Sediment contamination in floodplains and alluvial terraces as an historical record of gold exploitation in the Carmo River basin,Southeast Quadrilátero Ferrífero,Minas Gerais,Brazil

This paper describes the geochemistry of sediment samples placed in floodplains and alluvial terraces downstream from gold mines in the Carmo River basin, Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The geochemistry signature Na₂O, K₂O, SiO₂, CaO, MgO, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, TiO₂, P₂O₅, Mn, As, Cu, Zn, Ba, Ni, Cr, S, Co were analyzed in different facies from stratigraphic profiles. As, Cu, Zn, and Mn anomalies are mainly associated with the clayed facies deposited in floodplains and oxbow lakes, and with coarse‐sediment facies deposited in the channel. The facies were accumulated by the gold exploitation activity in the region. The contamination of As, Cu, and Zn was controlled by minerals such as iron oxides and hydroxides (hematite, magnetite, and mainly goethite), manganese oxides, and sulfide‐rich minerals. The As‐bearing sediments of the region characterize one of the most As contaminated area of Brazil. Their main source is associated with gold exploration in the last three centuries.     

Spatial distribution and bonding forms of heavy metals in sediments along the middle course of the River Elbe (km 287ċ390)

Sediments of eight groyne fields along the middle course of the River Elbe (river km 287?390) were geochemically studied. The 78 sediment samples were analysed for pH and grain size distribution. The grain size fraction < 2 μm was used for mineralogical and chemical analysis: semiquantitative clay mineral analysis; total element content (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mn, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn), total inorganic and organic C, and bonding form fractionation with a six‐step sequential chemical extraction. The latter was performed on selected samples (n = 32). The sediments along the Elbe's course are still contaminated with heavy metals far above the local geogenic background level. An enrichment factor of more than 15 was calculated for zinc. Cr and Ni are the elements with the lowest enrichment. The bonding form analysis of selected heavy metals shows a dominance of relatively immobile bonding forms, e. g. the moderately reducible and the residual fraction, which implies a relative low mobility potential. Only Zn poses a higher potential threat to the environment, since it has a higher percentage of the first three extracted phases: adsorbed, carbonate, and easily reducible fraction.     

Two-dimensional maps in multi-dimensional worlds: A case of community-based mapping in Northern Thailand

Community-based mapping has become a necessary tool for development work worldwide - its adoption is near hegemonic. Mapping community land, however, can have unforeseen consequences in part due to its tendency to render what are complex configurations of social-ecological relationships into two-dimensional form. I argue that one of the key limitations to commonly practiced community-based mapping is the assumption that the spatial organization of resource use and management is an abstract entity that can be mapped independent of the social relations that produce it. This paper uses a case study from Northern Thailand to show how mapping techniques that fix and simplify fluid and complex associations can inadvertently prescribe changes to how residents manage their land, effectively becoming not only a tool for securing land tenure but also a tool for the spatial re-organization of land-use and management.     

A comparison of estimated and calculated effective porosity

 Effective porosity in solute-transport analyses is usually estimated rather than calculated from tracer tests in the field or laboratory. Calculated values of effective porosity in the laboratory on three different textured samples were compared to estimates derived from particle-size distributions and soil–water characteristic curves. The agreement was poor and it seems that no clear relationships exist between effective porosity calculated from laboratory tracer tests and effective porosity estimated from particle-size distributions and soil–water characteristic curves. A field tracer test in a sand-and-gravel aquifer produced a calculated effective porosity of approximately 0.17. By comparison, estimates of effective porosity from textural data, moisture retention, and published values were approximately 50–90% greater than the field calibrated value. Thus, estimation of effective porosity for chemical transport is highly dependent on the chosen transport model and is best obtained by laboratory or field tracer tests. Received, March 1997 · Revised, August 1997 · Accepted, August 1997     

Schwefel-Isotope und die Genese von Erzlagerstätten

Zusammenfassung Die Möglichkeiten und Probleme der genetischen Ausdeutung von Schwefel-Isotopen-Verhältnissen in Erzmineralien werden an Beispielen (vorwiegend nach Messungen verschiedener Autoren im Göttinger Zentrallabor) diskutiert. Es ergeben sich z. B. Anhaltspunkte, ob eine Lagerstätte von basaltischen Magmen aus dem Erdmantel abzuleiten sein kann oder nicht. Die Meßdaten von Meggen und vom Rammeisberg sind mit einer Ableitung aus dem Erdmantel höchstens bei wesentlichen Zusatzannahmen (sehr starke Assimilation von ungewöhnlichem Krustenmaterial oder extreme Fraktionierung in einem Sekundärherd) vereinbar. Aus der Kruste abzuleitende hydrothermale Lagerstätten können schwankende (Harz) oder auch ziemlich einheitliche S-Isotopen-Verhältnisse zeigen (Freiberg/ Sa.; Süddeutschland). Extreme Unterschiede innerhalb der Lagerstätte Wiesloch bei Heidelberg werden durch bakterielle Fraktionierung eines begrenzten Sulfat-Vorrates gedeutet. — In Abb. 6 sind außerdem Blei-Isotopen-Verhältnisse aus Süddeutschland dargestellt.

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The possibilities and problems of the genetical interpretation of sulfur isotope ratios in ore minerals are discussed using mainly results from the Göttingen isotope laboratory. For example, criteria are obtained regarding the question whether a certain deposit can be derived from basaltic magmas from the Earth's mantle, or not. The sulfur isotope data for minerals from the deposits of Meggen and Rammelsberg (Germany) are only consistent with a derivation from the mantle if substantial additional assumptions are made (very strong assimilation of unusual crustal material or extreme fractionation in a secondary magma chamber). Hydrothermal deposits derived from the Earth's crust can show variable (Harz mountains) or also rather uniform isotope ratios (Freiberg/Saxony; Southern Germany). Extreme variations within the deposit of Wiesloch near Heidelberg are interpreted as caused by bacterial fractionation of a limited amount of sulfate. - Fig. 6 shows lead isotope ratios from Southern Germany.

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Résumé La composition isotopique du soufre dans les minéraux des gîtes métallifères: données et problèmes pour une interprétation génétique.

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(Meggen, Rammelsberg, Freiberg, Wiesloch) . .

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Der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft sei auch an dieser Stelle für die Ermöglichung der Schwefel-Isotopen-Messungen in Göttingen gedankt.     

Die Diabasvorkommen des Amazonasgebietes und das Problem des Intrusionsmechanismus

Zusammenfassung Unter Bezug auf die beobachteten großräumigen Diabasvorkommen im Gebiet des Amazonasbeckens wird der Versuch unternommen, den Intrusionsmechanismus basaltischer Schmelzen prinzipiell zu erklären. Es läßt sich zeigen, daß das Problem der Magmenbewegung von dem der Magmaentstehung nicht zu trennen ist. Beide bedürfen der Anwendung sowohl hydrostatischer als auch hydrodynamischer Gesetzmäßigkeiten.Die Beachtung der hydrostatischen Gesichtspunkte erfordert einerseits eine Herdlage in den oberen Teilen des Erdmantels, wo aber andererseits die Entstehung der Schmelze aus thermischen Gründen nicht ohne Konvektionsströmungen denkbar ist.Die Annahme eines konvektiven Zirkulationssystems im Mantel, dessen Auswirkung gelegentlich durch Schweremessungen beobachtbar sein können, beantwortet viele wichtige offene Fragen im Problemkreis des Intrusionsmechanismus basischer Gesteine.

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Basing on huge occurrence of diabase in the Amazon basin, a limited distribution of which is dealt with in this paper, an outline of the principal mechanism of intrusions of basaltic magma is attempted. Apparently, the problem of movement of magma is not allowed to be regarded without that of its origin. Both, movement and origin, are subjected to hydrostatical and hydrodynamical laws.The application of the hydrostatics demands the source of magma to be in the upper parts of the earth's mantle. In this location, however, temperature seems to be insufficient to originate melted basaltic rocks unless thermical convection takes place.The postulation of a vertical system of circulation in the mantle, the effects of which sometimes may be recognized by gravity measurements, solves some important problems of the mechanism of intrusion. In this way, among other things, the deep lying mass of higher density along the center of the Amazon basin may be determined as to triassic-jurassic age.

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Résumé Considérant la présence de diabases en grande quantité dans le bassin de l'Amazone, l'auteur tente d'interpréter dans son principe le mécanisme d'intrusion des liquides basaltiques. Il semble que le problème du mouvement du magma ne peut pas être séparé de celui de son origine. Tous deux doivent être soumis à des lois hydrostatiques et hydrodynamiques.La considération du point de vue hydrostatique donne à penser que la source du magma se trouve dans la partie supérieure du manteau terrestre où cependant, pour des raisons thermiques, on ne peut penser à la formation de liquides magmatiques sans courants de convection.L'hypothèse d'un système de circulation convective dans le manteau, dont les effets ont parfois été observés par des mesures de gravité, apporte une solution à quelques problèmes concernant le mécanisme d'intrusion. Dans cet ordre d'idées, la masse profonde de forte densité située dans le centre du bassin de l'Amazone peut être rapportée au Triasique-Jurassige.

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Die Veröffentlichung der vorliegenden Arbeit erfolgt mit freundlicher Genehmigung der Petróleo Brasileiro, S. A. (Petrobrás) sowie der Gesellschaft für praktische Lagerstättenforschung GmbH (Prakla). Beiden Gesellschaften sei dafür an dieser Stelle aufrichtig gedankt!     

Die Darstellung des geomagnetischen Potentials zur Epoche 1945,0 durch eine Entwicklung nach Kugelfunktionen bis zur 15. Ordnung

Zusammenfassung Es werden die Ergebnisse einer Berechnung des geomagnetischen Potentials in Form einer Reihenentwicklung nach Kugelfunktionen bis zur 15. Ordnung auf Grund der magnetischen Weltkarten für die Epoche 1945,0 vonE. H. Vestine und andern vorgelegt. Bei der Ableitung des Potentialausdrucks nach der Methode der kleinsten Quadrate wurden die Orthogonalitätseigenschaften der Kugelflächenfunktionen vollständig ausgenutzt.

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Summary The results of the analysis of the main geomagnetic field for the epoch 1945.0 in a series of spherical harmonics to the 15th degree are presented. The analysis is based on the world magnetic charts derived byVestine et al. The coefficients of the potential are calculated by least-squares approximation taking advantage of the orthogonality of the spherical harmonics over discrete ranges.