Solubility products of amorphous ferric arsenate and crystalline scorodite (FeAsO4 · 2H2O) and their application to arsenic behavior in buried mine tailings

Published solubility data for amorphous ferric arsenate and scorodite have been reevaluated using the geochemical code PHREEQC with a modified thermodynamic database for the arsenic species. Solubility product calculations have emphasized measurements obtained under conditions of congruent dissolution of ferric arsenate (pH < 3), and have taken into account ion activity coefficients, and ferric hydroxide, ferric sulfate, and ferric arsenate complexes which have association constants of 10^4.04 (FeH₂AsO₄²⁺), 10^9.86 (FeHAsO₄⁺), and 10^18.9 (FeAsO₄). Derived solubility products of amorphous ferric arsenate and crystalline scorodite (as log K_sp) are −23.0 ± 0.3 and −25.83 ± 0.07, respectively, at 25 °C and 1 bar pressure. In an application of the solubility results, acid raffinate solutions (molar Fe/As = 3.6) from the JEB uranium mill at McClean Lake in northern Saskatchewan were neutralized with lime to pH 2-8. Poorly crystalline scorodite precipitated below pH 3, removing perhaps 98% of the As(V) from solution, with ferric oxyhydroxide (FO) phases precipitated starting between pH 2 and 3. Between pH 2.18 and 7.37, the apparent log K_sp of ferric arsenate decreased from −22.80 to −24.67, while that of FO (as Fe(OH)₃) increased from −39.49 to −33.5. Adsorption of As(V) by FO can also explain the decrease in the small amounts of As(V)(aq) that remain in solution above pH 2-3. The same general As(V) behavior is observed in the pore waters of neutralized tailings buried for 5 yr at depths of up to 32 m in the JEB tailings management facility (TMF), where arsenic in the pore water decreases to 1-2 mg/L with increasing age and depth. In the TMF, average apparent log K_sp values for ferric arsenate and ferric hydroxide are −25.74 ± 0.88 and −37.03 ± 0.58, respectively. In the laboratory tests and in the TMF, the increasing crystallinity of scorodite and the amorphous character of the coexisting FO phase increases the stability field of scorodite relative to that of the FO to near-neutral pH values. The kinetic inability of amorphous FO to crystallize probably results from the presence of high concentrations of sulfate and arsenate.     

Arsenic attenuation in tailings at a former Cu–W–As mine,SW Finland

Nearly half a century after mine closure, release of As from the Ylöjärvi Cu–W–As mine tailings in groundwater and surface water run-off was observed. Investigations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron microprobe analysis (EMPA), synchrotron-based micro-X-ray diffraction (μ-XRD), micro-X-ray absorption near edge structure (μ-XANES) and micro-extended X-ray absorption fine structure (μ-EXAFS) spectroscopy, and a sequential extraction procedure were performed to assess As attenuation mechanisms in the vadose zone of this tailings deposit. Results of SEM, EMPA, and sequential extractions indicated that the precipitation of As bearing Fe(III) (oxy)hydroxides (up to 18.4 wt.% As₂O₅) and Fe(III) arsenates were important secondary controls on As mobility. The μ-XRD, μ-XANES and μ-EXAFS analyses suggested that these phases correspond to poorly crystalline and disordered As-bearing precipitates, including arsenical ferrihydrite, scorodite, kaňkite, and hydrous ferric arsenate (HFA). The pH within 200 cm of the tailings surface averaged 5.7, conditions which favor the precipitation of ferrihydrite. Poorly crystalline Fe(III) arsenates are potentially unstable over time, and their transformation to ferrihydrite, which contributes to As uptake, has potential to increase the As adsorption capacity of the tailings. Arsenic mobility in tailings pore water at the Ylöjärvi mine will depend on continued arsenopyrite oxidation, dissolution or transformation of secondary Fe(III) arsenates, and the As adsorption capacity of Fe(III) (oxy)hydroxides within this tailings deposit.     

Geochemical assessment of Paleocene limestones of Sinn El-Kaddab Plateau,South Western Desert of Egypt,for industrial uses

The present work assesses the potential industrial uses of Paleocene limestone deposits, Garra Formation in Sinn El-Kaddab Plateau, South Western Desert of Egypt, based on their mineralogy and geochemical characteristics. Eighty-six limestone samples collected from ten stratigraphic columnar sections were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques. Petrographically, Garra limestone deposits consist dominantly of benthic foraminiferal wackestone and packstone microfacies. The XRD data revealed dominance of low-Mg calcite as essential carbonate mineral in the studied limestone. The bulk rock XRF results revealed CaO (29.28–55.75%) with an average of 52.74%. The CaO exhibits a strong negative correlation with MgO, SiO₂, TiO₂, Al₂O₃, and moderate negative correlation with Fe₂O₃ which indicates that the contribution of these elements is mainly due to detrital input. On the other hand, Al₂O₃ and Na₂O contents exhibit significant negative correlation with loss of ignition (LOI) wt% indicating their incorporation within terrigenous matrix. The average Sr content attains 1297 ppm indicating deposition in temperate marine environment. The average molar CaCO₃% values of bulk samples have been computed for individual columnar sections to determine the purity status of Garra limestone deposits. They range from impure (CaCO₃%?=?79.92%) to high-pure (CaCO₃%?=?97.76%) limestone. Therefore, Garra limestone deposits have extremely valuable uses in a wide spectrum of industrial applications including Portland cement, steel, ceramics, whiting, chemical uses, paper, and feed stuff.     

New insights into mineralogy and geochemistry of allanite-bearing Mediterranean coastal sands from Northern Greece

Allanite-bearing black coastal sands of Kavala (N. Greece) were studied using a combination of single-crystal XRD, EMPA, μ-XRF, bulk ICP-MS, LA-ICP-MS, μ-XANES and γ-ray spectrometry. The sands are rich in REE (ΣREE + Y: 4010 to 10,810 mg/kg), Th (236–1205 mg/kg) and other critical metals such as Nb, Ta and Co. The main REE- and Th-hosts are allanite and titanite. The allanite unit cell parameters were calculated whereas its formula was found to be (REE_0.470Ca_1.499Th_0.031) (Ti_0.031Fe⁺³_1.089Al_1.880) (Si_2.906Al_0.094O₁₂) (OH). The μ-XANES spectra showed that LREE are present in trivalent oxidation state. Analyses of the non-magnetic sand fractions showed higher LREE (12,470 mg/kg) due to accumulation of allanite. The materials showed elevated radioactivity ranging from 885 ± 13 to 3467 ± 20 Bq/kg. The obtained results provide new insights on the provenance of the sands, the abundance of REE, Th, and other immobile elements, and offer new clues for potential exploration and exploitation.     

Na, Mg, Ni and Cs distribution and speciation after long-term alteration of a simulated nuclear waste glass: A micro-XAS/XRF/XRD and wet chemical study

Microscopic distribution and speciation of Na, Mg, Ni and Cs in a simulated (inactive) nuclear waste glass were studied using micro X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) and micro X-ray absorption spectroscopy (μ-XAS), after aqueous leaching during 12 years at 90 °C. Na and Mg are major constituents of the glass that can be used to determine the progress of the glass corrosion process and the nature of secondary alteration phases. Ni and Cs represent dose determining long-lived radionuclides (⁵⁹Ni, ¹³⁵Cs) in vitrified nuclear waste.The Na-Mg μ-XRF maps revealed that the core regions of the glass fragments are apparently unaltered and compositionally homogeneous, whereas rims and interstitial spaces are enriched with Mg-rich smectite formed during the leaching process. The micro X-ray absorption near edge structure (μ-XANES) spectra collected at the Mg K-edge in the altered zones show three sharp resonances typical for crystalline Mg-silicates. These resonances are distinctive of Mg occupying undistorted octahedral positions. In contrast, the μ-XANES spectra collected in the core zones of the glass fragments lack this resonance pattern and are identical to the spectra measured on the pristine (unleached) MW glass.Micro extended X-ray absorption fine structure (μ-EXAFS) and μ-XANES analyses at the Ni K-edge revealed three distinct Ni(II) species: (a) Ni uniformly distributed in the glass matrix, (b) micro-inclusions with high Ni concentrations and (c) Ni associated to the Mg-clay. The comparison with reference spectra of unleached MW and other Ni-bearing silicate glasses indicated that species (a) represents the original coordinative environment of Ni in the glass. The μ-EXAFS analyses revealed that species (b) is structural Ni in trevorite (NiFe₂O₄), which probably formed through unmixing processes during the cooling of the glass melt. The μ-EXAFS of species (c) could be successfully modeled assuming specific adsorption or incorporation of Ni into the lattice of trioctahedral Mg-clay minerals. Alternative models assuming other elements (Ni, Al, Fe) in addition to Mg in the second shell could not be fitted successfully.Aqueous concentration data were used to calculate the speciation of the leaching solutions. Saturation index (SI) calculations indicate undersaturation with respect to NiCO₃ and NiSO₄·7H₂O, but oversaturation with respect to β-Ni(OH)₂. The latter result is probably due to the omission of Ni borate and Ni silicate complexes in the speciation calculations, for which formation constants are not available. With the help of estimation techniques, we could infer that such complexes would dominate the Ni speciation and consequently reduce the SI below the saturation of β-Ni(OH)₂.The μ-XRF maps show that Cs is uniformly distributed in the MW glass, since no region with high Cs concentration could be detected. The Cs L_III-edge μ-XAS spectra were all very similar independently of the degree of alteration, indicating similar coordination environments of Cs in the core regions of the glass as well as in the secondary clays. These spectra largely differ from that measured for pollucite (a potential secondary Cs-phase in altered glasses) implying that the coordination environments of Cs in the MW glass and in pollucite are fundamentally different.The present study shows that μ-XRF and μ-XAS are essential tools in determining the fate and the retention mechanisms of radionuclides released from nuclear waste during aqueous alteration. Our spectroscopic analyses allowed us to exclude formation of specific Ni and Cs secondary solids (e.g. nepouite, β-Ni(OH)₂, pollucite) during the aqueous alteration. Ni and Cs are instead distributed as trace elements in the alteration phases formed by major elements during the leaching process. Our results imply that solid solution and/or adsorption equilibria, rather than pure phase solubility equilibria, are the adequate chemical models to determine Ni and Cs aqueous concentrations in performance assessments for radioactive waste repositories.     

Mobilization and loss of elements from roofing tiles

Deposition, leaching and chemical transformation are processes that affect roofing tile and roof runoff water. Leaching experiments, with artificial rainwater in the laboratory, showed the presence of Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻, NO₃ ⁻, SO₄ ²⁻, with a ratio of Ca²⁺ and SO₄ ²⁻ suggesting gypsum dissolution. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) of the exposed roof tile showed depletion such as Mg, Al, Si, P, Ti and K at the surface of the tile and an enrichment of Fe and Mn which hinted at a process akin to laterite formation. However, calcium appeared to be enriched at the surface as gypsum (confirmed by X-ray diffraction) and to a lesser extent calcite, which is characteristic of deposits on building surfaces in cities.     

X射线衍射法分析水镁石煅烧制备的镁砂物相组成

研究了离子色谱法同时测定砂岩型铀矿浸出液中阳离子的方法。采用Ionpac CS12A阳离子分离柱,以20 mmol/L甲基磺酸(MSA)为淋洗液,直接电导检测-离子色谱法分离测定铀矿石浸出液中常见的阳离子(Li+、Na+、K+、NH4+、Ca2+、Mg2+),方法检出限为0.012 7~0.194 mg/L,相对标准偏差(RSD,n=5)为1.04%~4.50%,加标回收率为91.5%~106.0%。该方法用于铀矿石浸出液中的阳离子同时测定,具有很好的实用性。     

Precipitation of amorphous CaCO3 (aragonite-like) by cyanobacteria: A STXM study of the influence of EPS on the nucleation process

An amorphous or nanocrystalline calcium carbonate (ACC) phase with aragonite-like short-range order was found to be a transient precursor phase of calcite precipitation mediated by cyanobacteria of the strain Synechococcus leopoliensis PCC 7942. Using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM), different Ca-species such as calcite, aragonite-like CaCO₃, and Ca adsorbed on extracellular polymers were discriminated and mapped, together with various organic compounds, at the 30 nm-scale. The nucleation of the amorphous aragonite-like CaCO₃ was found to take place within the tightly bound extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produced by the cyanobacteria very close to the cell wall. The aragonite-like CaCO₃ is a type of ACC since it did not show either X-ray or electron diffraction peaks. The amount of aragonite-like CaCO₃ precipitated in the EPS was dependent on the nutrient supply during bacterial growth. Higher nutrient concentrations (both N and P) during the cultivation of the cyanobacteria resulted in higher amounts of precipitation of the aragonite-like CaCO₃, whereas the amount of Ca²⁺ adsorbed per volume of EPS was almost independent of the nutrient level. After the onset of the precipitation of the thermodynamically stable calcite and loss of supersaturation the aragonite-like CaCO₃ dissolved whereas Ca²⁺ remained sorbed to the EPS albeit at lower concentrations. Based on these observations a model describing the temporal and spatial evolution of calcite nucleation on the surface of S. leopoliensis was developed. In another set of STXM experiments the amount of aragonite-like CaCO₃ precipitated on the cell surface was found to depend on the culture growth phase: cells in the exponential growth phase adsorbed large amounts of Ca within the EPS and mediated nucleation of ACC, while cells at the stationary/death phase neither adsorbed large amounts of Ca²⁺ nor mediated the formation of aragonite-like CaCO₃. It is suggested that precipitation of an X-ray amorphous CaCO₃ layer by cyanobacteria could serve as a protection mechanism against uncontrolled precipitation of a thermodynamically stable phase calcite on their surface.     

Early diagenetic vivianite [Fe3(PO4)2 · 8H2O] in a contaminated freshwater sediment and insights into zinc uptake: A μ-EXAFS, μ-XANES and Raman study

The sediments in the Salford Quays, a heavily-modified urban water body, contain high levels of organic matter, Fe, Zn and nutrients as a result of past contaminant inputs. Vivianite [Fe₃(PO₄)₂ · 8H₂O] has been observed to have precipitated within these sediments during early diagenesis as a result of the release of Fe and P to porewaters. These mineral grains are small (<100 μm) and micron-scale analysis techniques (SEM, electron microprobe, μ-EXAFS, μ-XANES and Raman) have been applied in this study to obtain information upon the structure of this vivianite and the nature of Zn uptake in the mineral. Petrographic observations, and elemental, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopic analysis confirms the presence of vivianite. EXAFS model fitting of the FeK-edge spectra for individual vivianite grains produces Fe–O and Fe–P co-ordination numbers and bond lengths consistent with previous structural studies of vivianite (4O atoms at 1.99–2.05 Å; 2P atoms at 3.17–3.25 Å). One analysed grain displays evidence of a significant Fe³⁺ component, which is interpreted to have resulted from oxidation during sample handling and/or analysis. EXAFS modelling of the Zn K-edge data, together with linear combination XANES fitting of model compounds, indicates that Zn may be incorporated into the crystal structure of vivianite (4O atoms at 1.97 Å; 2P atoms at 3.17 Å). Low levels of Zn sulphate or Zn-sorbed goethite are also indicated from linear combination XANES fitting and to a limited extent, the EXAFS fitting, the origin of which may either be an oxidation artifact or the inclusion of Zn sulphate into the vivianite grains during precipitation. This study confirms that early diagenetic vivianite may act as a sink for Zn, and potentially other contaminants (e.g. As) during its formation and, therefore, forms an important component of metal cycling in contaminated sediments and waters. Furthermore, for the case of Zn, the EXAFS fits for Zn phosphate suggest this uptake is structural and not via surface adsorption.     

Advances in energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence

Recently, two new instruments for X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) with interesting features for geochemical applications came to the market. Both instruments were designed to improve the peak to background ratio, the principal factor limiting the sensitivity of XRF. Total reflection XRF (TXRF) was designed to analyse extremely small sample amounts. An instrument, using polarised X-rays (P-XRF) for excitation, is designed to reduce scattered background in spectra of bulk samples. The performance of both instruments was compared with conventional XRF-methods and ICP/MS. Results for GXR-1, GXR-2, GXR-3, GXR-4 and GXR-6 obtained with TXRF and P-XRF are in good agreement with literature data. The effective amount of sample, analysed by TXRF was 200 μg only and detection limits of ~ l μg/g were achieved. P-XRF shows considerable improved detection limits (0.25–0.5 μg/g) for bulk samples for elements with atomic numbers 42–51 (Mo-Sb) compared with conventional XRF-methods.     

Reclamation of calcareous saline–sodic soil using different amendments: Time changes of soluble cations in leachate

Soil salinity and sodicity are escalating problems worldwide, especially in arid and semiarid regions. A laboratory experiment was conducted using soil column to investigate leaching of soluble cations during reclamation process of a calcareous saline–sodic soil (CaCO₃?=?20.7%, electrical conductivity (EC)?=?19.8 dS m^?1, sodium absorption ratio (SAR)?=?32.2[meq L^?1]^0.5). The amendments consisted of control, cattle manure (50 g kg^?1), pistachio residue (50 g kg^?1), gypsum (5.2 g kg^?1; equivalent of gypsum requirement), manure + gypsum and pistachio residue + gypsum, in three replicates which were mixed thoroughly with the soil, while sulfuric acid as an amendment was added to irrigation water. To reflect natural conditions, after incubation period, an intermittent irrigation method was employed every 30 days. The results showed that EC, SAR, and soluble cations of leachate for the first irrigation step were significantly higher than those of the subsequent leaching runs. Moreover, the concentration of removed soluble cations was lower for the control and gypsum-treated soils. It was found that among applied amendments, treatments containing cattle manure showed higher concentrations of sodium, calcium, and magnesium in the leachate, while due to pistachio residue application, further amount of potassium was removed out of soil column. The addition of pistachio residue resulted in the highest reduction in soil salinity and sodicity since the final EC and exchangeable sodium percentage dropped to 18.0% and 11.6% of their respective initial values, respectively. In the calcareous soil, solubility of gypsum found to be limited, in contrast, when it was added in conjunction with organic amendments, greater amounts of sodium were leached.     

High pressure phase transformations in aragonite-type carbonates

High-temperature and high-pressure experiments conducted in a diamond-anvil cell revealed phase transformations in the aragonite-type carbonates of strontianite (SrCO₃), cerussite (PbCO₃), and witherite (BaCO₃) at pressures below 4 GPa and ～1000?°C. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns of these high-pressure phases can be reasonably indexed with the same type of orthorhombic cell having a space group of P2₁22 (17). By assuming 16 MCO₃ (M=Sr, Ba or Pb) molecules in a unit cell, the transition from the aragonite form to a new phase was concomitant with a volume contraction of 4.23, 2.38, and 2.34% for SrCO₃, PbCO₃, and BaCO₃, respectively. If the same phase transition were to occur in CaCO₃, it has been estimated that the transition would accompany a 7% volume contraction.     

应用XRF-SEM-XRD-FTIR等分析测试技术研究丽水蓝色类欧泊(蛋白石)的矿物学与光学特征

直至目前,我国相关欧泊的矿藏及其相应的矿物学特征鲜见报道,近期在浙江丽水缙云地区发现的蓝色类欧泊石引起了宝玉石科研工作者的广泛关注,但此矿物的相关研究至今尚未见论述。本文应用X射线荧光光谱(XRF)、场发射扫描电镜(FE-SEM)结合X射线粉晶衍射(XRD)与傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)等多种综合检测技术首次对该类蓝色原矿的矿物学及光学变彩性质进行研究。结果表明:XRF分析显示蓝色原矿的主体化学组成为SiO₂(质量含量95%),仅含极少量的Fe₂O₃与Al₂O₃等杂质。同时,蓝色原矿及其相应的热处理后样品局部区域具有明显的变彩特征,主体的化学组成与其光学特征与天然欧泊的组成及变彩效应类同。XRD分析显示原矿粉体的无机相的晶型为方石英相,衍射峰形锐化,该晶体的结构特征明显相异于天然欧泊即微晶类的蛋白石(Opal-CT)、Opal-C与非晶蛋白石类(Opal-A)。此外,样品的红外光谱与天然欧泊间存在一定的频率位移。鉴于此,初步将该类原矿归属为类欧泊,因蓝色原矿所在地丽水缙云地区属于中生代陆相火山岩的地质,因此进一步将该原矿命名为一类火山岩类的类欧泊石,而有关此类欧泊是否可以归属为广义上的欧泊有待再作商榷。同时基于对蓝色原矿有无变彩效应区域的FE-SEM测试结论,本文初步推测该类矿物的光学变彩特征与原矿表面的“叠瓦状”结构形貌有关。     

浙江青田单斜晶系叶腊石微结构的高分辨透射电镜研究

采用X射线粉晶衍射(XRD)、高分辨透射电镜(HR-TEM)及X射线荧光光谱(XRF)对青田叶腊石的矿物学特征进行了较为系统的研究。结果表明:叶腊石矿物颗粒微结构中最基本的构成单元为纳米板片,且该板片多呈聚集态,单层板片面积大小不一,厚度为(8±2)nm。XRF分析结果表明青田叶腊石原矿混合物中SiO2与Al2O3的分子个数比为6.2,明显高于纯叶腊石中SiO2与Al2O3的分子个数比4.0。HR-TEM对叶腊石晶体结构的研究证实青田叶腊石具有典型的单斜晶系特征,该结论与叶腊石XRD结论一致;且XRD分析结果证实其伴生矿为石英,该结论与XRF所获得的青田叶腊石的"富硅"特征吻合。此外,叶腊石微结构中存在着较明显的晶体缺陷。在高能电子束辐照作用下,叶腊石晶体结构发生明显的破坏,并最终转变为非晶态结构。     

基于电子探针面扫描定量化的石英闪长岩微区成分分析

岩石的微区成分特征是精细化反演岩石演化的重要依据,而常规的电子探针面扫描分析方法无法提供面扫描区域的定量分析结果.本文使用矿物分布相对均匀的代表性岩石样品开展了岩石薄片的面扫描和矿物的定量分析.通过对常规测试的主量元素的面扫描进行图像校正,并利用ZAF校正后的点分析数据与面扫描图像的灰度值进行最小二乘法曲线拟合的方式,...     

X射线荧光光谱-X射线衍射研究宁夏贺兰石岩石矿物学特征

宁夏贺兰石是中国砚用名石之一,开发应用越来越广泛,对其进行系统的基础研究具有重要的现实意义。但目前仅有初步的人工实验,缺乏系统的矿物学研究。本文采用常规宝玉石学测试结合薄片鉴定、X射线荧光光谱、X射线粉晶衍射等矿物谱学分析测试方法,解析贺兰石的宝石学特征、化学成分、岩石结构及矿物组成特征。结果表明:贺兰石主要组成矿物为水云母~绢云母,次为褐铁矿(氧化铁质)、石英(砂质碎屑)、绿泥石和微量的赤铁矿、金红石、电气石等;主要化学成分为SiO_2、Al_2O_3、TFe_2O_3、K_2O、MgO、TiO_2、CaO、P_2O_5;折射率1.56~1.57,密度2.81~2.86g/cm~3,摩氏硬度3~4。初步探讨了贺兰石致色成因,基于Fe元素形态及含量与贺兰石颜色具相关关系,认为Fe元素是宁夏贺兰石致色的主要因素。本研究基本确定了贺兰石的大部分特征参数,为后续建立准确的命名及鉴定方法提供了技术支撑。     

Inhibition of calcium carbonate precipitation in NaCl brines from 25 to 90°C

The nucleation induction period of CaCO₃ in NaCl brines in the absence and presence of scale inhibitors was experimentally measured at temperatures from 25 to 90°C. A semi-empirical mathematical inhibitor model is presented for the CaCO₃ scale control in industrial processes based upon nucleation theory and experimental observations. Results show that the minimum inhibitor dosage (C_inh) may be obtained from: C_inh=f(s)/b_inh log [t_inh/t₀], where t_inh is the inhibition time, e.g., 20 min, t₀ is the nucleation induction period in the absence of inhibitors, b_inh is the inhibitor efficiency, and f(s) is the safety factor, e.g., 2. Important factors for the kinetics of both nucleation and inhibition have been incorporated in this model including the calcite saturation index (SI), temperature (T), and the molar ratio of Ca to HCO₃ alkalinity (R). In this paper, model parameters are presented for commonly used inhibitors, including 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic-acid (HEDP) and nitrilotri(methylene phosphonic) acid (NTMP). Results show that HEDP and NTMP are the best inhibitors for calcite scaling in the systems examined.     

Zincian dolomite from broken hill,New South Wales

Many Broken Hill (New South Wales) specimens labelled ‘zinco‐calcite’ in museum and private collections are snow‐white, globular forms with a sparkling appearance, on a coronadite or limonite matrix. X‐ray diffraction and microprobe analyses show the globules have a core of nearly pure calcite, overlain by colourless, drusy zincian dolomite with up to 4 mol % ZnCO₃ and up to 7 mol % excess CaCO₃. Although Zn is abundant in the Broken Hill orebody, it apparently entered carbonate, mainly as smithsonite, only during formation of the oxidised zone.     

Compressive strength and microstructural analysis of unfired clay masonry bricks

This paper reports on the compressive strength and microstructure of unfired clay masonry bricks. Blended binders comprising of lime-activated Ground Granulated Blastfurnace Slag (GGBS) and Portland Cement (PC)-activated GGBS were used to stabilise Lower Oxford Clay (LOC) for unfired masonry brick production. The compressive strength of the stabilised bricks incorporating lime–GGBS–LOC was higher than that of PC–GGBS–LOC. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with a Solid-state Backscattered Detector (SBD) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis was employed to obtain a view of the microstructure and to conduct an analysis on the morphology and composition of the dried unfired clay brick samples, after 28 days of moist curing. The analytical results together with the physical observations have shown the formation of Calcium Silicate Hydrate (C-S-H) gel and additional pozzolanic (C-S-H) gel. The quantification of the compound content of the unfired bricks showed the presence of Calcite (CaCO₃), Quartz (SiO₂), Alumina (Al₂O₃) and Wollastonite (CaSiO₈) crystals. Traces of other crystals were also detected.     

Carbonate and organic carbon content changes over last 20 ka in the Southeastern Arabian Sea: Paleoceanographic implications

Two Gravity cores (AAS 38-4 and AAS 38-5) recovered from the eastern Arabian Sea were analyzed for calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), organic carbon, aluminium (Al) and titanium (Ti) in order to understand the calcium carbonate and terrigenous fluctuations during the Holocene and Last Glacial Period. High CaCO₃ and low Al and Ti during the Holocene, and low CaCO₃ and high Al and Ti during the Last Glacial Period suggest that CaCO₃ content in these two cores appears to be controlled by the dilution of terrigenous material. The supply of terrigenous material to the core sites was higher during the Last Glacial Period than in the Holocene. Organic carbon values were lower (<2%) during the Holocene and higher (>2%) during the Last Glacial Period in core AAS 38-4; but the opposite was found in core AAS 38-5. This inconsistent pattern of organic carbon changes in the two cores studied indicates that the distribution of organic carbon in the eastern Arabian Sea is controlled not only by the supply of organic matter from the water column but also by sediment texture and dilution of sediment components.