm in depth are taken from the centre point using a soil auger and rings. Additionally, samples are taken 15 metres North, South, East, and West, of the centre point and combined into one composite sample. 

These samples are then split in half, one half to be frozen and used for lipdomic and metabolomic analysis, and the other half to be kept as-is and used for soil respiration experiments. 

As the soil cores are sampled, a 0-10 cm soil sample is taken using a sterilized soil funnel. This is done as close as possible to where the soil core samples were taken.

These samples are also taken at each point the soil cores were sampled, and stored in a separate bag as a composite sample. 

These samples are then stored on ice until they are frozen and used for DNA sequencing and chemical analysis.