Size distribution of quartz in mudrocks

Sixteen penecontemporaneously deposited mudrock-sandstone pairs ranging in age from Devonian to Cretaceous were treated chemically to isolate the quartz and chert fraction from the other constituents of the rocks. The amount of crystalline silica was determined from the chemical treatments; its size distribution was determined using a combination of normal and Micro Mesh sieving and settling tube analysis; the crystalline silica coarser than 10 μu was examined petrographically to determine the amount of chert. Percentages of crystalline silica in the mudrocks range from 6·7 to 46·7 % and average 27·6 (σ= 10·7). Mean grain size ranges from 4·4 φ to 7·3 φ and averages 6·1 φ. The crystalline silica fraction is a poorly sorted medium to fine silt consisting of one-eighth sand, six-eighths silt, and one-eighth clay size sediment. Percentage of crystalline silica and mean size of crystalline silica in the thirty-two mudrocks and sandstones are positively correlated; r= 0·685, which is significant at the 99 % level. The best fit linear regression line is: Y= 102·7–11·3X. Extrapolation of the regression line indicates that, on the average, crystalline silica is lacking in mudrocks in grain sizes finer than 9·1 φ (1·μm), a result consistent with observations by clay mineralogists. The crystalline silica fraction of both the mudrocks and associated sandstones averages 4% chert in the >10 μm portion. There is no correlation between the mean grain size of the crystalline silica and the percentage of chert in it.     

The destabilization of froth by solids. II. The rate-determining step

Hydrophobic quartz and hydrophobic galena were found to destabilize the froth formed when an aqueous solution of non-ionic surfactant was shaken. A relationship between the particle size and the mass of solids required to effect a constant degree of stabilization of the froth was found to hold for hydrophobic quartz from 4 μm to 400 μm and for xanthated galena from 15 μm to 38 μm. This relationship shows that the natural thinning rate of a film between bubbles in a froth is the rate-determining step in the rupturing of the film.     

Static breakage of granitic detritus by ice and water in comparison with breakage by flowing water

Temperature cycling between ?4·5±1·0°C and 13·0±2·0°C in the presence of added water caused significant breakage of granitic detritus. Because cycling with only adsorbed water present also caused breakage, fragmentation is attributed to both the combined action of ice and adsorbed water and to the latter acting alone. Breakage evidently resulted from the gradual tensile opening of pre-existing cracks, weakening then splitting grains. Surviving unbroken grains show evidence of a fatigue effect. Quartz split dominantly along pre-existing subplanar microfractures whereas feldspar and biotite split along crystal cleavages. Degree of breakage and product size distribution depend on the crystalline nature of the parent material, its previous history, and the nature and duration of the breakage process. With the first two factors the same, size distributions from adsorbed water breakage alone and from that due to adsorbed water plus ice differ slightly. Both contrast strongly with those of simulated fluviatile breakage. Whereas the latter preferentially produced 2–20 μm particles (probably debris of inter-particle collisions), static breakage split coarser grains wherever major weaknesses occurred, producing less selective product size distributions with greater proportions of loess-sized material (about 20--60 μ). Characteristic inflections in the size distribution curves of our experimentally produced debris are also shown by samples from the sola of some frost-affected soils. Partially healed microfractures in plutonic quartz are normally spaced at about 1–10 μ—approaching the downward asymptotic comminution limit for brittle solids (about 1 μ). Surficial physical processes are capable of reducing only a small proportion of plutonic quartz to this size before its storage in sediments.     

Bedforms produced by fine, cohesionless, granular and flakey sediments under subcritical water flows

Experiments have been conducted in a 10 m long laboratory flume to investigate the bedforms which develop from fine, cohesionless sediment beds. Two grades of near uniformly sized silica grains (of median nominal diameters 15 and 66 μm) and six grades of micaceous flakes (ranging in median nominal diameter from 15.5 to 76 μm) were used. A steady subcritical water discharge, which was increased in steps after several hours, was applied to a flat bed of each grade. The developing bedform sequence for fine granular beds was identified as many small-sized primary ripples, isolated primary, transverse primary, secondary ripples and then possibly dunes; this development was almost the same as that observed for coarser grains. The sequence for fine flake beds differed from grains. Only the single bedform type of parting lineations was observed; with increased discharge, the lineations began to oscillate and eventually enter into fluid suspension. The low discharge parallel lineations were thought to be generated by ‘streaks’ or lanes of transversely alternate high and low velocity fluid which have been reported to exist in the viscous sub-layer of a turbulent-smooth boundary, whilst the higher discharge wandering lineations were attributed to low velocity streak ‘bursts’.     

Production and pelagic dissolution of biogenic silica in the Southern Ocean

Vertical distributions of particulate silica, and of production and dissolution rates of biogenic silica, were determined on two N-S transects across the Pacific sector of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current during the austral spring of 1978. Particulate silica profiles showed elevated levels in surface water and near the bottom, with low (35–110 nmol Si · 1^?1) and vertically uniform values through the intervening water column. Both the particulate silica content of the upper 200 m and the production rate of biogenic silica in the photic zone increased from north to south, reaching their highest values near the edge of the receding pack ice. A significant, but variable, fraction (18–58%) of the biogenic silica produced in the surface layer was redissolving in the upper 90–98 m. Net production of biogenic silica in the surface layer (production minus dissolution) was proceeding at a mean rate of ca. 2 mmol Si · m^?2 · day^?1. This is ca. 4 times greater than the most recent estimate of the mean accumulation rate of siliceous sediments beneath the ACC. We estimate, based on mass balance, that the mean dissolution rate of biogenic silica in subsurface water column in the Southern Ocean is 1.2–2.9 mmol Si · m^?2 · day^?1.     

Grain size studies on turbidite components from Tyrrhenian deep sea cores

Through an analysis of their coarse-grain composition (>63 μm), pumice-rich sandy layers from deep sea cores were identified as shelf-derived turbidites rather than deposits due to ash rain or drifting pumice. A comparison of median sizes of individual grain types and total samples yielded significant vertical and horizontal sorting trends, which allowed apparently unrelated samples from different cores to be grouped into proximal and distal parts of one turbidite type. A discrimination of samples belonging to unrelated turbidite layers was also possible. In addition, whatever the grain size, planktonic molluscs and foraminifera have Md-diameters 1·1–2·75 times larger than those of pumice. Weathered shallow-water skeletals have Md-diameters approximately equal to pumice, whereas those of augite and hornblende are 1·25–2·3 times smaller. This results in a different proportion of components in proximal and distal turbidite samples. The Md-values of planktonic foraminifera reach their upper natural limit at 250–350 μm.     

Numerical analysis of the transport and restoration schemes of aqueous oil in soils

 On the basis of field investigations and tests, the authors developed a coupling model of water and solute movement to quantitatively analyse the effects of climate condition, irrigation mode, chemical reactions and restoration schemes on aqueous oil (effective oil) distribution using the finite difference method. It is concluded from this study that the effect of strong adsorptive forces between aqueous oil and the soil matrix is the distribution of aqueous oil in the plough layer rather than its migration to groundwater. In addition, restoration schemes involving clean-wastewater mixing irrigation and crop-type adjustment may greatly reduce the aqueous oil concentrations, but clean surface water or groundwater irrigation must be used for complete restoration of the contaminated soils. Received: 26 April 2000 · Accepted: 21 August 2000     

A Tiny Piece of Basalt Probably from Asteroid 4 Vesta

Grove Mountains (GRV) 99018 is a new eucrite (0.23 g), consisting mainly of pyroxene (50.5 vol%) and plagioclase (37.2 vol%) with minor silica minerals (7.0 Vol%) and opaque minerals (5.2 vol%). It was intensely shocked, leading to partial melting, formation of abundant tiny inclusions in pyroxenes and plagioclase, and heavy brecciation. Exsolution of most pyroxenes (1-3μm in width of the lamellae), recrystallization of the shpck-induced melt pockets and veins (5-20μm in size), and homogeneous compositions of pyroxenes of     

The lunar regolith: Chemistry and petrology of Luna 24 grain size fractions

Chemical data are reported for the first time for lunar soil size fractions smaller then 2 μm. We report chemical data for 30 elements by INAA in eight size fractions (370−200, 200−94, 94−74, 74−40, 40−10, 10−5, 5−2 and <2 μm) and petrology of five size fractions (down to 40−10 μm) in two Luna 24 soils, 24176 and 24214. Consistent with our previous results for lunar soils, the compositions of coarser fractions (>10 μm) are quite similar to each other but quite different from the fine fractions (<10 μm). The finer fractions (10–5, 5–2, <2 μm) become increasingly feldspathic and enriched in large-ion lithophile elements (LILE) with decreasing grain size. Chemical data for the finer fractions provide direct evidence in favor of efficient comminution of rock mesostasis and feldspar leading to their preferential incorporation into the finer fractions. High concentrations of meteoritic indicator elements (Ni, Au, Ir) in the finer fractions are consistent with the comminution process by micrometeorite impacts. The chemical data strongly support the F³ (fusion of the finest fraction) model for agglutinate formation.Based on grain size distribution, petrology, and LILE patterns of size fractions, the Luna 24 soils are less reworked than most lunar soils. The Luna 24 regolith appears to have formed as a result of mixing more mature and fine grained material with less mature coarse material in different proportions at different depth intervals.     

祁连山老虎沟地区夏季大气颗粒物中水溶性离子的变化特征

为了研究青藏高原东北缘老虎沟地区大气颗粒物中水溶性无机离子组分的变化特征,于2016年7月16日至8月11日共采集13个PM_2.5样品和4套粒径分级样品。研究结果显示：非沙尘期间,水溶性离子总质量浓度为2.35 μg·m^-3,主要离子SO₄^2-、Ca²⁺、NH₄⁺和NO₃^-的浓度分别为1.28、0.33、0.32和0.28 μg·m^-3,约占水溶性离子浓度总和的94%;沙尘期间,水溶性无机离子总质量浓度为12.63 μg·m^-3,是非沙尘期间浓度的5倍,主要离子SO₄^2-、Ca²⁺、Cl^-、Na⁺和NO₃^-的浓度依次为5.36、4.77、0.80、0.62和0.61 μg·m^-3,约占水溶性离子浓度总和的96%。分级样品分析结果表明,NO₃^-主要分布在粗颗粒模态,可能是前体物在粉尘表面发生非均相反应产生。在沙尘时期,SO₄^2-主要为粉尘贡献,集中分布在粗颗粒模态。在非沙尘时期,SO₄^2-在粗颗粒模态和积聚模态都有较多的分布。积聚模态的SO₄^2-主要是通过前体物与NH₃发生均相反应产生。据估算,非沙尘时期的二次反应对PM_2.5中SO₄^2-的贡献约为80%。     

Early diagenetic recrystallization of Holocene (<3000 years old) peritidal dolomites, Ambergris Cay, Belize

Three peritidal carbonate crusts and associated intercrust sediments (total thickness of ～30cm; aged <3000 years BP) on Ambergris Cay, Belize, contain 32–100% calcian dolomite (δx=72·5% dolomite) ranging in composition from 40 to 46 mol% MgCO₃ (δx=43·3). Dolomite replaced high Mg calcite foraminiferal muds penecontemporaneously with sedimentation, forming partially dolomitized sediments and lithified crusts. Dolomitization probably occurred in normal to moderately evaporated seawater and is apparently continuing at the present. Detailed scanning electron microscope analysis shows a linear increase in mean dolomite crystal size with depth; 0·4 μm near the top of the section to 1·0 μm near the base of the dolomitized section. This size increase is not accompanied by any significant decrease in porosity. Crystal size distributions appear to be log-normal and become increasingly broad and flat with depth. Rietveld X-ray pattern-fitting structure refinements indicate increasing Ca and Mg concentrations on their respective sites (cation ordering) as a function of increasing depth. Most of the ordering occurs within the first 15 cm of the surface. Stoichiometry does not increase with depth indicating no relationship between the Ca/Mg ratio and cation ordering. Strong geochemical trends were observed down-section in the dolomite, including: (1) increasing Mn content (44 to 274 ppm), and (2) decreasing δ¹³C values (?0·9 to ?5·5‰ PDB). Oxygen isotope values range from δ¹⁸O = 1·3‰ PDB in the upper part of the section to 2·6‰ PDB in the lower part of the section and are interpreted to represent two distinct groups of values rather than a continuous trend. Down-section dolomite crystal size increase and shapes of crystal size distributions are consistent with recrystallization via a surface energy-driven dissolution-reprecipitation process (Ostwald ripening). The observed trends in carbon isotopes and Mn content probably result from geochemical re-equilibration during recrystallization and reflect reducing conditions and an isotopically light, organically derived, carbon source. Oxygen isotope compositions probably reflect relict original dolomite values and are a result of decreasing evaporation due to rising sea level.     

基于扫描电镜和CT成像技术的碳酸盐岩溶蚀作用微观结构和变化规律研究

为研究溶蚀作用下碳酸盐岩孔隙的演变规律及控制作用,文章选取三峡地区4种类型碳酸盐岩开展溶蚀实验。同时结合扫描电镜、CT成像对实验前后岩石的溶蚀特征及孔隙结构进行测试。结果表明:溶蚀总发生在低晶格能的矿物处且沿矿物晶体的菱形解理面以及薄弱部位发育,表现为对矿物和孔隙等结构的选择性溶解;碳酸盐岩的孔隙度对溶蚀过程影响较小,岩石的孔径大小是影响碳酸盐岩溶蚀速率的重要因素;小孔径岩石的溶蚀多在样品表面发育小型溶孔,大孔径岩石的溶蚀主要发生在孔隙隙壁且有向岩石内部溶蚀的痕迹;经溶蚀改造,孔喉半径和连通性均呈现出增长趋势。本研究对碳酸盐岩差异性岩溶作用机理及岩溶发育规律的认识有一定指导意义。      

Mobility of arsenic in a Bangladesh aquifer: Inferences from geochemical profiles, leaching data, and mineralogical characterization

Aquifer geochemistry was characterized at a field site in the Munshiganj district of Bangladesh where the groundwater is severely contaminated by As. Vertical profiles of aqueous and solid phase parameters were measured in a sandy deep aquifer (depth >150 m) below a thick confining clay (119 to 150 m), a sandy upper aquifer (3.5 to 119 m) above this confining layer, and a surficial clay layer (<3.5 m). In the deep aquifer and near the top of the upper aquifer, aqueous As levels are low (<10 μg/L), but aqueous As approaches a maximum of 640 μg/L at a depth of 30 to 40 m and falls to 58 μg/L near the base (107 m) of the upper aquifer. In contrast, solid phase As concentrations are uniformly low, rarely exceeding 2 μg/g in the two sandy aquifers and never exceeding 10 μg/g in the clay layers. Solid phase As is also similarly distributed among a variety of reservoirs in the deep and upper aquifer, including adsorbed As, As coprecipitated in solids leachable by mild acids and reductants, and As incorporated in silicates and other more recalcitrant phases. One notable difference among depths is that sorbed As loads, considered with respect to solid phase Fe extractable with 1 N HCl, 0.2 M oxalic acid, and a 0.5 M Ti(III)-citrate-EDTA solution, appear to be at capacity at depths where aqueous As is highest; this suggests that sorption limitations may, in part, explain the aqueous As depth profile at this site. Competition for sorption sites by silicate, phosphate, and carbonate oxyanions appear to sustain elevated aqueous As levels in the upper aquifer. Furthermore, geochemical profiles are consistent with the hypothesis that past or ongoing reductive dissolution of Fe(III) oxyhydroxides acts synergistically with competitive sorption to maintain elevated dissolved As levels in the upper aquifer. Microprobe data indicate substantial spatial comapping between As and Fe in both the upper and deep aquifer sediments, and microscopic observations reveal ubiquitous Fe coatings on most solid phases, including quartz, feldspars, and aluminosilicates. Extraction results and XRD analysis of density/magnetic separates suggest that these coatings may comprise predominantly Fe(II) and mixed valence Fe solids, although the presence of Fe(III) oxyhydroxides can not be ruled out. These data suggest As release may continue to be linked to dissolution processes targeting Fe, or Fe-rich, phases in these aquifers.     

Links between bulk sediment particle size and magnetic grain‐size: general observations and implications for Chinese loess studies

Using a combination of particle size analysis, magnetic measurements, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy imaging, this study shows that in a wide range of depositional environments, there is a strong link between particle size classes and magnetic response, especially below the upper limit of stable single domain magnetic behaviour. Ferrimagnetic grain assemblages dominated by stable single domain magnetosomes regularly have peak susceptibility and remanence values in coarser grades than do those containing finer‐grained, viscous and superparamagnetic secondary magnetic minerals formed during pedogenesis. This effect is despite the fact that there is a one to two orders of magnitude size difference between the particle size boundaries (at 1 or 2 μm) and key domain state transitions (mostly below 0·05 μm). The implications of these results are explored using samples spanning 22 Myr of loess accumulation on the Chinese Loess Plateau. The results from the loess sections, complemented by data from low‐temperature magnetic experiments, show that there are subtle distinctions in mean ferrimagnetic grain‐size between the Pleistocene and Miocene parts of the record, thus allowing more refined rock magnetic interpretations of the fine‐grained ferrimagnetic mineral assemblages arising from the effects of weathering, pedogenesis and possibly diagenesis in the sections studied.     

The initiation and development of metamorphic foliation in the Otago Schist, Part 1: competitive oriented growth of white mica

The 3D shape, size and orientation data for white mica grains sampled along two transects of increasing metamorphic grade in the Otago Schist, New Zealand, reveal that metamorphic foliation, as defined by mica shape‐preferred orientation (SPO), developed rapidly at sub‐greenschist facies conditions early in the deformation history. The onset of penetrative strain metamorphism is marked by the rapid elimination of poorly oriented large clastic mica in favour of numerous new smaller grains of contrasting composition, higher aspect ratios and a strong preferred orientation. The metamorphic mica is blade shaped with long axes defining the linear aspect of the foliation and intermediate axes a partial girdle about the lineation. Once initiated, foliation progressively intensified by an increase in the aspect ratio, size and alignment of grains, although highest grade samples within the chlorite zone record a decrease in aspect ratio and reduction in SPO strength despite continued increase in grain size. These trends are interpreted in terms of progressive competitive anisotropic growth of blade‐shaped grains so that the fastest growth directions and blade lengths tend to parallel the extension direction during deformation. The competitive nature of mica growth is indicated by the progressive increase in size and resultant decrease in number of metamorphic mica with increasing grade, from c. 1000 relatively small mica grains per square millimetre of thin section at lower grades, to c. 100 relatively large grains per square millimetre in higher grade samples. Reversal of SPO intensity and grain aspect ratio trends in higher grade samples may reflect a reduction in the strain rate or reduction in the deviatoric component of the stress field.     

Origin of quartz cements in some sandstones from the Jurassic of the Inner Moray Firth (UK)

The extent of quartz cementation in shallow marine sandstones of the Brora Arenaceous Formation (Oxfordian) is closely related to the occurrence and abundance of Rhaxella perforata sponge spicules. Three cement morphologies are identified, chalcedonic quartz, microquartz and mesoquartz. Chalcedonic quartz forms matrix-supported cements which preserve moulds of Rhaxella spicules. Chalcedonic quartz crystals have inequant development of crystal faces, on average 0·1 μm in diameter, and are the first formed cement and reveal homogeneous dark grey tones on the SEM-CL/BEI. Microquartz forms 5–10 μm diameter crystals, which commonly grow on chalcedonic quartz substrates and show various grey tones under SEM-CL/BEI. Mesoquartz crystals grow in optical continuity with their host grains, have >20 μm a-axial diameter crystals, and exhibit distinctly zoned luminescence. Although no opaline silica is preserved, the quartz cement is interpreted to have formed from an opaline precursor. Detrital quartz has an average δ¹⁸O composition of + 12·2‰ and mesoquartz (syntaxial overgrowth) has an average δ¹⁸O composition of +20·0‰. Estimates of the δ¹⁸O compositions of microquartz and chalcedonic quartz are complicated by the problem of isolating the two textural types; mixtures of the two give consistently higher δ¹⁸O compositions than mesoquartz, the higher estimate being +39·2‰. From oxygen isotope data the formation of quartz, microquartz and chalcedonic quartz is interpreted to have taken place between 35 and 71°C in marine derived pore waters. Organic and inorganic maturation data constrain the upper temperature limit to less than 60°C.     

Gold Grade and Tonnage Models of the Gold Deposits, China

Abstract: The gold grade and tonnage modelling is applied to some types of the gold deposits in China, including placer, Archaean lode, slate belt, Carlin, volcanogenic, skarn and Shandong Peninsula, among others. The Shandong Peninsula type denotes the gold deposit, which was formed in an intensely reshaped Archaean greenstone belt. The modelling results show: (1) the Archaean lode gold deposits of China are similar to the Homestake type in gold grades. (2) The Chinese slate belt type gold deposits are marked by moderately lower gold grades but considerably larger ore volumes than the similar type elsewhere. (3) The Carlin style gold deposits of China are identified by higher Au grades but evidently smaller sizes in comparison with their counterparts in western North America. (4) The volcanogenic (continental) style is similar to Sado epithermal veins in gold grade‐tonnage models and general characteristics while volcanogenic gold deposits of the oceanic subgroup contrast with Kuroko‐type deposits in the gold grade model. But the Chinese volcanogenic (oceanic) subtype (Palaeozoic age) shows similar higher gold grades to those of the Palaeozoic Kuroko‐type deposits elsewhere. (5) Porphyry and skarn gold deposits tend to have a large size but low grade. (6) Less than half of the Shandong Peninsula gold deposits are of ore volumes exceeding the 50th intercept of the relevant gold tonnage model, implying possible undiscovered gold deposits with a larger size in the peninsula. (7) In general, Chinese gold deposits of larger sizes tend to have lower gold grades in relation to gold grade models. (8) Gold grade‐tonnage models can be effectively influenced by how to include or exclude non‐economic gold resources in the modelling. Ore volumes of gold deposits actually to some extent depend on gold grades. Consequently, the way of including or excluding low‐grade values may effect a gold grade‐tonnage model and cause different interpretation of the modelling results. This is particularly true to the gold deposits, which generally show an inverse correlation between gold grade and tonnage.     

Polymer-stabilized emulsions and fine-particle recovery,II. The chalcopyrite-quartz system

The interaction between fine, generally ?2 μm chalcopyrite and polymer-stabilized oil droplets has been studied as a function of pH and weight percent solids in the pH range from 5 to 12. Oil droplets stabilized by partially esterified polymethacrylic acid and cellulose xanthate have been used as collectors. Chalcopyrite may be efficiently separated from fine quartz gangue at pH 11, using cellulose xanthate stabilized emulsions. Good recovery and grade may be obtained at pH 11 up to pulp densities of at least 5.1 wt.%. At other pH values, selectivity is poor due to Cu¹¹ species from chalcopyrite activating the quartz surface.     

硅灰石与盐酸快速反应规律及应用研究

反应体系pH≤1．5时，硅灰石与盐酸快速反应，反应后体系中Si,Ca,Fe,Mg等元素在固液两相中化学状态及分布不同，当pH值为0．3－0．6时，液相中SiO2(硅溶胶）比例最大，Ca主要存在于液相中，但固相中总有少量Ca存在。快速反应固相比表面积较大，若反应前添加PEG，反应后中和到pH=4，可制备高比表面多孔SiO2，其比表面积＞430m^2/g，孔径1－2nm，该产物在合成以二氧化硅为基质的纳米复合材料及用作催化剂载体等方面有较好的应用前景。     

Amorphous silica solubilities—I. Behavior in aqueous sodium nitrate solutions; 25–300°C, 0–6 molal

The solubility of amorphous silica was obtained in aqueous sodium nitrate solutions up to six molal and at temperatures from 25 to 300°C. It was expected that solubilities in aqueous sodium chloride solutions would be similar. At 25°C, the solubility of amorphous silica is lowered from that in water to 0.00086 m in 6.12 m sodium nitrate, or a decrease of 60%. At 300°C, the corresponding decrease is only 27% from a solubility of 0.0269 m in H₂O. From the change in solubility with temperature at a given constant molality of sodium nitrate, the molal heat of solution over the range, 100 to 300°C, increases from + 2.93 kcal mol^?1 in water to + 3.64 kcal mol^?1 in 6m sodium nitrate. The value approaches a constant of +3.8 kcal mol^?1 as sodium nitrate approaches saturation at 10.8 molal.