内蒙古西部呼伦陶勒盖地区花岗岩类的初步研究

靠近中蒙边界的内蒙古西部呼伦陶勒盖地区的中元古界和石炭系中产出数个花岗岩体,其中以英格特-巴格毛道岩体的出露面积最大,岩性变化显著,包括石英闪长岩、花岗闪长岩和花岗岩,含有围岩的残留体,并被年轻的花岗岩和伟晶岩等侵入。以前的资料显示该岩体是晚古生代形成的,而其他红色的花岗岩和钾长花岗岩小岩体(如库楚乌拉和一连)是中生代形成的。SHRIMP锆石U-Pb定年结果显示,英格特-巴格毛德岩体的年龄为313±5Ma,相当于晚石炭世。原定为中生代的库楚乌拉和一连两个红色花岗岩体的年龄分别为277±2Ma和278±4Ma,相当于早二叠世,而侵入于英格特-巴格毛道岩体中的石英二长岩的年龄为130±2Ma,相当于早白垩世。晚石炭世花岗岩具有I-A型过渡的元素地球化学特征,而早二叠世花岗岩具有A型花岗岩的特征,属于铝质A型花岗岩。晚古生代花岗岩的共同特征是均以具正的εNd(t)值(0.90～3.43)为特征,具有新生地壳的性质,是内蒙古西部地区陆壳生长的标志。而早白垩世石英二长岩的εNd(t)值为-8.71,指示岩浆起源可能以壳源物质为主,有地幔物质参与。     

内蒙古北山地区哈日阿玛岛弧花岗岩地球化学、年代学特征及其地质意义

哈日阿玛岛弧花岗岩出露于北山造山带公婆泉岛弧带内,与奥陶纪—志留纪公婆泉组弧火山岩伴生,包含闪长岩、石英闪长岩、斜长花岗岩、英云闪长岩等.LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年表明闪长岩、英云闪长岩分别就位于430.9±4.7 Ma和452.5±3.2 Ma,为晚奥陶世—早志留世.岩石地球化学分析结果显示,这些花岗岩属钙碱...     

甘蒙北山石炭纪清水泉岩体SHRIMP锆石U-Pb年代学及地质意义

本文对清水泉复式杂岩体进行SHRIMP锆石U-Pb测年,获得二长花岗岩形成时代为314.4±4.7 Ma,含黑云母花岗岩形成时代为311.7±4.1 Ma,英云闪长岩形成时代为314.0±4.0 Ma,加之前人在该地区花岗闪长岩中获得Rb-Sr全岩等时线年龄(277.71±13.5 Ma),限定清水泉复式杂岩体的主要侵位时代为晚石炭世至早二叠世,且至少存在两期岩浆;清水泉复式杂岩体微量元素与稀土元素特征表明岩体具有地壳重熔型花岗岩特征,为I型与A型过渡岩浆,形成于活动陆缘的后造山/火山弧环境,从而揭示在晚石炭世时,古红石山洋消减碰撞,之后进入后造山阶段。     

蒙古西部呼伦陶勒盖地区花岗岩类的初步研究

靠近中蒙边界的内蒙古西部呼伦陶勒盖地区的中元古界和石炭系中产出数个花岗岩体,其中以英格特-巴格毛道岩体的出露面积最大,岩性变化显著,包括石英闪长岩、花岗闪长岩和花岗岩,含有围岩的残留体,并被年轻的花岗岩和伟晶岩等侵入.以前的资料显示该岩体是晚古生代形成的,而其他红色的花岗岩和钾长花岗岩小岩体(如库楚乌拉和一连)是中生代形成的.SHRIMP锆石UPb定年结果显示,英格特-巴格毛德岩体的年龄为313±5 Ma,相当于晚石炭世.原定为中生代的库楚乌拉和一连两个红色花岗岩体的年龄分别为277±2 Ma和278±4 Ma,相当于早二叠世,而侵入于英格特巴格毛道岩体中的石英二长岩的年龄为130±2 Ma,相当于早白垩世.晚石炭世花岗岩具有IA型过渡的元素地球化学特征,而早二叠世花岗岩具有A型花岗岩的特征,属于铝质A型花岗岩.晚古生代花岗岩的共同特征是均以具正的εNd(t)值(0.90～3.43)为特征,具有新生地壳的性质,是内蒙古西部地区陆壳生长的标志.而早白垩世石英二长岩的εNd(t)值为-8.71,指示岩浆起源可能以壳源物质为主,有地幔物质参与.     

阿拉套山南缘岩浆岩锆石SHRIMP年代学研究

位于中国与哈萨克什坦国边境的阿拉套山南缘,火山岩及花岗岩十分发育。其中流纹岩分布广泛,仅研究区内面积达370.8km~2,与下伏早石炭世阿克沙克组及晚石炭世东图津河组呈角度不整合或假整合,SHRIMP 锆石 U-Pb 年龄300±5Ma。乌拉斯台花岗岩体是研究区内规模最大的岩体,出露面积约82km~2,侵入于早石炭统阿克沙克组及至晚石炭统东图津河组以及早二叠统乌郎组火山岩内,与围岩界线清楚。岩体形态不规则,由4个侵入次岩体组成。第4次侵入的花岗闪长岩体 HRIMP 锆石 U-Pb 年龄为294±4Ma。夏尔敖腊岩体为由4个侵入次组成的岩体,侵入于早石炭统内,平面上呈不规则椭圆形,出露面积近10km~2,主要岩性为二长花岗岩。出露规模较大的第6次侵入岩体的 SHRIMP 锆石 U-Pb 年龄为299±6Ma。研究表明,新疆阿拉套山南缘岩浆岩,SHRIMP 锆石 U-Pb 同位素年龄300Ma 左右,主要形成于晚石炭世末至早二叠世初,为同一构造-岩浆作用下的产物。     

华北地块北缘晚古生代——早中生代岩浆活动期次、特征及构造背景

通过对华北陆块北缘近年来获得的晚古生代—早中生代岩浆岩锆石U-Pb及部分39Ar-40Ar测年结果的分析,认为该区晚古生代—早中生代期间至少经历了泥盆纪、早石炭世晚期—中二叠世及二叠纪末—三叠纪等3期明显的岩浆作用过程。泥盆纪岩浆活动时限在400～360Ma左右,岩性主要为碱性岩(正长岩及二长岩),其次为基性-超基性岩、二长闪长岩、碱性花岗岩及流纹岩,出露面积较少。早石炭世晚期—中二叠世岩浆活动时限在330～265Ma左右,岩性主要为闪长岩、石英闪长岩、花岗闪长岩及花岗岩,其次为辉长岩及英云闪长岩。二叠纪末—三叠纪岩浆活动(250～200Ma),岩性主要为钾长花岗岩、二长花岗岩及碱性杂岩,其次为基性-超基性岩及少量中酸性火山岩。华北地块北缘晚古生代—早中生代岩浆岩呈近东西走向的带状分布,其中泥盆纪及早石炭世晚期—中二叠世岩浆岩主要分布在内蒙古隆起上,而二叠纪末—三叠纪岩浆岩分布范围更大,其南界可以到达燕山构造带最南端的蓟县盘山及太行山北段的河北涿鹿矾山地区。这些广泛分布的多期次岩浆活动表明华北地块北缘在晚古生代—早中生代期间经历了复杂的岩浆及构造作用过程。泥盆纪岩浆活动可能与白乃庙岛弧岩带与华北克拉通弧-陆碰撞后的伸展作用有关。早石炭世晚期—中二叠世岩浆活动的形成与古亚洲洋向华北地块的俯冲作用有关。而二叠纪末—三叠纪岩浆活动的形成与华北地块与西伯利亚南缘蒙古增生褶皱带拼合后的伸展及岩石圈拆沉作用有关。     

湘东南万洋山岩体的锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年龄、成因及构造意义

本文对湘赣交界地区发育的万洋山岩体进行锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年和岩石学、地球化学分析。该岩体由英云闪长岩、花岗闪长岩和二长花岗岩组成,本次主要讨论英云闪长岩及其中发育的石英闪长岩包体,并获得英云闪长岩的锆石U-Pb年龄为438.0±3.0 Ma,石英闪长岩包体的锆石U-Pb年龄为425.6±3.1 Ma,为晚志留世。英云闪长岩矿物组合为斜长石、钾长石、黑云母、石英以及少量的角闪石、磁铁矿和榍石;地球化学特征显示为低硅、准铝质及钙碱性的花岗岩,在岩石类型判别图解中为I型花岗岩。石英闪长岩包体为细粒结构,矿物组合为角闪石、斜长石、黑云母、石英及少量辉石,表明岩石包体是岩浆成因的;包体中存在异常共生矿物斜长石斑晶、针状磷灰石,CIPW标准矿物计算中未出现刚玉分子,地球化学组成显示其具有低硅、低碱、准铝质的钙碱性岩类特征;包体还表现为富Mg、Fe以及高Mg#值(45~50),显示出包体高镁、偏基性的特征;包体与寄主岩稀土元素配分模式图和微量元素蛛网图分布特征基本一致,表明二者在成因上相关联。石英闪长岩包体分异指数DI=45~48与辉长岩接近,SiO_2含量略高于辉长岩,表明石英闪长岩包体源于上地幔基性辉长质岩浆、经岩浆混合演化形成。英云闪长岩显示为岛弧岩浆岩、具有活动大陆边缘岩浆岩特征,结合英云闪长岩的岩石类型、岩石包体成因认为:万洋山岩体可能是扬子板块与华夏板块在俯冲消减的地球动力学背景下,软流圈地幔上涌,诱发岩石圈地幔和上覆的古老地壳物质重熔,形成以壳源为主、壳幔混合成因的花岗岩。     

东昆仑祁漫塔格走廊域晚古生代—早中生代侵入岩岩石组合及时空格架

基于东昆仑造山带祁漫塔格构造走廊域晚古生代—早中生代侵入岩类的野外地质学、岩石学、时空分布和同位素定年资料,可以识别出5个构造岩浆阶段和5个构造岩浆带。研究区的岩浆活动主要集中于早中二叠世阶段、晚二叠世晚期—中三叠世早期、中三叠世、晚三叠世和晚三叠世—早侏罗世。早中二叠世阶段的岩浆活动产物为花岗闪长岩+(斑状)二长花岗组合、石英闪长岩+斑状石英闪长岩组合及闪长岩+石英闪长岩组合,晚二叠世晚期—中三叠世早期(254.1～240.6Ma)为(斑状)二长花岗岩+正长花岗岩组合;中三叠世(安尼期晚期—拉丁初期)为闪长岩+石英闪长岩+花岗闪长岩+英云闪长岩组合;晚三叠世(212～225Ma)为石英二长闪长岩+花岗闪长岩+(斑状)二长花岗岩+正长花岗岩组合;晚三叠世—早侏罗世(瑞替—郝塘期)代表性的岩石组合为石英二长岩+(斑状)正长花岗岩+碱长花岗岩。这些火成岩组合有规律地分布在构造走廊域内,是揭示东昆仑造山带构造演化的关键所在。     

内蒙古阿拉善右旗塔木素地区酸性侵入岩锆石U-Pb年龄与地球化学特征

内蒙古阿拉善地块北缘塔木素地区酸性侵入岩发育,主要岩性为黑云母花岗岩、花岗闪长岩、二长花岗岩、英云闪长岩,其中花岗闪长岩、英云闪长岩、二长花岗岩构成塔木素地区侵入岩的主体,岩体侵入晚石炭世—早二叠世阿木山组,又被白垩系、侏罗系不整合覆盖,区域上呈近东西向展布。采用LA-ICP-MS技术,测得内蒙古阿拉善右旗塔木素地区的塔木素二长花岗岩和笋布尔英云闪长岩中锆石的206Pb/238U年龄分别为264.2±3.3Ma和273.0±3.3Ma,这2个年龄被解释为各自的侵位年龄,即二者均形成于中二叠世。花岗闪长岩、二长花岗岩和英云闪长岩在SiO2-K2O图解中落入钙碱系列和高钾钙碱性系列,A/CNK值分别为0.874~1.01、1.06~1.54和0.91~1.03;Ba、Rb、Th、K等大离子亲石元素富集,Nb、Ta、P、Ti等高场强元素相对亏损;稀土元素总量分别介于156.99×10-6~212.87×10-6、126.92×10-6~212.98×10-6和128.13×10-6~214.5×10-6之间,均呈负Eu异常;在构造环境Rb-（Yb+Nb）和Rb-（Yb+Ta）判别图解中均落入火山弧花岗岩区。结合区域背景分析,阿拉善北缘在早二叠世时可能存在与弧物质有关的岩浆活动。     

南岭地区诸广山复式岩体年代格架研究

诸广山岩体是南岭地区著名的大型复式岩体之一,但其研究程度存在南体高、北体低的不均衡现象,制约了对诸广山岩体年代格架及其岩石组成的整体性认识.本文对诸广山复式岩体(北体)进行锆石年代研究,测得早古生代汤湖岩体、寨前岩体、东洛岩体(黑云母二长花岗岩)锆石U-Pb年龄分别为444±2 Ma、448±3 Ma、440±2 Ma,桂东岩体和上堡岩体(黑云母花岗闪长岩)锆石U-Pb年龄分别为444±2 Ma、442±2 Ma;中生代淋洋岩体(二长花岗岩)和鹅形岩体(正长花岗岩)锆石U-Pb年龄分别为230±3 Ma、157±1 Ma.诸广山岩体(北体)是由晚奥陶世-早志留世、晚三叠世、晚侏罗世岩体组成的复式岩体.结合南体年代与岩石学资料,认为诸广山复式岩体的侵位可划分为晚奥陶世-早志留世、中-晚三叠世、晚侏罗世三个期次,相应的岩石组合大致由花岗闪长岩-二长花岗岩→二长花岗岩→二长花岗岩-正长花岗岩演变,与显生宙南岭地区地壳物质成熟度逐渐增高的总趋势一致,这可能为晚中生代该区发生钨锡铍铌钽铀等战略性矿产大规模、集群式成矿奠定了物质基础.汤湖岩体和寨前岩体中存在的新元古代继承锆石和捕获锆石暗示本区早古生代岩体形成过程中可能有新元古代物质的参与.     

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。     

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.