Mineralogy, geochemistry, and palynology of modern and late Tertiary mangrove deposits in the Barreiras Formation of Mosqueiro Island, northeastern Pará state, eastern Amazonia

A coastal environment has been interpreted from 110 cm thick mudstone deposits found at the base of a 10 m immature laterite profile, which forms the modern coastal cliff on Mosqueiro Island in northeastern Pará state, northern Brazil. The late Tertiary sediment deposits of the Barreiras Formation are studied by multi-element geochemistry and pollen analyses. The mineralogical and geochemical results show that the gray, organic-rich deposits are composed of kaolinite, quartz, and illite/muscovite, as well as pyrite and anatase. They are rich in SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and some FeO. The composition is homogenous, indicating that the detritus source area is formed of lateritic soils derived from acid rock composition. Their chemical composition, including trace elements, is somewhat comparable to continental shale, and the values are below the upper continental Earth crust composition. The pollen analytical data document that the mudstone deposits were formed by an ancient mangrove ecosystem. Mineralogical, geochemical, and pollen analytical data obtained from late Tertiary mangrove deposits are compared with modern mangrove deposits from the Bragança Peninsula of the northeastern coast of Pará state. Although the pollen composition of the deposits is very similar to the modern one, the geochemical and mineralogical composition is different. Smectite was only found in the modern deposit; illite/mica occurs in the ancient deposit, along with Mg, K, and Na. The pollen signature and detrital minerals (kaolinite, quartz and anatase) found in both mangrove deposits show that during the Miocene, a humid tropical climate condition prevailed, similar to modern conditions.     

Stone-line formation processes documented by in situ-produced Be distribution, Jardim River basin, DF, Brazil

Concentrations of in situ-produced cosmogenic ¹⁰Be (T_1/2=1.5 Myr) were measured in quartz samples from a quartz vein and its connected stone line from the Jardim River basin, Distrito Federal, Brazil, in order to quantify the processes involved in the landscape evolution of that region. The exponential decrease of the ¹⁰Be concentrations along the quartz vein, as well as their systematic increase along the stone-line away from the quartz vein, suggests an autochthonous development. Two models allow to estimate the lateral displacement rate. A plugs model assuming that the sample depth, and hence the production rate, is constant, and a burial model assuming that the sample depth, and hence the production rate, varies through time, yield lateral displacement rate of 37±5 and 68±6 m Myr⁻¹, respectively.     

Isotope geochemistry and fluid inclusion study of skarns from Vesuvius

Summary We present new mineral chemistry, fluid inclusion, stable carbon and oxygen, as well as Pb, Sr, and Nd isotope data of Ca-Mg-silicate-rich ejecta (skarns) and associated cognate and xenolithic nodules from the Mt. Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex, Italy. The typically zoned skarn ejecta consist mainly of diopsidic and hedenbergitic, sometimes “fassaitic” clinopyroxene, Mg-rich and Ti-poor phlogopite, F-bearing vesuvianite, wollastonite, gehlenite, meionite, forsterite, clinohumite, anorthite and Mg-poor calcite with accessory apatite, spinell, magnetite, perovskite, baddeleyite, and various REE-, U-, Th-, Zr- and Ti-rich minerals. Four major types of fluid inclusions were observed in wollastonite, vesuvianite, gehlenite, clinopyroxene and calcite: a) primary silicate melt inclusions (T_HOM = 1000–1050 °C), b) CO₂ ± H₂S-rich fluid inclusions (T_HOM = 20–31.3 °C into the vapor phase), c) multiphase aqueous brine inclusions (T_HOM = 720–820 °C) with mainly sylvite and halite daughter minerals, and d) complex chloride-carbonate-sulfate-fluoride-silicate-bearing saline-melt inclusions (T_HOM = 870–890 °C). The last inclusion type shows evidence for immiscibility between several fluids (silicate melt – aqueous chloride-rich liquid – carbonate/sulfate melt?) during heating and cooling below 870 °C. There is no evidence for fluid circulation below 700 °C and participation of externally derived meteoric fluids in skarn formation. Skarns have considerably variable ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (19.047–19.202), ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (15.655–15.670), and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (38.915–39.069) and relatively low ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.51211–0.51244) ratios. The carbon and oxygen isotope compositions of skarn calcites (δ¹³C_V-PDB = −5.4 to −1.1‰; δ18O_V-SMOW = 11.7 to 16.4‰) indicate formation from a ¹⁸O- and ¹³C-enriched fluid. The isotope composition of skarns and the presence of silicate melt inclusion-bearing wollastonite nodules suggests assimilation of carbonate wall rocks by the alkaline magma at moderate depths (< 5 km) and consequent exsolution of CO₂-rich vapor and complex saline melts from the contaminated magma that reacted with the carbonate rocks to form skarns. Received March 1, 2000; revised version accepted November 2, 2000     

Regional geochemical prospecting in Calabria, Southern Italy

A governmental regional drainage survey assessed the mineral potential of Calabria in 1974. The Calabria area of southern Italy is a mineralized region in which Penninic and Austro-Alpine nappes, comprising ophiolites, metasedimentary rocks (phyllites, paragneiss, granulites, amphibolites) and granitic and granodiorite plutons, are overthrusting carbonate Apenninic nappes. Pre-Alpine stratabound and vein-type base-metal sulfide mineralization predominate, tectonically redistributed during the Alpine orogeny.A total of 5518 samples of the original 6999 active stream sediments from an area of 10,000 km² were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence and atomic absorption for Cu, Pb, Zn, Hg, Fe, Mn, As, W, Mo, Sn, and Be on the minus 180 μm fraction. Follow-up investigation of a 39-km² area around Bivongi-Ferdinandea using 760 soil samples analyzed for Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, K, Mo, and Au, investigated molybdenite and chalcopyrite occurrences associated with granodiorite.A five-factor R-mode factor analysis reflected geological and mineralization features in the reconnaissance data. Factor 1 (Fe-Mn-Cu-Zn) is related to the Fe and Mn distribution in the stream sediments. Factor 2 (Be-Sn) reflects presence of pegmatites within metamorphic and magmatic rocks. Factor 5 (Mo) is essentially a single-element factor. Factor 4 (As-Pb-Zn-Hg-Cu) reflects mineralization. Factor 3 (W-Ba) does not cluster in association with any specific lithological unit. Significant metal associations, recognized from R-mode factor analysis, were used as independent variables and regressed against the original metal concentration of each sample. Residuals of multiple regression analysis, differentiated features representing mineralization from those related either to lithologic or geochemical parameters. New prospecting targets were identified and areas of known mineral occurrences were evident in the distinction of residuals.R-mode factor analysis of data from the follow-up investigation identified three factors. Factor 2 (Mo-K) reflects Mo mineralization and associated hydrothermally altered areas but does not suggest additional target areas.     

Electron microprobe dating of monazite from high-T shear zones in the São José de Campestre Massif, NE Brazil

The easternmost domain of the Borborema Province, northeastern Brazil, presents widespread, extensional-related high-temperature metamorphism during the Brasiliano (=Pan-African) orogeny. This event reached the upper amphibolite to granulite facies and provoked generalized migmatization of Proterozoic metapelitic rocks of the Seridó Group and tonalitic to granodioritic orthogneisses of the Archean to Paleoproterozoic basement. We report new geochronological data based on electron microprobe dating of monazite from metapelitic migmatite and leuconorite within the high-T shear zones that make up the eastern continuation of the huge E–W Patos shear belt. These data were also constrained by using the Sm–Nd isotopic systematic on garnet from a syntectonic alkaline granite and two garnet-bearing leucosomes. The results suggest an age of about 578 to 574 Ma for the peak of the widespread high-T metamorphism. This event is best recorded by Sm–Nd garnet-whole rock ages. The U–Th–Pb isotopes on monazite of the metapelitic migmatite show a younger thermal event at 553 ± 10 Ma. When compared to the Sm–Nd garnet-whole rock ages, the U–Th–Pb electron probe monazite ages seem to record an event of slightly lower temperatures after the peak of the high-T metamorphism. This may reflect the difference in the isotopic behavior of the geochronological methods employed. Otherwise, the U–Th–Pb ages on monazites could indicate an event not yet very well defined. In anyway, this paper reveals the partial or even complete re-opening and resetting of the U–Th–Pb isotopic system produced by the action of low-T Ca-rich fluid.     

Peperite formed by lava flows over sediments: An example from the central Paraná Continental Flood Basalts,Brazil

Pahoehoe flows interbedded with sediments have been identified in the superior portion of Paraná Continental Flood Basalts (PCFB), west portion of Paraná State, southern Brazil. In the study area peperites are generated by the interaction between lava flows and wet lacustrine sediments (silt and clay). Evidence that the sediments were unconsolidated or poorly consolidated and wet when the lava flowed over them includes vesiculated sediment, sediment in vesicles and fractures in lava flow and in juvenile clasts in the peperite and soft sediment deformation. Hydrodynamic mingling of lava and wet sediments (coarse mingling) is predominant and volcanic rocks and textures related to explosive phase of Molten Fuel Coolant Interaction (MFCI) are not observed in study area. Locally centimeter-sized areas display direct contact between ash-sized juvenile clasts and sediments formed by the collapse of a vapor film. The textures of fluidal peperites in the central PCFB indicate that the relevant factors that led to a coarse mingling between lava/sediment are (1) lava properties (low viscosity); (2) fine grained, unconsolidated or poorly consolidated wet sediment; and (3) a single episode of interaction between lava flows and sediment.     

U–Pb SHRIMP and Sm–Nd geochronology of granite–gneiss complexes and implications for the evolution of the Central Brazil Archean Terrain

The paper is a first attempt to unravel the Archean multi-stage metaplutonic assemblage of the Meso/Neoarchean terrane of the State of Goiás, Central Brazil, by means of the U–Pb SHRIMP zircon and Sm–Nd techniques. Two stages of granitic plutonism, spanning ca. 140 m.y., were precisely established for the accretion of the gneiss protoliths. The earliest stage embraces tonalitic to granodioritic and minor granitic orthogneisses with Nd juvenile signature, emplaced from ca. 2845 to ca. 2785 Ma, interpreted as the roots of an early arc. Inherited zircon xenocrysts and Nd isotopic data indicate that the juvenile magmas underwent contamination from a sialic crust as old as 3.3 Ga, from which there are, so far, no recognizable exposures. The second stage comprises granodioritic to granitic gneisses and lasted from ca. 2711 to 2707 Ma. Based on their Nd isotopic signatures and on inherited zircon crystals, their protoliths are interpreted as dominantly crustal-derived. The SHRIMP data from zircon crystals did not depict a Paleoproterozoic overprinting on the Archean gneisses, which is due to geological processes with prevailing temperatures below the isotopic stability of the U/Pb/Th system in the mineral. These processes comprise crustal extension and intrusion of a mafic dike swarm at ca. 2.3 Ga, followed by low grade events mostly related to shear zones between ca. 2.15 and 2.0 Ga. The study also revealed the extent of the Pan- African tectono-thermal overprinting on the Archean orthogneisses. Most of the zircon populations show morphological evidence of metamorphic peripheral recrystallization dated between ca. 750 and 550 Ma. One of the banded gneisses with a crystallization age of ca. 2700 Ma (2σ) has a more complex zircon population including magmatic new grains, which yielded a precise 206Pb/238U crystallization age of 590 ± 10 Ma (2σ). These new grains are interpreted to have grown in anatectic veins injected within strongly sheared gneiss.The data characterize a widespread Pan-African-aged metamorphic overprinting, culminating with localized anatexis of the Archean orthogneisses.     

Port Infrastructure Control (Madeira Island,Portugal) through a Hybrid Monitoring System (GNSS and Accelerometers)

This article describes the implementation of a monitoring system on the breakwater at the Funchal Port (Madeira Island, Portugal) for the purpose of understanding its dynamic behavior and the temporal evolution of structural health. The monitoring system focuses on the breakwater superstructure and aims to identify the evolution of damage on the breakwater and analyze the impact of cruise ships docking and undocking. The system includes the measurement of displacements through geodetic techniques using global navigation satellite systems and the measurement of vibrations using accelerometers. Ten observation campaigns were performed over almost 3 years. As the measured displacements during this period were less than 7.5 mm it can be concluded that, despite some visible cracks, the breakwater superstructure did not suffer significant structural changes. It was shown from the measured acceleration records that some of the main modal parameters could be identified, namely the main natural frequencies of the superstructure. Through an analysis of the natural frequencies progression over time, it will be possible to identify deterioration effects on the foundation and/or the superstructure. The comparison of natural frequencies identified could be useful to evaluate the impact of these events on structural health.     

An overview of geological originated materials as a trend for adsorption in wastewater treatment

Adsorption is a unit operation widely used for the tertiary treatment of the most diverse effluents,whose mechanism is based on removing recalcitrant compounds from the organic and inorganic origin.In this process,choosing a suitable adsorbent is a fundamental point.This review article focuses on the adsorbents with natural geological origin:minerals,clays,geopolymers,and even wastes resulted from mining activity.Therefore,over 450 articles and research papers were explored.These materials’main sources are described,and their characteristics,composition,and intrinsic properties are related to adsorption.Herein,we discuss the effects of several process parameters,such as p H,temperature,pollutant,and adsorbent concentration.Furthermore,equilibrium,kinetics,and thermodynamic aspects are also addressed,and relevant regeneration prospects and final disposal.Finally,some suggestions and perspectives on applying these adsorbents in wastewater treatment are presented as future trends.