Mineralogical and geochemical characterization of listwaenite from the Semail Ophiolite, Oman

The late Cretaceous-lower Tertiary hydrothermal alteration of serpentinized peridotite in the Semail ophiolite has formed two distinct types of listwaenite. Type I is characterized by the presence of calcite (Type IA) or dolomite (Type IB)+fuchsite±spinel. Type II is dominated by silicate minerals (quartz, chlorite, fuchsite)±calcite+dolomite±magnetite±apatite±plagioclase. Most listwaenites occur as veins along thrust fault zones within the ophiolite mélange. High Cr and Ni contents, abundant occurrence of Cr-spinel within a matrix of red-brown ferruginous carbonates within a micro-vein network of goethite, and the relics of mesh texture indicate an ultramafic protolith. Type I and II listwaenites represent different stages of hydrothermal alteration. The mineralogical and chemical distinctions of both types are the response to the extent of the reactions between the protoliths and the solutions leading to different stages of metasomatic replacement. The hydrothermal fluids involved in the formation of Type I listwaenite were enriched in Ca, Mg, and CO₂, whereas Type II listwaenite bodies were formed from a hydrothermal fluid enriched in SiO₂. REE and trace elements in both listwaenite types were extracted in part from adjoining peridotite. No Au anomaly in the study areas has been detected.     

Environmental impacts of El Arish power plant on the Mediterranean coast of Sinai, Egypt

A monitoring program was undertaken to evaluate the adverse impacts of the El Arish power plant on the northeastern Sinai coast of Egypt. This program spanned 28 months and includes intensive hydrographic surveying, measurements of waves, longshore current, littoral drift, currents behind the breaker zone, offshore currents, sea-level variation and water quality. The shoreline dynamics of the region have been substantially disrupted due to the high-intensity longshore transport and the interruption of longshore transport by the shore-perpendicular intake breakwaters. Maximum erosion of 5.5 m/year has been documented east of the breakwater. This erosion has been continuing eastwards, threatening the resort centers on the downcoast beaches. On the other hand, accretion (11.7 m/year) is recorded along the western side of the breakwater, accumulating great volumes of sand which is transported to the east by littoral currents. Part of this sand enters the intake basin, causing sedimentation problems by the easterly and westerly littoral drifts and cross-shore currents. In other respect, an unprotected offshore channel dredged in front of the water discharger, east of the intake, acts as an effective trap for the predominantly easterly sand drift, subsequently interrupting sediments moving from the east, accelerating processes of erosion to the east. The cooling and wastewater discharging from the discharger to the sea are insignificantly warmer than the upcoast water and not contaminated with chemical wastes. The thermal and chemical plume has no significant effect on the quality of the coastal water in the region.     

Mineralogical investigations in the interpretation of heavy-mineral geochemical results from till

Heavy-mineral geochemistry and its use in prospecting are based on the fact that some ore minerals (e.g. cassiterite, scheelite, wolframite, chromite, pyrochlore and columbite-tantalite) have a higher specific gravity than the common rock-forming silicates and are highly resistant to weathering in the secondary environment. Till, the most common type of surficial deposit in Finland, is relatively homogeneous and thus constitutes an appropriate sampling material for heavy-mineral geochemical studies. This is especially true in reconnaissance prospecting.The present work concentrates on the interpretation of heavy-mineral anomalies by reference to mineralogical and mineral chemistry data. Tetrabromoethane and a Frantz Isodynamic Separator were used to divide the heavy-mineral samples into subfractions, after which the minerals present were identified by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, electron microprobe techniques and X-ray diffraction.Applications of the methods at three tin anomaly sites in southern Finland are described. The results successfully predicted the presence of a greisen in one area and a pegmatite in another. Those for the third area were somewhat contradictory, the mineralogical composition of the samples suggesting a greisen source for the tin while the composition of the cassiterite pointed to a pegmatite or granite source.     

Mineralogical and geochemical investigation of emerald and beryl mineralisation,Pan-African belt of Egypt: genetic and exploration aspects

Mineralogical, geochemical and fluid inclusion studies reveal two favorable environments for the localisation of beryl mineralisations in the Precambrian rocks of Egypt: (1) emerald-schist; and (2) beryl-specialised granitoid associations. Emerald occurs within the mica schists and is typically confined to the Nugrus major shear zone. However, beryl associated with granitoids occurs in pegmatite veins, greisen bodies, and cassiterite quartz veins cutting the granites and the exocontacts of the volcanosedimentary country rocks.Compositionally, emerald is of octahedral type and its cell edge is lengthened along the a-axis, while beryl associated with granitoids is normal in composition and structural constants. Emerald is thought to be formed as the result of epitactic nucleation of Be, Al and alkali-rich solutions on the mica of the schist country rocks. Fluid inclusion studies show that the solutions are saline (8–22 wt% NaCl equiv.) and the reactions proceeded in the temperature range 260–382°C. On the other hand, aqueous inclusions in beryl associated with granitoids show the following sequence of formation with decreasing temperatures and salinities: beryl pegmatite (320–480°C and 7–16 wt% NaCl equiv.)→greisen bodies (190–400°C and 4–7 wt% NaCl equiv.)→cassiterite-quartz veins (190–380°C and 2–4 wt% NaCk equiv.).This study suggests that factors such as the chemistry of the Be-bearing fluids (rather than that of the bulk host schists) and syn-tectonic intrusions of leucogranites and pegmatites (Bederiving sources) along major ductile shear zones are the important factors controlling emerald formation. However, the endogreisens and exogreisens are the most important targets characterising the metasomatically- and magmatically-specialised, Be-granitoids, respectively. The aqueous inclusions examined in greisen beryls of metasomatised granites show a shorter range of homogenisation temperatures (260–390°C) and salinities(4.8-7 wt% NaCl equiv.) as compared to those of magmatically-specialised granitoids (190–400°C and 4–7 wt% NaCl equiv.). This phenomenon can be partly attributed to the late development of the fracture system during the crystallisation history of the metasomatised granites, where little or no contribution from meteoric waters occurred.     

Bedload abrasion and the in situ fragmentation of bivalve shells

The aim of this study was to determine how Unio bivalve shells fragment within the channel of the Sakmara River (southern Urals, Russia). The Sakmara River has an abundant bivalve population and a highly variable flow regime which, at low flow, allowed much of the channel bed to be examined. A large data set of 1013 shells (Unio sp.) was examined and these were shown to have consistent patterns of orientation, aspect, shell abrasion, perforation and fracture. The close spatial relationship between areas of shell abrasion, shell perforation and shell fracture showed that they form part of a continuum whereby areas of abrasion evolve into perforations and perforations coalesce and enlarge into fractures. The mechanism of shell damage proposed is one of abrasion in place, whereby the shell remains stationary on the surface of the point bar and is impacted by bedload. Underpinning this process are the hydrodynamic properties of the bivalve shell, with consistency in the orientation and aspect of the valve in a flowing current producing consistency in the distribution of damage on the shell surface. Valves preferentially lie in a convex‐up position and orientate in the flow such that the umbo faces upstream. The elevated, upstream‐facing umbo region is exposed to particle impact and is the first to be abraded and perforated. The vulnerability of the umbo to perforation is greatly increased by the thinness of the shell at the umbo cavity. The in situ abrasion process is enhanced by the development of an armoured gravel bed which restricts valve mobility and maintains shells within the abrasion zone at the sediment–water interface. The in situ abrasion process shows that broken shells are not a reliable indicator of long distance transport. The study also raises the issue that tumbling barrel experiments, which are generally used to simulate shell abrasion, will not replicate the type of directionally focused sand‐blasting which appears to be the principal cause of shell fragmentation in the Sakmara River.     

Mineralogical and geochemical investigation of some pegmatites from the Mashad area,northeastern Iran

Summary Pegmatitic dikes and masses of various sizes occur in a granite intrusion in the Mashad area, northeastern Iran. Their geochemistry, as well as that of the parent granite was investigated using some 40 specimens. Major constituents and trace elements were determined by means of X-ray fluorescence and spectrographic methods. Anomalously high concentrations of Be and Nb and indications of their minerals beryl and columbite were observed. Therefore, the pegmatites of this area may prove to be a potential source for Be, Nb, Ta and possibly Li.

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Mineralogische und geochemische Untersuchung einiger Pegmatite aus der Gegend von Mashad, Nordost-Iran

Zusammenfassung In einer Granitintrusion in der Gegend von Mashad, Nordost-Iran, kommen pegmatitische Gänge und Massen verschiedener Größe vor. Unter Verwendung von etwa 40 Proben wurde ihre Geochemie und die ihres Muttergranites untersucht. Die Hauptbestandteile und Spurenelemente wurden mit Röntgenfluoreszenz und spektrographischen Methoden bestimmt. Außergewöhnlich hohe Konzentrationen an Be und Nb und Hinweise auf ihre Minerale Beryll und Columbit wurden beobachtet. Die Pegmatite dieser Gegend könnten sich folglich als potentielle Lieferanten für Be, Nb, Ta und möglicherweise Li herausstellen.

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Mineralogical and geochemical studies on Abou-Sabouna phosphorites (Mahamied-Sharawna), upper Egypt,A. R. E.

Summary The Phosphate Formation of the Campanian-Maestrichtian in the Abou-Sabouna-Mine on the eastern side of the Nile Valley near Mamied was investigated mineralogically and geochemically. The phosphorite deposits are of the bedded type, containing collophane, francolite, smaller amounts of quartz, calcite, geothite and chlorite, rarely zircon. The phosphate material contains F^– (F/P₂O₅=0.089–0.094), as is characteristic for francolite.The phosphorites were deposited in a shallow marine environment with strong agitation. Diagenetic processes have changed the mineralogical and geochemical composition. Silification can be observed during diagenesis associated with accumulation of hematite.

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Mineralogische und chemische Untersuchungen an Phosphoriten von Abou-Sabouna (Mahamied-Sharawna), Ober-Ägypten, Arabische Republik Ägypten

Zusammenfassung Die Phosphatformation des Campan-Maastricht der Abou-Sabouna-Mine, östlich des Niltales bei Mamied, wurde mineralogisch und geochemisch untersucht. Die Phosphatlagerstätte ist von lagerartigem Typ; sie enthält Collophan, Frankolith, untergeordnet Quarz, Calcit, Goethit und Chlorit, als Seltenheit Zirkon. Im Phosphat ist F^– mit einem F/P₂O₅-Verhältnis von 0,089 bis 0,094 nachzuweisen, was für Frankolith charakteristisch erscheint.Die Phosphorite wurden in einem flach marinen, stark durchbewegten Milieu abgesetzt. Diagenetische Prozesse haben die mineralogische und geochemische Zusammensetzung durch Silifizierung und Hämatitbildung verändert.

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重庆南川-武隆铝土矿矿物学、地球化学特征

重庆南川-武隆铝土矿属于渝南-黔北铝土矿成矿带,为喀斯特型铝土矿床。经显微镜、X射线粉晶衍射、矿物自动分析仪(MLA)、扫面电子显微镜等方法对该矿床矿物学的研究,发现组成铝土矿的主要矿物为一水硬铝石、高岭石、绿泥石,次要矿物为伊利石、一水软铝石、三水铝石、鲕绿泥石、菱铁矿、赤铁矿、针铁矿、黄铁矿、锐钛矿、金红石、磷灰石、石英、锆石、方解石、长石及稀土矿物等。矿石组构及矿物组合表明形成铝土矿的沉积/成岩环境为接近于潜流的环境。矿石结构和锆石形态指示成矿物质经过了短距离的搬运。地球化学研究结果显示,组成铝土矿的主要化学成分为Al₂O₃、TFeO、SiO₂和TiO₂,铝土矿化过程中REE、Zr、Hf、Nb、Ta、Th、Sc、Li和Ga发生富集。形成铝土矿的母岩物质主要来自下伏页岩的风化作用,灰岩和酸性火山岩对铝土矿的形成也有一定的贡献。结合稳定同位素资料,认为铝土矿的形成可能与生物作用有关。     

The statistical analysis of geochemical compositions

The analysis and interpretation of compositional data, such as major oxide compositions of rocks, has been traditionally plagued by the so-called constant-sum or closure problem. Particular difficulties have been the lack of a satisfactory, interpretable covariance structure and of rich, tractable, parametric classes of distributions on the simplex sample space. Consideration of logistic and logratio transformations between the simplex and Euclidan space has allowed the introduction of new concepts of covariance structure and of classes of logistic-normal distributions which have now opened up a substantial and meaningful array of statistical methodology for compositional data. From the motivation of a wide variety of practical geological problems we examine the range of possibilities with this new approach to the constant-sum problem.     

A method to estimate hydraulic conductivity from bulk geochemical compositions

A new method has been developed to estimate the hydraulic conductivity in unconsolidated aquifers. The method uses bulk geochemical compositions correlated with hydraulic conductivities measured by pumping tests. The concept is based on a general rule that hydraulic conductivity is principally controlled by grain-size distribution and particle shape,both of which relate to mineralogical composition. Using a MINLITH algorithm, normative mineralogical compositions can be derived from bulk geochemical compositions economically and expediently, and then correlated to the hydraulic conductivity determined by pumping tests in the field. In this study, 202 sediment samples from nine unconsolidated aquifers were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence. Although hydraulic conductivity does not show a definite relationship with geochemical compositions, it does demonstrate a linear logarithmic equation to the content of normative earthy minerals. However, linear regressed equations should not be applied to aquifers composed of medium to coarse sand and gravel sizes due to interference from lithic fragments. In addition, this equation tends to overestimate hydraulic conductivity possibly because the effect of compaction is ignored in this study.     

Mineralogical and geochemical features of graphitized rocks in the Chernorudka-Barakchin Tectonic Zone

The morphological and structural characteristics of graphite from the deep Chernorudka-Barakchin Fault Zone, Western Baikal region, are described. A complex of mineralogical investigations shows that graphite varieties of the Baikal region are characterized by a perfect structure. The most crystallographically regular samples are composed only of sp ²-carbon, whereas the virtually amorphous varieties are formed by sp ²-and sp ³-carbons as well. The characteristic features of the graphite varieties distinguish them from carbonaceous matter of metamorphic rocks. High concentrations of Co, Ni, Cr, Cu, Ti, Zn, Sc, V, S, Nb, Zr, Sr, Ba, Y, Nd, and La were detected while analyzing the microcomponent composition of the graphitized rocks. The majority of these elements are contained in microinclusions hosted in graphite. The elevated noble metal contents were established in graphitized metasomatic rocks, granitoids, and particularly, in graphite concentrates extracted from these rocks. Sulfides, native metals, and intermetallic compounds were detected in microinclusions. It is suggested that the inflow of reduced high-carbonaceous fluids was responsible for the transfer of chemical elements.     

Mineralogical,geochemical and microfabric evidences of gypsum crusts: a case study from Budapest

High levels of SO₂ and particulate pollution enable the rapid development of gypsum-rich weathering crusts in Budapest. Two types of white crusts, thin and thick ones, and two forms of black crusts, laminar and framboidal ones, were studied in limestone buildings of the parliament and Citadella. The percentage of crust cover and damage categories were documented on selected walls. Petrographic, XRD, XRF and sulphur isotope analyses were performed under laboratory conditions to understand the mechanism of crust formation. White crusts found both on exposed and sheltered walls display a calcite-rich layer with gypsum, while black crusts are enriched with gypsum. The sulphur isotopic composition of white and black crusts overlaps, but the crusts are slightly enriched in heavy isotopes compared to rainwater. S content, Si/Al ratios and particulates in black crusts suggest that air pollution (SO₂, dust) contributes to black crust formation. The accumulation of sulphur and Zn enrichment of white crusts were also documented indicating that under high pollution levels, even these compound can accumulate on exposed facades.     

Experiments on the settling, overturning and entrainment of bivalve shells and related models

An experimental and theoretical examination has been made of the settling, entrainment and overturning of 176 valves representing 16 common Northwest European marine bivalve species, together with a comparative study of 15 plastic models in the form of segments from cylindrical tubes. Settling behaviour in both stagnant and moving water depends on particle mass, symmetry and concavo-convexity. Separated empty bivalve shells spin and spiral while settling and, if sufficiently elongated, also pitch. At the observed Reynolds numbers, the shells and models fall concave-up, the terminal fall velocity increasing as the square root of the unit immersed mass or weight. The drag coefficient is independent of Reynolds number but increases with surface roughness and, particularly, particle elongation. Turbulence slightly lowers the critical elongation for pitching. A separation vortex lies captive on the upper side of each descending particle. Consequently, an empty bivalve shell traversing a suspension of sand traps grains on its upper side at a rate proportional to their volume concentration and terminal fall velocity. This process, increasing the effective shell mass, is limited only by the capacity of the shell and grain spillage due to the possible onset of pitching. The ratio (non-dimensional) of a quantity proportional to the applied fluid force and the particle unit immersed weight consistently describes the entrainment of concave-up and convex-up particles, and also the immediate overturning of a valve on settling concave-up to the bed. These thresholds vary in relative magnitude with bed-particle friction and particle concavo-convexity. In general, convex-up particles are the most stable; the concave-up entrainment and overturning thresholds are of a substantially lower but similar magnitude. The high frequency of concave-up bivalve attitudes in turbidites is understandable largely in terms of the ability of a settling valve to increase in effective mass by grain entrapment. Convex-up attitudes in the lower parts of turbidites may record currents stronger than the overturning threshold.     

Anaerobic microbial activity affects earliest diagenetic pathways of bivalve shells

The earliest diagenetic post‐mortem exposure of biogenic carbonates at the sea floor and in the uppermost sediment column results in the colonization of hard‐part surfaces by bacterial communities. Some of the metabolic redox processes related to these communities have the potential to alter carbonate shell properties, and hence affect earliest diagenetic pathways with significant consequences for archive data. During a three‐month in vitro study, shell subsamples of the ocean quahog Arctica islandica (Linnaeus, 1767) were incubated in natural anoxic sediment slurries and bacterial culture medium of the heterotrophic Shewanella sediminis HAW ‐EB 3. Bulk analyses of the liquid media from the Shewanella sediminis incubation revealed an over ten‐fold increase in total alkalinity, dissolved inorganic carbon and Ω_Aragonite, and the alteration of the Mg/Ca, Mg/Sr and Sr/Ca ratios relative to control incubations without cultures. Ion ratios were most affected in the incubation with anoxic sediment, depicting a 25% decrease in Mg/Ca relative to the control. Shell sample surfaces that were exposed to both incubations displayed visible surface dissolution features, and an 8 wt% loss in calcium content. No such alteration features were detected in control shells. Apparently, alteration of shell carbonate properties was induced by microbially driven decomposition of shell intercrystalline organic constituents and subsequent opening of pathways for pore fluid–crystal exchange. This study illustrates the potential influence of benthic bacterial metabolism on biogenic carbonate archives during the initial stages of diagenetic alteration within a relatively short experimental duration of only three months. These results suggest that foremost the biological effect of bacterial cation adsorption on divalent cation ratios has the potential to complicate proxy interpretation. Results shown here highlight the necessity to consider bacterial metabolic activities in marine sediments for the interpretation of palaeo‐environmental proxies from shell carbonate archives.     

Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of coal ash from the Northwest Thrace region,Turkey: a case study

The first combined mineralogical and geochemical investigation of coal ashes from the Northwest Thrace Coal Basin, Turkey, was performed as a case study. The coal ash samples were obtained at 525 °C (group I), 750 °C (group II), and 1000 °C (group III) ashing temperatures from coal samples from the basin and were studied in terms of their mineralogical and geochemical composition using XRD and ICP-MS methods. The determination of the mineralogical composition was done for all of the groups; the geochemical analysis was carried out only for group II. In accordance with the high SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, CaO, and SO₃ content of the ash, quartz (SiO₂), hematite (Fe₂O₃), and anhydrite (CaSO₄) are the major crystalline phases for all of the ash groups. The other minerals are muscovite, thenardite, tridymite, calcite, wollastonite, anorthite, cristobalite, gibbsite, ternesite, mullite, nahcolite, and nacrite. High-temperature phases such as mullite, wollastonite, and anorthite were observed at 750 and 1000 °C. According to the (Fe₂O₃ + CaO + MgO+ K₂O+ Na₂O)/(SiO₂ + Al₂O₃+ TiO₂) ratios varying from 0.19 to 5.65, the ashes are highly prone to slagging. Compared to average values of low-rank coal ashes, the contents of V, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cs, W, and U of the ash are higher, whereas the total content of rare earth elements (REEs) (Σ 163.7 ppm) are lower. Based on upper continental crust normalization, As, Se, Th, and U are enriched in all of the samples. The higher trace element contents in the ashes might be considered as a possible health hazard. The correlation analyses indicated that Ca is associated with anhydrite and As with hematite. The correlation analyses also showed that newly formed Al and Ca silicates may contain the elements such as Ti, K, Na, Cr, Sn, and Pb.     

Mineralogical and geochemical patterns of mantle xenoliths from the Jixia region (Fujian Province,southeastern China)

The paper discusses the results of mineralogical and petrographic studies of spinel lherzolite xenoliths and clinopyroxene megacrysts in basalt from the Jixia region related to the central zone of Cenozoic basaltic magmatism of southeastern China. Spinel lherzolite is predominantly composed of olivine (Fo_89.6–90.4), orthopyroxene (Mg# = 90.6–92.7), clinopyroxene (Mg# = 90.3–91.9), and chrome spinel (Cr# = 6.59–14.0). According to the geochemical characteristics, basalt of the Jixia region is similar to OIB with asthenospheric material as a source. The following equilibrium temperatures and pressures were obtained for spinel peridotite: 890–1269°C and 10.4–14.8 kbar. Mg# of olivine and Cr# of chrome spinel are close to the values in rocks of the enriched mantle. It is evident from analysis of the textural peculiarities of spinel lherzolite that basaltic melt interacted with mantle rocks at the xenolith capture stage. Based on an analysis of the P–T conditions of the formation of spinel peridotite and clinopyroxene megacrysts, we show that mantle xenoliths were captured in the course of basaltic magma intrusion at a significantly lower depth than the area of partial melting. However, capture of mantle xenoliths was preceded by low-degree partial melting at an earlier stage.     

东南沿海晚中生代镁铁质岩的Re-Os同位素组成

从浙东、闽东南的早白垩世“双峰式火山岩”和“复合岩体”中选择了有代表性的玄武岩和角闪辉长岩,分离出钛-磁铁矿,进行Re—Os同位素分析。角闪辉长岩的γos（130Ma）为-83．7～ -47．1,其（^187 Os／^188 Os）。过低,为0．0667和0．0205。这低得不合理的（^187 Os／^188 Os）i表明成岩之后Re-Os体系可能受到扰动,某些地质过程导致外加Re的进入,使岩石的^187 Re／^188 Os比值偏高、（^187 Os／^188 Os）;及γOs（t）值偏低。玄武岩的γOs（130Ma）=21．4—267．8,其（^187 Os／^188 Os）。为0．1531～0．4639。Re—Os、Sm—Nd同位素及微量元素地球化学研究表明,早白垩世玄武岩浆不是来自富集地幔,而是来自亏损的地幔源区,在其演化过程中经受了地壳岩石和熔体的混染。晚中生代时期,东南沿海“大陆弧”下的地幔可能不是富集的岩石圈地幔,具有亏损特性,因而是软流圈地幔。