Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of coal ash from the Northwest Thrace region,Turkey: a case study

The first combined mineralogical and geochemical investigation of coal ashes from the Northwest Thrace Coal Basin, Turkey, was performed as a case study. The coal ash samples were obtained at 525 °C (group I), 750 °C (group II), and 1000 °C (group III) ashing temperatures from coal samples from the basin and were studied in terms of their mineralogical and geochemical composition using XRD and ICP-MS methods. The determination of the mineralogical composition was done for all of the groups; the geochemical analysis was carried out only for group II. In accordance with the high SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, CaO, and SO₃ content of the ash, quartz (SiO₂), hematite (Fe₂O₃), and anhydrite (CaSO₄) are the major crystalline phases for all of the ash groups. The other minerals are muscovite, thenardite, tridymite, calcite, wollastonite, anorthite, cristobalite, gibbsite, ternesite, mullite, nahcolite, and nacrite. High-temperature phases such as mullite, wollastonite, and anorthite were observed at 750 and 1000 °C. According to the (Fe₂O₃ + CaO + MgO+ K₂O+ Na₂O)/(SiO₂ + Al₂O₃+ TiO₂) ratios varying from 0.19 to 5.65, the ashes are highly prone to slagging. Compared to average values of low-rank coal ashes, the contents of V, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cs, W, and U of the ash are higher, whereas the total content of rare earth elements (REEs) (Σ 163.7 ppm) are lower. Based on upper continental crust normalization, As, Se, Th, and U are enriched in all of the samples. The higher trace element contents in the ashes might be considered as a possible health hazard. The correlation analyses indicated that Ca is associated with anhydrite and As with hematite. The correlation analyses also showed that newly formed Al and Ca silicates may contain the elements such as Ti, K, Na, Cr, Sn, and Pb.     

The evolution of the Cappadocia Geothermal Province,Anatolia (Turkey): geochemical and geochronological evidence

Cappadocia Geothermal Province (CGP), central Turkey, consists of nine individual geothermal regions controlled by active regional fault systems. This paper examines the age dating of alteration minerals and the geochemistry (trace elements and isotopes) of the alteration minerals and geothermal waters, to assess the evolution of CGP in relation to regional tectonics. Ar–Ar age data of jarosite and alunite show that the host rocks were exposed to oxidizing conditions near the Earth’s surface at about 5.30 Ma. Based on the δ¹⁸O–δD relationhip, water samples had a high altitude meteoric origin. The δ³⁴S values of jarosite and alunite indicate that water samples from the southern part of the study area reached the surface after circulation through volcanic rocks, while northern samples had traveled to the surface after interacting with evaporates at greater depths. REY (rare earth elements and yttrium) diagrams of alteration minerals (especially illite, jarosite and alunite) from rock samples, taken from the same locations as the water samples, display a similar REY pattern to water samples. This suggests that thermal fluids, which reached the surface along a fault zone and caused the mineral alteration in the past, had similar chemical composition to the current geothermal water. The geothermal conceptual model, which defines a volcanically heated reservoir and cap rocks, suggests there are no structural drawbacks to the use of the CGP geothermal system as a resource. However, fluid is insufficient to drive the geothermal system as a result of scanty supply of meteoric water due to evaporation significantly exceeding rainfall.     

Simulation of large earthquakes and its implications on earthquake insurance rates: a case study in Bursa region (Turkey)

Ground motion intensity parameters of past and potential earthquakes are required for a range of purposes including earthquake insurance practice. In regions with no or sparse earthquake recordings, most of the available methods generate only peak ground motion parameters. For cases where full ground motion time histories are required, simulations that consider fault rupture processes become necessary. In this study, a major novel use of simulated ground motions is presented in insurance premium calculations which also require ground motion intensity measures that are not always available through observations. For this purpose, potential earthquakes in Bursa are simulated using stochastic finite-fault simulation method with dynamic corner frequency model. To ensure simulations with reliable synthetic ground motions, input parameters are derived from regional data. Regional model parameters are verified by comparisons against the observations as well as ground motion prediction equations. Next, a potential large magnitude event in Bursa is simulated. Distribution of peak ground motion parameters and time histories at selected locations are obtained. From these parameters, the corresponding Modified Mercalli Intensities (MMI) are estimated. Later, these MMIs are used as the main ground motion parameter in damage probability matrices (DPM). Return period of the scenario earthquake is obtained from the previous regional seismic hazard studies. Finally, insurance rates for Bursa region are determined with implementation of two new approaches in the literature. The probability of the scenario event and the expected mean damage ratios (MDR) from the corresponding DPMs are used, and the results are compared to Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Pool (TCIP) rates. Results show that insurance premiums can be effectively computed using simulated ground motions in the absence of real data.     

Distribution and segregation of trace elements during the growth of ore mineral crystals in hydrothermal systems: geochemical and mineralogical implications

The interfacial crystal layer of poorly soluble mineral grown under hydrothermal conditions is modified chemically into a surficial nonautonomous phase (SNAP) and, in this capacity, takes part in growth process, doing several important functions. This paper considers some of them related to geochemistry and mineralogy. The new interpretation is given to the following phenomena: (1) selection of components during crystal growth in multiphase associations; (2) stability of multiphase parageneses having a common chemical component; (3) dual character of the distribution coefficients due to different properties of the crystal volume and SNAP; (4) formation of nano- and microinclusions of unusual composition different from the basic mineral phase; (5) spatial ordering of nano- and microparticles during their directed aggregation at the growing crystal face; (6) accumulation of valuable components (primarily noble metals), incompatible in most of mineral matrixes, in the surficial layer; and (7) effect of “hidden” metal content, associated with the presence of noble metals in the SNAP or of nano- and microinclusions formed during the SNAP evolution.     

河南舞阳铁山庙式BIF铁矿的矿物学与地球化学特征及对矿床成因的指示

河南舞阳铁矿位于华北克拉通南缘.铁山庙式铁矿是舞阳铁矿的一部分,赋存于新太古界太华杂岩铁山庙组表壳岩中.本文根据铁山庙式铁矿中三种不同类型矿石(条带状石英-辉石-磁铁矿、块状辉石-磁铁矿、块状石英-磁铁矿)中磁铁矿的矿物成分、全岩/矿的主量元素及微量元素特征,探讨铁山庙式铁矿床的成因.磁铁矿单矿物成分分析表明,条带状石英-辉石-磁铁矿矿石中磁铁矿的FeOT含量90.6％ ～93.1％,平均91.8％;块状辉石-磁铁矿矿石中磁铁矿的FeOT含量90.7％～91.2％,平均91.0％;块状石英-磁铁矿矿石中磁铁矿的FeOT含量92.0％～93.0％,平均92.4％.上述平均值均与磁铁矿FeOT的理论值(93.1％)接近.三种类型矿石的其它元素如TiO2、MgO、MnO、CaO、Al2O3 Cr2O3 NiO等含量均＜0.1％,无明显区别,表明该区磁铁矿为含杂质极少的纯磁铁矿,表现出沉积变质成因磁铁矿的特征.矿石中斜方辉石-单斜辉石及近矿围岩紫苏辉石-长石-石英矿物组合,表明铁山庙式矿床经受了高级变质作用,石英、磁铁矿等矿物普遍发生变质重结晶,颗粒粗大,但仍保存原有的地球化学组成.元素地球化学分析显示,三种类型矿石中SiO2 、TiO2 Al2O3、P2O5的含量相近;块状辉石-磁铁矿较其它二者相对贫铁、富钙、镁,这是由于块状辉石-磁铁矿石中富含铁普通辉石和铁次透辉石所致;矿石中TiO2、Al2O3含量都极低,说明该区成岩成矿过程中未受到碎屑物质的混染.三种不同类型矿石的主量元素含量总体上都与世界典型BIF的相近.对于稀土元素,三种类型矿石均具有轻稀土亏损、重稀土富集((La/Yb)PAAS=0.29～0.995＜1),La、Eu、Y的正异常(La/La*=1.10～1.89;Eu/Eu* =1.30～2.23;Y/Y* =1.47～1.84),较高的Y/Ho比值(39.7 ～51.3),具有现代海水及高温热液混合特征.因此,我们认为铁山庙式铁矿三种不同类型的矿石是极少受到陆源碎屑混染的化学沉积成因,虽遭受后期变质作用,但仍属BIF型铁矿.     

Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of hydrothermal alteration of basalt in the Kuroko mine area, Japan: implications for the evolution of a Back Arc Basin hydrothermal system

Basalt in the Furutobe District of the Kuroko mine area in Japan is characterized by abundant chlorite and epidote. Fluid inclusion studies indicate that chlorite is formed at lower temperatures (230–250°C) than epidote (250–280°C). The seawater/basalt mass ratio for the early chlorite-rich alteration was high (max. 40), but that for the later alteration was low (0.1–1.8). The CaO, Na₂O and SiO₂ of the bulk rock correlate negatively with MgO, while FeO and Σ Fe correlate positively with MgO. These changes in the characteristic features of hydrothermal alteration from early to late are generally similar to those for a mid-ocean ridge geothermal system accompanying basalt alteration.The MgO/FeO ratios of chlorite and actinolite and the Fe₂O₃ concentration of epidote from the basalt are greater than those of mid-ocean ridge basalt probably owing to the differences in the Fe₂O₃/FeO and MgO/FeO ratios of the parent rocks. The lower CaO concentration and the higher Na₂O concentration of the bulk rock compared with altered mid-ocean ridge basalt can be interpreted in terms of the difference in original bulk rock compositions.The Furutobe basalt, as well as other submarine back arc basalts, contains more vesicles filled with hydrothermal minerals (epidote, calcite, quartz, chlorite, pyrite) than do the mid-ocean ridge basalts. The abundance of vesicles plays an important role in controlling the secondary mineralogy and geochemistry of hydrothermally altered submarine back arc basin basalts.     

Modelling of modern mercury vapor transport in an ancient hydrothermal system: environmental and geochemical implications

Mercury has been used in some mineralizing hydrothermal systems as a significant pathfinder of Au and other elements. In addition, its geochemical behaviour reflects some characteristics related to the transport mechanism of metal-bearing fluids. In this work the authors analyse the geochemical aspects and the environmental impact of Hg mobilization from the old mining area of Valle del Azogue (VA), from smelting slags, mining waste and the partially exploited mineralization that remains a few metres underground. The main pathway of Hg is the transport of vapor from different foci, therefore a mathematical simulation of the process of Hg vapor transport was carried out in the Valle del Azogue (VA) mineral deposit. This is one of the two sites in Spain (the other being the famous district of Almaden), where Hg vapor emissions have been cited. The results obtained by means of mathematical simulation were compared with both the real Hg concentration values detected in the field (upper part of the mining area), and with the geochemical distribution patterns of Au and other elements related to the mineralization. A close relationship between the simulated Hg vapor distribution and soil gas concentrations was identified. It is proposed that the transport of Hg emissions from this old mining area could be the cause of present contamination of marine sediments in the area.     

消除背景影响的化探异常圈定方法——以张家口地区为例

由于不同成矿元素在不同岩性地层单元中的背景值存在较大差异,如采用符合正态分布的统计法计算元素异常下限值,会使得矿床可能并不分布在圈定的地球化学异常范围内,异常区可能仅是高背景岩石的反映。本文以张家口1∶20万化探扫面数据为例,圈定了Cu、Zn、V、Ti、Ni等受岩性影响较大元素的异常,结果表明传统统计方法所圈元素异常区受岩性控制作用明显。而考虑岩性本底含量的衬度值法所圈异常,不仅能有效避免岩性对异常的控制作用,且能在低背景岩石单元中圈出新异常,具有较好的找矿指示意义。     

An ion microprobe study of anhydrous oxygen diffusion in anorthite: a comparison with hydrothermal data and some geological implications

The diffusion rate of ¹⁸O tracer atoms in anorthite (An₉₇Ab₀₃) under anhydrous conditions has been measured using SIMS techniques. The tracer source was ¹⁸O₂ 98.4% gas at 1 bar, in the temperature range 1300° C–850° C. The measured diffusion constants are D ₀=1 _–0.6 ⁺¹ ×10^–9 m²s^–1 Q=236±8 kJ mol^–1 Comparison of these values with published data for ¹⁸O diffusion in anorthite under hydrothermal conditions shows that dry oxygen diffusivities are orders of magnitude lower than equivalent wet values at similar temperatures. The effect of these differences on oxygen isotope equilibration during cooling is discussed.     

Sulfur isotopic composition of hydrothermal precipitates from the Lau back-arc: implications for magmatic contributions to seafloor hydrothermal systems

The sulfur isotopic composition of sulfides and barite from hydrothermal deposits at the Valu Fa Ridge back-arc spreading center in the southern Lau Basin has been investigated. Sulfide samples from the White Church area at the northern Valu Fa Ridge have δ³⁴S values averaging +3.8‰ (n= 10) for bulk sphalerite-chalcopyrite mineralization and +4.8‰ for pyrite (n= 10). Barite associated with the massive sulfides exhibits an average of +20.7‰ (n= 10). Massive sulfides from the active Vai Lili hydrothermal field at the central Valu Fa Ridge have much higher δ³⁴S ratios averaging +8.0‰ for bulk sphalerite-chalcopyrite mineralization (n= 5), +9.3‰ for pyrite samples (n= 5), and +8.0‰ and +10.9‰ for a chalcopyrite and a sphalerite separate, respectively. The isotopic composition of barite from the Vai Lili field is similar to that of barite from the White Church area and averages +21.0‰ (n= 8). Sulfide and barite samples from the Hine Hina area at the southern Valu Fa Ridge have δ³⁴S values that are considerably lighter than those observed for samples from the other areas and average −4.9‰ for pyrite (n= 9), −4.0 and −5.7‰ for two samples of sphalerite-chalcopyrite intergrowth, and −3.4‰ for a single chalcopyrite separate. The total spread in the isotopic composition of sulfides from Vai Lili and Hine Hina is more than 20‰ over a distance of less than 30 km. The δ³⁴S values of sulfides at Hine Hina are the lowest values so far reported for volcanic-hosted polymetallic massive sulfides from the modern seafloor. Barite from the Hine Hina field also has unusually light sulfur with δ³⁴S values of +16.1 to +16.7‰ (n= 5). Isotopic compositions of the sulfides at Hine Hina indicate a dramatic decrease in δ³⁴S from ordinary magmatic values and, in the absence of biogenic sulfur and/or boiling, imply a unique ³⁴S-depleted source of probable magmatic origin. Sulfide-barite mineralization in the Hine Hina area is associated with a distinctive alteration assemblage consisting of cristobalite, pyrophyllite, kaolinite, opal-CT, talc, pyrite, native sulfur, and alunite. Similar styles of alteration are typically known from high-sulfidation epithermal systems on land. Alunite-bearing, advanced argillic alteration in the Hine Hina field confirms the role of acidic, volatile-rich fluids, and a δ³⁴S value of +10.4‰ for the sulfur in the alunite is consistent with established kinetic isotope effects which accompany the disproportionation of magmatic SO₂ into H₂S and H₂SO₄. The Hine Hina field occurs near the propagating tip of the Valu Fa back-arc spreading center (i.e., dominated by dike injections and seafloor eruptions) and therefore may have experienced the largest contribution of magmatic volatiles of the three fields. The sulfur isotopic ratios of the hydrothermal precipitates and the presence of a distinctive epithermal-like argillic alteration in the Hine Hina field suggest a direct contribution of magmatic vapor to the hydrothermal system and support the concept that magmatic volatiles may be an important component of some volcanogenic massive sulfide-forming hydrothermal systems. Received: 16 January 1997 / Accepted: 28 October 1997     

On the distinction of tectonic and nontectonic faulting in palaeoseismological research: a case study from the southern Marmara region of Turkey

International Journal of Earth Sciences - This study reports on spectacular deformation structures, including arrays of striated thrusts, discovered by excavation work in Holocene deposits in...     

Geochemical character of the hydrothermal alteration zones around the Madenkoy-Siirt massive sulfide deposit and implications for geochemical exploration

The Madenkoy-Siir region lies in southeastern Anatolia, Turkey to the northeast of Siirt. The study area is in the southeastern Anatolian Thrust Belt, which forms the boundary between the Border Folds on the northern edge of the Arabian plate and the Taurids. In the region, limestones of the Midyat Group of Eocene-Miocene age and alternating marls and sandstones of the Lice Formation of Early-Middle Miocene age are the autochthonous units. Three thrust slices were emplaced over the autochthonous units during the Miocene Epoch. The lowest slice consists of interbedded sandstones, mudstones, marls, limestones, and conglomerates of the Sason flysch, the Madenkoy spilite, and the Toptepe conglomerate, all of Eocene age; the middle slice consists of the Guleman ultramafic rocks of Cretaceous age; and the uppermost slice consists of the Bitlis metamorphic rocks of Paleozoic age.     

A Triassic large igneous province in the Pontides, northern Turkey: geochemical data for its tectonic setting

A strongly deformed and metamorphosed Triassic oceanic seamount(s) and plateau succession extends as an east–west belt for 1100 km along the Pontides of northern Turkey. This succession, known widely as the Nilüfer unit, consists mainly of metabasic lava and tuff–marble–phyllite association including tectonic slices of ultramafic rock and gabbro. According to the conodont findings the unit formed during the Early to Mid-Triassic, and the isotopic age data indicate that it underwent high-pressure greenschist facies metamorphism during the latest Triassic period. The metavolcanic rocks form over 80% of the sequence. The Nilüfer unit covers an area of 120,000 km², with the volume of mafic lava estimated as 2×10⁵ km³. Such a huge volcanic pile has erupted rapidly in a relatively short period during the Early to Mid-Triassic (approx. 10 Ma). Hypotheses for the origin of the Nilüfer unit include a ‘seamount’, ‘intra-arc and/or fore-arc basin’, ‘oceanic plateau’, and ‘Early Triassic rift’. The geochemistry of metabasites and that of relict magmatic clinopyroxenes indicate that there are two main mafic rock groups in the Nilüfer unit displaying tholeiitic and alkaline affinities. No metabasite and clinopyroxene sample display typical orogenic basalt affinity or a subduction signature. Geochemical data obtained in this study are consistent with the derivation of the metabasites from the topmost extrusive layers of an oceanic plateau (LIP) together with the volcanic rocks of seamount(s).     

A comparison of regional geochemical data from lakes and streams in northern Labrador; implications for mixed-media geochemical mapping

Labrador has been covered by reconnaissance-scale geochemical surveys under the National Geochemical Reconnaissance program. Lake sediment and water were the chief sample media, but stream sediment and water were employed in the mountainous terrain of northern Labrador. The main objective of these surveys was mineral resource assessment, but the data are also relevant to geological and environmental studies, and would be most useful to the non-specialist if the data from the two drainage types could be combined to produce unified element distribution maps for the whole region.A comparison of stream and lake data for a 5,700-km² area where both drainage types were sampled suggests that only the pH of the lake and stream waters are directly comparable, showing a common range and similar spatial distribution. Comparing the two types of sediment, most elements show obvious differences in either median content or range or both, indicating that stream and lake sediment are geochemically distinct media, and their element contents cannot be compared directly. The distribution patterns of Cu, Ni and U reflect similar bedrock features in both sediment types. In contrast, Co, F, Fe, Hg, Mn, V and Zn show little or no spatial correlation between stream and lake sediment, but are strongly intercorrelated in the stream sediment data set.The sediments collected from lakes in Labrador represent disturbed column, about 40 cm in length, of organic debris that accumulated over the past several hundred years. Metal accumulation in the sediment is largely through fixation from inflowing surface and groundwater by microorganisms, coprecipitation with hydrous Fe and Mn oxides, sorption by clay minerals and chemical and biochemical processes at and just below the sediment/water interface. The stream sediments in this study were collected from active sediment, and represent principally the mechanical-weathering products of bedrock, with variable amounts of organic matter and hydrous Fe and Mn oxides. Considering the difference in the two sediment types, it is probably not surprising that there is rather limited spatial correlation between the geochemistry of the two sediment types indicating that to a large extent each medium reflects a different facet of the bedrock geochemistry. Only for a few elements should the data sets be merged. The degree of spatial correlation for U, Ni and Cu increases as the data are generalized by averaging into larger blocks, suggesting that the combined data sets will be more successful in defining broad crustal geochemical features rather than local details. The implication of this study for international geochemical mapping is that geochemical patterns for many elements are strongly dependent on the sample medium chosen. Therefore, when it is necessary to change sample media in passing from one terrain type to another, a comparative study must be carried out to determine how the geochemistry of the different sample media compare spatially.