Separation of concentrated acid and salt solutions in nanoporous media as the basis for a new technology of processing of phosphorus-containing raw materials

The physical and mathematical models were used to study the method of acid retardation for separating acids from their salts in concentrated multicomponent solutions using nanoporous sorption materials. A combined mechanism of separation relies on the fact that in the sorption phase having a low dielectric permittivity, smaller-sized acid particles, namely, the molecules or strongly bound and weakly hydrated ion pairs, can penetrate the nanopores and are retained within these pores due to molecular sorption or competitive solvation forces. The dissolved salts presented by highly hydrated ions or weakly bound ion pairs can easily pass through the porous medium with a flow of concentrated solution, which is pumped through the column packed with the granulated bed of gel-type ion exchange resins or hypercrosslinked polymers. In conventional cyclic AR processes, purified acid is desorbed by water according to the mechanism of competitive solvation. However, such processes can be successfully used only when the salts separated from acids are highly soluble, as is the case with chloride and nitrate solutions free of components that may form compounds insoluble in neutral medium. At the separation in real sulfate and phosphate media, which normally contain alkaline earth metals and other components, conventional AR- based technologies proved to be unsuccessful. The new modified version of acid retardation is based on the previously discovered effect of stabilization of colloidal systems and supersaturated solutions in porous ion exchange media. A distinctive feature of the proposed technique is the use of weakly acidic aqueous solutions, instead of water, at the stages of acid displace in the cyclic AR processes. The proposed technique of WPA purification using strong-base gel-type ion exchangers in the phosphate form opens up the possibility of stable and feasible processes of acid separation and purification with simultaneous extraction of valuable components, e.g., REE concentrate.     

Ninetyeast ridge: Magmatism and geodynamics

The study of magmatism and tectonic structure of the East Indian or Ninetyeast Ridge (NER) reveals the geochemical similarity of mantle sources for the NER and Kerguelen Plateau melts. Magmas related to the Kerguelen plume were derived from an enriched mantle source, whereas the NER tholeiitic basalts originated from a source contaminated by a depleted material. While, depleted basalt varieties were not found within the NER basalts. It was shown that magmatic rocks forming the NER were generated by high degrees (30%) of partial melting within the ancient Wharton spreading ridge due to the activity of the Kerguelen plume, which was located at this time in the vicinity of the ridge. The most significant impact of the plume on the NER structures was recorded at 70–50 Ma ago.     

The subsidence and thermal history of the Baikit anteclise sedimentary basin

The Riphean rocks of the Baikit anteclise have been examined using pyrolysis Rock–Eval 6 to evaluate the subsidence history and erosion level. The studied Riphean rocks have the МK₃–МK₄ catagenesis grade. Based on the catagenesis of organic matter we propose a model of maximum burial before the beginning of the accumulation of Vendian deposits. Estimated calculations of subsidence and erosion have shown that the assessed catagenesis grade could be reached at a depth of 7 km, while the erosion level was approximately 5–7 km.     

The upper Bajocian of the Crimean Mountains: Paleogeography and sedimentation conditions from palynological data

Based on the spore-pollen data, the mineral composition of clay rocks, analyzed structures and facies, and a general paleogeographic analysis, the sedimentation conditions and landscapes of islands located during the Late Bajocian in the region of the present-day the Crimean Mountains have been reconstructed. It is shown that the sublatitudinally elongated insular land zone had a width of 30 km, the heights of the islands were no more than 1 km, with steep mudflow-affected northern slopes and with an extensive river system on the southern slopes.     

Predicting kimberlite diamond deposits in the north of the Siberian Platform on the basis of interpretation of satellite imagery

An essentially new method for the allocation of diamondiferous kimberlite pipes against surrounding rocks is proposed. The method is based on the interpretation of multispectral LANDSAT-7 ETM+ satellite images; it allows one to find the most promising areas within perspective sites revealed by other methods. It is demonstrated that application of GIS technologies for comprehensive use of geological, geophysical, and mineralogical data and the results of the interpretation of satellite images is efficient for predicting kimberlite diamond deposits in both studied areas and poorly explored territories.     

Types of engineering-geological structures of Russia

Engineering-geological (geotechnical) structures are distinguished based on a combination of regional and zonal geological factors. Classifications of engineering-geological structures of the Earth and Russia are presented. The main engineering-geological characteristics and spatial distribution patterns of continental subaerial, continental subaquatic, and transitional predominantly subaquatic and oceanic predominantly subaquatic engineering- geological mega- and macrostructures distinguished in Russia are described.     

Impact of royalties from forest resources on community development in Boki Local Government in Cross River State,Nigeria

The purpose of the study was to examine the extent to which royalties generated from forest resources contributed to community development in Boki Local Government area of Cross River State, Nigeria. The study used questionnaire survey of house-hold heads and Interview with focus groups to obtain data for this study. A total of 224 household heads representing 20 % of the available house-hold heads in the area was used for the study. The data collected were presented using tables and charts while an inferential statistics (Pearson’s Product Moment correlation) was employed to test the hypothesis of the study. The result of the analysis revealed that there exist a positive correlation coefficient of 0.911 which indicates a strong and positive relationship between royalties collected from forest resources and the number of developmental projects in the study area. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that more efforts be directed towards the monitoring and regulation of forest resource exploration activities in the area to ensure that royalties collected are directed towards the establishment of more developmental projects in the area so as to impact more positively on the living standard of the people.