Thermodynamics of arsenates, selenites, and sulfates in the oxidation zone of sulfide Ores: Part VII. Solubility of synthetic analogs of erythrite and annabergite at 25°C

Understanding the mechanisms of arsenic’s behavior under near-surface conditions is one of the actual problems of contemporary mineralogy and geochemistry and is important for solving environmental problems. The aim of this study is to synthesize analogs of erythrite and annabergite and to investigate their solubility in water. These phases have been synthesized by the boiling-dry of aqueous solutions of cobalt and nickel nitrates mixed with sodium hydroarsenate alkalized with NaOH. The samples obtained have been identified with electron microprobe, X-ray diffraction, and IR spectroscopy. Solubility has been determined by the isothermal saturation method in ampoules at 25°C. The solubility has been calculated using the Geochemist’s Workbench (GMB 7.0) software package. The measured solubilities of erythrite and annabergite are 10^?35.76 and 10^?36.43, respectively. Eh-pH diagrams were calculated and plotted using the GMB 7.0 software package. The database comprises the thermodynamic parameters of 46 elements, 47 main particles, 48 redox pairs, 552 particles in solution, 624 solid phases, and 10 gases. The Eh-pH diagrams of the Ni-As-H₂O and Co-As-H₂O systems were plotted for the average contents of these elements in the acidic waters in the oxidation zones of sulfide deposits. The formation of erythrite and annabergite under near-surface conditions is discussed.     

Palynostratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene Deposits in the South of Western Siberia by Example of Russkaya Polyana Boreholes,Omsk Trough

The detailed study of Boreholes 8, 10, and 2 in the Russkaya Polyana district (Omsk Trough) made it possible to reveal the complex structure of the Upper Cretaceous sediments formed in unstable conditions of the marginal part of the Western Siberian basin. The Pokur, Kuznetsovo, Ipatovo, Slavgorod, and Gan’kino formations were subjected to palynological analysis and substantiation of their Late Cretaceous age. Eight biostratigraphic units with dinocysts and five units with spores and pollen from the Albian to the Maastrichtian were identified. The joint application of biostratigraphic and magnetostratigraphic methods made it possible to reveal the stratigraphic breaks in the studied sedimentary stratum and to estimate their scope. The age of the Lower Lyulinvor Subformation was specified in the marginal part of the Omsk Trough. The ingression traces of the Western Siberian basin in the Albian were found for the first time in the considered region.     

Copper, lead and cadmium concentrations in surface water, sediment and fish, C. Carpio, samples from Lake Naivasha: effect of recent anthropogenic activities

Following recent concerns of chemical pollution around Lake Naivasha, especially originating from recent agricultural activities in the catchment, samples of water, sediments, and fish Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were collected from the Hippo Point, Kasarani, Mouth of Malewa River, Mouth of Karati River, Crescent Island, Sher Karuturi Discharge outlet and Oserian Bay for analysis of Cu, Cd and Pb by FAAS. The mean heavy metal levels ranged from 5.12?C58.11 (Pb), 1.06?C1.73 (Cd), and <0.03?C2.29 (Cu) mg/kg wet weight in C. carpio muscle, <100?C179.83 (Pb), <10.00?C10.06 (Cd) and <30.00?C32.33 (Cu) ??g/L in surface water, and 17.11?C53.07 (Pb), 1.18?C5.58 (Cd) and 3.00?C8.48 (Cu) mg/kg dry weight in sediment and showed a wide variation within and between samples with relatively high concentrations in sediments and fish muscle tissues. The results indicate that Lake Naivasha, in some parts, is polluted with these heavy metals of which relatively higher concentrations are found at the discharge outlets near Sher Karuturi and Oserian Bay. This indicates possible contribution from surrounding horticultural/floricultural activities and the Mouths of the Rivers Malewa and Karati which flow from it??s upper catchment.     

Effect of soil amendments on phytoextraction potential of Brassica juncea growing on sewage sludge

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of elemental sulfur, gypsum and chelating agent (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) on copper, zinc, nickel, cadmium, chromium and lead uptake by Brassica juncea from sewage sludge. Addition of sulphur acidified the sludge, which caused the pH decrease to 5.4 with an initial pH 6.7. The shoot and root biomass were increased with sulfur addition, while decreased with Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid addition. Applications of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and sulfur resulted in a considerable increase in copper and lead concentrations in the plant. The highest root concentration of copper obtained to be 110?mg/kg?dw at Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid treatment. For sulfur treatment, lead concentrations in shoots indicated almost high concentrations 77?mg/kg, about twofold increases relative to roots (34?mg/kg). The Transportation Index of all studied metals were quite low (TI?<?0.5), whereas the Bioaccumulation Factor values were much higher, varied from 0.01 to 9.67. Furthermore, the plant showed better Bioaccumulation Factor for copper and lead metals in both shoot and root. The efficiency to remove copper and lead from sludge is high in this plant. As a result, elemental sulfur will be effective amendment for phytoextraction of heavy metals from sewage sludge.     

Airborne Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) for the Quantification of Dissolved Organic Matter Concentration in Natural Waters

Analysis of dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentration and composition is essential to quantifying biological and chemical oxygen demand and atmosphere?Cocean heat flux exchange in natural waters. However, manual water sampling is costly and time consuming over large areas. The purpose of this research was to analyze the applicability of airborne laser-induced fluorescence light detection and ranging (LiDAR) for the detection of DOM in estuarine ecosystems impacted by agriculture. A fluorescence LiDAR system (Airborne Marine) (FLS-AM) was used to assess the DOM concentration of the Annapolis River and Basin, Nova Scotia, Canada, as well as three rivers and their estuaries in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Two FLS-AM flight missions were conducted in the summers of 2008 and 2009 and the resulting datasets were compared with spectral fluorescence signature (SFS DOM) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) analysis of in situ water samples. Significant positive correlations were found at five of seven sites between the FLS-AM DOM and SFS DOM relationship which indicates that the FLS-AM sensor is a good surrogate for traditional sample collection of DOM data in estuaries in this region. Positive correlations were also found at all sites between FLS-AM DOM values and DOC. FLS-AM DOM patterns show that DOM values are significantly higher in rivers and estuaries that drain watersheds which are heavily impacted by agricultural practices. The results of this study show that the FLS-AM can be used efficiently as a general indicator for how estuaries are affected by runoff from agricultural watersheds in real time and thus reduce the requirement for traditional water sample collection and laboratory analysis methods.     

Community perception and participation,prospects in management of forests in marginal lands of Sudan

Fuelwood Development for Energy in Sudan project (GCP/SUD/033/NET) is undertaking research to formulate management plans for Sudan ecologically marginal forests. Rawashda and Wad Kabu forests are taken as examples to initiate sound plans. It is believed that the study of socio-economic parameters of forests users is an essential component to achieve such plan. This study is also fundamental for attaining an integrated land use system, as a prime option of natural resource use. This study is, consequently, aiming at:

1. Providing the base line information of the different communities identified in Tab 3 and using the two forests.
2. Examine people's attitude, perception, participation options in maintenance and management of the two forests. Such parameters are also vital for adoption of an integrated land use strategy in the future.
3. Based on (i) and (ii) to outline broadly the most relevant plan of management land use strategy to be adopted, based on community self-generated options of institutions and objectives of use.

The main findings in this context can be summarized in the following:

1. A complex pattern of economic activities (Tab 3) ranging from pure pastoral nomadism to modern mechanized farming, still characterized by combination of related activities of agricultural/livestock breeding, agriculture/forest resource use, etc. This diversity in activities, which is mostly dependent on the natural resource base, gives a sound base for any option of an integrated land use system.
2. Perception and attitude analysis have revealed a growing awareness of the role of the forest resources in the economy as source of grazing, domestic needs and source of income. This awareness is supported by willingness to participate in any integrated land use plan, yet from a different stand point and objective. Preference of self-generated channels is quite evident, but with a specified role of the government.
3. The major finding is that, and among all communities, the situation is mature for action, although at different levels.

Therefore, each community could be approached along relevant lines of action, as an initial phase before attaining a comprehensive land use plan. On-farm trials (OFTs) or in-herd trials seem to be more relevant compared with expert controlled trials. Any plan of action needs to be preceded by revision of present land tenure systems, establishing grass-root institutions, reorientation of concerned government departments, intensive extension programme and careful formulation of projects, execution and follow-up plans. Such steps need to be geared to narrow the ‘Perception gap’ of development between participants or users and planners.     

Acid mine drainage contaminates groundwater of a Tennessee watershed

Water samples were collected from 18 natural springs within the West Fork of the Obey River watershed. Overton County, Tennessee, to determine if groundwater was adversely affected by runoff from abandoned surface coal mines Six springs were found to be affected severely and deemed unfit as a source of potable water Water quality of the remaining springs was essentially unaffected it appeared that proximity to surface mines, elevation at the outflow, and geology of the surrounding strata determined the quality of the groundwater The unit is jointly supported by Tennessee Technological University, the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, and the US. Fish and Wildlife Service     

Mechanism and Modes of Microbial Minerogenesis of Polymetallic Nodules on the Ocean Floor

This paper presents a quantitative analysis of the relations of the occurrence of polymetallic nodules with the geochemical actions of microbes in the seawater, pore water and sediments at the bottom of the eastern Pacific Ocean basin. Emphasis is laid on the relations of the activity intensity and biochemical transformation rate of aerobic bacteria (iron bacteria, Thiobacillus thioparus, halobacteria and manganese-oxidizing bacteria) and anaerobic bacteria (sulphate-reducing bacteria, denitrifying bacteria, Thiobacillus denitrificans) with mineralization. The experimental research on the migration and accumulation of ore-forming elements caused by microbial and chemical actions shows that the microbes have changed the conditions of oxidation and reduction in the system, and their effect on the element precipitation is much stronger than the chemical actions and accelerates the enrichment of Fe and Mn. It demonstrates that the microbes can change the environment to promote the accumulation of ore-formin     

The origin and isotopic composition of dissolved sulfide in groundwater from carbonate aquifers in Florida and Texas

The δ³⁴S values of dissolved sulfide and the sulfur isotope fractionations between dissolved sulfide and sulfate species in Floridan ground water generally correlate with dissolved sulfate concentrations which are related to flow patterns and residence time within the aquifer. The dissolved sulfide derives from the slow in situ biogenic reduction of sulfate dissolved from sedimentary gypsum in the aquifer. In areas where the water is oldest, the dissolved sulfide has apparently attained isotopic equilibrium with the dissolved sulfate (Δ³⁴S = 65 per mil) at the temperature (28°C) of the system. This approach to equilibrium reflects an extremely slow reduction rate of the dissolved sulfate by bacteria; this slow rate probably results from very low concentrations of organic matter in the aquifer.In the reducing part of the Edwards aquifer, Texas, there is a general down-gradient increase in both dissolved sulfide and sulfate concentrations, but neither the δ³⁴S values of sulfide nor the sulfide-sulfate isotope fractionation correlates with the ground-water flow pattern. The dissolved sulfide species appear to be derived primarily from biogenic reduction of sulfate ions whose source is gypsum dissolution although upgradient diffusion of H₂S gas from deeper oil field brines may be important in places. The sulfur isotope fractionation for sulfide-sulfate (about 38 per mil) is similar to that observed for modern oceanic sediments and probably reflects moderate sulfate reduction in the reducing part of the aquifer owing to the higher temperature and significant amount of organic matter present; contributions of isotopically heavy H₂S from oil field brines are also possible.