云南景谷半坡铂钯多金属矿床辉长岩锆石U-Pb同位素定年及其意义

提要：景谷半坡铂钯多金属矿床位于澜沧江南段兰坪—思茅陆块,成矿主要与半坡杂岩体有关。半坡杂岩体由橄榄岩、辉石岩、辉长岩、辉长闪长岩和闪长岩等镁铁-超镁铁质岩组成。通过LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb同位素年代学方法获得半坡杂岩体中辉长岩结晶年龄为(302.6±2.0)Ma,说明半坡杂岩体形成时代为晚石炭世。岩体中辉长岩属高铝质基性岩类,轻稀土元素相对于重稀土元素弱富集,富集大离子亲石元素(Rb、Sr、K、Ba)、亏损高场强元素(Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf),具有岛弧岩浆岩性质,表明半坡杂岩体形成与板块俯冲有关的岛弧环境,南澜沧江构造带在晚石炭世至早二叠世为大洋岛弧俯冲带。     

四川盐边冷水箐岩体的形成时代和地球化学特征

四川盐边冷水箐岩体主要由辉长岩组成,它侵位于中元古代盐边群上部岩系中,盐边群接触变质作用发育,岩体分带清楚,是一个典型的同心环状侵入体。因此,它不属于蛇绿岩套范畴,锆石U-Pb年龄为936±7Ma,表明它是新元古代早期岩浆活动产物,该岩体的主要元素显示拉斑玄武质分异趋势;富集大离子不相容元素(Ba,Sr),亏损高场强元素(Nb,Ta,Zr,Hf);LREE轻微富集((La/Yb)_N=1.19～4.28),分配型式略呈右倾型;ε_(Nd)(t),(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)_i和δ~(18)O值分别为3.0～4.3,0.70446～0.70452和5.9‰～7.5‰;在构造环境判别图上,它们都投影子岛弧拉斑玄武岩区域内。上述特征表明,冷水箐岩体可能是在一个相对原始的岛弧环境中形成,岩浆源区已受到俯冲组分影响而产生不同程度富集。     

东天山白鑫滩含铜镍矿镁铁-超镁铁岩体的岩石成因:年代学、岩石地球化学和Sr-Nd同位素证据

自20世纪70年代以来,新疆东天山觉罗塔格构造带库姆塔格沙垅以东地区发现了大量的镁铁-超镁铁岩体和岩浆铜镍硫化物矿床,但是在沙垅以西地区没有大的找矿突破。白鑫滩含铜镍矿镁铁-超镁铁岩体为近几年在库姆塔格沙垅以西地区发现的岩浆铜镍硫化物矿床,研究工作薄弱,本文通过对白鑫滩岩体的岩石学、年代学、岩石地球化学和Sr-Nd同位素分析来解释其岩石成因。白鑫滩岩体不同岩相中矿物的粒径和含量的变化规律说明岩体为三期岩浆侵入作用形成,第一期为顶部的角闪辉长岩;第二期的橄榄辉长岩、斜长二辉橄榄岩和含长橄榄二辉岩,矿物种类相同,含量呈渐变关系;第三期为底部为的辉长岩,矿物粒径相对顶部的角闪辉长岩较小。白鑫滩岩体与黄山东、黄山西岩体具有相似的稀土元素和微量元素配分型式,大离子亲石元素(Rb、Ba、U、K)相对富集,而部分高场强元素(Nb、Ta、Ti)相对亏损,稀土元素呈轻稀土略微富集的右倾样式,均表现出岛弧火山岩的地球化学性质,εNd(t)值(2. 84～5. 05)和(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)(t)值(0. 704113～0. 705682)介于软流圈地幔与岩石圈地幔之间。但是与黄山东、黄山西岩体相比,白鑫滩岩体不相容元素含量更高,且εNd(t)值更低,(87Sr/86Sr)(t)值更高,还具有较高的La/Nb(2. 00～3. 33),较低的La/Ba(0. 02～0. 15),这些特征说明白鑫滩岩体的原始岩浆为岩石圈与软流圈物质相互作用的产物,且白鑫滩岩体的原始岩浆中软流圈物质相对于黄山东和黄山西岩体加入的比例更小。白鑫滩橄榄辉长岩年龄为287±3Ma,晚于该地区蛇绿岩(336～503Ma)、岛弧火山岩(320～322Ma)、岛弧花岗岩(316～328Ma)和含矿斑岩侵入体(326～334Ma)的年龄,与A型花岗岩和双峰式火山岩(284～294Ma)的年龄基本一致,而且白鑫滩岩体单斜辉石的化学成分与拉张裂谷环境的堆晶岩相似,因此推断白鑫滩岩体形成于后碰撞拉张环境。     

东天山卡拉塔格地区镁铁质岩体年代学、岩石地球化学研究

东天山大南湖岛弧带北缘卡拉塔格地区发育一系列镁铁质岩体,出露面积1km2。岩体岩相较为单一,主要岩性有辉长岩、橄榄辉长岩、橄长岩、淡色辉长岩和辉绿岩。本文利用LA-ICP-MS测得2个辉长岩的锆石U-Pb年龄分别为282. 2±0. 6Ma和278. 3±0. 6Ma;与吐哈盆地玄武岩及东天山地区铜镍硫化物矿床时代一致。岩石地球化学显示相对低Fe、高Al、Ca、碱、Ti,富集Rb、Ba、Sr、K,亏损Th、Nb、Ta的特征。岩石的(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)_i=0. 70313～0. 70461,εNd(t)=+6. 22～+8. 64,(~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb)_i=17. 68～18. 103,(~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb)_i=15. 443～15. 536,(~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb)_i=37. 423～37. 801,表现出高Nd、低Sr、低Pb,且变化范围较窄的特征。综合研究表明,该地区镁铁质岩体的岩浆动力学背景为后碰撞伸展环境;岩浆源区为俯冲板片交代的岩石圈地幔,并被软流圈物质混染;同位素和微量元素模拟显示母岩浆在源区遭受了5%～15%的板片流体交代,在上升过程中遭受了5%的上地壳物质混染。卡拉塔格地区镁铁质岩体与东天山二叠纪镁铁-超镁铁质岩体和吐哈盆地玄武岩形成于同一构造岩浆系统,在剥蚀较浅的大南湖岛弧带具有形成铜镍硫化物矿床的潜力。     

三江地区澜沧江带南段半坡杂岩体锆石U-Pb年龄、岩石地球化学特征及板块构造环境

半坡杂岩体位于滇西澜沧江构造岩浆带南段,岩体主要由橄榄岩、辉石岩、辉长岩和辉长闪长岩等镁铁 超镁铁质岩组成。通过ID-TIMS锆石U-Pb年代学方法对半坡杂岩体中辉长闪长岩进行精确定年,获得其结晶年龄为(294.9±2.6) Ma,表明半坡杂岩体的形成时代为早二叠世。半坡杂岩体中不同类型岩石微量元素、稀土元素和同位素组成相似,均呈现轻稀土元素(LREEs)相对于重稀土元素(HREEs)弱到中等富集,高场强元素Nb、Ta、Zr和Hf相对亏损的特征,εNd(t=295 Ma)为正值,在+3.4~+6.6,接近亏损地幔值,这些特征与典型的大洋岛弧玄武岩的特征相似。混合计算表明,半坡杂岩体母岩浆为地幔楔部分熔融,加上约2%~7%源于大洋俯冲沉积物的富硅熔浆和蚀变洋壳流体形成的岛弧玄武质岩浆。上述年龄和同位素数据提供了早二叠世早期南澜沧江地区洋内俯冲的可靠证据。     

坦桑尼亚西南部乌本迪带内Nsamya镁铁-超镁铁质杂岩体的锆石U-Pb年龄、地球化学特征及构造意义

在坦桑尼亚西南部的乌本迪带内首次发现了阿拉斯加型(岛弧型)镁铁-超镁铁环状杂岩体,对约束区域构造演化历史具有重要的意义。Nsamya杂岩体主要岩性为单辉橄榄岩和辉长岩,单辉橄榄岩位于杂岩体的中部,而辉长岩主要位于北部边缘,表现出环状岩体特征。锆石U-Pb年龄表明杂岩体的形成年龄介于1874～1944Ma之间,为古元古代晚期。岩石地球化学显示,杂岩体具有低SiO₂,高MgO、FeO_T、Cr和Ni含量,富集LREE和Ba、Pb、U等大离子亲石元素,不同程度的亏损HREE和Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf和Ti等高场强元素特征,为具有岛弧构造背景的阿拉斯加型岩体。综合区域地质背景资料,认为其形成于古元古代乌本迪造山作用晚期的岛弧盆地闭合阶段,玄武质岩浆来源于受俯冲流体交代的岩石圈地幔,并在上升过程中遭受下地壳基底的混染作用。     

新疆东天山白石泉铜镍矿床基性-超基性岩体锆石U-Pb同位素年龄、地球化学特征及其对古亚洲洋闭合时限的制约

白石泉铜镍硫化物矿床位于中天山北缘,阿齐库都克-沙泉子断裂带南侧,产于同源侵入基性-超基性复式岩体中。采用锆石激光剥蚀法(LA-ICP-MS)获得矿化辉长岩中锆石U-Pb年龄为281．2±0．9Ma。辉长岩和橄榄岩的地球化学数据表明白石泉含矿杂岩体具高Mg特征。岩石富集大离子亲石元素(Rb、Ba、K、Sr)、LREE和高场强元素(U、Pb),而具有Ce负异常和亏损高场强元素(Th、Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf)的特征。这些表明白石泉含矿杂岩体具有幔源特征和岛弧岩浆特征。结合对白石泉岩体地质特征和区域地质背景的综合分析,本文推断白石泉岩体形成于岛弧环境或活动陆缘环境,即早二叠世期间在东天山地区还存在俯冲作用,因而古亚洲洋至少应在早二叠世晚期或以后才闭合。     

天水地区北秦岭造山带花岗岩地球化学及构造环境探讨

在区域地质调查及综合研究的基础上,通过详细的岩石学、接触关系、同位素年龄及地球化学特征研究,对位于天水南部地区的晚加里东期百花岩体、熊山沟岩体,早华力西期党川岩体、火炎山岩体的地球化学特征及形成的构造环境进行了讨论.百花岩体岩石化学低钾(K2O/Na2O=0.13～0.91)、低铝(A/CNK=0.74～0.78),微量元素相对富集Cr、Ni、Y、Rb、Sr,贫Nb、Zr,稀土元素丰度较低(∑REE=107.71 × 10-6～191.13×10-6);熊山沟岩体早期岩石化学成分低钾(K2O/Na2O:0.33～0.42),晚期岩石相对富集钾(K2O/Na2O=1.01～1.43),微量元素富集Th、Hf、Nb、Zr等元素.晚加里东期岩体的共同特点是岩石属拉斑-钙碱性系列,稀土元素以富集轻稀土元素、无铕负异常或铕负异常不明显为主要特征,氧同位素值较低(δ18O: 3.32‰),岩石具Ⅰ型花岗岩的特征.熊山沟岩体物质来源于下地壳,百花岩体形成于岛弧构造环境.党川岩体富集SiO2(SiO2=72.29%～73.40%)、K2O(K2O/Na2O=0.86～2.01)、Al2O3(A/CNK=1.05～1.20);火炎山岩体岩石总体SiO2含量较低(平均69.70%),但K2O(K2O/Na2O=1.14～1.88)、Fe2O3 FeO、MgO较高.早华力西期岩体的共同特征是岩石具钾玄质系列岩石地球化学特征,为过铝质岩石(A/CNK>1.0),相对富集大离子亲石元素Ba、zr、Rb、Sm、Ta及Rb、Ba、Th、Nb等,稀土元素丰度较高,轻稀土元素富集,铕亏损强烈,铕负异常明显,δEu值较低(δ Eu=0.36～0.61),(87Sr/86Sr)0大于0.7070,氧同位素δ18O较高(δ18O= 8.89‰～ 11.08‰),物源为上地壳物质,属壳源花岗岩类,岩石具S型花岗岩的特征,形成于后碰撞构造环境或后造山构造环境.     

汉南杂岩体袁家沟辉长岩锆石U-Pb年龄及构造意义

袁家沟辉长岩体位于陕西省西乡县白勉峡镇,是汉南杂岩体白勉峡超单元的组成部分.本次研究对袁家沟辉长岩锆石U-Pb年龄,地球化学特征进行了研究.辉长岩的成岩年龄为905±11 Ma,源区继承性锆石年龄为984±4 Ma.岩石地球化学特征显示,袁家沟辉长岩w(SiO2)为49.70％～51.38％,w(K2O)为0.78％～1.27％,属于钙碱性系列.辉长岩中大离子亲石元素富集,稀土含量为143.12～240.72×10-6,稀土含量中等.LREE/HREE的比值为1.46～2.04,平均值为1.73,轻重稀土分馏程度较弱.辉长岩的源区为岩石圈地幔—混合软流圈地幔区域,表现出壳幔混合的特征,形成于火山岛弧环境.     

西秦岭天水地区岛弧型基性岩浆杂岩的地球化学特征及形成时代

天水地区关子镇流水沟变质中基性岩浆杂岩主要由变质辉长岩—辉长闪长岩—闪长岩组成,百花变质岩浆杂岩主要由辉石岩—辉长(闪长)岩—闪长岩—石英闪长岩组成,构成较完整的同源岩浆演化序列。基性—中基性岩浆岩的地球化学特征表明其属于拉斑玄武岩系列,稀土元素分布型式呈REE近平坦型—LREE轻微富集型,微量元素原始地幔标准化的蛛网图和MORB标准化蛛网图上的分布型式总体很相似,富集大离子亲石元素(LILE)Cs、Ba、Sr、Th、U而相对亏损Rb、K和高场强元素(HFSE)Nb、P、Zr、Sm、Ti和Y,显示同源岩浆演化成因特征。微量元素构造环境判别显示其形成于岛弧构造环境。关子镇流水沟变质中基性岩浆杂岩的TIMS法锆石U-Pb同位素年龄为(507.5±3.0)Ma,代表了杂岩体的形成时代,表明西秦岭北带岛弧型岩浆岩的形成时代为晚寒武世,同时也揭示出以关子镇蛇绿岩为代表的古洋盆的俯冲作用及产生岛弧型岩浆活动的时限可能为晚寒武世—早奥陶世。     

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.     

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。     

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     

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.     

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.     

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。     

Mercury,arsenic, antimony,and selenium contents of sediment from the Kuskokwim River,Bethel, Alaska,USA

The Kuskokwim River at Bethel, Alaska, drains a major mercury-antimony metallogenic province in its upper reaches and tributaries. Bethel (population 4000) is situated on the Kuskokwim floodplain and also draws its water supply from wells located in river-deposited sediment. A boring through overbank and floodplain sediment has provided material to establish a baseline datum for sediment-hosted heavy metals. Mercury (total), arsenic, antimony, and selenium contents were determined; aluminum was also determined and used as normalizing factor. The contents of the heavy metals were relatively constant with depth and do not reflect any potential enrichment from upstream contaminant sources.     

滇东南花岗岩与锡、银、铜、铅、锌多金属矿床的成因关系

滇东南锡、银、铅、锌多金属矿床主要分布在个旧、白牛厂、都龙3个矿区,而滇东南较大的3个花岗岩体又分别出露在3个矿区或附近.花岗岩体均形成于燕山晚期,岩石化学、矿物成分相似,富含锡、银、铅、锌、钨、铜等成矿元素.矿床主金属元素组合与岩体之间的距离由远而近出现由锡、钨、(铍、铌、钽)→锡、钨、(铁)、铜、铟→锡、铅、锌、银、铟、(锑)有规律的变化.花岗岩浆是成矿物质来源和成矿热源.岩浆侵入初期使上覆地层隆起产生背斜(凹陷部位成向斜);同时使地层产生一系列裂隙、压性断层或层间断裂;岩浆侵入晚期,这些断层再次活动,表现为张性,岩浆产生的含矿热液沿由其活动所造成的断裂迁移、充填、交代、沉淀而形成矿床.     

岩石密度和超高压岩石折返速率

在常温常压条件下对中国大陆科学钻CCSD主孔100-3000米岩心样品进行了密度测量,建立了密度连续剖面,并界定了不同超高压岩石的密度值。通过对比高温高压物性实验资料,岩石密度随着退变程度增强而降低,榴辉岩密度变化序列为3.52g/cm3→3.49g/cm3→3.07g/cm3→2.93g/cm3。超高压长英质岩石密度变化序列为3.00g/cm→2.80g/cm3→2.65g/cm3。上述实验资料是讨论不同折返阶段岩石所受浮力的基础,为研究折返速率大小提供了基本参数。本文通过折返板块运动平衡时,上浮力与粘滞力平衡这一关系式,定量研究了大陆俯冲板块的折返速率,认为密度差产生上浮力从而引起折返,温度对板块折返速率的影响最为显著;密度差大小、折返角度、折返板块大小对折返速率也有直接的影响。定量模拟分析表明,在温度高于850℃时,板块的折返速率可以超过100mm/a;当温度降至700℃时,折返速率则低于1.5mm/a。作者认为在折返早期,温度较高,板块快速折返至60-70km榴辉岩相深度;随着传导散热,温度降低,板块以较慢的速率折返至中下地壳。折返速率的估算表明,浮力是板块折返第一阶段(从>100km深部折返至<40km的中下地壳)的主要驱动力。     

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.