Effects of a proline solution cover on the geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of high-sulfur coal gangue

Batch experiments were conducted to comparatively evaluate the inhibition effects and mechanisms of a low-concentration (1%) proline solution cover on the release of pollutants from high-sulfur coal gangue. High-sulfur coal gangue was continuously immersed in a proline solution and in deionized water (as a control treatment) for 540 days. The results showed that the coal gangue in the control treatment was oxidized and generated leachate with poor water qualities, i.e., the leachate exhibited lower pH values, higher redox potential values, higher pollutant concentrations (SO₄^2?, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn), and high levels of acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. However, compared to the control treatment, the addition of the proline solution (1%) significantly improved the water quality of the leachate by significantly reducing the Eh values, the pollutant concentrations (SO₄^2?, Fe²⁺, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn), and the activity of acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and by significantly increasing the pH value to neutral. The proline treatment significantly inhibited the oxidation of coal gangue and the release of pollutants, mainly by inhibiting the activity of acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and by altering the heavy metal fractions and the mineralogical characteristics. Therefore, in engineering practice, workers should consider using an environmental friendly aqueous proline solution cover to achieve the in-situ control of pollutant releases from coal gangue dumps.     

Geochemistry and geochronology of Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous intrusions related to some Au (Sb) deposits in southern Anhui: a case study and review

Some Au deposits in southern Anhui Province have recently been found to be closely associated with Late Mesozoic intrusions. Typical examples include the Huashan Au (Sb) deposit and Au deposits at Zhaojialing, Wuxi, and Liaojia. In order to understand the mechanisms that led the formation of these Au deposits, we make detailed reviews on the geological characteristics of these Au deposits. Specifically, we present new LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating, along with elemental and Hf isotopic data from the Huashan Au (Sb) deposit. Our data suggests that the Huashan ore-related intrusions were emplaced during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous periods (144–148 Ma). They are characterized by arc-magma features and high oxygen fugacity and are rich in inherited zircons. Zircon U–Pb ages and Lu–Hf isotopes from intrusions suggest that Proterozoic juvenile lithosphere is the main source of these intrusions. The regional geological history implies that lithosphere beneath southern Anhui was produced during a Proterozoic subduction and was fertilized with Au (Cu) in the process. Integrated with the results of previous studies, we inferred that Late Mesozoic intrusions formed by the remelting of the lithosphere could provide the metal endowment for the Au-rich deposits in southern Anhui.     

Elemental characteristics of lacustrine oil shale and its controlling factors of palaeo-sedimentary environment on oil yield: a case from Chang 7 oil layer of Triassic Yanchang Formation in southern Ordos Basin

As an important unconventional resource, oil shale has received widespread attention. The oil shale of the Chang 7 oil layer from Triassic Yanchang Formation in Ordos Basin represents the typical lacustrine oil shale in China. Based on analyzing trace elements and oil yield from boreholes samples, characteristics and paleo-sedimentary environments of oil shale and relationship between paleo-sedimentary environment and oil yield were studied. With favorable quality, oil yield of oil shale varies from 1.4% to 9.1%. Geochemical data indicate that the paleo-redox condition of oil shale’s reducing condition from analyses of V/Cr, V/(V + Ni), U/Th, δU, and authigenic uranium. Equivalent Boron, Sp, and Sr/Ba illustrate that paleosalinity of oil shale is dominated by fresh water. The paleoclimate of oil shale is warm and humid by calculating the chemical index of alteration and Sr/Cu. Fe/Ti and (Fe + Mn)/Ti all explain that there were hot water activities during the sedimentary period of oil shale. In terms of Zr/Rb, paleohydrodynamics of oil shale is weak. By means of Co abundance and U/Th, paleo-water-depth of oil shale is from 17.30 to 157.26 m, reflecting sedimentary environment which is mainly in semi deep–deep lake facies. Correlation analyses between oil yield and six paleoenvironmental factors show that the oil yield of oil shale is mainly controlled by paleo-redox conditions, paleoclimate, hot water activities, and depth of water. Paleosalinity and paleohydrodynamics have an inconspicuous influence on oil yield.     

Timing of mineralization at the Shihu gold deposit in the middle segment of the Taihang Mountain,China

The Shihu gold deposit, located in the middle-south section of the core of the Fuping mantle branch structure, is hosted in the Archean Fuping Group and adjacent to the quartz diorite porphyrite. The gold deposit is the only large gold deposit with reserves of more than 30 tons gold discovered in western Hebei Province so far. In order to constrain the timing of mineralization of this ore deposit, this paper focuses on the isotopic dating of zircon and pyrite. Zircons in gold-bearing quartz veins are magmatic in origin and no hydrothermal zircon has been found in such quartz veins, indicating that zircons were derived from the wall rocks. U–Pb ages of zircons fall mainly in the two domains: 2492 ± 82 and 136 ± 4 Ma, respectively, indicative of the contribution of the Fuping-Group TTG gneiss and Yanshanian igneous rocks, respectively. The Re–Os isotopic compositions of pyrites in the gold-bearing quartz veins yield an isochron age of 127 ± 31 Ma. Combined with other dating results, we suggest that the main metallogenic age of the Shihu gold deposit is 120–127 Ma.     

Flooding a landscape: impact of Holocene transgression on coastal sedimentology and underwater archaeology in Kiladha Bay (Greece)

Franchthi Cave, bordering Kiladha Bay, in Greece, is a key archaeological site, due to its long occupation time, from?~?40,000 to?~?5000 year BP. To date, no clear evidence of Neolithic human dwellings in the cave was found, supporting the assumption that Neolithic people may have built a village where there is now Kiladha Bay. During the Neolithic period/Early Holocene, wide areas of the bay were indeed emerged above sea level. Bathymetric and seismic data identified a terrace incised by a valley in?~?1 to 2 m sediment depth. Eight sediment cores, up to 6.3-m-long, were retrieved and analysed using petrophysical, sedimentological, geochemical, and chronostratigraphic methods. The longest core extends into the exposure surface, consisting of a layer of carbonate rubble in a finer matrix, representing weathering processes. Dated organic remains place this unit at?~?8500 cal year BP. It is overlain by stiff silty mud representing an estuarine environment. This mud is capped by reduced sediments with roots marking an exposure surface. A shell-layer, dated to?~?6300 cal year BP, overlies this terrestrial sequence, reflecting the marine transgression. This layer occurs at 10.8 mbsl, 7.7 m deeper than the global sea level at that time, suggesting tectonic subsidence in the area. It is overlain by finer-grained marine carbonate-rich sediments. The top of the core shows traces of eutrophication, pebbles and marine shells, all likely a result of modern anthropogenic processes. These results are interpreted in the context of human occupation: the exposed surface contains pottery sherds, one dating to the Early to Middle Neolithic period, indicating that Neolithic people were present in this dynamic landscape interacting with a migrating coastline. Even if the artefacts are isolated, future investigations of the submerged landscape off Franchthi Cave might lead to the discovery of a Neolithic village, which eventually became buried under marine sediments.     

藏北羌塘南部埃迪卡拉系达布热组的建立及其地质意义

羌塘位于青藏高原腹地,构造上处于冈瓦纳大陆北缘。因其特殊的构造位置,羌塘地体的起源及构造演化对于探讨青藏高原的早期形成演化、冈瓦纳大陆裂解,以及特提斯洋演化等关键科学问题至关重要。最近,在羌塘南部达布热地区发现一套碎屑岩夹玄武岩的岩石组合,碎屑岩具有低成分成熟度的特点,虽然岩石发生了低绿片岩相变质,但仍然保留了原岩类复理石沉积的特点。根据碎屑锆石定年结果,该套地层中碎屑锆石的最年轻年龄为550Ma左右。此外,该套地层中玄武岩夹层的测年结果表明,该套地层形成于埃迪卡拉纪(约550Ma)。结合地层剖面及区域地层对比,建立了埃迪卡拉纪达布热组。达布热组是羌塘地区首次发现的埃迪卡拉纪地层,该组地层的建立为探讨冈瓦纳大陆北缘构造演化提供了重要线索。     

西藏改则县拉果错蛇绿岩构造属性:来自岩石学、地球化学、年代学及Lu-Hf同位素的制约

拉果错蛇绿岩是狮泉河-阿索-嘉黎蛇绿岩带中出露最完整的蛇绿岩组合之一,对恢复和反演该缝合带所代表洋盆演化具有重要意义。然而,目前拉果错蛇绿岩的成因及构造环境还不清楚,时代也存在争议。选择拉果错蛇绿岩中的斜长花岗岩和堆晶辉长岩作为研究对象,开展了野外勘查及剖面的测制,以及地球化学、LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年及Lu-Hf同位素研究,并结合区域地层、岩浆岩等相关资料,探讨了拉果错蛇绿岩的构造属性。拉果错斜长花岗岩和辉长岩野外呈整合接触,地球化学特征表明二者具有同源性,具有与E-MORB(富集大洋中脊玄武岩)相似的稀土元素配分形式和微量特征;Lu-Hf同位素显示岩浆源区为亏损地幔,由多种组分组成,可能来源于亏损地幔和Ⅱ型富集地幔二组分混合的地幔源区;斜长花岗岩和辉长岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年分别获得184.1±0.79Ma和183.5±2.2Ma的谐和年龄,代表了拉果错蛇绿岩的形成时代。研究表明,拉果错蛇绿岩形成于具有强烈大洋中脊玄武岩特征的弧后盆地环境。     

藏北羌塘中部日湾茶卡地区晚三叠世安山岩与闪长质包体岩石成因及地质意义

龙木错-双湖-澜沧江缝合带将羌塘板块划分为南、北2个次级板块,在缝合带两侧大规模发育晚三叠世岩浆作用,并伴随大量的高压超高压变质岩。在缝合带以南的日湾茶卡地区识别出一套安山岩,其中发育大量的暗色闪长质捕虏体,锆石U-Pb测年结果在安山岩中获得了364.7±1.9Ma和223.9±1.3Ma两组年龄信息,锆石原位Hf同位素测试结果εHf(t)分别为+7.22~+8.69和-5.94~-4.14。结合羌塘中部已有的研究成果,认为闪长质捕虏体形成于晚泥盆世洋壳俯冲背景,是地幔楔部分熔融底侵至地壳的产物;而安山岩形成于晚三叠世碰撞后伸展背景,是深部板片断离机制下深俯冲陆壳边缘一侧熔体混染晚泥盆世新生地壳的产物。安山岩中闪长质捕虏体的发现支持了俯冲带作为大陆生长的重要场所的观点。     

藏北多龙矿集区地壳基底性质、演化及其对成矿的制约——来自波龙火山-侵入岩中继承锆石U-Pb年龄的信息

地壳基底性质及其演化对区域金属成矿类型和成矿潜力具有重要影响。藏北多龙矿集区是目前中国规模最大的斑岩-浅成低温热液型铜多金属矿集区之一,其地壳基底性质与演化缺少研究,制约了对区内铜多金属成矿构造背景和成矿物质来源的全面认识。多龙矿集区内波龙火山-侵入岩中继承锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb测年结果显示,14颗继承锆石具有新太古代—古元古代年龄(2581~1670Ma),这些锆石多为自形-半自形颗粒,具有原地来源的特征,表明多龙矿集区深部存在新太古代—古元古代结晶基底。该基底应该是南羌塘中心地区古老基底向南延伸的一部分。该基底在中元古代—早古生代遭受多次构造-岩浆热事件改造,尤以泛非期—早古生代最强烈。进入晚中生代后,由于年轻地幔物质的加入,多龙地壳发生明显的垂向生长,形成富含金属和成矿组分的新生下地壳,该新生下地壳在早白垩世发生活化,为多龙成矿体系提供大量的金属及其他幔源有用组分。多龙矿集区是一个"两期岩浆叠加成矿"的典型例子。