赣南银坑晚白垩世早期安山玢岩年代学及地球化学特征

摘要: 银坑安山玢岩位于赣南雩山成矿带中部中生代断陷盆地边部。为研究岩浆岩侵位时代、岩石成因及构造背景,该文进行了岩相学、锆石U-Pb年代学、地球化学等测试分析。研究表明:赣南银坑地区安山玢岩为高钾钙碱性系列岩石,岩石明显富集大离子亲石元素(K、Ba、Rb)、轻稀土元素和不相容元素(Th、U),相对亏损高场强元素(Nb、Ta、Ti、P); 稀土元素配分曲线为右倾型,(La/Yb)_N为7.90～8.56,无明显Eu异常。Th含量为(6.01～6.36)×10^-6,Th/Ta、Zr/Hf和Rb/Sr值分别为10.7～11.7、33.15～35.33和0.198～0.216,均介于地壳与地幔值之间,指示岩浆源岩主要为地幔物质的部分熔融,并受到了陆壳混染作用影响。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄为(99.89 ± 0.30)Ma,表明岩浆活动时代为晚白垩世早期,形成大地构造背景与太平洋板块向西俯冲有关,为活动大陆边缘弧后伸展作用下的产物。通过对红层盆地沉积序列进行对比分析,认为该安山玢岩活动年龄可大致代表这些断陷盆地的形成时代。     

宁芜地区中生代富钾和富钠火山岩的源区特征:岩石学和地球化学证据

宁芜中生代火山盆地广泛产出早白垩世中基性火山岩,钾质岩石主要为龙王山组英安岩、粗安岩,钠质火山岩主要为大王山组玄武粗安岩、粗安岩、英安岩以及钠质安山玢岩类。钠质辉石安山玢岩的锆石U-Pb年龄为128.9±1.9Ma,为早白垩世产物。稀土元素球粒陨石标准化配分曲线均表现为一致的平缓右倾型式,Eu负异常不明显,富集大离子亲石元素,亏损高场强元素,具Nb、Ta的负异常。钾质龙王山组火山岩总体Cs、Rb、Ba、Th、U等LILE含量较钠质大王山组火山岩和钠质安山玢岩高,并具有较高的Si、K,较低的Ca、Mg,高Rb/Sr,高Isr(0.70521~0.70857);钠质火山岩具有较低的Si、富Na、高Sr、低I_(sr)(0.70544~0.70768),Mg~#相对较高。钠质辉石闪长玢岩斑晶中有斜长石的矿物结构和成分不平衡现象,锆石Hf同位素特征为ε_(Hf)(t)=-6.2~+0.6,变化较大,指示岩浆混合过程。地幔源区可能是由中元古代俯冲板块释放出流体发生交代作用后形成的富集地幔,钾质火山岩地幔源区交代矿物可能以金云母为主,崆岭群TTG片麻岩为其地壳端元。而钠质火山岩地幔源区交代矿物可能以角闪石和单斜辉石为主,中元古上溪群变质基性岩或新生下地壳基性岩为其地壳端元。     

吉林百草沟金矿闪长玢岩锆石U-Pb年代学、地球化学及其地质意义

文章对延边地区百草沟金矿床与成矿有关的闪长玢岩脉进行了锆石LA_ICP_MS U_Pb年代学和地球化学研究。闪长玢岩中的锆石U_Pb定年结果显示,闪长玢岩形成时代为早白垩世((128±3)Ma,MSWD=0.29)。岩石元素地球化学研究表明岩石属于高钾钙碱性系列,明显富集大离子亲石元素(如K、Ba、Rb)、LREE和强不相容元素(如Th、U),相对亏损高场强元素(如Ta、Nb、Ti、P),Mg#值为42~54,其地球化学特征与活动大陆边缘背景下形成的火成岩相似。岩石中w(Cr)为20.0×10-6~33.4×10-6,Nb/Ta比值为9.7~16.5,La/Nb比值为2.54~3.67,Th/La比值为0.19~0.43,Rb/Sr值比为0.10~0.33,闪长玢岩岩浆是由地壳物质和地幔物质混合形成的。结合野外地质特征及年代学,认为与矿床近同时形成的闪长玢岩,其形成的构造背景应为古太平洋板块斜向亚洲大陆俯冲的活动大陆边缘。     

安徽黄梅尖地区基性岩脉K-Ar年代学、地球化学特征及地质意义

在野外地质调查和室内综合研究的基础上,通过对黄梅尖地区辉绿玢岩K-Ar年代学、地球化学和Sr-Nd同位素特征进行研究,探讨辉绿玢岩的形成时代、岩石成因及构造背景。K-Ar年代学研究表明,辉绿玢岩形成于~107 Ma,是早白垩世岩浆活动的产物,形成时代晚于该地区火山岩和侵入岩,与该地区铀成矿年龄基本一致;辉绿玢岩的侵入可能是该地区岩浆作用的最后一幕,铀成矿可能与辉绿玢岩具有成因联系。地球化学特征表明,辉绿玢岩富集大离子亲石元素K、Rb、U、Pb和轻稀土元素,亏损高场强元素Nb、Ta、P、Ti,具有较高的Isr值和负εNd(t)值,具有富集地幔源区特征;辉绿玢岩是在地壳伸展和岩石圈减薄的构造背景下,由俯冲交代作用形成的富集地幔部分熔融形成的,表明~107 Ma时该地区仍处于伸展构造环境下。     

内蒙古大井铜多金属矿床脉岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年及成矿时代

内蒙古林西县大井矿床是与次火山岩有关的热液脉型矿床,矿体受NW向、NWW向断裂控制,产出在二叠系林西组中。用LA-ICP-MS技术,测得成矿前的霏细岩脉和安山玢岩脉中的锆石~(206P)b/~(238)U年龄分别为164.1±0.8Ma(MSWD=0.60,n=16)和253.8±1.1Ma(MSWD=0.96,n=14)。其中霏细岩锆石年龄表明,其形成可能与西伯利亚板块和蒙古-华北板块之间的鄂霍茨克洋碰撞造山有关;安山玢岩可能与华北板块与西伯利亚板块碰撞造山有关。通过成矿前脉岩的锆石年龄,可以限定大井矿床的成矿时代晚于164Ma。结合前人研究结果,推测大井铜多金属矿床的形成主要受控于晚侏罗世—早白垩世岩浆活动。     

西藏色那铜(金)矿床石英闪长玢岩年代学、地球化学与岩石成因

色那铜(金)矿床位于西藏班怒成矿带西段的多龙矿集区内东北部,具有良好的找矿潜力。锆石U-Pb测年显示成矿石英闪长玢岩的形成年龄为(118.1±1.4)Ma,与已报道的多龙矿集区内岛弧型含矿斑岩的成岩成矿时代一致。色那石英闪长玢岩属于活动大陆边缘的高钾钙碱性—钙碱性系列准铝质I型花岗岩,富集轻稀土(LREE)和大离子亲石元素(LILE:Th,U,K及Rb),亏损重稀土(HREE)及高场强元素(HFSE:Nb、Ta、Zr及Ti),δEu为基本无异常(0.92~1.04),具备典型岛弧岩浆岩特征。岩石Rb/Sr值(0.143~0.195),Zr/Hf值(31.23~34.14),Nb/Ta值(9.21~11.59),反映出壳幔混合的特点。锆石(~(176)Hf/~(177)Hf)_i为0.282707~0.282719,ε_(Hf)(t)为0.28~11.77,两阶段模式年龄T_(DMC)=424~1159Ma,暗示其可能起源于新生下地壳的部分熔融。综合分析认为,色那矿区石英闪长玢岩是班公湖—怒江特提斯洋壳向北俯冲于羌塘地块之下的背景下,由新生下地壳部分熔融形成,源区内可能有幔源物质混入。早白垩世晚期(约118.1 Ma)班公湖—怒江洋仍然存在向北俯冲消减作用。     

西藏措勤县德能铜多金属矿床石英闪长玢岩时代与成因：LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年代学、地球化学和Sr-Nd-Pb同位素证据

为厘定德能铜多金属矿床侵入岩时代,查明岩石成因,本文利用LA-ICP-MS技术对德能铜多金属矿床石英闪长玢岩锆石进行了U-Th-Pb同位素测定,分析了岩石地球化学和Sr-Nd-Pb同位素。结果表明,石英闪长玢岩形成于早白垩世126.6±2.2~127.5±2.2Ma。岩石硅含量中等(平均58.58%),富碱(ALK平均6.53%),为高钾钙碱性花岗岩。稀土元素球粒陨石配分模式图右倾,(La/Yb)N为4.64~6.18。大离子亲石元素Rb、Th、K、Pb、Zr和Hf等富集,高场强元素Nb、Ta、P、Ti等亏损。206 Pb/204 Pb为18.629~18.771,207 Pb/204 Pb为15.690~15.738,208Pb/204 Pb为39.188~39.435。(87 Sr/86 Sr)i为0.709215~0.710463,(143 Nd/144 Nd)i为0.512044~0.512093,εNd(t)为-8.40~-7.45,TDM2为1524~1602Ma。上述分析结果表明,石英闪长玢岩为I型花岗岩,具岛弧岩浆活动特征,是向南俯冲的班公湖-怒江洋壳脱水,导致地幔楔发生熔融,幔源物质上涌引起中元古代下地壳物质发生部分熔融的产物。     

黑龙江省鸡西盆地基性岩40Ar/39Ar同位素定年及其地质意义

黑龙江省鸡西盆地张新地区辉绿玢岩呈岩床状侵入晚中生代城子河组地层中;辉绿玢岩较纯净,无捕虏体,呈斑状结构,斑晶由普通辉石、斜长石组成,斑晶体积分数为35%～40%;基质由微晶斜长石、辉石、磁铁矿及玻璃质组成。辉绿玢岩⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar同位素定年结果表明,其等时线年龄与坪年龄在误差范围内较为接近,该辉绿玢岩的形成时代介于96～101 Ma,即形成于早白垩世晚期-晚白垩世早期的Albian-Cenomanian阶。结合区域上该期岩浆事件的特点,暗示早白垩世晚期-晚白垩世时期鸡西盆地处于古太平洋板块(Izanagi-Kula 板块 )向东亚大陆边缘斜向俯冲背景之下的弧后伸展环境。     

滇西勐养花岗岩体暗色包体的地球化学特征及成因

勐养侵入岩体主要由黑云母二长花岗岩(128 Ma)、花岗闪长岩(113 Ma)和辉长质(123 Ma)、闪长质包体(120Ma)组成。暗色包体主要分布在花岗闪长岩中,包体岩性主要为辉长岩包体和闪长岩包体。包体具有岩浆结构,部分包体具有塑性流变特征,有些包体具有淬冷边和反向脉,包体中可见针状磷灰石,表现出岩浆混合的岩相学特征。岩石地球化学特征研究表明,寄主岩石与暗色包体同为准铝质-过铝质、钙碱性-高钾钙碱性系列岩石。寄主岩石与暗色包体的的稀土配分曲线模式和微量元素原始地幔标准化蛛网图形态基本一致,为岩浆混合作用的结果。所有样品均富集大离子亲石元素(如Rb、Th、U和Nd)、亏损高场强元素(如Nb、Ta、Ce和Zr)。勐养早白垩世侵入岩形成于岩浆弧环境。暗色包体具有低的Si O2含量(Si O2为48.02%和59.8%)和高的Mg#值(Mg#=48.1~68.5),表明暗色包体的原生岩浆应是板块俯冲带流体交代地幔橄榄岩的部分熔融的产物,并受后期岩浆混合作用的改造。暗色包体锆石的εHf(t)为3.6~6.2,Nb/Ta值为12.1~15.4,显示岩浆源区具有亏损地幔特征。黑云二长花岗岩的Mg#=33.5,Nb/Ta值为10.9,表明岩浆主要来源于古老的地壳物质的部分熔融。花岗闪长岩锆石的Mg#=44,Nb/Ta值为12.5,岩浆主要来源于地幔和地壳,为黑云二长花岗岩与幔源岩浆混合作用的产物。腾冲地块早白垩世勐养侵入岩体及其暗色包体的的成因,是左贡—保山板块洋壳向南西俯冲在波密—腾冲地块之下,使区域地壳不断加厚并导致区域重力均衡隆升,深部地壳物质在加热后抬升减压过程中发生部分熔融,形成大量的花岗岩浆。由于俯冲洋壳板块在俯冲、碰撞过程中诱导的幔源岩浆与重熔物质发生岩浆混合作用,形成花岗闪长岩和暗色包体。     

内蒙古敖汉旗七家金矿闪长玢岩锆石U-Pb年代学、地球化学及地质意义

内蒙古敖汉旗七家金矿构造位置上处于兴蒙造山带与华北克拉通北缘的结合部位, 靠近兴蒙造山带一侧, 是近年来新发现的石英脉型金矿床.区内岩脉以闪长玢岩为主, 且与石英脉型矿体空间关系密切.根据岩脉与矿体的穿插关系, 将其分为成矿前闪长玢岩和成矿后闪长玢岩.LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年代学表明, 成矿前闪长玢岩加权平均年龄为166.3±3.4 Ma, 成矿后闪长玢岩加权平均年龄为128.6±4.5 Ma, 与区域上两期构造-岩浆活动时间(分别为160 Ma左右和128 Ma左右)近似吻合.主量元素特征显示: 二者均属于准铝质, 高钾钙碱性系列; 微量元素特征显示: 二者均富集轻稀土元素、大离子亲石元素(Rb、K)和活泼的不相容元素(U、Pb), 相对亏损重稀土元素和高场强元素(Nb、Ta、Ti), 反映出岩浆来源具壳源特征.主微量元素特征均显示出二者具有岛弧岩浆岩的地球化学属性.另外, 成矿后闪长玢岩有较高的Nb/Ta(18.66~20.27)和Zr/Hf(37.16~39.23)比值, 暗示其岩浆来源具明显的幔源特征.岩石地球化学特征表明, 成矿前闪长玢岩可能起源于太平洋板块俯冲导致的下地壳部分熔融岩浆; 成矿后闪长玢岩可能起源于俯冲流体交代的地幔楔熔融岩浆, 并在其演化侵位过程中伴有地壳物质的混染.结合闪长玢岩成岩时代、岩石成因及区域构造演化, 反映出七家金矿的形成与太平洋板块的西向俯冲密切相关, 矿床在地壳由挤压增厚向伸展减薄的转换过程中形成.     

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。     

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。     

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.     

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.