Granite Systems with Rare-Metal Pegmatites

Geology of Ore Deposits - For most rare-metal pegmatite fields, two generations of granitic pegmatites are documented, namely, beryll-bearing (often with tantaloniobates and muscovite, which are...     

Driving factors for forest fire occurrence in Durango State of Mexico: A geospatial perspective

Forest fire is one of the major causes of forest loss and therefore one of the main constraints for sustainable forest management worldwide. Identifying the driving factors and understanding the contribution of each factor are essential for the management of forest fire occurrence. The objective of this study is to identify variables that are spatially related to the occurrence and incidence of the forest fire in the State of Durango, Mexico. For this purpose, data from forest fire records for a five-year period were analyzed. The spatial correlations between forest fire occurrence and intensity of land use, susceptibility of vegetation, temperature, precipitation and slope were tested by Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) method, under an Ordinary Least Square estimator. Results show that the spatial pattern of the forest fire in the study area is closely correlated with the intensity of land use, and land use change is one of the main explanatory variables. In addition, vegetation type and precipitation are also the main driving factors. The fitting model indicates obvious link between the variables. Forest fire was found to be the consequence of a particular combination of the environmental factors, and when these factors coexist with human activities, there is high probability of forest fire occurrence. Mandatory regulation of human activities is a key strategy for forest fire prevention.     

Volatile element signatures in the mantles of Earth,Moon, and Mars: Core formation fingerprints from Bi,Cd, In,and Sn

Volatile element concentrations in planets are controlled by many factors such as precursor material composition, core formation, differentiation, magma ocean and magmatic degassing, and late accretionary processes. To better constrain the role of core formation, we report new experiments defining the effect of temperature, and metallic S and C content on the metal-silicate partition coefficient (or D(i) metal/silicate) of the volatile siderophile elements (VSE) Bi, Cd, In, and Sn. Additionally, the effect of pressure on metal-silicate partitioning between 1 and 3 GPa, and olivine-melt partitioning at 1 GPa have been studied for Bi, Cd, In, Sn, As, Sb, and Ge. Temperature clearly causes a decrease in D(i) metal/silicate for all elements. Sulfur and C have a large influence on activity coefficients in metallic Fe liquids, with C causing a decrease in D(i) metal/silicate, and S causing an increase. Pressure has only a small effect on D(Cd), D(In), and D(Ge) metal/silicate. Depletions of Bi, Cd, In, and Sn in the terrestrial and Martian mantles are consistent with high PT core formation and metal-silicate equilibrium at the high temperatures indicated by previous studies. A late Hadean matte would influence Bi the most, due to its high D(sulfide/silicate) ~2000, but segregation of a matte would only reduce the mantle Bi content by 50%; all other less chalcophile elements (e.g., Sn, In, and Cd) would be minimally affected. The lunar depletions of highly VSE require a combination of core formation and an additional depletion mechanism—most likely the Moon-forming giant impact, or lunar magma ocean degassing.     

First data on chemical composition of zircon from lithium-fluorine granite of the Severnyi pluton, Chukchi Peninsula

The chemical composition of zircons from lithium-fluorine granite of the Severny pluton in the Chaun region, Chukchi Peninsula, has been studied. The magmatic origin of zircons has been established. Elevated LREE, Li, and Nb contents; moderate enrichment in Hf; and deep Eu anomalies are characteristic of zircons from rare-metal granite. The contents and distribution of chemical elements in studied zircons differ from those of biotite granite. Zircons from lithium-fluorine granite of the Severny pluton also differ from the worldwide analogs in moderate Hf, Y, and REE concentrations and extremely low contents of U, Th, and other incompatible elements.     

Determination of Selenium Concentration in Sixty Five Reference Materials for Geochemical Analysis by GFAAS after Separation with Thiol Cotton

Selenium has been determined in sixty five geological reference materials of different origins by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Samples were decomposed with a mixture of nitric and hydrofluoric acids. Selenium was reduced to Se^IV with hydrochloric acid, and then fixed and separated from the matrix on thiol cotton. After digestion of the thiol cotton in hot nitric acid, the Se concentration was measured using palladium and magnesium nitrates as a matrix modifier. The limit of determination was 0.02 μg g⁻¹, the precision of the results (relative standard deviation of 3 to 8 replicates) varied from 2.6 to 17.7% with an average of 7.9% in the range 0.02-42.7 μg g⁻¹ and was similar to the value obtained for synthetic samples. Our results are in good agreement with available literature values.     

Composition and evolution of accessory mineralization of Li–F granites in the Far East as indicators of their ore potential

The ore potential of Pacific Li–F granites is considered on the basis of original and published data on composition of these granites and related metasomatic rocks in the Badzhal (Amur region) and Kuiviveem–Pyrkakai (Chukchi Peninsula) ore districts. The accessory mineralization in rare-metal granites is compared with that in W–Sn deposits. The main features in evolution of magmatic and hydrothermal mineralization are pointed out. A conclusion on the similarity between mineralization of the zwitter–tourmalinite type and accessory minerals in Li–F granites is drawn. It is established that magmatic and hydrothermal types of mineralization belong to the same evolutionary sequence. Genetic links between Li–F granites and the large ore deposits in the East Asian tungsten–tin zone are suggested.     

First evidence of altered vitellogenin-like protein levels in clam Tapes philippinarum and in cockle Cerastoderma glaucum from the Lagoon of Venice

Possible xenoestrogenic effects were investigated, for the first time, in two bivalve species from the Lagoon of Venice (Italy): the clam Tapes philippinarum and the cockle Cerastoderma glaucum. Bivalves were collected far from their reproductive phase at the very early stage of gametogenesis (January), and in the pre-spawning period (June) in six sites. Vitellogenin (Vg)-like proteins (a biomarker of exposure to estrogenic compounds) were measured by the alkali-labile phosphate method (ALP), in both haemolymph and digestive gland from males and females (when it was possible to distinguish sex by microscopic observation of gonadal tissue). Haemolymph calcium concentrations (a parameter considered closely related to the presence of Vg-like proteins) and the bivalve condition index (CI) were also measured. In both seasons, bivalves collected at Campalto (near a sewage treatment plant) and Marghera (a highly contaminated area) had higher Vg-like protein levels, particularly in haemolymph, than animals from the other sampling sites. Interestingly, CI had high values in these polluted sites. In June only, Vg-like proteins and Ca(2+) levels in haemolymph exhibited similar trends in both bivalve species at most sampling sites. The responsiveness of bivalves to environmental xenoestrogens was higher in June, allowing better discrimination among sites. The present study demonstrates that animals from highly polluted areas have increased Vg-like protein levels. As endocrine disruption due to exposure to estrogenic compounds may cause fertility reduction, alterations in the sex ratio, and a decrease in reproductive rate, a condition of potential risk for bivalve populations in estuarine areas is highlighted.     

Wolframoixiolite and niobian ferberite from zinnwaldite granitic rocks of the Chukchi Peninsula

The finding of wolframoixiolite with inclusions of niobian ferberite is described from zinnwaldite granite and ongonite of the Severny pluton of the Chukchi Peninsula. The optical, morphological, and chemical properties of minerals are characterized and compared with their analogues from other regions. The petrologic and mineragenic index implications of the minerals are discussed with allowance for our contemporary mineralogical knowledge on W-bearing Ta-Nb minerals.     

A Compilation of Silicon and Thirty One Trace Elements Measured in the Natural River Water Reference Material SLRS-4 (NRC-CNRC)

The natural river water certified reference material SLRS-4 (NRC-CNRC, National Research Council-Conseil National de Recherches Canada) has been routinely analysed for major and trace elements by six French laboratories. Most measurements were made using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. For silicon and thirty one trace elements (rare earth elements, Ag, B, Br, Cs, Ga, Ge, Li, P, Pd, Rb, Se, Th, Ti, Tl, W, Y and Zr), no certified values are assigned by NRC-CNRC. We propose some compilation values and related uncertainties according to the results obtained by the different laboratories.     

Comprehensive systematics of tantalum and tantalo-niobium deposits

A comprehensive systematics of tantalum and tantalo-niobium deposits has been elaborated in form of a table, where three granitoid and one syenitoid igneous series crucial for forecasting of rare-metal-bearing territories are displayed in four columns, and mineralized volcanic and plutonic rocks, pegmatites, and placers critical to ore processing technology are shown in rows. The known and inferred geological and economic types of deposits and their mineralogical subtypes are placed in cells at intersections of rows and columns. The proposed systematics, which combines many attributes, contains a new quality and makes it possible to forecast economic mineralization, including new types that correspond to so far empty cells of the table. Ordinary geological maps and maps of mineral resources are used for this purpose.