Facies analysis of coal seams from the Cracow Sandstone Series of the Upper Silesia Coal Basin, Poland

The main purpose of this study was to recognise the variability of petrographical structure of two coal seams occurring in the Cracow Sandstone Series (Upper Carboniferous/Pennsylvanian, Upper Westphalian), being exploited in the Siersza mine. This mine is located in the eastern part of the Upper Silesia Coal Basin (USCB). The chemical analyses and petrographical features allow the inclusion of these coals to the group of hard brown coals belonging to subbituminous class.Two coal seams (207 and 209/210) of a considerable thickness (7.44 and 6.54 m, respectively), representative of the Cracow Sandstone Series (CSS), were chosen for the petrographic studies. Dominant macroscopic constituents of both seams are banded bright coal and banded coal.The coal seams were sampled in 284 intervals using a channel profile sampling strategy. The microscopical examinations revealed the majority of macerals from the vitrinite group (55%), followed by inertinite (21%), liptinite (11%), and mineral matter (13%). Low values of the vitrinite reflectance (R_o=0.46%) confirm very low coalification of the coal in both seams. Facies analysis indicates that in the course of a mire development, in which the studied coal seams originated, wet forest swamp conditions dominated characterized by a high degree of flooding and gelification as well as by a prevalence of arborescent plants. In such conditions, lithotypes with a large content of bright coal were mainly formed. Petrographic and facies data point to the rheotrophic character of these peatbogs. Frequent changes of the conditions in the peatbog, as it is shown by the variability of petrographic structure of the studied profiles, as well as by lateral changes of the phytogenic sedimentary environment within the coal seams, indicate a strong influence of a river channel on the adjoining peatbogs. An accretion of clastic sediments within the wide river channel belts was balanced mainly by the peatbog growth on the areas outside channels. Frequency and rate of avulsion of the river channels influenced the size, continuity and variability of the peatbogs.     

Petrogenesis of ungrouped enstatite meteorite Zakłodzie: Fabric,texture, and nanostructure analysis for identification of mechanisms responsible for chondrite–achondrite transition

Zak?odzie is an enstatite meteorite of unknown petrogenesis. Chemically, it resembles enstatite chondrites, but displays an achondrite‐like texture. Here we report on fabric and texture analyses of Zak?odzie utilizing X‐ray computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy and combine it with a nanostructural study of striated pyroxene by transmission electron microscopy. With this approach we identify mechanisms that led to formation of the texture and address the petrogenesis of the rock. Zak?odzie experienced a shock event in its early evolution while located at some depth inside a warm parent body. Shock‐related strain inverted pyroxene to the observed mixture of intercalated orthorhombic and monoclinic polymorphs. The heat that dissipated after the peak shock was added to primary, radiogenic‐derived heat and led to a prolonged thermal event. This caused local, equilibrium‐based partial melting of plagioclase and metal‐sulfide. Partial melting was followed by two‐stage cooling. The first phase of annealing (above 500 °C) allowed for crystallization of plagioclase and for textural equilibration of metal and sulfides with silicates. Below 500 °C, cooling was faster and more heterogeneous at cm scale, allowing retention of keilite and quenching of K‐rich feldspathic glass in some parts. Our study indicates that Zak?odzie is neither an impact melt rock nor a primitive achondrite, as suggested in former studies. An impact melt origin is excluded because enstatite in Zak?odzie was never completely melted and partial melting occurred during equilibrium‐based postshock conditions. Texturally, the rock represents a transition of chondrite and achondrite and was formed when early impact heat was added to internal radiogenic heat.     

Assessment of long‐term Holocene soil erosion rates in Polish loess areas using sedimentary archives from closed depressions

Soil erosion is a particularly important problem in the loess areas of Central Europe. Numerous studies of past and present soil erosion based on colluvial sediments have so far been conducted. The main problem is the fact that colluvia usually do not represent the complete sedimentation record. Closed depressions (CDs) collect all colluvial sediments from their catchment, therefore, constitute sediment stores enabling the calculation of soil erosion rates. Colluvial sediments and fossil soils, infilling four CDs in the Polish loess belt, were OSL and C‐14 dated. Human settlements near the studied CDs were analyzed. Phases of soil erosion and colluviation from the Neolithic (5400–2900 bc ), from the Middle Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age (1600–0 bc ), and from the Early Middle Ages to Modern Times (500 AD until today) were documented within the CDs studied. Phases of low soil erosion rate and pedogenesis occurred from the Late Vistulian to the Early Neolithic and from the Iron Age to Early Middle Ages. This study reveals that these phases are not synchronous with the soil erosion phases in Central Europe, as the latter mainly occurred in the Bronze Age, Roman Period and Middle Ages. The obtained soil erosion rates were compared with erosion rates in different areas of Central Europe. This study indicates that in loess regions with long‐term agricultural land use, mean erosion rates (i.e. 3.7–5.9 t ha^‐1 yr^‐1) from the Middle Ages to Modern Times were ten times higher than during the entire prehistoric period (0.39–0.67 t ha^‐1 yr^‐1). The mean soil erosion rates for forested CDs was 0.24–0.74 t ha^‐1 yr^‐1. Soil erosion phases are most probably caused by human activities (i.e. land use change) but the early Holocene erosion phase (7.96 +/‐ 0.67 kyr) could have been induced by a climatic fluctuation (e.g. a 8.2 kyr Bond event). Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Individual and Synergistic Effects of Metronidazole,Amoxicillin, and Ciprofloxacin on Methane Fermentation with Sewage Sludge

Methane fermentation is widely used to dispose of sewage sludge at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), due to production of renewable energy in the form of biogas. Antibiotics present in wastewater may accumulate in a sewage sludge. The aim of the present study is to investigate the impact of three antibiotics from different classes in three different doses on methane production from sewage sludge. For this purpose, metronidazole (MET), amoxicillin (AMO), and ciprofloxacin (CIP) are individually added to anaerobic reactors with sewage sludge collected from municipal WWTP. The antibiotics’ highest concentration (1024 mg kg^?1 of AMO; 512 mg kg^?1 of MET and CIP) lowers methane production and methane content in biogas. MET exerts the most marked effect and lowers methane production to 36.8 ± 3.7 mL CH₄ kg^?1 volatile solids. Tested antibiotics probably inhibit methanogenic archaea, which results in volatile fatty acids (VFAs) accumulation. Addition of MET results in accumulation of many kinds of VFAs with the highest concentration of acetic acid (17.52 ± 1.85 g L^?1). The addition of of AMO results in accumulation of butyric acid only (253.00 ± 15.89 g L^?1). However, addition of CIP results in accumulation of mainly acetic acid (7.58 ± 0.82 g L^?1) and isovaleric acid (2.01 ± 0.41 g L^?1). Next, synergistic effect of these antibiotics in a low concentration of 16 mg kg^?1 of AMO, 8 mg kg^?1 of MET, and 2 mg kg^?1 of CIP is measured in semi‐continuous conditions and causes inbibition of methane production and accumulation of VFAs.     

Effect of Catchment Land Use on Trophic State Variables of Small Water Bodies (Northern Poland)

We examined the land use impact on the water quality of small water bodies located in northern Poland. Twenty nine ponds, located in the urban area or a typical agricultural land were analyzed based on physical-chemical parameters: water temperature, conductivity, oxygen concentration, content of particulate suspended matter and chlorophyll “a”, and nutrients concentration. Additionally, to describe and compare the trophic condition of investigated small water bodies, we used the Carlson type trophic state. Performed measurements showed that nutrient concentrations significantly differentiated the agricultural ponds from urban water bodies. Mean total phosphorus and nitrogen concentration in midfield ponds were about 5 and 3 times higher, respectively, than in urban ponds. Moreover the phytoplankton chlorophyll “a” mean values were on average fivefold higher in agricultural ponds. Furthermore, urban ponds were characterized by lower values of TSI, thus lower trophy level: generally on the border of meso- and eutrophy. The agricultural ponds trophy changed from meso- to hypertrophy.     

High-resolution computed microtomography for the characterization of a diffusion tensor imaging phantom

This paper addresses the issue of the quantitative characterization of the structure of the calibration model (phantom) for b-matrix spatial distribution diffusion tensor imaging (BSD-DTI) scanners. The aim of this study was to verify manufacturing assumptions of the structure of materials, since phantoms are used for BSD-DTI calibration directly after manufacturing. Visualization of the phantoms’ structure was achieved through optical microscopy and high-resolution computed microtomography (µCT). Using µCT images, a numerical model of the materials structure was developed for further quantitative analysis. 3D image characterization was performed to determine crucial structural parameters of the phantom: porosity, uniformity and distribution of equivalent diameter of capillary bundles. Additionally calculations of hypothetical flow streamlines were also performed based on the numerical model that was developed. The results obtained in this study can be used in the calibration of DTI-BST measurements. However, it was found that the structure of the phantom exhibits flaws and discrepancies from the assumed geometry which might affect BSD-DTI calibration.     

Application of the Unified Stream Assessment Method to Determine the Direction of Revitalization of Heavily Transformed Urban Rivers

Water Resources - The issues related to the assessment of the hydro morphological status of urban rivers in order to identify the revitalisation actions possible to be carried out, has been...     

Modern sediments and sediment accumulation rates on the narrow shelf off central Vietnam,South China Sea

The narrow shelf along the coast of central Vietnam is seasonally supplied by large amounts of sediment from the adjacent mountainous hinterland following monsoonal precipitation. This study examines the fate of these sediments, and their accumulation rates along two transects across the shelf, based on analyses of radionuclides (²¹⁰Pb, ¹³⁷Cs), sediment texture and structure, as well as carbonate content. The inner shelf is covered by sands, and probably serves as bypass zone for fine sediments transported offshore. Sediment characteristics suggest that the transport to the mid and outer shelf is related to flood events. Averaged over the last century, the ²¹⁰Pb-based mud mass accumulation rates on the mid and outer shelf vary between 0.25 g cm ⁻² and 0.56 g cm ⁻² year ⁻¹ (corresponding to linear sediment accumulation rates of 0.20–0.47 cm year ⁻¹). Along with high excess ²¹⁰Pb inventories, these high accumulation rates suggest a significant sediment depocentre on the mid shelf. The ²¹⁰Pb-derived sediment accumulation rates were found to be several times higher than ¹⁴C-derived rates previously reported for the Holocene, at the same location on the outer shelf. This is probably due to the incompleteness of the Holocene record, and an overestimation of the modern rate. Another explanation would be increased erosion within the rivers’ drainage basins, due to 20th century deforestation. This hypothesis is supported by the difference between recent (less sand, more lithic grains in the sand fraction) and older sediments. In terms of modern sedimentation processes and rates, the central Vietnam shelf, although being a part of a narrow passive continental margin, is similar to active flood-dominated continental margins.     

A Late Paleoproterozoic (1.80 Ga) subduction-related mafic igneous suite from Lomza, NE Poland

The Lomza orthoamphibolites in the crystalline basement of NE Poland, dated at 1802 ± 9 Ma by SHRIMP zircon U–Pb, are characterized by high incompatible and REE element contents. These features, the low Nb, and the position of the rock compositions on La–Y–Nb, Zr–Nb/Zr and Zr–Nb–Y tectonomagmatic discrimination diagrams, suggest that the metavolcanics formed in a subduction setting, possibly within a continental margin island arc. The likely extension of the belt of Paleoproterozoic mafic magmatism from Latvia and Lithuania into NE Poland provides convincing evidence for the existence of an active plate margin in that region at that time.