内蒙卓资山地区深熔作用形成的石榴混合花岗岩

内蒙古卓资山地区太古宙高级变质区中分布着一系列规模不等的混合花岗岩体，其产出严格受孔兹岩系层位控制。岩体中含有大量矽线石榴片麻岩残留体，二者界线模糊，具渐变过渡的特征。花岗岩中富含石榴石，具斑杂状构造，浅色组分（熔体）含量偏高，暗色组分（难熔组分）显著减少，但在残留体中，暗色组分有富集现象。岩石化学成分富铝Al2O3含量10.61%-17.10%，A／NKC＝1.29-1.81；离子半径小、熔融活化度低的微量元素Cr、Ni、Cu、Co、V、Zr含量极低，而一些熔融活化度高、大离子半径的微量元素Sr、Ba含量明显偏高。HREE含量偏低，δEu具正异常；^87Sr/^86Sr=0.72042－0.72933。形成混合花岗岩的温度为735-785℃，压力范围可能为8.6-9.7Kb(1b=10^5Pa)。这一类独特的“石榴混合花岗岩”，不是因熔融体占绝对优势的典型岩浆侵入结晶而成，而是孔兹岩系变质岩层就地深熔作用的产物。它的形成是在中太古代时期集宁岩群形成之后本区经历麻粒岩相高级变质作用改造的结果。     

集宁地区两类古元古代重熔花岗岩的锆石U-Pb年代学及岩石成因

学术界对集宁-凉城地区的古元古代重熔型花岗岩成因一直持有不同的解释,本文对集宁土贵乌拉-隆盛庄一带两类重熔花岗岩进行了同位素年代学及地球化学研究.锆石LA-MC-ICP-MS U-Pb年代学结果显示,斑状石榴紫苏二长花岗质片麻岩具有1 954 Ma的侵位年龄及1 827 Ma的变质年龄,变质淡色石榴二长花岗岩具有1 956 Ma的侵位年龄.岩石地球化学特征显示斑状石榴紫苏二长花岗质片麻岩低硅、高镁铁,具有Eu负异常及Sr的相对亏损;变质淡色石榴二长花岗岩富硅、贫铁镁,强烈亏损Nb、Ta、Ti等高场强元素,富集K和Rb、Ba等亲石元素.二者形成时代相同,可能源自幔源岩浆底侵造成的重熔,斑状石榴紫苏二长花岗质片麻岩源岩为孔兹岩系沉积岩,混合了一定比例的幔源物质组分并经过分离结晶过程;变质淡色石榴二长花岗岩源岩主要为孔兹岩系沉积岩,较少受到幔源组分的影响.      

内蒙古大青山地区石榴花岗岩的地质特征和岩相学特征

内蒙古大青山地区石榴花岗岩出露于哈德门沟-平方沟-虎本汉沟一带,沿麻粒岩系与孔兹岩系之间的构造不整合面呈不规则带状分布,从其野外地质特征和岩相学特征可确定石榴花岗岩与围岩为渐变过渡关系.石榴花岗岩中的变质表壳岩以及部分包体不仅在岩性上可与外围的同类岩石对比,而且也显示了明显的深熔作用改造的痕迹.现有证据表明石榴花岗岩总体上是由孔兹岩系的石榴黑云片麻岩原地熔融形成的,为深熔作用的产物.石榴花岗岩的研究为本区的深熔作用演化提供了依据.     

内蒙古大青山地区石榴混合花岗质岩石地球化学特征及成因

内蒙古大青山地区太古宙孔兹岩系在发生麻粒岩相变质作用的同时,榴云片麻岩岩组中的石榴黑云片麻岩在近水平剪切构造变形过程中发生部分熔融,形成了石榴混合花岗质岩石。现有证据表明,它们形成于新太古代晚期,在矿物组成、地球化学特征上,大体继承了石榴黑云片麻岩,而它们的结构和地球化学特征尤其是REE分布型式的变异又反映了其部分熔融和演化。尽管该石榴混合花岗质岩体规模小,但在矿物组成、结构和地球化学特征上显示出明显的不均一性,形成了高K2O低Na2O、CaO,稀土元素总量低,具正Eu异常和低K2O高Na2O、CaO,稀土元素总量高,具负Eu异常的两类石榴混合花岗质岩石。综合研究发现,这两类石榴混合花岗质岩石的形成与部分熔融及随后的流动过程中熔体与残留体的逐渐分离有关,前者残留体、残留矿物相极少,富长英质;而后者残留体和残留矿物相对较多,因而富镁铁质,并且控制REE行为的矿物相如石榴石和独居石、磷灰石、锆石等相对富集,从而造成了两类石榴混合花岗质岩石稀土元素分布型式的差异,与桑干地区成因相似、成熟度较高的古元古代花岗岩具有较大差别。     

华北地台北缘集宁地区古元古代片麻状石榴花岗岩的深熔成因及地质意义

本文对华北克拉通北缘集宁地区空间上密切共生的片麻状石榴花岗岩和孔兹岩系富铝片麻岩的岩相学、地球化学及年代学特征进行了对比研究。SHRIMP锆石U-Pb定年方面,在富铝片麻岩中获得了1910±10Ma和1839±13Ma变质锆石年龄,在片麻状石榴花岗岩中获得了1919±17Ma的变质重结晶锆石年龄。在石榴花岗岩的石榴石包裹体中识别出与富铝片麻岩相对应的进变质阶段(M1)和峰期阶段(M2)的矿物组合,由此确认富铝片麻岩的变质作用和导致石榴花岗岩形成的深熔作用是同一构造热事件的产物。通过对二者变质作用演化及特征变质矿物的对比,认为深熔作用主要发生在峰期后等温降压阶段(M3),石榴花岗岩中的石榴石为深熔作用过程中的残留矿物相或转熔矿物相,而石榴花岗岩则是混合有大量残留矿物相的熔体结晶的产物。对片麻状石榴花岗岩和富铝片麻岩的地球化学组成特征进行了对比分析,片麻状石榴花岗岩既有一定的继承性,又有十分明显的变异性。变异性表现为:1)石榴花岗岩主量和微量元素含量分布极不均匀,微量元素含量普遍低于源岩(Cs、Rb、Th、U、Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf等);2)大离子亲石元素Cs和生热元素U、Th亏损明显,Sr相对富集;3)高场强元素Nb、Ta、P、Ti的明显亏损;4)铕异常变化大,存在铕富集型、铕平坦型和铕亏损型共存的稀土配分曲线的岩石,这是深熔成因石榴花岗岩最突出的表现,也可能是原地-半原地深熔花岗岩的主要地球化学标志。综合区域上的地质资料,认为深熔作用与碰撞后伸展构造背景下基性岩浆底侵事件有关。     

桑干地区早元古代花岗岩长石Pb同位素组成和锆石U-Pb年龄：变质与地壳熔融作用及构造-热事件演化

桑干地区大同－集宁一带孔兹岩系分布区有大量早元古代花岗岩发育。依据矿物组成和地质特征,这些花岗岩可分为两种类型：大规模的石榴石花岗岩和小规模的淡色花岗岩。花岗岩中长石Ｐｂ同位素组成显示,石榴石花岗岩是孔兹岩系部分熔融的直接产物,而淡色花岗岩不是孔兹岩系简单的部分熔融产物。石榴石花岗岩中锆石Ｕ－Ｐｂ一致年龄为１８３６±１８Ｍａ,代表石榴石花岗岩的形成年代。淡色花岗岩的锆石Ｕ－Ｐｂ一致线上交点年龄为１９１２±９８Ｍａ,形成略早。孔兹岩系２０７Ｐｂ／２０４Ｐｂ值整体上高于华北麻粒岩下地壳,具有上地壳的Ｐｂ同位素组成特征,其沉积原岩应该来自华北晚太古代形成的大陆地壳。根据深成岩浆作用和变质作用的年代学资料,可以确定桑干地区早元古代如下构造－热事件序列：小基性岩体侵入（２．２～２．３Ｇａ）、早期淡色花岗岩生成（２．１～１．９Ｇａ）、麻粒岩相变质作用、剪切作用和大规模石榴石花岗岩发育（１．８４Ｇａ）、伟晶岩的形成（１．８０Ｇａ）和基性岩墙群的出现（１．７７Ｇａ）。大规模石榴石花岗岩形成于构造－热事件峰期     

亚东地区高喜马拉雅结晶岩系部分熔融的时限:来自乃堆拉混合岩锆石U-Pb年代学的约束

高喜马拉雅结晶岩系由中-高级变质岩和淡色花岗岩组成,是研究喜马拉雅造山带形成与演化的天然实验室.高喜马拉雅结晶岩系混合岩和淡色花岗岩中锆石和独居石的定年结果往往是分散的,对这些定年结果的解释还存在争议,严重制约了对高喜马拉雅结晶岩系变质、部分熔融作用的起始时间和持续过程的理解.对造山带中段亚东地区高喜马拉雅结晶岩系上部构造层位的乃堆拉混合岩进行了锆石U-Pb年代学研究.研究结果显示,乃堆拉混合岩暗色体给出了29.1~24.7 Ma的进变质和部分熔融的时间,混合岩浅色体获得了25.0~13.7 Ma的退变质和熔体结晶的时间,表明亚东地区高喜马拉雅结晶岩系的部分熔融作用大约开始于30 Ma并持续到13 Ma,暗示它是一个长期、持续的过程.亚东地区高喜马拉雅结晶岩系发生部分熔融的时间明显早于藏南拆离系和主中央断裂开始活动的时间,部分熔融可能在高喜马拉雅结晶岩系俯冲过程中就已经发生了.相关成果为建立造山带构造演化模型提供了新信息.      

桂东北里松花岗岩中暗色包体的岩浆混合成因

在桂东北姑婆山地区的里松花岗岩中,暗色包体广泛分布,包体的形貌、结构构造和矿物学特征表明,它们是岩浆快速冷凝结晶产物;主元素和微量元素组成说明它们属钾玄岩系列,其源岩具OIB型微量元素特征;包体与寄主花岗岩中锆石U-Pb年龄的相同性,排除了来源于深部固体岩石熔融残留体或浅部围岩捕虏体的可能性,而两种岩石化学成分、岩石结构暗色包体和寄主花岗岩在岩石结构和全岩Sr-Nd同位素组成方面的明显差别性,又排除了同源包体或析离体、堆积体的可能性。里松花岗岩在很多地质-地球化学特征上都介于里松暗色包体和姑婆山主体花岗岩之间,里松暗色包体的总体特征显示了岩浆混合成因,是里松暗色包体岩浆与姑婆山主体花岗岩岩浆发生混合时不完全混合的残留物。     

内蒙古二连浩特北部阿仁绍布地区晚石炭世花岗岩Sr-Yb分类及其成因

对分布在内蒙古二连浩特北部阿仁绍布地区的晚石炭世花岗岩类,依据Sr、Yb含量,划分为低Sr高Yb型、极低Sr高Yb型和低Sr低Yb型花岗岩3种类型。低Sr高Yb型花岗岩类相对低Si、富Al,Na2O〉K2O,稀土元素分馏中等,有或无负Eu异常,Sr含量低,平均为183×10-6,Ba含量较高,平均585×10-6,Y含量高,平均30.06×10-6,Rb/Sr比值较低,平均0.97;极低Sr高Yb型花岗岩富Si、REE,低Al、Sr、Ba,高的Rb/Sr比值（平均为7.47）,具明显的负Eu异常等;低Sr低Yb型花岗岩富Si,贫Al、Ca、Mg,重稀土元素（Y、Yb）含量低,Y含量在（7.26～10.6）×10-6之间,平均9.76×10-6,Yb含量在（1.04～1.89）×10-6之间,平均1.44×10-6,δEu=0.64～0.94,具弱负Eu异常,微量元素Ba含量高,Rb/Sr比值低。3种类型的花岗岩类过铝指数（A/CNK）多小于1.0,说明它们均源自变质火成岩的部分熔融。由于源区的深度不同（pT条件不同）和残留的主要矿物相不同,它们的岩石地球化学特征存在差异。极低Sr高Yb型花岗岩形成深度最浅（中上地壳）,熔融残留相以斜长石为主;低Sr高Yb型花岗岩类形成于中下地壳,熔融残留相为斜长石和辉石;低Sr低Yb型花岗岩形成深度最深,推测可能形成于加厚下地壳（〉40km）底部,熔融残留相为石榴子石、斜长石和角闪石。     

内蒙古二连浩特北部阿仁绍布地区晚石炭世花岗岩Sr-Yb分类及其成因

对分布在内蒙古二连浩特北部阿仁绍布地区的晚石炭世花岗岩类,依据Sr、Yb含量,划分为低Sr高Yb型、极低Sr高Yb型和低Sr低Yb型花岗岩3种类型。低Sr高Yb型花岗岩类相对低Si、富Al,Na2O>K2O,稀土元素分馏中等,有或无负Eu异常,Sr含量低,平均为183×10-6,Ba含量较高,平均585×10-6,Y含量高,平均30.06×10-6,Rb/Sr比值较低,平均0.97;极低Sr高Yb型花岗岩富Si、REE,低Al、Sr、Ba,高的Rb/Sr比值(平均为7.47),具明显的负Eu异常等;低Sr低Yb型花岗岩富Si,贫Al、Ca、Mg,重稀土元素(Y、Yb)含量低,Y含量在(7.26～10.6)×10-6之间,平均9.76×10-6,Yb含量在(1.04～1.89)×10-6之间,平均1.44×10-6,δEu=0.64～0.94,具弱负Eu异常,微量元素Ba含量高,Rb/Sr比值低。3种类型的花岗岩类过铝指数(A/CNK)多小于1.0,说明它们均源自变质火成岩的部分熔融。由于源区的深度不同(pT条件不同)和残留的主要矿物相不同,它们的岩石地球化学特征存在差异。极低Sr高Yb型花岗岩形成深度最浅(中上地壳),熔融残留相以斜长石为主;低Sr高Yb型花岗岩类形成于中下地壳,熔融残留相为斜长石和辉石;低Sr低Yb型花岗岩形成深度最深,推测可能形成于加厚下地壳(>40km)底部,熔融残留相为石榴子石、斜长石和角闪石。     

Wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometric determination of Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in komatiites

Komatiites are mantle-derived ultramafic volcanic rocks. Komatiites have been discovered in several States of India, notably in Karnataka. Studies on the distribution of trace-elements in the komatiites of India are very few. This paper proposes a simple, accurate, precise, rapid, and non-destructive wavelength-dispersive x-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometric technique for determining Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in komatiites, and discusses the accuracy, precision, limits of detection, x-ray spectral-line interferences, inter-element effects, speed, advantages, and limitations of the technique. The accuracy of the technique is excellent (within 3%) for Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th and very good (within 4%) for Y. The precision is also excellent (within 3%) for Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th. The limits of detection are: 1 ppm for Sc and V; 2 ppm for Cr, Co, and Ni; 3 ppm for Cu, Zn, Rb, and Sr; 4 ppm for Y and Zr; 6 ppm for Nb; 10 ppm for Ba; 13 ppm for Pb; and 14 ppm for Th. The time taken for determining Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in a batch of 24 samples of komatiites, for a replication of four analyses per sample, by one operator, using a manual WDXRF spectrometer, is only 60 hours.     

硅酸盐类样品中硅、铁、铝、钛、锰、钙、镁、钾、钠和磷的x射线荧光光谱测定

本文拟定了一种以熔融法制备样片,用X射线荧光光谱测定硅酸盐类样品中Si、Fe、Al、Tj、Mn、Ca、Mg、K、Na、P等元素的分析方法。在对不同靶材X光管和分光晶体实验对比的基础上,选择了最佳的测量条件。该法具有快速、准确,测量范围广,检测限低,价格便宜等优点。经过近百个各种类型标样或管理样品的分析对比表明,本法不仅适用于硅酸盐类岩石样品的分析,还适用于铁矿、铝土矿、碳酸盐类岩矿样品以及水泥、耐火材料等样品的分析。     

高压微波消解法测定醋酸纤维过滤器采集的微尘粒子中的砷镉钴铬铜铁锰镍铅钒锌

最新的流行病学研究表明,空气中较高浓度的悬浮细颗粒可能对人类的健康有不利的影响。根据该项研究显示,由于心脏病、慢性呼吸问题和肺功能指标恶化而导致死亡率的升高与细尘粒子有关。这些研究结果已经促使欧盟于1999年4月出台了限制空气中二氧化硫、二氧化氮、氧化氮、铅和颗粒物含量的法案(1999/30/EC),对各项指标包括对可吸入PM10颗粒的浓度提出了新的限制性指标。PM10颗粒是指可以通过预分级器分离采集的气体动力学直径小于10μm的细颗粒。目前研究的兴趣重点逐步偏向PM2.5这些更细微颗粒物,PM2.5这种颗粒物对健康有明显的不利影响。在欧盟指令2008/50/EC中,对PM10和PM2.5都提     

Isotopic systematics of He,Ar, S,Cu, Ni,Re, Os,Pb, U,Sm, Nd,Rb, Sr,Lu, and Hf in the rocks and ores of the Norilsk deposits

This paper reports the first results of a study of 11 isotope systems (³He/⁴He, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar, ³⁴S/³²S, ⁶⁵Cu/⁶³Cu, ⁶²Ni/⁶⁰Ni, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd, ^206–208Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, Hf–Nd, U–Pb, and Re–Os) in the rocks and ores of the Cu–Ni–PGE deposits of the Norilsk ore district. Almost all the results were obtained at the Center of Isotopic Research of the Karpinskii All-Russia Research Institute of Geology. The use of a number of independent genetic isotopic signatures and comprehensive isotopic knowledge provided a methodic basis for the interpretation of approximately 5000 isotopic analyses of various elements. The presence of materials from two sources, crust and mantle, was detected in the composition of the rocks and ores. The contribution of the crustal source is especially significant in the paleofluids (gas–liquid microinclusions) of the ore-forming medium. Crustal solutions were probably a transport medium during ore formation. Air argon is dominant in the ores, which indicates a connection between the paleofluids and the atmosphere. This suggests intense groundwater circulation during the crystallization of ore minerals. The age of the rocks and ores of the Norilsk deposits was determined. The stage of orebody formation is restricted to a narrow age interval of 250 ± 10 Ma. An isotopic criterion was proposed for the ore-bearing potential of mafic intrusions in the Norilsk–Taimyr region. It includes several interrelated isotopic ratios of various elements: He, Ar, S, and others.     

Viscous, cohesive, non-Newtonian, depositing, radial slurry flow

Mining induced subsidence can significantly affect mining costs where major surface facilities and natural environment need to be protected. Overburden grout injection is a technology used to control coal mine subsidence by injecting the mine waste material extracted from the coal back into the inter-burden rock during longwall mining. The flowing slurry is here categorised as a nonlinear viscous cohesive (Bingham plastic) fluid. During longwall mining the grout slurry is pumped into the separated beds of the rock mass through a central vertical borehole, which is drilled deep into the inter-burden rock strata above the coal seam. However, a blockage can occur in the injection system when the slurry velocity falls below a certain critical threshold velocity, indicating a material phase change from cohesive-viscous to cohesive-frictional. In situ field injection tests through boreholes have been simulated at a smaller scale at the CSIRO laboratory in Brisbane by pumping the slurry through a radial disk (gap = 4 mm) from its centre. Laboratory experiments indicate a general, nonlinear, cohesive, viscous, frictional model for shear behaviour of the slurry, in which the material shear parameters are functions of the disk radial distance. Complete dimensional and dimensionless analytical solutions have been developed based on an approach related to Bingham–Herschel–Bulkley fluid mechanics. The derived formulae include relations for minimum pump pressure, local pressure and pressure gradient, wall shear stress, volume rate, velocity and velocity gradient. The theoretical results match the experimental measurements. The experiments covered slurries with maximum particle sizes of 0.5 to 2 mm with about 50% being larger than 100 µm. The viscosities at the various solids concentrations were measured with a standard torsion viscometer. This study differs from the previous research in several distinct aspects, namely, consideration of the variable shear parameters rather than fixed values, inclusion of total nonlinear behaviour, and implementation of a friction function to mimic behaviour of the deposited and consolidating stiff slurry, which can cause a significant pressure rise as a result of the increased shear resistance.     

硅酸盐中铁、锰、钛、钙、钾、磷、硅、铝、镁、钠、锶、铷、钡的X-射线荧光光谱定量测定

本文介绍样品经四硼酸锂熔融制成玻璃小饼。采用Lachance模式和理论a系数来校正元素间的效应,由3080E型X-射线荧光谱仪和DF-350B数据处理系统完成硅酸盐中十三个项目的测定。     

Mercury,arsenic, antimony,and selenium contents of sediment from the Kuskokwim River,Bethel, Alaska,USA

The Kuskokwim River at Bethel, Alaska, drains a major mercury-antimony metallogenic province in its upper reaches and tributaries. Bethel (population 4000) is situated on the Kuskokwim floodplain and also draws its water supply from wells located in river-deposited sediment. A boring through overbank and floodplain sediment has provided material to establish a baseline datum for sediment-hosted heavy metals. Mercury (total), arsenic, antimony, and selenium contents were determined; aluminum was also determined and used as normalizing factor. The contents of the heavy metals were relatively constant with depth and do not reflect any potential enrichment from upstream contaminant sources.     

滇东南花岗岩与锡、银、铜、铅、锌多金属矿床的成因关系

滇东南锡、银、铅、锌多金属矿床主要分布在个旧、白牛厂、都龙3个矿区,而滇东南较大的3个花岗岩体又分别出露在3个矿区或附近.花岗岩体均形成于燕山晚期,岩石化学、矿物成分相似,富含锡、银、铅、锌、钨、铜等成矿元素.矿床主金属元素组合与岩体之间的距离由远而近出现由锡、钨、(铍、铌、钽)→锡、钨、(铁)、铜、铟→锡、铅、锌、银、铟、(锑)有规律的变化.花岗岩浆是成矿物质来源和成矿热源.岩浆侵入初期使上覆地层隆起产生背斜(凹陷部位成向斜);同时使地层产生一系列裂隙、压性断层或层间断裂;岩浆侵入晚期,这些断层再次活动,表现为张性,岩浆产生的含矿热液沿由其活动所造成的断裂迁移、充填、交代、沉淀而形成矿床.     

岩石密度和超高压岩石折返速率

在常温常压条件下对中国大陆科学钻CCSD主孔100-3000米岩心样品进行了密度测量,建立了密度连续剖面,并界定了不同超高压岩石的密度值。通过对比高温高压物性实验资料,岩石密度随着退变程度增强而降低,榴辉岩密度变化序列为3.52g/cm3→3.49g/cm3→3.07g/cm3→2.93g/cm3。超高压长英质岩石密度变化序列为3.00g/cm→2.80g/cm3→2.65g/cm3。上述实验资料是讨论不同折返阶段岩石所受浮力的基础,为研究折返速率大小提供了基本参数。本文通过折返板块运动平衡时,上浮力与粘滞力平衡这一关系式,定量研究了大陆俯冲板块的折返速率,认为密度差产生上浮力从而引起折返,温度对板块折返速率的影响最为显著;密度差大小、折返角度、折返板块大小对折返速率也有直接的影响。定量模拟分析表明,在温度高于850℃时,板块的折返速率可以超过100mm/a;当温度降至700℃时,折返速率则低于1.5mm/a。作者认为在折返早期,温度较高,板块快速折返至60-70km榴辉岩相深度;随着传导散热,温度降低,板块以较慢的速率折返至中下地壳。折返速率的估算表明,浮力是板块折返第一阶段(从>100km深部折返至<40km的中下地壳)的主要驱动力。     

Bellechester,Minnesota, USA,lagoon collapses

Bellechester, Minnesota, is a small community of approximately 155 residents located on the county line between Goodhue and Wabasha counties in southeast Minnesota's karst region. Bellechester is served by a 21-year-old wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) consisting of three waste-stabilization ponds. On 28 April 1992 six sinkholes were discovered to have drained cell 2 of the WWTF resulting in the loss of approximately 8.7×10⁶ 1 of partially treated effluent and about 600 m³ of soil into previously undetected subsurface voids of unknown dimensions. In the week following the collapse, approximately 200 water wells located within a 5-km radius of the WWTF were sampled in an after-the-fact, emergency sampling program. Twelve samples with elevated fecal coliform levels, 18 samples with nitrate-nitrogen greater than the 10 mg/1 standard, and no samples with elevated chlorides were found. However, the elevated levels could not be unambiguously attributed to the WWTF collapse. This is the third WWTF to fail by sinkhole collapse in southeast Minnesota since 1974. All three collapsed lagoons have been located in similar geomorphic and stratigraphic settings. However, at least two lagoons have collapsed in the adjacent area in northeast Iowa, and these lagoons are located at different stratigraphic positions. Twenty-two WWTFs constructed in southeast Minnesota's karst region in the last 25 years have been identified as subject to potential sinkhole collapse. An unknown but significant number of manure storage lagoons, flood control structures, etc., have also been constructed in the karst region and are at risk. Public agencies are beginning to develop plans to deal with the risk associated with existing and future waste lagoons in this environment. The critical hydrogeologic parameters that can be used to prioritize the risk of collapse at existing facilities include: (1) the lithology of the first bedrock beneath each lagoon, (2) the thickness of surficial materials between the lagoon and the bedrock surface, (3) the presence and construction of liners (seepage rate), and (4) the proximity to existing sinkholes.