Rare earth element fractionation during the precipitation and crystallisation of hydrous ferric oxides from anoxic lake water

An enrichment of light rare earth elements (LREE) is characteristic for most of the acidic, Fe- and SO₄-rich pit lakes and groundwaters in the lignite mining area of Lower Lusatia (Germany). One of these acidic lakes – the pit lake “RL 1223” – has a strong thermal and chemical stratification. The upper water layer (0–9 m) shows pH values of about 3 during all seasons. The monimolimnion (10–17 m) of the lake is anoxic and has pH values of about 7. The rare earth element (REE) patterns of the upper lake water show enriched LREE (La_N/Yb_N = 1.6) whereas the opposite patterns (depletion of LREE, La_N/Yb_N = 0.4) are found in the anoxic water of the monimolimnion. Experiments were conducted to observe the behaviour of REE during Fe oxidation in water from the monimolimnion (depth 14 m). The sampled monimolimnion water was placed in plastic bottles, and the changing water chemistry was observed for 40 weeks after sampling. Due to the initial anoxic conditions almost all Fe precipitated in the investigated water, and the pH value decreased from about 7 to 3 during the oxidation. The Fe precipitates are identified as ferrihydrite which is transformed into goethite within the oxidation process. Stable pH conditions (pH 3.0) were reached after about 10 weeks of oxidation.The original REE patterns of the investigated water are generally reflected in the Fe precipitates collected at the beginning of the experiment as well as after up to 40 weeks of oxidation. However, in the corresponding water LREE were temporally enriched with a maximum La_N/Yb_N ratio of 1.0 and a maximum La_N/Sm_N ratio of 2.3 after 6 weeks of oxidation time (pH 3.8–4.9). Although complex geochemical changes took place between the start and the end of the experiment REE patterns observed at these points in time are nearly identical. These differences of the REE pattern can be explained by the sampling procedure. The experimental findings can be transmitted to the mining dump aquifers of the study area where geochemical conditions comparable to the experimental oxidation time from 3 to 6 weeks are found and hydrous ferric oxides are precipitating. Groundwater passing through the mining dumps can preferentially desorb LREE from the Fe precipitates and display the typical LREE enrichment and carry it to the epilimnion of the acidic pit lakes in Lower Lusatia.     

影响湖相沉积岩中有机碳分布的主要因素--以三水盆地为例

湖相沉积中的有机质含量随有机质堆积条件变化而发生波动。本以三水盆地下第三系布心组二段地层粉列，对其作高分辨率岩芯取样并结合地球化学方法，分析生物学因素对有机碳分布的影响。在较干燥的气候条件下，水生浮游生物是有机质的主要来源，由于此时湖泊与海洋沟通，出现半咸水环境，硫酸盐还原作用显，不利于有机质保存。所取岩芯段的中上部即是这种情况，以低TOC和高SRI值为特征。而当气候湿润时，植物繁荣，湖水淡化，陆源有机质丰富。缺氧条件下的有机质降解主要是效率极低的发酵作用。有利于有机质保存。这种情形出现于岩芯段的下部，以较高TOC和较低SRI值为特征。     

Characterization of sediments in an abandoned mining area; a case study of Mansfeld region,Germany

The distribution of selected heavy metals, including some radionuclides, metalloids and non-metals was determined in stream sediments in a region influenced by abandoned copper mining and ore processing activities. A considerable amount of the ore processing waste with a very complex composition and highly elevated concentrations of zinc, sulfur, lead, copper, arsenic, and a lot of other elements in the range between 100 and 1,000 mg/kg (Sb, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cd, Hg, and Ag) was piled up on mine dumps. The dispersion of the pollutants originating from this source and their environmental impact were investigated. Both, sediments and original waste material were studied to indicate the pathways and the mobilization behavior of different pollutants. For this purpose, the process of the elution of pollutants by application of different fractionation schemes was studied. The capabilities of different analytical techniques are shown for the analysis of solid samples (X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, Gamma-spectrometry) and liquid ones (ICP-atomic emission spectrometry, ICP-mass spectrometry and different techniques of atomic absorption). Additionally, the coupling of ion chromatography and ICP-MS detection was used to study the distribution of arsenic species in the sediment cores of a lake which acts as a natural sink for the region.     

A counterclockwise PTt path of high-pressure/low-temperature rocks from the Coastal Cordillera accretionary complex of south-central Chile: constraints for the earliest stage of subduction mass flow

Within the metamorphic basement of the Coastal Cordillera of central Chile, the Western Series constitutes the high-pressure (HP)/low-temperature (LT) part (accretionary prism) of a fossil-paired metamorphic belt dominated by metagreywackes. In its eastern part, blocks derived from small lenses of garnet amphibolite with a blueschist facies overprint are locally intercalated and associated with serpentinite and garnet mica-schist. Continuously developed local equilibria were evaluated applying various independent geothermobarometric approaches. An overall anticlockwise PT path results. The prograde path evolved along a geothermal gradient of 15 °C/km, passing the high-pressure end of greenschist facies until a transient assemblage developed within albite-epidote amphibolite facies transitional to eclogite facies at peak metamorphic conditions (600–760 °C, 11–16.5 kbar; stage I). This peak assemblage was overprinted during an external fluid infiltration by an epidote blueschist facies assemblage at 350–500 °C, 10–14 kbar (stage II) indicating nearly isobaric cooling. The retrograde equilibration stage was dated with a Rb–Sr mineral isochron at 305.3±3.2 Ma, somewhat younger (296.6±4.7 Ma) in an adjacent garnet mica-schist. Localized retrograde equilibration continued during decompression down to 300 °C, 5 kbar. The retrograde evolution is identical in the garnet amphibolite and the garnet mica-schist.

The counterclockwise PT path contrasts the usual clockwise PT paths derived from rocks of the Western Series. In addition, their ages related to stage II are the oldest recorded within the fossil wedge at the given latitude. Its “exotic” occurrence is interpreted by the path of the earliest and deepest subducted material that was heated in contact with a still hot mantle. Later accreted and dehydrated material caused hydration and cooling of the earliest accreted material and the neighbouring mantle. After this change also related to rheological conditions, effective exhumation of the early subducted material followed at the base of the hydrated mantle wedge within a cooler environment (geothermal gradient around 10–15 °C/km) than during its burial. The exotic blocks thus provide important time markers for the onset of subduction mass circulation in the Coastal Cordillera accretionary prism during the Late Carboniferous. Continuous subduction mass flow lasted for nearly 100 Ma until the Late Triassic.     

Hydrogeochemical characteristics of spring water in the Harz Mountains,Germany

Spring water samples of the Harz Mountains were taken in several seasons of 2010, 2011, and 2012. The samples have been analysed for main components (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, SO₄²⁻, Cl⁻, HCO₃⁻ and NO₃⁻), trace elements (Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Y and REE), DOC, δ¹⁸O and δ²H of water. Meteoric water is indicated as the main source of the springs sampled. High precipitation rates lead to a dilution of the measured elemental concentrations. Furthermore, regional differences of rock and water interactions were found. REE concentrations and patterns of the spring waters vary between the distinct geological units and reflect the geochemical characteristics of the surrounding rocks. The actual data compared to measured data from the seventies and nineties of the last century indicate a decrease of the sulphate concentrations in the spring waters which is typical of many European mountain catchments.     

Modelling carbon dynamics from urban land conversion: fundamental model of city in relation to a local carbon cycle

Background  

The main task is to estimate the qualitative and quantitative contribution of urban territories and precisely of the process of urbanization to the Global Carbon Cycle (GCC). Note that, on the contrary to many investigations that have considered direct anthropogenic emission of CO₂(urbanized territories produce ca. 96–98% of it), we are interested in more subtle, and up until the present time, weaker processes associated with the conversion of the surrounding natural ecosystems and landscapes into urban lands. Such conversion inevitably takes place when cities are sprawling and additional "natural" lands are becoming "urbanized".