Effects of heavy metal (Pb) concentration on some growth parameters of plants grown in lead polluted soil under organic fertilizer amendment

This study investigated morphological variation and biomass accumulation that occurred in Sida acuta and Chromolaena odorata plants grown in lead polluted soil under organic fertilizer amendment. The study was carried out in the screen house at the Biological Gardens of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. The experiment was a factorial combination of one heavy metal (Pb) at five levels of concentration (0, 200, 400, 800 and 1,000 mg/kg) in a completely randomized design, and were replicated three times for each of the two plants and two levels (0 g/kg and 9.4 g/kg) of organic fertilizer (OBD-Plus). Each pot was filled with 5 kg of air-dried and sieved soil and placed on a plastic tray for the collection of excess water. Two weeks after planting, seedlings of uniform height were transplanted from the nursery to experimental pots at the rate of one seedling per pot and grown for 10 weeks. The growth parameters of the plants were biomonitored for 7 weeks. After 10 weeks of treatment, the plants were harvested and dried to calculate the biomass accumulation. The two plant species performed better under fertilizer application than without it. For each of the plant species the growth parameters decreased as the levels of Pb concentration increased. Furthermore, the plants' biomass decreased significantly (p<0.05) as the levels of Pb concentration increased. The organic fertilizer helped to improve the plants' performance in lead-polluted soil.     

The Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic passive margin Lajeado Group and Apiaí Gabbro,Southeastern Brazil

The Lajeado Group in the Ribeira Belt,southeastern Brazil,corresponds to an open-sea carbonate platform,comprised of seven overlapping siliciclastic and carbonatic formations,intruded in its upper portion by the Apiai Gabbro.These rocks have a Neoproterozoic tectonometamorphic overprint related to arc magmatism and the Brasiliano collisional orogeny.Geochronological constraints are given by new UPb SHRIMP and LA-ICP-MS data for Lajeado Group detrital zircons and for magmatic zircons from the Apiai Gabbro.The youngest detrital zircons in the Lajeado Group are 1400-1200 Ma,and constrain its maximum age of deposition to be 1200 Ma,whereas the 877 ± 8 Ma age for magmatic zircons in the Apiai Gabbro give the minimum age.Detritus source areas are mainly Paleoproterozoic(2200-1800 Ma)with some Archean and Mesoproterozoic contribution(1500-1200 Ma),with distal or tectonic stable cratonic character.The Lajeado Group should be a Stenian-Tonian carbonate platform passive margin of a continent at this time,namely the Columbia/Nuna or the Rodinia.The Apiai Gabbro displays similar age to other intrusive basic rocks in the Lajeado and Itaiacoca groups and represents tholeiitic MORB-like magmatism that we relate to the initial break-up of a Mesoproterozoic continent and the formation of the Brasiliano oceans.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987115000882

A detailed vibrational Raman-IR spectroscopic and diffractional analyses have been performed on basalts from two locations from Tenerife Island:(1) the Arenas Negras volcano which belongs to the historical eruption not showing visible alteration and(2) Pillow Lavas zone from Anaga Massif which shows a clearly fluid-rock interaction caused by submarine alteration.These places have been extensively studied due to its similarity with the surface of Mars.The analysis is based on the mineral detection of selected samples by a Micro-Raman study of the materials.The complementary techniques have confirmed the mineralogy detected by the Raman measurement.The results show a volcanic environment behavior with primary phases like olivine,pyroxene,and feldspar/plagioclase.Moreover,the presence of accessory minerals or secondary mineralization like phosphate,iron oxides,zeolite or carbonates shows the alteration processes on each outcrop.The variation in the crystallinity and amorphous phases is related to fluid-rock interaction caused by hydrothermal episodes and external weathering processes,which shows several analogies with the ancient volcanic activity from Mars.     

The Gondwana Orogeny in northern North Patagonian Massif:Evidences from the Caita Có granite,La Se?a and Pangaré mylonites,Argentina

Structural analyses in the northern part of the North Patagonia Massif,in the foliated Caita Co granite and in La Sena and Pangare mylonites,indicate that the pluton was intruded as a sheet-like body into an opening pull-apart structure during the Gondwana Orogeny.Geochronological studies in the massif indicate a first,lower to middle Permian stage of regional deformation,related to movements during indentation tectonics,with emplacement of foliated granites in the western and central areas of the North Patagonian Massif.Between the upper Permian and lower Triassic,evidence indicates emplacement of undeformed granitic bodies in the central part of the North Patagonian Massif.A second pulse of deformation between the middle and upper Triassic is related to the emplacement of the Caita Co granite,the development of mylonitic belts,and the opening of the Los Menucos Basin.During this pulse of deformation,compression direction was from the eastern quadrant.     

Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction of the Early to Middle Miocene Sequence in West Central Sinai,Egypt, as Revealed from Fossil Diatoms

A detailed analysis of the diatoms from the sedimentary sequence exposed in Abu Qada basin, west central Sinai, was used to determine the palaeoenvironmental changes during the Lower to Middle Miocene. A total of 85 diatom species and varieties belonging to 37 genera were identified from 154 samples collected throughout the stratigraphic succession. The lithological characters of the studied samples varied between sandstone, silty interbeds, sandy shales, shales, and terminated with anhydrite and limestones. These rock units are included in two lithostratigraphic formations (Rudies and Kareem), which are separated by a marked unconformity. The distribution and preservation of fossil diatoms in the sedimentary record are examined with the aim of outlining the temporal and spatial variation in the composition of the diatom assemblages, in order to estimate the changes in depositional environments during the Lower to Middle Miocene. The distributional pattern of the recorded diatom taxa distinguished four diatom eco-zones. The environment of each eco-zone is deduced and a proposed paleobathymetric change and depositional history of the Miocene sediments in the studied area are given.     

Is Ziarat a Potential Site for Conventional or Unconventional Energy Resources?

A structural interpretation of the Ziarat block in the Balochistan region (a part of the Suleiman Fold and Thrust Belt) has been carried out using seismic and seismological data. Seismic data consists of nine 2.5D pre‐stack migrated seismic lines, whereas the seismological data covers the Fault Plane Solution and source parameters. Structural interpretation describes two broad fault sets of fore and back thrusts in the study area that have resulted in the development of pop‐up structures, accountable for the structural traps and seismicity pattern in terms of seismic hazard. Seismic interpretation includes time and depth contour maps of the Dungan Formation and Ranikot group, while seismological interpretation includes Fault Plane Solution, that is correlated with a geological and structural map of the area for the interpretation of the nature of the subsurface faults. Principal stresses are also estimated for the Ranikot group and Dungan Formation. In order to calculate anisotropic elastic properties, the parameters of the rock strength of the formations are first determined from seismic data, along with the dominant stresses (vertical, minimum horizontal, and maximum horizontal). The differential ratio of the maximum and minimum horizontal stresses is obtained to indicate optimal zones for hydraulic fracturing, and to assess the potential for geothermal energy reservoir prospect generation. The stress maps indicate high values towards the deeper part of the horizon, and low towards the shallower part, attributed to the lithological and structural variation in the area. Outcomes of structural interpretation indicate a good correlation of structure and tectonics from both seismological and seismic methods.     

Intraseasonal oscillation of the southwest monsoon over Sri Lanka and evaluation of its subseasonal forecast skill

斯里兰卡的雨季发生于5-9月间,主要受西南季风的控制.本文发现该地区的西南季风降水存在很强的次季节变率,主导周期为10-35天.降水的季节内变化与西传的异常气旋有关.进一步,利用S2S比较计划中欧洲中心的数值预报模式(ECMWF)提供的回报试验数据,评估了当今动力模式对斯里兰卡西南季风次季节变化的预报技巧.结果显示,对季风指数的预测技巧超过30天,而对降水指数的预测技巧大约两周,且模式的预报技巧具有明显的年际差异.分析表明,能否正确模拟出大尺度环流对热带对流的响应是影响斯里兰卡降水预测的重要因子.     

间接DGM(1,1)模型在基坑沉降预测中的应用

选取某一基坑沉降监测点,该点11个周期的累计沉降量为近似非齐次指数增长序列,以Java为工具对该点进行编程计算,得到GM(1,1)、DGM(1,1)、间接DGM(1,1)3种模型的基坑沉降预测结果。对比分析发现,间接DGM(1,1)模型精度高于GM(1,1)和DGM(1,1)模型,其C值仅为0.01,且残差值增加缓慢,近似于一条水平线,实测值与预测值非常接近,适用范围广,弥补了另两种模型不能进行长期预测的缺憾。     

新疆卡鲁安硬岩型锂矿床成矿流体性质：来自He—Ar同位素证据

卡鲁安锂矿床位于新疆北部的阿尔泰造山带,是以锂辉石为主要矿石矿物的硬岩型锂矿床。前人对该矿床的岩石成因、成矿机制及构造背景已经有了初步的认识,但对该矿区内成矿流体的研究仍是空白,这将在一定程度上影响对矿床成因的认识。本文通过分析卡鲁安伟晶岩中锂辉石和石英流体包裹体He、Ar同位素组成,对成矿流体进行示踪研究。研究表明,含矿伟晶岩的n(3He) /n(4He) 为0. 25~3.19 Ra（平均0.97 Ra）,无矿伟晶岩与外围伟晶岩n(3He) /n(4He) 为0.13~5.32 Ra（平均1.13 Ra）,均介于壳源与幔源He之间。根据成矿流体的壳幔二元混合模式进行计算：含矿伟晶岩中的地幔流体比例为3.55% ~ 48.92%,平均值为14.67%;无矿伟晶岩与外围伟晶岩地幔流体占比为1.70% ~ 81.79%,平均值为17.13%。含矿伟晶岩成矿流体的n(40Ar) /n(36Ar)为552.50~13353. 00,n(40Ar*)相对含量为46.52% ~ 97.79%,平均值为87.25%,大气的Ar贡献平均为12.75%。分析结果显示,成矿流体主要以壳源流体为主,部分幔源流体和改造型饱和大气水的混合流体,随着成矿作用的进行,地幔He与大气饱和水改造Ar皆有所减少。值得注意的是卡鲁安锂矿床成矿流体中幔源物质并非真的来自于地幔物质上侵,更有可能是来源于元古代的不成熟陆壳熔融。新疆卡鲁安锂矿床形成于陆—陆碰撞造山作用晚期的后碰撞造山阶段,造山后期的伸展导致含幔源物质的古老地壳与年轻地壳减压熔融,熔融所形成的岩浆流体随后经大气降水改造为成矿流体。