This paper deals briefly with the principles of geochemical migration in the secondary (soil, sediment) environment, a knowledge of which is essential to a correct interpretation of exploration geochemical data. Examples are given which illustrate that the principles which apply in the more easily interpreted tropical areas, also apply in the more complicated glaciated regions. Any person employing exploration geochemistry in geomorphologically complicated areas, is well advised to study data from strictly residual soil areas where the fundamentals of geochemical migration are more easily observed.