Point-sampling dataset of trace elements and heavy metals in Cantabria, Spain

This dataset contains the results of a point-sampling campaign conducted in the region of Cantabria, northern Spain, aimed at characterizing the spatial distribution of trace elements and heavy metals in soils. The study area has been historically affected by more than two centuries of intensive mining activity, which has left a legacy of potentially harmful element concentrations. Soil samples were collected following a systematic spatial design and analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The dataset includes the geographic coordinates of each sampling location and the measured concentrations of selected elements, serving as a basis for geostatistical analysis and environmental risk assessment. The data are provided in open format (.DAT - .txt) and are intended to support further research in environmental geochemistry, geostatistics, contamination mapping, and public health studies. The dataset was generated as part of a project proposed by the Regional Ministry of the Environment, in collaboration with the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME)