Microbial release of potassium from K-bearing minerals by thermophilic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus

A strain of thermophilic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus was cultured with K-bearing minerals to determine if microbe-mineral interactions enhance the release of mineralic potassium. Experiments were carried out in two settings, one with the mineral grains and the fungal cells in direct contact, and the other employing a membrane (pore size 0.22 μm) to separate the two. Measurements over a period of 30 days showed that, irrespective of the experimental setup, the concentration of free K in the culture was drastically higher than those in any of the control experiments where no living organism was present. Moreover, the occurrence of mineral-cell physical contact enhanced potassium release by an additional factor of 3 to 4 in comparison to the separation experiments. For contact experiments, Electron Probe Microanalysis revealed the formation of mycelium-mineral aggregates, and Atomic Force Microscopy imaging further indicated the possible ingestion of mineral particles by the fungus cells. Contrasting to what was observed and expected in control experiments, the potassium solubilization rate showed a positive dependence upon pH when fungi and minerals were mixed directly, and exhibited no correlations with solution acidity if cell-rock contact was restrained. These results appear to suggest that A. fumigatus promoted potassium release by means of at least three likely routes, one through the complexation of soluble organic ligands, another appealing to the immobile biopolymers such as the insoluble components of secretion, and the third related to the mechanical forces in association with the direct physical contact between cells and mineral particles.     

Temperature–composition–time (T–X–t) data from authigenic K-feldspar: An integrated methodology for dating fluid flow events

Integration of fluid inclusion analysis with high spatial resolution Ar–Ar dating of K-feldspar cements has been used to resolve and reconstruct palaeo-fluid flow. Fluid inclusion analysis allows discrimination of distinct cement phases, thereby identifying discrete episodes of fluid flow. Ar–Ar dating of the same cements via high spatial resolution laserprobe establishes absolute age constraints on the framework previously constructed. Integration of these two datasets yields temperature–composition–time data.     

内蒙古白云鄂博矿区富钾板岩的热水沉积成因特征

通过对白云鄂博富钾板岩的岩石学、矿物学及岩石化学的研究,提出富钾板岩是一种热水沉积钾长石岩的认识。富钾板岩是白云鄂博矿区的一种重要岩性,与上下岩层呈不规则层状或夹层产出,致密状微晶或隐晶质结构。其中钾长石含量在80%以上,X射线衍射分析表明其2θ(2-01)=21 00,2θ(060)=41 800,2θ(2-04)=50 560,求得三斜度Δ=0 91,有序度δ=0 89,属于典型的低钠、低温、有序最大的微斜长石,微斜长石成分占98%以上。岩石中富含微量元素B、F、Sr、Ba,平均质量分数分别为26×10-6、3386×10-6、119×10-6和1735×10-6,结合X射线衍射分析表明微斜长石中有冰长石成分。稀土元素以轻稀土富集、重稀土亏损、个别出现正铕异常为特征。根据热水流体中钾浓度与温度的相关性及热水沉积、交代和充填物中经常出现钾长石矿物,分析认为白云鄂博矿区出现的富钾板岩是热水沉积钾长石岩,其形成于火山期后的溶液活动阶段。     

TEM study of a special grain boundary in a synthetic K-feldspar bicrystal: Manebach Twin

 A monoclinic KAlSi₃O₈ feldspar Manebach twin boundary was synthesized by diffusion bonding and examined using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The sharp (001) twin boundary is straight and free of strain. The boundary width is smaller than d₀₀₁. There is no rigid body shift observed at the twin boundary, and the feldspar structure is arranged symmetrically across (001). The twin boundary structure consists of bridged tetrahedral crankshafts, which are characteristic of the feldspar lattice. The grain boundary structure is in good agreement with the geometrical model of Taylor et al. (1934). The grain boundary composition of K_1/2H_1/2AlSi₃O₈ differs from their model. Received: 13 February 2002 / Accepted: 24 December 2002 Acknowledgements We thank M. Rühle, S. Hutt, J. Mayer, A. Strecker and U. Salzberger at MPI, Stuttgart, for their support and valuable advice in preparing TEM sections of bicrystals.     

安徽女山单斜辉石巨晶的地球化学

本文研究了安徽女山14个单斜辉石巨晶。它们属于铝普通辉石、透辉石和铁钠造辉石。主要元素、稀土和微量元素及同位素特征表明：它们是同一碱性玄武岩浆在幔源条件下不同程度结晶分异的产物，相对于寄主岩均属捕虏晶，可能自中生代即已开始形成。     

碱性玄武岩中的某些巨晶单斜辉石──Ⅱ:穆斯堡尔谱──兼论单斜辉石的异常穆斯堡尔谱和铁结构态的测定

本文对辽宁宽甸碱性玄武岩中巨晶单斜辉石进行穆斯堡尔谱研究。应用晶体结构研究结果较合理地解释了单斜辉石的异常穆斯堡尔谱。结合XRD讨论了单斜辉石中Fe结构态的测定以及穆斯堡尔谱的可应用性。巨晶应结晶于相当氧化的环境。     

河南嵩县店房金矿区花岗斑岩锆石U-Pb年龄、Hf同位素及岩石地球化学

华北陆块南缘外方山店房金矿区内出露后沟、水漉塘和店房钾长花岗斑岩体(脉),其与隐爆角砾岩筒及金矿化有密切的空间关系。为查明钾长花岗斑岩体的侵位时代、岩石成因和源区性质,本次开展了锆石U-Pb定年、锆石Hf同位素及岩石地球化学分析等研究。结果表明岩体具有高硅、高钾、富铝、低镁的特征,属钾玄岩系列Ⅰ型花岗岩,轻重稀土元素分馏明显,具有弱的Eu负异常,岩石富集Rb、K、Ba等,亏损Nb、Ta、Sr、P、Ti等元素。锆石具有核—边结构,其中锆石边SHRIMP U-Pb年龄142.6±2.1Ma(MSWD=1.4),_(εHf)(t)=-23.0~-13.8,两阶段模式年龄主要集中于2075~2652 Ma;锆石核LA-ICPMS U-Pb年龄可分为两组,即2169~2336Ma和1732~1881Ma,Hf同位素组成可分为两组,_(εHf)(t)分别集中于-13.1~-4.8和-4.5~3.7,模式年龄主要集中于2376~2805Ma。表明钾长花岗斑岩体形成于142.6±2.1Ma的早白垩世早期,岩浆可能由2169~2336Ma的古老下地壳新太古代太华群部分熔融而成,并有地幔组分参与,岩浆在上升或定位过程中捕获了1732~1881Ma熊耳群火山岩的锆石。结合区域构造背景认为,该岩体是早白垩世古太平洋板块向欧亚大陆俯冲致使华北陆块岩石圈减薄伸展而引起的岩浆活动的产物。     

Advances and Issues in Luminescence Dating of Loess Deposits in Arid Central Asia

High-resolution loess deposits are widely distributed in Arid Central Asia (ACA) and provide important records associated with dust transportation, paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic evolution. The chronology is the foundation of the research into loess deposits as an environmental archive. In recent decades, the gradually developed optical dating method has been increasingly matured and become an important approach to establishing the loess-paleosol sequences. Here, we summarized and discussed previous work on loess chronology mainly based on optical dating approach in ACA. The following understandings have been listed: ① In comparison with optical dating method, the suitable material for ¹⁴C dating is uncommon in ACA. However, the dating range of luminescence dating is more extensive, and the dating materials are accessible. Thus, the optical dating is widely applicable in the establishment of loess framework in this area. ② Until now, the quartz Single Aliquot Regeneration (SAR) method can be applied to the establishment of loess-paleosol sequence since last glacial period. But several issues remain unaddressed. For example, the Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) signal sensitivity of quartz grains are low in some areas. Furthermore, the results of OSL dating of different grain sizes within a single sample are inconsistent in some areas. The solution of these problems still requires more methodological research. ③ The post-IR IRSL (pIRIR) and multiple elevated temperature stimulation (MET-pIRIR) protoCols of feldspar have basically overcome the anomalous fading issue in the traditional IRSL dating process. In ACA, the framework since MIS 7 can be established with K-feldspar luminescence dating method. Compared with quartz luminescence characteristics, the K-feldspar luminescence signals are more sensitive and exhibit a high saturation level. In specific applications, it is necessary to establish the age frame according to the luminescence sensitivity, the age of samples or other factors.     

河北汉诺坝玄武岩中深源包体和巨晶分布的动力学机理

汉诺坝碱性玄武岩是深源包体和巨晶的主要寄主岩,同时,也有不含包体的碱性玄武岩和含包体的拉斑玄武岩。本文基于理论计算,探讨了包体和巨晶分布的动力学机理。     

中国东部新生代玄武岩中单斜辉石巨晶的主要特征及成因信息

作者通过对我国东部新生代玄武岩中巨晶Cpx的109个样品的化学成分的统计、计算及投影,研究了Cpx巨晶的产状、物性及矿物化学的主要特征,并对其成因信息提出了自己的看法。Cpx巨晶的成分以A1_2O_3、A1~(v1)较高而Ti、Mg'中等为特征。但在“反应边”中,A1_2O_3、Na_2O、A1、A1~(v1)则明显降低。我国巨晶以普通辉石为主,而透辉石、次透辉石及顽透辉石少见。国内不同地区的Cpx巨晶成分也略有不同:华南区巨晶的Wo较高而A1_2O_3较低;华北区Fs、A1_2O_3较高;而东北区En较高而A1_2O_3中等。有关Cpx巨晶的成因信息,作者的观点是:(1)巨晶Cpx是寄主玄武岩浆在上地幔中结晶的产物,而不是地幔解体的捕虏晶。(2)我国巨晶Cpx的结晶温度是1021—1209℃,压力为1.4—3.2GPa,所以,Cpx巨晶的结晶深度为48—104Km。(3)我国东部新生代玄武岩均产于大陆板块内部,以碱性玄武岩成分为主,而拉斑玄武岩较少。