A study on the interaction between ferric ion and silicic acid in hydrosphere: Si-containing ferruginous deposits formed in neutral hot spring waters

Five ferruginous deposit samples formed from neutral hot springs were analyzed to determine whether they consisted of a mixture of silica, hydrous iron oxide or iron silicate by differential thermal analysis (DTA), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and 57Fe Mssbauer spectroscopy. The Si/Fe atomic ratios of the deposits ranged from 0.25 to 0.45, and were smaller than those of hisingerite (12), but apparently close to those of siliceous ferrihydrite (0.250.5). Si was confirmed to be present as monomeric or oligomeric silicate from the Si-O stretching vibration frequencies on the IR spectra. Judging from the results of DTA, which minerals starting to produce after heating, and a relationship between Si-O stretching vibration frequency and Si/Fe atomic ratio proposed by Henmi et al. (1981), all the deposits in this study were concluded to be mixtures of various siliceous ferri-hydrites with low and high Si/Fe atomic ratios. Moreover, by comparing the chemical properties of hot spring waters, the formation conditions of siliceous ferrihydrite were also discussed.     

A Study on the Formation of Smectite in Silica Scales Precipitated from Geothermal Water: The Effect of Magnesium

Abstract. Silica scales containing large amounts of smectite were recently found in the pipelines for geothermal water at a geothermal power plant. To elucidate the mechanism of smectite formation, seven silica scale samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, chemical analysis and ²⁷A1 MAS NMR. Smectite was present in samples with MgO levels above 10 wt% and Al₂O₃ levels below 10 wt%. In ²⁷A1 MAS NMR spectra, peaks assigned to both tetrahedrally and octahedrally coordinated aluminum (Al(4) and Al(6)) were observed for Mg-rich samples, whereas a peak due to Al(4) alone appeared in Mg-poor samples. From these observation and comparison between ²⁷A1 MAS NMR spectra for synthesized precipitates of Al₂O₃-SiO₂ containing MgO and not containing MgO, it is concluded that magnesium plays an important role in the stabilization of Al(6), and results in the formation of smectite     

Dinoflagellate Cysts in Surface Sediments from Southern Coast of Korea

To investigate the distributions of dinoflagellate cysts in relation to environmental conditions from southern coast of Korea, surface sediment samples collected from 11 stations in Gamak Bay, Yeoja Bay and the offshore area of Yeoja Bay were analyzed. Dinoflagellate cyst assemblages observed in the study area included many species commonly reported from other temperate regions. Among them, Polykrikos cysts were dominant, together with Brigantedinium spp. and Spiniferites spp. Based on cluster analysis, dinoflagellate cyst assemblages were divided into two main groups; group I, located in Yeoja Bay and group II, located in Gamak Bay and the offshore area of Yeoja Bay. Principal component analysis identified differences in salinity levels as the main environmental factors affecting the distributional characteristics of dinoflagellate cyst assemblages in the study area. Gamak Bay is a typical eutrophied area as result of extensive human activities around the bay, and heterotrophic cysts, including Polykrikos cysts, are remarkably abundant and likely to be a useful indicator for eutrophication in Gamak Bay.     

Hydration of rhyolitic glass during weathering as characterized by IR microspectroscopy

The mechanism and rate of hydration of rhyolitic glass during weathering were studied. Doubly polished thin sections of two rhyolites with different duration of weathering (Ohsawa lava: 26,000 yr, Awanomikoto lava: 52,000 yr) were prepared. Optical microscope observation showed that altered layers had developed along the glass surfaces. IR spectral line profile analysis was conducted on the glass sections from the surface to the interior for a length of 250 μm and the contents of molecular H₂O (H₂O_m), OH species (OH) and total water (H₂O_t) were determined. The diffusion profile of H₂O_m in Ohsawa lava extends beyond the layer observed by optical microscope. The content of H₂O_m in the hydrated region is much higher than that of OH species. Thus, the reaction from H₂O_m to OH appears to be little and H₂O_m is the dominant water species moving into the glass during weathering. Based on the concentration profiles, the diffusion coefficients of H₂O_m(D_H2Om) and H₂O_t(D_H2Ot) were determined to be 2.8 × 10⁻¹⁰ and 3.4 × 10⁻¹⁰ μm² s⁻¹ for Ohsawa lava, and 5.2 × 10⁻¹¹ and 4.1 × 10⁻¹¹ μm² s⁻¹ for Awanomikoto lava, respectively. The obtained D_H2Om during weathering are more than 2-3 orders of magnitude larger than the diffusion coefficient at ∼20 °C that is extrapolated from the diffusivity data for >400 °C. This might suggest that the mechanism of water transport is different at weathering conditions and >400 °C.     

Zonation and species diversity of smaller macrobenthos in the westernmost part of Wakasa Bay (the Sea of Tango)

Grab samples of the smaller macrobenthos (>1 mm, <1g wet weight) were obtained seasonally at fourteen stations along two transects in the shallow coastal waters of the westernmost part of Wakasa Bay. According to Morisita's similarity index (C _i , two faunal groups were recognized to be present throughout the year. The boundary between them was found to lie between depths of 10 and 20 m where the silt-clay fraction increased abruptly in the sediment, although the boundary was less obvious in summer. Statistics on community structure (species diversity, species richness, and evenness) also showed marked differences between the two assemblages. The change in faunal features was found to be roughly parallel to changes in sediment characteristics. On the nearshore sandy bottom, the influence of wave action is considered to be the major factor affecting the fauna as it results in a decrease in evenness and species richness. On the other hand, on the offshore muddy bottom, stagnant conditions cause the benthic fauna to decrease in density and to bear some resemblance to those of enclosed bays. The highest species diversity was found on the silty sand bottom (20 m deep). This can be understood as an edge effect of an ecotone.