Seasonal variations of phosphorus species in sediment from the middle Adriatic Sea

Phosphorus (P) species concentrations in 0–2 cm surface sediment layer were investigated monthly from November 2001 to December 2002 at the bay, channel and open sea stations in the middle Adriatic. Modified SEDEX method was used for inorganic phosphorus species determination [P in biogenic (P-FD), authigenic (P-AUT), detrital apatite (P-DET) and P adsorbed on to iron oxides and hydroxides (P–Fe)], and organic phosphorus (P-ORG). P-FD, P-AUT and P-DET concentration ranges (1.5–5.4, 0–2.7 and 0.4–3.4 μmol g⁻¹, respectively) were similar at all stations, and showed no obvious common trend of seasonal changes. P–Fe ranged from 1.9 to 11.9 μmol g⁻¹ with the highest values at bay station and higher seasonal oscillations than other inorganic P forms. P-ORG ranged from 0.3 to 18.7 μmol g⁻¹ with higher concentrations at stations of fine-sized sediments and showed increased concentrations in warm part of the year at all stations. Correlation between concentrations of P–Fe in the surface sediment layer and orthophosphate sediment-water interface concentration gradients at bay and channel stations indicated to P–Fe importance in the orthophosphate benthic flux. For the bay station, linkage between sediment P-ORG and chlorophyll a concentrations, primary production and microzooplankton abundance was established, indicating a 1 month delay of sediment response to production fluctuations in the water column.     

Rock displacement and thermal expansion study at historic heritage sites in Slovakia

The paper discusses the results of the research devoted to the preservation of cultural heritage carried out within last two decades in Slovakia. The aim of the study depended on monitoring of selected castle rocks showing instability problems due to extremely slow displacements of creep character. Apart from traditional methods of investigation at one test site (Spis Castle), authors implemented in their work the study of thermal expansion of the rocks as a result of seasonal periodic temperature changes having potential influence on displacements and numerical modeling in order to understand better the landslide failure mechanism. The results obtained from all study sites confirmed that even slow movements have to be implemented into preservation and stabilization works in order to safeguard the sites of great historic value.     

The Ereendavaa Range (north-eastern Mongolia): an additional argument for Mesozoic extension throughout eastern Asia

Mesozoic rift basins locally bounding metamorphic core complexes have been recognized in Transbaikalia and northern China. Numerous basement outcrops located between these two regions, in eastern Mongolia, are considered as pre-Palaeozoic in age. One of these, the Ereendavaa Range, appears as a gneissic core marked by amphibolite-facies metamorphic conditions. The range is overlain to the NW by the unmetamorphosed Mesozoic Onon Basin. Below the basin, the upper part of the range consists of a gently NW-dipping shear zone associated with top-to-the-NW motion. The structural pattern is consistent with syn-extensional exhumation of the range. Preliminary geochronological data indicate that the shear zone is late Jurassic to early Cretaceous in age, coeval with the Onon Basin. These new data from eastern Mongolia constitute a link between Transbaikalia and northern China, indicating that NW–SE extensional Mesozoic tectonics occurred throughout the entire region.     

Electrical Resistivity Imaging technique to delineate coal seam barrier thickness and demarcate water filled voids

Exploration and exploitation of coal seams is one of the major resources for the energy sector in any country but at the same time water filled voids/water logged areas in the old workings of these seams are very critical problems for the coal mining industry. In such situations, disasters like inundation, landslides, collapsing of the old seams may occur. In this regard, it is necessary to find out the water saturated/water filled voids and zones in the mining areas. Since no established technique is available to find such zones, an experimental study using Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) has been carried out in one of the coal mining areas near Dhanbad, to find out the feasibility of finding the barrier thickness and the water logged area in underground coal mines. The area under study forms part of Jharia coalfield in Dhanbad district, Jharkhand state. The coal bearing rocks of Barakar Formation of Lower Permian age (Gondwana period) occur in the area under a thin cover (10 m to15 m) of soil and or alluvium. Coal bearing Barakar Formations consist mainly of sandstone of varying grain size, intercalation of shale and sandstone, grey and carbonaceous-shale and coal seams. Since the water saturation reduces the resistivity of a formation to a large extent, water filled voids and old coal workings are expected to have significant resistivity contrast with the surrounding host rock. Hence, ERI technique was applied in such an environment as this technique uses high-density data acquisition both laterally and vertically by using multiple number of electrodes. Along with ERI, mise-à-la-masse (also called charged body) technique was also employed at one of the promising sites to find out the connectivity of water logged areas and also detection of these old workings from the surface measurements was analyzed. The interpreted 2D resistivity sections have clearly indicated the water bearing zone(s) along the profile which was well confirmed with the existing water level in the nearby borewells. On the other hand, this technique did not identify the size of the coal pillar and gallery (air filled voids), which might be due to the small size of the voids (i.e. about 2 m × 2 m) below a depth of 15m and more but have indicated altogether as a high resistive zone ranging from 600–1000 Ohm-m.     

Mn-oxides and sequestration of heavy metals in a suburban catchment basin of the Chesapeake Bay watershed

The Chesapeake Bay is greatly impacted by numerous pollutants including heavy metals and understanding the controls on the distribution of heavy metals in the watershed is critical to mitigation and remediation efforts in controlling this type of pollution. Clasts from a stormwater catchment basin draining a subdivision near George Mason University, Fairfax VA (38°50.090°N 78°19.204°W) were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microcopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to determine the nature of Mn-oxide coatings and relationship to bound heavy metals. Mn-oxides are poorly crystalline and occur as subhedral to anhedral platy particles and more rarely as euhedral plates. Micronodules are a commonly observed texture. Chemical compositions of coatings are variable with average major constituent concentrations being Mn (33.38 wt%), Fe (11.88 wt%), Si (7.33 wt%), Al (5.03 wt%), and Ba (0.90 wt%). Heavy metals are found in the coatings with Zn being most prevalent, occurring in approximately 58% of analyses with an average concentration of (0.66 wt%). Minor amounts of Co, Ni, Pb, and Cl are observed. Heavy metals and Cl are interpreted as being derived from road pollution. Mn-oxides can serve as a sequestration mechanism for pollution but may also release heavy metals. Field and laboratory observations indicate Mn-oxides occurring on the surface of the clasts can be mechanically mobilized. This is a mechanism for transporting heavy metals into the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Deicing agents may serve as a mechanism to release heavy metals through cation exchange and increased ionic strength. This is the first detailed mineralogical investigation of Mn-oxides and the roles they may play in pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.     

广东长坑银金矿区地层研究的新发现及意义

广东长坑银金矿区的地层,原认为由下石炭统及土三叠统组成,两者呈断层接触。近来,在原这为相门桥组的硅质岩中发现了晚二叠世放射虫化石;在小坪组所夹的在 中发现有早石炭世有孔虫化石;在某些地段还发现“梓门桥组”硅质岩与“小坪组”整合接触。据此认为矿区内可能有中石炭世至中三叠世地层存在。目前对上述新发现的解释均不够圆满,因此对长坑矿区的地层学在必要深入研究,无论研究结论如何,都将对矿区的地层划分、地质构造     

Performance of High Speed Railway Subgrade Strengthened by Long-Short Piles: Part II—Numerical Modelling

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - The Yinxi Railway is located in the western region of China. As a high speed railway line connecting Yinchuan-Xi’an, which is of great significance...     

贵州都匀大亮锌矿床闪锌矿稀土元素地球化学特征及其指示意义北大核心CSCD

贵州都匀大亮锌矿床是牛角塘铅锌矿田的重要组成部分,目前所开采的对象为近年来在“陡倾斜带”中新发现的矿体,其研究还十分薄弱。本研究采用ICP-MS测试技术,对大亮锌矿闪锌矿进行了稀土元素测试,以揭示该矿床成矿作用。结果表明,10件闪锌矿样品的ΣREE值低,质量分数为(0.15~0.40)×10^(-6)(平均0.24×10^(-6))。样品的LREE/HREE值变化范围为7.07~15.76(平均10.95),(La/Yb)_(N)值范围为4.75~28.57(平均11.54),(La/Sm)_(N)值为2.16~6.01(平均3.49),(Gd/Yb)^(N)值为0.34~3.68(平均1.67)。闪锌矿样品稀土元素呈现轻稀土富集的右倾模式,且轻稀土元素的分异程度远远高于重稀土元素。样品具有显著Eu正异常(δEu为6.60~54.29,平均18.10),无明显的Ce异常(δCe主要为0.93~1.09,平均1.01)。闪锌矿轻稀土富集及显著Eu正异常的特点表明,其稀土元素为矿石初始沉淀时从成矿热液中继承而来,未明显受到后期地质作用的影响。稀土元素特征表明该闪锌矿形成于较低温度和极强还原条件。大亮锌矿闪锌矿Y/Ho比值为11.33~32.17(平均22.71),与区域矿床及地层的对比表明成矿物质主要来自下伏地层,可能有少量来自赋矿围岩。