江西雅山花岗岩岩浆演化及其Ta-Nb富集机制

雅山岩体是华南地区著名的富含钽铌矿的稀有金属花岗岩。从早阶段到晚阶段花岗岩中的云母的Li、F和Rb₂O含量逐渐升高,其类型变化为“黑鳞云母→Li-云母→锂云母”。锆石的Zr元素被Hf、U、Th、Y和P等元素的置换比例随着岩浆演化程度升高而增大。云母和锆石矿物成分变化特征与全岩体系的Zr/Hf、Nb/Ta比值不断下降而F、Li和P₂O₅含量逐渐升高的趋势一致,将可以用于指示岩浆演化程度。在岩浆演化过程中不断富集的P、F、Li元素增加了熔体中非桥氧数（NBO）,促使钽-铌元素在岩浆中的溶解度加大而逐渐富集,在最晚阶段的黄玉锂云母花岗岩具有最高的Ta、Nb元素含量。因此,雅山花岗岩具有较高的F、Li、P₂O₅含量是其岩浆演化及其Ta-Nb富集的重要机制。西华山花岗岩中的云母与雅山花岗岩中的锂云母相比,具有明显较低的F、Li、Rb₂O含量,表明西华山花岗岩的岩浆演化程度相对低于雅山花岗岩。西华山花岗岩中的钨富集与流体作用密切相关,体系氧逸度的降低促使了钨成矿。因此,岩浆演化程度的不同可能是造成华南稀有金属花岗岩发生不同成矿作用（如Ta-Nb矿和W矿）的重要原因。     

赣西北狮子岭花岗岩型锂矿床成因：来自岩石地球化学和锆石U-Pb年代学的约束

赣西北矿集区是中国重要的花岗岩型锂矿资源基地,以发育多期次多阶段岩浆作用和大规模锂等稀有金属矿床著称。区内花岗质岩浆与稀有金属成矿关系密切,为进一步研究该地区花岗质岩浆演化特征及其与稀有金属成矿的联系,确定相关花岗岩成岩时代及成因类型,查明稀有金属成矿机制,笔者选择九岭地区狮子岭花岗岩作为研究对象,对其开展了岩相学、锆石U-Pb年代学及岩石地球化学分析。结果显示,狮子岭花岗岩属高钾钙碱性系列,具有高Si,富P,贫Ca、Mg、Fe,富集U、Hf等高场强元素,亏损Ba、Sr等大离子亲石元素,稀土元素总量较低（ΣREE=2.12×10^-6~146.24×10^-6）,轻稀土元素相对富集（LREE/HREE=3.5~16.53）,弱Eu负异常（δEu=0.23~0.59）的特征。整体上具有S型花岗岩的地球化学特征。锆石U-Pb定年显示,黑云母二长花岗岩成岩年龄为（141.02±0.59）Ma,锂（白）云母碱长花岗岩成岩年龄为（113.96±0.72）Ma。锂（白）云母碱长花岗岩成岩过程中形成磷锂铝石及锂云母等含锂矿物,其成岩年龄可视为锂等稀有金属成矿年龄。该区稀有金属矿化受燕山晚期岩浆结晶分异作用及后期热液交代作用共同影响,岩浆结晶分异作用是Li、Nb、Ta成矿的决定性因素,后期热液交代作用为Li等成矿元素的二次富集提供条件。     

湖南香花岭地区花岗岩中锂对成岩成矿的制约

锂（Li）是一种战略关键金属,岩浆阶段主要在花岗质岩石中得到富集和结晶。由于具有不相容和富挥发性等性质,锂对花岗岩的成岩成矿具有重要的制约。文章利用电子探针、LA-ICP-MS 等分析手段,对湖南香花岭地区癞子岭和尖峰岭花岗岩进行系统岩相学、主微量和矿物学研究,结果表明：（1）花岗质岩浆结晶分异过程中,Li 含量逐渐升高,大幅度降低了熔体粘度,增大了结晶温度区间,花岗质岩浆得到充分结晶分异,导致花岗岩的垂直分带;（2）花岗岩中Li 与稀有金属含量呈正相关关系,Li 与Ta、Nb、Sn 等稀有金属具有协同成矿作用;（3）花岗岩中云母类矿物具有向富Li 演化的趋势,以铁锂云母为主,随着铁锂云母的结晶,Nb、Ta、Sn 等稀有金属相继析出,导致晚期云母中Ta、Nb 等含量降低。熔体中H2O、F 等对花岗质岩浆的性质和结晶分异有较大影响,但不足以致使花岗岩呈垂直分带。     

福建金山花岗质复式岩体的元素和同位素地球化学及其成因研究

金山复式岩体位于福建南部华安县和南靖县交界地区,为一燕山晚期的花岗质复式大岩基,由早白垩世早期的华安洋竹径单元（锆石U-Pb年龄为140.3±1.2Ma）和早白垩世晚期的南靖龙山单元（锆石U-Pb年龄为105.1±0.8Ma）组成。复式岩体东部的洋竹径单元主体岩性为中粒钾长花岗岩,在中心部位发育部分黑云母花岗岩,地球化学特征上,该单元岩石总体为弱过铝质（A/NKC值变化于1.00~1.05）,富硅,碱含量中等（K2O+Na2O介于8.30%~8.84%）,碱铝指数（AKI值）变化于0.80~0.90,富钾（K2O含量变化于4.59%~5.58%,K2O/Na2O比值介于1.18~1.95）,富轻稀土和大离子亲石元素（如Rh、Th等）,贫Ba、Sr、Ti、P,Rb/Sr比值高,具中到强的铕负异常。复式岩体西部的龙山单元主体岩性为黑云母二长花岗岩,与洋竹径单元相比,其硅、碱含量及Rb/Sr比值均相对偏低,轻重稀土比值更高,而铕负异常相对不明显。复式岩体各单元岩石的Ga/Al比值以及Zr、Nb、Ce、Y等高场强元素含量较之典型的A型花岗岩均偏低,综合地质地球化学资料指示该复式岩体应属高钾钙碱性I型花岗岩。洋竹径单元黑云母花岗岩和钾长花岗岩具有一致的Nd同位素组成,Nd(t)值分别为-1.13和-1.16~-1.94,表明它们具有相同的岩浆源区,二者应为同源岩浆经分异演化的产物。龙山单元的成岩年龄晚于洋竹径单元,Nd(t)值略低（＝-2.22）,其岩石学和元素地球化学特征与洋竹径单元存在较明显的差别,相关的元素演变趋势表明龙山单元不可能为洋竹径单元岩浆分异演化的产物,而应具独立的岩浆起源。金山复式岩体极可能是在弧后伸展背景下,由于持续的幔源岩浆底侵作用导致早期底侵物质（初生地壳）与古老基底地壳混合的地壳原岩叠次熔融复合的产物。     

幕阜山复式花岗岩体锆石年代与微量元素对伟晶岩矿床成因的限定

江南成矿带晚侏罗世-早白垩世幕阜山复式花岗岩体内部及周缘发育多个早白垩世伟晶岩稀有金属矿床,成矿伟晶岩是否源自幕阜山复式岩体演化花岗岩浆高度分异还存在争议.幕阜山麦市等地发育含电气石、石榴石及白云母二长花岗岩,LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄介于130~135 Ma,在误差范围内与区内大规模成矿伟晶岩年龄相当.与早期斑状黑云母二长花岗岩和白云母二长花岗岩（151~143 Ma）相比,晚期含电气石、石榴石及白云母二长花岗岩锆石具有较高的Hf、Ta、Nb、Th、U含量和较低的Th/U和Eu/Eu*比值,体现较高的演化程度,与岩石矿物组合及锆石结晶温度相一致.锆石年代与微量元素说明,幕阜山地区成矿伟晶岩可能是幕阜山复式岩体中早白垩世演化花岗岩浆进一步分异的产物.      

江西彭山锡多金属矿集区隐伏花岗岩体的岩石地球化学、锆石U-Pb年代学和Hf同位素组成

本文对江西彭山锡多金属矿集区隐伏花岗岩体进行了详细的锆石U-Pb年代学、Hf同位素组成和岩石地球化学研究。SHRIMP和LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年表明,该岩体年龄为128~129Ma,属燕山晚期岩浆活动的产物。详细的地球化学分析显示,彭山隐伏花岗岩体具有高硅(SiO2=75.42%~76.46%)、富碱(Na2O+K2O=7.93%~8.35%,K2O/Na2O=1.32~1.61)的特征,极度贫Mg(普遍MgO=0~0.07%),贫Ca(CaO=0.37%~0.69%),弱过铝质(A/CNK=1.04~1.11),富集Rb、Th、U等大离子亲石元素及Hf、Nb等高场强元素,强烈亏损Sr、Ba、Eu、P、Ti。稀土总量偏低(∑REE=41.18×10-6~85.06×10-6),强烈的Eu负异常(Eu/Eu*=0.05~0.11)。104×Ga/Al比值变化于2.75~4.04,平均值为3.19。这些特征均不同于典型的A型和S型花岗岩。岩石学和地球化学特征指示该岩体可能是一个高分异的I型花岗岩。该花岗岩中锆石εHf(t)值偏高,主要集中在-0.6~-4.5,显示在成岩过程中有地幔组分的参与,属壳幔混源花岗岩,推测该岩体的形成可能与燕山晚期华南岩石圈伸展拉张环境有关。     

大兴安岭南段维拉斯托高分异花岗岩体的成因与演化及其对Sn-(Li-Rb-Nb-Ta)多金属成矿作用的制约

近年来,大兴安岭南段维拉斯托矿区深部Sn-Li找矿取得重大突破,但人们目前对与成矿作用密切相关的深部花岗岩体成因与演化及其对稀有金属矿化存在怎样的制约尚不清楚.为此,针对该岩体开展了年代学、地球化学和Sr-Nd-Hf同位素组成研究,获得的锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄为130.7±0.5 Ma（MSWD=0.53）,属早白垩世岩浆活动产物.化学组成上表现为高硅、富碱（高钠）,贫钙、镁、铁和极低P₂O₅（< 0.01%）含量特征,铝饱和指数（A/CNK）集中于1.02~1.08,全岩Rb/Sr、Nb/Ta比值高,Zr/Hf比值低（< 4）.岩体富Cs、Rb、Th、U、Nb、Ta以及Li、F等元素,亏损Ba、Sr、Ti和稀土元素,轻重稀土比值小,并具显著的四分组效应和Eu负异常（δEu=0.02~0.15）,锆石饱和温度（691~727℃）和Zr+Nb+Ce+Y含量均低于A型花岗岩,以上综合特征反映其应属准铝-弱过铝质高分异I型花岗岩类.岩体具正的ε_Nd（t）（+1.10~+3.75）值和相对均一的ε_Hf（t）（+4.2~+8.7）以及年轻的二阶段模式年龄（T_（Nd）DMC=607~829 Ma;T_（Hf）DMC=627~914 Ma）,说明成矿岩体的岩浆源区可能来自于含大量幔源组分新生下地壳的部分熔融.Sn-（稀有）成矿受岩浆后期的高度分异演化和晚期流体-熔体相互作用共同影响,并与外围的脉状矿体共同构成岩浆-热液成矿系统.      

辽东岫岩晚侏罗世荒地岩体的地球化学、年代学与Hf同位素及构造意义

辽东半岛中生代晚侏罗世岩浆活动较少,研究程度较低.通过对辽宁岫岩县荒地花岗岩岩体进行锆石U-Pb测年、岩石地球化学和锆石Lu-Hf同位素分析来进一步了解辽东半岛晚侏罗世的构造动力学背景,荒地花岗岩的岩浆锆石U-Pb加权平均年龄为161.1±3.6 Ma（MSWD=1.4）,表明荒地岩体的形成时代为晚侏罗世,为燕山期岩浆活动的产物.该岩体含白云母等富铝矿物,地球化学数据也显示,该岩体为过铝质高钾钙碱性系列,富集K、Rb、Cs、Ba等大离子亲石元素,亏损Nb、Ti、P等高场强元素,具轻稀土元素富集,重稀土元素亏损的特征,Eu为中等负异常（δEu=0.33~0.80）.该花岗岩A/CNK平均值为1.10,CIPW标准矿物中出现刚玉分子（>1%）.由此认为该岩体为经历了高程度的结晶分异作用的S型花岗岩.荒地花岗岩CaO/Na₂O比值小于0.3,ε_Hf（t）小于0（-36.968~-23.298）,表明该岩石由地壳的泥质岩熔融形成.两阶段Hf模式年龄T_DMC=2 680~3 568 Ma,表明该岩体源岩的组成物质从地幔储库中脱离的时间为新太古代至古太古代,同时与辽东半岛侏罗纪其他花岗岩进行了比较.综上所述,该岩体形成于古太平洋板块向欧亚大陆俯冲后俯冲角度变大、向更深处俯冲的背景之下.      

河北兴隆M111稀有金属花岗岩体地球化学和矿化特征研究

本文研究河北兴隆一个复式小花岗岩体的岩石地球化学和矿化特征.常量氧化物、Rb-Sr同位素、稀土元素和稀有微量元素的地球化学特点综合表明,该岩体是起源较深的花岗岩浆经过较充分地分异演化的晚阶段产物.岩浆成分向着富钠富钠碱元素富挥发分的方向有规律的分异演化导致Nb,Ta,Li,Be,Rb,Cs等稀有元素富集和矿化.最晚形成的空间上位于岩体较高部位的白色似斑状铁锂云母-钠长石花岗岩,是矿化的有利地段,可作为稀有金属矿床找矿的岩石学标志     

佛冈高分异I型花岗岩的成因:来自Nb-Ta-Zr-Hf等元素的制约

华南南岭地区发育有大面积的与钨锡成矿相关的侏罗纪花岗岩,然而其中有些花岗岩的成因类型却难以确定。本文以佛冈岩体为例,结合前人已发表数据,对佛冈花岗岩体中Nb、Ta、Zr和Hf等元素的迁移特征及其原理进行探讨,并对佛冈花岗岩的成因类型进行了厘定。随着分异程度增加,佛冈花岗岩Nb和Ta含量增加,Nb/Ta(3.6~15.3)和Zr/Hf(17.3~38.9)比值降低并发生分异。随着Zr含量的降低,佛冈花岗岩的Zr/Hf比值降低,这一特征表明锆石的分离结晶作用使得佛冈花岗岩的Zr/Hf比值分异。Nb/Ta比值分异可能与角闪石和黑云母的分离结晶作用有关。随着Nb/Ta比值降低,Y/Ho比值增加,这一特征表明佛冈花岗岩Nb/Ta比值的分异也和岩浆演化后期的流体有关。佛冈花岗岩不含原生的富铝矿物,为准铝质到弱过铝质岩石。随着分异程度增加,佛冈花岗岩P2O5含量降低,表明它不是S型花岗岩。随着Y/Ho比值增加和Nb/Ta和Zr/Hf比值降低,佛岗花岗岩Ga/Al和Fe OT/Mg O比值增加,从典型I型花岗岩特征演化到类似A型花岗岩的地球化学特征。因此,我们认为佛冈花岗岩不是A型花岗岩而是高分异的I型花岗岩。区域上与成矿相关的流体和花岗质岩浆的相互作用和分离结晶作用,使得华南南岭地区的花岗岩地球化学特征复杂,所以其成因类型也变的难以确定。     

Roles of xenomelts,xenoliths, xenocrysts,xenovolatiles, residues,and skarns in the genesis,transport, and localization of magmatic Fe-Ni-Cu-PGE sulfides and chromite

Most sulfide-rich magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposits form in dynamic magmatic systems by partial melting S-bearing wall rocks with variable degrees of assimilation of miscible silicate and volatile components, and generation of barren to weakly-mineralized immiscible Fe sulfide xenomelts into which Ni-Cu-Co-PGE partition from the magma. Some exceptionally-thick magmatic Cr deposits may form by partial melting oxide-bearing wall rocks with variable degrees of assimilation of the miscible silicate and volatile components, and generation of barren Fe ± Ti oxide xenocrysts into which Cr-Mg-V ± Ti partition from the magma. The products of these processes are variably preserved as skarns, residues, xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and xenovolatiles, which play important to critical roles in ore genesis, transport, localization, and/or modification. Incorporation of barren xenoliths/autoliths may induce small amounts of sulfide/chromite to segregate, but incorporation of sulfide xenomelts or oxide xenocrysts with dynamic upgrading of metal tenors (PGE > Cu > Ni > Co and Cr > V > Ti, respectively) is required to make significant ore deposits. Silicate xenomelts are only rarely preserved, but will be variably depleted in chalcophile and ferrous metals. Less dense felsic xenoliths may aid upward sulfide transport by increasing the effective viscosity and decreasing the bulk density of the magma. Denser mafic or metamorphosed xenoliths may also increase the effective viscosity of the magma, but may aid downward sulfide transport by increasing the bulk density of the magma. Sulfide wets olivine, so olivine xenocrysts may act as filter beds to collect advected finely dispersed sulfide droplets, but other silicates and xenoliths may not be wetted by sulfides. Xenovolatiles may retard settling of – or in some cases float – dense sulfide droplets. Reactions of sulfide melts with felsic country rocks may generate Fe-rich skarns that may allow sulfide melts to fractionate to more extreme Cu-Ni-rich compositions. Xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and xenovolatiles are more likely to be preserved in cooler basaltic magmas than in hotter komatiitic magmas, and are more likely to be preserved in less dynamic (less turbulent) systems/domain/phases than in more dynamic (more turbulent) systems/domains/phases. Massive to semi-massive Ni-Cu-PGE and Cr mineralization and xenoliths are often localized within footwall embayments, dilations/jogs in dikes, throats of magma conduits, and the horizontal segments of dike-chonolith and dike-sill complexes, which represent fluid dynamic traps for both ascending and descending sulfides/oxides. If skarns, residues, xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and/or xenovolatiles are present, they provide important constraints on ore genesis and they are valuable exploration indicators, but they must be included in elemental and isotopic mass balance calculations.     

Mountains,nations, parks,and conservation

Between 1985 and 1991, two new mountain protected areas (MTNPA) covering more than 35,000 km² and based on participatory management models — the Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area, Nepal, and Qomolangma Nature Preserve, Tibet Autonomous Region — were successfully established through the collaborative efforts of Woodlands Mountain Institute and conservationists in China and Nepal. Characteristics common to both projects include the importance of establishing (1) effective rationales, (2) local support constituencies, (3) a senior advisory group, (4) a task force, (5) linkages between conservation and development, and (6) fund raising mechanisms. The lessons derived from the experiences of Woodlands Mountain Institute are of significant value to others in preserving MTNPA. Increased collaboration and communication between all interested in conservation, however, will remain a critical component for expanding mountain protected area coverage to throughout the world.     

Parents,permission, and possibility: Young women,college, and imagined futures in Gujarat,India

This article advances critical geographies of youth through examining the spatiality implicit in the imagined futures of young women in rural India. Geographers and other scholars of youth have begun to pay more attention to the interplay between young people’s past, present, and imagined futures. Within this emerging body of scholarship the role of the family and peer group in influencing young people’s orientations toward the future remain underexamined. Drawing on eleven months of ethnographic fieldwork, my research focuses on a first generation of college-going young women from socioeconomically marginalized backgrounds in India’s westernmost state of Gujarat. I draw on the “possible selves” theoretical construct in order to deploy a flexible conceptual framework that links imagined post-educational trajectories with motivation to act in the present. In tracing the physical movement of these young women as they navigate and complete college, my analysis highlights the ways in which particular kinds of spaces and spatial arrangements facilitate and limit intra- and inter-generational contact, and the extent to which this affects young women’s conceptions of the future. I conclude by considering the wider implications of my research for ongoing debates surrounding youth transitions, relational geographies of age, and education in the Global South.     

Comparative study of As,Cd, Cu,Cr, Mg,Mn, Ni,Pb and Zn concentrations between sediment and water from estuary and port

The contents of As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn have been determined in sediment and water samples from Valle de las Garzas estuary and Port Manzanillo (Colima, Mexico) using ICP-AES. The concentrations of these elements were used for a comparative study to determine the distribution of heavy metals and to evaluate which elements reflect natural or anthropogenic backgrounds. For this purpose, seven sampling points were selected: Four of them correspond to the lagoon, and three were situated in the port. Statistical analysis of the mineral content was assessed. Initially, data comparison was assessed by statistical tests for each variable. Principal component analysis was then applied considering the influence of all variables at the same time by obtaining the distribution of samples according to their scores in the principal component space. In this way, four studies were carried out: (1) study of sediments collected during the dry season; (2) study of sediments collected during the rainy season; (3) comparative study between sediments from rainy and dry season; and (4) study of water composition collected during rainy season. From the results of the performed analyses, it can be concluded that metals distribution pattern reflected natural and anthropogenic backgrounds (e.g., sediments from the lagoon, situated at the beginning of the rain channel, presented high contents of Zn and Cu, perhaps related to anthropogenic activities or the influence of igneous sediments).     

Partition coefficients of Hf,Zr, and REE between zircon,apatite, and liquid

Concentration ratios of Hf, Zr, and REE between zircon, apatite, and liquid were determined for three igneous compositions: two andesites and a diorite. The concentration ratios of these elements between zircon and corresponding liquid can approximate the partition coefficient. Although the concentration ratios between apatite and andesite groundmass can be considered as partition coefficients, those for the apatite in the diorite may deviate from the partition coefficients. The HREE partition coefficients between zircon and liquid are very large (100 for Er to 500 for Lu), and the Hf partition coefficient is even larger. The REE partition coefficients between apatite and liquid are convex upward, and large (D=10–100), whereas the Hf and Zr partition coefficients are less than 1. The large differences between partition coefficients of Lu and Hf for zircon-liquid and for apatite-liquid are confirmed. These partition coefficients are useful for petrogenetic models involving zircon and apatite.     

Coprecipitation of Ti,Mo, Sn and Sb with fluorides and application to determination of B,Ti, Zr,Nb, Mo,Sn, Sb,Hf and Ta by ICP-MS

We examined the coprecipitation behavior of Ti, Mo, Sn and Sb in Ca–Al–Mg fluorides under two different fluoride forming conditions: at < 70 °C in an ultrasonic bath (denoted as the ultrasonic method) and at 245 °C using a Teflon bomb (denoted as the bomb method). In the ultrasonic method, small amounts of Ti, Mo and Sn coprecipitation were observed with 100% Ca and 100% Mg fluorides. No coprecipitation of Ti, Mo, Sn and Sb in Ca–Al–Mg fluorides occurred when the sample was decomposed by the bomb method except for 100% Ca fluoride. Based on our coprecipitation observations, we have developed a simultaneous determination method for B, Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, Sb, Hf and Ta by Q-pole type ICP-MS (ICP-QMS) and sector field type ICP-MS (ICP-SFMS). 9–50 mg of samples with Zr–Mo–Sn–Sb–Hf spikes were decomposed by HF using the bomb method and the ultrasonic method with B spike. The sample was then evaporated and re-dissolved into 0.5 mol l^− 1 HF, followed by the removal of fluorides by centrifuging. B, Zr, Mo, Sn, Sb and Hf were measured by ID method. Nb and Ta were measured by the ID-internal standardization method, based on Nb/Mo and Ta/Mo ratios using ICP-QMS, for which pseudo-FI was developed and applied. When 100% recovery yields of Zr and Hf are expected, Nb/Zr and Ta/Hf ratios may also be used. Ti was determined by the ID-internal standardization method, based on the Ti/Nb ratio from ICP-SFMS. Only 0.053 ml sample solution was required for measurement of all 9 elements. Dilution factors of ≤ 340 were aspirated without matrix effects. To demonstrate the applicability of our method, 4 carbonaceous chondrites (Ivuna, Orgueil, Cold Bokkeveld and Allende) as well as GSJ and USGS silicate reference materials of basalts, andesites and peridotites were analyzed. Our analytical results are consistent with previous studies, and the mean reproducibility of each element is 1.0–4.6% for basalts and andesites, and 6.7–11% for peridotites except for TiO₂.     

Models,validation, and applied geochemistry: Issues in science,communication, and philosophy

Models have become so fashionable that many scientists and engineers cannot imagine working without them. The predominant use of computer codes to execute model calculations has blurred the distinction between code and model. The recent controversy regarding model validation has brought into question what we mean by a ‘model’ and by ‘validation.’ It has become apparent that the usual meaning of validation may be common in engineering practice and seems useful in legal practice but it is contrary to scientific practice and brings into question our understanding of science and how it can best be applied to such problems as hazardous waste characterization, remediation, and aqueous geochemistry in general. This review summarizes arguments against using the phrase model validation and examines efforts to validate models for high-level radioactive waste management and for permitting and monitoring open-pit mines. Part of the controversy comes from a misunderstanding of ‘prediction’ and the need to distinguish logical from temporal prediction. Another problem stems from the difference in the engineering approach contrasted with the scientific approach. The reductionist influence on the way we approach environmental investigations also limits our ability to model the interconnected nature of reality. Guidelines are proposed to improve our perceptions and proper utilization of models. Use of the word ‘validation’ is strongly discouraged when discussing model reliability.     

Entropy,materials, and posterity

Materials and energy are the interdependent feedstocks of economic systems, and thermodynamics is their moderator. It costs energy to transform the dispersed minerals of Earth's crust into ordered materials and structures. And it costs materials to collect and focus the energy to perform work — be it from solar, fossil fuel, nuclear, or other sources. The greater the dispersal of minerals sought, the more energy is required to collect them into ordered states.But available energy can be used once only. And the ordered materials of industrial economies become disordered with time. They may be partially reordered and recycled, but only at further costs in energy. Available energy everywhere degrades to bound states and order to disorder — for though entropy may be juggled it always increases. Yet industry is utterly dependent on low entropy states of matter and energy, while decreasing grades of ore require ever higher inputs of energy to convert them to metals, with ever increasing growth both of entropy and environmental hazard.Except as we may prize a thing for its intrinsic qualities — beauty, leisure, love, or gold — low-entropy is the only thing of real value. It is worth whatever the market will bear, and it becomes more valuable as entropy increases. It would be foolish of suppliers to sell it more cheaply or in larger amounts than their own enjoyment of life requires, whatever form it may take. For this reason, and because of physical constraints on the availability of all low-entropy states, the recent energy crises is only the first of a sequence of crises to be expected in energy and materials as long as current trends continue.The apportioning of low-entropy states in a modern industrial society is achieved more or less according to the theory of competitive markets. But the rational powers of this theory suffer as the world grows increasingly polarized into rich, over-industrialized nations with diminishing resource bases and poor, supplier nations with little industry. The theory also discounts posterity, the more so as population density and percapita rates of consumption continue to grow. A new social, economic, and ecologic norm that leads to population control, conservation, and an apportionment of low-entropy states across the generations is needed to assure to posterity the options that properly belong to it as an important but voiceless constituency of the collectivity we call mankind.

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Zusammenfassung Rohstoffe und Energie sind die Grundlagen unseres ökonomischen Systems, das von den Gesetzen der Thermodynamik bestimmt wird. Es kostet Energie, um die auf der Erde verteilten Rohstoffe diesem System zuzuführen. Andererseits braucht man Rohstoffe, um die Energie nutzbar zu machen.Die verfügbare Energie kann nur einmal genutzt werden und das Material verbraucht sich. Verbrauchtes Material kann teilweise zur weiteren Nutzung zurückgeführt werden, das kostet wiederum Energie. Die verfügbare Energie nimmt überall ab, und einmal geschaffene Ordnung gerät wieder in Unordnung — das heißt, die Entropie des Systems nimmt ständig zu. Die Industrie ist jedoch abhängig von einem niedrigen Entropiezustand sowohl der Materie als auch der Energie.Je ärmer die Erze sind, um so höher wird die Energie sein, um sie in Metalle umzuwandeln, wobei die Entropie und die Belastung der Umwelt ständig zunimmt.Außer den Dingen, die wir wegen höherer ideeller Werte schätzen, ist eine niedrige Entropie der einzige realistische Wertmaßstab, und der wirkliche Wertzuwachs ist nur an einer höheren Entropie zu messen. Es ist unverantwortlich, Dinge, die eine höhere Entropie bedingen, billiger zu verkaufen oder in größerer Menge zu erzeugen, als unbedingt notwendig ist. Da wir dies heute in unserem Handeln nicht berücksichtigen, ist die derzeitige Energiekrise nur der Anfang einer Folge von Krisen, die Energie und Rohstoffe betreffen, solange wir nicht umdenken.Die Verteilung von niedriger Entropie in einer modernen Industriegesellschaft wird mehr oder weniger nach dem Prinzip der konkurrierenden Märkte erreicht. Das selbstregulierende System gerät jedoch mit zunehmender Polarisierung in reiche Industrienationen mit abnehmenden Ressourcen und armen Nationen mit geringer Industrialisierung in Unordnung. Dieses Prinzip berücksichtigt auch nicht die Nachwelt, vor allem wenn die Bevölkerungsdichte stetig zunimmt und die Konsumbedürfnisse anwachsen. Es sind neue soziale, ökonomische und ökologische Normen notwendig, die zur Populationskontrolle, zur Erhaltung der Umwelt und zu einem Zustand niedriger Entropie für zukünftige Generationen führen. Die nach uns kommenden Menschen haben ein Anrecht darauf.

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Résumé Matériaux et énergie sont les sources des systèmes économiques et sont régis par les lois de la thermodynamique. Il faut de l'énergie pour transformer les ressources minérales dispersées dans la croûte terrestre en matériaux et structures ordonnancées. Et il faut des matériaux pour receuillir et concentrer l'énergie, qu'elle soit solaire ou atomique, ou provienne de combustibles fossiles ou d'autres sources. Plus les minéraux recherchés sont dispersés et plus est côuteuse l'énergie pour leur donner une ordonnance.Or l'énergie disponsible ne peut être utilisée qu'une seule fois. Et les matériaux ordonnancés des économies industrielles se dégradent avec le temps. Ils peuvent être remis partiellement en état et recyclés, mais pour cela il faut de nouveau de l'énergie. Partout l'énergie disponible se dégrade et l'ordre devient désordre; -malgré toutes les jongleries possibles l'entropie augmente toujours.L'industrie dépend clairement d'états de basse entropie tant en ce qui concerne les matériaux que l'énergie, tandis que plus pauvres sont les minerais, plus; élevée est l'énergie à mettre en jeu pour en extraire les métaux, avec toujours augmentation à la fois de l'entropie et de la degradation des milieux.A l'exception de ce que nous apprécions pour leur valeur intrinsèque — la beauté, le loisir, l'amour ou l'or — la basse entropie est la seule chose de réelle valeur. Son prix est réglé par le marché, et sa valeur augmente au fur et à mesure que l'entropie s'accroît. Ceux qui en disposent seraient insensés de la vendre à bas prix ou en quantité supérieure à ce qu'exige leur propre niveau de vie. Pour cette raison, et à cause des contraintes physiques liées à la disponibilité en états de basse entropie, la récente crise d'énergie n'est, en ce qui concerne les matières premières et l'énergie, que la première d'une série de crises auxquelles il faut s'attendre aussi longtemps que se poursoit la marche actuelle des étènements.Dans les sociétés industrielles modernes, les approvisionnement en basse entropie s'effectuent plus ou moins conformément à la théorie de la concurrence des marchés. Cependant la rationalité de cette théorie se ressent de l'accentuation croissante de la polarisation, à l'échelle du monde, en nations riches, surindustrialisées, à ressources de base décroissantes, et en nations pauvres, sous-industrialisées, mais fournisseurs de resources-naturelles. De plus cette théorie ne tient pas compte de notre postérité, et ce, en face d'une densité de population et d'un taux de la consommation par tête d'habitant en augmentation continue.Nous avons donc besoin de nouvelles normes sociales, économiques et écologiques qui conduisent au contrôle de la population, à la conservation et à la répartition des états de basse entropie à travers les générations pour assurer à notre postérité les options qui leur riviennent de droit comme une constituante importante, mais encore muette, de la collectivité que nous appelons l'Humanité.

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Dedicated with appreciation to Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen, distinguished economist, realist among cornucopians     

Pebbles,Shapes, and Equilibria

The shape of sedimentary particles may carry important information on their history. Current approaches to shape classification (e.g. the Zingg or the Sneed and Folk system) rely on shape indices derived from the measurement of the three principal axes of the approximating tri-axial ellipsoid. While these systems have undoubtedly proved to be useful tools, their application inevitably requires tedious and ambiguous measurements, also classification involves the introduction of arbitrarily chosen constants. Here we propose an alternative classification system based on the (integer) number of static equilibria. The latter are points of the surface where the pebble is at rest on a horizontal, frictionless support. As opposed to the Zingg system, our method relies on counting rather than measuring. We show that equilibria typically exist on two well-separated (micro and macro) scales. Equilibria can be readily counted by simple hand experiments, i.e. the new classification scheme is practically applicable. Based on statistical results from two different locations we demonstrate that pebbles are well mixed with respect to the new classes, i.e. the new classification is reliable and stable in that sense. We also show that the Zingg statistics can be extracted from the new statistics; however, substantial additional information is also available. From the practical point of view, E-classification is substantially faster than the Zingg method.