Application of syringe-driven chelate-minicolumn in determination of trace elements in water samples

The direct determination of most trace elements in natural water samples is still very difficult even if the high-sensitivity atomic analytical instrument, such as ICP-MS, is available. The reasons are (1) the natural concentrations of most trace elements…     

Study on the mechanism of transport of heavy metals in soil in western suburb of Beijing

1 IntroductionIncorporation of potentially toxic metals ( e.g.Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Hg, As, Se, Zn, Ni) into soils ei-ther through sewage-sludge irrigation or some othersources of pollution (e.g. atmospheric deposition, ap-plication of agri-chemicals) has posed…     

Behaviour of Silicate Melts in Respect of Volume

The volumes per oxygen of some silicate melts have been calculated and then compared with those of silicate glasses.It is suggested that the volume of a silicate melt can be divided into two parts.One is contri buted by the silicon-oxygen network and the other by the “oxides”.Variation patterns of VPOs suggest that the volume of the Si-O network generally remains unchanged and the expansion of the melt is caused mainly by the locat expansion of the “oxides”.It is further proposed that the radius of O^2- shows little variation,in striking contrast to the radius of cations.The mechanism governing the expansion is discussed in detail.     

Clinopyroxenes in Kimberlites of China

The author studied the grain size, shape, colour, altered coat, mineral species, chemical composition,end- member components and infrared spectra of clinopyroxenes occurring as megacryst, macrocryst andgroundmass minerals, intergrowths with pyrope and ilmenite and minerals in deep-seated xenoliths and inclu-sions in diamonds in kimberlites of China. The clinopyroxenes under study were compared with megacrystclinopyroxenes in basalts and minerals in their deep-seated xenoliths and clinopyroxenes in lamproites andminettes. The coexisting clinopyroxene-pyrope pair was studied. Besides the author also studied the origin ofclinopyroxenes in kimberlites, P-T conditions for their formation and their reflected tectonic environments ofthe kimberlite formation. He suggests that this mineral is an indicator for diamond exploration.     

Separation of nano-colloids in soils

The study of the physicochemical behaviour of colloids and particles in nature has emerged as a scientific problem of critical importance because of the widespread acknowledgement of their significance in controlling the speciation and fate of essential nutrients and contaminants in the aquatic and soil environments （Ledin et al., 1995; Lead et al., 1999, Doucet et al., 200 l; McCarthy et al., 1989; Koterba et al., 1993; Kretzschmar et al., 1999）. Se＇quaris and Lewandowski （2003） developed a method based on sedimentation and centrifugation steps to fractionate agricultural top soils after suspension in water. However, progress in the field has been limited by the lack of appropriate techniques for the isolation and characterization of colloids and particles in their native form （Lead et al., 1997）. The primary difficulties in separation and analysis are colloidal instability and their small size and low concentration. As a result, reliable, unbiased and minimally perturbing methods for sampling and fractionation are primary requirements for the study of colloids and particles if valuable information is to be obtained. In recent years, cross-flow ultra-filtration （CFUF） has become one of the most commonly used techniques for collecting and separating freshwater and marine colloids and particles （Petrus evski et al., 1995; Gustafsson et al., 1999; Benoit et al., 1999; Sigg et al., 2000; Gue＇guen et al., 2002; Benedetti et al., 2003）. CFUF has hitherto been used for studies of the biogeochemical cycling of a variety of elements, such as carbon （Benner et al., 1992; Santschi et al., 1998）, radionuclides （Moran et al., 1992）, trace metals （Reitmeyer et al., 1996） and nutrients （Bauer et al., 1996）. The purpose of this study was to develop a protocol to fractionate particles in soil, to measure particle size distributions and to quantify chemical characteristics within different particle size fractions.     

The Distribution of Trace Elements in Granitoids in the Nanling Region of China

Granitoids are widely spread in the Nanling Region of China.Four rockbodies in the region the been studied for their REE,Rb,Sr,Ba and Sc distributions.The four rockbodies occurred in different locations and are characterized as being different in age and type.The rock types are presented as follows:Qinghu monzonite,Guangxi;Fuxi granodiorite,Guangdong;Jiufeng monzonitic granite,Hunan;Zudong K-feldspar granite,Jiangxi.From the major and trace element distributions in these granitoids it is clearly shown that Rb/Sr ratios in the rocks tend to increase with increasing SiO2 content and differentiation index(DI),but LREE/HREE,La/Yb and K/Rb ratios tend to decrease,suggesting a correlation between trace element distribution and major element composition for the granitoids.The distribution characteristics of trace elements in each of the rockbodies are described in detail.From the comparative analysis of the Qinghu monzonite and Fuxi granodiorite it is evidenced that the REE distribution is closely related to the sequence of crystallization for the minerals,and also to the petrochemical types of these granitoids in addition to their crystal chemistry.     

The results of measurements of heavy metals in atmospheric aerosols in the open areas of the Arctic Seas in 2009–2010

By experimental data on the concentration of toxic microelements (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, and Cr) in atmospheric aerosols over the White and Norwegian Seas in winter-spring period of 2009–2010, the contamination of air environment over two sea basins, significantly different by geographical conditions but being heavily impacted by North-European industrial centres, including the impact of the largest in the European Arctic Kola industrial centre, has been analyzed. It has been indicated and described that the air basin over the White Sea water area, when compared to the Norwegian Sea, is under a significantly greater impact of the emission sources of heavy metals, located on the Kola Peninsula.     

Possibility of degradation of phenylarsonic acid in the presence of ferrihydrite

Although inorganic species are predominant in natural systems, but there are many kinds of organoarsenic species such as methylated and phenylated arsenic compounds. Phenylarsonic acid （PA） is a degradation product of organoarsenics used for chemical warfare agents, which has been detected in well water at the disposal site of the agents in Japan. There are few reports studying behavior of PA in soil. In this study, PA was adsorbed onto ferrihydrite and its chemical forms were determined using high performance liquid chromatography connected to inductivity-coupled plasma mass spectrometry （HPLC-ICP-MS）. 100 mg/kg of PA was mixed with 0.03 g of 2-line ferrihydrite. For each suspension, pH was adjusted by HNO3 or NaOH. Each sample was incubated for more than 19 hours and the final pH was measured. After filtration, the chemical form of arsenic in the filtrate was measured using HPLC-ICP-MS. In addition, ferrihydrite separated by filtration was dissolved by 3 ml of 0.5 M HCI and the arsenic species in the solution was detected by HPLC-ICP-MS （column： Tosoh TSKgel SuperlC-AP, eluent： 0.01 M HNO3）. It was verified that PA is not degraded by heating in 0.5 M HCl solution. At pH 3.1, any arsenic compounds were not detected from the solution, because almost all arsenic species were adsorbed onto ferrihydrite at lower pH. At pH= 12, however, 7%-10% of inorganic arsenic was detected in the solution. In solid phase, there are some problems to determine the precise ratio of inorganic and organic species. When the solution includes Fe ion at 0.01 M level, the retention time of arsenic species drifted compared to those in standard solution, which makes it difficult to determine precisely the arsenic species adsorbed on ferrihydrite. Therefore, more study is needed to determine the ratio of inorganic and organic species in the system.     

Overview of Metallogenic Regularity of Copper in Northwest China

Please refer to the attachment(s) for more details.     

Formation of PGM-Cu-Ni deposits in the process of evolution of flood-basalt magmatism in the Noril’sk region

The timing of the emplacement of ore-bearing melts in the process of evolution of flood-basalt magmatism in the Noril’sk District is discussed. The current models of ore formation consider the emplacement of ore-bearing intrusions either under the conditions of a closed magmatic system as a product of a self-dependent magmatic event, or under the conditions of an open magmatic system, where intrusions are parts of the conduits feeding lava flows. In both cases, the composition of the initial magma, the content of volatile components therein, and the contribution of country rock assimilation are important for the development of a genetic model. The relationships between lavas and intrusions are exemplified in the South Maslov intrusion, which cuts through the rocks of the Nadezhdinsky Formation. No geological evidence for links of lavas to intrusions has been established. Substantial difference in geochemistry (Ti contents, Gd/Yb and La/Sm ratios, etc.) of the tuff and lava sequence on the northern shore of Lake Lama and the Maslov intrusions are demonstrated. It is concluded that the Noril’sk deposits were formed as products of emplacement of self-dependent portion of magma in the post-lower Nadezhdinsky time. The melt composition determined from melt inclusions in olivine corresponds to high-Mg tholeiitic basalt (up to 7–8 wt % MgO) containing up to 1 wt % H₂O and 0.3 wt % Cl and undersaturated with sulfur. The fluid regime of flood-basalt volcanism had no anomalous features—the fluid was aqueous-carbon dioxide. The melts of ore-bearing and barren intrusions had similar concentrations of volatile components. The distribution of major and trace elements in intrusive rocks of the contact zone with the lower part of the Nadezhdinsky Formation characterized by high (La/Sm)_N ratio in comparison with gabbroic rocks (2.8–2.3 and 1.3–1.6, respectively), indicates that contamination of the initial melt only took place in a narrow (1 m) contact zone or did not develop at all. New data on isotopic compositions of Sr (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)₂₅₁ = 0.7089 and Pb (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 20.877–24.528 in anhydrite confirm that local assimilation did not play a substantial role in the formation of rock and ores. On the basis of chemical composition of ore-forming intrusions, their isotopic characteristics, and the composition of melt inclusions in olivine, it is suggested that the lower crustal rocks were a major source of ore-bearing magmas.     

The Application of Remote Sensing Information in Potential Evaluation of Uranium Resource in China

Please?refer?to?the?attachment(s)?for?more?details.     

A re-examination of the role of hydrogen in Al−Si interdiffusion in feldspars

Recent experimental studies have shown that the rates of Al–Si order-disorder and interdiffusion in alkali feldspars at high pressures under dry conditions increase dramatically in the approximate pressure range 7–14 kb, depending on temperature and feldspar composition (Goldsmith 1987, 1988). Enhancement of Al–Si interdiffusion rates is ascribed to the involvement of hydrogen, but the species of hydrogen involved is undetermined.A simple kinetic analysis of the data of Goldsmith (1987) on disordering of dry albite at 800°–950° C and 6–24 kb in the solid media press is consistent with the NaCl pressure cell acting as a proton donor by enhancing dissociation of water in the pressure medium, generating a high in the experimental environment. The rate constant for disordering of albite is found to increase linearly with the estimated experimental and with the density of aqueous salt solution, implicating H⁺ as the rate-enhancing species.Further experimental studies confirm the importance of . At 16 kb and 850° C, dry albite in sealed Pt capsules in a NaCl cell containing tantalum powder (which reduces H₂O to H₂) remains highly ordered over the same time that complete disordering would occur in the absence of Ta. H₂ cannot therefore be the rate-enhancing species. At 1 kb and 850° C, the extent of Al–Si disorder in albite in direct contact with various NaCl–H₂O solutions increases from partially disordered for pure H₂O to completely disordered for saturated aqueous NaCl solution, giving strong support to the proton model. SIMS scanning ion imaging of albite run products demonstrates conclusively that solution-reprecipitation is not responsible for enhanced disordering rates.Results of disordering experiments in the solid media apparatus cannot be duplicated in Ar gas media internally-heated pressure vessels, even with the same experimental configuration around the albite-bearing capsules, due to the different proton-buffering capacities of the solid and gas media apparatus.     

A Bright-Coloured Flower in the Field of Earth Sciences in China——in Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Publication of Acta Geologica Sinica

Acta Geologica Sinica (hereinafter referred to as the Acta) starting publication in 1922, is a quaterly academia periodical sponsored by the Geological Society of China (GSC). It has been one of the science and technology periodicals in China with the longest history.     

Characteristics of Coal Ashes in Yanzhou Mining District and Distribution of Trace Elements in Them

In the process of combustion of coal organic and inorganic materials in it will undergo a complex variation.Part of thew will become volatiles and,together with coal smoke,enter into atmosphere,some will remain in micro-particulates such as ash and dust and find their way into atmosphere in the form of solid particles,and the rest will be retained in ash and slag.Coal ashes are the residues of organic and inorganic substances in coal left after coal combustion and the compostition of coal ashes in dependent on that of minerals and organic matter in coal.This paper deals with the chemical composition of coal ashes,the distribution of trace elements in them and their petrological characteristics,and also studies the relationship between the yield of coal ashes and the distribution of trace elements.In addition,a preliminary study in also undertaken on the factors that affect the chemical composition of coal ashes.As viewed from the analyses of coal ash samples collected from the Yanzhou mining district,it can be seen clearly that coal ashes from the region studied are composed chiefly of crystalline materials,glassy materials and uncombusted organic matter and the major chemical compositions are SiO2,Al2O3,Fe2O3,and CaO,as well as minor amounts of SO3,PWO5,Na2O,K2O and TiO2.During the combustion of coal,its trace elements will be redistributed and most of them are enriched in coal ashes.At the same time,the concentrations of the trace elements in flying ash are much higher than those of bottom ash,i.e.,with decreasing particle-size of coal ashes their concentrations will become higher and higher.So the contents of trace elements are negatively proportional to the particle-size of coal ashes.There has been found a positive correlation between the trace elements Th.V.Zn,Cu and Pb and the yield of coal ashes while a negative correlation between Cl and the yield of coal ashes.     

Petrogenesis of Eclogites in the Light of Punctuated Metamorphic Evolution in Dabie Terrane，China

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Application of ASTER data in characterization of environmental pollution in Takab area, NW Iran

The Takab area in NW of Iran is an important gold mineralized region with a long history of gold mining. In this study ASTER data is used to evaluate environmental effects of gold mining. The results show that mining activities have resulted in release of…     

Degradation of petroleum contaminants in oil

The treatment of diesel-contaminated soil with hydrogen peroxide oxidation is investigated in this paper. The factors influencing reactions such as initial oil content, H2O2 dosage, pH-value, catalyst and so on are studied. The results indicate that it is feasible to remediate diesel-contaminated soil by adding oxidant directly at room temperature because of higher absolute removal content although the degradation efficiency is low for the contaminated soil of 1%, 2% and 5% initial oil content. The more the H2O2 dosage, the better the degradation efficiency; it is economical and efficient to add 4 mL H2O2 to 10 g diesel-contaminated soil （2% or so） directly in-situ chemical oxidation （ICO）. For the contaminated soil of 5% initial oil content, when pH-value is 5-8 and H202 dosage is 20 mL, the removal efficiency reaches more than 96%; when pH-value is 1-3 and volume ratios of H2O2 to Fe^2＋ are 1 ： 1, 2：2, the degradation efficiencies are all very high （i.e., 86%-88% or so）. It can be concluded that the degradation efficiencies are comparative when adding 1 mL or 2 mL H2O2 of Fenton Reagent or adding 4 mL of H2O2 only to 10 g diesel-contaminated soil.     

Votalization of selenium in selenium-rich black rock series in Yutangba

Votalization of selenium in selenium-rich black rock series in Yutangba is discussed at 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900℃.Votalization of selenium tends to increase when the temperature is high. So environmental influence of selenium-rich black rock series combustion needs to be considered.     

Heavy metal contents in soil of major towns in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia

A total of 63 soil samples from 3 different soil profiles （urban, suburban and industrial areas） in major towns in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia were analyzed for the total concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni and Cr. The soil samples were subjected to acid digestion and the concentrations of total metals extracted were measured or flame atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectrometry. According to the result of this study, Pb and Zn concentrations in urban soils are much higher than those of industrial and suburban soils. Total concentrations of Cu and Cr in industrial soil samples are high compared to other two soil profiles and Ni concentrations in the suburban area are slightly higher those of urban and industrial soils. Since Malaysia has not yet to come up with her own soil maximum allowable limit, the heavy metal concentrations were compared with the Dutch maximum allowable limit. The results indicated that the median of heavy metals values in the three different soil profiles is still below the Dutch system limit. From the maximum allowable value obtained from the Dutch system, a contamination/pollution （C/p） index for each site was calculated for the set of these five heavy metals. An advantage of using this method is to make a differentiation between pollution （C/p〉1） and contamination （C/p〈1） status in soils as well as being able to characterize each status into 5 different categories （slight, moderate, severe, very severe and excessive）.     

Engineering Geology of Limestone in Malaysia

This paper provides an overview of the engineering geology of limestone. Limestone is of rather wide occurrence in Malaysia. It is interesting in view of the unique landforms and karstic features that are encountered in limestone terrains, e.g. steep, subvertical limestone cliffs rising abruptly and majestically above the ground surface and highly variable and pinnacled subterranean limestone bedrock. The karstic features and associated engineering geological problems of both the limestone hills and the bedrock are discussed in the paper. Rockfalls, sinkholes, cavities, etc. are some of the common engineering geological problems associated with limestone terrains. Some local case studies are provided as illustrations. Finally the rock mechanical properties of limestone is discussed at the end of the paper.