Soil Stories

The materiality of soil is a profound and valuable source of inspiration for the artists and designers working in the Soil Laboratory. Examining soil through scientific methods is used to extend the understanding of different soils and environments, including the traces that humans leave in soil. 

The Soil Stories project comprises a collection of soil samples sent by the public from around Finland. Accompanied with notes, maps, photographs or stories of the place, different soil samples have been sent to the Soil Laboratory. The soil samples have been analysed and displayed in the exhibition space by a map which shows their origin in Finland. Some of the soil samples have been processed into ceramic samples thus imprinting the Finnish soils, their localities and properties. Various earth tones can be seen from the results of firing. These soil colours are used as paint materials in the Critically Endangered Species project.

This collective contribution involves the participation of the public, a geologist, artists and designers, the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), and the Finnish Association for Rural Culture and Education (MSL). 

You can send us your soil sample to take part in the Soil Stories project. Detailed instructions for collecting and sending a sample can be found on the Designmuseo’s webpage.

Data of the analysed soil samples 

The chart below shows the metal content of the scanned soil samples and further comparing the results with the assessment of Soil Contamination and Remediation Needs by the Finnish Ministry of the Environment. The legislation regulates the assessment of harmful substances in soil. If the threshold value exceeds, soil contamination and remediation needs must be assessed. The upper and lower guideline values are defined on the basis of ecological or health risks. Different colours in the chart indicate the presence of metals exceeding threshold or guideline values.

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_{Threshold value: Soil contamination and remediation needs must be assessed if the concentration of one or several harmful metals in the soil exceeds the threshold value.}

_{Upper guideline value: Soil is regarded as contaminated in an area used as an industrial, storage or transport area or as other corresponding areas if the concentration of one or several substances exceeds the prescribed upper guideline value.}

_{Lower guideline value: Soil is regarded as contaminated in other than an area referred above if the concentration of one or several substances exceeds the prescribed lower guideline value.}

_{(Government Decree on the Assessment of Soil Contamination and Remediation Needs 214/2007 page 4).} 

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Scroll to the right to view full table

_{Blue= The measured concentration higher than the threshold value
Orange= The measured concentration exceeds the lower guideline value
Red= The measured concentration exceeds the upper guideline value}

			P	S	Cl	K	Ca	Ti	V	Cr	Mn	Fe	Co	Ni	Cu	Zn	As	Se	Rb	Sr	Y	Zr	Mo	Ag	Cd	Sn	Sb	W	Hg	Pb	Bi	Th	U
		Natural Concentration (median)							38	31			8	17	22	31	1								0.3		0.02		0.005	5
		Threshold Value							100	100			20	50	100	200	5								1		2		0.5	60
		Lower Guideline Value							150	200			100	100	150	250	50								10		10		2	200
		Upper Guideline Value							250	300			250	150	200	400	100								20		50		5	750
1.	Nuutajärvi	Mänkihalli	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	70	<LOD	90	3.9	12	24	1081	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	24.8	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	1.6	40.7	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD
2.	Nuutajärvi	Hakahytti	<LOD	1063	<LOD	7125	6148	2702	56	83	626	30240	9.4	<LOD	21	206	8.5	4.3	82.9	171	10.3	195	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	32	30	<LOD	<LOD
3.	Nuutajärvi	Hakahytti	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	1839	5294	979	112	22	77	2630	1.9	<LOD	34	1819	<LOD	2.4	8.9	64.9	3.7	58.1	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	311	<LOD	<LOD	11.3	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD
4.	Nuutajärvi	Hakahytti	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	8567	6635	1523	46	60	335	17784	5.5	<LOD	26	75	4.5	<LOD	80.2	225	12.3	188	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	23	19	37	<LOD
5.	Nuutajärvi	Hakahytti	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	1581	4884	651	31.3	1683	90	3248	1.7	<LOD	28	190	<LOD	3.9	10.7	50.7	7.1	1189	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	119	<LOD	<LOD	24	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD
6.	Nuutajärvi	Hopeasauna	<LOD	1122	<LOD	6815	10921	2930	54	57	1225	32426	8.1	<LOD	32	244	9	<LOD	86.5	260	9.8	218	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	174	39	<LOD	<LOD
7.	Nuutajärvi	Hopeasauna	<LOD	867	<LOD	7741	8312	2625	55	65	1350	28374	8.6	<LOD	21	127	<LOD	<LOD	87.0	255	8.6	163	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	52	29	<LOD	<LOD
8.	Nuutajärvi	Hopeasauna	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	8059	7176	2496	52	77	1003	24112	5.8	<LOD	16	173	5.7	<LOD	79.7	216	11.6	207	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	67	24	<LOD	<LOD
9.	Nuutajärvi	Palokoppi	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	11035	9637	2217	63	78	580	31909	7.4	<LOD	70	140	41	6.1	115.2	234	14.6	143	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	149	38	<LOD	<LOD
10.	Nuutajärvi	Joen Penkka	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	9078	8327	2383	88	100	616	28591	9.5	<LOD	109	409	133	7.5	88.4	209	14.8	168	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	848	29	37	<LOD
11.	Nuutajärvi	Prykäri	<LOD	1044	<LOD	8357	9503	1913	57	80	555	22952	6.1	38	57	231	130	9.9	77.0	210	13.9	148	<LOD	<LOD	42	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	266	24	<LOD	<LOD
12.	Nuutajärvi	Pruukinraitti	<LOD	897	<LOD	10253	6789	1965	52	67	369	23331	7.1	<LOD	44	137	34	4.5	79.2	215	12.0	134	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	175	26	40	<LOD
13.	Nuutajärvi	Salojen pelto	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	9382	3638	2273	65	108	527	33588	13.2	<LOD	34	192	<LOD	<LOD	127	120	11	158	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	50	26	50	<LOD
14.	Helsinki 13	Koulupuisto	<LOD	801	<LOD	8955	6233	1282	35	59	239	18369	5.2	<LOD	33	70	<LOD	<LOD	87.1	205	13.3	150	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	28	18	31	<LOD
15.	Helsinki 13	Arkkitehtuurimuseo	<LOD	864	<LOD	8660	8563	1441	42	75	264	19588	7.1	<LOD	53	172	5.1	<LOD	87.4	161	13.3	154	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	59	19	<LOD	<LOD
16.	Nurmes	Mujejärvi	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	5736	5641	1145	30	33	342	8570	3.1	<LOD	9	99	<LOD	<LOD	44.4	168	5.4	164	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	10.7	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD
17.	Lieksa	Mätäsvaaran kaivos	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	6541	4147	621	19.9	16	101	8352	2.6	<LOD	121	77	<LOD	<LOD	48.2	124	7.0	91	80	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	42	16	<LOD	<LOD
18.	Porvoo	Puolukkapolku	<LOD	764	<LOD	7808	7497	1329	34	44	288	17980	8.5	<LOD	26	118	<LOD	<LOD	84.2	144	10.6	155	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	45	17	<LOD	<LOD
19.	Turku	Kauppatori	<LOD	2797	661	12601	3813	2567	57	83	423	34124	13.5	<LOD	26	100	<LOD	<LOD	114.6	99	22.6	169	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	15	46	49	<LOD
20.	Jämsä	Koskenpää	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	12510	6601	2673	67	84	437	30361	11.7	<LOD	40	84	<LOD	<LOD	113.8	219	23.7	214	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	15	33	57	<LOD
21.	Lohja	Hiidenvesi	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	15969	7321	2919	71	96	410	37683	15.4	<LOD	43	112	5.7	<LOD	153	224	27.8	238	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	21	29	55	10
22.	Hammaslahti	Nivan kylä	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	4939	5256	894	25.3	28	236	8440	2.5	<LOD	16	46	<LOD	<LOD	45.2	206	5.5	103	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	13.0	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD
23.	Nurmes	Kuokkastenkoski	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	8693	7320	1578	42	253	468	17195	4.4	<LOD	276	67	212	<LOD	48.4	240	7.5	132	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	16.9	20	<LOD	<LOD
24.	Turku	Kauppatori	<LOD	4932	539	12577	6542	2638	57	113	526	38360	18.0	<LOD	33	115	<LOD	<LOD	127.2	115	23.9	180	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	16	49	54	<LOD
25.	Somero	Kultela 1.5M Syvä	–	–	–	–	–	3510	170	143	438	51703	22.5	<LOD	63	133	<LOD	<LOD	183	137	32	193	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	22	55	81	<LOD
26.	Somero	Kultela 2.5M Syvä	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	15734	5119	2962	75	112	407	43355	19.2	<LOD	46	112	<LOD	<LOD	158	141	35	227	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	22	40	71	<LOD
27.	Möhkö	Mustakorpi	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	1788	3940	438	13.2	15	256	4760	1.8	<LOD	<LOD	80	<LOD	<LOD	16.1	113	2.6	64.9	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	8.5	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD
28.	Kajaani	Vuolijoki	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	6995	5813	1656	36	70	449	15128	5.8	<LOD	28	96	<LOD	<LOD	63.9	170	10.1	219	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	16.6	21	<LOD	<LOD
29.	Helsinki 17	Senaatintori 0.6 M	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	12439	5914	1526	33	31	146	10650	2.9	<LOD	19	27	<LOD	<LOD	110.9	234	8.3	91	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	31	16	<LOD	<LOD
30.	Sipoo	Sipoonkorpi 1	<LOD	<LOD	227	7485	4808	1062	31	38	140	10117	4.2	<LOD	12	16.7	<LOD	<LOD	66.3	209	12.4	244	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	20.0	<LOD	37	<LOD
31.	Sipoo	Sipoonkorpi 2	<LOD	1115	332	5074	3727	1572	39	53	132	24253	7.8	<LOD	18	33	4.7	<LOD	56.0	167	11.9	202	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	15.5	26	<LOD	<LOD
32.	Sipoo	Sipoonkorpi 3	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	8189	5500	833	28	31	134	8493	4.1	<LOD	10	18	<LOD	2.1	74.7	233	12.8	249	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	19.7	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD
33.	Sipoo	Sipoonkorpi 4	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	11265	4620	2390	60	78	206	30440	11.1	<LOD	19	48	<LOD	2.1	78.9	198	16.1	232	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	20	33	54	<LOD
34.	Tornio	Vojakkala	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	12018	10811	2233	79	146	429	39236	14.7	84	66	97	6.0	2.4	82.2	247	14.1	170	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	17	40	51	<LOD
35.	Pälkäne	Huhtionen	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	17280	7566	3658	84	112	643	44353	16.1	<LOD	40	119	6.4	<LOD	156	212	26	234	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	14	41	48	<LOD
38.	Paltamo	Autioniemi	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	9345	8144	1936	51	85	448	22750	7.5	31	36	93	6.3	<LOD	67.5	179	13.8	146	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	14	21	<LOD	<LOD
39.	Hyvinkää	Sääksjärvi sand	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	9999	5805	2158	46	61	237	18089	7.8	<LOD	28	63	<LOD	<LOD	99.5	192	25.3	304	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	22	<LOD	66	<LOD
40.	Hyvinkää	Sääksjärvi clay	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	10210	4270	766	33	26	296	10386	3.1	<LOD	14	25	<LOD	<LOD	93.4	228	12.7	116	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	18.4	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD
41.	Helsinki	Haltiala 1	<LOD	1184	<LOD	6912	4487	1668	31	35	196	25064	8.5	<LOD	12	24	4.6	2.5	65.4	177	14.0	261	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	21	28	35	<LOD
42.	Helsinki	Haltiala 2	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	8012	3468	1688	33	44	161	17602	6.3	<LOD	10	39	<LOD	<LOD	88.1	166	11.2	284	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	19	17	32	<LOD
43.	Vaasa	Västervik	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	15236	7760	2638	63	73	356	27850	11.9	<LOD	29	93	<LOD	<LOD	122.8	223	26.5	281	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	20	25	52	<LOD
44.	Kemijärvi	Raajärven Kaivos	<LOD	<LOD	406	2885	18882	758	62	47	429	83842	32.8	<LOD	90	67	<LOD	8.5	22.0	28.9	15.0	90	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	89	<LOD	<LOD
45.1	Kemijärvi	Raajärven Kaivos black stone	17865	<LOD	<LOD	3140	29235	4405	1280	<LOD	674	1635895	343	<LOD	123	475	<LOD	54	<LOD	314	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	609	1834	<LOD	<LOD
45.2	Kemijärvi	Raajärven Kaivos green stone	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	296	37246	270	16.5	<LOD	240	14309	7.5	<LOD	<LOD	26.5	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	6.3	6.2	3.6	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	45	<LOD	<LOD
45.3	Kemijärvi	Raajärven Kaivos white stone	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	87	372	207	12.2	13	66	7760	4.4	24	<LOD	19.8	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	1.4	<LOD	11.2	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	30	<LOD	<LOD
46.1	Somero	Mica schist	<LOD	<LOD	279	27891	233	518	8.9	49	560	6346	3.2	<LOD	46	318	18	<LOD	5967	50.2	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	377	<LOD	37	50	<LOD	<LOD	67	<LOD
46.2	Somero	Pajula white stone	<LOD	<LOD	354	198	<LOD	13	<LOD	60	38	78	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	41	16	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD
46.3	Somero	Pajula red stone	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	42840	253	117	11.9	24	44	144	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	23	<LOD	10153	100	33	4.9	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	57	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD
48.	Helsinki	Haltiala	<LOD	<LOD	243	8108	4082	1207	27	29	136	10614	4.3	<LOD	<LOD	22	<LOD	<LOD	92.4	178	7.4	141	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD	16.8	<LOD	<LOD	<LOD

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Field trip to Somero

As part of the research activity, artists and designers from the Soil Laboratory have travelled to Somero, a place where the Finnish red clay has been produced. A day trip was hosted by Catharina Kajander, who has a strong connection to the tradition of the place and the knowledge of the local material. Via this visit, the understanding of the material has grown deeper through a shared exploration in the surrounding environments, such as visiting the clay factory, a local pottery museum and the clay pit in Kultela.

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