Characterization of sediments in an abandoned mining area; a case study of Mansfeld region,Germany

The distribution of selected heavy metals, including some radionuclides, metalloids and non-metals was determined in stream sediments in a region influenced by abandoned copper mining and ore processing activities. A considerable amount of the ore processing waste with a very complex composition and highly elevated concentrations of zinc, sulfur, lead, copper, arsenic, and a lot of other elements in the range between 100 and 1,000 mg/kg (Sb, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cd, Hg, and Ag) was piled up on mine dumps. The dispersion of the pollutants originating from this source and their environmental impact were investigated. Both, sediments and original waste material were studied to indicate the pathways and the mobilization behavior of different pollutants. For this purpose, the process of the elution of pollutants by application of different fractionation schemes was studied. The capabilities of different analytical techniques are shown for the analysis of solid samples (X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, Gamma-spectrometry) and liquid ones (ICP-atomic emission spectrometry, ICP-mass spectrometry and different techniques of atomic absorption). Additionally, the coupling of ion chromatography and ICP-MS detection was used to study the distribution of arsenic species in the sediment cores of a lake which acts as a natural sink for the region.     

Neoproterozoic to Early-Palaeozoic magmatic evolution in the Gondwana-derived Austroalpine basement to the south of the Tauern Window (Eastern Alps)

In the Austroalpine Basement to the south of the Tauern Window, distinct suites of metabasites occur with orthogneisses in pre-Early-Ordovician units. Tholeiitic and alkaline within-plate basalt-type metabasites are associated with acid meta-porphyroids in the post-Early-Ordovician Thurntaler Phyllite Group. According to their correlated trace element abundances, metabasite zircons crystallized with their host rocks. Protolith Pb–Pb zircon ages, whole-rock Ta/Yb–Th/Yb and oxygen, Sr, Nd isotope data define two principal evolution lines. An older evolution at elevated Th/Yb typical of subduction-related magmatism, started by 590-Ma N-MORB-type and 550–530 Ma volcanic arc basalt type basic suites, which mainly involved depleted mantle sources. It finished with mainly crustal-source 470–450-Ma acid magmatites. An other evolution line by tholeiitic and 430-Ma alkaline within-plate basalt-type suites in both pre- and post-Early-Ordovician units is characterized by an intraplate mantle metasomatism and enrichment trend along multicomponent sources. These magmatic evolution lines can be related to a plate tectonic scenario that involved terranes in a progressively mature Neoproterozoic to Ordovician active margin, and a subsequent Palaeo-Tethys passive margin along the north Gondwanan periphery.     

Different age response of zircon and monazite during the tectono-metamorphic evolution of a high grade paragneiss from the Ruhla Crystalline Complex,central Germany

Results of TIMS, SIMS and SEM analyses show that zircon and monazite in a high-grade paragneiss of the Ruhla Crystalline Complex, central Germany, were formed and/or altered during different stages of a tectono-metamorphic history between Early Devonian and Permian times. Detrital zircon cores of >460 Ma place an older limit on the age of anatexis, and show that the paragneiss sequence contains rocks at least as young as early Cambrian. Metamorphic zircon growth commenced at ~365 Ma, peaking at ~360–355 Ma at the same time that granite dykes were emplaced. In contrast, monazite in the paragneiss preserves little record of the metamorphic peak. Most monazite grains grew or were recrystallised in the Lower Carboniferous at ~339 Ma, contemporaneous with the emplacement of voluminous diorite and granite bodies. These intrusions and related tectonics caused some of the high-U zircon overgrowths to undergo moderate to severe Pb loss. A second Pb loss event, between 300 and 280 Ma, can be related to Late Carboniferous/Early Permian large-scale block faulting.Editorial responsibility: J. Hoefs     

Special Contribution: ALP 2002 Seismic Experiment

Studia Geophysica et Geodaetica -     

Special Contribution: CELEBRATION 2000 Seismic Experiment

Studia Geophysica et Geodaetica -     

Impact des crues sur les bilans sédimentaires de chenaux secondaires de la Loire moyenne (France)

Volumes of sediments eroded and deposited during floods were quantified in a vegetated secondary channel of the Loire River at the study site of Bréhémont (France). The topographic survey highlights the temporal variability in filling of secondary channels. Upstream riffle of secondary channels governs sedimentary supply. In these channels, sediments show a by-passing in the lower parts and an accretion in the higher vegetated areas. The asymmetrical morphology is reinforced during both intense and moderate floods. Sedimentary accretion in the vegetated areas leads progressively to channel narrowing. To cite this article: S. Rodrigues et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Size-Resolved Aerosol Characterization for a Polluted Episode at the IfT Research Station Melpitz in Autumn 1997

Inorganic ions, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) and a variety of organic single species in airborne particles have been determined at the research station of the Leibniz – Institut für Troposphärenforschung (IfT) in Melpitz (Germany) in autumn 1997.Samples of eight selected measurement events were divided in two groups in order to investigate differences in the chemical composition of particles originating from southwesterly (SW – developed EU countries) or from easterly directions (E – less developed eastern countries). Differences between these two groups were tested statistically by Student's t-test.Five stage cascade impactor samples show nitrate as most abundant in the accumulation mode in the SW group. EC and sulphate show the most abundant mass fractions in the E group. That can be considered as a consequence of domestic coal heating and coal-fired power plant emissions in the region of westerly Poland, northern Czech Republic and easterly Germany. Higher nitrate concentrations in the SW group can be explained by stronger NO _x emissions caused by the leeward plume of the conurbation of Leipzig, as well as by the still higher traffic density in western Germany.The methane sulphonic acid (MSA) mass fraction was higher for SW air masses in accumulation mode particles, probably indicating marine origin. Succinic acid also showed higher mass fractions for the SW group. This could be caused by primary emission in automobile exhaust gases and photochemical formation during transport from SW. Indeed, during SW sampling, solar radiation intensity was higher than during E sampling.The observed differences in the particle composition are an expression of the still existing technology gradient in Europe. Future campaigns could show the development to a joint economy with smaller differences in anthropogenic emissions.