塔里木板块东北部笔架山东基性-超基性岩体地球化学特征与岩石成因

笔架山东基性—超基性岩体位于塔里木板块东北部的新疆北山地区,是笔架山岩带中最东边的一个岩体,岩体形态为椭圆状,出露面积约5 km2.由含长单辉橄榄岩、橄榄辉长岩、含橄辉长岩、辉长岩以及辉绿岩组成.含橄榄石较多的岩石属拉斑玄武岩系列,而辉长岩属钙碱性系列.岩相学、岩石化学和微量元素地球化学特征表明岩浆演化过程中经历了橄榄石、辉石、斜长石的分离结晶作用.Nd、Sr、Pb同位素组成和岩石地球化学特征反映出岩浆与围岩之间存在物质交换.笔架山东岩体的岩浆源区为OIB型地幔源区,原生岩浆为高镁拉斑玄武岩浆[w(MgO)=11.2％],这些性质与塔里木板块东北部其他基性-超基性岩体的特征相似,表明塔里木板块东北部二叠纪基性—超基性岩体的源区主要为OIB型地幔,可能与地幔柱有关.     

安徽铜陵狮子山矿田岩浆岩地球化学特征及成因机制探讨

狮子山矿田内分布着一系列燕山期岩浆岩,岩性主要为辉石闪长岩、石英闪长岩和花岗闪长岩。通过岩相学和地球化学研究,表明它们属富碱高钾钙碱性岩系,并有类似高Ba—Sr花岗岩的地球化学特征(如Ba,Sr和LREE含量高,Y和HREE含量较低,LREE／HREE强烈分离,Nb,Ta,Ti强烈亏损,无明显的Eu负异常,Sr—Nd同位素具有EMⅠ型特征),由此推断它们具有相同岩浆来源。在区域拉张一伸展构造域中,由富集Ba,Sr的基性岩浆底侵熔融下地壳,并发生了结晶分异作用。     

弧地壳深部岩浆结晶分异过程:来自中祁连西段哈马尔达坂杂岩体的年代学、地球化学和热力学模拟研究SCIEI北大核心CSCD

俯冲带弧岩浆分异是大陆地壳形成的主要过程,对研究大陆地壳的演化与生长机制具有重要意义。本文通过对中祁连弧地体西段盐池湾地区的哈马尔达坂杂岩体进行野外地质、地球化学、年代学和热力学模拟研究,来讨论弧岩浆分异过程。哈马尔达坂杂岩体主要存在两类岩石类型:镁铁质-超镁铁质堆晶岩(包括辉石角闪石岩、角闪辉长岩和角闪石岩)和闪长岩类(包括闪长岩、石英闪长岩)。锆石U-Pb定年结果显示辉石角闪石岩的形成时代为473±1Ma,与相邻高钾岛弧玄武岩的形成时代一致。哈马尔达坂杂岩体与高钾岛弧玄武岩具有相似的全岩Sr-Nd-Hf同位素组成,(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)_(i)比值在0.7035~0.7053之间,ε_(Nd)(t)=+3.9~+5.1,ε_(Hf)(t)=+10.8~+13.1,表明它们来自同一岩浆源区。结合野外地质关系与岩石地球化学特征,推测该侵入杂岩体的原始熔体为相邻的高钾玄武质弧岩浆。岩石学和地球化学特征表明:闪长岩类是来源于受沉积物熔体交代的俯冲带地幔楔部分熔融形成的原始玄武质岩浆在中下地壳发生(以角闪石为主)结晶分异的产物;镁铁质-超镁铁质岩石具有堆晶结构,地球化学特征呈现富铁贫硅的特征,具有较高的MgO含量(6.19%~14.29%,Mg^(#)=52.3~74.6),代表原始玄武质岩浆分离结晶形成的堆晶体。热力学模拟计算与实验岩石学资料对比,进一步说明该杂岩体中的闪长岩是玄武质岩浆在中压(约0.7GPa)和氧逸度为NNO+1的条件下、发生50%~67%分离结晶的产物。闪长岩类与镁铁质-超镁铁质堆晶岩具有相似的矿物结晶顺序与全岩同位素组成,指示它们具有发生分离结晶作用的互补成分特征,分别代表了玄武质岩浆分离结晶后的衍生熔体和堆晶岩。因此,本文研究表明角闪石分异是弧岩浆分异的主要机制,它导致富SiO_(2)熔体的形成,推动岩浆成分向富硅的方向演变,从而产生新生的安山质地壳。     

北太行紫荆关基性岩体的成因: 岩石学和地球化学证据

通过对北太行紫荆关晚中生代基性岩体的岩石学和地球化学特征研究, 讨论其岩浆源区特征及成因.结果表明, 紫荆关岩体主要由橄榄二辉石岩、角闪辉长岩和闪长岩等岩石组成.橄榄二辉石岩具有明显的堆晶结构, 可能是堆晶成因, 而角闪辉长岩和闪长岩可能是堆晶形成之后的残余岩浆的结晶.闪长岩中的斜长石显示复杂的结构和成分环带, 相对富钠的核部见富钙斜长石叠加, 后者又向富钠斜长石演化.闪长岩中的单斜辉石也显示复杂的成分环带, 主要是最边部的MgO含量比紧邻的内侧辉石更高.这表明在闪长岩形成过程中有新的幔源高温富镁的岩浆注入.以上各岩石类型具有类似的地球化学性质, 包括较强的稀土分异((La/Yb)_N比值为5.76~23.13), 高Sr/Y比值(50.95~146.13), 富集K、Sr、Ba等大离子亲石元素和LREE, 亏损Nb、Zr、Ti等高场强元素和HREE, Eu异常不明显.都显示富集的Sr-Nd同位素特征, I_Sr=0.7058~0.7066, ε_Nd(t) =-13.8~-18.2.这些特征表明紫荆关基性岩体的母岩浆来源于EM1型富集地幔的部分熔融.橄榄辉石岩和角闪辉长岩具有类似的Nd同位素成分(主要为ε_Nd(t) =-15.0~-16.6), 但形成较晚的闪长岩的ε_Nd(t) 值却比较高(-13.8~-14.6), 也支持新的幔源岩浆在晚期的注入.      

新疆克拉玛依百口泉蛇绿混杂岩中辉长岩岩石学和地球化学研究

克拉玛依蛇绿混杂岩带百口泉剖面由尖晶石蛇纹岩、辉长岩、玄武岩和硅质岩组成。岩相学研究表明,百口泉辉长岩分为堆晶岩(具堆晶结构)和辉长岩(具辉长结构)两类,且均经历了低-中级变质改造。微量元素地球化学显示其岩浆起源于亏损地幔,强烈的Sr异常和Eu异常表明强烈的斜长石堆晶过程。根据其稀土配分模式推测其源区为尖晶石相的地幔橄榄岩。结合野外地质关系和地球化学特征,白碱滩尖晶石二辉橄榄岩能够代表其源区成分,利用微量元素模拟其岩浆演化过程显示:尖晶石二辉橄榄岩发生2.5%部分熔融所形成的熔体,通过10%～20%分离结晶可以形成堆晶辉长岩,经过80%～90%分离结晶则可以形成具辉长结构的辉长岩。因此,蛇绿混杂岩中零星分布的堆晶岩和辉长岩团块是同源岩浆演化的产物。对分离结晶过程中Nb元素地球化学行为的研究表明,岩浆的结晶分异能够导致辉长岩明显亏损Nb。     

西藏丁青地区与玻镁安山岩类有关的蛇绿岩的矿物学特征

西藏丁青蛇绿岩的东杂岩体是一种与玻镁安山岩(Boninite)有关的特殊的蛇绿岩类型。其 堆晶斜方辉石岩、辉长岩和辉绿岩的岩石化学、微量元素以及稀土元素的地球化学特征均与西太平洋诸岛(伊豆—马利亚纳、巴布亚新几内亚、新喀里多尼亚等)的玻镁安山岩相似。此外,超镁铁质构造岩中的橄榄石和顽火辉石富镁,指示残余地幔具强烈亏损的性质。尖晶石的Cr含量中等至较高,与深海橄榄岩及大洋中脊玄武岩中的尖晶石不同。堆晶岩和辉长岩中的古铜辉石富镁,斜长石富钙,也明显不同于典型大洋中脊环境的特征,表明丁青东蛇绿岩形成的环境不像大洋中脊或弧后盆地,而可能是在洋内俯冲带之上的岛弧底部。     

新疆北部乌恰沟地区镁铁质侵入岩的年代学、地球化学和Sr-Nd-Pb同位素组成：对地幔源区特征和深部过程的约束

阿尔泰造山带东段的乌恰沟地区发育大量镁铁质侵入岩(岩脉或小岩体),包括闪长玢岩和具堆积结构的角闪辉长岩和橄榄辉长岩。锆石SHRIMP U-Ph同位素定年结果说明这些镁铁质岩浆的侵位时间为257．4±5．3Ma,与峨眉山玄武岩相近(259±3Ma)。在微量元素原始地幔标准化图上,它们共同的特征是富集大离子亲石元素,亏损Nb和Ta,具K和Pb的正异常,LREE相对HREE富集,即具弧火山岩的地球化学特征。同时它们之间还存在互补的地球化学特征,如闪长玢岩存在Ba、Sr、Eu、P和Ti的负异常,橄榄辉长岩具有Ba、Sr、Eu、P的正异常,而角闪辉长岩具有Ti的正异常。如果扣除围岩混染和后期流体交代的影响,这些岩石的Sr-Nd-Pb同位素组成基本一致,因此闪长玢岩和两种辉长岩分别代表同源岩浆因结晶分离作用形成的演化岩浆和堆晶岩。乌恰沟晚二叠世镁铁质侵入岩和新疆北部早二叠世与铜镍矿有关的基性-超基性杂岩体都具有与弧火山岩相似的地球化学特征,反映了被俯冲改造的陆下岩石圈地幔的地球化学特征。但是与后者相比,前者的Mg~#值、ε_(Nd)(t)值和La/Nb比明显偏低,暗示存在软流圈地幔来源物质的显著贡献。综合阿尔泰乌恰沟地区镁铁质侵入岩的年代学、地球化学和同位素组成特征,我们推测该区在晚二叠世存在地幔柱与岩石圈地幔之间的相互作用。     

新疆北山地区中坡山北镁铁质岩体岩石地球化学与岩石成因

中坡山北镁铁质岩体位于新疆北山裂谷带的中带,岩体形态为相互联通的岩盆状,出露面积约180km~2。由角闪辉长岩、橄榄辉石岩、橄榄辉长岩、苏长辉长岩和斜长岩组成,岩相带呈同心环状展布,相互间呈渐变过渡关系。锆石U-Pb法同位素年龄为274+4Ma。岩相学、岩石化学、造岩矿物晶体化学和稀土元素地球化学特征均显示了非常发育的分离结晶作用。橄榄辉石岩和橄榄辉长岩主要由早期结晶相聚集而成,橄榄石是最初的液相线相,单斜辉石是数量最多的分离结晶相。斜长岩由残余岩浆结晶而成。母岩浆应该是高镁的拉斑玄武岩浆。Nd、Sr、Pb同位素组成和岩石地球化学特征充分证明了岩浆与围岩之间的物质交换。同化混染作用明显地改变了侵入岩的同位素组成和大离子亲石元素丰度。除斜长岩外,各种岩石的TiO_2、Na：O、K_2O、大离子亲石元素和稀土元素丰度均很低,受同化混染作用影响较小的样品的ε_Nd(t)=+6．80,这些特征证明其岩浆源区属亏损型地幔。FeO~*和SiO_2含量证明,熔融作用开始时,源岩为二辉橄榄岩；当熔融作用持续到一定程度时,源岩物质转化为方辉橄榄岩。稀土元素地球化学证明,熔融作用发生于尖晶石稳定域内。综合各方面要素可以证明,中坡山北岩体是塔里木板块二叠纪期间第四种类型地幔源区部分熔融的产物。     

承德三岔口基性岩墙地球化学特征及地质意义

对承德三岔口基性岩墙进行了锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年代学和岩石地球化学研究。定年结果表明岩墙属晚印支期(222.1±1.6)Ma岩浆活动的产物;地球化学特征显示岩墙具有拉斑玄武岩特征,轻稀土(LREE)和大离子亲石元素(LILE)相对富集岩墙,亏损Nb、Ta和Ti等。同位素组成特征显示,岩墙具有正的初始Sr比值和负的εNd(t)值。以上特征都暗示三岔口基性岩墙可能来源于富集的岩石圈地幔。根据年代学、地球化学和前期研究成果认为,与三岔口基性岩墙同期位于华北北缘的东西向侵入岩带,可能是华北克拉通减薄的最初表现。     

新疆尾亚含矿岩体锆石U-Pb年龄、 Sr-Nd同位素组成及其地质意义

东天山尾亚钒钛磁铁矿矿床是北疆地区最大的钒钛磁铁矿矿床,其含矿岩系为一套偏碱性的镁铁-超镁铁质杂岩。含矿岩石主要造岩矿物橄榄石、辉石、角闪石、黑云母和斜长石的化学成分与铁质系列的镁铁-超镁铁岩成分相似或相同;辉石、角闪石、黑云母等矿物以富钛为特点,这些矿物中Ti、Fe等在早期形成的岩石(辉橄岩、橄榄辉长岩)中较晚期岩石中有明显富集。含矿辉长岩的锆石LA-ICPMS U-Pb同位素定年结果为236±3Ma,主要成岩时代为中三叠世,代表后碰撞结束阶段的成矿作用。这套含矿镁铁-超镁铁杂岩的Sr-Nd同位素特征以ε_(Nd)(t)均为正值,(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)_i值较低为特征,与原始地幔相近,但在岩浆上移过程中可能有陆壳物质加入。     

Wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometric determination of Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in komatiites

Komatiites are mantle-derived ultramafic volcanic rocks. Komatiites have been discovered in several States of India, notably in Karnataka. Studies on the distribution of trace-elements in the komatiites of India are very few. This paper proposes a simple, accurate, precise, rapid, and non-destructive wavelength-dispersive x-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometric technique for determining Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in komatiites, and discusses the accuracy, precision, limits of detection, x-ray spectral-line interferences, inter-element effects, speed, advantages, and limitations of the technique. The accuracy of the technique is excellent (within 3%) for Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th and very good (within 4%) for Y. The precision is also excellent (within 3%) for Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th. The limits of detection are: 1 ppm for Sc and V; 2 ppm for Cr, Co, and Ni; 3 ppm for Cu, Zn, Rb, and Sr; 4 ppm for Y and Zr; 6 ppm for Nb; 10 ppm for Ba; 13 ppm for Pb; and 14 ppm for Th. The time taken for determining Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in a batch of 24 samples of komatiites, for a replication of four analyses per sample, by one operator, using a manual WDXRF spectrometer, is only 60 hours.     

Isotopic systematics of He,Ar, S,Cu, Ni,Re, Os,Pb, U,Sm, Nd,Rb, Sr,Lu, and Hf in the rocks and ores of the Norilsk deposits

This paper reports the first results of a study of 11 isotope systems (³He/⁴He, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar, ³⁴S/³²S, ⁶⁵Cu/⁶³Cu, ⁶²Ni/⁶⁰Ni, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd, ^206–208Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, Hf–Nd, U–Pb, and Re–Os) in the rocks and ores of the Cu–Ni–PGE deposits of the Norilsk ore district. Almost all the results were obtained at the Center of Isotopic Research of the Karpinskii All-Russia Research Institute of Geology. The use of a number of independent genetic isotopic signatures and comprehensive isotopic knowledge provided a methodic basis for the interpretation of approximately 5000 isotopic analyses of various elements. The presence of materials from two sources, crust and mantle, was detected in the composition of the rocks and ores. The contribution of the crustal source is especially significant in the paleofluids (gas–liquid microinclusions) of the ore-forming medium. Crustal solutions were probably a transport medium during ore formation. Air argon is dominant in the ores, which indicates a connection between the paleofluids and the atmosphere. This suggests intense groundwater circulation during the crystallization of ore minerals. The age of the rocks and ores of the Norilsk deposits was determined. The stage of orebody formation is restricted to a narrow age interval of 250 ± 10 Ma. An isotopic criterion was proposed for the ore-bearing potential of mafic intrusions in the Norilsk–Taimyr region. It includes several interrelated isotopic ratios of various elements: He, Ar, S, and others.     

高压微波消解法测定醋酸纤维过滤器采集的微尘粒子中的砷镉钴铬铜铁锰镍铅钒锌

最新的流行病学研究表明,空气中较高浓度的悬浮细颗粒可能对人类的健康有不利的影响。根据该项研究显示,由于心脏病、慢性呼吸问题和肺功能指标恶化而导致死亡率的升高与细尘粒子有关。这些研究结果已经促使欧盟于1999年4月出台了限制空气中二氧化硫、二氧化氮、氧化氮、铅和颗粒物含量的法案(1999/30/EC),对各项指标包括对可吸入PM10颗粒的浓度提出了新的限制性指标。PM10颗粒是指可以通过预分级器分离采集的气体动力学直径小于10μm的细颗粒。目前研究的兴趣重点逐步偏向PM2.5这些更细微颗粒物,PM2.5这种颗粒物对健康有明显的不利影响。在欧盟指令2008/50/EC中,对PM10和PM2.5都提     

硅酸盐中铁、锰、钛、钙、钾、磷、硅、铝、镁、钠、锶、铷、钡的X-射线荧光光谱定量测定

本文介绍样品经四硼酸锂熔融制成玻璃小饼。采用Lachance模式和理论a系数来校正元素间的效应,由3080E型X-射线荧光谱仪和DF-350B数据处理系统完成硅酸盐中十三个项目的测定。     

硅酸盐类样品中硅、铁、铝、钛、锰、钙、镁、钾、钠和磷的x射线荧光光谱测定

本文拟定了一种以熔融法制备样片,用X射线荧光光谱测定硅酸盐类样品中Si、Fe、Al、Tj、Mn、Ca、Mg、K、Na、P等元素的分析方法。在对不同靶材X光管和分光晶体实验对比的基础上,选择了最佳的测量条件。该法具有快速、准确,测量范围广,检测限低,价格便宜等优点。经过近百个各种类型标样或管理样品的分析对比表明,本法不仅适用于硅酸盐类岩石样品的分析,还适用于铁矿、铝土矿、碳酸盐类岩矿样品以及水泥、耐火材料等样品的分析。     

Viscous, cohesive, non-Newtonian, depositing, radial slurry flow

Mining induced subsidence can significantly affect mining costs where major surface facilities and natural environment need to be protected. Overburden grout injection is a technology used to control coal mine subsidence by injecting the mine waste material extracted from the coal back into the inter-burden rock during longwall mining. The flowing slurry is here categorised as a nonlinear viscous cohesive (Bingham plastic) fluid. During longwall mining the grout slurry is pumped into the separated beds of the rock mass through a central vertical borehole, which is drilled deep into the inter-burden rock strata above the coal seam. However, a blockage can occur in the injection system when the slurry velocity falls below a certain critical threshold velocity, indicating a material phase change from cohesive-viscous to cohesive-frictional. In situ field injection tests through boreholes have been simulated at a smaller scale at the CSIRO laboratory in Brisbane by pumping the slurry through a radial disk (gap = 4 mm) from its centre. Laboratory experiments indicate a general, nonlinear, cohesive, viscous, frictional model for shear behaviour of the slurry, in which the material shear parameters are functions of the disk radial distance. Complete dimensional and dimensionless analytical solutions have been developed based on an approach related to Bingham–Herschel–Bulkley fluid mechanics. The derived formulae include relations for minimum pump pressure, local pressure and pressure gradient, wall shear stress, volume rate, velocity and velocity gradient. The theoretical results match the experimental measurements. The experiments covered slurries with maximum particle sizes of 0.5 to 2 mm with about 50% being larger than 100 µm. The viscosities at the various solids concentrations were measured with a standard torsion viscometer. This study differs from the previous research in several distinct aspects, namely, consideration of the variable shear parameters rather than fixed values, inclusion of total nonlinear behaviour, and implementation of a friction function to mimic behaviour of the deposited and consolidating stiff slurry, which can cause a significant pressure rise as a result of the increased shear resistance.     

Regional distribution of Al,B, Ba,Ca, K,La, Mg,Mn, Na,P, Rb,Si, Sr,Th, U and Y in terrestrial moss within a 188,000 km2 area of the central Barents region: influence of geology,seaspray and human activity

Five hundred and ninety-eight samples of terrestrial moss (Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi) collected from a 188,000 km² area of the central Barents region (NE Norway, N Finland, NW Russia) were analysed by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. Analytical results for Al, B, Ba, Ca, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Rb, Si, Sr, Th, U and Y concentrations are reported here. Graphical methods of data analysis, such as geochemical maps, cumulative frequency diagrams, boxplots and scatterplots, are used to interpret the origin of the patterns for these elements. None of the elements reported here are emitted in significant amounts from the smelting industry on the Kola Peninsula. Despite the conventional view that moss chemistry reflects atmospheric element input, the nature of the underlying mineral substrate (regolith or bedrock) is found to have a considerable influence on moss composition for several elements. This influence of the chemistry of the mineral substrate can take place in a variety of ways. (1) It can be completely natural, reflecting the ability of higher plants to take up elements from deep soil horizons and shed them with litterfall onto the surface. (2) It can result from naturally increased soil dust input where vegetation is scarce due to harsh climatic conditions for instance. Alternatively, substrate influence can be enhanced by human activity, such as open-cast mining, creation of ‘technogenic deserts’, or handling, transport and storage of ore and ore products, all of which magnify the natural elemental flux from bedrock to ground vegetation. Seaspray is another natural process affecting moss composition in the area (Mg, Na), and this is most visible in the Norwegian part of the study area. Presence or absence of some plant species, e.g., lichens, seems to influence moss chemistry. This is shown by the low concentrations of B or K in moss on the Finnish and Norwegian side of the (fenced) border with Russia, contrasting with high concentrations on the other side (intensive reindeer husbandry west of the border has selectively depleted the lichen population).     

NEW SET OF LOW CONCENTRATION STANDARDS FOR LA, CE, SM, YB, LU, Y, SC, V, NB AND TA IN SILICATES

We have developed a set of four synthetic standards for the rare earth and high field strength elements designed for use in the determination of those elements in silicates. The base material is a glass nominally at the eutectic of the MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ ternary system. The nominal doping level was 2 wt% of the elements as oxides. To avoid problems associated with peak interference, the elements were doped in four separate glasses.     

Bellechester,Minnesota, USA,lagoon collapses

Bellechester, Minnesota, is a small community of approximately 155 residents located on the county line between Goodhue and Wabasha counties in southeast Minnesota's karst region. Bellechester is served by a 21-year-old wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) consisting of three waste-stabilization ponds. On 28 April 1992 six sinkholes were discovered to have drained cell 2 of the WWTF resulting in the loss of approximately 8.7×10⁶ 1 of partially treated effluent and about 600 m³ of soil into previously undetected subsurface voids of unknown dimensions. In the week following the collapse, approximately 200 water wells located within a 5-km radius of the WWTF were sampled in an after-the-fact, emergency sampling program. Twelve samples with elevated fecal coliform levels, 18 samples with nitrate-nitrogen greater than the 10 mg/1 standard, and no samples with elevated chlorides were found. However, the elevated levels could not be unambiguously attributed to the WWTF collapse. This is the third WWTF to fail by sinkhole collapse in southeast Minnesota since 1974. All three collapsed lagoons have been located in similar geomorphic and stratigraphic settings. However, at least two lagoons have collapsed in the adjacent area in northeast Iowa, and these lagoons are located at different stratigraphic positions. Twenty-two WWTFs constructed in southeast Minnesota's karst region in the last 25 years have been identified as subject to potential sinkhole collapse. An unknown but significant number of manure storage lagoons, flood control structures, etc., have also been constructed in the karst region and are at risk. Public agencies are beginning to develop plans to deal with the risk associated with existing and future waste lagoons in this environment. The critical hydrogeologic parameters that can be used to prioritize the risk of collapse at existing facilities include: (1) the lithology of the first bedrock beneath each lagoon, (2) the thickness of surficial materials between the lagoon and the bedrock surface, (3) the presence and construction of liners (seepage rate), and (4) the proximity to existing sinkholes.