Impact of land uses on heavy metal distribution in the Selenga River system in Mongolia

The Selenga River contributes to 50% of the total inflow to Lake Baikal. Large tracts of the Selenga River Basin have been developed for industry, urbanization, mining, and agriculture, resulting in the release of suspended solids (SS) that affect downstream water quality and primary productivity. This study addressed SS as the main factor controlling pollutant transport and the primary indicator of land degradation in the Selenga River system. Tributaries with larger areas dedicated to agricultural use had higher SS concentrations, reaching 862 mg L^?1, especially during the high runoff and intensive cultivation season. Although the large SS flux was detected in the main river, the small tributaries were distinguished by high SS concentrations. The high SS concentration corresponded to widespread development in the watershed. Watersheds with high potential of SS release are sensitive to intensive land uses. SS in the river system had a constant elemental composition consisting mainly of Fe and Al oxides, indicating that surface soils were major constituents of the tributary SS. Three minor heavy metals (Zn, Cu, and Cr) appeared in high concentrations downstream of urban and mining areas (two- to sixfold increases), indicating that these contaminants are carried by SS. At two tributary junctions, the concentration of contaminants on the SS decreased due to a large influx of SS with low heavy metal contents. Changes in electric conductivity and pH at downstream of tributary junctions enhanced the sedimentation of SS and the removal of contaminants from the water phase after aggregation of the SS. Land use changes in the tributary watersheds are major controlling factors for the fate of contaminants in the river system.     

蒙陕矿区地下水环境系统及采掘扰动

针对蒙陕矿区煤炭资源高强度开发与地下水为核心支撑的生态环境保护所面临的诸多问题,根据蒙陕矿区地质与水文地质结构特征,从地下水系统与水环境相关概念内涵及其相互依存关系出发,提出了地下水环境系统的概念;并从系统的空间结构特征、行为属性及其功能控制要素特征入手,将地下水环境系统细分为\     

Groundwater Use in the Selenge River Basin,Mongolia

The Selenge River Basin occupies a total area of 447,000 km2, of which 343,000 km2 is located within Mongolia (the remainder is in Russia). The basin is characterized by an extreme continental climate, consisting of harsh, cold, dry winters and short, hot summers. Annual average temperatures are approximately -4°C and annual rainfall ranges from 220 mm to 450 mm.The Selenge River Basin is a critical groundwater resource for Mongolia. Greater than 55% (~1.5 million) of Mongolia’s population resides within the basin and, during 2003, an estimated average of 700,000 m3/day of water was abstracted from the basin’s groundwater system. The basin services Mongolia’s largest cities and industries (including the rapidly expanding mining sector) as well as important traditional pastoral ranges.     

Spatial patterns of urban mental health: Calabar (Cross River State) Nigeria

Spatial patterns of mental health are examined for the City of Calabar. This is based on a number of hypotheses which relate variations in mental health to a number of socio-economic indices (e. g. income, rooms per household, occupancy). Only tentative conclusions can be drawn but these have therapeutic implications.     

Use of isotope ratios to assess sources of Pb and Zn dispersed in the environment during mining and ore processing within the Orlovka–Spokoinoe mining site (Russia)

Element concentrations, element ratios and Pb and Zn isotope data are reported for different geologic samples (barren and ore-bearing granites and host rocks), technogenic products (ore concentrates and tailings) and biologic samples (lichens and birch leaves) from the Orlovka–Spokoinoe mining district, Eastern Transbaikalia, Russia, with the aim to trace the sources of Pb and Zn at a local level within the mining site. Lichens and birch leaves were used as receptors of contamination within the mining site. Pb/Zr and Zn/Zr values indicated Pb and Zn enrichment relative to host rocks. Zn isotope data of 15 geologic and 11 lichen samples showed different Zn isotopic signatures with the total range for the geologic suite of −0.4‰ to +1.2‰ and for lichens of +0.4‰ to +1.4‰ in δ⁶⁶Zn relative to Lyon JMC Zn standard. The source of isotopically heavy Zn within the Orlovka–Spokoinoe mining site could be potentially associated with long-range atmospheric aerosols that also contributed Pb to the studied mining site. Our results demonstrated that Zn isotopes might be used as new tools for Zn source assessment.     

Pleistocene marine deposits in the coastal areas of Kola Peninsula (Russia)

On the basis of field data, datings from both electron spin resonance – and optically stimulated luminescence, and micro- and macrofauna, in addition to presence of diatoms, three Late Pleistocene marine units have been identified in the coastal areas of the Kola Peninsula. The stratigraphically lowest sequence is correlated to the Ponoi Beds and the Boreal transgression, attributed to the marine isotope stages (MIS) 5e to 5d in the White Sea depression and to MIS 5e to 5c in the Barents Sea. Thermophilic fauna and diatoms indicate normal water salinity and a water temperature above zero. The second marine unit, referred as the Strel'na Beds, can be correlated with the Early Weischselian transgression, termed the Belomorian transgression. With low water salinity and a water temperature similar or colder than the present times, Belomorian transgressions are reliably detected in the White Sea and are not clearly found in the Barents Sea. The results obtained from the sediments of the Ponoi and Strel'na Beds indicate a continuously existing marine reservoir from 130 to 80–70 ka ago (entire MIS 5) in the White Sea depression. The early Middle Weichselian Barents–Kara ice-sheet invasion and its recession might have caused the glacioeustatic Middle Weichselian (MIS 3) transgression, and the third Late Pleistocene marine sequence has been deposited in the regressing shallow cold sea with less saline waters. The results help in the understanding of the history of Late Quaternary ice sheets in North Eurasia and provide evidence for the debatable Early and Middle Weichselian marine events.     

Sedimentation in Proval Bay (Lake Baikal) after earthquake-induced subsidence of part of the Selenga River delta

The paper presents the results of a comprehensive investigation into the recent sediments of Proval Bay. This bay formed during catastrophicflooding of a big block of land as a result of an earthquake in 1862. Comparison of the sketch map of the bay for 1862 with its modern mapshows that the boundary of the Selenga River delta has shifted considerably eastward. The sediments of Proval Bay are sands, silty pelite,and pelitic silt. Terrigenous material is predominant and consists of mineral grains and land plant remains, admixed with diatom frustules andsponge spicules. In the southwestern part of the bay, turbidites and a soil layer have been found. The latter was buried when the water levelin Lake Baikal rose after the construction of the Irkutsk dam in 1959–1964. In the northeastern part of the bay, a peatlike layer has beenfound in the bottom sediment core. It formed in Lake Beloe, which existed in the Tsagan steppe before the 1862 earthquake. According todiatom analysis, this lake was shallow and eutrophic. The sedimentation rates in different parts of Proval Bay differ greatly and directly dependon proximity to the Selenga River. Variations in the geochemical indicators which reflect the ratio of organic to clastic components in thebottom sediments of the bay are controlled by temperature and water level variations in Lake Baikal.     

Application of hyperspectral remote sensing for environment monitoring in mining areas

Environmental problems caused by extraction of minerals have long been a focus on environmental earth sciences. Vegetation growing conditions are an indirect indicator of the environmental problem in mining areas. A growing number of studies in recent years made substantial efforts to better utilize remote sensing for dynamic monitoring of vegetation growth conditions and the environment in mining areas. In this article, airborne and satellite hypersectral remote sensing data—HyMap and Hyperion images are used in the Mount Lyell mining area in Australia and Dexing copper mining area in China, respectively. Based on the analyses of biogeochemical effect of dominant minerals, the vegetation spectrum and vegetation indices, two hyperspectral indices: vegetation inferiority index (VII) and water absorption disrelated index (WDI) are employed to monitor the environment in the mining area. Experimental results indicate that VII can effectively distinguish the stressed and unstressed vegetation growth situation in mining areas. The sensitivity of VII to the vegetation growth condition is shown to be superior to the traditional vegetation index—NDVI. The other index, WDI, is capable of informing whether the target vegetation is affected by a certain mineral. It is an important index that can effectively distinguish the hematite areas that are covered with sparse vegetation. The successful applications of VII and WDI show that hyperspectral remote sensing provides a good method to effectively monitor and evaluate the vegetation and its ecological environment in mining areas.     

外贝加尔大骨节病地区水文地球化学特征分析(英文)

本文通过对在外贝加尔大骨节病区水文地球化学研究结果表明,该地区天然水呈现出高浓度的磷(高达3.5mg/L),同时,锰、硅、铅等元素也呈现出高浓度的地球化学特征。分析水文地球化学数据,认为大骨节病可能与生物地球化学性质的多种因素有关系。进一步研究大骨节病的成因机制需要新的可靠的环境地球化学数据。     

Comparison of arsenic geochemical evolution in the Datong Basin (Shanxi) and Hetao Basin (Inner Mongolia), China

Insightful knowledge of geochemical processes controlling As mobility is fundamental to understanding the occurrence of elevated As in groundwater. A comparative study of As geochemistry was conducted in the Datong Basin (Shanxi) and Hetao Basin (Inner Mongolia), two strongly As-enriched areas in China. The results show that As concentrations ranged from <1–1160 μg L⁻¹ (n = 37) in the Datong Basin and <1–804 μg L⁻¹ (n = 62) in the Hetao Basin. The groundwater is of the Na-HCO₃ type in the Datong Basin and Na-Cl-HCO₃ type in the Hetao Basin. Silicate mineral weathering and cation exchange processes dominated the groundwater geochemistry in the two study areas. Principal component analysis of 99 groundwater samples using 12 geochemical parameters indicated positive correlations between concentrations of As and Fe/Mn in the Datong Basin, but no correlation of As and Fe/Mn in the Hetao Basin. Phosphate correlated well with As in the Datong Basin and Hetao Basin, suggesting phosphate competition might be another process affecting As concentrations in groundwater. High concentrations of As, Fe, and Mn occurred in the pe range −2 to −4. The results of this study further understanding of the similarities and differences of As occurrence and mobility at various locations in China.     

四川盆地及邻区寒武纪古地理与构造-沉积环境演化

四川盆地寒武纪台地滩相储集体是一套重要的油气勘探目的层,准确预测其发育部位、储集性能与分布规律是其油气勘探的重要基础,其中,寒武纪不同地质历史时期古地理与构造-沉积环境的研究是储集体预测的关键。根据野外实测剖面、钻井和测井分析、地震资料,应用活动论构造-古地理思想,在沉积地质条件、区域连井地层剖面,地层厚度与沉积相等分析的基础上,综合编制了寒武纪各个时期的构造-沉积环境图件,反映了四川盆地寒武纪的古地理特征及盆地演化。四川盆地寒武纪整体呈现西高东低、北高南低的古地理格局,西部发育潮坪和滨岸等碎屑岩沉积相,中东部发育缓坡相、台地相及台地边缘浅滩相等。沉积相在时空上的响应为由早寒武世梅树村期局限台地→筇竹寺期碎屑岩台地和深水盆地→早寒武世沧浪铺期滨岸-混积台地→早寒武世龙王庙期碳酸盐岩缓坡→中寒武世陡坡寺期蒸发局限镶边台地→中晚寒武世洗象池期成熟镶边台地的演化过程。其中,筇竹寺期为巨厚的烃源岩生成期;龙王庙期和洗象池期,为碳酸盐岩储集层发育的有利时期;龙王庙期及陡坡寺期发育的蒸发岩可形成良好的盖层。     

Complex Assessment of Permissible Pollutant Loads for Freshwater and Terrestrial Ecosystems Using the Selenga River Basin as an Example

Doklady Earth Sciences - An approach to complex assessment of permissible pollutant loads for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems has been proposed. The approach is based on evaluation of the...     

Native iron in Quaternary deposits of the Darhad Basin (northern Mongolia)

Quaternary sediments from the borehole DBC-1 drilled in the Darhad Basin, northern Mongolia, have been studied by thermomagnetic analysis (248 samples) and probe microanalysis (9 samples) to determine the origin (cosmic or terrestrial) of native iron. Most of the samples showed extremely low contents of native iron. Only 26 samples have iron in contents sufficient for its reliable identification (10^–5–10^–3%). The negligible content of native iron in the Darhad Basin sediments distinguishes them from the earlier studied sediments of different geologic associations of Eurasia and the Atlantic, which we explain by the high sedimentation rate in this basin. However, the bimodal distribution of native-iron contents in the samples with a distinct “zero” mode, similar to that in the objects of Eurasia and the Atlantic, testifies to the predominantly cosmic origin of the native iron.     

Lead isotope geochemistry of the urban environment in the Pearl River Delta

The study of the Pb isotopic and elemental composition of eolian dusts, aerosols and soils collected from urban areas in the Pearl River Delta, China, indicates that the atmospheric Pb pollution originates from automobile exhausts and industry. The Pb isotopes allow distinguishing between Pb from the natural background, automobile exhausts, and industrial pollution. The Pb isotopes show that the air-carried Pb pollution in Guangzhou and Foshan is a mixture of industrial Pb from the Fankou Pb-Zn giant deposit and automobile exhaust, whereas the pollution in Foshan is mainly from industry. The chemical compositions show that aerosols possess features of volcanic ash, and eolian dusts are mixtures of aluminosilicates-sulfides.     

吉林省矿区生态环境演化趋势与治理研究

吉林省矿产资源具有种类比较齐全。矿产资源分布广泛。储量相对集中。矿石质量优劣不一,贫矿多。其伴生组分多等特点。资源开发强度大。综合利用率低。在几十年的开发利用过程中产生了一系列的生态环境问题,本文结合吉林省矿产资源分布特点与开发现状,系统地分析了矿区生态环境现状及存在的问题。探讨了矿产资源开发与生态环境保护的关系。提出了矿区生态环境保护与恢复治理的对策与措施。为恢复与治理生态环境;走绿色矿业之路提供了科学途径。     

松花江—辽河流域地下水资源及其生态环境问题

松花江—辽河流域(简称松辽流域)是中国重要的商品粮基地,地下水资源对维护中国粮食安全具有重要作用.2019年松辽流域地下水资源量为797.31×108 m3/a,地下水开发利用量为276.4×108 m3.松辽流域地下水面临着水资源局部短缺,局部水位持续下降,"三氮"污染加剧,以及湿地萎缩、土地荒漠化、盐渍化等资源、环...     

煤矿区地下水环境影响评价工作等级确定方法探讨

根据煤炭开采工程的环境影响特点及环境保护的最新发展趋势,提出了结合矿床勘察类型,确定煤矿区地下水环境影响评价工作等级的方法及基本工作要求.     

煤矿区冻土环境评价的灰色关联投影模型

煤矿开采对多年冻土影响剧烈,使得煤矿区冻土环境非常脆弱,煤矿区冻土环境评价显得极为重要。文章基于灰色系统理论和矢量投影原理,建立了煤矿区冻土环境评价的灰色关联投影模型,将评价样本和各级评价质量标准视为矢量,分别向同一矢量(理想样本)进行投影,根据投影值的大小,确立样本所属的质量级别及样本间的优劣排序。以青海木里煤田为例,基于由冻土冻融侵蚀敏感性、冻土热稳定性和冻土生态脆弱性三个子系统组成的冻土环境评价指标体系和评价标准,采用灰色关联投影模型对冻土环境进行了综合评价。研究结果表明:木里煤田冻土环境质量为一般状态,评价结果客观、准确,与实际相符;该模型应用于煤矿区冻土环境评价是科学的、有效的,具有一定推广和实用价值。     

四川盆地及邻区晚震旦世古地理与构造—沉积环境演化

利用最新的地震资料、探井资料及区域地质资料等,结合前人的研究成果,建立四川盆地及邻区晚震旦世区域地层格架,编制晚震旦世各沉积时期构造—沉积环境图,并探讨构造—沉积演化过程。研究认为,四川盆地及邻区晚震旦世构造—沉积环境展布受基底构造限制,并具一定继承性。晚震旦世开始大规模的碳酸盐岩台地沉积,整体来看自西向东海域环境由浅变深,由古陆过渡至碳酸盐岩台地、向东至台地边缘—斜坡沉积泥质岩,至深水盆地相沉积硅质岩,各相带总体呈南西—北东走向。上震旦统灯影组一段（简称灯一段）沉积时期—灯二段沉积中期为填平补齐沉积充填过程;灯二段沉积时期末—灯三段沉积期在克拉通内拗陷盆地基础上初步形成了平缓的克拉通内部隆起;灯四段沉积时期伴随着海平面的下降,碳酸盐岩台地边界整体向东迁移。灯二、灯四段沉积时期末受桐湾运动两期抬升的影响,川中部分地区形成岩溶不整合面,盆地西部灯三、灯四段遭受强烈剥蚀。灯影组是四川盆地及邻区重要的油气储集层。     

Pelecinid wasps (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Proctotrupoidea) from the Cretaceous of Russia and Mongolia

Thirteen new species referable to four genera, of which one is new, from the Cretaceous of Russia and Mongolia are established herein and assigned to the family Pelecinidae. Among the four genera, Protopelecinus gen. nov., including four new species, is referred to the subfamily Pelecininae, while Iscopinus Kozlov, including three new species, Eopelecinus Zhang, Rasnitsyn and Zhang, including five new species, and Scorpiopelecinus laetus sp. nov. are assigned to the subfamily Iscopininae. Of these new taxa, eight, namely Protopelecinus regularis, P. furtivus, Iscopinus simplex, ?I. suspectus, Eopelecinus exquisitus, E. scorpioideus, E. rudis and Scorpiopelecinus laetus, are from the Lower Cretaceous Zaza Formation of Baissa, Transbaikalia, Russia; two, E. minutus and E. fragilis, are from the basal Lower Cretaceous Tsagan-Tsab Formation of Khutel-Khara, Mongolia; two, P. dubius and P. deformis, are from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian?) of Bon Tsagan, Mongolia; and one, I. separatus, is from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Ola Formation of Obeshchayushchiy, Russia. A key to fossil pelecinid wasps is provided and a morphological analysis shows that the Pelecinidae might be paraphyletic with respect to the Proctotrupidae. The Chinese insect fauna from both the Yixian and Laiyang formations is dominated by Eopelecinus and Sinopelecinus whereas the Siberian + Mongolian fauna from the Zaza and Tsagan-Tsab formations is dominated by Eopelecinus and Iscopinus. Hence, Eopelecinus is common to both. The differences between the two faunas are likely to be the result of geographical variation in populations.