Mineralogy and geochemistry of platinum-group elements in the Aguablanca Ni-Cu deposit (SW Spain)

Summary The Aguablanca Ni-Cu-(PGE) magmatic sulphide deposit is associated with a magmatic breccia located in the northern part of the Aguablanca gabbro (SW, Iberia). Three types of ores are present: semi-massive, disseminated, and chalcopyrite-rich veined ore. The principal ore minerals are pyrrhotite, pentlandite and chalcopyrite. A relatively abundant platinum-group mineral (PGM) assemblage is present and includes merenskyite, melonite, michenerite, moncheite and sperrylite. Moreover, concentrations of base and precious metals and micro-PIXE analyses were obtained for the three ore-types. The mineralogy and the mantle-normalised chalcophile element profiles strongly suggest that semi-massive ore represents mss crystallisation, whereas the disseminated ore represents an unfractionated sulphide liquid and the chalcopyrite-rich veined ore a Cu-rich sulphide liquid. Palladium-bearing minerals occur commonly enclosed within sulphides, indicating a magmatic origin rather than hydrothermal. The occurrences and the composition of these minerals suggest that Pd was initially dissolved in the sulphides and subsequently exsolved at low temperatures to form bismutotellurides. Negative Pt and Au anomalies in the mantle-normalised chalcophile element profiles, a lack of Cu-S correlation and textural observations (such as sperrylite losing its euhedral shape when in contact with altered minerals) suggest partial remobilisation of Pt, Au and Cu by postmagmatic hydrothermal fluids after the sulphide crystallisation. Authors’ addresses: R. Pi?a, L. Ortega, R. Lunar, Departamento de Cristalografía y Mineralogía, Facultad de Geología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, ES-28040 Madrid, Spain; F. Gervilla, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Granada-CSIC, Avda. Fuentenueva, s/n, ES-18002 Granada, Spain     

Methodology of hydrogeological characterization of deep carbonate aquifers as potential reservoirs of groundwater. Case of study: the Jurassic aquifer of <Emphasis Type="Italic">El Maestrazgo</Emphasis> (Castellón,Spain)

A methodology for the characterization of deep carbonate aquifers has been developed and applied to El Maestrazgo Jurassic aquifer in Castellón, Spain. Characterization of these aquifer formations, located at more than 300 m deep, consisted of a previous phase of compilation, analysis and synthesis of the existing information about the area, followed by a coordinated combination of different speciality studies: geology, stratigraphy, structural analysis, hydrogeology, hydrochemistry, geophysics and remote sensing. Geological studies included geological mapping, definition of stratigraphical units and facies and structural analysis. The aim of the hydrogeology study was to define aquifer formations, recharge area, aquifer points inventory and groundwater flow directions for the establishment of piezometric and water quality observation nets. Special techniques were applied, like thermal infrared aerial images and the evaluation of submarine groundwater discharge by means of natural radium isotopes. Hydrochemical techniques, including majority elements characterization and stable isotopes (¹⁸O, ²H and ³H) determination, allowed classifying hydrochemical facies and establishing a renewal pattern for water within the system. Geophysics was useful in determining the aquifer geometry, the features of the basement and the petrophysical characteristics of the geological formations. Preliminary results show an important tectonic complexity and the possibilities for groundwater uses in the area of study.     

青藏高原中、东部局地因素对地温的双重影响(Ⅰ): 植被和雪盖

青藏高原冻土区地温既受海拔、纬度和经度(干燥度)区域地带性规律控制, 同时它又受植被、雪盖、砂层、 水被和地质构造等局地因素的显著影响. 局地因素对地温的影响具有双重性: 在不同域值条件下, 它可增高或降低地温. 地温随植被覆盖度减小而逐渐增高, 但覆盖度减到0～20%时, 地温反而降低. 在青藏高原东部、南部和腹部的高山区, 冷季降雪多, 很多地段为稳定积雪区, 雪盖厚, 持续时间长, 对浅层地温起保温作用;而高原腹部的高平原、河谷和盆地冷季降雪较少, 雪盖薄, 持续时间较短, 一般保温作用微弱. 当雪盖厚度超过20 cm以后, 保温作用即开始增强;在暖季因积雪存在时间短, 雪盖薄, 短期内对浅层地温起冷却作用. 总之, 每种局地因素迫使地温向相反方向转化阶段是一个区间值, 为渐变过程. 随时空尺度变化, 局地因素的影响变化很大. 有些地段, 几种局地因素共同作用, 加上活动构造和地形、地貌等的影响, 使地温的时空分布和局地因素对其影响或控制变得错综复杂. 因此, 研究和预测地温特征和变化趋势, 需要在监测植被和积雪作用的基础上进行参数选择、 验证和优化.     

中国-俄罗斯原油管道工程(漠河-大庆段)冻土工程地质考察与研究进展

在2005-2007年期间,先后3次对中国-俄罗斯原油管道漠河-大庆段沿线的冻土工程地质条件等进行科学考察,开展了冻土工程地质条件及其在气候变化和人类活动作用下的评价和预测研究.考察研究结果表明:管道沿线多年冻土在各类融区、季节冻土和水系等分隔作用下呈片状或岛状分布,沿线岛状、稀疏岛状及零星岛状占多年冻土区段的40%左右;管道沿线多年冻土随着气候的转暖和人类活动的影响不断退化.地形地貌单元、植被分布、地表水分条件的变化等局部因素对多年冻土的分布和地下冰的赋存产生重要的影响,管道沿线大约分布有50 km左右的沼泽湿地,其表层为腐殖质土及泥炭层,泥炭层下面分布着含土冰层或地下冰,是管道沿线最差的冻土工程地质地段;由于中俄原油管道沿线水系发育多,冻胀丘、冰椎和冰幔等不良冻土现象广泛分布.科学考察的成果为管道沿线冻土工程地质条件评价和预测、管道的稳定性影响分析以及后期的长期检测系统设置等研究奠定坚实的基础,进一步为即将开工的中俄原油管道漠河-大庆段工程的设计、施工提供科学依据.     

华北克拉通北缘隆化地区S型花岗岩的独居石年龄图谱

位于华北克拉通北缘中段的隆化S型花岗岩由石榴石黑云母花岗岩、石榴石花岗岩以及片麻理化的黑云母花岗岩组成。其主体岩性石榴石黑云母花岗岩SiO_2和Al_2O_3含量分别为64.09%～69.6%以及14.6%～16.13%,K_2O/Na_2O>1.0,A/CNK>1,0,Mg~#在20.76～34.89之间变化,具有明显的Nb、Ta、P、Ti和Sr亏损以及Rb、K和Th富集。石榴石黑云母花岗岩(样品JB6031-1)采用独居石电子探针U-Th-Pb化学法进行测年,获得了2553±120Ma、2180±42Ma和1854±24Ma三个年龄峰值。一颗独居石内部成分分带上6个分析点定年结果构成2553±120Ma的峰值年龄,这一年龄与我们最新获得的2506±7Ma和2541±8Ma(继承锆石年龄)LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb同位素年龄相似,我们将这一独居石年龄解释为继承独居石的年龄,表明在赤城-隆化断裂以北存在太古宙陆块,并且在后期构造-热事件中发生部分熔融形成S型花岗岩。该独居石颗粒幔部成分分带上10个分析点的测年结果揭示的峰值年龄为2181±42Ma,该年龄也是出现频率最高的年龄值,我们建议2181±42Ma为S型花岗岩的结晶年龄,反映了S型花岗岩的侵位时代。独居石颗粒外部成分分带上8个分析点的测年结果构成1854±24Ma的峰值年龄,该年龄与华北克拉通中部带的变质年龄接近,我们将其解释为S型花岗岩的变质年龄,表明华北克拉通北缘的构造演化与中部带的构造演化密切相关。     

On the basic principles of geophysical radioactive measurements

Summary The process of radon diffusion in space and time through rocks is treated in detail from the point of view of radiometric prospecting for oil. Taking into account the depth and diffusivity conditions encountered in nature it is stated that vertical radon diffusion reaching from the oil deposits up to the surface cannot be expected. Time intervals as required for setting in of a stationary concentration state and decay conditions of the radon lead to the conclusion that the penetration of emanometric measurements seldom exceeds the depth of 5–10 m.     

Prediction of the field strength fading forms by means of weather situations

Summary In this study the different forms of the electromagnetic field strength recordings at the Thera-Crete microwave line of link are examined, in comparison with the corresponding weather situations prevailing over that area. According to the amplitude of fluctuations, the different forms of recordings have been classified in three basic typesA, B, C and the annual frequency of the appearance of these types has been observed. Finally, the influence of weather situations on radio wave propagation was examined and it has been found that in most cases a close relationship exists between weather situations and the different fading forms of the electromagnetic field so that a prediction of the fading form be possible by means of the weather forecast.This study was sponsored by a research grant from NATO's Scientific Committee.     

On the validity of Boltzmann's distribution law for the charges of aerosol particles in electrical equilibrium

Summary The validity ofBoltzmann's energy distribution law as applied to the charge distribution of monodisperse aerosols, i.e. aerosols which contain particles of one size only, was studied with improved equipment now available.Since monodisperse aerosols with particle size of about 10^–6 cm cannot yet be produced and because aerosols in general contain particles of different sizes, polydisperse aerosols stored in a large gasometer were used for the investigation. The composition and the average radius of these aerosols heterogeneous in particle size were determined by the Exhaustion Method employing a diffusion battery without end-pieces or connecting tubing.The experimental curve found for the ratio of the uncharged (N ₀) to the charged (N) nuclei versus radius (r) of the particles deviates for all investigated radii between 0.5 and 4.0·10^–6 cm from the theoretical curve of a monodisperse aerosol computed according to the Boltzmann law. For radii smaller than about 1.4·10^–6 cmN ₀/N is smaller than that given by Boltzmann's law, for radii greater than 1.4·10^–6 cm larger, or, in other words, forr<1.4·10^–6 cm the number of charged nuclei found in the aerosols investigated is greater than that predicted byBoltzmann's law, and forr>1.4·10^–6 cm smaller.The deviations from the theoretical curve forr>1.4·10^–6 cm can be fully explained by the polydispersity of the aerosols used; forr<1.4·10^–6 cm the deviations are too big to be attributed to polydispersity. From this it must be concluded thatBoltzmann's distribution law is not valid for the charge distribution of homogenous aerosols containing nuclei with radii smaller than about 1.4·10^–6 cm.The equivalent radius as deduced from a substitute monodisperse aerosol in charge equilibrium for which theBoltzmann law is assumed valid, deviates in the range of 1.0·10^–6<r<3.0·10^–6 cm (or 90%>100N ₀/Z>55%) on the average by up to 35% from the actual mean radius of the investigated polydisperse aerosols computed from the radii of their singly sized components.

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Zusammenfassung Die Gültigkeit desBoltzmannschen Gesetzes der Energieverteilung für die Ladungsverteilung von monodispersen Aerosolen, das heisst Aerosolen, welche Teilchen von nur einer Grösse enthalten, wurde mit den jetzt zur Verfügung stehenden verbesserten Mitteln studiert.Da monodisperse Aerosole mit Teilchengrössen von ungefähr 10^–6 cm noch nicht erzeugt werden können und Aerosole im allgemeinen Teilchen von verschiedenen Grössen enthalten, wurden für die jetzige Untersuchung polydisperse Aerosole, welche in einem grossen Gasometer gespeichert waren, benützt. Die Zusammensetzung und der mittlere Radius dieser Aerosole mit heterogener Teilchengrösse wurden nach der Exhaustions-Methode unter Benützung einer Diffusionsbatterie ohne Endstücke oder Verbindungsröhren bestimmt.Die experimentell gefundene Kurve, welche das Verhältnis der ungeladenen (N ₀) und geladenen (N) Kerne als Funktion des Radius (r) darstellt, weicht für alle untersuchten Radien zwischen 0.5 und 4.0·10^–6 cm von der theoretischen Kurve eines monodispersen Aerosols, wie sie nachBoltzmann's Gesetz berechnet wird, ab. Für Radien kleiner als ungefähr 1.4·10^–6 cm ist das VerhältnisN ₀/N kleiner als es durchBoltzmann's Gesetz gegeben wird, für Radien grössen als 1.4·10^–6 cm grösser oder, mit anderen Worten, fürr<1.4·10^–6 cm ist die Zahl der geladenen Teilchen, die in den untersuchten Aerosolen gefunden wurde, grösser als die vonBoltzmann's Gesetz vorausgesagte, und fürr>1.4·10^–6 cm kleiner.Die Abweichungen von der theoretischen Kurve fürr>1.4·10^–6cm können vollkommen durch die Polydispersität der benützten Aerosole erklärt werden; fürr<1.4·10^–6 cm sind die Abweichungen zu gross, als dass sie der Polydispersität zugeschrieben werden könnten. Daraus muss geschlossen werden, dassBoltzmann's Verteilungsgesetz für die Ladungsverteilung eines homogenen Aerosols, welches Kerne mit Radien kleiner als ungefähr 1.4·10^–6 cm enthält, nicht gültig ist.Der äquivalente Radius, wie er von einem im Ladungsgleichgewicht befindlichen, monodispersen Ersatz-Aerosol, für welchesBoltzmann's Gesetz als gültig angenommen wird, abgeleitet werden kann, weicht im Bereich von 1.0·10^–6<r<3.0·10^–6 cm (oder 90%>N ₀/Z>55%) durchschnittlich bis zu 35% vom tatsächlichen mittleren Radius des untersuchten polydispersen Aerosols ab.

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The research reported in this article has been supported in part by the Geophysics Research Directorate of the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories, through the European Office of the Air Force Research Division, United States Air Force under Contract AF 61(052)-26, by the United States Department of Army, through its European Research Office, Contract DA-91-591-EUC-1282 & 1657 and by the Instrumentation Engineering Physics & Analysis Laboratory of the General Electric Co., Schenectady, New York under Retainer Agreement.