Mineralogical analyses and in vitro screening tests for the rapid evaluation of the health hazard of volcanic ash at Rabaul volcano, Papua New Guinea

The continuous ash and gas emissions from the Tavurvur cone in Rabaul caldera, Papua New Guinea, during 2007–08, raised concerns regarding how exposure would affect the respiratory health of nearby populations and impact on the environment. As part of a formal evaluation of the effects of volcanic emissions on public health, we investigated the potential health hazard of the ash using a suite of selected mineralogical analyses and in vitro toxicity screening tests. The trachy-andesitic ash comprised 2.1–6.7 vol.% respirable (sub-4 μm diameter) particles. The crystalline silica content was 1.9–5.0 wt.% cristobalite (in the bulk sample) with trace amounts of quartz and/or tridymite. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the ash particles were angular with sparse, fibre-like particles (∼3–60 μm max. diameter) observed in some samples, which we confirmed to be CaSO₄ (gypsum, at <6 wt.% in the bulk samples) and not asbestiform fibres. The ash specific surface area was low (0.1–2.7 m² g⁻¹). The leached solution from one of the ash samples was slightly acidic (pH 5.6), but did not contain high levels of toxic metals (such as F, Cu, Zn, Mn, As, Ni and Cd) when compared to previously tested volcanic ash leachates. Ash samples generated potentially-harmful hydroxyl radicals through an iron-mediated catalytic reaction, in the range of 0.15–2.47 μmol m⁻² (after 30 min of reaction). However, measurement of particle oxidative capacity (potential oxidative stress reaction using ascorbic acid) and silica-like injury to red blood cells (erythrolysis assay, i.e. measurement of cell death) nevertheless revealed low biological reactivity. The findings suggest that acute exposure to the ash would have a limited potential to exacerbate pre-existing conditions such as asthma or chronic bronchitis, and the potential for chronic exposure leading to silicosis was low.     

Magma hybridization in the Western Tatra Mts. granitoid intrusion (S-Poland, Western Carpathians)

In the Variscan Western Tatra granites hybridization phenomena such as mixing and mingling can be observed at the contact of mafic precursors of dioritic composition and more felsic granitic host rocks. The textural evidence of hybridization include: plagioclase?CK-feldspar?Csphene ocelli, hornblende- and biotite-rimmed quartz ocelli, plagioclase with Ca-rich spike zonation, inversely zoned K-feldspar crystals, mafic clots, poikilitic plagioclase and quartz crystals, mixed apatite morphologies, zoned K-feldspar phenocrysts. The apparent pressure range of the magma hybridization event was calculated at 6.1?kbar to 4.6?kbar, while the temperature, calculated by independent methods, is in the range of 810°C?770°C. U-Pb age data of the hybrid rocks were obtained by in-situ LA-MC-ICP-MS analysis of zircon. The oscillatory zoned zircon crystals yield a concordia age of 368?±?8?Ma (MSWD?=?1.1), interpreted as the age of magma hybridization and timing of formation of the magmatic precursors. It is the oldest Variscan magmatic event in that part of the Tatra Mountains.     

Chemical and physical characterization of suspended particles and colloids in waters from the Osamu Utsumi mine and Morro do Ferro analogue study sites, Poços de Caldas, Brazil

Data are presented on suspended particles and colloids in groundwaters from the Osamu Utsumi mine and the Morro do Ferro analogue study sites. Cross-flow ultrafiltration with membranes of different pore sizes (450 nm to 1.5 nm) was used to prepare colloid concentrates and ultrafiltrates for analyses of major and trace elements and U- and Th-isotopic compositions. Additional characterization of colloidal and particulate material was performed by ESCA, SEM and X-ray diffraction. The results indicate the presence of low concentrations of colloids in these waters (typically < 500 μg/l), composed mainly of iron/organic species. Minor portions of uranium and other trace elements, but significant fractions of the total concentrations of Th and REE in prefiltered waters (< 450 nm) were associated with these colloids.Suspended particles (> 450 nm), also composed mainly of hydrous ferric oxides and humic-like compounds, show the same trend as the colloids with respect to U, Th and REE associations, but elemental concentrations were typically higher by a factor of 1,000 or more. In waters of low pH and with high sulphate content, these associations are considerably lower. Due to the low concentrations of suspended particles in groundwaters from the Osamu Utsumi uranium mine (typically <0.5 mg/l), these particles carry only a minor fraction of U and the REE (<10% of the total concentrations in unfiltered groundwaters), but a significant, usually predominant fraction of Th (30–70%). The suspended particle load in groundwaters from the Morro do Ferro environment is typically higher than in those from the mine by a factor of 5 to 10. This suggests that U, Th and the REE could be transported predominantly by particulate matter. However, these particles and colloids seem to have a low capacity for migration.     

The 1.90–1.88 Ga magmatism in the southernmost Guyana Shield, Amazonas, Brazil: Geology, geochemistry, zircon geochronology, and tectonic implications

The southernmost Guyana Shield-Uatumã subdomain, northeastern Amazonas State, Brazil is dominantly formed by granitoid and volcanic rocks from the Água Branca Suite (ABS), undivided Granite Stocks (GS) and São Gabriel volcano–plutonic system (SGS). The ABS is characterized by a granite series that exhibits comparatively low Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratio, low (Nb/Zr)_N, high Sr values and high Rb/Zr ratio. Its rocks display metaluminous to weakly peraluminous (A/CNK 0.94–1.06), high-K calc-alkaline, I normal-type character and have moderately to strongly fractionated rare earth elements (REE) pattern. The SG granites and SGS effusive–ignimbrite–granite association is metaluminous to weakly peraluminous (A/CNK 0.84–1.18), high-K calc-alkaline, has moderately to weakly fractionated REE trend, higher Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratio, lower Sr content and lower Rb/Zr ratio. The ABS geochemical signature is consistent with formation from volcanic arc rocks and small participation of collisional setting rocks, whereas the SG and SGS have post-collisional tectonic rocks-related geochemical signature. This model is in harmony with a post-collisional extensional regime, started with the 1.90–1.89 Ga Água Branca magmatism, and culminated with the 1.89–1.88 Ga São Gabriel system at an early stage of intracratonic reactivation, which included intrusion of mafic dikes. The Uatumã subdomain was related to mantle underplating with continental uplift and its origin involved contributions of 2.3–2.44 Ga Archean-contaminated Trans-Amazonian, 2.13–2.21 Ga Trans-Amazonian, 1.93–1.94/2.0 Ga Tapajós-Parima. Foliation styles point out that part of the Água Branca granitoids recorded later deformational effects, likely related to the Rio Negro Province formation.     

中国北方典型沙尘暴的遥感分析

综述了沙尘暴研究的领域和进展，提出了利用NOAA/AVHRR数据提取沙尘暴信息和沙尘暴信息密度分割的方法，经与气象数据对比验证，结果比较满意。结合沙尘暴途经区域的土地覆盖类型和植被覆盖度，对我国北方典型沙尘暴与下垫面之间的关系进行了分析，认为在同样的气象条件下，沙尘暴途经地区下垫面的土地利用/覆盖状况和植被覆盖程度决定着沙尘暴的形成与强度的变化。     

A highly symmetric restricted nine-body problem and the linear stability of its relative equilibria

We study a highly symmetric nine-body problem in which eight positive masses, called the primaries, move four by four, in two concentric circular motions such that their configuration is always a square for each group of four masses. The ninth body being of negligible mass and not influencing the motion of the eight primaries. We assume all the nine masses are in the same plane and that the masses of the primaries are \(m_{1}=m_{2}=m_{3}=m_{4}=\tilde{m}\) and m ₅=m ₆=m ₇=m ₈=m and the radii associated to the circular motion of the bodies with mass \(\tilde{m}\) is λ∈[λ ₀,1] and for the bodies with mass m is 1. We prove the existence of central configurations which characterize such arrangement of the primaries and we study the influence of the parameter λ, the ratio of the radii of the two circles, on the masses m and \(\tilde{m}\) . We use a synodical system of coordinates to eliminate the time dependence on the equations of motion. We show the existence of equilibria solutions symmetrically distributed on the four quadrants and their dependence on the parameter λ. Finally, we show that there can be 13, 17 or 25 equilibria solutions depending on the size of λ and we investigate their linear stability.     

Survival and movements of Magellanic penguins rehabilitated from oil fouling along the coast of South America, 2000-2010

Oil pollution is a significant conservation concern. We examined data from six institutions along the coast of South America: Emergency Relief Team of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Fundación Mundo Marino, Centro de Recupera??o de Animais Marinhos, Natura Patagonia, Associa??o R3 Animal, and Mar del Plata Aquarium and data from resightings in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Falkland/Malvinas Islands. From 2000 to 2010, 2183 oiled Magellanic penguins were rehabilitated as part of the routine activities of these institutions or during emergency responses to eight oil spills in which they were involved; all rehabilitated penguins were flipper banded and released. Since their release, 41 penguins were resighted until 31 December 2011. The results demonstrate that, when combined with other prevention strategies, the rehabilitation of Magellanic penguins is a strategy that contributes to the mitigation of adverse effects of oil spills and chronic pollution to the species.     

Using stable isotopes 18O and 2H of lake water and biogeochemical analysis to identify factors affecting water quality in four estuarine Amazonian shallow lakes

Stable isotopes analyses of oxygen and hydrogen of lake water were used to estimate the effect of evaporation (E) on the water quality of four shallow lakes in the Amapá State coast—Amazon/Brazil. These lakes, with different size and hydrologic conditions, were sampled during the course of the 2015/2016 El‐Niño (record‐breaking warming/drought in the Amazon rainforest). Hydrometeorological and water quality parameters were simultaneously performed to the isotopic sampling. The results showed that the evaporation process and the water quality can be explained by climate season and distances from the Atlantic Ocean. Lake evaporation losses ranged from ≈0–22% during the wet season in April/2016 and ≈35.7% during the dry season in November/2015. As expected, the evaporation of lake water was greater during the dry season, but it was higher for lakes farther away from the Atlantic Ocean compared with more coastal lakes due to tidal preponderance and the influence of major river channels. The more inland estuarine lakes showed a lower level of salinity (0.00–0.03 ppt) compared with those closer to the Atlantic Ocean (0.01–0.08 ppt). The El Niño phenomenon, with a lower precipitation in the Amazon basin, may initiate salinization of lakes closer to the Atlantic Ocean. Furthermore, strong mean seasonal variations of evaporation (0.06 ≤ E ≤ 0.22) and other hydrologic parameters were observed (precipitation, water temperature, and water depth), with significant effects on the water quality such as salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll (p < .05). We conclude that the occurrence of the extreme climatic events can disrupt the biogeochemical and hydrological balance of these aquatic ecosystems and salinization of lakes closer to the Atlantic Ocean.