Ore dust pollution and body temperatures of intertidal animals

Intertidal animals were dusted with iron ore dust and, even after two full tidal cycles, when exposed to direct sunlight during low tide the treated animals heated faster, reached higher temperatures and cooled faster than controls. No short term mortalities were observed. Ore coating changes the colour of the animals and it would appear that colour is one of the important mechanisms controlling the heat budget. Ore dust pollution may therefore have a long-term effect on intertidal animals through its effect on their heat balance.     

Effects of seawater suspensions of iron ore dust on Fucus oospheres

When shaken in ore dust suspensions and when made to sink through ore dust suspensions in water columns, freshly liberated Fucus oospheres (eggs) act as centres for the build-up of dust particle aggregates. Dust laden oospheres are less efficient as attractants of spermatozoids. The amounts of dust ‘loading’ of the eggs depends on the initial sizes of the dust particle aggregates formed in seawater.     

Marine algae as collectors of iron ore dust

Marine algae from intertidal habitats, when shaken in iron ore dust suspensions in seawater, take up appreciable quantities of the dust load. The quantities taken up vary with the modes of thallus construction. Considerable quantities of ore dust are retained by the plants after shaking for periods of up to 15h in dust free seawater. Marine algae can be used as a monitoring system for ore dust loading of seawater due to accidental spillages in the v vicinity of ore unloading terminals.     

An experimental study on iron accumulation in the clam Mactra lilacea

Iron concentration in laboratory-maintained Mactra lilacea when exposed to sea water with a particle load of 1 kg m^?3 of iron ore dust was found to increase rapidly due to the filtering activity of these bivalves. This temporary store of iron diminished as iron ore was eliminated as faeces and also when the animals were allowed to purge themselves in clean sea water.     

A mesocosm experiment investigating the effects of substratum quality and wave exposure on the survival of fish eggs

In a mesocosm experiment, the attachment of bream (Abramis brama) eggs to spawning substrata with and without periphytic biofilm coverage and their subsequent survival with and without low-intensity wave exposure were investigated. Egg attachment was reduced by 73% on spawning substrata with a natural periphytic biofilm, compared to clean substrata. Overall, this initial difference in egg numbers persisted until hatching. The difference in egg numbers was even increased in the wave treatment, while it was reduced in the no-wave control treatment. Exposure to a low-intensity wave regime affected egg development between the two biofilm treatments differently. Waves enhanced egg survival on substrata without a biofilm but reduced the survival of eggs on substrata with biofilm coverage. In the treatment combining biofilm-covered substrata and waves, no attached eggs survived until hatching. In all treatments, more than 75% of the eggs became detached from the spawning substrata during the egg incubation period, and <1% of these detached eggs survived within the substratum interstices. Hence, detached eggs contributed little to the reproductive success we observed. The implications of these results on the spawning success of fish species that use freshly inundated spawning substrata in shallow waters are discussed.     

Effects of salinity variation on iron ore dust sedimentation rates

Time course measurements of iron ore dust sedimentation rates in sea-water of different salinities have shown that dust particle settlements occur at similar rates in normal sea-water and in that diluted to 50%. With salinities similar to those in brackish water conditions the sedimentation rates were rapid compared with those in fresh water.     

Effect of ammonium jarosite on early life stages of a saltwater fish,Cyprinodon variegatus

Embryos and juveniles of the sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus), a saltwater fish, were exposed to ammonium jarosite, a waste product of the processing of zinc ore, during a 28-day posthatch, flow-through toxicity test. Exposure to measured ammonium jarosite concentrations ≤ 290 ppm had no significant effect on the hatching success of embryos. However, slight delays in hatching were observed in test concentrations ≥ 140 ppm. Although exposure to test concentrations ≥ 140 ppm significantly decreased the ability of juvenile fish to uncurl after hatching, juvenile mortality was significantly increased only in test concentrations ≥ 230 ppm. There was no effect on growth of juvenile fish in jarosite concentrations ≤ 230 ppm. The estimated maximum acceptable toxicant concentration (MATC), based on measured concentrations, was > 140< 230 ppm.     

Incubation,hatching and survival of eggs of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in spawning redds influenced by groundwater

Many west coastal and northern Norwegian rivers run through deep, confined valleys with permeable layers of glacial and alluvial deposits. Groundwater flows through these permeable layers and enter lakes and rivers as underwater seepage and springs. Groundwater inflow to inland Norwegian rivers may constitute 40–100% of total water discharge during low flow periods in late summer and winter. Juvenile salmonids may take advantage of groundwater upwellings and actively seek out such patches. In regulated rivers groundwater influx may create refuges during low flow or hydropeaking episodes. The importance of groundwater for salmon redd site selection and egg survival is also clear, although less known and documented in regulated rivers.Eggs of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are deposited in redds in river bed gravels lacking fine sediments and with high oxygen levels. Egg development is therefore dependent on the interaction of a number of environmental factors such as groundwater influx, oxygen and temperature. Atlantic salmon in the regulated River Suldalslågen, Western Norway, spawn relatively late compared to other Norwegian rivers, with a peak in early January. Newly emerged fry are found from the end of May to the beginning of June, i.e. “swim up” one month earlier than expected using models for egg and alevin development and river water temperatures. The most plausible explanation is that groundwater has a higher and more stable temperature than surface river water. In field experiments, fertilized salmon eggs were placed in boxes close to natural spawning redds in the river bed at sites influenced and those not influenced by groundwater. A difference of up to 40 days in 50% hatching was found, and “swim up” occurred at the end of May in boxes influenced by groundwater.Preliminary studies have revealed that groundwater also plays an important role in survival of salmon eggs in the River Suldalslågen when dewatered in winter. Eggs placed in boxes in groundwater seepage areas during winter in the dewatered river bed survived even when covered by ice and snow. The survival from fertilization until 30 April, one month before hatching, was 91%, the same survival as found for eggs placed in boxes in the wetted river bed. However, mortality from fertilization to hatching was higher compared to the eggs placed in wetted river bed, 57 and 91% respectively.Groundwater creates a horizontal and vertical mosaic of temperatures in spawning redd areas leading to potentially greater variation in spawning sites, time of hatching and “swim up”. This is likely to increase egg survival during low flow periods in regulated rivers. In conclusion, the interaction between groundwater and surface river water should therefore be considered when managing fish populations in regulated rivers.     

Cargo spillage at an iron ore unloading terminal

Dust deposition in the sea at an iron ore unloading terminal in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, was measured by means of sediment collectors placed 10 m above the sea bed on the outer face of the unloading jetty. A ‘background’ sedimentation of up to 64 g m^?2 day^?1 of non-ferrous material was obtained with no ships in port. During unloading dust quantities up to 18 021 g m^?2 day^?1 were obtained, but the quantities depended on the type of ore unloaded, and much smaller quantities of sediment were obtained with ores less prone to fine particle formation. Any ecological effects would involve sea bed benthos, although rates of transportation of the sedimented dust are probably rapid in the immediate vicinity of the ore terminal.     

Effects of γ-Rays on Hatching' of the Eggs and Survival Period of Fries of Cyprinus carpio

The eggs of Cyprinus carpio were irradiated by 5 different strengths: 0.0258, 0.129, 0.258, 0.516 and 1.29 C/kg (100, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 R) of γ-rays in the batches of 50 fertilized eggs. The activities of eggs and hatched fries were noted after irradiation doses. The hatching percentages of the eggs were reported for each group. The percentage of hatched eggs of Cyprinus carpio after radiation doses of 0.0258, 0.129, 0.258, 0.516 and 1.29 C/kg (100, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 R) was 30%, 24%, 28%, 30%, and 34%, respectively. The 50% mortality period of fries for the above strengths of the γ-rays was 8 days, 7 days, 6 days. 4 days and 4 days, respectively. The survival period of the fries was 11 days, 9 days, 8 days, 7 days and 6 days, respectively. All fries hatched from the eggs irradiated by γ-rays showed early hatching, a higher percentage of mortality, a retarded and abnormal development of the body. A statistical analysis of the results by the correlation coefficient also proved that the hatching percentages of the fries and the survival period of fries are directly proportional to the strength of the γ-rays and inversely proportional to the strength of γ-rays, respectively.     

西安市道路灰尘磁学特征及其对环境的响应

西安市道路表面灰尘样品的环境磁学研究显示磁化率(χ)、非磁滞磁化率（χ_ARM）以及饱和等温剩磁（SIRM）均比较高,表明样品中磁性矿物含量较高.其中磁化率（χ）主要受人类活动强度影响,而非磁滞磁化率（χ_ARM）及饱和等温剩磁（SIRM）则由人为活动强度和磁性矿物种类共同决定.κ-T曲线以及等温剩磁（IRM）获得曲线显示样品中磁铁矿和磁赤铁矿等亚铁磁性矿物占主导,并可能含有少量的单质铁,其相对含量与人类活动种类有关：与单纯的交通排放及冶金活动相比,密集的人群流动可带来更多的单质铁矿物.磁畴图谱显示磁性矿物粒径变化不大,以准单畴及多畴颗粒等粗颗粒为主,明显大于成土作用形成的磁性颗粒.综合磁性矿物含量种类以及粒径可辨别污染及污染来源,提供污染监测的磁学手段,并初步进行污染来源划分.     

Mineralogical characterization of the thrusted manganese ore above the Blackridge Thrust Fault,Kalahari Manganese Field: The footprint of the Mukulu Enrichment

The thrusted manganese ore above the Blackridge Thrust Fault is a predominantly unstudied ore‐type and as such, there is an urgent need to petrographically characterize it. A total of 80 samples were collected from the thrusted lower manganese ore bed of six boreholes on Mukulu in the north of the Kalahari Manganese Field. Each sample underwent a range of optical and electron petrographic analyses in order to effectively characterize three dominant stages of alteration, namely Stages 1, 2 and 3. Similar to the hydrothermally‐altered Wessels‐type manganese ore, braunite II is the predominant mineral phase present during Stage 1 alteration, and alters to bixbyite with increasing proximity to normal faults at the onset of Stage 2 alteration. The final stage of alteration is exhibited by the development of hausmannite and jacobsite adjacent to the ferruginised zone at the normal fault plane. Apatite precipitation, in abundances previously undocumented in the Kalahari Manganese Field, is a hallmark feature of the newly identified Mukulu Enrichment. This supergene‐related enrichment process contributed to the significant abundance of arsenic‐bearing apatite in the ore, whilst residually enriching the ore‐hosted Fe and Mn oxides.     

Effects on hatching in Littorina littorea after an oil spill

One year after an accidental spill of approx. 2000 t of Iranian crude oil on the west coast of Norway, specimens of the gastropod Littorina littorea were collected from the oil polluted shore and allowed to spawn in the laboratory. Snails were also collected from an unpolluted reference site. The oil contamination seemed to have no detectable effects on fertilization. However, the hatching success of the veliger larvae was significally less in the ‘oil polluted’ population. Some highly abnormal eggs were also observed in this egg population.     

高分辨率航磁方法及在大冶铁矿区的应用

本文针对危机矿山深部及周边找矿的难度大、勘探周期短的特点,提出了一套以找矿为目的,集直升机大比例尺航空物探测量、数据处理、解释为一体的高分辨率航磁方法技术.这些方法包括硬架式直升机航磁测量方法、曲面位场处理方法、精细反演解释方法等.应用该方法在湖北黄石大冶铁矿中布钻,已有两孔见富磁铁矿及伴生的铜、金矿,见矿最大厚度为14.6m.因此,高分辨率航磁方法在危机矿山进一步挖潜工作中可以实现快速找矿目的.     

DISCOVERY OF DIRECT-SHIPPING IRON ORE BY GEOPHYSICAL METHODS IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE LABRADOR TROUGH*

The deposits of the central sector of the Labrador Trough are magnetite-rich iron ores subjected to enrichment by the process of leaching. In spite of the fact that some ore types are porous and low in density, most of the ore zones have undergone a net increase in density brought about by enrichment. In the course of their formation, the magnetic characteristics of the rocks have changed and a great deal of the magnetite was altered to relatively non-magnetic iron oxides and hydrous iron oxides. Consequently, induced as well as remanent magnetization decreased, but the ratio of the latter with respect to the former increased substantially. All drift-covered areas underlain with iron-formation are potential ore producing areas. From measurements of the first two physical properties and determination of the thickness of overburden by means of a combined gravity-magnetic-seismic or resistivity survey, it is possible to detect and distinguish the iron formations and potential ore zones from the country rocks. In spite of the fact that the iron formations are a complex assemblage of rock types, each having different physical and chemical properties, a qualitative and semi-quantitative correlation between the results of the surveys and the geology as well as the structure of the area could be established. Consequently, in order to increase the chances of success, first a mathematical correlation of the amplitude of the gravity anomalies with the specific gravity, the iron content, the silica content, the porosity factors and the dimensions of the underlying orebodies, and secondly, a quantitative correlation of the ground magnetic intensity relative to the reference lithologie unit with the percentage of Fe₃ O₄ recovery and the volume magnetic susceptibility were done for many deposits. A few discoveries were made with this method. Finally, a fully quantitative interpretation of the geophysical data using a multimodeling analysis led to the discovery of additional direct-shipping iron ore deposits in the Schefferville mining district of Canada.     

空地磁残差计算在平原厚覆盖区找矿应用

磁法是寻找隐伏磁铁矿最有效的地球物理方法,但是厚覆盖层下方铁矿体产生的磁异常较弱,有必要综合空地磁场数据突出铁矿弱异常信息.为有效利用已有的空地磁场数据及在山东齐河平原厚覆盖区实现深部找矿新突破,本文介绍了区域磁场及深部铁矿磁场特征,以不同高度磁场变化规律为依据,设计理论模型获取了不同高度正演磁场,通过计算空地磁残差,突出深部铁矿引起的弱异常.为了验证方法的实际效果,利用近年在该地区实测航空及地面磁场数据计算磁残差,结合推断的地质构造,分析找矿有利部位,确定钻探验证位置.     

Inhibited hatching success of marine fish eggs by power plant effluent

The hatching success of California grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) was significantly reduced by a non-thermal component of the effluent from an electricity generating station. The embryos appeared to develop normally morphologically but showed reduced viability with respect to hatching.     

Magnetic particles in indoor dust as marker of pollution emitted by different outside sources

The potential relation between outdoor pollutants and the quality of indoor air was evaluated. A case study was carried out in the small town of Zyrardow situated south-west of Warsaw, Poland. The indoor dust from 20 apartments from several parts of the town that are anticipated to be exposed to various levels of pollution was investigated: a mildly polluted area (suburban), a heating plant area, a post-industrial area and the city center. For evaluation of indoor dust several magnetic parameters (mass-specific magnetic susceptibility χ, its temperature dependence, anhysteretic remanent magnetization, hysteresis loop parameters) were applied. Analysis of magnetic properties was supplemented by analysis of chemical elements: Cd, Cu, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. Depending on the location of apartments, large variations in concentration, mineralogy and grain-size of magnetic particles were detected. The thermomagnetic analysis revealed magnetite as a primary magnetic phase. In indoor dust, the Curie temperature of ~760°C and soft hysteresis loops with relatively low coercivity values of ~1.5-5 mT are an attribute of metallic iron. The dust collected from apartments located near the local heating plant area, in contaminated post-industrial and suburban areas contains mainly magnetite and only a small amount of metallic iron. Mass-specific magnetic susceptibility is in the range from 40 to 200 × 10^-8 m³kg^-1 and linearly correlates with concentration of individual heavy metals: Ni, Cr, Co and Zn. Magnetic fraction of dust from the city center mainly consists of magnetite and variable amounts of metallic iron. Magnetic susceptibility shows linear correlations with concentration of Fe and concentration of individual heavy metals (Zn, Ni and Co) considered as traffic-related. The study demonstrates that metallic iron present in indoor dust is a potential marker of trafficrelated sources and it makes it possible to use magnetic methods as a tool for evaluation of traffic-related impact on indoor air levels.     

Detrimental effects of reduced seawater pH on the early development of the Pacific abalone

The hatching process of the Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai was prolonged at a pH of 7.6 and pH 7.3, and the embryonic developmental success was reduced. The hatching rate at pH 7.3 was significantly (10.8%) lower than that of the control (pH 8.2). The malformation rates at pH 7.9 and pH 8.2 were less than 20% but were 53.8% and 77.3% at pH 7.6 and pH 7.3, respectively. When newly hatched larvae were incubated for 48 h at pH 7.3, only 2.7% of the larvae settled, while more than 70% of the larvae completed settlement in the other three pH treatments. However, most 24 h old larvae could complete metamorphosis in all four pH treatments. Overall, a 0.3-unit reduction in water pH will produce no negative effect on the early development of the Pacific abalone, but further reduction in pH to the values predicted for seawater by the end of this century will have strong detrimental effects.     

Effect of rock fragment embedding on the aeolian deposition of dust on stone‐covered surfaces

Many stone‐covered surfaces on Earth are subject to aeolian deposition of atmospheric dust. This study investigates how the deposition of dust is affected when rock fragments become gradually more embedded in the ground or, inversely, become more concentrated on the surface. Experiments were executed in an aeolian dust wind tunnel with eight different types of pebbles. The following parameters were measured: dust deposition on the pebbles, dust deposition between and underneath pebbles, total dust deposition (pebbles + inter‐pebble space), and the fraction, of total deposition, of dust caught by the pebbles alone. The absolute amount of dust deposition and the dust deposition density (dust deposition per unit surface) were studied for each parameter. The effects exerted by pebble size, pebble flattening, pebble elongation and wind speed were also investigated. Dust patterns on and around pebbles were also studied via flow visualization. The absolute amount of dust settling on pebbles decreases the more that the pebbles become embedded. Dust deposition density on pebbles, on the other hand, increases with embedding. The more pebbles become embedded in the soil, the more efficient the process of dust deposition on pebbles becomes. Dust deposition between and underneath pebbles increases with pebble embedding. Dust deposition density between and underneath pebbles is maximum at 50 per cent embedding, showing that in this area dust deposition is most efficient when pebbles are halfway embedded. Total deposition slightly decreases the more pebbles become embedded, but total dust deposition density increases with embedding. Aerodynamic flow separation and diverging and converging airflow play an important role in the process of dust deposition on stone‐covered surfaces. The more pebbles protrude above the soil, the more they act as an obstacle and the more they disturb the air and dust flow creating scouring zones, flow separation bubbles and shelter areas for the dust. All these effects diminish as pebbles become more embedded in the soil. However, perturbations in dust patterns remain visible until pebbles have disappeared entirely. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.