Germanium occurrence in Lincang superlarge deposit in Yunnan,China

A heavy-media separation has brcu carried out to study the partition of germanium in various macetals ol mineralized lignites in Lincang superlarge gerrtlilnium deposit in Yunniln, China. The result shows that Ge stays predominantly in huminites, especially in corpohuminitrs (86.04–89.16%), next in light macerals and minerals (3.20%–8.33% and 1.71%–10.27%, respectively). In addition, the EPMA and PIXE analyses suggest that no germanium minerals have been detected and Ge is well distributed in the whole mineralized lignite, bonding to O, C and H of coaly organic matter of mineralized lignites.

     

Designing the Mineralization of a Wastewater Sample from a Coating Industry

Design of Fenton and photo‐Fenton reactions was partially automated by using sequential injection analysis (SIA) and response surface methodology for the treatment of a wastewater sample from a coatings industry. The extension of both Fenton and photo‐Fenton reactions was evaluated by the percentage of total organic carbon (TOC) remaining in solution after 15 min of reaction. Use of small volumes of sample and reagents, as well as easy solution handling, were the remarkable features of the proposed system. The highest percentage of TOC removal (79%) was obtained by the photo‐Fenton reaction at the following initial mass‐based concentration ratios: H₂O₂/TOC = 10, H₂O₂/FeSO₄ = 50, and pH 2.5. The best result for Fenton reaction indicated a TOC removal of only 45%, obtained at H₂O₂/initial TOC = 20, H₂O₂/FeSO₄ = 30, and pH 2.5. The SIA system was designed to dispense reagents to the sample flasks and to drive the sample intended to photo‐Fenton reaction through a homemade photo‐reactor. Modifications in chemical parameters of the reactions were achieved via the software commanding the SI system, without the need for physical reconfiguration of reagents around the selection valve.     

Adsorption Kinetics of Chloroform from Aqueous Solutions onto Activated Lignite

The lignite coal researched by this study was subjected to a two‐stage activation process performed in the scope of obtaining active carbon from domestic resources. “Activation” and “carbonization” stages were used in the experiments. The modified lignite was produced by impregnating lignite with KOH and washing the activation product with 15% HCl solution after thermal treatment. Increasing KOH dosage also increased the removal efficiency. The variables investigated in adsorption experiments were contact time, initial concentration, pH, and sorbent dosage. Adsorption kinetics was fitted by using the pseudo‐first‐order equation, pseudo‐second‐order equation, and intra‐particle diffusion. Isotherm modeling was carried out using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich equations. Selected target compound in this work is common environmental pollutant in waters. A commonly known effect of chloroform is its carcinogenic effect. Therefore, removal of these compounds from water is considerably important. Chloroform removal of 97% for was achieved by the use of Konya region activated lignite.     

Do Acid-tolerant Cyanobacteria Exist?

Acidification of freshwater ecosystems changes phytoplankton biomass and reduces species composition. However, there are contradictory statements with respect to the occurrence of cyanobacteria below pH 4.5. Textbooks have not reported cyanobacteria in acid and very acid environments, whereas only a few papers on acidification of lakes through acid precipitation noted the occurrence of cyanobacteria in those environments. In a phytoplankton survey of 10 lakes in the Bavarian Forest as well as the lignite mining districts of Bavaria (Upper Palatine) and Lusatia, covering a pH gradient from 8.0 to 2.8, we demonstrate that acid-tolerant cyanobacteria do exist. Most strikingly, one of the most acid lakes (pH 2.9), Lichtenauer See (Lusatia), was inhabited by two populations of filamentous cyanobacteria, resembling Oscillatorial/Limnothrix and Spirulina spp. Eukaryotic phytoplankton was almost absent in this lake at the time. In contrast to filamentous cyanobacteria, picoplanktic ones were totally lacking where pH < 4.5. This indicates that members of coccal picoplanktic cyanobacteria and filamentous cyanobacteria have different acid tolerances. At present, it is not known how the acid-tolerant cyanobacteria described here maintain a strong transmembrane pH gradient.     

The dynamic balance between organic acids and circumneutral groundwater in a large boreal peat basin

Large raised bogs and patterned fens cover 56% of the landscape in the Glacial Lake Agassiz region of northern Minnesota (USA). Organic acids supply most of the acidity in the surface water of the bogs, but groundwater upwelling from the underlying glacial deposits neutralizes these organic acids within deep peat. Substantial concentrations of organic acids also occur in the surface waters of fens mixed with variable amounts of inorganic solutes contributed by groundwater discharge. We used a triprotic analog model to determine the extent to which organic acids in fen and bog waters behave as strong or weak acids. The modeling approach optimized charge balance by calibrating estimates of mole site density in the DOC (dissolved organic carbon) of surface and pore waters with estimates of triprotic acid dissociation constants. Before the calibration process, all of the bog waters and 76% of the fen waters had more than +20% imbalance in charge balance. After calibration, more than 75% of all waters were electrochemically balanced within 20%. In the best calibration, the mole site denisty of bog DOC was estimated as 0.05 mmol/mmol C., approximately six times smaller than that estimated for fen DOC or the DOC in the fen deeper fen peats that underlie all bog landforms. The three modeled de-protonation constants were; pK_a1=3.0, pK_a2=4.5 and pK_a3=7.0 for the bog DOC, and; pK_a1=5.2, pK_a2= 6.5 and pK_a3=7.0 for the fen DOC. Bog DOC, behaves as a strong acid despite its small mole site density. The DOC in bog runoff can therefore theoretically acidify the surface waters in adjacent fens wherever these waters do not receive sufficient buffering alkalinity from active groundwater seepage.     

Influence of climate and hydrology on carbon in an early Miocene peatland

Our understanding of the hydrodynamic response of peatland to climate change is restricted to the Holocene, which confines our knowledge of the fundamental controls on this important carbon reservoir to recent sedimentary successions. To understand the interaction of peatland hydrodynamics, climate and the carbon cycle on longer time scales, a 95.4 m record from lower Miocene lignite from the Gippsland Basin, Australia is considered. δ¹³C and colour records for the lignite were created by analysing samples every 0.1 m. Solid-state ¹³C NMR results indicate that lignite colour is related to the relative abundance of aliphatic carbon. The lack of a direct correlation between colour and δ¹³C demonstrates that the δ¹³C signal has not been significantly influenced by the diagenetic processes that produce the colour. An offset correlation occurs between δ¹³C and colour with the degree of offset decreasing from 4.5 m at the base to about 0 m at the top. This offset is considered to represent a zone of surface influence that extends up to 20 m below the peat surface. Using numerical modelling we demonstrate that this zone of surface influence and its gradual decline in thickness could arise as a consequence of enhanced fluid flow in regions of high tensile stress within the unconfined peat body. The removal of lignin and its derivatives from the zone of surface influence will be favoured by cooler drier periods, with lower sea level and high hydraulic gradients across the peatland. Therefore in the early Miocene this peatland acted as a carbon source during global cooling.     

Fluorine in surface and subsoil waters in the Middle Klyaz’ma Basin

Data on fluorine concentration in water in the Middle Klyaz’ma Basin during summer low-water period have been obtained. Fluorine background concentration has been determined in streams (Klyaz’ma R., small rivers, and creeks), water bodies (drainage ditches, lakes), and subsoil waters. Anthropogenic fluorine hydrochemical anomalies have been determined and localized with respect to urbanized industrial areas. An assumption has been made and experimentally substantiated, according to which fluorine concentration in subsoil water is governed by the processes of its distribution between water and host rocks. It has been established that the interaction of soils with snowmelt water and alluvial deposits with river water in neutral and acid media is accompanied by fluorine removal from solution, while in a weakly alkaline medium, fluorine passes from solid phase into solution. The effect of dissolved organic matter on the process of fluorine leaching from rock minerals also depends, primarily, on the equilibrium pH value: in weakly alkaline media, the presence of organic acids contributes to fluorine mobilization, while in weakly acid media, it reduces mobilization rate.     

云南滇池泥炭及其形成的古地理环境

通过对云南滇池泥炭的考察和分析,阐述了滇池泥炭的基本特性和赋存特征.进而讨论了滇池泥炭形成的古地理环境,它不仅在成炭理论上具有意义,而且对普查和勘探泥炭资源方面也有一定的参考价值.滇池为我国西南地区最大的淡水湖泊,位于云南高原的中部,昆明市西南郊,海拔1890m.滇池也是昆明断陷盆地的沉降中心.盆地的全新统及现代沉积中有泥炭聚积,其下部更新统地层中则有褐煤赋存.因此,对全新世以来泥炭沼泽及其形成的古地理环境的研究,不仅可从一个侧面了解滇池现代演变过程以及成炭机理,而且为云南高原其它类似地区寻找和勘探泥炭资源亦有实际意义。     

Patterns of dissolved organic matter in subarctic peatlands

Samples of water from poor to very rich fens in the Schefferville region of subarctic Quebec revealed strong spatial and temporal variations in dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ranging from 2 to 40 mg 1^?1. Concentrations of DOC tend to increase during the summer and decrease in the autumn, at most sites, which probably reflects increased plant tissue decomposition and higher rates of evapotranspiration. Principal components analysis revealed that DOC is strongly associated with Fe, NO^?₃-N and NO^?₂-N, but essentially independent of other chemical properties of the peat water, such as pH, Ca, Mg, K, P, and NH⁺₄-N. Based on observed concentrations of DOC and estimates of summer runoff (June to September), export of DOC from four peatlands ranges from 1·1 to 4·9 gCm^?2, with the lowest values for peatlands underlain by dolomite. Molecular weight fractionation of four samples revealed significant differences in the dissolved organic matter (DOM), with the largest fractions (GF/C to 10 000 nmw) being dominant in the more acid samples. The ratio of absorbance at 400 and 600 nm wavelengths (E₄:E₆) has been used as a simple indicator of differences in DOM type, ranging from 3 to 15. There is a strong seasonal pattern of increasing E₄:E₆ ratio during the summer at many sites, though this ratio is essentially independent of other chemical properties of peat waters.     

泥炭样品不同有机组分的~(14)C测年的初步研究

分别用ＮａＣｌＯ、ＮａＯＨ溶液、Ｎａ４Ｐ２Ｏ７和ＮａＯＨ混合溶液和有机溶剂对采自延庆盆地大王庄两个泥炭样品进行前处理，每个样品获得１０个不同有机组分，对这些有机组分的１４Ｃ年龄测定值进行对比。以探讨泥炭等样品不同有机组分１４Ｃ测年的可靠性     

干旱区高山泥炭磁学特性研究

对干旱区高山-新疆阿尔泰山中段连续的泥炭沉积序列进行详细系统的磁学分析,获得泥炭沉积物中磁性矿物的类型、含量以及粒径大小等磁学特性,探讨了在富含大量有机质的氧化还原条件下磁性矿物的保存与变化机理.岩石磁学结果表明沉积物中亚铁磁性矿物的富集程度低,磁性较弱.主要含有磁铁矿、赤铁矿、顺磁性矿物以及大量的抗磁性矿物组分,并且证实泥炭沉积物中不可能含有生物成因的趋磁细菌.沉积物的磁性颗粒主要以细颗粒为主,但同时还存在粗颗粒成分.研究结果指示在泥炭表层酸性的亚氧环境中,亚铁磁性矿物在较短的时间内伴随着部分溶解和改造,导致沉积物磁性浓度的降低和粒径的减小,快速的沉积和埋藏之后,长期处于缺氧的碱性还原环境下,磁铁矿发生的变化很小或基本不会再次被改造.     

Evolution of Can-Etili(Canakkale-NW Turkey) lignite basin:Sedimentology,petrology,palynology and lignite characterization

This study examines the development and sedimentology of Can-Etili lignite basin in Biga Peninsula(NW Turkey) along with the palynologic and petrographic properties of the coals in this region.The CanEtili lignite basin discordantly overlies Oligocene-aged Can volcanics.The basin consists of caldera type sedimentation developed by the combined effects of volcanism and tectonics.The volcanic rocks forming the basement of the basin consist of andesitic,dacitic and basaltic lava flows as well as agglomerates,tuff and silicified tuffs,and kaolin which is their alteration product.The basement volcanic rocks cooled from high potassium and calc-alkaline magma.The trace element geochemistry of different rocks within the volcanics reveals that they are from a volcanic arc.The Can Formation contains lignites and consists of6 lithofacies representing alluvial,fluvial,marsh and lacustrine environments.These lithofacies are the lower volcanogenic conglomerate,the claystone,the lignite,the laminated organic claystone,the tuff intercalated sandstone-siltstone and the upper volcanogenic conglomerate.The lignite in the basin is limnic and is formed in a non-fluvial marsh and marsh-lake environment.An abundant percentage of vegetation(Engelhardia,Sapotaceae,Cyrillaceae) is compatible with temperate and subtropical climatic conditions in the basin during sedimentation of lignite.The coals of Can-Etili basin are humic with high sulfur content(6-6.5%average) mostly containing huminite compounds belonging to the class of lignitelow bituminous(C-A) coal.Their coalification rank is between 0.38%and 0.56%Ro.The coals are formed in limnic-limnotelmatic marsh zones based on their microlithotype components.The inorganic components of the coal mostly consist of pyrite and clay.The trace elements,As,Th,U and V,are higher than international coal standards.The coal quality is adversely affected by high sulfur content and sulfur driven trace element enrichments.The lignite reserve(possible-proved) of Can-Etili basin is greater than a hundred million tons,and the average coal seam thickness is 17 m.The lignite production in the basin is 3 mt/year and 1.8 million tons of this are used in the local thermal power plant.     

Effect of organic matter on splash detachment and the processes involved

The influence of organic matter on splash detachment was investigated using soils with grass and peat treatments. The relationship between organic matter and aggregate stability to water disruption was positive for soils with grass treatment while it was negative for those with peat treatment. Organic matter from both treatments, however, reduced splash detachment by rainfall. Soils with grass did this by increasing aggregate stability while peat acted as a mulch on the soil surface. This implies that though organic matter always reduces splash detachment, different processes may be involved, depending on the form of the organic material. Because of the different processes involved, both negative and positive relationships between splash detachment and aggregate stability as reported in literature were obtained for the soils with grass and peat respectively.     

Langzeitprognosen zum Sickerwasseraustrag von Schwermetallen aus Deponien von Müllverbrennungsschlacken

Long‐term Assessment for the Leachate Release of Heavy Metals from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Bottom Ash Monofills Municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) bottom ash was investigated by chemical, mineralogical, and microbiological methods as well as leaching‐ and laboratory lysimeter tests. Compared to geological material bottom ash shows a high content of soluble salts, organic carbon, and heavy metals. The heavy metals are mainly bound in alloys and glas. Addition of oxic and acetic solutions quickly oxigenize the metal‐phases and alloys. Only fixation in newly formed phases like carbonates or hydroxides prevents heavy metal release till pH 7 in case of pH‐reduce. In the long‐term the acid buffer is reduced by the environmental acid input in combination with the release of buffering phases (mostly calcite). Internal acid producing processes like decay of organic matter or oxidation of sulfides are not important for the pH‐decrease. Cu, Ni, and Zn are first released between pH 7 and 6 (mainly Zn) and a second time at pH values below 5 (mainly Cu). Pb is significantly released at pH values below 5, Cr only at pH < 4. Mainly metals, alloys, and the rims of glas are destroyed by leaching. Phases like metal hydroxides (mainly Fe‐phases) or amorphous, water bearing Fe‐Al‐Si‐oxides are finally formed. Long‐term leaching by acetic fluids increases the total availability of heavy metals (except Cr) with increasing time. Kinetic effects including changing of metal binding forms seem to be responsible for this development. Within deposit conditions of limited gas exchange (closed system) the pH of the carbonate buffering zone can drop below pH 7 in case of very strong acid input and quickly cause an enhanced metal release. But in reality such a strong acid input is not to be expected. Calcite will buffer between pH 8 and 7 for a long time. Depending on the environmental conditions (water balance, acidity of rain) and landfill design (compaction, permeability, cover, thickness) it can take hundreds till thousands of years until metal release will start. The long‐term metal release of matter with an acid buffer like carbonates can be approximately determined only by short‐term tests with powder (e.g. pH_static tests at pH 4).     

Continental hydrothermal sedimentary siliceous rock and genesis of superlarge germanium (Ge) deposit hosted in coal: A study from the Lincang Ge deposit,Yunnan, China

The study on marine hydrothermal sedimentationtends to be perfect at present, and a suit of hydrother-mal sedimentary distinguishing criterions (includingstructure, conformation, geochemistry, etc.) has beenfound[1—12]. While it is unsubstantial on the study ofhydrothermal sedimentation in continental deposi-tional environment, and little was known about therelation between continental hydrothermal sedimenta-tion and metal mineralization. The Lincang Ge deposit,hosted in coal with independent…     

Dating basal peat: The geochronology of peat initiation revisited

Attributing the start of peat growth to an absolute timescale requires dating the bottom of peat deposits overlying mineral sediment, often called the basal peat. Peat initiation is reflected in the stratigraphy as a gradual transition from mineral sediment to increasingly organic material, up to where it is called peat. So far, varying criteria have been used to define basal peat, resulting in divergent approaches to date peat initiation. The lack of a universally applicable and quantitative definition, combined with multiple concerns that have been raised previously regarding the radiocarbon dating of peat, may result in apparent ages that are either too old or too young for the timing of peat initiation. Here, we aim to formulate updated recommendations for dating peat initiation. We provide a conceptual framework that supports the use of the organic matter (OM) gradient for a quantitative and reproducible definition of the mineral-to-peat transition (i.e., the stratigraphical range reflecting the timespan of the peat initiation process) and the layer defined as basal peat (i.e., the stratigraphical layer that is defined as the bottom of a peat deposit). Selection of dating samples is often challenging due to poor preservation of plant macrofossils in basal peat, and the representativity of humic and humin dates for the age of basal peat is uncertain. We therefore analyse the mineral-to-peat transition based on three highly detailed sequences of radiocarbon dates, including dates of plant macrofossils and the humic and humin fractions obtained from bulk samples. Our case study peatland in the Netherlands currently harbours a bog vegetation, but biostratigraphical analyses show that during peat initiation the vegetation was mesotrophic. Results show that plant macrofossils provide the most accurate age in the mineral-to-peat transition and are therefore recommendable to use for ¹⁴C dating basal peat. If these are unattainable, the humic fraction provides the best alternative and is interpreted as a terminus-ante-quem for peat initiation. The potential large age difference between dates of plant macrofossils and humic or humin dates (up to ∼1700 years between macrofossil and humic ages, and with even larger differences for humins) suggests that studies reusing existing bulk dates of basal peat should take great care in data interpretation. The potentially long timespan of the peat initiation process (with medians of ∼1000, ∼1300 and ∼1500 years within our case study peatland) demonstrates that choices regarding sampling size and resolution need to be well substantiated. We summarise our findings as a set of recommendations for dating basal peats, and advocate the widespread use of OM determination to obtain a low-cost, quantitative and reproducible definition of basal peat that eases intercomparison of studies.     

Climate changes in East China since the Late-glacial inferred from high-resolution mountain peat humification records

High-resolution peat humification records were obtained from Dajiuhu of the Shennongjia Mountains and Qianmutian of the Tianmu Mountains to study climate changes in East China. The analyses of pollen, organic matters, TOC, and Rb/Sr indicate a high degree of peat humification and thus strong decomposition of organic matter when climate was dry. Conversely, when climate was humid, the degree of humification is low because peat was preserved in a waterlogged condition. Peat humification from Dajiuhu occurred not only during the Younger Dryas (about 11.4–12.6 cal ka BP), the Bølling-Allerød Warm Period (12.6–15.2 cal ka BP), and the Oldest Dryas (about 15.2–16.0 cal ka BP), but also during the early Holocene (about 11.4–9.4 cal ka BP), the 8.2 cal ka BP cold event, and the Holocene Optimum (about 7.0–4.2 cal ka BP). Both peat humification records since nearly 5 ka BP are consistent, showing that mountain peatland has synchronous responses to the East Asia monsoon-induced precipitation. The LOI data confirm the above observation. The monsoon precipitation since nearly 5 ka BP recorded in these two peat profiles can be divided into three phases. During 4.9–3.5 ka BP, precipitation amount was high but fluctuated greatly. During 3.5–0.9 ka BP, precipitation amount was low. During 0.9–0 ka BP, degree of humification reduced gradually, indicating the increase of monsoon precipitation. Contrast to other high-resolution records from East China monsoon region shows that the monsoon precipitation records of the two peat profiles since nearly 16 ka BP are controlled by a common forcing mechanism of summer solar radicalization in the Northern Hemisphere.     

Correlation between molecular absorption spectral slope ratios and fluorescence humification indices in characterizing CDOM

Ultraviolet–visible absorption spectral slope ratios S_R (slope in 275–295 nm divided by slope in 350–400 nm) and humification index (HIX, integrated fluorescence emission in 435–480 nm divided by that in 435–480 and 300–345 nm) were compared when characterizing chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in three humic acids and 44 whole water samples. HIX increased with increasing pH for humic acids, while their S_R showed much more complicated dependencies on pH. There was a negative correlation between S_R and HIX. S_R increased in the order terrestrial coal/peat < terrestrial soil/river < seawater, while HIX increased in the order seawater < terrestrial soil/river < terrestrial coal/peat. The comparative study in this work indicates that terrestrially derived CDOM has higher HIX and lower S_R than marine CDOM. Investigators may potentially use these two indices to compare qualitatively the character of CDOM in different sources (e.g., terrestrial vs. marine).     

The possible hydrologic effects of the proposed lignite open‐cast mining in Drama lignite field,Greece

The present study investigates the possible hydrologic effects of the proposed lignite open‐cast mining in Drama lignite field (north Greece). Recent years have seen a rapid increase in surface mining. This activity has generated a growing concern for the potential environmental impacts associated with large scale surface mining. In order to achieve a safe mine operation and allow extraction of lignite to considerable depths, extensive dewatering by pumping will be necessary, while at the same time it is desirable to avoid presence of overpumping conditions in the broader area. Based on stratigrafic, hydrologic and hydrogeologic data, a three‐dimensional finite difference model was developed in order to simulate the dewatering process of the western part of the lignite open‐cast mine in Drama and to predict both spatially and temporally the decline of ground water level down to the lignite surface. The dewatering of the part of the aquifer which underlies the mine area will influence the hydrological conditions of the broader region. The most important anticipated effects will be the abandonment of shallow wells as well as the decrease of ground water pumping rates of deep wells. Aquifer discharge towards the ditches of the study area will cease and there will be an inversion of ground water flow from the ditches towards the underlying aquifer. Dewatering activities will probably result in minor subsidence of the nearby peat deposits of Drama Philippi marshes. Moreover, sand pumping as well as the presence of gasses is likely to cause local subsidence phenomena, mainly in the pit slopes. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.