Discriminating between background and mine-impacted groundwater at the Phoenix mine,Nevada USA

Differentiating between mineralized and non-mineralized background groundwater chemistry at a mine site can be challenging if there is an overprint of past and/or current mining on naturally mineralized conditions. At the Phoenix mine in the Copper Canyon mining district of Nevada, quantile–quantile H⁺/SO₄ plots were used to segregate four wells clearly impacted by historical mining activity. The mineralogy of rock at the elevation of the well screen interval was used to partition the 53 remaining wells into mineralized and non-mineralized populations. For each class, groundwater chemistry was examined to identify if SO₄ and H⁺ trends were stable (unimpacted) or increasing (impacted). Then each well was mapped as one of four resulting groundwater types across the mine site, defining the spatial extent of the different groups. Several groundwater regions were identified. A group of mineralized, mine-impacted wells (Type II) are located in Philadelphia Canyon adjacent to the Cu leach facility, with the anthropogenically impacted area bounded by several hydrologically downgradient, mineralized, unimpacted wells (Type I) to the south and east. There is a set of non-mineralized, impacted wells (Type III) downgradient from the tailings pond facility, where a historical release of SO₄ is apparent in the well record. However, in some downgradient wells the tailings pond pump-back mitigation system has resulted in recovery of the groundwater quality to a non-mineralized background condition. Finally, in the vicinity of the Reona heap leach pad, there is a group of non-mineralized, unimpacted wells (Type IV). Not surprisingly, most mineralized wells (Types I and II) are located in or near mined areas, while non-mineralized wells (Types III and IV) tend to be in the southern portion of the facility in the alluvia of Buffalo and Reese River valleys.     

<Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar/<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar dating of the eruptive history of Mount Erebus,Antarctica: volcano evolution

Mt. Erebus, a 3,794-meter-high active polygenetic stratovolcano, is composed of voluminous anorthoclase-phyric tephriphonolite and phonolite lavas overlying unknown volumes of poorly exposed, less differentiated lavas. The older basanite to phonotephrite lavas crop out on Fang Ridge, an eroded remnant of a proto-Erebus volcano and at other isolated locations on the flanks of the Mt. Erebus edifice. Anorthoclase feldspars in the phonolitic lavas are large (~10 cm), abundant (~30–40%) and contain numerous melt inclusions. Although excess argon is known to exist within the melt inclusions, rigorous sample preparation was used to remove the majority of the contaminant. Twenty-five sample sites were dated by the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar method (using 20 anorthoclase, 5 plagioclase and 9 groundmass concentrates) to examine the eruptive history of the volcano. Cape Barne, the oldest site, is 1,311±16 ka and represents the first of three stages of eruptive activity on the Mt. Erebus edifice. It shows a transition from sub-aqueous to sub-aerial volcanism that may mark the initiation of proto-Erebus eruptive activity. It is inferred that a further ~300 ky of basanitic/phonotephritic volcanism built a low, broad platform shield volcano. Cessation of the shield-building phase is marked by eruptions at Fang Ridge at ~1,000 ka. The termination of proto-Erebus eruptive activity is marked by the stratigraphically highest flow at Fang Ridge (758±20 ka). Younger lavas (~550–250 ka) on a modern-Erebus edifice are characterized by phonotephrites, tephriphonolites and trachytes. Plagioclase-phyric phonotephrite from coastal and flank flows yield ages between 531±38 and 368±18 ka. The initiation of anorthoclase tephriphonolite occurred in the southwest sector of the volcano at and around Turks Head (243±10 ka). A short pulse of effusive activity marked by crustal contamination occurred ~160 ka as indicated by at least two trachytic flows (157±6 and 166±10 ka). Most anorthoclase-phyric lavas, characteristic of Mt. Erebus, are less than 250 ka. All Mt. Erebus flows between about 250 and 90 ka are anorthoclase tephriphonolite in composition.Editorial responsibility: J. Donelly-Nolan     

Trade in ‘virtual carbon’: Empirical results and implications for policy

The fact that developing countries do not have carbon emission caps under the Kyoto Protocol has led to the current interest in high income countries in border taxes on the ‘virtual’ carbon content of imports. We use GTAP data and input-output analysis to estimate the flows of virtual carbon implicit in domestic production technologies and the pattern of international trade. The results present striking evidence on the wide variation in the carbon-intensiveness of trade across countries, with major developing countries being large net exporters of virtual carbon. Our analysis suggests that a tax on virtual carbon could lead to very substantial effective tariff rates on the exports of the most carbon-intensive developing nations. As an illustration, we find that average tariff rates of 10%, 8% and 12% would be faced by imports from China, India and South Africa if carbon is taxed at $50/ton CO₂. Moreover, there is wide variation in intensiveness across sectors within countries with implications for the disparate effective tariff burdens on particulars parts of the economies of these countries. Such empirical findings, we argue, are useful for framing on-going discussions about the principles and practice of border taxes on virtual carbon.     

Macroscopic and spectroscopic analysis of lanthanide adsorption to bacterial cells

This study was designed to combine surface complexation modelling of macroscopic adsorption data with X-ray Absorption Spectroscopic (XAS) measurements to identify lanthanide sorption sites on the bacterial surface. The adsorption of selected representatives for light (La and Nd), middle (Sm and Gd) and heavy (Er and Yb) lanthanides was measured as a function of pH, and biomass samples exposed to 4 mg/L lanthanide at pH 3.5 and 6 were analysed using XAS. Surface complexation modelling was consistent with the light lanthanides adsorbing to phosphate sites, whereas the adsorption of middle and heavy lanthanides could be modelled equally well by carboxyl and phosphate sites. The existence of such mixed mode coordination was confirmed by Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) analysis, which was also consistent with adsorption to phosphate sites at low pH, with secondary involvement of carboxyl sites at high adsorption density (high pH). Thus, the two approaches yield broadly consistent information with regard to surface site identity and lanthanide coordination environment. Furthermore, spectroscopic analysis suggests that coordination to phosphate sites is monodentate at the metal/biomass ratios used. Based on the best-fitting pK_a site, we infer that the phosphate sites are located on N-acetylglucosamine phosphate, the most likely polymer on gram-negative cells with potential phosphate sites that deprotonate around neutral pH.     

Random dynamic response of a tethered buoyant platform production riser

A new normal mode spectral analysis method is presented for calculating r.m.s. riser deflections, bending stresses and lower ball joint angles. Forces on the riser consist of: (a) non-linear fluid drag taking account of the relative velocity due to tethered buoyant platform (TBP) motion, riser elastic deflection and wave induced fluid velocity, (b) wave induced fluid acceleration, (c) inertia forces due to TBP acceleration, and (d) buoyancy. The non-linear fluid drag forces are linearized using Tung and Wu's approximation based on the r.m.s. relative fluid velocity and current. A wide range of results is presented for risers in water depths up to 1000 m and it is observed that 6 normal modes are sufficient for calculating bending stresses. A static analysis is also presented for bending stresses due to wave and current induced drag forces and riser offset.     

STAGES: the Space Telescope A901/2 Galaxy Evolution Survey

We present an overview of the Space Telescope A901/2 Galaxy Evolution Survey (STAGES). STAGES is a multiwavelength project designed to probe physical drivers of galaxy evolution across a wide range of environments and luminosity. A complex multicluster system at   z ∼ 0.165  has been the subject of an 80-orbit F606W Hubble Space Telescope (HST) /Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) mosaic covering the full     span of the supercluster. Extensive multiwavelength observations with XMM–Newton , GALEX, Spitzer , 2dF, Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope and the 17-band COMBO-17 photometric redshift survey complement the HST imaging. Our survey goals include simultaneously linking galaxy morphology with other observables such as age, star formation rate, nuclear activity and stellar mass. In addition, with the multiwavelength data set and new high-resolution mass maps from gravitational lensing, we are able to disentangle the large-scale structure of the system. By examining all aspects of an environment we will be able to evaluate the relative importance of the dark matter haloes, the local galaxy density and the hot X-ray gas in driving galaxy transformation. This paper describes the HST imaging, data reduction and creation of a master catalogue. We perform the Sérsic fitting on the HST images and conduct associated simulations to quantify completeness. In addition, we present the COMBO-17 photometric redshift catalogue and estimates of stellar masses and star formation rates for this field. We define galaxy and cluster sample selection criteria, which will be the basis for forthcoming science analyses, and present a compilation of notable objects in the field. Finally, we describe the further multiwavelength observations and announce public access to the data and catalogues.     

Quantifying the value of historical climate knowledge and climate forecasts using agricultural systems modelling

A well tested agricultural systems model was used together with 114 years of historical climate data to study the performance of a dryland wheat–fallow system as impacted by climate variations and nitrogen input levels in southeast Australia, and to investigate the value of: (1) historical climate knowledge, (2) a perfect climate forecast, and (3) various forecasts of targeted variables. The potential value of historical climate records increases exponentially with the number of years of data. In order to confidently quantify the long term optimal nitrogen application rate at the study site at least 30 years of climate data are required. For nitrogen management only, the potential value of a perfect climate forecast is about $54/ha/year with a reduction of excess nitrogen application of 20 kg N/ha/year. The value of an ENSO based forecast system is $2/ha/year. Perfect forecasting of three or six categories of growing season rainfall would have a value of $10–12/ha/year. Perfect forecasts of three or six categories of simulated crop yield would bring about $33–34/ha/year. Choosing integrated variables as a forecasting target, for example crop yield derived from agricultural modelling, has the potential to significantly increase the value of forecasts.     

Chemical and isotopic tracers of the contribution of microbial gas in Devonian organic-rich shales and reservoir sandstones,northern Appalachian Basin

In this study, the geochemistry and origin of natural gas and formation waters in Devonian age organic-rich shales and reservoir sandstones across the northern Appalachian Basin margin (western New York, eastern Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania, and eastern Kentucky) were investigated. Additional samples were collected from Mississippian Berea Sandstone, Silurian Medina Sandstone and Ordovician Trenton/Black River Group oil and gas wells for comparison. Dissolved gases in shallow groundwaters in Devonian organic-rich shales along Lake Erie contain detectable CH₄ (0.01–50.55 mol%) with low δ¹³C–CH₄ values (−74.68 to −57.86‰) and no higher chain hydrocarbons, characteristics typical of microbial gas. Nevertheless, these groundwaters have only moderate alkalinity (1.14–8.72 meq/kg) and relatively low δ¹³C values of dissolved inorganic C (DIC) (−24.8 to −0.6‰), suggesting that microbial methanogenesis is limited. The majority of natural gases in Devonian organic-rich shales and sandstones at depth (>168 m) in the northern Appalachian Basin have a low CH₄ to ethane and propane ratios (3–35 mol%; C₁/C₂ + C₃) and high δ¹³C and δD values of CH₄ (−53.35 to −40.24‰, and −315.0 to −174.6‰, respectively), which increase in depth, reservoir age and thermal maturity; the molecular and isotopic signature of these gases show that CH₄ was generated via thermogenic processes. Despite this, the geochemistry of co-produced brines shows evidence for microbial activity. High δ¹³C values of DIC (>+10‰), slightly elevated alkalinity (up to 12.01 meq/kg) and low SO₄ values (<1 mmole/L) in select Devonian organic-rich shale and sandstone formation water samples suggest the presence of methanogenesis, while low δ¹³C–DIC values (<−22‰) and relatively high SO₄ concentrations (up to 12.31 mmole/L) in many brine samples point to SO₄ reduction, which likely limits microbial CH₄ generation in the Appalachian Basin. Together the formation water and gas results suggest that the vast majority of CH₄ in the Devonian organic-rich shales and sandstones across the northern Appalachian Basin margin is thermogenic in origin. Small accumulations of microbial CH₄ are present at shallow depths along Lake Erie and in western NY.     

Analytical Solutions for Flow Fields near Drain-and-Gate Reactive Barriers

Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are a popular technology for passive contaminant remediation in aquifers through installation of reactive materials in the pathway of a plume. Of fundamental importance are the degree of remediation inside the reactor (residence time) and the portion of groundwater intercepted by a PRB (capture width). Based on a two-dimensional conformal mapping approach (previously used in related work), the latter is studied in the present work for drain-and-gate (DG) PRBs, which may possess a collector and a distributor drain (“full” configuration) or a collector drain only (“simple” configuration). Inherent assumptions are a homogeneous unbounded aquifer with a uniform far field, in which highly permeable drains establish constant head boundaries. Solutions for aquifer flow fields in terms of the complex potential are derived, illustrated, and analyzed for doubly symmetric DG configurations and arbitrary reactor hydraulic resistance as well as ambient groundwater flow direction. A series of practitioner-friendly charts for capture width is given to assist in PRB design and optimization without requiring complex mathematics. DG PRBs are identified as more susceptible to flow divergence around the reactor than configurations using impermeable side structures (e.g., funnel-and-gate), and deployment of impermeable walls on drains is seen to mitigate this problem under certain circumstances.