Long-term biological effects of petroleum residues on fiddler crabs in salt marshes

In September 1969, the Florida barge spilled 700,000L of No. 2 fuel oil into the salt marsh sediments of Wild Harbor (Buzzards Bay, MA). Today the aboveground environment appears unaffected, but a substantial amount of moderately degraded petroleum still remains 8-20cm below the surface. The salt marsh fiddler crabs, Uca pugnax, burrow into the sediments at depths of 5-25cm, and are chronically exposed to the spilled oil. Behavioral studies conducted with U. pugnax from Wild Harbor and a control site, Great Sippewissett marsh, found that crabs exposed to the oil avoided burrowing into oiled layers, suffered delayed escape responses, lowered feeding rates, and achieved lower densities. The oil residues are therefore biologically active and affect U. pugnax populations. Our results add new knowledge about long-term consequences of spilled oil, a dimension that should be included when assessing oil-impacted areas and developing management plans designed to restore, rehabilitate, or replace impacted areas.     

Geophysical monitoring and reactive transport modeling of ureolytically-driven calcium carbonate precipitation

Ureolytically-driven calcium carbonate precipitation is the basis for a promising in-situ remediation method for sequestration of divalent radionuclide and trace metal ions. It has also been proposed for use in geotechnical engineering for soil strengthening applications. Monitoring the occurrence, spatial distribution, and temporal evolution of calcium carbonate precipitation in the subsurface is critical for evaluating the performance of this technology and for developing the predictive models needed for engineering application. In this study, we conducted laboratory column experiments using natural sediment and groundwater to evaluate the utility of geophysical (complex resistivity and seismic) sensing methods, dynamic synchrotron x-ray computed tomography (micro-CT), and reactive transport modeling for tracking ureolytically-driven calcium carbonate precipitation processes under site relevant conditions. Reactive transport modeling with TOUGHREACT successfully simulated the changes of the major chemical components during urea hydrolysis. Even at the relatively low level of urea hydrolysis observed in the experiments, the simulations predicted an enhanced calcium carbonate precipitation rate that was 3-4 times greater than the baseline level. Reactive transport modeling results, geophysical monitoring data and micro-CT imaging correlated well with reaction processes validated by geochemical data. In particular, increases in ionic strength of the pore fluid during urea hydrolysis predicted by geochemical modeling were successfully captured by electrical conductivity measurements and confirmed by geochemical data. The low level of urea hydrolysis and calcium carbonate precipitation suggested by the model and geochemical data was corroborated by minor changes in seismic P-wave velocity measurements and micro-CT imaging; the latter provided direct evidence of sparsely distributed calcium carbonate precipitation. Ion exchange processes promoted through NH4+ production during urea hydrolysis were incorporated in the model and captured critical changes in the major metal species. The electrical phase increases were potentially due to ion exchange processes that modified charge structure at mineral/water interfaces. Our study revealed the potential of geophysical monitoring for geochemical changes during urea hydrolysis and the advantages of combining multiple approaches to understand complex biogeochemical processes in the subsurface.     

The cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa (Scleractinia) and enigmatic seabed mounds along the north-east Atlantic margin: are they related?

In this study, an updated distribution of Lophelia pertusa between the Porcupine Seabight and Norwegian shelf is presented. It seems unlikely that enigmatic mound structures observed at water depths of more than 570 m during acoustic seabed surveys, particularly to the west of the Shetland Islands, are related to the occurrence of L. pertusa. At these depths in the Faroe-Shetland Channel, the predominant influence of cold Arctic water precludes its growth. Iceberg dumpsites are also considered unlikely explanations for the origin of these mounds, and they are interpreted as most likely to be related to the release of fluids at the seabed. When mound structures were investigated, no scleractinian corals were recovered at water depths >500 m. This study shows the importance of seabed temperature as an environmental control on cold-water coral distribution. The significance of cold-water coral habitats in sustaining high levels of local-scale biodiversity is now becoming apparent in parallel with increased hydrocarbon extraction and fishing activity beyond the shelf edge. There is growing evidence that these areas have been marked by the passage of deep-water trawls. It seems likely that trawling activity has already reduced the extent of cold-water coral distribution in this region of the north-east Atlantic.     

Evidence of methylmercury production and modification of the microbial community structure in estuary sediments contaminated with wastewater treatment plant effluents

The Seine’s estuary (France) waters are the receptacle of effluents originating from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). In this estuary, mudflats are deposition zones for sediments and their associated contaminants, and play an essential role in the mercury (Hg) biogeochemical cycle mainly due to indigenous microorganisms. Microcosms were used to assess the impact of WWTP-effluents on mercury methylation by monitoring Hg species (total dissolved Hg in porewater, methylmercury and total mercury) and on microbial communities in sediments. After effluent amendment, methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations increased in relation with the total Hg and organic matter content of the WWTP-effluents. A correlation was observed between MeHg and acid-volatile-sulfides concentrations. Quantification of sulfate-reducing microorganisms involved in Hg methylation showed no increase of their abundance but their activity was probably enhanced by the organic matter supplied with the effluents. WWTP-effluent spiking modified the bacterial community fingerprint, mainly influenced by Hg contamination and the organic matter amendment.     

青海大风山锶矿床中天青石的成分特征

青海大风山是中国典型的陆相碳酸盐-硫酸盐沉积组合锶矿床,也是中国目前储量最大的锶矿床.文章对大风山矿床中不同产状的天青石进行了系统的电子探针测试,分析归纳了不同类型矿石中天青石的成分变化规律,发现同心圆状天青石中的SrO含量最高,其次是细纤维状、花朵状、钟乳状、假层纹状、粗纤维状天青石,隐晶质天青石含量最低.通过与江西省萍乡包公庙、宜春慈化、湖南浏阳永和海相碳酸盐沉积组合锶矿床、重庆大足、玉峡及干沟等海相碳酸盐-硫酸盐沉积组合锶矿床、云南金顶硫化物-天青石层控伴生锶矿床天青石的对比,总结了不同类型矿床中天青石的特征,指出青海大风山天青石矿床成分简单,除SrSO4较高外,其余均相对较低,有利于碳酸锶的提取和回收,具有很高的工业价值.     

北羌塘三叠系康鲁组沉积岩地球化学特征及其物源区和构造背景分析

沉积盆地中碎屑沉积岩的地球化学特征主要受物源区的制约。对北羌塘盆地三叠系康鲁组碎屑沉积岩进行全岩测试,分析表明,样品的成分变异指数(ICV)和化学蚀变指数(CIA)变化不大,反映其源区物质较新鲜,成熟度相对较低,化学风化作用较弱-中等。岩石SiO₂含量普遍较高,TFe₂O₃+MgO含量相对较高,但K₂O/Na₂O比值变化较大。微量元素标准化蛛网图与后太古代页岩和上地壳相似,且REE配分模式图显示富集LREE,δEu明显负异常以及δCe呈弱负异常。此外,Th/U、La/Sc、Th/Sc、Ba/Sr等微量元素比值以及TiO₂-Ni、La/Th-Hf、Co/Th-La/Sc和Th/Sc-La/Sc判别图表明沉积物物源具有浅源、长英质的特征。沉积岩的SiO₂-K₂O/Na₂O、La-Th、La/Y-Sc/Cr双变量图解和La-Th-Sc、Th-Sc-Zr/10、Th-Co-Zr/10三变量图解,以及Th/U、Rb/Sr等比值特征表明北羌塘三叠系康鲁组沉积砂岩的物源区构造背景以大陆岛弧为主,兼有大洋岛弧和被动大陆边缘构造背景特征。