Instrumental neutron activation in geoanalysis

Theoretical aspects of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) are discussed. Various applications of INAA to exploration geochemistry are described demonstrating its capabilities and its limitations.Cost, turnaround time, high sensitivity for certain elements, the non-destructive nature of analysis and its precision and accuracy have combined to make INAA an indispensible method for multielement determination on virtually all geological matrices. Humus, vegetation, heavy minerals, lake bottom sediments as well as rocks and soils comprise the major sample types analyzed by INAA. As many as 50 elements can be determined routinely and easily by INAA.     

The use and abuse of image analysis in geophysical potential field interpretation

Images of geophysical potential field data are becoming more common as a result of the increased availability of image analysis systems. These data are processed using techniques originally developed for remotely sensed satellite imagery. In general, geophysicists are not familiar with such techniques and may apply them without due consideration. This can lead to abuses of the geophysical data and reduce the validity of the interpretation. This paper describes some critical processes which can introduce errors to the data. The production of a regular grid from scattered data is fundamental to image processing. The choice of cell size is paramount and must balance the spatial distribution of the data. The necessary scaling of data from real values into a byte format for display purposes can result in small anomalies being masked. Contrast stretching of grey level images is often applied but can alter the shape of anomalies by varying degrees and should be avoided. Filters are often used to produce shaded relief images but without due regard to their frequency response and the effect on images expanded to fill the display space. The generation of spurious numerical artefacts can be reduced by ensuring that the filter is applied at real precision to the original data grid. The resultant images can then be processed for display. The use of image analysis systems for data integration requires careful consideration of the sampling strategy and information content of each dataset. It is proposed that such procedures are more appropriately conducted on a geographic information system.     

Trace metals in sediments from the inner continental shelf of the western Beaufort Sea

Increased development and changing climate have enhanced global interest in the Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas. Using a large, 3-yr data base, we have determined the distribution of trace metals in sediments from the inner shelf of the western Beaufort Sea. Metal concentrations in these sediments reflect pristine conditions, consistent with those for most coastal areas in the Arctic and with predictions based on average continental crust. Geographic variations in metal values are primarily related to sediment grainsize distribution. However, grain-size patterns are a complex function of several variables including source areas, ice and water movement, as well as physical and chemical weathering. Future identification of any metal contamination in Beaufort Sea sediments will be simplified by understanding the predictable natural patterns.     

A landslip/debris flow in bilsdale,North York Moors,September 1976

The conditions prior to and the site and results of a debris flow are described. Baseline data collected after this extreme event are outlined. Similarities between antecedent conditions of this flow and others reported in the literature are noted. From the field evidence comment is made on the mobile nature of the flow which may be analogous to spontaneous liquefaction in sands.     

Application of new thermodynamic data to grossular phase relations

Recent low temperature, adiabatic calorimetric heat capacity measurements for grossular have been combined with DSC measurements to give entropies up to 1000 K. In conjunction with enthalpy of solution values for grossular, these data have yielded H _f ^o (298.15K) and G _f ^o (298.15K) values of –1583.2 ± 3.5 and –1496.74 ± 3.7 kcal mol^–1 respectively. For 15 reactions in the CaO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-H₂O system, thermodynamically calculated P-T curves have been compared with experimental reversals and have shown good agreement in most cases. Calculations indicate that gehlenite is probably totally disordered. Estimates of zoisite and lawsonite entropies are consistent with the phase equilibrium and grossular data, but estimates of the entropies of pyrope and andradite show large discrepancies when compared with experimental reversals.Contribution no. 600 from the Mineralogical Laboratory, The Department of Geology and Mineralogy, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA     

Distribution of viral and bacterial pathogens in a coastal canal community

Significant concentrations of human enteric viruses and bacteria were found to be present in the water and sediment of a coastal canal community into which secondarily treated sewage was being discharged.     

Total individual ion activity coefficients of calcium and carbonate in seawater at 25°C and 35%. salinity,and implications to the agreement between apparent and thermodynamic constants of calcite and aragonite

We have calculated the total individual ion activity coefficients of carbonate and calcium, and , in seawater. Using the ratios of stoichiometric and thermodynamic constants of carbonic acid dissociation and total mean activity coefficient data measured in seawater, we have obtained values which differ significantly from those widely accepted in the literature. In seawater at 25°C and 35%. salinity the (molal) values of and are $\text{0.038 ± 0.002}$ and $\text{0.173 ± 0.010}$, respectively. These values of and are independent of liquid junction errors and internally consistent with the value . By defining and on a common scale (), the product is independent of the assigned value of and may be determined directly from thermodynamic measurements in seawater. Using the value and new thermodynamic equilibrium constants for calcite and aragonite, we show that the apparent constants of calcite and aragonite are consistent with the thermodynamic equilibrium constants at 25°C and 35%. salinity. The demonstrated consistency between thermodynamic and apparent constants of calcite and aragonite does not support a hypothesis of stable Mg-calcite coatings on calcite or aragonite surfaces in seawater, and suggests that the calcite critical carbonate ion curve of Broecker and Takahashi (1978, Deep-Sea Research25, 65–95) defines the calcite equilibrium boundary in the oceans, within the uncertainty of the data.     

Phase relations inferred from field data for mn pyroxenes and pyroxenoids

Electron microprobe analysis of manganese silicates from Balmat, N.Y., has helped elucidate phase relations for Mn-bearing pyroxenes and pyroxenoids. A compilation of these data along with published and unpublished analyses for phases plotting on the CaSiO₃-MgSiO₃-MnSiO₃ and CaSiO₃-FeSiO₃-MnSiO₃ faces of the RSiO₃ tetrahedron has constrained the subsolidus phase relations. For the system CaSiO₃-FeSiO₃-MnSiO₃, the compositional gaps between bustamite/hedenbergite, bustamite/ rhodonite and rhodonite/pyroxmangite are constrained for middle-upper amphibolite facies conditions and extensive solid solutions limit possible three phase fields. For the CaSiO₃-MgSiO₃-MnSiO₃ system much less data are available but it is clear that the solid solutions are much more limited for the pyroxenoid structures and a continuum of compositions is inferred for clinopyroxenes from diopside to kanoite (MnMgSi₂O₆) for amphibolite facies conditions (T=650° C). At lower temperatures, Balmat kanoites are unstable and exsolve into C2/c calciumrich (Ca_0.68Mn_0.44Mg_0.88Si₂O₆) and C2/c calciumpoor (Ca_0.12Mn_1.02Mg_0.86Si₂O₆) phases. At temperatures of 300–400° C the calcium-poor phase subsequently has undergone a transformation to a P2₁/c structure; this exsolution-inversion relationship is analogous to that relating augites and pigeonites in the traditional pyroxene quadrilateral. Rhodonite coexisting with Mn-clinopyroxenes is compositionally restricted to Mn_0.75–0.95Mg_0.0–0.15Ca_0.05–0.13SiO₃. For the original pyroxene+rhodonite assemblage, the Mg and Ca contents of the rhodonite are fixed for a specific P (6kbars)-T (650° C)-X(H₂O)-X(CO₂) by the coexistence of talc+quartz and calcite+quartz respectively.Contribution No. 363, from the Mineralogical Laboratory, Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI 48109, USA     

Seasonal oxygen depletion in Chesapeake Bay

The spring freshet increases density stratification in Chesapeake Bay and minimizes oxygen transfer from the surface to the deep layer so that waters below 10 m depth experiece oxygen depletion which may lead to anoxia during June to September. Respiration in the water of the deep layer is the major factor contributing to oxygen depletion. Benthic respiration seems secondary. Organic matter from the previous year which has settled into the deep layer during winter provides most of the oxygen demand but some new production in the surface layer may sink and thus supplement the organic matter accumulated in the deep layer.     

The thermodynamic properties and phase relations of some minerals in the system CaO-AI2O3-SiO2-H2O

The heat capacities of lawsonite, margante, prehnite and zoisite have been measured from 5 to 350 K with an adiabatic-shield calorimeter and from 320 to 999.9 K with a differential-scanning calorimeter. At 298.15 K, their heat capacities, corrected to end-member compositions, are 66.35, 77.30, 79.13 and 83.84 cal K^?1 mol^?1; their entropies are 54.98, 63.01, 69.97 and 70.71 cal K^?1 mol^?1, respectively. Their high-temperature heat capacities are described by the following equations (in calories, K, mol): Lawsonite (298–600 K): Cp° = 66.28 + 55.95 × 10^?3T ? 15.27 × 10⁵T^?2 Margarite (298–1000 K): Cp° = 101.83 + 24.17 × 10^?3T ? 30.24 × 10⁵T^?2 Prehnite (298–800 K): Cp° = 97.04 + 29.99 × 10^?3T ? 25.02 × 10⁵T^?2 Zoisite (298–730 K): Cp° = 98.92 + 36.36 × 10^?3T ? 24.08 × 10⁵T^?2 Calculated Clapeyron slopes for univariant equilibria in the CaO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-H₂O system compare well with experimental results in most cases. However, the reaction zoisite + quartz = anorthite + grossular + H₂O and some reactions involving prehnite or margarite show disagreements between the experimentally determined and the calculated slopes which may possibly be due to disorder in experimental run products. A phase diagram, calculated from the measured thermodynamic values in conjunction with selected experimental results places strict limits on the stabilities of prehnite and assemblages such as prehnite + aragonite, grossular + lawsonite, grossular + quartz, zoisite + quartz, and zoisite + kyanite + quartz. The presence of this last assemblage in eclogites indicates that they were formed at moderate to high water pressure.