Bioindication potential of carbonic anhydrase activity in anemones and corals

Activity levels of carbonic anhydrase (CA) were assessed in anemones Condylactis gigantea and Stichodactyla helianthus with laboratory exposures to copper, nickel, lead, and vanadium, and also in animals collected from polluted vs pristine field sites. CA activity was found to be decreased with increase in metal concentration and also in animals collected from the polluted field site. Preliminary assessments to adapt the CA assay for use in the widespread coral Montastraea cavernosa show decreased CA activity in specimens from the polluted field site and provide an avenue for future research aimed at more thoroughly describing coral CA activity for potential application in bioindication.     

Carbon isotopes in the rivers from the Lesser Antilles: origin of the carbonic acid consumed by weathering reactions in the Lesser Antilles

In this paper, we use carbon isotopes in the dissolved load of rivers from the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc (Guadeloupe, Martinique and Dominica islands) to constrain the source of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) involved in the neutralization reactions during water–rock interactions. The δ¹³C data span a large range of variations, from –19‰ to –5 · 2‰ for DIC (dissolved inorganic carbon) concentrations ranging from 11 μM to 2000 μM. Coupled with major element concentrations, carbon isotopic ratios are interpreted as reflecting a mixture of magmatic CO₂ (enriched in heavy carbon (δ¹³C ≈ –3 · 5‰) and biogenic CO₂ produced in soils (enriched in light carbon (δ¹³C < –17‰)). Carbon isotopes show that, at the regional scale, 23 to 40% of CO₂ consumed by weathering reactions is of magmatic origin and is transferred to the river system through aquifers under various thermal regimes. These numbers remain first‐order estimates as the major uncertainty in using carbon isotopes as a source tracer is that carbon isotopes can be fractionated by a number of processes, including soil and river degassing. Chemical weathering is clearly, at least, partly controlled by the input of magmatic CO₂, either under hydrothermal (hot) or surficial (cold) weathering regimes. This study shows that the contribution of magmatic CO₂ to chemical weathering is an additional parameter that could explain the high weathering rates of volcanic rocks. The study also shows that a significant part of the carbon degassed from the Earth's interior is not released as CO₂ to the atmosphere, but as DIC to the ocean because it interacts with the groundwater system. This study calls for a better understanding of the contributions of deep carbon to the hydrosphere and its influence on the development of the Critical Zone. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Clay minerals in the late Quaternary sediment of Tulare Lake,California: Implications for climate change,weathering, and erosion processes

The clay mineralogy of Tulare Lake sediment was examined to investigate hydroclimatic and environmental changes in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains (SNM) since the most recent glacial maximum. Evolution of clay mineral assemblages elucidates significant changes in weathering, erosion, and hydroclimatic condition in the catchment. During the last glacial period (24.4–15.1 cal ka BP), low illite content implies less physical erosion of the granitic batholith rocks and a cold and arid environment in the southern SNM. Abrupt increases of illite content at 21.8–20.8 and 17.6 cal ka BP resulted from the glacier advances to the ablation zone and illite-rich glacier flour was transported down to the lake. The gradual increase of smectite induced by progressive depletion of illite-rich glacier flour from 17.6 cal ka BP toward the end of this period indicates climate was beginning to get warm and wet. From 11.9 to 5.3 cal ka BP, two warm and wet periods (10.7–9.4 and 8.2–5.2 cal ka BP) were characterized by high smectite/illite content ratios and low illite crystallinity values, suggesting intensive rainfall precipitation and more physical erosion in the highland and lowland catchment as well as more smectite formation in the terrace soils. Since the last glacial period, physical erosion, in comparison to the chemical weathering, was the dominant process responding to the hydroclimatic change in the Tulare Lake catchment. Moderate to weak chemical weathering was signified by the mostly low illite chemical weathering index of the core sediments. Such results suggest that vegetation cover in the southern SNM was low and limited.     

Role of fractures in weathering of solid rocks: narrowing the gap between laboratory and field weathering rates

A weathering study of a fractured environment composed of granites and metasediments was conducted in Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (north of Portugal) and covered the hydrographic basin of Sordo river. Within the basin, a number of perennial springs were monitored for discharge rate, which allowed for the estimation of annual recharges. A small area of the basin was characterized for parameters such as hydraulic conductivity and effective porosity, which, in combination with the previously calculated recharges, allowed for the calculation of a fracture surface area. The monitored springs were also sampled and analyzed for major inorganic compounds, and using a mole balance model the chemistry of the water samples was explained by weathering to kaolinite of albite–oligoclase plus biotite (granites) or of albite plus chlorite (metasediments). The number of moles of dissolved primary minerals (e.g. albite) could be calculated using this method. These mass transfers were then multiplied by the spring's median discharge rate and divided by the fracture surface area to obtain a weathering rate. Another weathering rate was determined, but using a BET surface area as normalizing factor. Comparing both rates with a representative record of laboratory as well as of field-based weathering rates, it has been noted that rates normalized by the BET were, as expected, similar to commonly reported field-based rates, whereas rates normalized by the fracture surface area were unexpectedly relatively close to laboratory rates (one order of magnitude smaller). The monitored springs are of the fracture artesian type, which means that water emerging at the spring site flowed preferentially through joints and fractures and that weathering took place predominantly at their walls. Consequently, it was concluded that the most realistic weathering rates are those normalized by the fracture surface area, and as a corollary that the gap between laboratory and field weathering rates might not be as wide as usually is reported to be.     

Differences of granitic weathering at the northern and southern feet of Dabie Mountains,Central China: Implication for tectonic and climatic environments

Previous studies of weathering generally started with geochemistry[1—8] and mineralogy[9—12], and have been focused on chemical weathering rates[1—3], removability-enrichment of elements[3—6] during chemical weathering, and the age of weathering profi…     

The relations between modulus of elasticity and temperature in the context of the experimental simulation of rock weathering by fire

Fires occur frequently in many biomes and generate high temperatures on the ground surface. There are many field examples of fire causing rock disintegration. The simulation of fire in the laboratory (using a furnace) and the monitoring of changes in rock modulus of elasticity (with a Grindosonic apparatus), reveal that different rocks respond differently to heating. Significant decreases in elasticity occur at temperatures as low as 200°C and granites display particularly marked reductions. Extended periods of heating are not required for significant reductions to occur. It is postulated that the degree of change in elasticity as a result of simulated fire is such that rock outcrops subjected to real fires are likely to be sufficiently modified as to increase their susceptibility to erosion and weathering processes.     

Laboratory simulation of rock weathering by salt crystallization and hydration processes in hot,arid environments

The results of a series of experiments are reported in this paper which were designed to differentiate between the forces of crystal growth and hydration in salt weathering, using a single salt-hydrate system (sodium sulphate), five contrasting rock types, and several diurnal temperature-relative humidity cycles which permitted or inhibited these processes and simulated ground surface climates in hot, arid environments. It was shown that hydration of sodium sulphate is an effective mechanism of rock disintegration but that it is significantly less destructive than crystal growth pressure. Crystallization of thenardite (Na₂SO₄) is, in turn, more effective in rock weathering than the crystal growth of mirabilite (Na₂SO₄.10H₂O). In general, rates of disintegration were most rapid where the diurnal temperature range was extreme and relative humidity lowest.     

新疆现代盐湖盐类矿物及有关成盐机制

新疆是我国现代盐湖主要分布区之一,蒸发岩矿物类型较全,现已发现有32种矿物,其中有近年新发现的数种矿物以及新类型盐湖——硝酸盐盐湖;对石膏晶形标型性进行了探讨;有关成盐机制概括为四个方面,将生物成盐纳入成盐理论。     

Biosorption of Cd(II), Ni(II) and Pb(II) from Aqueous Solution by Dried Biomass of Aspergillus niger: Application of Response Surface Methodology to the Optimization of Process Parameters

In this study, the biosorption of Cd(II), Ni(II) and Pb(II) on Aspergillus niger in a batch system was investigated, and optimal condition determined by means of central composite design (CCD) under response surface methodology (RSM). Biomass inactivated by heat and pretreated by alkali solution was used in the determination of optimal conditions. The effect of initial solution pH, biomass dose and initial ion concentration on the removal efficiency of metal ions by A. niger was optimized using a design of experiment (DOE) method. Experimental results indicated that the optimal conditions for biosorption were 5.22 g/L, 89.93 mg/L and 6.01 for biomass dose, initial ion concentration and solution pH, respectively. Enhancement of metal biosorption capacity of the dried biomass by pretreatment with sodium hydroxide was observed. Maximal removal efficiencies for Cd(II), Ni(III) and Pb(II) ions of 98, 80 and 99% were achieved, respectively. The biosorption capacity of A. niger biomass obtained for Cd(II), Ni(II) and Pb(II) ions was 2.2, 1.6 and 4.7 mg/g, respectively. According to these observations the fungal biomass of A. niger is a suitable biosorbent for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. Multiple response optimization was applied to the experimental data to discover the optimal conditions for a set of responses, simultaneously, by using a desirability function.     

太湖鱼类放流增殖的有效数量和合理结构

根据2006-2007年太湖生物资源调查,估算出太湖浮游植物、浮游动物、底栖动物和水生植物总渔产潜力约为78494 t.太湖实施以渔改水的生物调控措施,应加大鲢、鳙放流数量和放流规格,在提高鱼产量的同时对抑制太湖蓝藻水华能起到积极作用;推算每年放流鳙约1000×104尾,鲢约300×104尾,规格为20尾/kg为宜.草鱼、团头鲂、青鱼、鲤等要在保护太湖水草和底栖动物资源和生物多样性前提下适当放流,每年宜放流草鱼150×104尾,团头鲂165×104尾,青鱼8×104 ～ 10×104尾,鲤夏花2500×104尾.而对调控鱼类结构小型化、单一化具有重要作用的肉食性鱼类翘嘴铂建议加大放流量,年放流量可扩大至500×104尾左右,在调控的同时提高湖泊渔业附加值.     

Uranium and thorium isotopes in the rivers of the Amazonian basin: hydrology and weathering processes

Two expeditions (October 1989 and May 1992) were carried out to two points of the main Amazon River channel and four tributaries. The Solimões and Madeira rivers, taking their origin in the Andes, are whitewater rivers. The Negro River is a typical acid, blackwater river. The Trombetas River flows through bauxite‐rich areas, and is characterized by low concentrations of dissolved humic substances. The ²³⁸U, ²³⁴U, ²³²Th and ²³⁰Th activities were recorded from dissolved, suspended particulate phases and river bank sediments. The latter were analysed for their ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra and ²¹⁰Pb contents, and also subjected to leaching with 0·2 M hydroxylamine–hydrochloride solution to determine the concentrations of radionuclides bound to amorphous Fe hydroxides and Mn oxides and hydroxides. The dissolved U average concentration in the Amazon system is ten times lower than the mean world river concentration. The uranium concentration observed at Óbidos in the lower Amazon (0·095 µg L^?1), where the U content in the river bank sediments and suspended matter is lowest, suggests U release from the solid phase during river transport. About 485 t of U are transported annually to the Amazon delta area in dissolved form, and 1943 t bound to suspended particulate matter. Total U and Th concentrations in the river bank sediments ranged from 1·59 to 7·14 µg g^?1 and from 6·74 to 32 µg g^?1, respectively. The highest concentrations were observed in the Trombetas River. The proportion extracted by means of the hydroxylamine solution (HL) was relatively high for U in the Trombetas river bank sediment (31%) and for Th in the Solimões sediment (30%). According to the alpha recoil effects, the ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratios of the Andean river waters and downstream Amazon water (Óbidos) were >1, but were <1 in the Negro River (at Manaus). The activity ratios of dissolved U correlate with pH and also with the U activity ratios in the river bank sediment hydroxylamine extracts. As expected, the ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratios in river bank sediments were <1 in the Andean rivers and in the downstream Amazon, but they were >1 in the Trombetas and Negro rivers. Such ratios probably result from the binding of dissolved uranium to solid sediment. The ²²⁸Th/²³²Th ratios of river bank sediments were close to unity (except for the Negro River, where it is lower), suggesting no significant Th exchanges between the river water and the sediment. The ²²⁶Ra/²³²Th activity ratios were <1, and the ²²⁶Ra/²²⁸Ra activity ratios generally were significantly higher than the activity ratios of their respective parents. This perhaps is the result of easier leaching of the ²²⁶Ra parent, ²³⁰Th, from solid material (owing to the alpha recoil effect) than of the ²²⁸Ra parent. Uranium and thorium isotopes were used as tools to evaluate the chemical weathering rate of rocks in the Amazon system, which was estimated to be 2·7 cm 1000 year^?1 s^?1. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Contrasting weathering and climate regimes in forested and cleared sandstone temples of the Angkor region

Comparative assessment of stone weathering intensities and bioclimatic conditions was conducted at four temples located in cleared and forested sites of the Angkor Park, based on similar protocols. Four thousand sculpted lotus petals carved in the same grey sandstone were categorized by using two customized scales of weathering intensity, and climate monitoring was conducted from December 2008 to November 2009. Whereas 70% of the sandstone lotus petals are almost completely destroyed by mechanical weathering in cleared areas, 74% of petals located in forested environments appear to be totally free of mechanical weathering and are only affected by superficial biochemical weathering. Ambient conditions are also contrasting, with the magnitude of the diurnal surface temperature and relative humidity ranges being three times higher at cleared sites than in wooded areas. As wetting–drying cycles are the driving force of sandstone decay at Angkor, causal links are suggested between weathering and climate regimes. In wooded areas, the microclimate is buffered by the forest and the associated lithobionts, which maintain constant humidity levels, reduce thermal stresses at the stone surface and induce a slow biochemical weathering regime. In cleared areas, direct exposure to sunshine and monsoon rains induces pronounced wetting–drying cycles conducive to swelling–shrinking movements and other potential processes, provoking the rapid mechanical decay of the sandstone. Even if local damage can be caused by tree roots, the forest cover and the associated lithobionts obviously play an overall protective role. Additionally, microtopographical factors related to architectural designs and post‐building events probably explain intra‐site and between site minor differences in the amount of sandstone decay, by influencing key factors such as the water residence time at the stone surface. Last, the contrasting weathering regimes in forested and cleared sites are but a trend, for besides overwhelming mechanical weathering, chemical weathering is also operative at cleared sites, as indicated by salt efflorescences and ferric oxidation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

太湖平原WJ孔矿物磁学特征以及晚第四纪海侵事件

基于古地磁和AMS14C定年结果,对长江三角洲太湖平原的WJ孔进行岩性特征、矿物磁学、粒度分析及有孔虫化石研究,拟重建WJ孔记录的晚第四纪以来沉积环境演变过程与海侵事件,并探讨环境磁学参数对河口三角洲地区沉积环境演化的指示意义.研究结果表明,WJ孔可以划分为中更新世阶段I、中更新世阶段II、晚更新世、全新世四个阶段,沉积地貌环境分别为:河湖、滨海—阶地、河口坝—河口湾—潮滩与阶地、湖沼平原.WJ孔揭示了三次海侵事件,分别为中更新世晚期海侵,晚更新世MIS5海侵和晚更新世MIS3海侵.其中记录的MIS5e海侵最为强盛,MIS3后期也存在一次海侵加强事件.另外,滨海潮滩—河口坝环境的沉积物磁性特征明显,χlf、SIRM、HIRM等为显著高值.     

Evolution of Asian drying since 30 Ma revealed by clay minerals record in the West Pacific and its tectonic-climatic forcing

As the second largest dust source on the globe, the tectonic and climatic evolution of continental Asia has an important impact on regional and global climate change. The West Pacific is the main sediment sink for eolian dust transported eastward from the Asian interior. Clay minerals, as the major fine-grained weathering products of continental rocks, can be readily transported by wind or currents over long distances and thus have been widely used in the reconstruction of paleoclimate and weath...     

Evaluation of hydrogeochemical characteristics and the impact of weathering in seepage water collected within the sedimentary formation

A study was conducted by collecting eight seepage water samples that drain through the sedimentary rocks,mainly sandstone and shale,to evaluate the hydrogeochemical characteristics.The collected samples were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters using standard procedures.Three water types were identified in the Piper plot and the hydrogeochemical evolution starts from a CaCl facies(type 1) via mixed Ca-Mg-Cl and Ca-Na-HCO_3 facies(type 2) to Na-Cl facies(type 3).Increasing trend of electrical conductivity(EC) values were observed from type 1 water to type 3 water.Lower ionic concentrations with an average EC value of 35.7(is/cm in Ca-Cl facies indicate the recharge water by monsoonal rainfall,and ion exchange/weathering process is reflected in the mixing zone.Higher ionic concentration with an average EC value of 399(is/cm is noted in Na-Cl facies,which indicates the ion exchange during water-rock interaction.Higher log PCO_2 values are also found in this facies,revealing the longer residence time of seepage water in the rock matrix,which release more ions into the water.The relative mobility of elements during weathering suggest that the order of mobility in both sandstone and shale is Na Ca Mg K.It was observed that the hydrogeochemistry of seepage water is mainly controlled by the bedrock geology.     

Petrological influence on differential weathering and inselberg development in the Kora area of central Kenya

In the Kora area of central Kenya domed inselbergs are well developed on outcrops of granitoid migmatite, while positive relief features are rare on the surrounding gneiss. Block-strewn, vegetated hills occur on restricted areas of granoblastite, gabbro, and metagabbro. Schmidt Hammer measurements have shown that the apparent differences in resistance to weathering and erosion are not due to variations in rock hardness, since all the rock types have similar ‘R’ values. The results of geochemical analyses have shown that the migmatites are significantly more potassic than the surrounding gneiss. Samples of migmatite from the inselbergs were also found to be slightly richer in potassium than migmatite samples from the inter-inselberg areas. The variations in potassium content probably reflect differences in protolith composition, chemical fractionation during partial melting, and the effects of metasomatism. These findings support earlier suggestions that, other things being equal, potassium-rich granitoid rocks weather more slowly than less potassic rocks.     

利用地球化学元素与矿物关系识别GS油田下干柴沟组地层岩性

GS油田下干柴组上段地层石灰石、泥质成分含量较高,二者含量差别不大,粉砂质成分含量较低,并分布不均,造成地层岩性复杂,常规测井响应易引起较大误差.文中利用地球化学元素测井得到的矿物含量可识别地层岩性.首先从地层元素与γ射线,元素与矿物关系介绍了地球化学元素测井原理,利用地球化学元素测井资料处理结果得到地层岩性命名规则,通过与常规测井资料对比,并用岩心分析结果验证,说明这种方法可靠性.结果表明对于复杂岩性地层,该技术可以识别地层岩性,并为用测井方法识别这类复杂岩性提供一种选择.     

Microvariability in the early stages of cobble weathering by microenvironment on a glacier foreland,Storbreen, Jotunheimen,Norway

The initial stages of cobble weathering, measured as increasing percentage porosity, were calculated for sets of cobbles taken from the foreland of Storbreen, a cirque glacier in the Jotunheimen, Norway. Cobbles were taken from in front of the 1998 glacier snout, from the 1928, 1870, 1810 and 1750 moraine crests and from the ～10 000‐year‐old land surface beyond the Neoglacial foreland limit. Three microenvironments were examined within each site: (1) lichen‐free surfaces from exposed cobbles, (2) lichen‐covered surfaces from exposed cobbles and (3) buried cobbles taken from a soil depth of ～40 cm. Percentage porosity within plagioclase minerals was calculated using backscatter electron images of prepared thin sections. Porosity was calculated from five depth profiles into each cobble. Depth profiles were subdivided into a sequence of 50 µm × 50 µm rectangles running to at least a nominal depth of 500 µm within each cobble. Three cobbles from each dated land surface were sampled, except for the 1750 surface, which had five cobbles. Statistical analysis was by analysis of variance of rank‐order transformed data. Findings indicate that cobbles close to the glacier snout are largely unweathered; also, weathering is generally weak in the 1928, 1870 and 1810 positions, but statistically significantly higher in the 1750‐ and 10 000‐year‐old positions. Weathering of buried cobbles always exceeded weathering of exposed cobbles and may possibly reach a value beyond which it cannot progress while retaining surface cohesion. The degree of weathering on lichen‐free and lichen‐covered cobble surfaces is not initially distinguishable, but diverges sharply after ～250 years, when lichen‐covered surfaces experience significantly higher totals. Overall, the weathering trend in cobbles matches that found in soils at the same sites. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Switch in chemical weathering caused by the mass balance variability in a Himalayan glacierized basin: a case of Chhota Shigri Glacier

Long-term data (2003–2015) on meltwater chemistry, mass balance and discharge of a benchmark glacier (Chhota Shigri Glacier, India) were studied to determine any association between these variables. To infer the factors governing the alteration of chemical weathering processes in glacierized basins, multi-annual records of the hydrochemical indices (Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺/Na⁺+K⁺) and the C-ratio were also examined. A succession of negative mass balance years has resulted in a decline in solute concentrations in the runoff, as discharge has increased. The (Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺/Na⁺+K⁺) and C-ratio are highest during periods of negative annual mass balance, when the spatial extent of the channelized drainage system increases. Conversely, these ratios are lowest in positive mass balance years, when the spatial extent of the channelized drainage system decreases, and chemical weathering in the distributed drainage system becomes more dominant. This paper is the first to show the inter-annual linkages between meltwater chemistry, mass balance and discharge for a valley glacier.