磷块岩形成过程中的生物作用

对我国震旦纪、寒武纪磷块岩矿床的研究表明,参与成磷作用的生物主要是菌、藻类微生物。生物作用的标志表现为:P₂O₅主要富集在叠层石磷块岩中,富集在叠层石的柱体上,富集在柱体内部的富藻纹层中;而与磷块岩共生的白云石和黄铁矿的δ¹³C值和δ³⁴S值相对均较低,则是生物参与成磷作用的同位素标志特点。生物的成磷作用贯穿成磷过程的始终,但它随作用的相带、环境和阶段不同,生物的种属和作用方式也不同,因而矿石和矿床的质量也随之而异。     

广东凡口铅锌矿床赋矿地层稳定同位素研究

广东凡口铅锌矿床是中国著名的大型铅锌矿床。在凡口矿区新发现有类似奥陶系岩性的地层,与寒武系一起构成矿区的浅变质基底,其δ¹³C_V-PDB值为-6.5‰、δ¹⁸O_V-SMOW值为14.9‰,在矿区各地层中最小,受热液作用影响最弱,主要受岩性影响。由深至浅,泥盆系地层的δ¹³C_V-PDB、δ¹⁸O_V-SMOW值逐渐增高、⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr值逐渐减小,该段岩层的主赋矿层位（D₂d和D₃t）δ¹³C_V-PDB接近零,δ¹⁸O_V-SMOW在18‰左右,稳定同位素的变化除受岩性影响外,主要受后期热液蚀变作用的影响,为成矿提供了一定的前提条件。石炭系（C₂ht）白云岩的δ¹³C平均值为2.17‰,δ¹⁸O平均值为21.9‰,与其他层位性质明显不同,为矿区的盖层。     

岩浆去气作用碳硫同位素效应

 根据开放体系条件下的瑞利分馏原理,并考虑岩浆中可能溶解的合碳和含硫组分,从理论上定量模式了岩浆去气作用对火成岩碳、硫同位素组成的影响。结果表明,岩浆CO₂去气作用能够导致岩石中碳酸盐显着亏损¹³C,其δ¹³C值能够从原始-5‰变化到-20‰(PDB);岩浆CH₄去气作用则导致岩石中碳酸盐相对富集¹³C,其δ¹³C值能够从原始-5‰变化到+4‰。岩浆SO₂去气作用可以导致岩石中硫化物显着亏损³⁴S,其δ³⁴S值能够从0‰变化到-8‰(CDT);岩浆H₂S去气作用则导致岩石中的硫化物相对富集4S,其δ³⁴S值能够从0‰变化到+6‰。因此,除源岩原始同位素不均一性和地壳物质混染能引起火成岩的碳、硫同位素组成发生较大变化外,岩浆去气作用也是重要原因之一。     

辽宁大石桥菱镁矿床的碳氧同位素组成和成因

在2.33~2.06Ga期间,δ¹³C_carb发生了地质历史上最强烈的正异常事件,被称为Lomagundi事件。辽河群形成于2.3~1.85Ga期间,其大石桥组蕴涵超大型的大石桥菱镁矿矿床,在矿区厚约1144m。为检验华北克拉通对Lomagundi事件响应,揭示大石桥菱镁矿的成因,本文报道我们最新获得的地球化学研究结果。大石桥菱镁矿6件下伏白云岩地层样品的CaO/MgO摩尔比为0.87~0.94,δ¹³C_carb和δ¹⁸O_carb值分别为0.6‰~1.4‰（平均1.2‰,V-PDB标准）和16.4‰~19.5‰（平均18.2‰,SMOW标准）;与世界正常海相碳酸盐岩地层相比,δ¹³C_carb较高,而δ¹⁸O_carb较低,表明原始沉积物具有类似于Lomagundi事件的δ¹³C_carb正异常,δ¹³C_carb可能高达4.2‰,但δ¹³C_carb和δ¹⁸O_carb值均在沉积之后的成岩或/和变质过程中显著降低。研究剖面大石桥菱镁矿含矿地层厚逾550m,6件样品的CaO/Mg0摩尔比为0.005~0.23,δ¹³C_carb和δ¹⁸O_carb值分别为0.1‰~0.6‰（平均0.4‰）,9.2‰~12.7‰（平均10.9‰）,均低于下伏围岩白云岩;推测与区域变质有关的流体交代作用导致岩石发生重结晶作用和同位素交换,使δ¹³C_V-PDB和δ¹⁸O_V-SMOW值降低。而对菱镁矿顶板白云岩和网脉状菱镁矿矿石的研究进一步证明了上述解释的合理性。总之,大石桥菱镁矿的形成经历了初始沉积、成岩作用、区域变质和流体交代作用以及成矿后的局部蚀变作用。     

石碌钴-铜矿床流体包裹体和稳定同位素特征及成因

海南石碌钴-铜矿体赋存于石碌群第六层的下段,即介于铁矿体与石碌群第五层片岩之间的含钴-铜层位中,容矿岩石主要为白云岩、透辉石透闪石化白云岩。钴-铜矿床的形成经历了海底喷溢沉积期、石英-硫化物期(热液期)和表生期。海底喷溢沉积期石英包裹体均一温度变化于112~205℃,多集中在130~205℃;盐度w(NaCl_eq)为1.74%~6.59%;密度变化于0.88~0.95 g/cm³。温度范围与很多古代沉积喷流矿床及正在活动的海底热液成矿作用的温度相似,盐度低于曾报道的多数沉积喷流矿床的流体包裹体盐度值, 但与那些同为低密度成矿流体的喷流沉积矿床极为相近。海底喷溢沉积期形成的硬石膏δ³⁴S值为+21.4‰~+21.8‰,平均值为+21.6‰,强烈富集重硫,硬石膏δ³⁴S值代表着新元古代石碌群沉积时海水的δ³⁴S值。石英-硫化物期石英、白云石和方解石均一温度多集中在170~270℃;盐度w(NaCl_eq)为1%~7%;密度变化于0.88~0.95 g/cm³。成矿流体属于中温低盐度流体。石英-硫化物期成矿流体δD值为-63‰~-83‰,成矿流体δ¹⁸O_水值变化于1.3‰~6.8‰之间,指示成矿流体来源于岩浆,成矿后期有大气降水的加入。石英-硫化物期硫化物δ³⁴S值为+8.1‰~+21.2‰,硫源来源于石碌群中蒸发岩的溶解作用。石碌钴-铜矿床属中温热液充填交代矿床,与矿床周围花岗质岩浆活动有关。     

甘肃厂坝-李家沟超大型铅锌矿床成矿金属来源——来自闪锌矿原位S-Pb和Zn同位素证据

甘肃厂坝-李家沟铅锌矿床位于西秦岭多金属成矿带内的西成矿集区,为矿集区内重要的超大型铅锌矿床。矿体赋存在中泥盆统安家岔组的白云石化大理岩及石英片岩中,其成因认识一直存在争议,主要分歧集中在是同生还是后生。文章对不同成矿阶段的闪锌矿,采用多接收电感耦合等离子体质谱(MC-ICP-MS)测定Zn同位素组成、采用激光剥蚀-多接收电感耦合等离子体质谱(LA-MC-ICP-MS)原位微区分析技术测定S、Pb同位素组成,示踪成矿物质来源,并分析矿物沉淀机制,为深入理解矿床成因提供新的精细证据。研究结果显示,Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ三个成矿阶段闪锌矿的δ⁶⁶Zn分别为0.08‰~0.29‰,平均0.20‰;0.19‰~0.37‰,平均0.30‰;0.36‰~0.37‰,平均0.37‰。其中,Ⅰ阶段的闪锌矿δ³⁴S_Ⅰ值为20.9‰~26.1‰,平均24.4‰;Ⅱ阶段的闪锌矿δ³⁴S_Ⅱ值为12.2‰~21.9‰,平均19.1‰;Ⅲ阶段的闪锌矿δ³⁴S_Ⅲ值为18.2‰~24.7‰,平均21.5‰。3个阶段的矿石矿物Pb同位素组成变化不大,²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb为17.922~18.013,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb为15.567~15.647,²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb为37.990~38.266。δ⁶⁶Zn同位素值显示,成矿金属早期来源于围岩海相碳酸盐岩,由于混合了岩浆热液或者是瑞利分馏作用,在成矿作用中后期δ⁶⁶Zn同位素逐渐上升。δ³⁴S同位素值显示,早期硫源主要为地层中的硫酸盐,中后期的δ³⁴S同位素值降低,可能是成矿流体中岩浆热液中的S^2-成分逐渐增多导致,闪锌矿为硫酸盐通过TSR反应沉淀成矿。Pb同位素指示成矿物质来源于上地壳,并混入了部分古老的变质基底的成分。笔者研究发现,厂坝-李家沟铅锌矿的成矿机制为不同来源的流体混合,随着pH值、成矿流体的温度发生变化而沉淀成矿。     

金厂峪金矿床成矿流体地球化学性质对金沉淀的制约

本文对河北金厂峪金矿床蚀变围岩和石英脉组分进行的对比分析,得知蚀变围岩中Al₂O₃、P₂O₅、MnO₂含量变化较小,石英脉中SiO₂、FeO、CaO、MgO、Sr、Ba、Sc、Zn、Ga、Ta、Au、Ag、Y、Pb、REE分布模式等相对于蚀变岩有明显不同。矿石中硫化物δ³⁴S值接近0‰ ,矿石围岩胪δ³⁴S为-5.0‰ ~ +3.2‰,矿石铅的²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb明显高于岩石铅。矿石中铁白云石δ¹³C值变化于-2.3‰ ~ -8.4‰ ,与初生碳δ¹³C值(-5‰ ~ -8‰ )接近,石英包亵体δ¹³C值变化于-3.55‰ ~ -8.44‰ 。脉体内的石英与碳酸盐岩,以及金属矿物都是相同成矿流体的产物,成矿流体具有深源特征。大气水及形成裂隙引起的减压作用是深源流体性质改变和组分沉淀的主要因素。     

塔里木盆地玉北地区奥陶系储层成因研究

玉北地区奥陶系碳酸盐岩经历了加里东期和海西期构造作用的改造，东部断褶带和西部斜坡区断层发育，中部平台区断层不发育，导致勘探目的层鹰山组上部与鹰山组下部和蓬莱坝组储层发育特征的不同。鹰山组上部的储层主要受控于加里东期构造活动所造成的地层抬升暴露剥蚀，形成了以大气淡水溶蚀为主的储集空间类型；而鹰山组下部和蓬莱坝组储层则主要受到埋藏白云石化作用、硅化作用以及伴随着断层的形成而发育的裂缝和热液的改造作用的控制。氧碳同位素和⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr比值的分布特征也进一步证明了两种不同储层类型的主控因素。鹰山组上部洞穴中方解石的氧碳同位素值（δ¹⁸O_VPDB：-12～-4‰VPDB，δ¹³C：-3～1‰VPDB）比海水沉淀的方解石（δ¹⁸O_VPDB：-9.5～-7.5‰VPDB，δ¹³C：-1.5～0.5‰VPDB）在数值上明显偏负，说明洞穴中充填的方解石属于淡水成因。在鹰山组下部和蓬莱坝组白云岩储层中发育的鞍形白云石具有较低的氧同位素值（δ¹⁸O_VPDB：-10.7～-5.9‰VPDB）和高于海水的⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr值（均大于0.7094），因而被解释为热液成因，进一步说明这些地层中的溶蚀孔洞可能与热液改造有关。     

羌塘盆地双湖地区早中侏罗世过渡期碳同位素波动及成因研究

藏北双湖县巴岭乡地区出露一套深水相黑色页岩地层,包括下侏罗统曲色组和中侏罗统色哇组二个组地层单元。根据菊石化石控制的生物地层时代,下伏曲色组划归Pliensbachian-Toarcian 阶,上覆色哇组级代表Aalenian-Bajocian 期沉积,二者之间为连续沉积,是目前西藏特提斯域菊石化石控制程度最高的中下侏罗统地层。野外实测了索布查J₂/J₁界线剖面,按2m间距采集了148件样品,室内开展了无机碳(δ¹³C_carb)和有机碳(δ¹³C_kero)分析,目的是揭示早侏罗世末期到中侏罗世初期这一时段的古海洋演化过程。研究结果表明,曲色组沉积期古海水δ¹³C_DIC偏正,而色哇组δ¹³C_DIC偏负,J₂/J₁界线上下δ¹³C_carb值显示阶步式负向偏移的特点。根据相关分馏方程计算,Toarcian期海洋浮游植物繁盛,δ¹³C_DIC偏正_,海水营养盐NO₃浓度偏低,而Aalenian期海洋浮游植物衰减,δ¹³C_DIC偏低,NO₃浓度升高。沉积有机质或干酪根碳同位素δ¹³C_kero在J₂/J₁界线上下与δ¹³C_carb变化趋势一致,也具有由高值逐渐偏低的特点,但δ¹³C_carb和δ¹³C_kero变化曲线的波峰和波谷并不同步,这是因为海源和陆源有机质相对含量高低变化所致。文中根据碳同位素质量平衡方程,定量的描述了索布查界线剖面陆源和海源有机质比例的变化过程,讨论了曲色组和色哇组烃源岩在油气勘探中的意义。     

西秦岭党川地区泥盆纪花岗岩类地质地球化学特征及构造意义

党川地区位于祁连—北秦岭造山带结合部位,该地区分布有不同时期的花岗岩类,泥盆纪花岗岩类由党川岩体、火炎山岩体2个岩体组成。党川岩体岩石化学以富集SiO₂(SiO₂=72.29%～73.40%)、K₂O(K₂O∕Na₂O=0.86～2.01)、Al₂O₃(A ∕ CNK =1.05～1.20)为主要特征;火炎山岩体岩石总体SiO₂较低(平均69.70%),但K₂O(K₂O ∕ Na₂O =1.14～1.88) 、Fe₂O₃+FeO﹑MgO较高。岩体的共同特征是岩石属钾玄质系列,表现为过铝质岩石( A ∕ CNK大于1.0)的特征;微量元素相对富集Ba、Zr、Rb、Sm、Ta及Rb、Ba、Th、Nb等元素;稀土元素丰度总体较高,以富集轻稀土元素,发育明显的铕负异常和铕亏损,δEu值较低(δEu=0.36～0.61)为主要特征;岩石锶初始比n(⁸⁷Sr）/n(⁸⁶Sr）i 大于0.7070,氧同位素δ¹⁸O_SMOW较高(δ¹⁸O_SMOW=＋8.89‰～＋1108‰),岩体物质来源为上地壳,属浅源的壳源型花岗岩类,具S型花岗岩的特征,其形成与后造山阶段的大陆抬升作用有关。     

贵州瓮安陡山沱组磷块岩的地球化学特征

贵州瓮安地区是震旦纪陡山沱期的一个磷块岩沉积区,生物作用是磷矿形成的重要因素。通过对贵州瓮安含磷岩系剖面地球化学特征的研究,认为磷块岩富集层是以P2O5与CaO构成的磷酸盐矿物为主,可分为白云质砂屑磷块岩和碳质磷块岩2个亚类;生物作用导致了磷块岩中Pb,As,Ba及Sr等微量元素的富集,其中亲硫元素Pb的含量最高达到1 446×10-6,反映了贵州瓮安震旦系陡山沱组磷块岩的成因与菌藻类生物作用密切相关。     

Ca isotopic compositions of dolomite, phosphorite and the oldest animal embryo fossils from the Neoproterozoic in Weng'an, South China

Deciphering the drastic changes of surface environment and the emergence of animals after the Neoproterozoic Snowball Earth event are important for understanding the changes of surface environment and its influence on the evolution of life through geologic time. Especially, the emergence of two types of Metazoan animals such as animal embryo fossils, cnidarians or sponges, and Ediacaran fauna in the late Neoproterozoic was one of the critical turning points in the biological evolution.Calcium is one of the essential elements for the growth of most animals. In this study, in order to evaluate the Ca cycles in the Neoproterozoic, we have measured Ca isotopic ratios (⁴⁴Ca/⁴²Ca and ⁴³Ca/⁴²Ca) for phosphorite, dolostone and phosphatic animal embryo fossils with a multiple collector, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS). The resulting ⁴⁴Ca/⁴²Ca ratio defined by the relative deviation from the ratio of NIST SRM915a (δ^44/42Ca_NIST915) for phosphorite and dolostone ranges from 0.83 to 0.95‰, demonstrating that the fractionation between phosphorite/dolostone and seawater was very small. This evidence indicates that at the emergence of the Weng'an biota seawater was deficient in Ca probably due to mass deposition of phosphorite/dolostone and to the beginning of Ca-biomineralization.Three phosphatic animal embryo fossils have lower δ^44/42Ca values than the phosphorite and dolomite, implying that the precursor of the phosphatic embryo fossils was able to fractionate Ca isotopes through Ca-biomineralization, consistent with marine gastropods.     

Bryozoan-rich stromatolites (bryostromatolites) from the Silurian of Gotland and their relation to climate-related perturbations of the global carbon cycle

Bryozoan–stromatolite associations (bryostromatolites) formed conspicuous reef structures throughout the Sheinwoodian (Wenlock) to Ludfordian (Ludlow) stratigraphy on Gotland but have not been described so far. They are mainly composed of encrusting bryozoans forming a complex intergrowth with porostromate and spongiostromate microbes and are different from the abundant stromatoporoid–coral–algal reefs with respect to their composition. In the bryostromatolite different growth stages can be identified. The observed succession can be taken as evidence for cyclic environmental changes during reef formation. Stenohaline reef-dwelling organisms, such as echinoderms, sponges, corals and trilobites, indicate fully marine salinities. Ten localities exposing bryostromatolites were discovered. Individual bryostromatolites are small with few decimetres up to one metre in size, and occur solely in shallow marine areas. Common features of these reefs on Gotland are cauliflower-like growth, a high bryozoan diversity, a high abundance of phosphatic fossils and components such as bryozoan pearls and inarticulate phosphatic brachiopods, enhanced bioerosion, Palaeomicrocodium crusts, vadose silt and gypsum pseudomorphs. The high abundance of Palaeomicrocodium, as well as the alternation with other crust-forming contributors, suggest that it could have been formed directly at the palaeo-sea surface, probably in times of minor but high-frequency sea-level fluctuations. Vadose silt and pseudomorphs after gypsum in reef cavities indicate subaerial exposure shortly after reef growth. The high amount of phosphatic components indicates a high nutrient input, probably by dust. All bryostromatolites were formed in times of strongly elevated δ¹³C values. The unusual combination of sedimentological and palaeoecological features, as well as their occurrence exclusively during strong positive δ¹³C excursions, are evidence that the bryostromatolite development responded to climatic/oceanographic changes, which may have played an important role in reef control.     

Mid-Paleocene event at Gabal Nezzazat,Sinai, Egypt: planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy,mineralogy and geochemistry

The Qreiya Beds that record the ‘mid-Paleocene event’ at Gabal Nezzazat occur within the Igorina albeari (P3b) Zone and constitute part of a 14-m thick shale succession that ranges in age from Early to Late Paleocene. They are composed of four alternating dark grey and brown shale beds, which are thinly laminated, phosphatic, organic-rich and extremely sulphidic. They are characterized by distinct enrichment and high peak anomalies in chalcophiles (Zn, Co, Ni, Cu and Pb) and organic association elements (V and Cr), especially within the brown organic-rich beds. It is concluded that these elements are incorporated into the phosphatic debris, sulphides and organic matter. In contrast, the grey beds are enriched in clay minerals and quartz. Clay mineral assemblages indicate alternating periods of warm/humid climate (high kaolinite) and dry climate (low kaolinite) during the formation of the grey and brown beds, respectively. The sediments of the Qreiya Beds yield lithological, biotic, geochemical and mineralogical data indicative of suboxic/anoxic marine environments as a result of high productivity and/or upwelling. The top metre of the succession below the Qreiya Beds is characterized by a progressive change from faunas dominated by praemurcurids to faunas dominated by Morozovilids, and by a progressive upward decrease in δ¹³C_carb and δ¹⁸O_carb values. The foraminiferal faunal change may reflect shallowing and warming preceding deposition of the Qreiya Beds. The change in isotopic values is inferred to be the result of surface weathering, fluvial input and diagenesis with no evidence of any primary change that could support presence of a hyperthermal event.     

滇东寒武系磷矿成因新见解——风暴成矿模式初探

近年来,随着风暴流和风暴岩的新理论、新概念的不断引入,在分析沉积环境、沉积成矿作用时,不断提出了许多新思路,也不断地冲击和修正以往的传统认识,作者于1986年随同成都地矿所寒武系磷矿专题组对滇东一带包括昆阳梅树村、海口、鸣矣河、晋宁王家湾、二街、八街、安宁白登、江川清水沟、宜良大滴水、寻甸先锋等矿区的磷矿进行了详细的研究,在下寒武统中谊村段及其相当的地层中发现了多层磷质风暴沉积物。本文拟概略介绍磷质风暴沉积物的标志、特征、剖面结构并初步探讨磷矿富集与风暴事件关系的沉积演化模式。     

Anomalous geochemical signals from phosphatic Middle Cambrian rocks in the southern Georgina Basin, Australia

Middle Cambrian rocks of the Georgina Basin contain both phosphatic and organic-rich sediments, the former often occurring as commercially viable phosphate deposits, and the latter as minor oil shale occurrences. Both kinds of rocks occur in the Hay River Formation penetrated by Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR) stratigraphic corehole Tobermory 14. Detailed sampling and analysis of this core has been undertaken to assess the chemostratigraphy of the Hay River Formation; to examine the possible use, as a palaeoceanographic tool, of changes in δ¹³C values of carbonates and kerogens; and to gain an understanding of phosphate deposition in this part of the basin. The Upper Hay River Formation was deposited in a normal marine environment characterized by oxic bottom conditions. It contains several episodes of significant trace metal enrichment which appear to indicate periodic replacement of the water body. The Lower Hay River Formation, however, was deposited in an abnormal marine environment low in sulphate and Mo and enriched in P. Its carbonate phase has positive δ¹³C values 1–1.5%₀ enriched over the accepted Cambrian marine carbonate value of -0.57 ± 0.17%₀. The very low sulphate concentration, Mo-depletion and spiking of carbonate δ¹⁸O values suggests there was an influx of deeper ocean water of sufficient volume to maintain prolonged stable anoxic bottom waters. These data support a previous suggestion that phosphogenesis in the Georgina Basin was related to ‘Oceanic Anoxic Events'.     

泥河湾盆地虎头梁湖相叠层石的生态环境分析

本文作者之一曾于1993年报道过在泥河湾盆地虎头梁剖面发现的第四纪湖相叠层石,并根据测年数据和其中所含的藻类化石,认为它是末次间冰期的温暖期中藻类生命活动的产物。近年来,作者对叠层石的生态环境做了进一步的分析。结果表明,所发现的湖相叠层石主要生活在古泥河湾湖水深0．4～46cm左右的湖滨浅水地带;在末次间冰期中气温最高的时期,温暖干燥的气候环境和盐度较大的湖泊水体,为藻类的繁衍和叠层石的形成提供了适宜的条件。通过湖相叠层石的生态环境分析,不仅有助于重建古泥河湾湖的环境,而且也有助于加深对本区末次间冰期气候的了解。     

Spherules from the Late Cretaceous Phosphorite of the Fatehgarh Formation,Barmer Basin,India

A first report of discovery of spherules, glassy balls, highly magnetic fine dust and microbracciated matrix in the Fatehgarh Formation of Barmer Basin, Rajasthan, India is being presented in this paper. The Fatehgarh Formation is a mixed siliciclastic, carbonate and phosphorite formation of Cretaceous age in the Barmer Basin that comprises sediments of Middle Jurassic to Lower Eocene age. The phosphorite zone in the Fatehgarh Formation is ∼8 metre-thick zone that comprises phosphatic sandstone, bone bed, bedded phosphorite and phosphatic and non phosphatic gastropod beds. The spherules occur in a thin phosphatic-clay mud and silt band of bone bed, which also yielded a very rich and diverse microvertebrate assemblage with a dominant Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) form of Igdabatis along with forms comprising of Semionodontid, Lapisosteum and Enchodontid. The end Cretaceous is marked for a mass extinction of numerous species including dinosaurs. An extraterrestrial impact is interpreted as the reason for this mass extinction. Whether these spherules are related to the volcanic source or K/T Boundary impact ejecta found at Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico region needs detailed chemical and age characterization for which study is in progress.     

New information on radionuclides concentration in phosphorites originating from Tunisia and Algeria

In this study we investigate the radiological hazard of naturally occurring radioactive material in Tunisian and Algerian phosphorite deposits. Eight samples of phosphorite were collected from the phosphorite mines. The Tunisian and Algerian phosphorites occur in the Late Paleocene and Lower Eocene (Ypresian-Lutetian) in age (Béji Sassi 1984 and Zaïer 1999). Activity concentrations in all the samples were measured by alpha spectrometry and gamma spectrometry. Alpha spectrometry analyses show that the specific activity values of ²³⁸U, ²³⁴U and ²³⁵U in the samples of Tunisian phosphorite were 327?±?7 (321–327), 326?±?6 (325–331) and 14.50?±?0.72 (13.90–15.57) Bq kg^?1, respectively. Specific activity measured by gamma spectrometry in the samples of the Tunisian and Algerian phosphorite shows a small difference. Specific activity levels of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ²³⁵U and ²³⁸U in the phosphorite samples from Tunisia were, respectively, 71.10?±?3.80, 391.54?±?9.39, 60.38?±?3.74, 12.72?±?0.54 and 527.42?±?49.57 Bq kg^?1 and Algeria were 15.72?±?1.73, 989.65?±?12.52, 12.08?±?1.20, 47.50?±?1.52 and 1,148.78?±?7.30 Bq kg^?1, respectively. The measured value of specific activity of ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in the Tunisian phosphorite samples is relatively higher than that found in the samples of Algerian phosphorite. The measured activity of uranium (²³⁸U) in the Tunisian phosphorite (527?±?49) Bq kg^?1 is lower than in Algerian phosphorite. The measured activity of ²³⁸U in the Tunisian phosphorite samples was (527–1,315?±?65) ²³⁸U Bq kg^?1 which is higher than its maximum background value of 110 Bq kg^?1 in soils of the various countries of the world (Tufail et al. Radiat Meas 41:443–451, 2006). Different geological origins of phosphorites deposits are the main reason for the large spread in worldwide specific activities. The obtained results of uranium concentrations in phosphorites of different types (Algerian and Tunisian) demonstrate that the uranium concentrations are mainly governed by the phosphatic material. The present study reveals that phosphorite deposits contain natural radioactivity higher than background level.