Bioavailability and toxicity of antimony

Antimony (Sb) is a toxic trace element widely distributed in the lithosphere and mainly associated with arsenic. Sb compounds are considered to be pollutants of high interest, however, the biogeochemical behaviour of Sb is still largely unknown, especially compared to other well-known toxic elements. In particular, questions remain about the availability of Sb to vascular plants. In this work, we focused on the following problems: (i) Sb uptake by plants; (ii) the availability of Sb to plants and (iii) variations in uptake and distribution of essential plant nutrients and trace elements resulting from bioaccumulation of Sb in Triticum aestivum (wheat) seedlings. The seedlings were either germinated or grown in media enriched with Sb. By the end of germination, concentrations of Sb in the seedlings germinated in Sb-amended media increased significantly. Sb content was highest in the roots and lowest in the leaves of the seedlings. After transfer of the seedlings germinated in an Sb-free medium to Sb-enriched media, Sb concentration in the seedlings increased with time, especially in the roots. Bioaccumulation of Sb influenced concentrations of different macro- and trace elements in all parts of the plants. The least variations were observed in the leaves, probably because the increase of Sb concentration in leaves was not as significant as in the seeds and roots.     

Pressure induced phase transition in Pb<Subscript>6</Subscript>Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>S<Subscript>9</Subscript>

The crystal structure of Pb₆Bi₂S₉ is investigated at pressures between 0 and 5.6 GPa with X-ray diffraction on single-crystals. The pressure is applied using diamond anvil cells. Heyrovskyite (Bbmm, a = 13.719(4) Å, b = 31.393(9) Å, c = 4.1319(10) Å, Z = 4) is the stable phase of Pb₆Bi₂S₉ at ambient conditions and is built from distorted moduli of PbS-archetype structure with a low stereochemical activity of the Pb²⁺ and Bi³⁺ lone electron pairs. Heyrovskyite is stable until at least 3.9 GPa and a first-order phase transition occurs between 3.9 and 4.8 GPa. A single-crystal is retained after the reversible phase transition despite an anisotropic contraction of the unit cell and a volume decrease of 4.2%. The crystal structure of the high pressure phase, β-Pb₆Bi₂S₉, is solved in Pna2 ₁ (a = 25.302(7) Å, b = 30.819(9) Å, c = 4.0640(13) Å, Z = 8) from synchrotron data at 5.06 GPa. This structure consists of two types of moduli with SnS/TlI-archetype structure in which the Pb and Bi lone pairs are strongly expressed. The mechanism of the phase transition is described in detail and the results are compared to the closely related phase transition in Pb₃Bi₂S₆ (lillianite).     

Is the recessional pattern of Himalayan glaciers suggestive of anthropogenically induced global warming?

Following the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report of 2001, a hype regarding the future of Himalayan glaciers, flooding of Indo-Gangetic plains and coastal areas and drying of glacially fed rivers has been created. However, the recent studies of some of the Himalayan glaciers indicate that the rate of recession of most of the glaciers in general is on decline. These observations are in contradiction to the widely popularized concept of anthropogenically induced global warming. It is believed that the rise of temperature of around 0.6°C since mid-nineteenth century is a part of decadal to centennial-scale climatic fluctuations that have been taking place on this Earth for the past few thousands of years.     

Petrology and geochemistry of the 2014–2015 Holuhraun eruption,central Iceland: compositional and mineralogical characteristics,temporal variability and magma storage

The 2014–2015 Holuhraun fissure eruption provided a rare opportunity to study in detail the magmatic processes and magma plumbing system dynamics during a 6-month-long, moderate- to large-volume basaltic fissure eruption. In this contribution, we present a comprehensive dataset, including major and trace elements of whole-rock and glassy tephra samples, mineral chemistry, and radiogenic and oxygen isotope analyses from an extensive set of samples (n?=?62) that were collected systematically in several field campaigns throughout the entire eruptive period. We also present the first detailed chemical and isotopic characterization of magmatic sulfides from Iceland. In conjunction with a unique set of geophysical data, our approach provides a detailed temporal and spatial resolution of magmatic processes before and during this eruption. The 2014–2015 Holuhraun magma is compositionally indistinguishable from recent basalts erupted from the Bárðarbunga volcanic system, consistent with seismic observations for magma ascent close to the Bárðarbunga central volcano, followed by dyke propagation to the Holuhraun eruption site. Whole-rock elemental and isotopic compositions are remarkably constant throughout the eruption. Moreover, the inferred depth of the magma reservoir tapped during the eruption is consistently 8?±?5 km, in agreement with geodetic observations and melt inclusion entrapment pressures, but inconsistent with vertically extensive multi-tiered magma storage prior to eruption. The near constancy in the chemical and isotopic composition of the lava is consistent with the efficient homogenization of mantle-derived compositional variability. In contrast, occurrence of different mineral populations, including sulfide globules, which display significant compositional variability, requires a more complex earlier magmatic history. This may include sampling of heterogeneous mantle melts that mixed, crystallized and finally homogenized at mid- to lower-crustal conditions.     

A novel Seahorse-shaped,small-scale structure from Almora Crystalline Zone,Uttarakhand, India

International Journal of Earth Sciences -     

A plane-symmetric inhomogeneous cosmological model of perfect fluid distribution with electromagnetic field

A plane-symmetric inhomogeneous cosmological model of perfect fluid distribution with electromagnetic field, is obtained.F ₁₂ is the non-vanishing component of the electromagnetic field tensor. To get a determinate solution, we assume the free gravitational field is Petrov type-II non-degenerate. In general, the model represents an expanding, shearing, non-rotating universe in which the flow vector is geodetic. The behaviour of the electromagnetic field tensor together with some geometrical and physical aspect of the model are also discussed.     

High-pressure X-ray study of LiCrSi2O6 clinopyroxene and the general compressibility trends for Li-clinopyroxenes

High-pressure single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements of synthetic LiCrSi₂O₆ clinopyroxene (with space group P2₁/c) were performed in a diamond-anvil cell up to 7.970 GPa. No phase transition has been observed within the pressure range investigated, but the elastic behavior at lower pressures (up to ~2.5 GPa) is affected by an anomalous softening due to the proximity of the phase transition to the HT-C2/c phase at 330 K and at ambient pressure. A third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation of state fitted to the compression data above 2.5 GPa yields a bulk modulus K _T0 = 93(2) GPa and its first derivative K′ = 8.8(6). The structural data measured up to 7.970 GPa confirm that the space group P2₁/c is maintained throughout the whole pressure range investigated. The atomic parameters, obtained from the integrated diffraction intensities, suggest that the Li coordination polyhedron changes its coordination number from 5 to 6 at 6–7 GPa by means of the approach of the bridging O atom, related to the increased kinking of the B tetrahedral chain. Furthermore, at higher pressures, the structural evolution of LiCrSi₂O₆ provides evidence in the variation of kinking angles and bond lengths of a potential phase transition above 8 GPa to the HP-C2/c space group. A comparison of the Li-clinopyroxenes (M1 = Cr, Al, Sc, Ga, Mg + Fe) previously investigated and our sample shows that their elastic behavior and structural mechanisms of compression are analogous.     

Les chenaux de marée autour des îles de Kneiss,Tunisie: sédimentologie et évolution

Résumé

L'Archipel de Kneiss, dans le Golfe de Gabès (sud-est Tunisien), est un milieu à originalités multiples. Il est unique en son genre en Tunisie en raison de la variété de son paysage morphologique (marais maritimes, falaises, plages sableuses et îlots qui émergent des hauts fonds). Il est caractérisé par la présence de chenaux de marée submergés. L'objectif principal de ce présent travail est de caractériser les principales composantes qui interviennent dans la dynamique sédimentaire au niveau de ces chenaux. Les résultats des analyses granulométriques et minéralogiques des sédiments de surface prélevés au niveau des chenaux de marée ont permis d'identifier l'origine de ces sédiments et de préciser les facteurs et les phénomènes qui interviennent dans leur transport et leur dépôt. Ces résultats montrent que les sables des chenaux de marée présentent un granoclassement décroissant de l'aval vers l'amont, ce qui prouve que les courants de marée ont une action plus importante lors du flot que lors du jusant. Ces résultats montrent aussi que le mode de transport est exclusivement le roulement par les courants de marée. Les minéraux argileux et non argileux des sédiments de surface auraient pour origine essentiellement les formations géologiques qui affleurent dans l'arrière-pays. L'analyse des photographies aériennes montre que les chenaux de marée présentent une évolution morphologique.

Citation Bali, M. & Gueddari, M. (2011) Les chenaux de marée autour des îles de Kneiss, Tunisie: sédimentologie et évolution. Hydrol. Sci. J. 56(3), 498–506.     

Drainage morphometry of Himalayan Glacio-fluvial basin,India: hydrologic and neotectonic implications

Morphometric analysis, being widely used to assess the drainage characteristics of the river basins, has been found to be a useful tool to delineate the glacial till covered overburden material as well as to identify areas prone to flash floods in present studies. A number of parameters including the stream frequency, drainage density and drainage texture suggest that the unconsolidated, unstratified and highly permeable glacially deposited overburden till material facilitates the infiltration of snowmelt and rainwater in the Pindari glacio-fluvial basin, Eastern Kumaun Himalaya, India. Likewise, other till overburden covered glacial and proglacial areas of Higher Himalayan regions have been contributing to the groundwater budget. The shape parameters further suggest that the sub-basins with higher form factor are more prone to flash floods. Besides this, the anomalies in the morphometric parameters have been found to be a useful tool to delineate zones of active tectonics in such areas.     

L.R.S. Bianchi Type I string dust magnetized cosmological models

L.R.S. Bianchi Type I string dust cosmological models with and without magnetic field following the techniques used by Letelier and Stachel, is investigated. To get a determinate solution, we assume a conditionσ is proportional to scalar of expansion θ where σ is shear and θ is scalar of expansion and which leads to A=ℓ B ⁿwhere n is a constant and ℓ is proportionality constant. Some special models are also investigated by introducing the transformation, , which leads to Riccati type differential equation. The physical and geometrical aspects of the models are also discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.