The isotopic composition of waters from the El Tatio geothermal field,Northern Chile

On the basis of isotopic and chemical analyses of 45 spring, well and meteoric water samples from the El Tatio geothermal field in Northern Chile, four main processes giving rise to the formation of a wide range of thermal discharges can be distinguished. (1) Deep dilution of a predominant, primary high chloride (5500 mg/l, 260°) supply water derived from precipitation some 15 km east of El Tatio with local groundwater produces a secondary chloride water. (4750 mg/l, 190°) feeding springs over a limited area. (2) Single step steam separation from these two waters leads to isotopic shifts and increases in chloride contents to 8000 and 6000 mg/l respectively. (3) Absorption of this separated steam and carbon dioxide into local ground water and mixing with chloride waters at shallow levels produces a series of intermediate temperature (160°), low chloride, high bicarbonate waters. (4) Absorption of steam containing H₂S into surface waters leads to the formation of zero chloride, high sulfate waters; the isotopic enrichment observed is governed by a kinetic, steady state evaporation process.     

The hot spring and geyser sinters of El Tatio, Northern Chile

The siliceous sinter deposits of El Tatio geothermal field in northern Chile have been examined petrographically and mineralogically. These sinters consist of amorphous silica (opal-A) deposited around hot springs and geysers from nearly neutral, silica-saturated, sodium chloride waters. Water cooling and evaporation to dryness are the main processes that control the opal-A deposition in both subaqueous and subaerial settings, in close spatial relation to microbial communities. All fingerprints of organisms observed in the studied sinter samples represent microbes and suggest that the microbial community is moderately diverse (cyanobacteria, green bacteria, and diatoms). The most important ecological parameter is the temperature gradient, which is closely related to the observed depositional settings: 1) Geyser setting: water temperature = 70–86 °C (boiling point at El Tatio: 4200 m a.s.l.); coarse laminated sinter macrostructure with rapid local variations; biota comprises non-photosynthetic hyperthermophilic bacteria. 2) Splash areas around geysers: water temperature = 60–75 °C; laminated spicule and column macrostructure, locally forming cupolas (< 30 cm); predominant Synechococcus-like cyanobacteria. 3) Hot spring setting: water temperature = 40–60 °C; laminated spicules and columns and subspherical oncoids characterize the sinter macrostructure; filamentous cyanobacteria Phormidium and diatoms (e.g., Synedra sp.) are the most characteristic microbes. 4) Discharge environments: water temperature = 20–40 °C; sinter composed of laminated spicules and oncoids of varied shape; cyanobacterial mats of Phormidium and Calothrix and diatoms (e.g., Synedra sp.) are abundant. El Tatio is a natural laboratory of great interest because the sedimentary macrostructures and microtextures reflect the geological and biological processes involved in the primary deposition and early diagenesis of siliceous sinters.     

Contributions of discharges from a historic antimony mine to metalloid content of river waters,Marlborough, New Zealand

Historic antimony mining at Endeavour Inlet, New Zealand, was developed in a stibnite-rich mesothermal vein system hosted in a km scale shear zone in metasedimentary schist. The schist contains calcite, and all waters have pH between 7 and 8. Underground tunnels (adits) have largely collapsed, but two adits provided access to waters which have interacted chemically with mineralised rock. Natural groundwater entering an adit at the top of the mineralised catchment had 190 μg/l Sb and 10 μg/l As. The amount of arsenic increased along the adit as the water interacted with arsenopyrite-bearing rocks and debris (up to 2000 mg/kg As, 500 mg/kg Sb) on the adit floor. Sb(III) was below 14 μg/l, and there was no detectable As(III). Antimony content remained near constant in the adit but increased outside the adit because of interaction with stibnite-rich debris. Negligible attenuation of metalloids occurred via adsorption outside the adit, as iron oxyhydroxide is rare. Metalloid attenuation was by dilution in a nearby natural stream, which carried <30 μg/s Sb and <10 μg/s As away from the site. An adit 500 m downstream was developed in a lower, more arsenopyrite-rich portion of the mineralised system with debris containing up to 15,000 mg/kg As and 5000 mg/kg Sb. Water from this adit had up to 200 μg/l Sb and 1650 μg/l As. Arsenic was attenuated by adsorption outside this adit, and by dilution by the natural stream. Antimony was not attenuated by adsorption, nor by dilution as the natural stream contained up to 200 μg/l Sb. Metalloid flux away from this site was ca. 200 μg/s Sb and 40 μg/s As, and the adit contributed negligible amounts of metalloids to this flux. Total metalloid flux from the catchment is 14,000 μg/s antimony and 5000 μg/s arsenic, which is around three orders of magnitude greater than observed mine inputs to the catchment. Highest flux occurred in September as water tables rose in the winter. Nearly all the metalloid flux is derived by natural groundwater and surface water interaction with mineralised rock. This interaction between water and mineralised rock is enhanced in this area because the catchment runs subparallel to the shear zone which controls the mineralised veins.     

Metal contamination of the environment by placer and primary gold mining in the Adola region of southern Ethiopia

Primary and placer gold mining sites in southern Ethiopia were studied to see the contribution of mining to the accumulation of metals in different environmental media. Sediment, water and plant samples were analyzed for Al, Mn, Fe, As, Ni, Cr, Cu, Co, Pb, W, Sb, Mo, Zn and V. Water parameters (pH, Eh, TDS, anions and cations) were also measured. The sediment analyses results show that the most abundant metals are Ni (average 224.7 mg/kg), Cr (199 mg/kg), Cu (174.2 mg/kg), V (167.3 mg/kg), Zn (105.5 mg/kg), Pb (61.5 mg/kg) and As (59.7 mg/kg) in the primary gold mining sites while the placer sites show high concentration of V (average 301.2 mg/kg), Cr (260.4 mg/kg), Zn (179 mg/kg), Ni (113.4 mg/kg), Cu (46.7 mg/kg), As (32.2 mg/kg) and Co (31 mg/kg). The metals Cu, Ni, W, Cr, As and Pb in primary and Sb, W, Cr, Ni, Zn, As and Mo in placer gold mining sites have geoaccumulation indexes (I _geo) from one to four indicating considerable accumulation of these metals. Waters from both primary and placer mining sites are near neutral to alkaline. Arsenic (average 92.8 μg/l), Ni (276.6 μg/l), Pb (18.7 μg/l), Sb (10.7 μg/l), Mn (1 mg/l), Fe (8.3 mg/l) and Al (23.8 mg/l) exceeded the guideline value for drinking water. Plants show high concentration of Cr (average 174.5 mg/kg), Ni (163.5 mg/kg), Zn (96 mg/kg) and W (48 mg/kg). Zinc, W, Mo, Ni and Cr show the maximum biological absorption coefficient (BAC) ranging 0.4–1.7, 0.1–104.6, 1.1–2.6, 0.2–1.6 and 0.2–3.6, respectively, and the results suggest bioaccumulation of these elements in plants. The minerals especially sulfides in the ore aggregate are the ultimate source of the metals. The release of the metals into the environmental media is facilitated (in addition to normal geologic processes) by human activities related to gold mining.     

Environmental and health risk assessment in abandoned mining area, Zlata Idka, Slovakia

The Zlata Idka village is a typical mountainous settlement. As a consequence of more than 500 years of mining activity, its environment has been extensively affected by pollution from potentially toxic elements. This paper presents the results of an environmental-geochemical and health research in the Zlata Idka village, Slovakia. Geochemical analysis indicates that arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) are enriched in soils, groundwater, surface water and stream sediments. The average As and Sb contents are 892 mg/kg and 818 mg/kg in soils, 195 mg/kg and 249 mg/kg in stream sediments, 0.028 mg/l and 0.021 mg/l in groundwater and 0.024 mg/l and 0.034 mg/l in surface water. Arsenic and Sb concentrations exceed upper permissible limits in locally grown vegetables. Within the epidemiological research the As and Sb contents in human tissues and fluids have been observed (blood, urine, nails and hair) in approximately one third of the village’s population (120 respondents). The average As and Sb concentrations were 16.3 μg/l and 3.8 μg/l in blood, 15.8 μg/l and 18.8 μg/l in urine, 3,179 μg/kg and 1,140 μg/kg in nails and 379 μg/kg and 357 μg/kg in hair. These concentrations are comparatively much higher than the average population. Health risk calculations for the ingestion of soil, water, and vegetables indicates a very high carcinogenic risk (>1/1,000) for as content in soil and water. The hazard quotient [HQ=average daily dose (ADD)/reference dose (RfD)] calculation method indicates a HQ>1 for groundwater As and Sb concentrations.     

The environmental impact of Aguilar mine on the heavy metal concentrations of the Yacoraite River,Jujuy Province,NW Argentina

The Yacoraite River and its tributaries run down the eastern slope of the Aguilar Range. It is one of the tributaries of the Rio Grande, located in Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Aguilar underground mine (Pb–Ag–Zn) is located in the upper reaches of the Yacoraite River drainage basin. The aim of this work is to characterize the presence of heavy metals in water and sediments of the Yacoraite River and to identify their sources. The analysis shows the seasonal variation of heavy metals concentration in water and their relation with the World Health Organization (WHO) limits established for human consumption. The Yacoraite basin is naturally anomalous in some metals and some elements, such as As which is controlled by the chemical composition of regional lithology. During the wet season, Al, Co, Mo and Pb concentrations in water samples are higher than during the dry season; in addition, these metals are also higher than WHO limit values. High enrichment factors for Ba, Mo, Pb, Zn and Cd were found in Casa Grande stream, indicating the direct influence of the mining activities. Cd, Pb and Zn are present in the Aguilar ore minerals, such as sphalerite and galena. Sediments collected during the dry season show a drastic increase in the concentration of As, Pb, Ba, Zn, Cd and Mn. The Müller geo-accumulation index in Casa Grande indicates that it is a highly polluted stream. The concentrations of As, Pb, Ba, Zn, Cd are also high in Yacoraite River: Security Quality Guidelines indicates toxicity. A decrease in enrichment factors and geo-accumulation indices observed in sediments indicates the occurrence of precipitation/adsorption processes in the river to restore the equilibrium composition. Strict environmental controls in Aguilar Mine are necessary to avoid the uncontrolled input of toxic metals in Casa Grande stream and Yacoraite River.     

Partitioning geochemistry of arsenic and antimony,El Tatio Geyser Field,Chile

The abundance of As and Sb in aqueous, mineral and biological reservoirs was examined at El Tatio Geyser Field, a unique hydrothermal basin located in the Atacama Desert region of Chile. Here the concentration of total As and Sb in hydrothermal springs and discharge streams are the highest reported for a natural surface water, and the geyser basin represents a significant source of toxic elements for downstream users across Region II, Chile. The geyser waters are near neutral Na:Cl type with ∼0.45 and 0.021 mmol L⁻¹ total As and Sb, respectively, primarily in the reduced (III) redox state at the discharge with progressive oxidation downstream. The ferric oxyhydroxides associated with the microbial mats and some mineral precipitates accumulate substantial As that was identified as arsenate by XAS analysis (>10 wt% in the mats). This As is easily mobilized by anion exchange or mild dissolution of the HFO, and the ubiquitous microbial mats represent a significant reservoir of As in this system. Antimony, in contrast, is not associated with the mineral ferric oxides or the biomats, but is substantially enriched in the silica matrix of the geyserite precipitates, up to 2 wt% as Sb₂O₃. Understanding the mobility and partitioning behavior of these metalloids is critical for understanding their eventual impact on regional water management.     

Arsenic distribution and source in groundwater of Yangtze River Delta economic region,China

This thesis focuses Arsenic(As) distribution and occurrence in groundwater of Yangtze River Delta economic region, East China. 2019 groundwater samples were collected to analyze 26 chemical compositions, including As. The Principal Component Analysis(PCA) was used to find out As source in groundwater. The results show that average As concentration in groundwater of this study is 9.33 μg/l, and maximum As concentration is up to 510 μg/l. The variation coefficient is 314.34%. High arsenic phreatic water(10 μg/l) distributes along the Yangtze River and its estuary. Weak hydrodynamic conditions, wide p H value variation range and deteriorating environment are dominating factors, especially in Yangtze River Delta. The PCA suggests that arsenic in phreatic water is mainly of natural origin. Part of arsenic may directly originate from sediment organics and be related to organics decomposition.     

Light Rare Earth Elements enrichment in an acidic mine lake (Lusatia,Germany)

The distribution of Rare Earth Elements (REE) was investigated in the acidic waters (lake and groundwater) of a lignite mining district (Germany). The Fe- and SO₄-rich lake water (pH 2.7) displays high REE contents (e.g. La∼70 μg/l, Ce∼160 μg/l) and an enrichment of light REE (LREE) in the NASC normalised pattern. Considering the hydrodynamic model and geochemical data, the lake water composition may be calculated as a mixture of inflowing Quaternary and mining dump groundwaters. The groundwater of the dump aquifer is LREE enriched. Nevertheless, the leachates of dump sediments generally have low REE contents and display flat NASC normalised patterns. However, geochemical differences and REE pattern in undisturbed lignite (LREE enriched pattern and low water soluble REE contents) and the weathered lignite of the dumps (flat REE pattern and high water soluble REE contents) suggest that lignite is probably the main REE source rock for the lake water.     

Geochemical hazard evaluation of sulphide-rich iron mines: The Rio Marina district (Elba Island,Italy)

Rio Marina mining district (Elba Island) is characterised by hematite + pyrite ore association and was exploited for iron till 1981, leaving waste rock dumps of several millions m³. The effect of open pit mining activity in this site is to produce acid mine drainage (AMD) processes leading to environmental pollution, testified by all the sampled waters (Giove stream, drainage channels, superficial pools and settling basin) which have pH values ranging from 2.08 to 3.35 and heavy metal concentrations that reach 903.16 mg/l for Fe, 45.02 mg/l for Mn, 10.08 mg/l for Zn and 1.75 mg/l for Cu. In the present work a space and time related approach to geochemical hazard evaluation was applied. The geochemical hazard is mainly related to high heavy metal concentration, acid mine drainage processes development and topographic setting. As all these parameters are related in space, hazard evaluation was performed by geostatistical methods. Fifty-four earth material samples (residual soils, waste rocks or debris materials) were collected in a central aligned 100 m mesh square grid. These were analysed for major elements by XRF, for Cu, Pb, Zn by ICP-AES and for AMD potential following the AMIRA procedure. The concentration of heavy metals was compared with Italian law limits. The overlap of Cu, Pb and Zn content maps show that at least one of these heavy metals exceed law limits in all the area. The AMD test results show that more than 50% of samples have a positive NAPP (Net Acid Producing Potential) that could reach 258.9 kg H₂SO₄/t. According to the obtained data, three main geochemical hazard classes were established and their distribution in the mining area was assessed. About 51% of the mining area surface belongs to the major hazard class, where AMD process occurs, about 49% belongs to an intermediate hazard class, where AMD process could occur only if certain conditions are met. Finally, the persistence of the AMD process in the Rio Marina area was evaluated on the basis of yearly rainfall, mining waters pH and NAPP values. A complete leaching of the first 0.25 m of the earth materials can retain the current environmental conditions for several centuries.     

长江源区Cd地球化学省与主要水系的Cd输出通量

中国正在进行的多目标区域地球化学调查成果显示,长江流域存在贯穿全流域的Cd地球化学异常,因此研究该异常的成因及查明长江主要支流Cd的输出通量已成为科学研究的焦点。长江源区水系包括通天河干流及沱沱河、楚玛尔河、尕尔曲、布曲、当曲、口前曲、聂恰曲支流。采用1样/km2的密度采集水系沉积物样品对长江源区进行地球化学填图,在沱沱河—尕尔曲和扎曲—聂恰曲流域分别圈出规模巨大的Cd、Pb、As地球化学省,其他地区Cd、As、Pb均为正常的地球化学背景区。研究发现沱沱河—尕尔曲Cd、Pb、As地球化学省内岩石中Cd、Pb、As含量明显高于土壤和水系沉积物,表明岩石在风化形成土壤和水系沉积物过程中已向水体释放了大量的Cd、Pb、As。通天河干流原水中Cd、Pb、As的平均质量浓度分别为0.144、17.62、2.59μg/L,沱沱河原水中Cd、Pb、As的质量浓度为0.187、19.89、2.33μg/L,聂恰曲原水中Cd、Pb、As的质量浓度为0.144、6.37、2.33μg/L,较其他支流中的含量高近1个数量级,表明源区原水中Cd、Pb、As含量主要受地质背景控制。年输出通量计算显示,由沱沱河输入到通天河中的Cd、Pb、As年通量分别为0.155、16.47和1.93t/a,楚玛尔河输入到通天河中的Cd、Pb、As年通量分别为0.015、0.77、0.35t/a,尕尔曲—布曲输入到通天河中的Cd、Pb、As年通量分别为0.095、10.31、2.72t/a;由通天河输入到金沙江的Cd、Pb、As年通量分别为2.48、290.7、42.3t/a,表明长江源区Cd地球化学省是长江沿江Cd地球化学异常带形成的重要物质来源。对原水和清水(过0.45μm滤膜)中Cd、As、Pb分析显示,长江源区水体中Cd、Pb主要以悬浮物形式迁移,As则以可溶态形式迁移。     

Groundwater resources evaluation in calcareous limestone using geoelectrical and VLF-EM surveys (El Salloum Basin,Egypt)

Understanding and developing groundwater resources in arid regions such as El Salloum basin, along the northwestern coast of Egypt, remains a challenging issue. One-dimensional (1D) electrical sounding (ES), two-dimensional (2D) electrical resistivity imaging (ERI), and very low frequency electromagnetic (VLF-EM) measurements were used to investigate the hydrogeological framework of El Salloum basin with the aim of determining the potential for extraction of potable water. 1D resistivity sounding models were used to delineate geoelectric sections and water-bearing layers. 2D ERI highlighted decreases in resistivity with depth, attributed to clay-rich limestone combined with seawater intrusion towards the coast. A depth of investigation (DOI) index was used to constrain the information content of the images at depths up to 100 m. The VLF-EM survey identified likely faults/fractured zones across the study area. A combined analysis of the datasets of the 1D ES, 2D ERI, and VLF-EM methods identified potential zones of groundwater, the extent of seawater intrusion, and major hydrogeological structures (fracture zones) in El Salloum basin. The equivalent geologic layers suggest that the main aquifer in the basin is the fractured chalky limestone middle Miocene) south of the coastal plain of the study area. Sites likely to provide significant volumes of potable water were identified based on relatively high resistivity and thickness of laterally extensive layers. The most promising locations for drilling productive wells are in the south and southeastern parts of the region, where the potential for potable groundwater increases substantially.

     

Natural enrichment of arsenic in Loch Lomond sediments

Concentrations of arsenic in surface or near-surface sediment in 12 of 13 cores from the three major basins of Loch Lomond are substantially enhanced, up to 675 mg/kg compared with background values of 15–50 mg/kg. Sedimentary As profiles are attributed to post-depositional enrichment processes since there are no recent significant sources of environmental As contamination, anthropogenic or natural, in the Loch Lomond area. The enrichments can be interpreted in terms of post-depositional diagenetic remobilization processes in sediment reducing zones, followed by upward migration of As through interstitial waters and oxidation/adsorption/precipitation reactions in near-surface oxidizing layers. Confirmation of the diagenetic/adsorption hypothesis is provided directly by the analysis of As species (1.5–81 μg/l) in pore water and indirectly via comparison with sedimentary phosphorus.     

Impact of former mining activities on the uranium distribution in the River Saale (Germany)

In the lower part of the River Saale, Germany, U shows concentrations of up to 4 μg/L. Former mining activities and their still existing dewatering systems in the drainage basin of the River Saale are responsible for the high salt and trace metal concentrations in the water of some tributaries. An old adit from the Mansfeld mining district flowing into the Schlenze Stream with mean U concentrations of about 60 μg/L increases the U concentration of the River Saale by 0.5 μg/L. The U concentrations in the running waters of the study area can be explained by mixing processes. Uranium from the adit and the Schlenze is mainly transported in the <0.45 μm fraction as a carbonate complex.     

Geochemical behaviour of major and trace elements in suspended particulate material of the Irtysh river,the main tributary of the Ob river,Siberia

In July 2001, samples of surface suspended particulate material (SPM) of the Irtysh river in its middle and lower reaches (from Omsk City to the confluence with the Ob river) and its main tributaries were collected (18 stations along 1834 km). The SPM samples were analyzed for major and trace element composition. The results show that the geochemistry of Irtysh river SPM is related to landscape and geochemical peculiarities of the river basin on one hand and to industrial activities within the drainage area on the other hand. In the upper basin polymetallic and cinnabar deposits and phosphorite deposits with high As content are widespread. The open-cut mining and developed oil-refining, power plants and other industries lead to the contamination of the environment by heavy metals and other contaminants. The territory of the West Siberian lowland, especially the Ob-Irtysh interfluve, is characterized by the occurrence of swamps and peat-bogs. Tributaries of the Irtysh river originating in this region, have a brown color and the chemical composition of the SPM is specific for stagnant water. In the first 500–700 km downstream from Omsk City the Irtysh river has the typical Al–Si-rich suspended matter composition. After the inflow of the tributaries with brown water the SPM composition is significantly changed: an increase of POC, Fe, P, Ca, Sr, Ba and As concentrations and a strong decrease of the lithogenic elements Al, Mg, K, Na, Ti, Zr can be observed. The data show that Fe-organic components (Fe-humic amorphous compounds, which contribute ca. 75–85% to the total Fe) play a very important role in SPM of the tributaries with brown water and in the Irtysh river in its lower reaches. Among the trace metals significant enrichments relative to the average for global river SPM could only be observed for As and Cd (coefficient of enrichment up to 16 for As and 3–3.5 for Cd). It can be shown that the enrichment of As in the SPM is related to natural processes, i.e. the weathering of phosphate containing deposits with high As concentrations in the upper Irtysh basin and the high As–P affinity in the swamp peaty soil. Dissolved P and As are absorbed by amorphous organic C/Fe oxyhydroxide components which act as carriers during the transport to the main stream of the Irtysh river. The role of anthropogenic factors is probably insignificant for As. In contrast, the enrichment of Cd is mainly related to anthropogenic input. The threefold enrichment of Cd in the SPM just below Omsk City and its continuous decrease down to background level at a distance of 500–700 km downstream points quite definitely to the municipal and industrial sewage of Omsk City as the main source of Cd in the SPM of the Irtysh river.     

Estimation of groundwater recharge in arid, data scarce regions; an approach as applied in the El Hawashyia basin and Ghazala sub-basin (Gulf of Suez, Egypt)

In this study, an approach for runoff and recharge estimations that can be applied in arid regions which suffer from lack of data is presented. Estimating groundwater recharge in arid regions is an extremely important but difficult task, the main reason is the scarcity of data in arid regions. This is true for the Eastern Egyptian Desert where groundwater is used for irrigation purposes in agricultural reclamation along the Red Sea coast line. As a result of the scarcity of hydrologic information, the relation between rainfall and runoff was calculated depending on the paleo-flood hydrology information. Two models were used to calculate the rainfall–runoff relationships for El Hawashyia basin and Ghazala sub-basin. Two computer programs known as Gerinne (meaning channel in German) and SMADA6 (Stormwater Management and Design Aid, version 6) were conjunctively used for this purpose. As a result of the model applied to El Hawashyia basin, a rainfall event of a total of 18.3 mm with duration 3 h at the station of Hurghada, which has an exceedance probability of 5–10 %, produces a discharge volume of 10.2 × 10⁶ m³ at the delta, outlet of the basin, as 4.7 mm of the rainfall infiltrates (recharge). For the Ghazala sub-basin, the model yields a runoff volume of 3.16 × 10⁶ m³ transferred from a total rainfall of 25 mm over a period of 3 h, as 3.2 mm of it was lost as infiltration.     

内蒙古河套平原典型高砷区地下水中砷的演化规律

通过对高砷地下水典型区完整地质单元不同深度含水层地下水进行监测,分析了与砷释放、迁移和富集有关的敏感因素（水位、Eh、总铁、亚铁等）的时间和空间变化规律,探讨了高砷地下水的形成机理。结果发现,地下水灌溉区和黄河水灌溉区,地下水水位均受人为灌溉活动的影响。地下水砷含量在空间和时间尺度上发生有规律的变化。在空间尺度上,地下水中砷含量随着深度的增加而升高,井深小于10 m的地下水砷含量在1.88～2.58 μg/L;井深在10~15 m之间的地下水中砷含量在18.2～217 μg/L;井深在15~25 m之间的地下水中砷含量在38.3～226 μg/L。受人为灌溉影响,地下水中砷的含量会随着地下水位的抬升而升高。地下水砷含量随时间变化的原因是水位抬升使水位变化造成氧化还原环境改变。地下水系统中含砷铁氧化物矿物的还原性溶解、脱硫酸作用等是控制地下水砷含量的主要水文地球化学过程。     

First data on the uranium content in water of the Yenisei River basin in the area affected by the operation of Rosatom plants

This study is devoted to investigating the content of uranium isotopes in water of the Yenisei River and its tributaries within the territories affected by the operation of Rosatom plants (mining chemical combine, and electrochemical plant). Long-term monitoring of the ²³⁸U content by mass spectrometry carried out in two institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences first revealed the multiple excess of ²³⁸U over the background content in different areas of the Yenisei River basin, such as the region of the Yenisei River near the effluents of the mining and chemical combine (MCC), and the territories of the Bol’shaya Tel’ and Kan rivers. In these regions, the ²³⁸U content in water reaches 2.1–4.0 μg/l, which exceeds its content upstream from the MCC (0.3–0.6 μg/l) by almost an order of magnitude. The studies of the isotopic composition of uranium in water samples, which were carried out at the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, showed the presence of a technogenic isotope of uranium ²³⁶U in the samples from the Bolshaya Tel’ River and revealed the deviation of the isotope ratio ²³⁸U/²³⁵U (167 ± 3 and 177 ± 3) from the equilibrium natural ratio (²³⁸U/²³⁵U = 138). These facts attest to the technogenic origin of part of the uranium in water of the Bol’shaya Tel’ River connected with the activity of MCC. The excess uranium content in the Kan River requires additional studies to ascertain the fraction of uranium of technogenic origin connected with the activity of the electrochemical plant (ECP) (Fig. 1, Table 4).     

Suspended sediment load in the Amazon basin: An overview

In this report the state of knowledge of sediment transport by rivers of the Amazon drainage basin is reviewed. On an annual basis the Amazon river transports about 1200×10⁶ tons of sediment from the South American continent to the ocean, which puts it among the world's largest rivers in this respect. The main source of sediment is erosion in the Andes mountains and this material is progressively diluted with sediment poor runoff from lowland draining tributaries. Almost half of the Amazon river transport is attributable to one tributary, the Rio Madeira (488×10⁶ t/y). The Rio Negro, which drains the N crystalline shield, has a comparable water discharge to the Rio Madeira, but only contributes 7×10⁶ t/y. In general the sediments in transport are about 1% organic carbon by weight and this results in an annual particulate carbon to the oceans of 13×10⁶ t/y. Total carbon transport, particulate plus dissolved, is about twice this amount.