Diatomaceous deposits of Fayium, Egypt; characterization and evaluation for industrial application

The Holocene lacustrine diatomaceous earth of Fayium,South West of Cairo,has been studied to define its minerals,chemistry,petrography and physical properties.Minerals were processed by way of calcination at 550℃ ,followed by acid leaching to reduce levels of mineral impurities.The diatomite is of biogenic opal A.with calcite as the main ganue mineral,quartz and clay minerals(smectite followed by kaolinite in abundance and a trace amount of illite).Silica in the diatomaceous earth accounts for about 63% on average.Positive correlation between CaO and CO2 indicates that Ca is present mainly as calcite.Al2O3,Fe2O3,MgO and K2O are attributed mainly to clay minerals.However,the physical properties of the diatomaceous earth as filter-aids and filler for paints and plastics are poor because of general high levels of impurities.The technological performances of the diatomaceous earth have been significantly improved owing to upgrading of diatoms through mineral processing trical.     

Investigation of a New Exsolved Cu-Fe-S Phase in“Abnormal Sphalerite”

A new exsolved copper-iron-sulfur phase in sphalerite has been found in the Dajing cassiterite- sulfidecopper-silver-tin deposit, Inner Mongolia, China. After investigating the optical properties, chemical composi-tion, crystal structure and exsolved Characters of the exsolved phase, the authors present important evidencefor its being a new exsolved copper-iron-sulfur phase mineral. Its formation mechenism is discussed in consider-ing heating experiments, phase equilibrium data and the geology of the deposit.     

个旧老厂锡石晶体的标型特征及其地质意义

Studies of the morphology, physical properties and chemical eomposition of cassiterite crystals have shown that the simple crystal form, crystal shape, ratio of crystal length to its width, polychroism and absorptivity, spot colour, penetration twins, polynthetic twins, banded and zonal structures, and trace elements may be used as Wpomorphie features to eharaeterize the cassiterite minerogenetie stage in Lao-Chang mining area.     

某地水铝英石

The major concern of this paper is with allophane(m Al2O3.n SiO2.p H2O),a colloid mineral from a certain locality in China,which is surperfaeial in origin and may be used as an indicator to eluvial deposits enriched in Cu,U,V,Detailed studies have been carried out on its features,the forming environments,the factors governing its enrichment,and mineral associations by means of field investigation,microscopie identification,chemical analysis and DTA technique.     

Paleoclimate and Paleoenvironment of Gonghe Basin, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, During the Lastdeglacial: Weathering, Erosion and Vegetation Cover Affect Clay Mineral Formation

With the analysis of the sources and formation mechanism of the clay minerals in the sediment core from the Dalianhai lake in the Gonghe Basin,northeastern Tibet-Qinghai Plateau,clay mineral composition proxies,grain-size and carbonate contents have been employed for high-resolution study in order to reconstruct East Asian Summer Monsoon （EASM） over the northeastern Tibet-Qinghai Plateau during the lastdeglacial.The study also extended to establish a relationship between vegetation cover changes and erosion during the last 14.5 ka with pollen record and clay mineral proxies.Smectite/kaolinite and smectite/（illite＋chlorite） ratios allow us to assess hydrolysis conditions in lowlands and/or physical erosion process in highlands of the Gonghe Basin.Before 12.9 Cal ka BP,both mineralogical ratios show low values indicative of strong physical erosion in the basin with a dominant cold and dry phase.After 12.9 Cal ka BP,an increase in both mineralogical ratios indicates enhanced chemical weathering in the basin associated with a warm and humid climate.The beginning of Holocene is characterized by high smectite/（illite＋chlorite） and smectite/kaolinite ratios that is synchronous as with deposition of many peat laminae,implying the best warm and humid conditions specifically between 8.0 to 5.5 Cal ka BP.The time interval after 5.0 Cai ka BP is characterized by a return to high physical erosion and low chemical weathering with dry climate conditions in the basin.Comparing variations of clay mineral assemblages with previous pollen results,we observe a rapid response in terms of chemical weathering and physical erosion intensity to a modification of the vegetation cover in the basin.     

Theoretical Analyses of the Infrared Spectrum of Baiyuneboite—（Ce）

Baiyuneboite-(Ce) is a new fluor-carbonate mineral.Based on the fine data on the structure of the mineral,the factor group and normal coordinate analyses for its infrared spectrum have been carried out.The factor group analyses indicate that the site group and factor group splittings of the internal vibration bands of CO3^2- ions do not occur and that the double bands of normal modes result from two non-equal sets of CO3^2- ions in the crystal structure,The normal coordinate analyses give the stretching force constants.bend force constants and calculated frequencies of CO3^2- ions.The calculations of potential energy distribution allow us to assign v3 and v4 to the stretching vibration and the bend vibration of CO3^2- ions.respectively.     

Gas Occurrence and Accumulation Characteristics of Cambrian–Ordovician Shales in the Tarim Basin, Northwest China

The Tarim Basin is located in northwestern China and is the biggest basin in China with huge oil and gas resources. Especially the Lower to Middle Cambrian and Middle to Upper Ordovician possess the major marine source rocks in the Tarim Basin and have large shale gas resource potential. The Cambrian–Ordovician shales were mainly deposited in basin–slope facies with thicknesses between 30–180 m. For shales buried shallower than 4500 m, there is high organic matter abundance with TOC (total organic carbon) mainly between 1.0% and 6.0%, favorable organic matter of Type I and Type II, and high thermal maturity with RoE as 1.3%–2.75%. The mineral composition of these Cambrian–Ordovician shale samples is mainly quartz and carbonate minerals while the clay minerals content is mostly lower than 30%, because these samples include siliceous and calcareous shale and marlstone. The Cambrian and Ordovician shales are compacted with mean porosity of 4% and 3%, permeability of 0.0003×10?3–0.09×10?3 μm2 and 0.0002×10?3–0.11×10?3 μm2, and density of 2.30 g/m3 and 2.55 g/m3, respectively. The pores in the shale samples show good connectivity and are mainly mesopore in size. Different genetic types of pores can be observed such as intercrystal, intergranular, dissolved, organic matter and shrinkage joint. The reservoir bed properties are controlled by mineral composition and diagenesis. The maximum adsorption amount to methane of these shales is 1.15–7.36 cm3/g, with main affecting factors being organic matter abundance, porosity and thermal maturity. The accumulation characteristics of natural gas within these shales are jointly controlled by sedimentation, diagenesis, hydrocarbon generation conditions?, reservoir bed properties and the occurrence process of natural gas. The natural gas underwent short-distance migration and accumulation, in-place accumulation in the early stage, and adjustment and modification in the later stage. Finally, the Yulin (well Y1) and Tazhong (well T1) areas are identified as the targets for shale gas exploration in the Tarim Basin.     

Moessbauer and XRD characterization of contaminated sediments by coal mining drainage in Neath Canal, South Wales, UK

Sediment cores were collected from the upstream of the Neath Canal in South Wales and characterized for their mineral compositions and iron speciation in order to understand the influence of sedimentary properties on the contaminants of heavy metals. The sediments in the canal have been polluted by ocherous precipitate with heavy metals such as arsenic since a major mine water discharge in spring 1993. The sediment core was obtained just from the discharge point in the canal and distinguished into three layers in the field regarding to their physical properties including visible color, sediment particle composition and dryness. X-ray diffraction （XRD） and M6ssbauer spectroscopy revealed vertical variations of minerals and iron species in depth of the sediment profile. The upper layer, reddish-brown, is wet muddy precipitant and is very fine in particle size, consisting mainly of iron oxide and hydroxide. Arsenic is rich in this layer; probably the sorption on iron oxide surface is the main mechanism. The middle layer, 22.0-27.0 cm, is soft deposit in a yellow color and contains sheet silicate, calcite and goethite. The lower part below 27.0 cm is gray to dark gray in color and contains quartz, pyrite, coal particles that are much more similar to normal aquatic sediment. The upper two layers in brown and yellow colors as newly precipitated mud from AMD contain high concentrations of As, Ni under oxic conditions. The lower part as the old canal sediments under reducing conditions contains high Cu and Zn. Chromium is enriched in the limited part of the low layer, just beneath the boundary between the middle and low parts of the sedimentary column, where the redox conditions shifted from oxic to anoxic. It is clear that the distribution of these heavy metals is closely associated with the redox condition reflected in the iron speciation. Thus different treatments are necessary for each layer of the sediment since different mineral and geochemical properties of the sediment will give different impacts on the heavy metals.     

中国若干钨矿床相平衡关系

This paper reviews the features of several tungsten ore deposits in southern China, including the Shezhuyuan, Yaogangxian, Xihuashan, Danping, Yiatang and Dajishan mines. The authors think that the formation depth of greisen-type deposits is intermediate between the depths of pegmatite- and porphyry- type deposits. Using phase diagrams of the model system K2O-AhO3-SiO2-H2O-HF, the formation mechanism of greisens has been argued. The variation of mineral assemblages from K-feldspar, muscovite to topaz reflects a gradual increase in acidity. This variation can be used as a criterion to appreciate the depth of mineralization. Equilibria of tungsten minerals in greisen and skarn deposits can be depicted on chemical potential diagrams of the model system CaO-FeO-WO3-CO2-F2O-1. The assemblage wolframite fluorite is shown to have been transformed to scheelite magnetite with decreasing μHP. Depending on CO2 activity in the fluids, there are two distinct phase diagrams.One shows that wolframite is incompatible with calcite, and the other demonstrates that scheelite is incompatible with rhodochrosite. On the phase diagrams of the model system FeO-MnO-WO3-F2S-1, huebnerite is transformed to ferberite with increasing μP1O-1orμF2S-1,During the replacement of wolframite by scheelite, the wolframite residue must have been enriched in Mn.     

Stability and band gap engineering of silica-confined lead halide perovskite nanocrystals under high pressure

SiO₂is the major mineral substance in the upper mantle of the earth.Therefore,studies of the silica-coated materials under high-pressure are essential to explore the physical and chemical properties of the upper mantle.The silica-confined CsPbBr₃nanocrystals(NCs)have recently attracted much attention because of the improved photoluminescence(PL)quantum yield,owing to the protection of silica shell.However,it remains considerable interest to further explore the relationship between optical properties and the structure of CsPbBr₃@SiO₂NCs.We systemically studied the structural and optical properties of the CsPbBr₃@SiO₂NCs under high pressure by using diamond anvil cell(DAC).The discontinuous changes of PL and absorption spectra occurred at~1.40 GPa.Synchrotron X-ray diffraction(XRD)studies of CsPbBr₃@SiO₂NCs under high pressure indicated an isostructural phase transformation at about 1.36 GPa,owing to the pressure-induced tilting of the Pb-Br octahedra.The isothermal bulk moduli for two phases are estimated about 60.0 GPa and 19.2 GPa by fitting the equation of state.Besides,the transition pressure point of CsPbBr₃@SiO₂NCs is slightly higher than that of pristine CsPbBr₃NCs,which attributed to the buffer effect of coating silica shell.The results indicate that silica shell is able to enhance the stabilization without changing the relationship between optical properties and structure of CsPbBr₃NCs.Our results were fascinated to model the rock metasomatism in the upper mantle and provided a new‘lithoprobe’for detecting the upper mantle.     

Conversion and degradation of crude oil by Bacillus SP3

The objective of this study is to demonstrate the basic characteristics of Bacillus SP3 and evaluate its effect on different crude oils. Strain SP3 is a motile, gram-positive, spore-producing rod that was isolated from a reservoir of the Shengli oil field in East China. The cells of strain SP3 grew at high temperatures up to 58℃ at the pH range of 5.5–8.5. Strain SP3 grew facultatively and could use different organic substrates, and produce some metabolites such as 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone, methyl-2-nitrogen benzene and 1, 2-benzenedicarboxylic acid bis ester. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that the strain converted and degraded different components and changed the physical and chemical properties of crude oils. Strain SP3 degraded crude oil and the growth of bacteria on crude oil resulted in loss of aromatic hydrocarbons, resins and asphaltenes. The bioconversion of crude oils would lead to an enrichment in lighter hydrocarbons and an overall redistribution of saturate hydrocarbons. The interactions of microorganisms with crude oils are variable, depending on the microbial species and the chemical compositions of crude oils.     

Geological and Geochemical Evidence for Discriminating Anatectic and Subsolidus Migmatites in the Dabieshan Complex,Northeastern Hubei Province

Based on the geological and geochemical information about migmatites,the following lines of evidence have been proposed for discriminating the anatectic leucosome in the Dabieshan Complex:(1)its width is larger than that derived from the subsolidus genesis,cutting across regional foliation,thus giving rise to complicated folds and wider selvages;(2)it is composed of melanic and accessory minerals in addition to quartz and feldspars;(3)the significant dfference in anorthites of plagioclase between paleosome and leucosome;(4)temperature and pressure(P/T) conditions revealed by the mineral compositions and assemblages are over those for the onset of anatexis;and (5)it is enriched in the major elements(e.g.Al2O3.Fe2O3and TiO2)and immobile and incompatible elements(e.g.LREE,Th,Hf and Zr).Finally,by combining the geological and geochemical features with the statistical data for the spatial distribution of minerals and mass-balance in the migatites,it is concluded that anatexis is the cardinal mechanism of migmatization in the Dabieshan Complex.     

Fluid Inclusion Geochemistry of Metallic Ore Deposits in the South- Central Sector of theDa Hinggan Mountains in China

Physicochemical parameters of mineralization such as temperature, pressure, salinity, density, composition and boiling of ore fluids as well as pH, Eh, fo2 and reducing parameter in theprocess of mineralization of major ore deposits in the study district have been obtained by the authors through systematic observation and determination of characteristics and phase changes of fluid inclusions at different temperatures and analysis of gaseous and liquid phase compositions of the inclusions, thus providing a scientific basis for the division of mineralization-alteration stages, types of mineral deposits and minerogenetic series and the deepening of the knowledge about the ore-forming processes and mechanisms of mineral deposits. It is indicated that the deposits of the same type have similar fluid inclusion geochemical features and physicochemical parameters though they belong to different minerogenetic series, while the compositions of inclusions are not conditioned by deposit types but closely related to     

New Investigation on the Space Group of Chevkinite

Chevkinite specimen from a rare-earth mineral deposit in Sichuan,southwest ofChina have been studied in detail by means of transmission electron microscope(TEM).The selected area electron diffraction(SAED)and convergent beam electron diffraction(CBED)patterns,obtained from different crystal zone axis direction,proved coineidently that the space group of chevkinite is C2/m.Fringe lattice image obser-vation showed the mineral crystal is structurally uniform in microscale,and it is anideal specimen for electron diffraction analysis.The mineral studied here is similar to theone from Bayan Obo,Inner Mongolia,China,in chemical composition and REE distri-bution.The chemical formula of the crystal is(Ce,La,…,Ca)_4 Fe~2-(Fe,Ti,Nb)_2O_8 (Si_2O_7)_2 .From our study,we come to the conclusion that the space group of the natu-ral chevkinite is C2/m,instead of P2_1/a as synthetic one.Up to now,chevkinitecompositionally similar to the synthetic one,in which the complete replacements of Ce,La by Nd and Fe by Mg or Co o     

Discovery of Stolzite in China and Refinement of Its Crystal Structure

Although stolzite was discovered in Yaogangxian, Hunan Province, China, in 1948, no formal report about this mineral has been published. Recently its crystal structure has been refined by means of the Rietveld method. The cell dimensions of the mineral are: a=b= 0.544503(3) nm, c= 1.20495(1)nm and α=β=γ=90° . The X, Y and Z coordinates of the atom O refined by the authors are 0.2637, 0.1137 and 0.0706, respectively. The length of the W-O bond is 0.17826 nm and the angle of the O-W-O bound are 123° and 103° ,respectively.     

Sequestration of organic contaminants in soil/sediment and its impact on contaminant fate

Adsorption and desorption are critical processes controlling the fate and transport of organic contaminants in natural environment. Numerous studies have shown that only a fraction of contaminants in soil or sediment can readily be desorbed to the aqueous phase, while desorption of the remaining fraction is very difficult and does not follow the conventional desorption models-a phenomenon typically referred to as ＂resistant desorption＂ or ＂sequestration＂ and is argued by many as the cause of reduced availability of contaminants in soil and sediment. While this reduced availability often reduces the effectiveness of soil and sediment remediation, the same effect can also greatly reduce risk of contaminated soil and sediment. The authors have conducted extensive lab and field studies to characterize the unique properties of sequestration of organic contaminants and to understand the mechanism（s） controlling sequestration. Thus far, over 50 different contaminant-soil/sediment combinations have been evaluated, using contaminants of varied physical-chemical properties （e.g., chlorinated benzenes, PAHs, PCBs, DDT, atrazine, hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, etc.）. Several unique characteristics of sequestration have been observed, and the most striking one is that despite the significant differences in chemical and soil properties, desorption of sequestered contaminants for all the contaminant-soil/sediment combinations exhibited very similar KOC （organic-carbon normalized partition coefficient） and very similar desorption kinetics.     

An In Vitro Investigation of Pulmonary Alveolar Macrophage Cytotoxicity Introduced by Fibrous and Grainy Mineral Dusts

In order to study the damage mechanism of mineral dusts on the pulmonary alveolar macrophage （AM）, the changes in their death ratio, malandialdthyde （MDA） content and activities of lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） and superoxide dismutase （SOD） were measured, and the technique of cell culture in vitro was used to investigate the cytotoxicity of six mineral dusts （twelve crystal habits） from twelve mineral deposits. The results show that woUastonite and clinoptilolite have no AM cytotoxicity, while other fibrous and grainy mineral dusts damage pulmonary AM in various degrees. The cytotoxicity of fibrous mineral dusts was greater than that of the grainy ones, and the cytotoxicity of dusts was positively correlated with the active OH- content in dusts, but not necessarily so with its SiO2 content. The high pH values produced by dust was unfavorable for the survival of cells and the dusts with low bio-resistance were safe for cells. The content of variable valence elements in dusts might influence their cytotoxicity and the surface charge of dusts was not a stable factor for their toxicity. It is demonstrated that the shape of mineral dusts was one of the factors affecting cytotoxicity, and that the cytotoxicity of mineral dusts depends mainly on their properties.     

莱河矿稳定性的热力学分析

Laihunite, a mineral of ferric and ferrous iron silicate discovered in China in recent years, occurs in high grade metamorphic BIF coexisting with magnetite, quartz,fayaiite, ferrosilite and almandine. Complete nets based on Sehreinemakers bundles and partial nets with maximum closure after the method described by H. W. Day have been constructed by taking into account the existance of this minertl in order to illustrate phase relations for the (n 3) multisystem in the system of Fe2O3-FeO-SiO2. Judging from Lindsley‘s experimental data on ferrosilits, laihunite is expected to be stable at pressures probably higher than 15 Kb. Two-pyroxene and olivine-clinopyroxene geothermometere give temperatures of formation between 600--700℃. Free energy of laihunite calcultted according to the method of Chert and estimated values of heat capacity allow oxygen fugacity to be plotted against temperature at different total pressures with respect to a number of univariant reactions in which lailunite is involved. The log fo2 -T diagram demonstrates that to a first approximation the stability flels of laihunite overlaps the upper part of the magnetite field, but its upper limit is a little beyond the hematite-magnetite equilibrium. The three major requirements for laihunite stability, i.e., an unusual high pressure, a temperature in the order of 600--700℃ and a relatively higher oxygen fugacity are mutually, exclusive in common geological environment, which may probably account for the rare occurrence of this mineral in nature. For the BIF in which laihunite occurs, the pressure caused by the weight of overlying strata is not high enough to give rise to its formation even in the extreme case of geothermal gradient.So it is suggested that additional tectonic pressure in response to plate activity might have been involved.     

Character of the Si and Al Phases in Coal Gangue and Its Ash

Abstract: Analysis of the Si and Al phases in coal gangue fuel and its ash is important for use of coal gangue ashes. A comprehensive study by theoretical and experimental analyses with differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and Infrared Spectroscopy has been made in the present article to explore the diagram of the Si and Al phases in coal gangue fuel and its ashes. It is found that kaolinite and quartz are the main phases in coal gangue fuel. The ratio of moles Al2O3 to SiO2 (i.e., Al2O3 (mole) /SiO2 (mole)) is usually no more than 0.5 in most coal gangue fuel and its ashes. The kaolinit at about 984°C releases a large quantity of SiO2, which makes calcine coal gangue more active than coal gangue itself. The relationship between the ratio Al2O3 (mole)/SiO2(mole) and the components of coal gangue ash is analyzed, resulting in a formula to calculate the quantity of each phase. Applying the formula to the testing samples from an electric plant in north China supports the above conclusions.     

Variation of singularity of earthquake-size distribution with respect to tectonic regime

Frequency-size relation of earthquakes in a region can be approximated by the Gutenberg-Richter law(GR). This power-law model involves two parameters: a-value measuring seismic activity or earthquake productivity, and b-value describing the relation between frequencies of small and large earthquakes.The spatial and temporal variations of these two parameters, especially the b-value, have been substantially investigated. For example, it has been shown that b-value depends inversely on differential stress. The b-value has also been utilized as earthquake precursor in large earthquake prediction.However, the physical meaning and properties of b-value including its value range still remain as an open fundamental question. We explore the property of b-value from frequency-size GR model in a new form which relates average energy release and probability of large earthquakes. Based on this new form of GR relation the b-value can be related to the singularity index(1-2/3 b) of fractal energy-probability power-law model. This model as applied to the global database of earthquakes with size M ≥ 5 from 1964 to 2015 indicates a systematic increase of singularity from earthquakes occurring on mid-ocean ridges, to those in subduction zones and in collision zones.