Arsenic and antimony contamination in the vicinity of Yata gold mine, Guizhou, China

The ores of the Yata gold mine in China are rich in arsenic and antimony, so the exploitation of this mine may also lead to the release of As and Sb to adjacent environments, such as stream water, stream sediment, soil, plants, and crops. To understand the environmental impact of mine tailings, samples of water, sediment, soil, plant and crop were collected and analyzed. In summer of 2005, the tailings dump was seriously flushed by a heavy flood, and the mine waste was transported far away. Samples were collected in December of 2004 and January of 2006, respectively, and the impact of the flood on the release of toxic elements was evaluated. The result shows that the Yata creek, which drains the mining area, was severely contaminated by As and Sb. The dissolved As and Sb in water are 86-1140 μg/L and 65-370 μg/L, the particulate As and Sb are 38-2100 μg/L and 25-420 μg/L, whereas As and Sb in the sediment are 190-760 μg/g and 69-210 μg/g, respectively. In water environment, As and Sb show a similar feature to SO4^2- since As and Sb exist dominantly as anions--H2AsO4^-, HAsO4^2- and SbO3^-. In contrast to Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, which migrate mostly in particulate form, As and Sb tend to transport in dissolved form.     

Arsenic and uranium transport in sediments near abandoned uranium mines in Harding County,South Dakota

Sediment samples were analyzed as part of ongoing environmental investigations of historical U mining impacts within Custer National Forest in Harding County, South Dakota. Correlations between As and U content, grain size and soil mineralogy were determined to identify contaminant fate and transport mechanisms. Soil samples collected near the mining source zone and up to 61 km downgradient of the minesites were analyzed. Samples were homogenized and wet sieved through polymer screens, and metal(loid) concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis identified quartz as the primary mineral for all size fractions, with varying amounts of analcime, indicative of volcanic origin. Selected samples were examined for trace mineral composition using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The presence of Fe sulfides and Fe (hydr)oxides indicate heterogeneity in redox potentials on a microscopic scale. Elevated metal(loid) concentrations were associated with trace concentrations of Fe sulfide, indicating an influence on metal transport during weathering. Sequential chemical extractions (SCE) performed on source sediment fractions demonstrated that most As and U was adsorbed to Fe- and Mn-oxides and carbonates with lesser amounts bound by ion exchange, organics and Fe sulfides. Large changes in U/Th and As/Th ratios were observed to coincide with geochemical changes in the watershed, suggesting that metal(loid)–Th ratios may be used in environmental investigations to identify geochemically-significant watershed conditions.     

Geochemical characterization of soils, sediments and waters around active and abandoned dumpsites in Lagos

In developing countries, large amounts of wastes are dumped daily in open dumping sites without proper management. This practice usually causes enhanced concentration of metallic ions in environmental media within and beyond the vicinity of such dumps with attendant adverse environmental and health risks. Hence the aim of this study is to assess and elucidate the physico- and metallic ions concentrations in three environmental media （soils, sediments and waters） around active （Ojota） and abandoned （Isolo） dumpsites in Lagos and also to do a comparative study with reference to possible environmental and health impacts. A total of eighty samples comprising water, sediments and topsoils were collected around the two dumpsites. The soil and sediment were dried, disaggregated and sieved to 〈75 μm fraction for analysis of the metallic ions using aqua-regia digestion technique and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry （ICP-MS）. The analysis of metallic ions and cations in water was carried out using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry （ICP-OES） while unacidified water samples were analyzed for anions concentrations using the DIONEX DX-120 Ion Chromatography techniques. Analytical results show that pH, NO3, Fe, Mn and Na in most of the water samples are above WHO and EPA standards. Also there are relatively strong correlations between NO3 and Cl, SO4, Coliform, TDS and EC which are an indicator of water contamination especially in the direction of groundwater flow. The mean values of the significant metallic ions present in the water samples include Cu （16.29 and 38.0）, Zn （535.71 and 667.0）, A1 （0.27 and 0.19）, Ba （42.86 and 55.0）, Sr （80.0 and 136.0） and B （118.7 and 160.2） for active （Ojota） and abandoned （Isolo） dnmpsites respectively. Soil samples revealed varied concentrations with the estimated average contamination factors of 3.86 and 5.71 （As）, 1.60 and 1.93 （Mo）, 3.41 and 4.24 （Zn）, 0.93 and 2.23 （Cu）, 7.71 and 12.64 （Pb）, 8.71 and 9.21（Cd） for both active and abandoned sites respectively. All these metals with Ag are also significant and follow the same trend in the sediments. Ag, Bi, Sb, Ga, Sc, Mn, Ga and La in soil samples are only significant for samples close to the dnmpsites while Bi, Be, Sb, Co, Cu, La and Cr are significant for sediments taken downstream. Most of the metallic ions show significant enrichment in both soil and sediments while A1, B, Ba and Sr are only significant in water.     

A probe for sampling interstitial waters of stream sediments and bog soils

A probe for sampling interstitial waters of stream sediments and bog soils is described. Samples can be obtained within a stratigraphic interval of 2–3 cm, to a depth of 60–80 cm, and with little or no contamination of the samples by sediment or air.     

Geochemical comparison of waters and stream sediments close to abandoned Sb-Au and As-Au mining areas,northern Portugal

Waters from abandoned Sb-Au mining areas have higher Sb (up to 2138 μg L⁻¹), As (up to 1252 μg L⁻¹) and lower Al, Zn, Li, Ni and Co concentrations than those of waters from the As-Au mining area of Banjas, which only contain up to 64 μg L⁻¹ As. In general, Sb occurs mainly as SbO₃⁻ and As H₂AsO₄⁻. In general, waters from old Sb-Au mining areas are contaminated in Sb, As, Al, Fe, Cd, Mn, Ni and NO₂⁻, whereas those from the abandoned As-Au mining area are contaminated in Al, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cd and rarely in NO₂⁻. Waters from the latter area, immediately downstream of mine dumps are also contaminated in As. In stream sediments from Sb-Au and As-Au mining areas, Sb (up to 5488 mg kg⁻¹) and As (up to 235 mg kg⁻¹) show a similar behaviour and are mainly associated with the residual fraction. In most stream sediments, the As and Sb are not associated with the oxidizable fraction, while Fe is associated with organic matter, indicating that sulphides (mainly arsenopyrite and pyrite) and sulphosalts containing those metalloids and metal are weathered. Arsenic and Sb are mainly associated with clay minerals (chlorite and mica; vermiculite in stream sediments from old Sb-Au mining areas) and probably also with insoluble Sb phases of stream sediments. In the most contaminated stream sediments, metalloids are also associated with Fe phases (hematite and goethite, and also lepidocrocite in stream sediments from Banjas). Moreover, the most contaminated stream sediments correspond to the most contaminated waters, reflecting the limited capacity of stream sediments to retain metals and metalloids.     

斯洛伐克西喀尔巴阡山脉Gemerská Poloma滑石-菱镁矿矿床中镁的交代作用

Gemerská Poloma矿床是个重要的滑石矿床(储量20万吨),位于西喀尔巴阡山脉Germeric地区。部分滑石化的镁质碳酸盐体赋存在早古生代火山沉积杂岩体中(黑色片岩,变质泥岩),在Variscan变质作用(M1)过程中受到了绿泥石-黑云母带区域变质相的改造。这种原岩是石灰岩的矿体由白色-灰白或者灰色-黑色的菱镁矿与白云石1组成,被次生的白云石2和滑石脉切割。本次研究考察了两次变质事件(M1和M2)的几个连续的矿物组合,最早的组合包括铁白云石,镁菱铁矿与菱铁矿,(并与黑电气石,铁绿泥石,磷灰石,与伊利石-白云母伴生),它们以微小残留物形式产出在菱镁矿和白云石1中,其形成可能早于M1变质作用高峰期。M1变质事件的高峰期以富铁金云母,镁绿泥石1,镁电气石(黑电气石的边缘)和石英的组合为代表。在M1退变质作用过程中,发生了镁交代作用,开始是白云石1结晶,接下来形成菱镁矿,最后是以铁菱镁矿沿裂隙的形成而终。根据碳酸盐地质测温原理,M1变质事件的高峰期温度为460~490℃,变质矿物组合特征也支持这一测温结果。滑石,白云石2,与镁绿泥石2沿着镁碳酸盐岩石裂隙的发育,主要受到M2变质事件的影响,这个变质事件与较年青的Alpine造山事件有关。 菱镁矿流体包裹体的研究表明,成矿流体具有复杂的组成,可能以MgCl2组分为主,主要来     

Trace elements distribution in stream sediments of an abandoned U mining site in the Eastern Carpathians,Romania, with particular focus on REEs

Trace elements distribution, including rare earth elements (REEs), in stream sediments of an abandoned U mining site in the Eastern Carpathians, Romania, were of high concern of interest in the present work. A total number of 40 riverbed sediments samples collected from the Bistricioara River and local tributaries (Primatar, Bradul, Prisacani, Barasau, Grintiesul Mare and Valea Seaca) were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). All REEs including La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu were identified and quantified in the present work using ICP-MS technique. For other 24 elements (Ti, V, Cr, Co, Zn, Li, Be, Rb, Sr, Y, Sc, Zr, Nb, Sb, Ba, Ta, W, Pb, U, Ni, Cu, Mo, As, Th) similar information was obtained either by ICP-MS or XRF techniques. The impact and the relevance of the obtained data base might be significant at a local scale of about 50 km².Enrichments of some trace elements of interest in comparison to the upper continental crust allowed discrimination between various mineralization processes specific for the investigated areas. Uranium mineralization and Paltin-type (Pb, Zn) mineralization seems to be specific for the NW area of the investigated region. Negative anomaly characteristic for the upper crustal rocks was identified for Eu and Ce elements. Evidences were obtained also for the existence of ultramafic rocks (Ni, Cr, Co and V) in the investigated riverbed sediments. The observation was also confirmed by the binary plots analysis of Th/Cr vs. Th/Co and Cr/V vs. Y/Ni pairs. From the investigated tributaries to Bistricioara River, Barasau seems to exert the highest influence on the abundances of REEss in the entire area. Most probably some chemical parameters such as the pH of the water streams influence leaching and depletions of some chemical constituents in various minerals specific for the region.The existence of magnetite, garnets, pyrite and sillimanite minerals was confirmed by SEM-EDAX and XRF analysis, as well by optical microscopy. Principal Component Analysis runs confirmed the association of some chemical elements in the riverbed sediments in close connection with the minerals from which they originate.The present work reports for the first time upon the authors knowledge clear scientific evidence and chemical information concerning the geology and geochemistry, i.e. transition metals, high field strength elements, alkali and alkaline earth elements, rare earth elements (REEs) and others, in stream sediments crossing the Tulghes-Grinties mining area (Eastern Carpathians, Romania). For the analysed REEs this is the first study reporting consistent information on the concentrations of the entire array of both light REEs (six elements) and heavy REEs (ten elements) in Bistricioara Basin stream sediments. Relevant scientific data related to geochemical characteristics of ultramafic rocks existent in the investigated area were also generated. Moreover, data reported in the present work might be considered as a reference geochemical database relevant for the investigated area, which can be used as a trustworthy input for a systematic national geochemical atlas.     

Assessment of trace metals contamination in stream sediments and soils in Abuja leather mining,southwestern Nigeria

This study is aimed at determining the level of environmental degradation as well as the concentration of trace elements in soil and stream sediments in order to evaluate the environmental impact of the mining operation. Twenty-five (25) soils and ten (10) stream sediment samples were collected from the study area. The physicochemical parameters were determined using appropriate instrumentation with the aid of a digital pH meter (Milwaukee meter) to measure the pH and electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, moisture content and loss on ignition of the soil and stream sediment samples. The pH of the soil sample ranged from (6.10 to 7.19); Electrical conductivity ranged from (21.3 to 279.4 µS/cm), moisture content varied from (0.60% to 7.20%), and the LOI ranged from (2.03% to 18.62%). The results of the analysis showed that the concentrations of the trace elements in the soils and stream sediment samples were slightly higher than the background values. Plots of the trace elements in stream sediment samples show moderate, consistent decrease downstream except at points where there was mine water discharge into the main river. The pollution levels of heavy metals were examined in stream sediment and soil samples using different assessable indices, such as the enrichment factor, which showed significant-moderate enrichment for Cr, Th, Nb, Zn, Pb, Y and Zr and the geo-accumulation index, which showed practically moderate contamination with Cr, Ni and Sr based on regional background reference values. Geo-accumulation index and contamination index for soils and stream sediment revealed uncontaminated to moderate contamination. Likewise, elements with moderate contamination were Cr, Ni and Sr. The Pearson correlation showed that there were significant positive associations among selected metals in soil and stream sediment samples.     

斯洛伐克西喀尔巴阡山脉Gemerská Poloma滑石-菱镁矿矿床中镁的交代作用

Gemerska Poloma矿床是个重要的滑石矿床(储量20万吨),位于西喀尔巴阡山脉Germeric地区.部分滑石化的镁质碳酸盐体赋存在早古生代火山沉积杂岩体中(黑色片岩,变质泥岩),在Variscan变质作用(M1)过程中受到了绿泥石-黑云母带区域变质相的改造.这种原岩是石灰岩的矿体由白色-灰白或者灰色-黑色的菱镁矿与白云石1组成,被次生的白云石2和滑石脉切割.本次研究考察了两次变质事件(M1和M2)的几个连续的矿物组合,最早的组合包括铁白云石,镁菱铁矿与菱铁矿,(并与黑电气石,铁绿泥石,磷灰石,与伊利石-白云母伴生),它们以微小残留物形式产出在菱镁矿和白云石1中,其形成可能早于M1变质作用高峰期.M1变质事件的高峰期以富铁金云母,镁绿泥石1,镁电气石(黑电气石的边缘)和石英的组合为代表.在M1退变质作用过程中,发生了镁交代作用,开始是白云石1结晶,接下来形成菱镁矿,最后是以铁菱镁矿沿裂隙的形成而终.根据碳酸盐地质测温原理,M1变质事件的高峰期温度为460～490°C,变质矿物组合特征也支持这一测温结果.滑石,白云石2,与镁绿泥石2沿着镁碳酸盐岩石裂隙的发育,主要受到M2变质事件的影响,这个变质事件与较年青的Alpine造山事件有关.菱镁矿流体包裹体的研究表明,成矿流体具有复杂的组成,可能以MgCl2组分为主,主要来源于蒸发卤水的演化.原生流体包裹体的盐度～35(wt%MgCl2),均一温度变化范围是216～235℃.石英中流体包裹体也显示了以MgCl2组分为主的相似流体组成,但均一温度比较高,为248～313℃.如果假定石英与M1变质事件同期,那么由流体包裹体计算出的M1变质峰期压力范围是250～350MPa(9～13km),因此地温梯度是35～40℃/km.假定这个梯度在镁交代成矿过程中保持不变,那么相关流体在180～280MPa(7～11km)的压力下的温度为300～350℃.流体包裹体的淋滤分析表明,流体中Cl/Br与Na/Br都很高,说明流体具有蒸发特征.而在Gemeric地区只有在晚二叠纪到早三叠纪这段时间才有如此大量的卤水形成.因此,二叠纪的伸展构造运动与形成菱镁矿的热液系统的形成有关.     

Passive and active margin history of the northern Tatricum (Western Carpathians,Slovakia)

The Tatricum, an upper crustal thrust sheet of the Central Western Carpathians, comprises pre-Alpine crystalline basement and a Late Paleozoic-Mesozoic sedimentary cover. The sedimentary record indicates gradual subsidence during the Triassic, Early Jurassic initial rifting, a Jurassic-Early Cretaceous extensional tectonic regime with episodic rifting events and thermal subsidence periods, and Middle Cretaceous overall flexural subsidence in front of the orogenic wedge prograding from the hinterland. Passive rifting led to the separation of the Central Carpathian realm from the North European Platform. A passive margin, rimmed by peripheral half-graben, was formed along the northern Tatric edge, facing the Vahic (South Penninic) oceanic domain. The passive versus active margin inversion occurred during the Senonian, when the Vahic ocean began to be consumed southwards below the Tatricum. It is argued that passive to active margin conversion is an integral part of the general shortening polarity of the Western Carpathians during the Mesozoic that lacks features of an independent Wilson cycle. An attempt is presented to explain all the crustal deformation by one principal driving force - the south-eastward slab pull generated by the subduction of the Meliatic (Triassic-Jurassic Tethys) oceanic lithosphere followed by the subcrustal subduction of the continental mantle lithosphere.     

Arsenic and antimony in geothermal waters of Yellowstone National Park,Wyoming, USA

A total of 268 thermal spring samples were analyzed for total soluble As using reduced molybdenum-blue; 27 of these samples were also analyzed for total Sb using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. At Yellowstone the $\text{Cl}\text{As}$ atomic ratio is nearly constant among neutral-alkaline springs with Cl > 100 mg L^?1, and within restricted geographic areas, indicating no differential effects of adiabatic vs. conductive cooling on arsenic. The $\text{Cl}\text{As}$ ratio increases with silica and decreases with decreasing $\text{Cl}\text{ΣCO}{}_3$; the latter relationship is best exemplified for springs along the extensively sampled SE-NW trend within the Lone Star-Upper-Midway Basin region. The relationship between $\text{Cl}\text{As}$ and $\text{Cl}\text{ΣCO}{}_3$ at Yellowstone suggests a possible rock leaching rather than magmatic origin for much of the Park's total As flux. Condensed vapor springs are low in both As and Cl. Very high $\text{Cl}\text{As}$ ratios ( > 1000) are associated exclusively with highly diluted (Cl < 100 mg L^?1) mixed springs in the Norris and Shoshone Basins and in the Upper White Creek and Firehole Lake areas of Lower Basin. The high ratios are associated with acidity and/or oxygen and iron; they indicate precipitation of As following massive dilution of the Asbearing high-Cl parent water.Yellowstone Sb ranged from 0.009 at Mammoth to 0.166 mg L^?1 at Joseph's Coat Spring. Within basins, the $\text{Cl}\text{Sb}$ ratio increases as the $\text{Cl}\text{ΣCO}{}_3$ ratio decreases, in marked contrast to As. Mixed springs also have elevated $\text{Cl}\text{Sb}$ ratios. White (1967) and Weissberg (1969) previously reported stibnite (Sb₂S₃), but not orpiment (As₂S₃), precipitating in the near surface zone of alkaline geothermal systems.     

斯洛伐克西喀尔巴阡山脉内侧Veporicum地区的地球动力学演化序列与菱镁矿和滑石矿床成因

本文总结并报导了斯洛伐克西喀尔巴阡山脉内侧的石炭纪岩石中产出的菱镁矿和滑石成因的最新资料.这些矿床赋存于Veporicum构造超单元中和该超单元与Gemericum的接触带中.北部Sinec成矿带是主要的菱镁矿和滑石矿化区,产出的主要矿床有Kokava,Sinec,Samo,Hnsta-Mutnik等矿床.而南部的Ochtina成矿带只产有菱镁矿床,主要矿床包括在Dubrava地体上的Dubrava,Mikov?JedL'vec;Luben韐,Ochtina,Kosice-Bankov,Banisko,Medvedia等矿床.菱镁矿形成于变质M1期石炭系中方解石被白云石和菱镁矿连续交代过程(北矿带成矿温度为280～400℃,南矿带成矿温度为370～420℃;Radvanec＆Prochska,2001;Kodera＆Radvanec,2002).Permoscythian蒸发卤水提供了Mg.成矿事件和华力西期碰撞后运动有关.拉伸构造和高热流值促使成矿热液系统的产生.滑石矿化则形成于稍晚的不同期变质事件(M2),成矿流体来源也与菱镁矿化不同.构造的、微构造的、变质的以及地质年代学的数据将滑石成矿作用和阿尔卑斯上白垩系的构造地热事件AD2联系在一起.AD2事件是阿尔卑斯碰撞(AD1)地壳加厚和变质核杂岩体起源的结果,体现在地壳不整合面上的区域拉伸,及开放系统中大规模热液流动.这一过程在更靠近Veporic热穹的北带区域(Sinec剪切带)很显著,而向着Veporic热穹的周围部分(南Ochtina带),M2变质过程和块滑石化则逐渐减弱.Sinec剪切带是北Sinec带中突出的AD2-AD3结构,白云石/菱镁矿透镜体(在M1期交代造成的)和相伴随的岩石夹杂在AD1中更坚硬的基底岩石之中.本研究证明了AD2中块滑石化的普遍性,滑石和白云石2形成于拉伸显微构造中(变质过程M2;温度为490～540℃,压力为240～330MPa).在Sinec带中AD3阶段的对偶剪切作用形成了该带中的滑石矿.它是AD2事件从去顶到区域扭压剪切的动力学转变过程的逐步延续.北Sinec带使AD3变形处于由坚硬岩石包围的软岩石的狭窄的剪切带中,而在南Ochtina带中AD3变形产生在由里面漂浮着坚硬碳酸盐块的软的岩石柱中.在Ochtina带中,在AD2和AD3阶段由于M2期较低的P-T条件和变形梯度导致了该区有经济价值的滑石矿化不发育.总之,现有的研究结果能用作阿尔卑斯型地体中菱镁矿和滑石找矿的基本标志.     

Geochemistry of molybdenum in some stream sediments and waters

Elevated concentrations of Mo are present in both the waters and sediments of Tenmile Creek, downstream from the large Mo deposit at Climax. Colorado. Concentrations of Mo reach a maximum of 10mg/1 in the water and 384μ/g in the (?) 80 mesh fraction of the sediment. The Mo anomaly extends for more than 80 km downstream from Climax, and results from the mining and milling at Climax. Background Mo concentrations in the nearby mountainous area are < 10μg/l (water) and < 5μg/g (sediment). Immediately below three small unmined Mo-rich orebodies elsewhere in Colorado < 3μg/l Mo are present in the waters and 20–30μg/g Mo in the fine fraction of the sediments.The Mo in the sediment of Tenmile Creek is chiefly adsorbed on coatings of amorphous Fe oxyhydroxide. and is similar to its form below two small, unmined Mo deposits. Mining has not changed the character of the chemical processes responsible for Mo dispersion from the Climax site.A modified version of the WATEQF computer program (Plummeret al., 1976) predicts that Tenmile Creek is undersaturated with respect to ferrimolybdite. molybdenite, powellite, and ilsemannite. The Mo in the stream water occurs as the molybdate ion which can be adsorbed on amorphous Fe oxyhydroxides. These predictions are supported by the absence of Mo minerals in the sediment of Tenmile Creek.     

Selective extraction of organically bound gold in soils, lake sediments and stream sediments

The extraction of organically bound gold from surficial materials is accomplished by using a solution of 5% sodium hypochlorite. A 10-g sample is digested at least twice with 50 mL of hypochlorite solution. The recovery of gold from the organic phase is nearly quantitative for lake sediments and stream sediments high in organic content. For stream sediments and soils low in organics, the recovery of gold is complicated by the sorption of released gold onto inorganic sample components. For these materials, recoveries as low as 70% of the organically bound gold are possible. For a stream sediment sample containing 53.4 ppb gold, the precision of the method is approximately 6% for a 10-g sample and 14% when a 5-g sample of stream sediment is used. The results obtained for all materials tested indicate that a substantial fraction of the gold found in sediments and soils exists as organically bound gold.     

Pegmatites in two suites of variscan orogenic granitic rocks (Western Carpathians,Slovakia)

Summary Two rare-element (Be-Nb-Ta) granitic pegmatite populations have been observed in the Western Carpathian granitoids: (1) pegmatites with Ti- and Mg-poor mineral assemblages, and (2) pegmatites carrying Ti- and Mg-enriched phases (Nb-Ta oxide minerals, garnet, beryl). Mineral chemistry of the pegmatites reflects the primary composition of the parental granitic rocks. The first pegmatite type is derived from monazite-bearing orogenic granites (MOG), and the second from allanite-bearing orogenic granites (AOG). The MOG produced an abundance of pegmatites, whereas in the AOG group the pegmatites are less evolved and relatively scarce. The two kinds of pegmatites support the subdivision of the Western Carpathian granitoids into two principal genetic groups.

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Pegmatite in zwei Suiten variszischer orogener Granite (West-Karpathen, Slowakei)

Zusammenfassung In den Granitoiden der West-Karpathen kommen zwei Populationen von Selten-Element (Be-Nb-Ta) granitischen Pegmatiten vor: (1) Pegmatite mit Ti- und Mg-armen Mineralvergesellschaftungen und (2) Pegmatite mit Ti- und Mg-angereicherten Phasen (Nb-Ta Oxyde, Granat, Beryll). Die Mineralchemie der Pegmatite spiegelt die primäre Zusammensetzung der granitischen Ursprungsgesteine wider. Der erste Pegmatit-Typ stammt von Monazit-führenden orogenen Graniten (MOG) ab, und der zweite von Allanit-führenden orogenen Graniten (AOG). Die MOG sind für eine Vielzahl von Pegmatiten verantwortlich, während die Pegmatite der AOG-Gruppe weniger entwickelt und relativ selten sind. Das Vorkommen dieser zwei Arten von Pegmatiten unterstützt die Unterteilung der Granitoide der West-Karpathen in zwei genetische Hauptgruppen.

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With 6 Figures     

Copper contamination of soils and vegetables in the vicinity of Jiuhuashan copper mine,China

Copper contamination in soils and vegetables in the vicinity of an abandoned copper mine in China was investigated. The Cu concentrations of 93 soil samples ranged from 30.4 to 3,191 mg kg⁻¹ soil for a mean of 816.8 mg kg⁻¹ soil. Among 15 samples from a 0 to 20-cm soil layer used for the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test, the highest value of Cu-TCLP was 133.8 mg kg⁻¹ soil and the TCLP values were positively correlated with the total Cu content of the soils. The sequential extraction of soils in the 0–20-, 20–40-, and 40–60-cm soil layers showed that Cu existed mainly in the Fe–Mn oxide fraction, sulfide/organic fraction, and residual fraction. The copper contamination of 21 species of vegetables from in situ sampling was also examined. Cu concentrations in the edible portions of Brassica chinensis and Solanum melongena were higher than the FAO/WHO standard (40 mg kg⁻¹ DW). The health risk of copper for local inhabitants from consuming these vegetables was assessed on the basis of the target hazard quotient. Enriched concentrations of copper were also found in situ in eight cultivars of B. chinensis planted in the fields, with two levels of Cu concentration. The results showed that there is severe copper contamination in this mine area, and the pollutant in soils show a high risk of leaching into the groundwater and diffusing through the food chain.     

Mercury, copper and zinc contamination in soils and fluvial sediments from an abandoned gold mining area in southern Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Mercury, zinc and copper contamination was evaluated in soils and fluvial sediments from an abandoned gold mining site at Descoberto Municipality (southern Minas Gerais State, Brazil). Metals bioavailability and potential mobility were studied through physical, chemical and mineralogical characterization, geoaccumulation indexes calculations, mercury speciation and determination of potentially bioavailable contents of zinc and copper. Values of pH were in the neutral range, while organic matter concentrations were very low. Mineralogical characterization, in the total samples, indicated the presence of quartz, kaolinite and gibbsite for all samples. Total mercury, zinc and cooper concentrations were higher than the limits recommended by Brazilian documents. Geoaccumulations indexes revealed that most of the sediment samples were low to moderately polluted by zinc and copper, while just one sample was very strongly polluted by mercury. Mercury speciation revealed the predominance of the elementary form for all samples, and low concentrations for exchangeable, strongly bound and residual fractions. Zinc and copper behavior was strongly controlled by iron and aluminum concentrations, while their bioavailable contents were very low in comparison with the total concentrations.     

Arsenic in streams,stream sediments,and ground water,fairbanks area,alaska

Arsenic concentrations of less than 5 ppb to as large as 1,260 ppb in stream waters and from 5 ppm to 4,000 ppm in stream sediments were found in the Pedro Dome-Cleary Summit area, Alaska. Waters from three of 20 wells sampled had arsenic concentrations exceeding the U.S. Public Health Service recommended limit of 50 ppb. The high arsenic levels are a consequence of arsenic enrichment in the rocks of the area. Placer and lode-gold mining may increase the arsenic content of the waters by exposing arsenic-containing rocks to surface waters and by increasing the load of arsenic-rich sediments in the streams. Finding these disturbingly large concentrations of arsenic in the waters of the Fairbanks area was the major result of this work, inasmuch as a subsequent study (to be published) revealed arsenic concentrations as large as 10 ppm in domestic wells and prompted an extensive study by Federal and State agencies of the health hazard posed by these arsenic-rich waters.