Element mobility during pyrite weathering: implications for acid and heavy metal pollution at mining-impacted sites

Based on back scattered electron images and electron micro-probe analysis results, four alteration layers, including a transition layer, a reticulated ferric oxide layer, a nubby ferric oxide layer and a cellular ferric oxide layer, were identified in the naturally weathering products of pyrite. These layers represent a progressive alteration sequence of pyrite under weathering conditions. The cellular ferric oxide layer correlates with the strongest weathering phase and results from the dissolution of nubby ferric oxide by acidic porewater. Leaching coefficient was introduced to better express the response of element mobility to the degree of pyrite weathering. Its variation shows that the mobility of S, Co and Bi is stronger than As, Cu and Zn. Sulfur in pyrite is oxidized to sulfuric acid and sulfate that are basically released into to porewater, and heavy metals Co and Bi are evidently released by acid dissolution. As, Cu and Zn are enriched in ferric oxide by adsorption and by co-precipitation, but they would re-release to the environment via desorption or dissolution when porewater pH becomes low enough. Consequently, Co, Bi, As, Cu and Zn may pose a substantial impact on water quality. Considering that metal mobility and its concentration in mine waste are two important factors influencing heavy metal pollution at mining-impacted sites, Bi and Co are more important pollutants in this case.     

Variation of stream temperature among mesoscale habitats within stream reaches: southern Appalachians

Stream mesoscale habitats have systematic topographic relationships to hyporheic flow patterns, which may create predictable temperature variation between mesoscale habitat types. We investigated whether systematic differences in temperature metrics occurred between mesoscale habitats within reaches of small streams tributary to the upper Little Tennessee River, southern Appalachians. Surface water temperature was recorded over three or four mid‐summer days in four mesoscale habitat types: riffle, main riffle, pool and alcove in 44 stream segments (sites). Temperature metrics were calculated for each mesoscale habitat relative to the mean value of the metric over the stream: Δ maximum temperature, Δ average maximum temperature and Δ maximum daily variation and also for each site: standard deviation of the maximum temperature and average diurnal variation (ADV). Sites were categorized as fully or partially forested. Pool tailouts had statistically significantly lower Δ maximum temperature and Δ average maximum temperature than riffle tailouts in partially forested sites, although differences were small. This was the opposite of what was expected in the presence of hyporheic exchange, indicating hyporheic exchange is not a dominant driver of mesoscale habitat temperatures at these sites. Temperature differences between mesoscale habitat units were small and unlikely to have ecological significance. We also evaluated relationships between stream temperature and riparian condition, watershed % impervious surfaces, watershed % non‐forested and elevation. ADV and standard deviation of the maximum temperature were significantly higher in partially forested sites, indicating that partially forested sites have greater temperature ranges and spatial variation of maximum temperatures. ADV decreased with elevation and increased with % impervious surfaces. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Late Quaternary sea‐level change and evolution of Belfast Lough,Northern Ireland: new offshore evidence and implications for sea‐level reconstruction

The interplay of eustatic and isostatic factors causes complex relative sea‐level (RSL) histories, particularly in paraglacial settings. In this context the past record of RSL is important in understanding ice‐sheet history, earth rheology and resulting glacio‐isostatic adjustment. Field data to develop sea‐level reconstructions are often limited to shallow depths and uncertainty exists as to the veracity of modelled sea‐level curves. We use seismic stratigraphy, 39 vibrocores and 26 radiocarbon dates to investigate the deglacial history of Belfast Lough, Northern Ireland, and reconstruct past RSL. A typical sequence of till, glacimarine and Holocene sediments is preserved. Two sea‐level lowstands (both max. ?40 m) are recorded at c. 13.5 and 11.5k cal a bp . Each is followed by a rapid transgression and subsequent periods of RSL stability. The first transgression coincides temporally with a late stage of Meltwater Pulse 1a and the RSL stability occurred between c. 13.0 and c. 12.2k cal a bp (Younger Dryas). The second still/slowstand occurred between c. 10.3 and c. 11.5k cal a bp . Our data provide constraints on the direction and timing of RSL change during deglaciation. Application of the Depth of Closure concept adds an error term to sea‐level reconstructions based on seismic stratigraphic reconstructions.     

电子探针测年方法应用于粤北长江岩体的铀矿物年龄研究

晶质铀矿被认为是花岗岩型铀矿成矿的主要矿源提供者,在评价岩体的含矿性和确定成岩成矿年龄方面有重要意义。长江岩体属于诸广山复式岩体的一部分,是粤北地区重要的产铀花岗岩体,本文利用电子探针对该岩体中的铀矿物进行研究。结果表明:长江岩体中的铀矿物多以充填或被黄铁矿包围的形式存在,或者分布于石英、黑云母、绿泥石等矿物中;铀矿物类型主要有晶质铀矿、沥青铀矿、铀石、铀钍石四种。晶质铀矿/沥青油矿的化学年龄值可分为三组:~155 Ma、~106 Ma和~74 Ma。第一组年龄代表岩体的形成时代,后两组年龄代表铀矿的多期次成矿作用年龄。铀矿物从成岩后到~106 Ma,成分没有发生明显变化,直到~74 Ma后才发生明显的U元素活化、迁移。因此,可以推测长江岩体地区主要的铀矿成矿期应发生在~74 Ma及之后。     

阿尔山地区积雪变化特征

选取阿尔山气象站1981—2015年冷季(10月—次年4月)气象资料,利用滑动平均、线性倾向估计和Mann-Kendall等方法,对年最大积雪深度、积雪日数、气温和降水量进行分析。结果表明,阿尔山地区年最大积雪深度主要发生在1月至3月,其中2月份概率最大,达50%;34 a内最大积雪深度呈上升趋势(2.77 cm/10a),年平均增加0.98%,且年最大积雪深度在1998年发生了突变,即在1998年之前增长缓慢,在2000年以后上升趋势显著。积雪日数的统计分析表明,初始积雪日数和有效积雪日数呈现略微减少趋势,而稳定积雪日数有微弱的增加趋势;通常初始积雪日数比有效积雪日数大30天左右。年最大积雪深度与稳定积雪时期的降水量、积雪日数、日照时数有显著的相关性,相关系数分别为0.647、0.515、0.584,但与稳定积雪时期的气温没有明显的相关性。在全球变暖的大环境下,积雪深度随着降水量和日照时数的增加而增加,且积雪深度受降水量的影响大于日照时数的影响。     

湖北南漳-远安动物群及其生物复苏意义

湖北西部远安县鹰子山、洋坪至南漳县巡检、古井一带下三叠统嘉陵江组第三段上部厚约30 m的纹层状灰岩中产有湖北鳄类、鳍龙类、鱼龙类等多门类海生爬行动物化石,形成了一个以富产湖北鳄类化石为特点,湖北鳄类、鳍龙类、鱼龙类等多门类海生爬行动物共同繁盛的南漳-远安动物群。由于该动物群中海生爬行动物的生物类型和化石属、种的分异度已近接近中三叠世生物复苏之后所形成的以海生爬行动物繁盛为特征的罗平-盘县生物群,指示海生爬行动物的首次辐射发生在早三叠世晚期,并由此形成了以食物链顶端的海生爬行动物为主而重建的中生代全新的海洋生态系统。     

An integrated land vehicle navigation system based on context awareness

In the complex urban environments, land vehicle navigation purely relying on GNSS cannot satisfy user needs due to the loss of satellite signals caused by obstructions such as buildings, tunnels, and trees. To solve this problem, we introduce a GPS-/MSINS-/magnetometer-integrated urban navigation system based on context awareness. In this system, the data from the Micro Strapdown Inertial Navigation System (MSINS) are used to analyze and detect the context knowledge of vehicles, whose sensor errors can be compensated by the heuristic drift reduction algorithm for different motion situations. When GPS is available, the vehicle position can be estimated by unscented Kalman Filter, whereas in the case of GPS outages, the vehicle attitude is provided by an attitude and heading reference system and the motion constraints-aided algorithm is used to complete the positioning. In the experiment validation, the integrated navigation system is set up by low-cost inertial sensors. The result shows that the proposed system can achieve high accuracy when GPS is available. For most of the time without GPS, the system can guarantee the positioning precision of 10 m and compensate the errors of MSINS effectively, which fully satisfies positioning needs in complex urban environments.     

赛里木湖沉积物有机质变化特征及其环境信息

在分析赛里木湖湖泊沉积物中氮含量(TN)、有机碳含量(TOC)及其碳同位素(δ~(13)C_(org))以及色素等指标的变化特征的基础上,结合沉积物中有机指标的环境意义的探讨,揭示了新疆赛里木湖湖泊沉积物中有机质所蕴含的环境信息.赛里木湖沉积物中总有机碳含量、总氮含量的变化反映了流域初级生产力的变化,沉积物色素变化是有机质保存条件的指标,间接指示了湖泊-流域水热配置环境.有机碳同位素(δ~(13)C_(org))反映了湖泊内外源的混合信息.结合有序样品聚类分析方法,可以将赛里木湖近代环境划分为四大发展阶段:1、各有机指标相对稳定;2、各有机指标明显波动;3、各有机指标显著增加;4、各有机指标快速增加.     

胶东玲珑金矿田175号脉群深部地质特征与成矿预测

玲珑金矿属于以石英脉型为主的金矿床,其矿脉受玲珑断裂和破头青断裂控制。区内脉群发育,175号脉群是玲珑金矿的主要大型金矿脉群之一。文章通过总结175号脉群成矿地质背景、矿床地质特征,分析了控矿因素、矿体赋存规律、矿石类型等;阐述了175号脉群深部成矿规律,并根据见矿工程利用地质块段法预测175号脉群11—101勘探线范围-800 m标高以下(332+333)金矿石量192.44×10~4 t,金金属量8.5t。