Distribution of heavy metals in soils of Port Harcourt and its environs,Niger Delta,Nigeria

Geochemical evaluation of the distribution of heavy metals in soils of Port Harcourt and its environs in the Niger Delta region is presented in respect of anthropogenic factor and index of geoaccumulation. Sixteen (16) soil samples were collected from two horizons (0-10 cm and 100 cm) from the various grids and analyzed. The geo-chemical analyses showed the vertical and horizontal distributions of heavy metals. The results showed the ranges of the metals determined as follows: Pb (6.86-2.49)×10-6, with an average of 4.63×10-6; Cd (0.05-0.00)×10-6, with an average of 0.02×10-6, As (0.01-0.00)×10-6, with an average of 0.00×10-6. Cu (15.36-10.80) ×10-6, with an average of 13.36×10-6, and V (1.36-0.20)×10-6, with an average of 0.94×10-6. Quantification of the degree of pollution was carried out using anthropogenic factor (AF) and index of geoaccumulation (Igeo). The Igeo values of 0.06, 0.02 and 0.00 for Pb, Cd and As, respectively indicate low-level contamination while Zn (1.14) and V (1.40) show me-dium-level contamination. The sources of contamination are attributed to urbanized anthropogenic activities. The majority of the samples analyzed show that the AF values are less than 1 with the exception of vanadium (V) whose AF values range from 2.73 to 13.60×10-6. Vanadium is more enriched than As, Cd, Pb, and Cu. The order of degrees of anthropogenic contamination and index of geoaccumulation in the soil is V >Zn >Pb >Cu >Cd >AS. Metals were retained near the top soil and their concentrations in the deepest horizons were lower and normal for uncontaminated soils. Metal concentrations in the top soil horizons were significantly related to distance from the industrial and hu-man activities.     

Effects of pH and Ca competition on complexation of cadmium by fulvic acids and by natural organic ligands from a river and a lake

The technique of competitive ligand-exchange/anodic stripping voltammetry (CLE-SV) was used to investigate effects of pH and Ca concentration on cadmium complexation by fulvic acid (FA), as well as Cd speciation in two different freshwaters, a hardwater Lake Greifen and a softwater River Wyre. Binding of Cd to Suwannee river FA (10 mg/l) was determined at different pH (7–8.5) and in the presence of various concentration of Ca²⁺ (0–2 mmol/l). The results from one-ligand discrete models were compared to simulations by the WHAM VI model. In Lake Greifen, the determined dissolved [Cd²⁺] ranged from 10⁻¹³ to 10⁻¹² mol/l, and the conditional stability constant with natural ligands was log K _CdL about 9.5–10.5 (pH 8.6–8.8) with ligand concentrations of 1.2–7.8 × 10⁻⁶ mol/g C. In the softwater River Wyre, dissolved [Cd²⁺] ranged from 4 × 10⁻¹² to 1 × 10⁻¹¹ mol/l, and the ligands were weaker (log K _CdL 8.9–9.8, pH 8.0) with lower ligand concentrations (0.9–2.3 × 10⁻⁶ mol/g C). The titration curves of FA samples were close to the simulated curves by the WHAM VI model at pH 8.0–8.5, but deviated more from the model at lower pH, indicating that the results determined with CLE-SV for Cd-FA complexation are relevant to the data base in the model. Calculation of the Ca competition for Cd binding by FA showed a competition effect of similar strength as the measured one, but indicated a systematic difference between measured and modeled data at pH 7.5. Using the WHAM model for comparison with FA, the complexation of Cd by the River Wyre ligands was close to that of FA, whereas stronger complexation was observed in the Lake Greifen water. These differences may originate from different ligand composition in the lake and the river.     

Rare-earth and trace element imprints on the origin and tectonic setting of gabbro-diorite complex in the Pan-African belt of Southeast Obudu Plateau,Nigeria

A gabbro-diorite plutonic complex from the Southeast Obudu Plateau, representing limited volumes of magma, was studied for its trace and rare-earth element characteristics, in an attempt to document its genetic and geodynamic history. Geochemical studies indicate that the gabbro samples are characterized by variable concentrations and low averages of such index elements as Cr (40×10-6–200×10-6; av. 80×10-6), Ni (40×10-6–170×10-6; 53.33×10-6) and Zr (110×10-6–240×10-6; 116.67×10-6); variable and high average...     

Rare-earth elements as source indicators of Pan-African granites from Obudu Plateau,Southeastern Nigeria

The rare-earth element （REE） concentrations of representative granite samples from the southeast of the Obudu Plateau, Nigeria, were analyzed with an attempt to determine the signatures of their source, evolutionary history and tectonic setting. Results indicated that the granites have high absolute REE concentrations （190×10^-6-1191×10^-6; av.=549×10^-6） with the chondrite-normalized REE patterns characterized by steep negative slopes and prominent to slight or no negative Eu anomalies. All the samples are also characterized by high and variable concentrations of the LREE （151×10^-6-1169×10^-6; av.= 466×10^-6）, while the HREE show low abundance （4×10^-6-107×10^-6; av.=28×10^-6）. These are consistent with the variable levels of REE fractionation, and differentiation of the granites. This is further supported by the range of REE contents, the chondrite-normalized patterns and the ratios of LaN/YbN （2.30-343.37）, CeN/YbN （5.94-716.87）, LaN/SmN （3.14-11.68） and TbN/YbN （0.58-1.65）. The general parallelism of the REE patterns, suggest that all the granites were comagmatic in origin, while the high Eu/Eu＊ ratios （0.085-2.807; av.=0.9398） indicate high fo2 at the source. Similarly, irregular variations in LaN/YbN, CeN/YbN and Eu/Eu＊ ratios and REE abundances among the samples suggest behaviors that are related to mantle and crustal sources.     

Chemical composition of the Tertiary black shales of West Sabah, East Malaysia

The X-ray fluorescence and ICP methods were used to analyze 60 outcrop samples of black shale, of which 15 were collected from Belait, 15 from the Setap Shale, 15 from Temburong, and 15 from the Trusmadi formations. The average compositions of the shales from the study area are 64.62%, 63.95%, 62.32%, 63.84% SiO2, 1.84%, 2.14%, 2.04%, 1.99% MgO, 2.55%, 3.12%, 2.89%, 2.72% K2O, 0.32%, 0.30%, 0.32%, 0.53% CaO, 5.86%, 6.06%, 7.14%, 6.60% Fe2O3, 207×10^-6, 180×10^-6, 213×10^-6, 200×10^-6 Rb, and 56×10^-6, 49×10^-6, 50×10^-6, 32×10^-6 Sr for the Setap Shale, Temburong, Belait and Trusmadi samples, respectively. The high Rb/Sr ratios of 3.8, 3.7, 4.2, and 6.1 are attributed to the lowest contents of Sr due to reducing conditions prevailing. The high Rb/K ratio sug- gests either brackish marine or rapid deposition that prevented equilibrium between Rb and K in the shales and marine waters.     

Impact of hydrothermal alteration on the U-Pb isotopic system of zircons from the Fangcheng syenites in the Qinling orogen,Henan Province,China

Disturbance of the zircon U-Pb isotopic system has been investigated extensively, but mostly in lab, in the last decades. Here, we reported a field-based study on intensive sericitization, K-feldsparthization and the impacts of mylonitization on zircons from the Fangcheng syenites. The Fangcheng syenites occur in the eastern part of the Qinling orogen and consist mainly of aegirine-augite syenite, aegirine nepheline syenite, biotite syenite and hornblende nepheline syenite. Zircons from the slightly sericitized aegirine augite syenite are colorless, transparent crystals and exhibit well-developed oscillatory and sector zoning on the cathodoluminescence (CL) images which are typical of magmatic zircons from alkaline rocks. Zircon U-Pb determinations by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) showed that the syenite was formed in Neoproterozoic time, the weighted average of ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages is 844.3±1.6 Ma (MSWD=0.86). In contrast, the hydrothermally altered zircons (hydrothermal zircon) from the intensively sericitized, K-feldsparthized, and weakly mylonitized aegirine augite syenite are conglomerates, yellowish to brown in color, generally translucent and internally textureless. The CL and backscatter electron (BSE) images of hydrothermal zircons exhibit fractured, textureless or mosaic textures, and occasionally show “sponge texture” with the veinlets and inclusions of K-feldspar; however, relicts of magmatic oscillatory zoning can still be discerned locally in individual grains. LA-ICPMS analyses of the hydrothermal zircons demonstrated that the zircons are chemically inhomogeneous, with enhanced and widely varied Pb, U, and Th contents. The U and Th contents of the hydrothermal zircons are estimated to be 32×10⁻⁶−1550×10⁻⁶ and 188×10⁻⁶−4059×10⁻⁶, respectively, with Th/U ratios within the range of 0.7–44.9. ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U apparent ages of the hydrothermal zircons are negatively correlated with the contents of U, and radiogenic and common Pb. As the U and Th concentrations of the magmatic zircons are rather low, the α-decay doses (3.65×10¹⁴−2.04×10¹⁵ α-decay events/mg) are much lower than those at the first percolation point (3.5× 10¹⁵ a-decay events/mg), thus, Pb mobility resultant from diffusion could be safely neglected. Disturbance of the U-Pb isotopic system of zircons is most likely to be attributed to the intensive sericitization and K-feldsparthization coupled with mylonitization, the hydrothermal fluids reacted with zircons along the rims and fractures of the distorted zircon crystals, giving rise to the chemically inhomogeneous hydrothermal zircons through a series of complicated mechanisms such as dissolution-reprecipitation. The significance of the U-Pb age (the lower intercept age on the discordia U-Pb plot) of hydrothermal zircons is uncertain. We argued that interpretations of the hydrothermal zircon data as the age of hydrothermal events or hydrothermal ore-forming processes are questionable and hence cautions must be taken.     

Hypoxia in Chesapeake Bay, 1950–2001: Long-term change in relation to nutrient loading and river flow

A 52-yr record of dissolved oxygen in Chesapeake Bay (1950–2001) and a record of nitrate (NO₃ ⁻) loading by the Susquehanna River spanning a longer period (1903, 1945–2001) were assembled to describe the long-term pattern of hypoxia and anoxia in Chesapeake Bay and its relationship to NO₃ ⁻ loading. The effect of freshwater inflow on NO₃ ⁻ loading and hypoxia was also examined to characterize its effect at internannual and longer time scales. Year to year variability in river flow accounted for some of the observed changes in hypoxic volume, but the long-term increase was not due to increased river flow. From 1950–2001, the volume of hypoxic water in mid summer increased substantially and at an accelerating rate. Predicted anoxic volume (DO<0.2 mg I⁻¹) at average river flow increased from zero in 1950 to 3.6×10⁹ m³ in 2001. Severe hypoxia (DO<1.0 mg I⁻¹) increased from 1.6×10⁹ to 6.5×10⁹ m³ over the same period, while mild hypoxia (DO<2.0 mg I⁻¹) increased from 3.4×10⁹ to 9.2×10⁹ m³. NO₃ ⁻ concentrations in the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, increased up to 3-fold from 1945 to a 1989 maximum and declined through 2001. On a decadal average basis, the superposition of changes in river flow on the long-term increase in NO₃ ⁻ resulted in a 2-fold increase in NO₃ ⁻ loading from the Susquehanna River during the 1960s to 1970s. Decadal average loads were subsequently stable through the 1990s. Hypoxia was positively correlated with NO₃ ⁻ loading, but more extensive hypoxia was observed in recent years than would be expected from the observed relationship. The results suggested that the Bay may have become more susceptible to NO₃ ⁻ loading. To eliminate or greatly reduce anoxia will require reducing average annual total nitrogen loading to the Maryland mainstem Bay to 50×10⁶ kg yr⁻¹, a reduction of 40% from recent levels.     

Trace element geochemistry and tectonic characterization of the granulite facies rocks from Southwest Obudu Plateau,southeastern Nigeria

The trace elements characteristics of the migmatitic gneisses (biotite-garnetand hornblende-biotite), granulite facies rocks (charnockitic gneisses) and meta-peridotite in the area of Southwest Obudu Plateau indicate that the area exhibits a high degree of geochemical variability. Compatible trace elements (Ni and Cr) are comparatively high in the granulite facies rocks and meta-peridotite. Ni ranges from 28×10-6 to 266×10-6 whilst Cr ranges from 62×10-6 to 481×10-6 for the granulite facies rocks (charnocki...     

The Isotopic Composition of Noble Gases in Gold Deposits and the Source of Ore- Forming Materials in the Region of North Hebei, China

1IntroductionOnthenorthernmarginoftheNorthChinaplatformislocatedoneofthemostimportantAu Ag polymetallicore concentratedzones,wherethereareavarietyoforetypes .Soithasbeenat tractingeverincreasingattentionofmanygeologists (PeiRongfuetal.,1 998;ShenBaofengetal.,1 994 ;LuSongnianetal.,1 997;HuShouxietal.,1 994 ;ChenYuchuan ,1 999;ZhaiYushengetal.,1 999) .Manyscholarspresentedtheirresearchresultsinvariousaspects.How ever ,thesourceofore formingmaterialshaslongbeenafocusofdiscussion .Studieso…     

Thermal expansion of gehlenite, Ca2Al[AlSiO7], and the related aluminates LnCaAl[Al2O7] with Ln = Tb, Sm

The thermal expansion of gehlenite, Ca₂Al[AlSiO₇], (up to T=830 K), TbCaAl[Al₂O₇] (up to T=1100 K) and SmCaAl[Al₂O₇] (up to T=1024 K) has been determined. All compounds are of the melilite structure type with space group Thermal expansion data were obtained from in situ X-ray powder diffraction experiments in-house and at HASYLAB at the Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY) in Hamburg (Germany). The thermal expansion coefficients for gehlenite were found to be: α₁=7.2(4)×10⁻⁶×K⁻¹+3.6(7)×10⁻⁹ΔT×K⁻² and α₃=15.0(1)×10⁻⁶×K⁻¹. For TbCaAl[Al₂O₇] the respective values are: α₁=7.0(2)×10⁻⁶×K⁻¹+2.0(2)×10⁻⁹ΔT×K⁻² and α₃=8.5(2)×10⁻⁶×K⁻¹+2.0(3)×10⁻⁹ΔT×K⁻², and the thermal expansion coefficients for SmCaAl[Al₂O₇] are: α₁=6.9(2)×10⁻⁶×K⁻¹+1.7(2)×10⁻⁹ΔT×K⁻² and α₃=9.344(5)×10⁻⁶×K⁻¹. The expansion mechanisms of the three compounds are explained in terms of structural trends obtained from Rietveld refinements of the crystal structures of the compounds against the powder diffraction patterns. No structural phase transitions have been observed. While gehlenite behaves like a ‘proper’ layer structure, the aluminates show increased framework structure behavior. This is most probably explained by stronger coulombic interactions between the tetrahedral conformation and the layer-bridging cations due to the coupled substitution (Ca²⁺+Si⁴⁺)–(Ln ³⁺+Al³⁺) in the melilite-type structure. This article has been mistakenly published twice. The first and original version of it is available at .     

湖南水口山典型矿床稀散元素分布特征及其找矿意义

文章以水口山矿田内的3个典型铅锌多金属矿床——康家湾铅锌金银矿床、老鸦巢铅锌金矿床和鸭公塘铅锌铁铜矿床的矿石为研究对象,通过野外地质调查、室内显微鉴定、电子探针分析和LA-ICPMS微量元素分析测试,研究了本区稀散元素的赋存状态、分布规律以及与主成矿元素(Pb、Zn、S、Fe)的关系等,总结出稀散元素在本区的富集规律.研究表明:本区矿石中闪锌矿、黄铁矿、黄铜矿、方铅矿主要富集Cd、In、Te3种稀散元素.康家湾铅锌金银矿床In/Zn比值为0.86,老鸦巢铅锌金矿床In/Zn比值为5.10,而鸭公塘铅锌铁铜矿床In/Zn比值为611.20,且w(In)为33.83×10-6～365.62×10-6,因此,康家湾铅锌金银矿床和老鸦巢铅锌金矿床矿石中的In是以类质同象赋存于闪锌矿和黄铜矿的晶格中,而鸭公塘铅锌铁铜矿床矿石中的In可能以硫铟铜矿的形式赋存.水口山矿田的Te主要有2种赋存形式:一种以类质同象形式赋存于硫化物(黄铁矿)中;另一种以矿石中形成其独立矿物辉碲铋矿(分子式为Bi2TeS2)和碲银矿(分子式为Ag2Te)存在.     

Magnetic susceptibility mapping of felsic magmatic lithounits in the central part of Bundelkhand Massif,central India

Late Archaean to Palaeoproterozoic felsic magmatic lithounits exposed in the central part of the Bundelkhand massif have been mapped and their redox series (magnetite vs ilmenite series) evaluated based on magnetic susceptibility (MS) data. The central part of Bundelkhand massif comprises of multiple felsic magmatic pulses (∼2600–2200 Ma), commonly represented by coarse grained granite (CGG-grey granite, CPG-pink granite), medium grained pink granite (MPG), fine grained pink granite (FPG), grey and pink rhyolites and granite porphyry (GP). However, the pink colour of these felsic rocks is the result of hydrothermal fluid-flushing leading to potassic alteration of grey granites. MS values of CGG vary from 0.058 to 14.75×10⁻³ SI with an average of 6.35×10⁻³ SI, which mostly represent oxidized type, magnetite series (73%) granites involving infracrustal (igneous) source materials. CPG (av. MS=3.95×10⁻³ SI) is indeed a pink variety of CGG, the original oxidizing nature of which must have been similar to the bulk of CGG, but has been moderately to strongly reduced because of distinctly more porphyritic nature together with partial assimilation of metapelitic (supracrustal) materials, surmicaceous enclaves, carbonaceous material included in the source materials, and to some extent, induced by hydrothermal and later deformational processes. MPG (av. MS= 1.15×10⁻³ SI) as lensoidal stock-like bodies intrudes the CPG and represent both magnetite series (18%) and ilmenite series (82%) granites, which are probably formed by heterogeneous (mixed) source rocks. GP (av. MS=6.26×10⁻³ SI) occur as dykes (mostly trending NE-SW) intrudes the MPG, CPG and migmatites and bears the nature similar to oxidized type, magnetite series granite. FPG (av. MS= 0.666×10⁻³ SI) trending NE-SW occur as lensoid bodies including a large outcrop, is intrusive into both CPG and MPG, and is moderately to very strongly reduced type, ilmenite series granites, which may be derived by the melting of metapelitic crustal sources. FPG hosting microgranular (mafic magmatic) enclaves commonly exhibit high MS values (7.31–10.22×10⁻³ SI), which appear induced by the mixing and mingling of interacting felsic and mafic magmas prevailed in an open system. Grey (av. MS=10.30×10⁻³ SI) and pink (av. MS=6.72×10⁻³ SI) rhyolites represent oxidized type, magnetite series granites, which may have been derived from infracrustal (magmatic) protoliths. Granite series evaluation of felsic magmatic rocks of central part of Bundelkhand massif strongly suggests their varied redox conditions (differential oxygen fugacity) mostly intrinsic to magma source regions and partially modified by hydrothermal and tectonic processes acting upon them.     

Contents of Fixed-Ammonium （ NH4^＋ ） in Lamprophyres in the Zhenyuan Gold Orefield, Yunnan Province, China： Implications for Its Characteristics of the Source Region

This paper determined the fixed-ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) contents of lamprophyres in the Zhenyuan gold orefield, Yunnan Province, China. The results show that the NH₄ ⁺ contents of minettes in the orefield range from 120 × 10⁻⁶ to 469 × 10⁻⁶ and those of kersantites from 74.3 × 10⁻⁶ to 136 × 10⁻⁶. These values are higher than those of other mantle-derived rocks (less than 50 × 10⁻⁶), but lower than those of carbonaceous wall rocks in the orefield (from 1200 × 10⁻⁶ to 1343 × 10⁻⁶). Combining with the Sr isotopic composition, this paper suggested that lamprophyres in the orefield with high NH₄ ⁺ contents relative to other mantle-derived rocks would not have resulted from the primary magma contaminated by crustal materials in the process of rising or in the magma chamber, but from mantel metasomatism. This research project was financially supported jointly by the State Key Basic Research Program of the People’s Republic of China (No. G1999043203) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences Knowledge-Innovation Program (No. KZCX3-SW-125).     

Sulfate transport in a Coastal Plain confining unit, New Jersey, USA

 A transient 1-D, two-pathway non-equilibrium deterministic advective dispersion model was used to examine the distribution of chloride (43–100 mg/L) and sulfate (57–894 mg/L) concentrations in the 35-m-thick section of the Lower confining unit, Atlantic Coastal Plain, New Jersey, USA. The model was used to constrain hypotheses about how pore-water chemistry changed over time. Explanations of the solute concentrations were explored by inverse and direct methods given a few known constraints, including concentrations of pore-water constituents from 12 core samples, reported simulated flow rates, and estimated hydrogeologic properties. The hypothesis that is best supported by the model results is that the distribution of chloride and sulfate concentrations in the confining unit reflect the history of the aquifer system since it was filled with seawater at the last eustatic high, about 84×10³yr BP. The model simulates fresh-water flushing of the seawater-permeated silts at a steady upward pore-water flow velocity of 8.8×10^–6 m/d, with a dispersion coefficient of 9.2×10^–7 m²/d, a dimensionless partition expression for chloride, β_Cl=0.981, and a dimensionless exchange coefficient, ω_Cl=0.31×10^–2. Sulfate concentrations were simulated over the flow path using flow and dispersion values calculated for chloride transport plus a retardation term. Parameters for sulfate transport include retardation coefficient=4.51, β_SO4=0.994, and ω_SO4=0.31×10^–2. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the model is most sensitive to flow velocity, and that fresh-water flushing of the confining unit is best simulated by having seawater concentration levels at the inflow boundary of the confining unit exponentially decrease with a concentration half-life rate of 825 yr. Received, January 1997 / Revised, April 1998, October 1998, January 1999 / Accepted, January 1999     

Thermal expansion of gehlenite, Ca2Al[AlSiO7], and the related aluminates LnCaAl[Al2O7] with Ln=Tb, Sm

The thermal expansion of gehlenite, Ca₂Al[AlSiO₇], (up to T=830 K), TbCaAl[Al₂O₇] (up to T=1,100 K) and SmCaAl[Al₂O₇] (up to T=1,024 K) has been determined. All compounds are of the melilite structure type with space group Thermal expansion data was obtained from in situ X-ray powder diffraction experiments in-house and at HASYLAB at the Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY) in Hamburg (Germany). The thermal expansion coefficients for gehlenite were found to be: α₁=7.2(4)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹+3.6(7)×10⁻⁹ΔT K⁻² and α₃=15.0(1)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹. For TbCaAl[Al₂O₇] the respective values are: α₁=7.0(2)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹+2.0(2)×10⁻⁹ΔT K⁻² and α₃=8.5(2)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹+2.0(3)×10⁻⁹ΔT K⁻², and the thermal expansion coefficients for SmCaAl[Al₂O₇] are: α₁=6.9(2)× 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹+1.7(2)×10⁻⁹ΔT K⁻² and α₃=9.344(5)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹. The expansion-mechanisms of the three compounds are explained in terms of structural trends obtained from Rietveld refinements of the crystal structures of the compounds against the powder diffraction patterns. No structural phase transitions have been observed. While gehlenite behaves like a ’proper’ layer structure, the aluminates show increased framework structure behaviour. This is most probably explained by stronger coulombic interactions between the tetrahedral conformation and the layer-bridging cations due to the coupled substitution (Ca²⁺+Si⁴⁺)-(Ln ³⁺+Al³⁺) in the melilite-type structure. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at     

Early Paleozoic adakite in the Liuyuan area from the Beishan orogenic belt,NW Gansu Province: Petrogenesis and implication for tectonic setting

The Liuyuan area,which is located on the southern margin of the Beishan orogenic belt,develops abundant Early Paleozic granitoids.SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating yielded a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 421±8 Ma for the Liuyuan granodiorite(Zhao Zehui et al.,2007),implying its Late Silurian intrusion.Geochemical compositions showed that the Liuyuan granodiorite is characterized by high SiO2(65.01%-67.31%),A12O3(17.17%-18.05%) and Na2O(Na2O/K2O=1.67-1.87) but low Mg# contents calculated as 100×Mg2+/(Mg2++∑Fe2+) from 28.77 to 31.15,as well as being enriched in Sr(472×10-6-517×10-6) but depleted in Yb(1.2×10-6-1.42×10-6) and Y(12.8×10-6-14×10-6).The REEs are characterized by right-inclined patterns with LREE enrichment,HREE depletion and slightly negative Eu anomalies(Eu/Eu*=0.91-0.97).Major and trace elements indicate that the granodiorite is an adakite.The Nb/Ta values of the granodiorite vary from 10.80 to 18.01 and Nb/U from 6.32 to 10.09,both lying between the values of the crust and the mantle.The rock has low εNd(t) values(-2.5--0.8) and high ISr(0.706321-0.706495).Geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic compositions indicate that the Liuyuan granodiorite is possibly derived from partial melting of thickening lower crust,related to mantle underplating.The Yb-Ta and Y+Nb-Rb discriminant diagrams imply the Liuyuan granodiorite intruded in a local extensional tectonic setting during late collision.Combined with previous studies on geochronology,geochemistry and tectonic setting of granitoids,we interprete that the constraint of this adakite in the Liuyuan area indicates that the tectonic setting may have transformed from collision to extension during the Early Devonian.     

Optimization of water resources management using SWOT analysis: the case of Zakynthos Island, Ionian Sea, Greece

Zakynthos, an island of 408 km² in the Ionian Sea, is completely dependent on its groundwater resources for fulfilling the demands of the water supplies. The use of groundwater resources has become particularly intensive during the last decades because of the intense urbanization, the tourist development and the irrigated land expansion that took place. The main aquifers are developed in limestones (karstic), sandstones of neogene deposits (confined) and alluvial deposits (phreatic). This paper focuses on the assessment of their hydrogeological characteristics and the groundwater quality. For this investigation, groundwater level measurements, drilling data, pumping tests and chemical analyses of groundwater samples were used. The average annual consumption that is abstracted from the aquifer systems, is 4.9 × 10⁶ m³ year⁻¹. The exploitable groundwater reserves were estimated to be 3.3 × 10⁶ m³ year⁻¹. In the last decades, the total abstractions exceed the natural recharge, due to the tourist development; therefore the aquifer systems are not used safely. The results of chemical analyses showed a deterioration of the groundwater quality. According to the analyses the shallow alluvial aquifer and the confined aquifer are polluted by nitrates at concentrations in excess of 25 mg L⁻¹. High sulphate concentrations might be related to the dissolution of gypsum. Seawater intrusion phenomena are recorded in coastal parts of aquifer systems. The increased Cl⁻ concentrations in karstic aquifer indicate signs of overexploitation. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis was applied in order to evaluate the SWOT of the groundwater resources. Moreover, some recommendations are made to assist the rational management that aim at improving the sustainability of the groundwater resources of Zakynthos Island.     

Geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic study of alkaline syenites in Liangtun-Kuangdonggou, Liaoning Province, China： Evidence for enriched mantle before 1.86 Ga and implications

The 1.86 Ga Liangtun-Kuangdonggou complex (LKC) is one of the oldest alkaline syenite bodies so far discovered in China. This syenite suite has elevated contents of total alkali (K2O Na2O), with an average of 10.50%, and a mean Rittmann Index (σ) of 6.48. The intrusions have slightly higher concentrations of K2O than those of Na2O on a weight percent basis, indicating the rocks belong to potassium-rich alkaline syenite series. Total rare-earth element concentrations (∑REE ) of the rocks are relatively high, ranging from 324×10 -6 to 1314×10 -6, with a mean value of 666×10 -6. The REE patterns are subparallel and rightward steep with (La/Yb)N >33, showing mild negative to positive Eu anomalies (δEu: 0.63-1.15). All samples exhibit strong LILE and LREE enrichments and TNT (Nb, Ta, Ti) and P depletions in multi-element spidergrams. On the εSr(t)-εNd(t) correlation diagram, most analytical data points plot within the enriched mantle field with low ( 87Sr/86Sr)i ratios (0.7045-0.7051) and negative εNd(t) values (-3.72--3.97), falling among those kimberlites from Fuxian County, Liaoning Provinve, from Mengyin County, Shandong Province and the Ⅱ-type kimberlites from South Africa. These characteristics imply that the LKC-rocks may have the same source as the above-mentioned kimberlites, i.e., they have close connections to the materials derived from enriched mantle reservoirs, further revealing that the upper mantle beneath the northeastern part of the North China Plate had been highly enriched before 1.86 Ga. Geodynamically, the LKC-rocks were formed in a within-plate environment with close genetic connections to rift-related alkaline magma activities possibly controlled by ancient mantle plumes.     

Trace Metals (Cd,Cu, Hg,and Pb) Accumulation Recorded in the Intertidal Mudflat Sediments of Three Coastal Lagoons in the Gulf of California,Mexico

²¹⁰Pb geochronologies of Cd, Cu, Hg, and Pb fluxes were obtained from the intertidal mudflat sediments of the coastal lagoons Chiricahueto, Estero de Urías, and Ohuira in the Mexican Pacific. The Cu and Hg sediment concentrations at the three lagoons fell within the ranges of 6–76 μg g⁻¹ and 0.1 to 592 ng g⁻¹, respectively; Chiricahueto and Estero de Urías sediments had comparable Cd and Pb concentrations within the ranges of 0.2–2.1 μg g⁻¹ and 10–67 μg g⁻¹, respectively; whereas in Ohuira lagoon, Cd concentrations were lower (0.1–0.5 μg g⁻¹) and Pb concentrations were higher (115–180 μg g⁻¹) than in the other lagoons. The metal fluxes (μg cm⁻² y⁻¹) for the three lagoons fell within the ranges of 0.02–0.15 for Cd, 0.7–6.0 for Cu, 0.001–0.045 for Hg, and 0.7–20 for Pb. The Hg pollution in Estero de Urías was attributed to the exhausts of the thermoelectric plant of Mazatlan and the metal enrichment in Chiricahueto and Ohuira was related to the agrochemical wastes from the croplands surrounding these lagoons.     

Platinum-group elements in Cu-sulphide ores at Carolusberg and East Okiep, Namaqualand, South Africa

Cu-sulphide ores at Carolusberg and East Okiep have Cu/Ni ratios of up to 80, an order of magnitude higher than most magmatic sulphide ores elsewhere. In contrast, Se/S ratios (500–1700 × 10⁻⁶) and PGE tenors (up to 5 ppm) of the sulphides are in the range of more typical magmatic sulphide ores. The observed metal patterns may be explained by a process of monosulphide solid solution (mss) fractionation of a magmatic sulphide melt at depth, but this model is currently considered unlikely, due to the paucity of refractory ores in the district. Assimilation of Cu-rich country rocks during ascent of the Koperberg magmas proved difficult to test with the available data, but this provides no explanation for the common high-grade metamorphic setting of similar ores elsewhere. A restitic origin of the pyroxenites appears to explain many of the observed ore features and is presently favoured here. Desulphidization of a primary magmatic sulphide ore could not have yielded the observed metal patterns and is therefore considered to be of relatively minor importance in ore genesis. Received: 12 April 1999 / Accepted: 27 November 1999