The role of arsenic-bearing rocks in groundwater pollution at Zimapán Valley, México

 Interaction of groundwater with As-bearing rocks has been proposed as one of three main sources of arsenic at Zimapán valley, México. The complexity of the geology and hydrogeology of the valley make it difficult to identify the natural causes of arsenic poisoning. Samples from the different rock outcrops and water from wells tapping various rock formations were analyzed. The rocks from mineralized areas contained higher concentrations of arsenic with respect to the same formations in non-mineralized areas. The arsenic minerals arsenopyrite, scorodite, and tennantite were identified in some rock samples. Higher temperature and lower Eh values were found for those wells containing more arsenic. The physicochemical characteristics of these naturally polluted well waters could be produced by arsenopyrite oxidation. The geochemical model PHREEQCI was used to perform the inverse modeling of two wells located along the same fault. Arsenopyrite oxidation and scorodite dissolution appear to be the geochemical processes producing the natural pollution according to the model. The release and transport of arsenic mainly occur through fractures within the cretaceous limestones where the most productive wells are drilled. The presence of arsenic should be expected also in other formations near mineralized zones in the Zimapán Valley. Field determinations of Eh and T could be used to detect potentially polluted wells. Received: 29 April 1999 / Accepted: 18 July 2000     

新藏公路奇台达坂晚中新世火山岩的发现及~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar定年

在新藏公路奇台达坂东约10krn、海拔5600m的晚三叠世花岗岩之上发现厚约10m的玄武岩和粗面英安岩.地球化学数据显示,该火山岩高碱,富集大离子亲石元素和轻稀土元素,亏损重稀土元素,Eu中等负异常,高Sr,低Nd,属钾玄岩系列,可能源于壳幔混合层.测定全岩~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar坪年龄为8.27Ma±0.32Ma(900～1400℃,~(39)Ar累积释放量为66%),与受火山岩烘烤后花岗岩的磷灰石裂变径迹年龄(7.9Ma±1.0Ma)在误差范围内一致,表明该火山岩喷发于约8Ma的晚中新世,与相邻的大红柳滩火山岩的时代(7.97Ma±0.14Ma)相近.新藏公路奇台达坂晚中新世火山岩的发现丰富了青藏高原西北缘晚新生代岩浆活动的资料,表明在晚中新世-上新世康西瓦-泉水沟一带火山活动非常频繁,并显示火山活动与大型断裂带运动的关系非常密切.     

The hydrochemical identification of groundwater flowing to the Bet She’an-Harod multiaquifer system (Lower Jordan Valley) by rare earth elements,yttrium, stable isotopes (H,O) and Tritium

The Bet She’an and Harod Valleys in Israel are regional recipients and mixing zones for groundwater draining from a multiple aquifer system, which includes carbonate and basalt aquifers and deep-seated pressurized brines. The aquifers drain through two types of outlets, distinct and mixed. The latter type is mainly conditioned by the occurrence of fault-blocks related to the Jordan Rift system, which act as connecting media between the aquifers and facilitate interaquifer flow. Conjoint application of rare earth element distribution and water isotopes enables detection of the local areas replenishment by rainfall infiltration and, in connection with the position of wells or springs, the identification of groundwater flow paths. Once stationary equilibria are established changes of REY composition between REY in groundwater and their surface adsorption, are negligible. In areas with little soil coverage and vegetation even recharge over young Tertiary and diagenetic Cretaceous limestones is distinguishable by their REY distribution patterns. Groundwater recharged over Tertiary limestones show higher REY abundance and more significant Ce anomalies than those derived from the Cretaceous limestones. Weathering of alkali olivine basalts leads to REY patterns in groundwater depleted in the middle REE. The improved knowledge of the hydrological systems is thought to be useful for regional hydrogeological modeling and for designing rational water management schemes.     

Discussion of “Geology and diamond distribution of the 140/141 kimberlite, Fort à la Corne, central Saskatchewan, Canada”, by A. Berryman, B.H. Scott-Smith and B.C. Jellicoe (Lithos v. 76, p. 99–114)

A wide variety of geological data and geological observations by numerous geoscientists do not support a two-stage crater excavation and in-fill model, or a champagne glass-shaped geometry for the 169 or 140/141 kimberlite bodies in the Fort à la Corne kimberlite field, Saskatchewan as described by Berryman, A., Scott Smith, B.H., Jellicoe, B., (2004). Rather, these kimberlite bodies are best described as polygenetic kimberlite tephra cones and tuff rings with associated feeder vents of variable geometry as shown by previous workers for the 169 kimberlite, the 140/141 kimberlite and the Star kimberlite. The domal tephra cone geometry is preserved due to burial by conformable Cretaceous marine mudstones and siltstones and is not an artifact of Quaternary glacial processes.