云南建水紫陶矿物原料的组成与结构特征

云南建水紫陶是中国四大名陶之一。为了给建水紫陶及其工艺研究、陶土矿物资源开发利用和产品质量进一步提高提供科学依据,根据建水紫陶矿物原料研究十分薄弱现状,采用多种现代矿物岩石检测分析方法,研究了建水紫陶矿物原料的组成与结构特征,结果表明:两种主料五花土和白泥浆都是泥质粉砂岩,其矿物成分为石英41%~50%,伊利石26%左右,高岭石25%左右,赤铁矿1.2%~6.9%;化学成分w(SiO_2)61%~69%,w(Al_2O_3)20%左右,w(K_2O)3%左右,有害成分w(CaO)0.3%;两种主料五花土和白泥浆都具有泥质粉砂非均质结构,非均质结构产生原因分别由400μ赤铁矿团块和500μ石英颗粒引起;两种辅料黄泥浆和紫土的化学成分和矿物成分都超过了精陶烧成所允许的变化范围,不能以单独原料制备泥料,可作为调节泥料Fe_2O_3含量或制品颜色的辅助原料。     

宜兴黄龙山矿区外围甲泥和紫砂泥矿地质特征

通过对江苏宜兴黄龙山陶土矿外围普查工作,分析了矿区的矿床地质特征、矿体地质特征、围岩蚀变及矿石加工技术性能,黄龙山矿区外围甲泥(陶土矿)、紫砂泥矿矿床系三角洲-滨海相沉积型黏土矿床,属地层、构造及蚀变优化复合控矿,总结了该矿床的找矿标志.     

柴北缘中侏罗统湖相泥页岩储层矿物组成与脆性特征

运用X射线衍射技术,对柴北缘中侏罗统46块岩心泥页岩样品和15块露头泥页岩样品进行了定性和定量分析。结果表明研究区泥页岩矿物成分中黏土矿物含量最高,介于33%~79.7%之间,平均54.3%;其次为石英,含量介于14.5%~57.8%之间,平均35.4%;碳酸盐矿物含量较少,总量一般介于0~13%之间,个别样品大于15%,露头样品与岩心样品矿物成分有差别。黏土矿物组合特征反映出研究区进入中成岩阶段,对应有机质演化的成熟阶段,具有适宜页岩油气形成的成熟度条件。扫描电镜显示,研究区泥页岩发育3种孔隙类型。与海相页岩相比,柴北缘中侏罗统泥页岩黏土矿物含量高但敏感性矿物含量低,石英、长石等脆性矿物含量偏低但达到湖相泥页岩开发标准,脆性指数平均为42.6%,整体上具有较好的脆性和可压性,有利于该区湖相页岩的压裂改造。     

新疆拜城波孜果尔碱性岩中副矿物的特征

在野外地质调查的基础上,结合室内显微镜观察及电子探针分析测试,对新疆拜城波孜果尔碱性岩中的副矿物的矿物学特征和化学成分进行了研究.发现这些副矿物常以共生组合的形式产在碱性岩中,主要分布在石英二长闪长岩和石英二长岩中.烧绿石中U、Th和REE替代Ca、Na.独居石富含LREE,Th和LREE相互替代;根据独居石中w(La+ Ce) ＞40％和La/Nd比值在1.6～4.5,推断独居石为热液成因.磷钇矿中富含REE,且以HREE为主;w(Th)＞w(U).锆石中Zr/Hf比值在60％以上,符合碱性岩特征;其Th/U比值为0.6,属于岩浆锆石.星叶石中w(Rb2O)、w(Cs2O)较高.萤石中Y、Ce替代Ca.锆石中的钍石w(U)明显高于磁铁矿中钍石w(U).在石英二长岩中,烧绿石的w(CaO)、w(TiO2)、w(ZrO2)、w(U3O8),磷钇矿的w(Y2O3),星叶石的w(TiO2),萤石的w(Ca),氟碳铈镧矿的w(CaO)较丰富;而在石英二长闪长岩中,烧绿石的w(Ce2O3),磷钇矿的REE含量,星叶石的w(Nb2O5)、w(Rb2O),萤石w(Ce)、w(Y)和氟碳铈镧矿的w(La2O3)较高.     

川南地区下古生界页岩气储层矿物组成与脆性特征研究

应用X射线衍射(XRD)分析技术,对川南地区下古生界下寒武统筇竹寺组和下志留统龙马溪组两套海相页岩气储层岩心样品进行了矿物组成与脆性特征研究。结果表明,川南地区筇竹寺组和龙马溪组海相页岩具有差异的矿物组成和含量特征。筇竹寺组页岩中,石英含量最高(28.4%~42.8%,平均35.7%),黏土矿物含量次之(25%~35.3%,平均28.7%),碳酸盐矿物含量较低(1.4%~21.7%,平均11.2%)。龙马溪组页岩中,黏土矿物和碳酸盐矿物含量高,前者为13.4%~66.1%(平均34.7%),后者为14.6%~80.0%(平均35.9%),石英含量相对较低(5.2%~41.4%,平均21.0%)。另外,这些页岩中还含有少量黄铁矿、长石、白云石等其他矿物。总的来说,该区下古生界海相页岩的矿物组成特征与北美海相页岩比较相似。川南地区筇竹寺组和龙马溪组页岩中脆性矿物丰富、含量高,前者为55.6%~73.9%(平均64.1%),后者为26.9%~86.6%(平均62.5%),整体上具有良好的脆性和可压性,有利于该区海相页岩气的压裂改造。     

桂中坳陷西北部下石炭统岩关组泥页岩储层特征研究:以环页1井为例

桂中坳陷西北部地区下石炭统岩关组泥页岩沉积厚度大,生烃条件好,是页岩气勘探重要的目标层之一。以环页1井为例,通过镜下观察、有机地球化学分析、矿物含量分析、物性分析和等温吸附实验,分析了岩关组泥页岩的有机地球化学特征、岩石矿物学特征、储集特征和含气性特征。结果表明,岩关组泥页岩有机质类型属于Ⅰ~Ⅱ1型,总有机碳质量分数平均为1.34%,热演化程度(Ro)较高,平均达3.03%。矿物成分以石英、方解石和黏土矿物为主,具有高石英、低黏土矿物、低碳酸盐矿物的组成特征,脆性矿物含量高,黏土矿物以伊利石为主,已进入中成岩B期。泥页岩主要发育黏土矿物层间孔、有机质孔及微裂缝,具有良好的储、渗条件。泥页岩具有低孔低渗的特征,w(TOC)、石英含量和孔隙度三者之间存在着良好的正相关性,碳酸盐矿物成分的增多导致孔隙度降低,增多的伊利石和高岭石对孔隙度有贡献作用。甲烷吸附气含量平均为1.16m3/t,泥页岩甲烷吸附量随着孔隙度的增加而增加,w(TOC)和Ro共同影响着泥页岩的吸附能力,过高的成熟度降低了泥页岩的吸附能力。     

晋北煅烧高岭土用煤矸石的应用矿物学特征

为了给晋北煅烧高岭土用煤矸石的评价和开发利用提供科学依据,采用XRD、XRF、SEM和白度计等现代分析测试技术,研究了晋北煅烧高岭土用煤矸石的应用矿物学特征。结果表明:1)根据造纸和涂料用煅烧高岭土的国家标准,晋北煤矸石主要可分为3种类型:合格原料、基本合格原料和不合格原料。2)与合格和基本合格原料相比,不合格原料煅烧产物的化学成分中SiO2、Al2O3、Fe2O3含量以及碱金属与碱土金属总含量都与前者有较大差异。3)合格和基本合格原料主要由高岭石(85%~94%)组成,不合格煤矸石矿物组合为高岭石(30%~60%)+石英(23%~38%)+伊利石(14%~26%),并含少量黄铁矿和白云石等杂质矿物,石英等杂质矿物和含铁矿物是分别导致煅烧产物化学成分和白度不合格的主要原因。4)合格原料中高岭石结晶度较好,主要为不规则片状、书册状和弯曲片状,片表面光滑,片径大小范围较大,为0.05~51.22μm,平均2.80μm,径厚比41.24。     

禹州煤田煤系泥页岩矿物组成与脆性分析

为了研究禹州煤田煤系泥页岩的矿物组成和页岩气储集层物性,对采自该区石炭二叠系的泥页岩样品进行了X射线衍射分析和有机地球化学实验。结果表明,禹州煤田煤系泥页岩有机碳含量高,有机质类型为Ⅱ型,热演化程度处于成熟—高成熟阶段(平均值为1.62%);泥页岩矿物组成以石英、黏土矿物为主,平均含量分别为31.9%、63.2%,部分样品中含有少量的长石、菱铁矿、黄铁矿。通过与海相页岩对比,海陆过渡相煤系泥页岩黏土矿物含量为40%~80%,其中高岭石含量高是煤系泥页岩储层的重要特征,平均含量达到29.6%左右。此外,煤系泥页岩的石英脆度和总脆度均比海相页岩要低,其中禹州煤田煤系泥页岩石英脆度为32%,总脆度为36%,与国内其他地区煤系泥页岩脆度相当。表明禹州煤田煤系泥页岩具备较好的页岩气储集层可压裂性。     

海陆过渡相泥页岩储层特征研究——以沁水盆地为例

通过扫描电镜、X射线衍射、压汞实验及等温吸附实验等对沁水盆地太原组泥页岩进行了实验分析,从地球化学特征、岩石学特征、物性与储集空间特征等方面对泥页岩储层特征进行了研究。结果表明,研究区太原组页岩气储层泥页岩厚50~70 m,储层有利层段为太原组上段,最大连续厚度为10.7~25.13 m;有机碳质量分数为0.12%~22.78%,平均为2.5%以上;成熟度为1.72%~3.6%,总体偏高,处于高-过成熟阶段;矿物成分以黏土矿物和石英为主,脆性矿物平均为32.12%~45.25%;微孔裂隙发育,类型多样。孔隙结构以微孔、小孔和超大孔为主,孔隙间连通性比较好。沁水盆地太原组泥页岩具有储层埋藏深度适中,泥页岩累计厚度大,有机碳含量高,脆性矿物含量高,微孔裂隙发育,孔隙间连通性好等特征,是页岩气的有利储集层。其不利条件主要表现在单层厚度小,黏土矿物含量高,成熟度较高等。     

云南马厂箐铜钼矿成矿岩体的角闪石和黑云母矿物学特征及其意义

马厂箐铜钼矿床位于扬子克拉通西缘,是三江成矿带内典型的大陆碰撞型斑岩铜-钼矿床,其成矿作用与矿区内的斑状花岗岩密切相关。在详细的岩相学观察基础上,对成矿岩体的造岩矿物角闪石和黑云母开展了电子探针成分分析,厘定了斑状花岗岩结晶的温压条件、岩浆氧逸度和含水量等要素,为解析马厂箐富碱侵入岩体的演化和成矿作用提供了矿物学尺度的制约。实验数据显示,岩体内角闪石富镁(w(Mg O)14.1%~16.3%)、富钙(w(Ca O)11.0%~11.6%)、贫钾(w(K2O)0.3%~0.6%)、富钠(Na2O/K2O1.0),属于阳起石和镁角闪石。黑云母Fe2+/(Fe2++Mg)比值较为均一,集中分布在0.35~0.38之间,且显示出富镁(w(Mg O)13.6%~16.2%)、铝(w(Al2O3)12.9%~13.7%),贫钛(w(Ti O2)1.9%~3.0%)、钙(w(Ca O)0.06%)的特征,属镁质黑云母。由角闪石和黑云母阳离子数计算的矿物结晶温度分别为687~770℃和660~713℃,结晶压力为38~82 MPa和55~80 MPa,相应侵位深度为1.3~2.7km和1.8~2.6 km。同时,通过角闪石成分计算岩浆氧逸度为ΔNNO+1.56~+2.41,并且根据岩石地球化学特征及矿物相稳定组合限定岩浆源区具有较高的含水量(w(H2O)10%)。结合矿物组合中角闪石的大量存在,分析可知马厂箐斑状花岗岩具有高氧逸度、富水、侵位浅的特点,符合形成大型-超大型斑岩Cu-Mo矿床岩浆岩的基本特征。因此,继北衙超大型斑岩Au矿取得重大突破后,推测三江成矿带南段扬子克拉通一侧斑岩型Cu-Mo矿床仍有较大的找矿潜力。     

Mountains,nations, parks,and conservation

Between 1985 and 1991, two new mountain protected areas (MTNPA) covering more than 35,000 km² and based on participatory management models — the Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area, Nepal, and Qomolangma Nature Preserve, Tibet Autonomous Region — were successfully established through the collaborative efforts of Woodlands Mountain Institute and conservationists in China and Nepal. Characteristics common to both projects include the importance of establishing (1) effective rationales, (2) local support constituencies, (3) a senior advisory group, (4) a task force, (5) linkages between conservation and development, and (6) fund raising mechanisms. The lessons derived from the experiences of Woodlands Mountain Institute are of significant value to others in preserving MTNPA. Increased collaboration and communication between all interested in conservation, however, will remain a critical component for expanding mountain protected area coverage to throughout the world.     

Roles of xenomelts,xenoliths, xenocrysts,xenovolatiles, residues,and skarns in the genesis,transport, and localization of magmatic Fe-Ni-Cu-PGE sulfides and chromite

Most sulfide-rich magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposits form in dynamic magmatic systems by partial melting S-bearing wall rocks with variable degrees of assimilation of miscible silicate and volatile components, and generation of barren to weakly-mineralized immiscible Fe sulfide xenomelts into which Ni-Cu-Co-PGE partition from the magma. Some exceptionally-thick magmatic Cr deposits may form by partial melting oxide-bearing wall rocks with variable degrees of assimilation of the miscible silicate and volatile components, and generation of barren Fe ± Ti oxide xenocrysts into which Cr-Mg-V ± Ti partition from the magma. The products of these processes are variably preserved as skarns, residues, xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and xenovolatiles, which play important to critical roles in ore genesis, transport, localization, and/or modification. Incorporation of barren xenoliths/autoliths may induce small amounts of sulfide/chromite to segregate, but incorporation of sulfide xenomelts or oxide xenocrysts with dynamic upgrading of metal tenors (PGE > Cu > Ni > Co and Cr > V > Ti, respectively) is required to make significant ore deposits. Silicate xenomelts are only rarely preserved, but will be variably depleted in chalcophile and ferrous metals. Less dense felsic xenoliths may aid upward sulfide transport by increasing the effective viscosity and decreasing the bulk density of the magma. Denser mafic or metamorphosed xenoliths may also increase the effective viscosity of the magma, but may aid downward sulfide transport by increasing the bulk density of the magma. Sulfide wets olivine, so olivine xenocrysts may act as filter beds to collect advected finely dispersed sulfide droplets, but other silicates and xenoliths may not be wetted by sulfides. Xenovolatiles may retard settling of – or in some cases float – dense sulfide droplets. Reactions of sulfide melts with felsic country rocks may generate Fe-rich skarns that may allow sulfide melts to fractionate to more extreme Cu-Ni-rich compositions. Xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and xenovolatiles are more likely to be preserved in cooler basaltic magmas than in hotter komatiitic magmas, and are more likely to be preserved in less dynamic (less turbulent) systems/domain/phases than in more dynamic (more turbulent) systems/domains/phases. Massive to semi-massive Ni-Cu-PGE and Cr mineralization and xenoliths are often localized within footwall embayments, dilations/jogs in dikes, throats of magma conduits, and the horizontal segments of dike-chonolith and dike-sill complexes, which represent fluid dynamic traps for both ascending and descending sulfides/oxides. If skarns, residues, xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and/or xenovolatiles are present, they provide important constraints on ore genesis and they are valuable exploration indicators, but they must be included in elemental and isotopic mass balance calculations.     

Comparative study of As,Cd, Cu,Cr, Mg,Mn, Ni,Pb and Zn concentrations between sediment and water from estuary and port

The contents of As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn have been determined in sediment and water samples from Valle de las Garzas estuary and Port Manzanillo (Colima, Mexico) using ICP-AES. The concentrations of these elements were used for a comparative study to determine the distribution of heavy metals and to evaluate which elements reflect natural or anthropogenic backgrounds. For this purpose, seven sampling points were selected: Four of them correspond to the lagoon, and three were situated in the port. Statistical analysis of the mineral content was assessed. Initially, data comparison was assessed by statistical tests for each variable. Principal component analysis was then applied considering the influence of all variables at the same time by obtaining the distribution of samples according to their scores in the principal component space. In this way, four studies were carried out: (1) study of sediments collected during the dry season; (2) study of sediments collected during the rainy season; (3) comparative study between sediments from rainy and dry season; and (4) study of water composition collected during rainy season. From the results of the performed analyses, it can be concluded that metals distribution pattern reflected natural and anthropogenic backgrounds (e.g., sediments from the lagoon, situated at the beginning of the rain channel, presented high contents of Zn and Cu, perhaps related to anthropogenic activities or the influence of igneous sediments).     

Parents,permission, and possibility: Young women,college, and imagined futures in Gujarat,India

This article advances critical geographies of youth through examining the spatiality implicit in the imagined futures of young women in rural India. Geographers and other scholars of youth have begun to pay more attention to the interplay between young people’s past, present, and imagined futures. Within this emerging body of scholarship the role of the family and peer group in influencing young people’s orientations toward the future remain underexamined. Drawing on eleven months of ethnographic fieldwork, my research focuses on a first generation of college-going young women from socioeconomically marginalized backgrounds in India’s westernmost state of Gujarat. I draw on the “possible selves” theoretical construct in order to deploy a flexible conceptual framework that links imagined post-educational trajectories with motivation to act in the present. In tracing the physical movement of these young women as they navigate and complete college, my analysis highlights the ways in which particular kinds of spaces and spatial arrangements facilitate and limit intra- and inter-generational contact, and the extent to which this affects young women’s conceptions of the future. I conclude by considering the wider implications of my research for ongoing debates surrounding youth transitions, relational geographies of age, and education in the Global South.     

Partition coefficients of Hf,Zr, and REE between zircon,apatite, and liquid

Concentration ratios of Hf, Zr, and REE between zircon, apatite, and liquid were determined for three igneous compositions: two andesites and a diorite. The concentration ratios of these elements between zircon and corresponding liquid can approximate the partition coefficient. Although the concentration ratios between apatite and andesite groundmass can be considered as partition coefficients, those for the apatite in the diorite may deviate from the partition coefficients. The HREE partition coefficients between zircon and liquid are very large (100 for Er to 500 for Lu), and the Hf partition coefficient is even larger. The REE partition coefficients between apatite and liquid are convex upward, and large (D=10–100), whereas the Hf and Zr partition coefficients are less than 1. The large differences between partition coefficients of Lu and Hf for zircon-liquid and for apatite-liquid are confirmed. These partition coefficients are useful for petrogenetic models involving zircon and apatite.     

Coprecipitation of Ti,Mo, Sn and Sb with fluorides and application to determination of B,Ti, Zr,Nb, Mo,Sn, Sb,Hf and Ta by ICP-MS

We examined the coprecipitation behavior of Ti, Mo, Sn and Sb in Ca–Al–Mg fluorides under two different fluoride forming conditions: at < 70 °C in an ultrasonic bath (denoted as the ultrasonic method) and at 245 °C using a Teflon bomb (denoted as the bomb method). In the ultrasonic method, small amounts of Ti, Mo and Sn coprecipitation were observed with 100% Ca and 100% Mg fluorides. No coprecipitation of Ti, Mo, Sn and Sb in Ca–Al–Mg fluorides occurred when the sample was decomposed by the bomb method except for 100% Ca fluoride. Based on our coprecipitation observations, we have developed a simultaneous determination method for B, Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, Sb, Hf and Ta by Q-pole type ICP-MS (ICP-QMS) and sector field type ICP-MS (ICP-SFMS). 9–50 mg of samples with Zr–Mo–Sn–Sb–Hf spikes were decomposed by HF using the bomb method and the ultrasonic method with B spike. The sample was then evaporated and re-dissolved into 0.5 mol l^− 1 HF, followed by the removal of fluorides by centrifuging. B, Zr, Mo, Sn, Sb and Hf were measured by ID method. Nb and Ta were measured by the ID-internal standardization method, based on Nb/Mo and Ta/Mo ratios using ICP-QMS, for which pseudo-FI was developed and applied. When 100% recovery yields of Zr and Hf are expected, Nb/Zr and Ta/Hf ratios may also be used. Ti was determined by the ID-internal standardization method, based on the Ti/Nb ratio from ICP-SFMS. Only 0.053 ml sample solution was required for measurement of all 9 elements. Dilution factors of ≤ 340 were aspirated without matrix effects. To demonstrate the applicability of our method, 4 carbonaceous chondrites (Ivuna, Orgueil, Cold Bokkeveld and Allende) as well as GSJ and USGS silicate reference materials of basalts, andesites and peridotites were analyzed. Our analytical results are consistent with previous studies, and the mean reproducibility of each element is 1.0–4.6% for basalts and andesites, and 6.7–11% for peridotites except for TiO₂.     

Entropy,materials, and posterity

Materials and energy are the interdependent feedstocks of economic systems, and thermodynamics is their moderator. It costs energy to transform the dispersed minerals of Earth's crust into ordered materials and structures. And it costs materials to collect and focus the energy to perform work — be it from solar, fossil fuel, nuclear, or other sources. The greater the dispersal of minerals sought, the more energy is required to collect them into ordered states.But available energy can be used once only. And the ordered materials of industrial economies become disordered with time. They may be partially reordered and recycled, but only at further costs in energy. Available energy everywhere degrades to bound states and order to disorder — for though entropy may be juggled it always increases. Yet industry is utterly dependent on low entropy states of matter and energy, while decreasing grades of ore require ever higher inputs of energy to convert them to metals, with ever increasing growth both of entropy and environmental hazard.Except as we may prize a thing for its intrinsic qualities — beauty, leisure, love, or gold — low-entropy is the only thing of real value. It is worth whatever the market will bear, and it becomes more valuable as entropy increases. It would be foolish of suppliers to sell it more cheaply or in larger amounts than their own enjoyment of life requires, whatever form it may take. For this reason, and because of physical constraints on the availability of all low-entropy states, the recent energy crises is only the first of a sequence of crises to be expected in energy and materials as long as current trends continue.The apportioning of low-entropy states in a modern industrial society is achieved more or less according to the theory of competitive markets. But the rational powers of this theory suffer as the world grows increasingly polarized into rich, over-industrialized nations with diminishing resource bases and poor, supplier nations with little industry. The theory also discounts posterity, the more so as population density and percapita rates of consumption continue to grow. A new social, economic, and ecologic norm that leads to population control, conservation, and an apportionment of low-entropy states across the generations is needed to assure to posterity the options that properly belong to it as an important but voiceless constituency of the collectivity we call mankind.

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Zusammenfassung Rohstoffe und Energie sind die Grundlagen unseres ökonomischen Systems, das von den Gesetzen der Thermodynamik bestimmt wird. Es kostet Energie, um die auf der Erde verteilten Rohstoffe diesem System zuzuführen. Andererseits braucht man Rohstoffe, um die Energie nutzbar zu machen.Die verfügbare Energie kann nur einmal genutzt werden und das Material verbraucht sich. Verbrauchtes Material kann teilweise zur weiteren Nutzung zurückgeführt werden, das kostet wiederum Energie. Die verfügbare Energie nimmt überall ab, und einmal geschaffene Ordnung gerät wieder in Unordnung — das heißt, die Entropie des Systems nimmt ständig zu. Die Industrie ist jedoch abhängig von einem niedrigen Entropiezustand sowohl der Materie als auch der Energie.Je ärmer die Erze sind, um so höher wird die Energie sein, um sie in Metalle umzuwandeln, wobei die Entropie und die Belastung der Umwelt ständig zunimmt.Außer den Dingen, die wir wegen höherer ideeller Werte schätzen, ist eine niedrige Entropie der einzige realistische Wertmaßstab, und der wirkliche Wertzuwachs ist nur an einer höheren Entropie zu messen. Es ist unverantwortlich, Dinge, die eine höhere Entropie bedingen, billiger zu verkaufen oder in größerer Menge zu erzeugen, als unbedingt notwendig ist. Da wir dies heute in unserem Handeln nicht berücksichtigen, ist die derzeitige Energiekrise nur der Anfang einer Folge von Krisen, die Energie und Rohstoffe betreffen, solange wir nicht umdenken.Die Verteilung von niedriger Entropie in einer modernen Industriegesellschaft wird mehr oder weniger nach dem Prinzip der konkurrierenden Märkte erreicht. Das selbstregulierende System gerät jedoch mit zunehmender Polarisierung in reiche Industrienationen mit abnehmenden Ressourcen und armen Nationen mit geringer Industrialisierung in Unordnung. Dieses Prinzip berücksichtigt auch nicht die Nachwelt, vor allem wenn die Bevölkerungsdichte stetig zunimmt und die Konsumbedürfnisse anwachsen. Es sind neue soziale, ökonomische und ökologische Normen notwendig, die zur Populationskontrolle, zur Erhaltung der Umwelt und zu einem Zustand niedriger Entropie für zukünftige Generationen führen. Die nach uns kommenden Menschen haben ein Anrecht darauf.

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Résumé Matériaux et énergie sont les sources des systèmes économiques et sont régis par les lois de la thermodynamique. Il faut de l'énergie pour transformer les ressources minérales dispersées dans la croûte terrestre en matériaux et structures ordonnancées. Et il faut des matériaux pour receuillir et concentrer l'énergie, qu'elle soit solaire ou atomique, ou provienne de combustibles fossiles ou d'autres sources. Plus les minéraux recherchés sont dispersés et plus est côuteuse l'énergie pour leur donner une ordonnance.Or l'énergie disponsible ne peut être utilisée qu'une seule fois. Et les matériaux ordonnancés des économies industrielles se dégradent avec le temps. Ils peuvent être remis partiellement en état et recyclés, mais pour cela il faut de nouveau de l'énergie. Partout l'énergie disponible se dégrade et l'ordre devient désordre; -malgré toutes les jongleries possibles l'entropie augmente toujours.L'industrie dépend clairement d'états de basse entropie tant en ce qui concerne les matériaux que l'énergie, tandis que plus pauvres sont les minerais, plus; élevée est l'énergie à mettre en jeu pour en extraire les métaux, avec toujours augmentation à la fois de l'entropie et de la degradation des milieux.A l'exception de ce que nous apprécions pour leur valeur intrinsèque — la beauté, le loisir, l'amour ou l'or — la basse entropie est la seule chose de réelle valeur. Son prix est réglé par le marché, et sa valeur augmente au fur et à mesure que l'entropie s'accroît. Ceux qui en disposent seraient insensés de la vendre à bas prix ou en quantité supérieure à ce qu'exige leur propre niveau de vie. Pour cette raison, et à cause des contraintes physiques liées à la disponibilité en états de basse entropie, la récente crise d'énergie n'est, en ce qui concerne les matières premières et l'énergie, que la première d'une série de crises auxquelles il faut s'attendre aussi longtemps que se poursoit la marche actuelle des étènements.Dans les sociétés industrielles modernes, les approvisionnement en basse entropie s'effectuent plus ou moins conformément à la théorie de la concurrence des marchés. Cependant la rationalité de cette théorie se ressent de l'accentuation croissante de la polarisation, à l'échelle du monde, en nations riches, surindustrialisées, à ressources de base décroissantes, et en nations pauvres, sous-industrialisées, mais fournisseurs de resources-naturelles. De plus cette théorie ne tient pas compte de notre postérité, et ce, en face d'une densité de population et d'un taux de la consommation par tête d'habitant en augmentation continue.Nous avons donc besoin de nouvelles normes sociales, économiques et écologiques qui conduisent au contrôle de la population, à la conservation et à la répartition des états de basse entropie à travers les générations pour assurer à notre postérité les options qui leur riviennent de droit comme une constituante importante, mais encore muette, de la collectivité que nous appelons l'Humanité.

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Dedicated with appreciation to Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen, distinguished economist, realist among cornucopians     

Models,validation, and applied geochemistry: Issues in science,communication, and philosophy

Models have become so fashionable that many scientists and engineers cannot imagine working without them. The predominant use of computer codes to execute model calculations has blurred the distinction between code and model. The recent controversy regarding model validation has brought into question what we mean by a ‘model’ and by ‘validation.’ It has become apparent that the usual meaning of validation may be common in engineering practice and seems useful in legal practice but it is contrary to scientific practice and brings into question our understanding of science and how it can best be applied to such problems as hazardous waste characterization, remediation, and aqueous geochemistry in general. This review summarizes arguments against using the phrase model validation and examines efforts to validate models for high-level radioactive waste management and for permitting and monitoring open-pit mines. Part of the controversy comes from a misunderstanding of ‘prediction’ and the need to distinguish logical from temporal prediction. Another problem stems from the difference in the engineering approach contrasted with the scientific approach. The reductionist influence on the way we approach environmental investigations also limits our ability to model the interconnected nature of reality. Guidelines are proposed to improve our perceptions and proper utilization of models. Use of the word ‘validation’ is strongly discouraged when discussing model reliability.     

Pebbles,Shapes, and Equilibria

The shape of sedimentary particles may carry important information on their history. Current approaches to shape classification (e.g. the Zingg or the Sneed and Folk system) rely on shape indices derived from the measurement of the three principal axes of the approximating tri-axial ellipsoid. While these systems have undoubtedly proved to be useful tools, their application inevitably requires tedious and ambiguous measurements, also classification involves the introduction of arbitrarily chosen constants. Here we propose an alternative classification system based on the (integer) number of static equilibria. The latter are points of the surface where the pebble is at rest on a horizontal, frictionless support. As opposed to the Zingg system, our method relies on counting rather than measuring. We show that equilibria typically exist on two well-separated (micro and macro) scales. Equilibria can be readily counted by simple hand experiments, i.e. the new classification scheme is practically applicable. Based on statistical results from two different locations we demonstrate that pebbles are well mixed with respect to the new classes, i.e. the new classification is reliable and stable in that sense. We also show that the Zingg statistics can be extracted from the new statistics; however, substantial additional information is also available. From the practical point of view, E-classification is substantially faster than the Zingg method.