Carbon chemistry of Luna 16 and Luna 20 samples

Luna 16 and Luna 20 samples were analyzed for volatilizable species using vacuum pyrolysis to 1400°C. The major gaseous products evolved (ranging from 10–650 μg/g) were H₂O, CO, CO₂, N₂ and CH₄. Minor components (all < 10 μg/g) included NH₃, HCN, NO, SO₂, H₂S, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₆ and higher hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, and the polymeric contaminants Teflon^® and silicone oil. The total carbon and nitrogen contents (μg/g) for these sieved samples (< 125 μm) were: Luna 16—C 418, N 134 and Luna 20—C 380, N 80.     

Immobilization of phosphorus in sewage sludge using inorganic amendments

Sewage sludge contains large amount of water-soluble phosphorus, which is prone to runoff loss when sewage sludge is land applied. Phosphorus export from sewage sludge is an important cause for water eutrophication. Immobilization of phosphorus before sewage sludge land application seems necessary. In this study, three amendments including red mud (RM), lime and mixture of RM and lime were employed to immobilize phosphorus in fresh sewage sludge. It was found that phosphorus was effectively controlled by RM, lime and mixture of RM and lime. Sequential chemical extraction results indicate that the RM amendment transformed H₂O-P in the sewage sludge into the NaOH-P, while the lime amendment transformed H₂O-P in the sewage sludge into the HCl-P. Such transformations in phosphorus fractions would have little influence on phosphorus availability but would retard and reduce potential phosphorus loss following sewage sludge was land applied.     

Accumulation of lead, cadmium, manganese, copper and zinc by sludge worms; Tubifex tubifex in sewage sludge

Tubifex tubifex has been shown to survive in organic polluted environments, however, not much has been done on its inorganic pollution tolerance. Samples of T. tubifex and their respective sewage sludge were taken from Soche wastewater treatment plant in Blantyre City, Malawi during July 2007 to November 2008. The total number of sludge samples taken was fifty one which was made into seventeen composite samples. A total of seventeen T. Tubifex samples were also collected. The samples were analyzed for copper, lead, manganese, zinc and cadmium using standard methods from American Public Health Association and Association of Official Analytical Chemists. The concentrations of metals in sewage sludge and T. tubifex were on dry weight basis and the metals determined were acid extractable. In general, heavy metals concentration was lower in T. tubifex than in sewage sludge. The range of heavy metals concentrations were (in sludge and (T. tubifex)): zinc 275.3–361.5 mg/kg (45.0–82.2 mg/kg), manganese 293.7–230.1 mg/kg (1.21–3.69 mg/kg), copper 86.5–120.1 mg/kg (1.6–4.7 mg/kg), lead 11.2–22.4 mg/kg (Below detection limit–0.95 ) and cadmium 1.12–2.31 mg/kg (1.08–2.18 mg/kg). The results showed significant differences between the concentrations of manganese, copper, lead and zinc in sewage sludge and T. tubifex (p < 0.05). However there was no significant difference between the concentrations of cadmium in sewage sludge and T. tubifex (p > 0.05). T. tubifex did not show the ability to accumulate heavy metals (attributed to its high defecation and metabolic rate) except for cadmium hence cannot be used as a bioindicator for heavy metal pollution in sludge.     

Water diffusion in basalt and andesite melts under high pressures

Water diffusion is one of the most important characteristics of many processes dealt with in magmatic geochemistry, petrology, and volcanology. We have experimentally examined water diffusion in Fe-free andesite and basalt melts (stoichiometric mixtures of the minerals albite + diopside + wollastonite) at 3 and 100 MPa, 1300×C, up to approximately 4 wt % water in the melts, and a total (lithostatic) pressure of 100 MPa on a high gas pressure apparatus equipped with a unique internal device. The experiments were conducted simultaneously with the use of two different methods: diffusion hydration and couples. Water solubility in the melts and water concentrations along the diffusion profiles (C _{H 2 O}) were determined by quantitative IR microspectroscopy, using the Beer-Lambert law. A structural chemical model is proposed for calculating and predicting the concentration dependence of the molar absorption coefficient of the hydroxyl group and water molecules in andesite and basalt glasses. The diffusion coefficients of water (D _{H 2 O}) are derived by the mathematical analysis of concentration profiles and the analytical solution of the second Fick diffusion law. Preliminary results indicated D _{H 2 O} is roughly one order of magnitude higher in basaltic melts than in andesitic ones (at the same temperatures and P _{H 2 O}) and significantly (exponentially) increases with increasing water concentrations in andesitic and basaltic melts. The newly obtained experimental data are proved to be fully consistent with the results obtained on the D _{H 2 O} dependence on C _{H 2 O} in melts of acid rocks (rhyolite and obsidian). The derived quantitative dependence between D _{H 2 O} and melt viscosity is used to develope principles of a new method for predicting and calculating the temperature, concentration, and pressure dependences of D _{H 2 O} in magmatic melts of the of acid-basic series (up to 3 wt % C _{H 2 O}) at crustal T, P parameters.     

Competitive adsorption of trace elements in calcareous soils as affected by sewage sludge,poultry manure,and municipal waste compost

The competitive adsorption of trace elements is a key issue in assessing the mobility of trace elements in calcareous soils and can be affected by disposal of sewage sludge, municipal waste, and poultry manure. The effect of municipal sewage sludge, poultry manure, and municipal waste compost on the sorption of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and nickel (Ni) in surface samples of three calcareous soils was studied. As the applied concentrations increased, Cu and Cd adsorption increased, while Zn and Ni adsorption decreased in all treatments. Based on the distribution coefficient (K _d) values and proportion of increase or decrease in metal adsorption, the selectivity sequence in control and amended soils found was Cu ≫ Cd ≫ Ni > Zn and Cu ≫ Cd ≫ Zn > Ni, respectively. In general, among control and amended soils, control soils showed the highest K _d for Cd, Cu, and Ni, while sludge, poultry manure, and composted waste-amended soils had lowest K _d for Cd, Cu, and Ni, respectively. In the case of Zn, composted waste-amended and control soils had highest and lowest K _d, respectively. The present experimental results indicated that the addition of organic amendments to these calcareous soils reduced the sorption of Cd, Cu, and Ni. Thus, the effects of preferential adsorption and organic matter should be considered in assessing the risk associated with applying sewage sludge, poultry manure, and composted material to calcareous soils.     

Occurrence of hexavalent chromium in ground water in the western Mojave Desert,California

About 200 samples from selected public supply, domestic, and observation wells completed in alluvial aquifers underlying the western Mojave Desert were analyzed for total dissolved Cr and Cr(VI). Because Cr(VI) is difficult to preserve, samples were analyzed by 3 methods. Chromium(VI) was determined in the field using both a direct colorimetric method and EPA method 218.6, and samples were speciated in the field for later analysis in the laboratory using a cation-exchange method developed for the study described in this paper. Comparison of the direct colorimetric method and EPA method 218.6 with the new cation-exchange method yielded r² values of 0.9991 and 0.9992, respectively. Total dissolved Cr concentrations ranged from less than the 0.1 μg/l detection limit to 60 μg/l, and almost all the Cr present was Cr(VI). Near recharge areas along the mountain front pH values were near neutral, dissolved O₂ concentrations were near saturation, and Cr(VI) concentrations were less than the 0.1 μg/l detection limit. Chromium(VI) concentrations and pH values increased downgradient as long as dissolved O₂ was present. However, low Cr(VI) concentrations were associated with low dissolved O₂ concentrations near ground-water discharge areas along dry lakes. Chromium(VI) concentrations as high as 60 μg/l occurred in ground water from the Sheep Creek fan alluvial deposits weathered from mafic rock derived from the San Gabriel Mountains, and Cr(VI) concentrations as high as about 36 μg/l were present in ground water from alluvial deposits weathered from less mafic granitic, metamorphic, and volcanic rocks. Chromium(III) was the predominant form of Cr only in areas where dissolved O₂ concentrations were less than 1 mg/l and was detected at a median concentration of 0.1 μg/l, owing to its low solubility in water of near-neutral pH. Depending on local hydrogeologic conditions and the distribution of dissolved O₂, Cr(VI) concentrations may vary considerably with depth. Samples collected under pumping conditions from different depths within wells show that Cr(VI) concentrations can range from less than the 0.1 μg/l detection limit to 36 μg/l in a single well and that dissolved O₂ concentrations likely control the concentration and redox speciation of Cr in ground water.     

Remineralization Ratios in the Subtropical North Pacific Gyre

Based on a new mixing model of two end-members, the water column remineralization ratios of P/N/C_org - O₂ = 1/13 ± 1/135 ± 18/170 ± 9 are obtained for the Hawaii Ocean Time-series (HOT) data set at station ALOHA. The traditional Redfield ratios of P/N/C_org/–O₂ = 1/16/106/138 have standard deviations of more than 50%, when they are based on the average composition of phytoplankton. Apparently, the remineralization processes in the water column have smoothed out the observed large variability of plankton compositions. A new molar formula for the remineralized plankton may be written as ₁₃₅H₂₈₀O₁₀₅N₁₃P or C₂₅(CH₂O)₁₀₁(CH₄)₉(NH₃)₁₃(H₃PO₄). Oxidation of this formula results inC₂₅(CH₂O)₁₀₁(CH₄)₉(NH₃)₁₃(H₃PO₄) + 170O₂ 135CO₂ + 132H₂O + 13NO₃ ^- + H₂PO₄ ^- + 14H⁺.For comparison, remineralization using Redfield's formula gives:(CH₂O)₁₀₆(NH₃)₁₆(H₃PO₄) + 138O₂ 106CO₂ + 122H₂O + 16NO₃ ^-+ H₂PO₄ ^- + 17H⁺     

Treatment of oily sludge by advanced oxidation process

For treating oily sludge, wet peroxide oxidation (WPO) and catalytic wet oxidation (CWO) were investigated. The CWO experiment was carried out in a 0.5?L batch reactor using FeCl₃ as catalyst. By using WPO, the effects of reaction parameters such as residence time, temperature, H₂O₂ excess, and initial COD were investigated. The results demonstrated that >80?% chemical oxygen demand (COD) was removed by CWO and >90?% COD was removed by WPO. Significantly, more of COD could be removed from the oily sludge by adding H₂O₂ in small doses. In conclusion, WPO was much more effective in the removal of organic compounds from oily sludge.     

Fungal biodiversity in sewage water under the effect of calcium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide into two-steps treatment

Microorganisms, organic matter, heavy metals are the main pollutants in sewage water. The increasing water demand pressurized people to use the sewage water. Different systems, chemicals and physical treatments were used in sewage water treatment. The aim of this work is to study the effect and correlations of primary (Ca(OH)₂ filtration and H₂O₂) and secondary (dissolved oxygen, organic matter, conductivity, pH and OD) factors on fungi present in sewage water in addition to proving the sequence of the system used in the current study. After treatment, fungi were examined, identified on Czapek agar and analyzed using multivariate tools (CANOCO: DCA and CCA) and R software. The treatment includes two main steps: liming filtration and oxidation, respectively. All parameters were negatively or positively correlated (organic matter, pH, conductivity %, optical density, fungal CFU ml^?1, dissolved oxygen). Heavy metals were decreased due to the application of Ca(OH)₂ and H₂O₂, respectively. There were two main groups of fungi. The larger was correlated with the organic matter, whereas the second was tolerating calcium hydroxide concentrations. Aspergillus sydowii tolerated hydrogen peroxide (0.2 mll^?1(33%); Ca(OH)₂, 0.25 gl^?1). Sequential steps treatment was healthy and economically efficient. The proposed system improved water characteristics. The recommended amount of Ca(OH)₂ and H₂O₂ was 0.25 gl^?1 and 0.2 mll^?1(33%), respectively, and can remove more than 99.9% of fungal CFUs. The current study minimized the optimum dose of hydrogen peroxide used in the disinfection of sewage water from 1.5 (Mohamed in Chem Eng J 119:161–165, 2006) to 0.2 mll^?1 of H₂O₂ (the current study).     

Arsenic in surface- and up to 90°C ground waters in a basalt area,N-Iceland: processes controlling its mobility

The concentrations of As in surface- and up to 90 °C ground waters in a tholeiite flood basalt area in N-Iceland lie in the range <0.03–10 μg/kg. With few exceptions surface waters contain <0.5 μg/kg As whereas ground waters generally contain >0.5 μg/kg As. The As content of ground waters increases on the whole with rising temperature. Arsenic is highly mobile in the basalt-water environment of the study area. An insignificant fraction of the As dissolved from the rock is taken up into secondary minerals. Arsenic is less mobile than B but considerably more mobile than Na which has the highest mobility among the major aqueous components. A significant fraction of the As in the basalt occurs in an easily soluble form. The As hosted in the primary minerals is expected to be concentrated in the titano-magnetite. This mineral is stable in contact with both surface- and ground waters and does not, therefore, supply As to the water, explaining the difference in mobility between As and B. Aqueous As concentrations are a reflection of water/rock ratios, i.e. how much rock a given quantity of water has dissolved. This ratio increases with increasing temperature and increasing residence time of the water in contact with the rock. The distribution of As species has been calculated on the assumption of equilibrium at the redox potential retrieved from measurement of aqueous Fe(II) and Fe(III) concentrations. These calculations indicate that pentavalent As is stable in surface waters and in ground waters with an in situ pH of <10 and would occur mostly as H₂AsO₄⁻ and HAsO₄⁻². In higher pH ground waters the concentrations of the arsenite species H₂AsO₃⁻ is significant at equilibrium, up to 65% of the total dissolved As.     

Compositions and sources of extractable organic matter in Mesopotamian marshland surface sediments of Iraq: II. Polar compounds

The concentrations of polar organic compounds including n-alkanoic acids, n-alkanols, steroids and triterpenoids were determined in extracts of shallow sediments from the Mesopotamian marshlands of Iraq. The sediments were collected by a stainless steel sediment corer, extracted with a dichloromethane and methanol mixture (3:1 v:v) by ultrasonic agitation and then analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometric (GC–MS). The analysis results showed that the n-alkanoic acids ranged from C₈ to C₂₀ with concentrations of 7.8 ± 1.2 μg/g sample, whereas the concentrations of n-alkanols, which ranged from C₁₂ to C₃₉ were from 28.6 ± 4.3 to 121.7 ± 18.3 μg/g sample. The steroids and triterpenoids included stenols, stanols, stenones, stanones, tetrahymanol, tetrahymanone and extended ββ-hopanes. The total concentrations of steroids and triterpenoids ranged from 26.8 ± 4.1 to 174.6 ± 26.2 μg/g and from 0.74 ± 0.11 to 11.2 ± 1.7 μg/g sample, respectively. The major sources of these lipids were from natural vegetation, microbial (plankton) residues and bacteria in the sediments, with some contribution from anthropogenic sources (livestock, sewage and petroleum). Further studies of these wetlands are needed to characterize the input rate, transformation and diagenesis of the organic matter and to assess its various sources.     

Preferential formation of C-O bonds in carbonate minerals, estimated using first-principles lattice dynamics

Equilibrium constants for internal isotopic exchange reactions of the type:

Ca¹²C¹⁸O¹⁶O₂+Ca¹³C¹⁶O₃↔Ca¹³C¹⁸O¹⁶O₂+Ca¹²C¹⁶O₃     

On saturation of magnesian cordierite with alkanes at high temperatures and pressures

 Incorporation of hydrocarbons (CH₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, C₄H₁₀) in cordierite channels was experimentally studied at 700 °C and at pressures from 200 to 1000 MPa, (avoiding recrystallization). The maximum concentrations of hydrocarbons determined by gas chromatographic analysis are CH₄=78.3, C₂H₆=134, C₂H₄ + C₂H₆=26, C₃H₈=28, C₄H₁₀=32, C₅H₁₂=23, and C₆H₁₄=7 × 10⁻³ wt%). According to IR spectroscopy data, the channel forms of hydrocarbons differ from the forms on the surface. As a result of interactions with the framework oxygen, normal hydrocarbons are converted to saturated oligomers and their fragments. Small amounts of water molecules of the first and second types (up to 0.3 wt%) are formed in the same way. As pressure grows from 200 to 1000 MPa, the total content of structural hydrocarbons is nearly doubled. Special runs on cordierite saturation in mixtures of hydrocarbons with water showed that low contents of hydrocarbons in natural cordierites correspond to their large concentrations in fluid. Received: 7 May 2001 / Accepted: 17 July 2001     

Stability of methane in reduced C–O–H fluid at 6.3 GPa and 1300–1400°C

The composition of a reduced C–O–H fluid was studied by the method of chromatography–mass spectrometry under the conditions of 6.3 GPa, 1300–1400°C, and fO₂ typical of the base of the subcratonic lithosphere. Fluids containing water (4.4–96.3 rel. %), methane (37.6–0.06 rel. %), and variable concentrations of ethane, propane, and butane were obtained in experiments. With increasing fO₂, the proportion of the CH₄/C₂H₆ peak areas on chromatograms first increases and then decreases, whereas the CH₄/C₃H₈ and CH₄/C₄H₁₀ ratios continually decrease. The new data show that ethane and heavier HCs may be more stable to oxidation, than previously thought. Therefore, when reduced fluids pass the “redox-front,” carbon is not completely released from the fluid and may be involved in diamond formation.     

车载小型气体质谱仪现场地气分析应用

OmniStar小型气体质谱仪用于车载实验室,可根据野外情况采取灵活的采样方式,实现对H2、He、CH4、N2、O2、Ar、CO2以及C3H8、C4H10的现场分析。对浓度为100×10-6的H2、He、CH4、N2、O2、Ar、CO2混合标气进行100次连续测定,得到的各组分的精密度(RSD)均优于1%,H2、He、Ar、CO2准确度(RE)分别为3.74、0.94、1.83、10.5;对室内空气进行连续3 500次测定,得到的H2、He、CO2的精密度分别为2.25%、5.55%、4.06%,N2、O2、Ar的精密度优于1%;对CH4、C2H6、C3H8、C4H10混合标准气体进行连续13次测量,得到的C3H8、C4H10的精密度(RSD)优于1%,测量的平均值与标准值完全吻合,能够满足野外现场分析需求。在内蒙古西乌旗及新疆金窝子地区应用该仪器,采用采样袋取气、螺旋钻及井孔原位在线测定等方式得到样品数据,并发现两区域内部分采样点的CO2、H2及He异常。     

Contribution of a sewage sludge application to the short-term carbon sequestration across a wide range of agricultural soils

The atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) have increased dramatically since the industrial revolution. The atmospheric enrichment with CO₂ and other GHGs has resulted in multiple negative consequences: such as the increase in the average temperature and the rise of the sea level. Hence, there is a growing interest in developing feasible methods to reduce the atmospheric levels of these gases. One of these strategies is to enhance C sequestration through the increase of soil organic carbon (SOC) pool by the amendment of agricultural soils with sewage sludge. However, there is considerable uncertainty about the effects (positive or negative) of sewage sludge applications on the SOC pool. Thus, a simple approach developed under laboratory conditions is presented to discern the effect of a single sewage sludge application of 50 t ha⁻¹ on the short-term SOC pool in 60 contrasting agricultural soils. The role of soil factors in the C sequestration of the recently added carbon was also studied. The application of sewage sludge supposed a mean increase of 1.7 ± 1.6 g SOC kg⁻¹, with peak increases of up to 3.8 g SOC kg⁻¹ and decreases of up to 4.6 g SOC kg⁻¹. The initial SOC contents conditioned the C sequestration after sewage sludge application, and no other soil property was related.     

Near surface manifestation of hydrocarbons in Proterozoic Bhima and Kaladgi Basins: Implications to hydrocarbon resource potential

Reconnaissance surface geochemical survey for adsorbed soil gas analysis conducted in Proterozoic Bhima and Kaladgi Basins, have revealed occurrence of anomalous concentrations of light gaseous hydrocarbons i.e. C₁ to C₄ (CH₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, i-C₄H₁₀ and n-C₄H₁₀) in the near surface soils. The concentrations of C₁ and ΣC₂₊(C₂H₆+C₃H₈+ i-C₄H₁₀+ n-C₄H₁₀) in Bhima and Kaladgi Basins are in the range of 1–2594 ppb and 1 to 57 ppb and 1–1142 ppb and 1–490 ppb, respectively. The carbon isotopic data of adsorbed soil gas methane in few selected samples are in the range of −29.9 to −39‰ (PDB). The evaluation of adsorbed soil gas data indicates that all the gas components are cogenetic and hydrocarbon ratios of C₁/(C₂+C₃) < 10 and C₃/C₁*1000 between 60–500 and 20–60 suggest that the adsorbed gases are derived from oil and gas-condensate zones. The carbon isotopic values of methane further support thermogenic origin of these migrated gases. The concentration distribution of C₁ and ΣC₂₊ in the study areas illustrate C₁ and ΣC₂₊ anomalies near Katamadevarhalli, Andola and Talikota in Bhima Basin and near Kaladgi, Lokapur and north of Mudhol in Kaladgi Basin. The hydrocarbon anomalies near the surface coincide with the favourable subsurface structural features and correlate with existing geochemical and geophysical data in these basins suggesting seepage related anomalies.     

Applicability of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor for typical sewage of a small community: its biomass reactivation after shutdown

In this study, the characteristics of sewage of small community were determined for 6 months to ascertain the type of treatment required in subtropical conditions. The results demarcated sewage of this community as a medium-strength wastewater (chemical oxygen demand: 475 mg/L, biochemical oxygen demand: 240 mg/L and total suspended solids: 434 mg/L). Chemical oxygen demand to sulphate ratio of the sewage (11.6) established that it was amenable to anaerobic digestion. The temperature, strength, biodegradability and components of sewage were suitable for anaerobic digestion, and thus, upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB) was selected for its treatment. These reactors are often shutdown in small communities due to environmental and/or socio-economic factors. The ability of two UASB reactors, seeded with cow dung (UASB_CD) and activated sludge of a dairy treatment plant (UASB_ASDIT) to restart after a long idle period of 12 months, was investigated along with sludge analysis by scanning electron microscope. Biomass in both reactors reactivated rapidly after shutdown period and within 30 days after substrate feeding achieved uniform removal efficiencies for chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, chloride and oil and grease. Chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency of both reactors became uniform and remained close to 80% after 30 days through reactivation of microbes in sludge bed due to adequate food and temperature conditions. During restart-up, at an average organic loading rate of 0.902 kg COD/m³ per day, methane yields of 0.091 and 0.084 m³/kg COD removed were achieved for UASB_CD and UASB_ASDIT reactors, respectively.     

Redox control of arsenic mobilization in Bangladesh groundwater

Detailed hydrochemical measurements, δ³⁴S_SO4 and ³H analyses were performed on 37 groundwater samples collected during February 1999, January and March 2000 from 6 locations in eastern and southeastern Bangladesh to examine redox processes that lead to As mobilization in groundwater. The study sites were chosen based on available nation-wide As surveys to span the entire spectrum of As concentrations in Bangladesh groundwater, and to represent 3 of 5 major geological units of the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta: uplifted Pleistocene terrace, fluvial flood plain and delta plain. Arsenic was found to be mobilized under Fe-reducing conditions in shallow aquifers (<35 m depth), presumably of Holocene age. It remained mobile under SO₄-reducing conditions, suggesting that authigenic sulfide precipitation does not constitute a significant sink for As in these groundwaters. The redox state of the water was characterized by a variety of parameters including dissolved O₂, NO₃⁻, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺ concentrations, and SO₄²⁻/Cl⁻ ratios. High dissolved [As] (> 50 μg/l; or > 0.7 μM ) were always accompanied by high dissolved [HCO₃⁻] (> 4 mM), and were close to saturation with respect to calcite. Groundwater enriched in As (200–800 μg/l; or 2.7–10.7 μM) and phosphate (30–100 μM) but relatively low in dissolved Fe (5–40 μM) probably resulted from re-oxidation of reducing, As and Fe enriched water. This history was deduced from isotopic signatures of δ³⁴S_SO4 and ³H₂O (³H) to delineate the nature of redox changes for some of the reducing groundwaters. In contrast, As is not mobilized in presumed Pleistocene aquifers, both shallow (30–60 m) and deep (150–270 m), because conditions were not reducing enough due to lack of sufficient O₂ demand.     

Geochemical Characteristics of Deep—Seated Potassium—Rich Brine in the Middle Triassic Leikoupo Formation,Sichuan,China

Brine extremely rich in potassium, boron and bromine has been discovered from the Middle Triassic Leikoupo Formation at a depth of 4300 m in Sichuan Province. It contains ～50 g/L of K⁺, >92 g/L of Na⁺, >12 g/L of B₂O₃, >2.36 g/L of Br^? and ～0.030 g/L of I⁺. The solid precipitates during evaporation at 25°C include KB₅O₈·4H₂O, K₂B₄O₇·3H₂O, MgCl₂·6H₂O and KMgCl₃·6H₂O. The brine ranges from 2.2‰ to 2.8‰ (SMOW) in δ¹⁸O, ? 38‰ – ? 53‰ (SMOW) in δD, 15.6‰ in δ³⁴S, and 13.5‰–15.1‰ in δ¹¹B. These data, particularly the isotopic composition of boron, indicate that the brine has a composite derivation from marine and nonmarine brines and dissolved marine evaporites in the Triassic system.