河南内乡茶庵岩体岩石地球化学特征及其地质意义

茶庵岩体位于秦岭造山带东段,岩体的主要岩性为二云母花岗岩。岩石地球化学分析结果显示,茶庵岩体w(SiO2)为73.22%~75.29%,w(K_2O)为4.11%~4.74%,w(Na_2O)为3.68%~4.34%,w(Al_2 O_3)为13.90%~15.31%,具有高钾钙碱性和过铝质(ACNK=1.03~1.17)特征。岩石稀土总量较低(22.02×10-6~84.18×10-6),轻稀土元素相对富集,重稀土元素相对亏损,具有Eu的负异常,岩体富集Rb、U、Hf和Y,亏损Ba、Nb、Ta和Ti,显示出I型花岗岩的特点,形成于碰撞造山后的伸展构造环境。     

黑龙江新城沟地区花岗岩成矿地球化学特征分析及资源潜力预测

东宁新城沟地区的花岗岩体位于兴蒙造山带东缘的活动大陆边缘带。通过岩相学和岩石地球化学分析认为,研究区内岩体的里特曼指数δ介于1.41~2.11之间,为钙碱性岩系;w(K2O)/w(Na2O)比值大于1,为高碱相对富钾;铝饱和指数ACNK=1.02~1.20,主要为弱过铝质I型花岗岩,部分具有S型同碰撞花岗岩的特征。岩体中稀土总量较低(∑REE=72.35×10-6~217.64×10-6),轻、重稀土分异较强(LaN/YbN=2.74~11.37),Eu具有较为明显的负异常,δCe为0.96~1.11,Ce异常不明显;Nb、Ta、P、Ti等相对亏损,Rb、Ba、K等相对富集,w(Nb)/w(Ta)比值为(6.18~26.33,平均为15.18)小于16.2,指示岩浆来源于上地幔或下地壳,形成过程中同化混染了较多壳源物质。区内岩浆的形成受古生代末和中生代初西伯利亚板块与华北板块发生陆陆碰撞以及晚三叠世古太平洋板块向欧亚大陆东缘俯冲的双重作用影响,岩浆侵入存在由早期向晚期阶段演化的过程,致使源岩存在一定差异,具有多期次、多阶段、复合成因的特点。物化探异常、岩石地球化学及含矿性参数显示,研究区具有寻找浅成低温热液型Au、Ag、Cu矿的资源潜力。     

川西地区热达门石英闪长岩锆石U-Pb年龄和岩石地球化学特征:岩石成因与构造意义

川西地区热达门石英闪长岩体位于松潘-甘孜造山带北东侧。岩体的LA-ICP MS锆石U-Pb年龄为(206.4±1.4)Ma,侵位于晚三叠世。岩石Si O2含量为50.62%~56.66%,K2O/Na2O为0.32~1.20。铝饱和指数介于0.59~0.86之间,里特曼指数(σ)介于0.40~1.20之间,属于亚碱性准铝质系列岩石。岩体稀土总量∑REE介于81.45×10-6~222.39×10-6,LREE/HREE介于5.38~10.45之间,(La/Yb)N范围为5.98~12.99,δEu为0.66~1.01,δCe为0.81~0.93。岩石地球化学特征显示热达门岩石英闪长岩是在碰撞造山环境下,由岩浆上涌诱发下地壳物质部分熔融而形成的I型花岗岩。     

内蒙古前进场花岗岩体的地质特征及其构造环境

内蒙古前进场花岗岩体的岩石类型主要为黑云母花岗岩,SiO2含量67.17%～ 70.27%,Al2O3含量14.85%～15.61%,A/CNK(分子比)>1.1,K2O/Na2O为1.25～1.35, 里特曼指数(δ)为1.88～ 2.44,分异指数(DI)为86,ΣREE为181.9×10-6～247.8×10-6之间,ΣLREE/ΣHREE为2.98,δEu为0.42～0.56,Rb-Sr同位素年龄为196±5Ma,表明属于富钾、过铝、钙碱性花岗岩,有利于钨和铜的矿化.岩相学和岩石地球化学研究表明岩体具有S型花岗岩特征,形成的构造环境为大陆弧花岗岩类(CAG),是华北板块与西伯利亚板块碰撞造山后伸展作用下的产物.     

湘东南志留纪彭公庙花岗岩体的地质地球化学特征及其构造环境

志留纪彭公庙岩体地处湘东南,岩石类型主要为黑云母花岗闪长岩、黑云母二长花岗岩、二云母二长花岗岩。各岩石单元从早至晚,w(S iO2)总体由低变高,变化在65.30%~73.42%之间;w(K2O)平均为4.34%,w(Na2O+K2O)为6.46%~8.32%,平均为7.09%;w(K2O)/w(Na2O)平均为1.58;岩石富铝,w(A l2O3)平均为14.13%。岩体总体属铁质、强过铝质高钾钙碱性花岗岩。Ba、Nb、Sr、P、Ti相对于原始地幔为负异常,Rb、(Th+U)、(La+Ce)、Nd、(Zr+H f+Sm)、(Y+Yb)等则相对富集。w(ΣREE)平均为221.85×10-6;轻稀土富集,w(La)N/w(Yb)N值平均为8.66;Eu弱亏损,δ(Eu)平均为0.53。ISr值为0.712 30~0.718 31,εSr(t)为110.7~196.1,εNd(t)为-8.0~-8.7,t2DM为1.81~1.87 Ga。上述地球化学特征表明彭公庙岩体为S型花岗岩。在C/MF-A/MF图解中,样品点部分落入基性岩区,部分落入变质碎屑岩区;在岩体氧化物比值的Harker图解中,各样点构成良好的线性关系;在w(La)/w(Sm)-w(La)图解中样品点分布散乱;酸性程度最高的晚期恩垄岩石单元的轻稀土相对富集更为明显;岩石中发育镁铁质岩浆包体等,表明彭公庙岩体具岩浆混合成因。地球化学构造环境判别图解、岩体侵位地质特征以及区域构造演化背景等表明彭公庙岩体形成于后造山构造环境。岩体各岩石单元侵位的先后次序可能与岩浆的粘度密切相关,基性程度相对较高的岩浆向上运移速度更快,因而侵位更早。     

中祁连西段野马山岩基年代学、地球化学特征及地质意义

野马山岩基位于中祁连地块西段,由早期岩体(花岗闪长岩、斑状二长花岗岩)和晚期岩体(二长花岗岩)组成,二者呈侵入接触。LA-ICPMS锆石U-Pb定年表明,早期岩体侵位时代为中奥陶世((469.0±1.3)Ma),晚期岩体侵位时代为晚奥陶世((450.0±1.0)Ma)。早期岩体Si O2=59.8%~64.2%,K2O/Na2O1,且A/NKC=0.8~1.0,为准铝质岩石;微量元素相对富集Rb、U、Th和亏损Ba、Nb、Ta、Sr、P、Ti;稀土总量为97.7×10-6~185×10-6,且(La/Yb)N=5.57~12.47,LREE/HREE=7.7~11.3,具轻重稀土分馏明显,轻稀土富集,弱Eu负异常(δEu=0.66~0.89)特征。晚期岩体Si O2=69.8%~76.5%、K2O/Na2O=1.2~1.7、A/NKC=1.0~1.1,属弱过铝质花岗岩;稀土总量为78.97×10-6~244.92×10-6,轻重稀土分馏不明显((La/Yb)N=1.90~5.72),强Eu负异常(δEu=0.11~0.24)。岩石地球化学特征表明,野马山岩基早期岩体为I型花岗岩,形成于俯冲环境,晚期岩体为高分异的I型花岗岩,形成于后碰撞环境。结合岩体产出的区域构造位置及区域地质演化,认为早古生代北祁连洋发生了双向俯冲,野马山岩基为其向南俯冲碰撞的产物。     

内蒙古大苏计斑岩钼矿床花岗质杂岩年代学、地球化学、Hf同位素组成及其地质意义

内蒙古卓资县大苏计斑岩钼矿化与区内花岗质杂岩(石英斑岩、正长花岗斑岩和花岗斑岩)有密切的成因联系。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年获得石英斑岩、正长花岗斑岩和花岗斑岩的结晶年龄分别为(234±3)Ma、(225±4)Ma和(220±4)Ma。杂岩体富硅(w(SiO_2)=70.37%~78.84%)、富碱(w(Na_2O+K_2O)=4.52%~8.77%),均属高钾钙碱性系列,普遍具有低的w(Na_2O)(0.15%~2.69%)和高的铝指数(ASI介于1.13~3.35)。稀土元素总量介于48.2×10~(-6)~527.0×10~(-6),石英斑岩稀土元素含量(48.2×10~(-6)~83.1×10~(-6))最低,正长花岗斑岩稀土元素含量(272.1×10~(-6)~527.0×10~(-6))最高,花岗斑岩稀土元素含量为162.5×10~(-6)~236.8×10~(-6);杂岩体δEu介于0.15~0.93之间,(La/Yb)N介于3.0~65.5,自正长花岗斑岩、花岗斑岩到石英斑岩,其Eu负异常逐渐増大,而(La/Yb)N逐渐减小。岩体普遍富集Rb、Th、U、K、Nd、Zr、Hf等,强烈亏损Sr、P、Ti等。正长花岗斑岩具有中等Ba、Ta、Nb亏损。石英斑岩和花岗斑岩均属于高分异花岗岩,而正长花岗斑岩属于I型花岗岩。主量、稀土和微量元素特征表明,杂岩体具有后碰撞或后造山花岗岩特征,形成于后碰撞或后造山环境。杂岩体锆石的Hf同位素显示,3种岩石的εHf(t)值介于-21.1~-8.1,二阶段模式年龄tDM2介于1775~2587 Ma。石英斑岩来自于古元古代地壳物质的部分熔融;正长花岗斑岩来自于古元古代晚期地壳物质的部分熔融;花岗斑岩也主要来自于古元古代地壳物质的部分熔融,但有少量新太古代地壳物质参与。     

内蒙古东乌旗沟特岩体年代学、地球化学及铪同位素特征及其地质意义

对沟特岩体开展了地球化学、年代学及Hf同位素特征等研究。结果显示沟特花岗岩SiO2含量为76.41%~78.36%,Al2O3为11.72%~12.86%,A/CNK值为1.40~1.43,K2O+Na2O为7.99%~8.05%,K2O为4.8%~5.04%,Na2O为3.18%~3.47%,Na2O/K2O为0.66~0.72,属高钾钙碱性系列,里特曼组合指数σ值为1.81~2.24,碱度率AR为4.67~4.97,也表明该岩体属钙碱性系列;在微量元素方面,沟特花岗岩体富集大离子亲石元素和Pb,明显亏损高场强元素;沟特花岗岩的REE总量为115.84×10-6~153.56×10-6,LREE/HREE为7.75~9.27,具有明显的轻稀土富集,重稀土亏损特征,(La/Yb)N值为5.24~7.73,δEu为0.27~0.35,Eu负异常;锆石U-Pb年龄为134.1±1.0Ma,属早白垩世;Hf同位素特征表明该区花岗岩的形成可能与早期的板块俯冲作用有关。上诉特征表明沟特花岗岩是在伸展背景下形成的受俯冲组分影响而形成的壳幔混合型高分异S型花岗岩,属于燕山造山旋回的晚期。     

内蒙古东乌旗巴彦都兰二长花岗岩年代学、地球化学特征及其地质意义

为了解晚古生代西伯利亚板块南缘增生造山过程中的岩浆活动特征,对东乌旗巴彦都兰二长花岗岩岩相学、锆石U-Pb年代学、锆石Hf同位素和岩石地球化学进行了研究,并讨论了岩石成因和构造环境。锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年结果为(277.2±0.7)Ma,以正的锆石εHf(t)(6.8~14.1)为特征,具有年轻的锆石地壳模式年龄(tcDM)(865~655 Ma),属于早二叠世晚期岩浆活动产物。二长花岗岩以高钾[w(K)=3.63%~4.95%,K2O/Na2O=0.91~1.47]、富碱[w(K2O+Na2O)=7.52%~9.16%]、准铝质-弱过铝质(A/CNK=0.96~1.15)为特征;稀土元素总量较低(38.82×10-6~193.20×10-6),(La/Yb)N为3.91~23.08,轻、重稀土元素分异较明显,呈弱负铕异常(δEu为0.34~1.17);富集部分大离子亲石元素(LREE、Rb、K等);Zr弱负异常、Hf弱正异常,亏损Sr、Nb、Ta、P、Ti,显示后造山花岗岩特征。综合分析表明,巴彦都兰二长花岗岩形成于伸展的构造环境中,是贺根山洋盆闭合后的后造山阶段产物,为865~655 Ma前洋壳俯冲形成的先成地壳部分熔融而成。     

东北延边地区晚中生代柳洞岩体的成因:锆石U-Pb年代学和地球化学证据

柳洞岩体位于延边地区和龙市南部,大地构造位置上处于古洞河断裂西南侧,龙岗地块北缘,其岩性为二长花岗岩。为确定其侵位时代和大地构造环境,对柳洞岩体进行了系统的岩相学和年代学研究。N-6和N-7样品LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年结果显示,其加权平均年龄分别为(118.63±0.69)Ma和(118.58±0.87)Ma。岩体具有高硅(w(SiO2)=70.30%~76.30%)、富碱(w(Na2O+K2O)=7.82%~8.52%)、富铝(w(Al2O3)=12.30%~15.50%)和低钛(w(TiO2)=0.16%~0.29%)的特点,属于高钾钙碱性系列。A/CNK值为1.03~1.11,为弱过铝质岩石。分异指数(DI)为87.99~94.89,固结指数(SI)为2.39~5.31,反映了该岩体经历了高程度分异演化作用。δEu为0.63~0.92,具有中等铕负异常,LREE/HREE和(La/Yb)N值分别为3.46~8.09和10.59~33.94,显示轻稀土元素相对富集、重稀土元素亏损的特点。柳洞岩体明显富集Cs、Rb、Ba、K等大离子亲石元素(LILE),同时亏损Nb、Ta、Ti等高场强元素(HFSE)以及P元素。综合岩相学、年代学、岩石地球化学特征及区域地质资料,柳洞岩体具有高分异的高钾钙碱性I型花岗岩的特点,形成于后造山向伸展转换的体制环境下。     

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.