Trace metals in estuarine sediments from the southwestern Spanish coast

The impact of river-transported metal pollution and industrial wastes on the metal distribution (Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb) in estuarine sediments was studied in the southwestern Spanish estuaries. Intertidal and subtidal surface sediments of the Tinto-Odiel Estuary are very highly polluted by heavy metals, with geoaccumulation indices up to 4 in the three sedimentary environments studied (channel, channel border and salt marsh). The single exception is the Punta Umbria channel, very protected from the point sources by salt marsh deposits and hydraulic processes. In the remaining two estuaries, pollution (Pb, Cu) was only significant near the harbour situated in the Piedras river mouth, whereas very low values were found in the Guadiana Estuary. In these last rivers, the enrichment factor increases from the channel to the salt marsh sediments.     

青藏高原盐湖资源的开发利用

本文首先介绍了青藏高原盐湖的基本概况,分布特征;重点叙述了该区盐湖自然资源的类型、盐类沉积矿物组合,卤水的水化学成分,盐湖资源的规模和开发利用现状;提出了今后开发利用盐湖资源的方向和途径。     

青藏高原盐湖资源的开发利用

本文首先介绍了青藏高原盐湖的基本概况,分布特征;重点叙述了该区盐湖自然资源的类型、盐类沉积矿物组合,卤水的水化学成分,盐湖资源的规模和开发利用现状;提出了今后开发利用盐湖资源的方向和途径。     

Chronic pollution of freshwater bodies: Data on accumulation of pesticides,oil products,and other toxic substances in bottom deposits

The results of studies aimed to assess the information significance of the coefficients of bottom accumulation of hydrophobic organic substances and heavy metals as indicators of pollution of freshwater bodies are presented. It is shown that the same value of the coefficient of bottom accumulation may correspond to different situations in water bodies. Methods for the interpretation of data on the state of water bodies based on the coefficient of bottom accumulation and its components are proposed to reliably determine the level and character of pollution. Chronic pollution of a number of freshwater bodies of the Russian Federation is assessed by data on the accumulation of pesticides, oil products, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals in bottom deposits.     

Distribution of Heavy Metals in Lake Seliger Bottom Deposits

The distribution of some microelements in the surface and stratified layers of bottom sediments in Lake Seliger is studied. Data on the bottom deposit pollution by heavy metals is used to determine the anthropogenic load on the lake ecosystem. Cd, Zn, and Pb are shown to rapidly accumulate in thick (>1 m) bottom deposits that have formed during the period of lake existence. The concentrations of Cd and Zn are shown to correlate with the organic matter in thick bottom deposits.     

Concentrations of Heavy Metals in the Upper Volga Bottom Deposits

The distribution of heavy metals in the Volga bottom deposits is studied. According to the degree of pollution with heavy metals, three stretches are singled out within the river reach under consideration. A drastic increase in Cu and Cd concentrations in bottom deposits is established. A close statistical correlation between Cu and Pb accumulation and the organic matter content of bottom deposits is revealed.     

青藏高原盐湖类沉积及盐湖矿物

上新世盐类沉积仅分布于柴达木盆地两部、昆仑山和唐古拉山北坡;晚更新世-全新世盐类沉积广布于羌塘和柴达木盆地。盐湖沉积只有蒸发岩和碎屑沉积物互层特点, 系干湿交替的内陆气候和动荡浅水环境下的湖相沉积。迄今已发现62种盐类矿物, 其析出具有阶段性特征, 青藏更新世-全新世盐湖自析阶段的起始时间分别为¹⁴C 24000和9000a B.P., 钾盐和硼酸盐各有两种典型的矿物共生组合。丰富的盐湖矿物资源是该区走向繁荣的物质基础之一。     

Wind erosion at the dry-up bottom of Aiby Lake

Clay-rich deposits are usually considered as hard materials to be eroded by wind. Data from both surface monitoring and field survey at the dry-up bottom of Aiby Lake present that clay-rich lacustrine deposits are easily broken down and eroded away by wind in the seasonal alternation process under the natural arid environment, and are the significant source of air dust. The surface of the clay-rich deposits is broken and softened by the freezing-and-thawing action in winter season and/or by salt and alkali action with precipitation. Impact of wind-input particles and plow of plant branches with wind force drive the clay-rich sediments moving. Wind picks up the clay pebbles and repeats the impaction further-ward onto the dry-up surface. Tremendous fine materials, including soft salts, are contributed to air dust, and transported in long distance.

     

Distribution characteristics of lipids from salt sediments in Qaidam Basin and their astrobiological significance

On Earth,salt environments are the most relevant analogues to Martian salt deposits with regard to the search for preserved biomolecules.In this study,we analyzed the distribution of lipids in salt samples from Dalangtan and Qarhan in the Qaidam Basin,which is the most important area to carry out analog research of Mars in China.Furthermore,we compared the lipids distribution results with that from other typical Martian analog sites such as the Atacama Desert.Salt samples in the Qaidam Basin are enriched with fatty acid compounds,including normal fatty acids,unsaturated fatty acids,branched fatty acids,and acyclic isoprene acids.In addtion,glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers(GDGTs)and archaeol compounds were also detected in these salt samples.Compared with the hypersaline samples,the clay samples not only have higher abuandance of fatty acids,GDGTs and archaeol compounds,but also a more diversed lipids composition.Only a few lipids were detected in the pure-saline samples,such as archaeol compounds.These clues suggest that content of salt minerals is the major factor affecting the distribution of lipids.This study provides an analogy for detecting and evaluating the traces of life that may exist on Mars.     

Surface evolution of salt‐encrusted playas under extreme and continued dryness

Miocene continental saltpans are scattered in the Central Valley of the Atacama Desert, one of the driest regions on Earth. These evaporitic deposits are hydrologically inactive, and are detached from groundwater brines or aquifers. The surface of the saltpans, also known as salars, comprises desiccation polygons, commonly with nodular salt structures along their sides. The morphology and bulk mineralogy of salt polygons differs between and within salars, and the shape and internal structure of salt nodules varies between different polygon types. Based on field observation, and mineralogy and crystallography data, we generated a conceptual model for the genesis and evolution of these surface features, whereby rare rainfall events are responsible for the transformation of desiccation salt polygons and the initial formation of salt nodules along polygon borders. In addition, frequent, but less intense, deliquescence events further drive the evolution of salt nodules, resulting in a characteristic internal structure that includes laminations, and changes in porosity and crystal morphologies. As a result, and despite the extreme dryness, the surfaces of fossil salars are dynamic on timescales of several years to decades, in response to daily cycles in atmospheric moisture, and also to rare and meager rainfall events. We propose that fossil salars in the Atacama Desert represent an end stage in the evolution of evaporitic deposits under extreme and prolonged dryness. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

EXPLORING THE INTERIOR OF SALT DOMES FROM BOREHOLES*

Presently, salt deposits are used for storage of energy from liquid or gaseous carrier materials. Another application being considered is the storage of radioactive material. In order to avoid possible future environmental risk, extremely high security has to be guaranteed in advance for a long period. Therefore, a very precise exploration is absolutely necessary. Exploration methods already known—which are applicable during and after drilling of test holes—help in the recognition of structures in the salt only in the close vicinity of the holes. Radiowave electromagnetic methods developed for routine measurements in salt mines provide a penetration of some hundred meters. Appropriate well-logging equipment has been designed here for measurements from surface boreholes. Discontinuities around one borehole in the salt can be detected through the electromagnetic reflection method. When measuring between two boreholes, additional reflecting zones can be detected, and attenuation of directly pathed waves can point out material with greater absorption properties between the holes. Additional attempts to use acoustic waves of nearly the same wavelength proved that it is possible to recognize the direction of signals arriving at the receiver and allow separation of P- and S-waves. Instrumentation as well as recent results are reported.     

Paleomagnetic correlation of sedimentary sequences: The use of secular geomagnetic variations for the differentiation and correlation of Holocene Aral Sea deposits

The paper presents results demonstrating the possibility of using data on paleosecular magnetic variations for correlation of young deposits. Using Holocene deposits of the Aral Sea as an example, it is shown that the combination of paleo-and petromagnetic data can be used to reliably correlate sections in presently isolated parts of a basin, as well as to correlate paleohydrologic events and estimate their age with regard for absolute radiocarbon datings. It is established that the most significant drop in the Aral Sea level occurred more than 2000–2500 yr ago and less significant drops that occurred later are dated at about 1500, 750–1050, and 270–500 yr ago.     

Wind erosion at the dry-up bottom of Aiby Lake-- A case study on the source of air dust

Clay-rich deposits are usually considered as hard materials to be eroded by wind.Data from both surface monitoring and field survey at the dry-up bottom of Aiby Lake present thatclay-rich lacustrine deposits are easily broken down and eroded away by wind in the seasonalalternation process under the natural arid environment, and are the significant source of air dust.The surface of the clay-rich deposits is broken and softened by the freezing-and-thawing action inwinter season and/or by salt and alkali action with precipitation. Impact of wind-input particles andplow of plant branches with wind force drive the clay-rich sediments moving. Wind picks up theclay pebbles and repeats the impaction further-ward onto the dry-up surface. Tremendous finematerials, including soft salts, are contributed to air dust, and transported in long distance.     

Geoelectrical and hydrochemical investigations for characterizing the salt water intrusion in the Khanasser valley, northern Syria

An integrated approach of geoelectrical and hydrochemical investigation surveys was proposed for indicating contact regions between saline and fresh groundwater in the Khanasser valley region, northern Syria. The qualitative and quantitative interpretations of 34 vertical electrical soundings (VES) enable to characterize the salt water intrusion laterally and vertically. The established iso-apparent resistivity maps for different AB/2 spacings obviously indicate the presence of a lowresistivity (less than 4 Ohm·m) zone related to the salt water intrusion in the Quaternary and Paleogene deposits. The different hydrochemical and geophysical parameters, such as electrical resistivity, total dissolved solids (TDS) and major ions concentrations used to characterize the salt water intrusion gave almost similar results in locating and mapping the different boundaries of the groundwater salinity. The proposed approach is useful for mapping the interface between different groundwater qualities, and can be therefore used to successfully characterize the salt water intrusion phenomenon in other semi-arid regions. The application of such an approach is a powerful tool and can be used for water resource management in the water scarce areas.     

Oil Products in Bottom Sediments of Freshwater Bodies

The specific features of freshwater bodies are shown to facilitate the accumulation of oil products in bottom deposits. The oil product components are found to be represented by hydrocarbons and tars. The latter component can account for more than 50% of their total. The extent of bottom deposits pollution by oil products is assessed for a number of freshwater bodies in Russia.     

THE USE OF VERTICAL LINE SOURCES IN ELECTRICAL PROSPECTING FOR HYDROCARBON*

Conventional electrical prospecting can be extended to the search for deep-seated hydrocarbon deposits, by using the steel casings of drill-holes as vertical line sources. These sources produce at depth a density of current higher than the density created by point sources located at the ground surface. Several tests have shown that the contrast of conductivity between resistive hydrocarbon deposits and the surrounding salt water produces relevant anomalies on a resistivity map obtained with vertical line sources, especially where there exists a superficial masking effect caused by a highly resistive layer. In a survey carried out in the USSR, combined measurements were performed, both with line source and with surface point sources. The detected residual resistivity anomaly roughly delineates the contours of the known hydrocarbon deposit.     

The Effect of the Development of Groundwater Deposits on Its Fluorine Content

Synthesis of regime observations of groundwater quality at deposits under operation and thermodynamic modeling of the geochemical interaction processes that govern the groundwater chemistry were used to recognize the geochemical causes and processes that bring about an increase in the groundwater fluorine content during water withdrawal accompanied by groundwater level drop and partial drying of the aquifer. The causes of the invalidity of previous forecasts are established.     

Use of Structural Characteristics of Bacterio- and Zoobenthos for Assessing the Quality of Bottom Deposits: Case Study of Water Bodies in the Upper Volga Basin

Analysis is given of the modern approaches and methods used to assess the quality of bottom deposits based on the conditions of bacterio- and zoobenthos communities. The structural characteristics of bacterio- and zoobenthos communities of small rivers in the Upper Volga basin are studied. The type of substrate is shown to have appreciable effect on the quantitative characteristics of both the communities. The analysis of these data is used to create a generalized classification of the quality of bottom deposits and assess the extent of their pollution in the examined water bodies.     

Atmospheric potential gradients and point discharge currents as a sensor of level of pollution

The measurement and monitoring of atmospheric pollutants is an important aspect of pollution studies. A novel method of assessment of the level of pollution in the atmosphere is conceived using point discharge and potential gradients. The present paper is an attempt to show that measurement of the point discharge current (PDC) and potential gradient (PG) can be used to provide information regarding the nature of charges and level of pollution in the atmosphere. The measurement of the PDC and PG in different localities is presented and discussed.     

The Hydrological Regime and the Peculiarities of Formation of the Po River Delta

The peculiarities of the hydrological regime of the delta and near-shore zone of the Po River are discussed. The intrusion of salt seawater into the delta is described. The history of the Po Delta formation has been restored on the basis of the analysis of historical, archeological, and cartographic data. As shown, the peculiarities of hydrological and morphological processes in the Po River mouth are associated with natural and specifically with human-induced variations in sediment runoff of the river, with levee construction along branches, subsidence of deltaic deposits, and eustatic rise of the sea level.