Exploration for Mississippi-Valley type stratabound Zn ores with stream suspensates and stream sediments, Virginia, U.S.A.

Suspended and equivalent active sediments were collected from streams at 84 sites at the eastern and western sides of a ridge with stratabound Zn mineralization, Rockingham County, Virginia (USA). The purpose was to evaluate the relative effectiveness of suspended and bottom sediment in the geochemical exploration for Mississippi-Valley type Zn ores. The orebody is composed of sphalerite and minor amounts of galena with some chalcopyrite, strikes parallel to the enclosing dolomite beds at N34°E, and cuts vertically across the 30°SE dip. Oxidation of the ore extends to about 100 m in depth.Zinc was effective in detecting the mineralized zone. Zinc in the suspensates provided a denser anomaly system (7 strong and 2 moderate samples) than Zn in the <150 μm size of the bottom sediment, either totally dissolved (4 strong and 1 moderate anomalies) or extracted with cold 3% HCl (5 strong and 3 moderate anomalies). The magnitude of the high values for suspensate Zn was considerably higher than those for the other sample types studied. Suspensate Zn was complemented by 3 strong suspensate Cu anomalies. The suspensate Zn anomaly dispersion was about 850 m, 400 m of which was upstream from the mineralization. Lead was detected only in the cold acid extraction and in combination with Cu and Zn gave an extensive overlapping multielement anomaly string that targeted the ore zone and had a dispersion downstream from the mineralization of more than 1000 m. The Pb anomalies extended about 900 m upstream and 400 m downstream from the ore zone. Together with suspensate Zn, the Pb anomalies suggest a continuation of mineralization upstrike from the known orebody.The major anomaly systems are along the eastern side of the ridge with comparatively few anomalies present in the drainage along the western side. The concentration of anomalies in the eastern drainage and anomaly disposition with respect to known mineralization result from structural control on the hydromorphic dispersion of metals from the orebody.     

Increased concentrations of potassium in heartwood of trees in response to groundwater contamination

The wood of tuliptrees (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) growing above groundwater contamination from a hazardous-waste landfill in Maryland contained elevated concentrations of potassium (K). The groundwater contamination also contained elevated concentrations of dissolved K, as well as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chloride (Cl), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and organic solvents. The dissolved K is derived from disposed smoke munitions. The excess K in the tuliptrees is concentrated in the heartwood, the part of the xylem most depleted in K in trees growing outside of the contamination. These data show that the uptake and translocation of K by tuliptrees can be strongly influenced by the availability of K in groundwater contamination and suggest the utility of this species as an areal indicator of groundwater contamination.     

In-ground environmental radioactivity monitoring in the Culpeper Basin,Virginia, using LiF thermoluminescence dosimeters

A new environmental in-ground radioactivity monitoring technique using LiF thermoluminescence dosimeters was tested in the Culpeper Basin, Northern Virginia. The dosimeters were buried at a depth of 0.45 m (∼ 18 in.) for approximately four months. There was a significant positive correlation (at the 99.9% confidence level) between the total accumulated radioactivity signal from the dosimeters and the on-site 100 second gamma-ray spectrometer measurements. The minimum-maximum dose rate from the buried thermoluminescence dosimeter measurements was 0.06 to 1.08 mR per day (or 2.5 to 44.5μR per hour). There are two factors which permit better background levels of radioactivity to be established by thermoluminescence dosimeters compared with other methods for environmental monitoring programs. First is the great sensitivity of thermoluminescence dosimeters in terms of minimum dose rate that can be registered (mR per month orμR per hour). Second is the fact that accumulation of radioactivity signal over a long period of time tends to eliminate short-term environmental changes that affect measurements with gamma-ray spectrometers and scintillation counters.     

Isotopic fractionation of zinc in tektites

Tektites are terrestrial natural glasses produced during a hypervelocity impact of an extraterrestrial projectile onto the Earth's surface. The similarity between the chemical and isotopic compositions of tektites and terrestrial upper continental crust implies that the tektites formed by fusion of such target rock. Tektites are among the driest rocks on Earth. Although volatilization at high temperature may have caused this extreme dryness, the exact mechanism of the water loss and the behavior of other volatile species during tektite formation are still debated. Volatilization can fractionate isotopes, therefore, comparing the isotope composition of volatile elements in tektites with that of their source rocks may help to understand the physical conditions during tektite formation.For this study, we have measured the Zn isotopic composition of 20 tektites from four different strewn fields. Almost all samples are enriched in heavy isotopes of Zn compared to the upper continental crust. On average, the different groups of tektites are isotopically distinct (listed from the isotopically lightest to the heaviest): Muong-Nong type indochinites (δ^66/64Zn = 0.61 ± 0.30‰); North American bediasites (δ^66/64Zn = 1.61 ± 0.49‰); Ivory Coast tektites (δ^66/64Zn = 1.66 ± 0.18‰); the Australasian tektites (others than the Muong Nong-type indochinites) (δ^66/64Zn = 1.84 ± 0.42‰); and Central European moldavites (δ^66/64Zn = 2.04 ± 0.19‰). These results are contrasted with a narrow range of δ^66/64Zn = 0–0.7‰ for a diverse spectrum of upper continental crust materials.The elemental abundance of Zn is negatively correlated with δ^66/64Zn, which may reflect that isotopic fractionation occurred by evaporation during the heating event upon tektite formation. Simple Rayleigh distillation predicts isotopic fractionations much larger than what is actually observed, therefore, such a model cannot account for the observed Zn isotope fractionation in tektites. We have developed a more realistic model of evaporation of Zn from a molten sphere: during its hypervelocity trajectory, the molten surface of the tektite will be entrained by viscous coupling with air that will then induce a velocity field inside the molten sphere. This velocity field induces significant radial chemical mixing within the tektite that accelerates the evaporation process. Our model, albeit parameter dependent, shows that both the isotopic composition and the chemical abundances measured in tektites can be produced by evaporation in a diffusion-limited regime.     

Factors influencing subaqueous dunes in the Scheldt Estuary

The size (wavelength and height) and the factors influencing the characteristics of subaqueous dunes in the river Scheldt between Antwerp and the Belgian-Dutch border were studied. More than 60 dune clusters (each cluster represented by a mean height and wavelength of mostly 10 to 20 or more observations) were analysed. A very good exponential correlation between dune height and wavelength was observed (r=0.90) which can be described by H _mean=0.0321L ^0.918. Length/depth ratios vary between 0.2 and 9, height/depth ratios between 0.25 and 0.01. There was no clear relationship between current velocity and dune size, as dunes of various sizes co-exist at the same current velocities. Twenty-two dunes were sampled and show grain sizes (d50) ranging between 0.1 and 0.7 mm. Seven out of eight large scale dune fields were found in sandy and/or hard bottom (gravel, coarse sand and shell fragments) environments, whereas small and medium dunes were found in muddy sand and sandy mud environments.     

Visible–near infrared spectral indices for mapping mineralogy and chemistry with OSIRIS‐REx

The primary objective of the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS‐REx) mission is to return to Earth a pristine sample of carbonaceous material from the primitive asteroid (101955) Bennu. To support compositional mapping of Bennu as part of sample site selection and characterization, we tested 95 spectral indices on visible to near infrared laboratory reflectance data from minerals and carbonaceous meteorites. Our aim was to determine which indices reliably identify spectral features of interest. Most spectral indices had high positive detection rates when applied to spectra of pure, single‐component materials. The meteorite spectra have fewer and weaker absorption features and, as a result, fewer detections with the spectral indices. Indices targeting absorptions at 0.7 and 2.7–3 μm, which are attributable to hydrated minerals, were most successful for the meteorites. Based on these results, we identified a set of 17 indices that are most likely to be useful at Bennu. These indices detect olivines, pyroxenes, carbonates, water/OH‐bearing minerals, serpentines, ferric minerals, and organics. Particle size and albedo are known to affect band depth but had a negligible impact on interpretive success with spectral indices. Preliminary analysis of the disk‐integrated Bennu spectrum with these indices is consistent with expectations given the observed absorption near 3 μm. Our study prioritizes spectral indices to be used for OSIRIS‐REx spectral analysis and mapping and informs the reliability of all index‐derived data products, including a science value map for sample site selection.     

Detrital clay grain coats in estuarine clastic deposits: origin and spatial distribution within a modern sedimentary system,the Gironde Estuary (south‐west France)

Porosity and permeability may be preserved in deep sandstone reservoirs by clay coating (mainly chlorite) which limits quartz overgrowths. Chloritization around quartz grains results mainly from mineralogical transformations of pre‐existing clays. It is fundamental to study those clay precursors to better understand and predict the location and distribution of clay coatings in subsurface sandstones for petroleum or geothermal prospecting. This paper reports a high‐resolution analysis of the composition, distribution and fabric of clays along a modern estuary, the Gironde (south‐west France). The scale of the study ranges from thin sections, through sand bar bodies, up to the entire estuary. Results show that clays are detrital and deposited at the same time as sand grains despite strong hydrodynamic conditions. Clays bind to medium‐grained sands forming detrital clay grain coats. On average, 26% of detrital sand grains are coated along the entire length of the estuary. Coat thickness varies from 1 μm to more than 200 μm, and coat coverage exceeds 30% in some samples. The turbidity maximum zone position (surface water turbidity from 1 to 10 g l^?1) in the estuary, which is controlled by seasonal variations in hydrodynamic processes, significantly impacts the location of the maximum clay content and the abundance of coated grains in sandy facies along the estuary. Flocculation in the water column results in the accumulation of suspended matter and contributes to the high turbidity in the estuary. Exopolymeric substances produced by diatoms are observed both in the field and by cryo‐scanning electron microscopy, suggesting that they may play a major role in binding detrital clay around sand grains. Finally, tidal bars and heterolithic point bars in the estuary funnel and estuarine channels are prime sedimentological targets for finding clay coatings and potentially good reservoir quality in deeply buried sandstones.     

The influence of sediment size,relative grain size and channel slope on initiation of sediment motion in boulder bed rivers. A lichenometric study

Sediment transport of four boulder bed rivers is studied using lichenometry. The presence of lichens on boulders in the river channel is used to date the last mobilization of the blocks. Using size frequency diagrams and regional growth curves calibrated with dated reference points it is possible to determine the flood event responsible for the last mobilization of each boulder with lichens present. The specific stream power of flood events over the last 60 years is then calculated, and thresholds of sediment transport based on the sediment size are calculated. The results from the four studied rivers are compared to similar relationships in the literature. Sediment motion thresholds appear to be very variable within the same type of river (mountainous boulder bed rivers). The critical specific stream power necessary to mobilize a particle of a given diameter may vary by up to 10 times from one river to the next. Bed sediment size and river slope may explain this large range of stream powers. Calculation of the relative size of the transported particles (D_i/D₅₀) also shows that both hiding and protrusion effects, as well as channels slope, are important factors in sediment transport. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.