昌宁－孟连结合带斜长角闪岩锆石U-Pb年龄、地球化学特征及其地质意义

昌宁-孟连结合带牛井山地区发育以构造岩片和透镜体形式产出的斜长角闪岩,其对于认识和恢复昌宁-孟连结合带特提斯演化历史具有重要意义。本研究对牛井山蛇绿混杂岩带内的斜长角闪岩进行了系统的岩石学、锆石U-Pb定年、Hf同位素及全岩地球化学研究。锆石CL图像揭示斜长角闪岩锆石为岩浆成因锆石。锆石U-Pb定年结果为272±1.2 Ma（MSWD=1.1,n=21）,代表斜长角闪岩原岩时代。岩石地球化学分析表明,斜长角闪岩SiO₂含量为51.83%~52.6%,全碱（Na₂O+K₂O）含量为3.33%~4.16%,Na₂O/K₂O比值为5.8~19.8,属于低钾拉斑玄武岩系列。微量元素结果表明斜长角闪岩具有N-MORB的地球化学特征。原岩恢复研究揭示斜长角闪岩的原岩为272±1.2 Ma的N-MORB型辉长岩。斜长角闪岩锆石初始（¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf）_i值为0.282906~0.282956,对应的ε_Hf（t）为10.7~12.5;单阶段亏损地幔Hf模式年龄t_DM1为416~499 Ma （平均值为466Ma）,明显老于原岩结晶时代。岩石地球化学特征和锆石Hf模式年龄揭示昌宁-孟连特提斯洋在272 Ma时具有一个长期亏损的地幔,地幔年龄为早古生代416~499 Ma。结合该带存在早古生代洋壳残余及洋壳俯冲成因埃达克岩的事实,我们认为昌宁-孟连带是一个连续演化的原-古特提斯洋,晚古生代272 Ma时还存在洋中脊扩张并产生具有N-MORB性质的洋壳。     

马来西亚麻元锡矿床成矿花岗岩地球化学、锆石U-Pb年龄及Sr-Nd-Hf同位素特征

麻元锡矿床是马来半岛东部花岗岩带内重要原生锡矿之一。为厘定矿区成矿花岗岩的形成时间及构造背景,本文开展了岩石学、锆石U-Pb年代学、岩石地球化学、Sr-Nd同位素及锆石Hf同位素研究。对2件矿区花岗岩样品的锆石进行了LA-ICP-MS U-Pb测试,获得了²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb-²³⁸U/²⁰⁶Pb谐和年龄分别为（259.0±3.3） Ma（MSWD=0.77）和（261.3±2.8） Ma（MSWD=0.55）,加权平均年龄为（260.30±2.0） Ma（MSWD=1.3）及（263.0±2.1） Ma（MSWD=0.15）。岩石地球化学分析显示,矿区花岗岩样品富Si O₂（73.09%～76.56%）、富K₂O（4.29%～4.91%）,I_A/CNK为1.03～1.06,轻稀土富集（LREE/HREE为4.24～8.08）,Eu负异常明显（δEu=0.08～0.20）,富含大离子亲石元素（Rb、K、Th、U）,亏损高场强元素（N...     

东昆仑东段早泥盆世“A”型花岗岩的确定——来自乌兰东地区都南哑合黑云母花岗岩锆石U-Pb年代学、元素地球化学证据

都南哑合岩体位于东昆仑东段乌兰东呼德生地区,通过对岩体锆石U-Pb定年和岩石地球化学进行研究,分析该岩体成因及构造背景。结果表明：都南哑合岩体主要为黑云母花岗岩,锆石²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U加权平均年龄为(413.3±2.1) Ma,岩体结晶年龄为早泥盆世;岩石属准铝质-过铝质高钾钙碱性系列,具高硅,SiO₂=71.13%～74.67%、富碱,Na₂O+K₂O=8.3%～9.26%,低铝,Al₂O₃=12.28%～13.56%、贫钛,0.15%～0.31%、贫镁,0.22%～0.34%及富钾特征。K₂O/Na₂O=0.69～1.64,平均1.36;稀土元素分布曲线呈强负铕,δEu=0.18～0.42,平均0.26,异常轻稀土富集的右倾型;富集大离子亲石元素Rb,K和高场强元素Th,La,Ce,Nd。Ba相对亏损,Sr强亏损;明显亏损高场强元素P,Ti,弱富集Nb,Ta,Sm,Zr,Hf,Y,Yb...     

大兴安岭北部诺敏河地区早石炭世A型花岗岩的年代学、地球化学及Hf同位素研究

大兴安岭北部诺敏河地区碱长花岗岩锆石呈自形—半自形短柱状—板状,具有结构清晰的振荡生长环带和较高的Th/U比值(1.10～2.18),指示其为典型岩浆成因锆石。LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年代学研究显示岩石形成于早石炭世杜内期(352.9±3.3 Ma)。岩石地球化学研究显示,岩石属于准铝质—弱过铝质高钾钙碱性岩石,富硅(SiO₂=73.25%～77.01%)、富碱(Na₂O+K₂O=7.72%～9.48%)、富铁(Fe₂O₃=2.06%～2.97%,Fe₂O₃+FeO=2.32%～3.33%),贫镁(MgO=0.08%～0.26%)。根据强烈亏损Sr、Eu、Ba、Ti、P等元素,REE分布曲线为右倾式海鸥型和明显的Eu负异常(δEu=0.26～0.31)的岩石地球化学特征,判断碱长花岗岩属于A型花岗岩。锆石¹⁷⁶Yb/¹⁷⁷Hf值为0.03778～0.133612,¹⁷⁶     

赣中地区周潭群斜长角闪岩年龄、成因及对华南新元古代构造演化的地质意义

赣中周潭地区发育的周潭群为一套高角闪岩相变质且强烈变形的火山-沉积岩组合,其形成年龄一直存在争议。本次研究对周潭群中斜长角闪岩和黑云母片岩开展了锆石U-Pb年代学和岩石地球化学研究。斜长角闪岩有两种类型的锆石,第一种变质锆石的定年结果为(417±47) Ma,第二种捕获锆石²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U表观年龄在873～716 Ma之间。黑云母片岩中全部为碎屑锆石,锆石²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U表观年龄在861～658 Ma之间。斜长角闪岩具有平坦型的稀土分布模式和正的ε_Nd(t)值(1.72～2.69),其Nb/La(0.73～0.94)、Nb/Y(0.10～0.12)以及Zr/Y(1.61～2.54)比值类似于洋中脊玄武岩(N-MORB);在Nb/Yb与TiO₂/Yb、La与La/Nb构造判别图解中,斜长角闪岩全部落在N-MORB区域,表明斜长角闪岩来自亏损地幔。对比扬子东南缘850～760 Ma的N-MORB型基性岩的ε_Nd(t)值、Zr/Y和...     

东昆仑造山带西段乌尊科勒晚三叠世花岗岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄、构造环境及地质意义

乌尊科勒侵入岩位于东昆仑造山带西段,岩石类型主要为花岗斑岩和斜长花岗斑岩。利用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年,获得花岗斑岩锆石²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U年龄为(209.3±3.3) Ma(晚三叠世)。主量元素特征显示高硅,SiO₂=70.82%～72.57%、富碱,Na₂O+K₂O=5.90%～7.82%,相对富钾,K₂O/Na₂O=1.03～1.35;低钛,TiO₂=0.08%～0.19%、低镁,MgO=0.19%～0.38%;A/CNK值为1.12～1.58,碱度率AR值为1.97～2.73,副矿物中富含白云母,属含白云母强过铝质花岗岩。稀土元素总量较低,ΣREE=35.95×10^-6～78.74×10^-6,Eu异常不明显,δEu=0.71～1.25。大离子亲石元素Rb,U,K富集,高场强元素Nb,Ta,Ti,P亏损。Rb/Sr值介于0.77～2.8,Nb/Ta值为8...     

赣中聚源钨矿区花岗斑岩锆石U-Pb年代学、岩石地球化学和Sr-Nd-Hf同位素特征及成因探讨

聚源钨矿是赣中地区的一个大型石英脉型白钨矿床。通过对与矿床密切相关的花岗斑岩开展锆石U-Pb年代学、岩石地球化学以及Sr-Nd-Hf同位素研究,结果表明,其形成年龄为152.4±1.0 Ma。花岗斑岩具有高硅(SiO₂=75.08%～76.11%),富碱(K₂O+Na₂O=7.82%～8.70%),富钾(K₂O=4.57%～5.39%),强过铝质(A/CNK=1.05～1.20,均值>1.1)的特征;富集Rb、Th、U、K、Sm等元素,强烈亏损Ba、Sr、P、Ti、Zr和Eu等元素,与S型花岗岩特征类似;轻稀土元素富集,重稀土元素亏损((La/Yb)_N=14.07～15.89),Eu强烈亏损(δEu=0.04～0.11)。岩石的I_Sr值介于0.709702～0.717566之间,平均为0.714717,ε_Nd(t)值为-8.8～-8.1,锆石ε_Hf(t)值在-11.9～-9.3之间,两阶段Nd模式年龄和两阶...     

阿尔金南缘新元古代盖里克片麻岩年代学、地球化学特征及其构造意义

盖里克片麻岩分布于阿中地块亚干布阳-帕夏拉依档一带,岩体主要岩性由眼球状黑云斜长片麻岩、二云二长片麻岩组成。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年得到²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U加权平均年龄值为(886.5±5)Ma,说明盖里克片麻岩原岩形成于新元古代早期青白口纪;地球化学结果显示：主量元素具有高SiO₂、Al₂O₃、K₂O+Na₂O含量,低Na₂O、MgO、CaO和TiO₂含量的特征,A/CNK值介于1.03~1.17之间,属于高钾钙碱性系列的过铝质花岗岩。岩石富集Rb、Th、K等大离子亲石元素,亏损Nb、Ta、Sr、P、Hf、Ti等高场强元素,具有典型的大陆碰撞型花岗岩相应的元素丰度特征;岩石轻稀土富集而重稀土亏损,具有明显的负Eu异常,总体呈右倾的“V”型稀土分配模式,显示了典型的地壳重熔型花岗岩特征。盖里克片麻岩的源岩为地壳中角闪岩相基性岩类(变玄武岩),形成于同碰撞构造环境。综上说明本区存在新元古代早期的构造岩浆事件,可能对应于新元古代的罗迪尼亚(Rodinia)超大陆汇聚事件,说明塔里木和柴达木板块之间在新元古代早期曾经存在板块的汇聚碰撞。     

松潘—甘孜造山带东南段香卡日瓦地区晚三叠世花岗岩体年代学、岩石成因及其构造意义

笔者等以松潘—甘孜造山带东南段香卡日瓦岩体和珍秦岩体为研究对象,开展了岩石学、岩石地球化学、锆石U-Pb年代学及Lu—Hf同位素研究,探讨了岩石成因和构造意义。结果表明：香卡日瓦岩体和珍秦岩体岩性分别为黑云母花岗闪长岩和黑云母花岗闪长斑岩,岩石SiO₂含量为65.45%～70.04%、Al₂O₃含量为15.30%～16.69%、K₂O/Na₂O为1.10～1.56,属高钾钙碱性系列岩石;铝饱和指数A/CNK介于1.04～1.11之间,显示弱过铝质特征。稀土元素球粒陨石标准化配分模式图上表现出相似的曲线特征,总体表现为轻稀土富集、重稀土亏损、Eu负异常的“V”型右倾特征。岩石明显富集Cs、Rb、Ba、Th、U等大离子亲石元素,亏损Nb、Ta、Ti、P等高场强元素。两个岩体的锆石n(²⁰⁶Pb)/n(²³⁸U)加权平均年龄在217.9～216.3 Ma之间,指示为晚三叠世岩浆作用的产物;锆石Hf同位素初始值n(¹⁷⁶...     

冀北崇礼红旗营子岩群中镁铁质岩石地球化学和年代学研究:对华北克拉通新太古代晚期-古元古代早期大地构造演化的启示

崇礼地区红旗营子岩群位于华北克拉通北缘,该区红旗营子岩群的岩石组合、构造属性及时代归属对于探讨华北克拉通新太古代晚期－古元古代早期大地构造演化具有重要意义.本文对崇礼地区红旗营子岩群中的镁铁质岩石进行了野外、镜下岩相学、全岩地球化学、锆石U-Pb年代学及Hf同位素分析,并讨论其对华北克拉通北缘新太古代晚期－古元古代早期地壳演化的指示意义.研究区红旗营子岩群中的镁铁质岩石以夹层产出于表壳岩中,主要由斜长角闪岩和斜长辉石角闪岩组成.红旗营子镁铁质岩石主量元素中SiO₂（40.17%~51.53%）、Na₂O（1.52%~3.47%）和K₂O（0.43%~1.23%）含量范围较大,具有较高的CaO（9.15%~12.68%）、MgO（5.90%~13.36%）和Al₂O₃（9.81%~20.92%）含量.镁铁质岩石轻稀土元素轻微富集,重稀土元素配分模式近平坦,大离子亲石元素Ba、U、K、Sr富集,高场强元素Th、Nb、Ta、Ti明显亏损.斜长角闪岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年显示207Pb/206Pb加权平均年龄为2 477±23 Ma（MSWD=3.1）,上交点年龄为2 468±22 Ma,表明其形成于新太古代晚期－古元古代早期.斜长角闪岩锆石Hf同位素分析结果显示ε_Hf（t）为负值（-5.2~0）,一阶段模式年龄（T_DM1）为2 673~2 783 Ma,二阶段模式年龄（T_DM2）为2 880~3 074 Ma,均大于锆石的形成年龄,指示其来源于古老地壳物质的再循环.镁铁质岩石全岩地球化学分析结果显示其形成于岛弧相关环境.结合华北其他地区研究成果,本研究表明崇礼地区新太古代晚期－古元古代早期可能发生了一期与岛弧有关的岩浆事件.      

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10 μm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都提出了具体测定要求。     

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.