Sediment pore-water interactions associated with arsenic and uranium transport from the North Cave Hills mining region,South Dakota,USA

The extent of historical U mining impacts is well documented for the North Cave Hills region of Harding County, South Dakota, USA. While previous studies reported watershed sediment and surface water As and U concentrations up to 90× established background concentrations, it was unclear whether or how localized changes in sediment redox behavior may influence contaminant remobilization. Five pore-water equilibration samplers (peepers) were spatially and temporally deployed within the study area to evaluate seasonal solid–liquid As and U distributions as a function of sediment depth. Pore-water and solid phase As and U concentrations, Fe speciation, Eh and pH were measured to ascertain specific geochemical conditions responsible for As and U remobilization and transport behavior. At a mine overburden sedimentation pond adjacent to the mine sites, high total aqueous As and U concentrations (4920 and 674 μg/L, respectively) were found within surface water during summer sampling; however pond dredging prior to autumn sampling resulted in significantly lower aqueous As and U concentrations (579 and 108 μg/L, respectively); however, both As and U still exceeded regional background concentrations (20 and 18 μg/L, respectively). At a wetlands-dominated deposition zone approximately 2 km downstream of the sedimentation pond, pore-water geochemical conditions varied seasonally. Summer conditions promoted reducing conditions in pore water, resulting in active release of As(III) to the water column. Autumn conditions promoted oxidizing conditions, decreasing pore-water As (As_pw) 5× and increasing U_pw 10×. Peak U pore-water concentrations (781 μg/L) were 3.5× greater than determined for the surface water (226 μg/L), and approximately 40× background concentrations. At the Bowman–Haley reservoir backwaters 45 km downstream from the mine sites, As and U pore-water concentrations increased significantly between the summer and autumn deployments, attributed to increased Fe reduction processes. Geochemical modeling suggests solid-phase Fe reduction promotes the liberation of pore-water As and U via suppressing the formation of thioarsenite. Intermittent hydrological processes facilitate As and U transport and deposition throughout the watershed, while biogeochemical-influenced redox changes cycle As and U between pore and surface water within localized environments.     

新元古代大冰期及其诱发因素

简要介绍了由美国一些科学家最近提出的,引起国际地球科学、环境科学、生命科学及宇宙科学界广泛关注的新元古代雪球假说,及其近期研究情况。根据我国扬子地层分区和江南地层分区震旦系的沉积特征,对新元古代古气候骤变,大冰期的发生与消亡及其诱发因素作了初步探讨。     

PGE mineralization in Archean volcanic systems: geochemical evidence from thick, differentiated mafic-ultramafic flows, Abitibi greenstone belt, Ontario, and implications for exploration

PGE-rich disseminated zones with discrete platinum-group minerals (Pd, Pt and Rh mineral phases) have been discovered in three thick (80–130 m), differentiated (peridotite-gabbro) mafic-ultramafic flows of the Archean Abitibi greenstone belt, Ontario. Three mineralization zones (whole-rock ∑PGE + Au = up to 1000 ppb) occur along four stratigraphic cross sections through a 2 km strike-length of the Boston Creek Flow ferropicritic basalt. Their occurrence most strikingly correlates with lenticular-podiform concentrations of disseminated chalcopyrite (1 %) and clinopyroxene + interstitial magnetite-ilmenite intergrowths (15–20% oxide), high concentrations of related metals (3000 ppm Cu, 3000 ppm S, 1200 ppb Ag, and 1000 ppm V), strong PGE depletion in adjacent rocks and along strike, and lithological and textural complexity in the margins of the central gabbro-diorite layer. The mineralization zone (whole-rock Ir + Pt + Pd + Au = 110 ppb) within Theo's Flow tholeiitic basalt is somewhat similar in occurrence, style, and composition to those within the Boston Creek Flow. In contrast, the mineralization zone (whole-rock Ir + Pt + Pd + Au = 340 ppb) in Fred's Flow komatiitic basalt most strikingly correlates with vesicle-filling intergrowths of pyrrhotite + pentlandite ± chalcopyrite (2 modal %) and high whole-rock concentrations of Ni (2500 ppm), Cu (700 ppm), and S (1.1%) in the upper chilled margin of the flow.Although apparently uneconomic, these flow-hosted PGE mineralization zones are of interest in exploration, because they are more similar in stratigraphie setting, style, and composition to PGE-rich disseminated Fe-Cu sulfide mineralization zones within thick differentiated intrusions than to mineralization zones in other Archean volcanic rocks. The characteristics of the mineralization zones and their host rocks, especially high degrees of PGE enrichment, vertical and horizontal patterns of PGE depletion, and accumulation of clinopyroxene + magnetite-ilmenite intergrowths, indicate a critical genetic role for variations in the regime of melt flowage. The mineralization zones in the Boston Creek and Theo's Flows are interpreted to have formed by simultaneous in situ formation of PGE-rich Fe-Cu sulfide and Fe-Ti oxide from flowing silicate liquid in the margins of internal lava channels. The mineralization zone in Fred's Flow is interpreted to have formed by ponding and coalescence of PGE-enriched sulfurous vapor bubbles in the upper chilled margin during olivine accumulation on the base of a dynamic lava channel. The relative abundance of PGE mineralization zones and high degree of PGE enrichment in the Boston Creek Flow suggest that the most favorable exploration targets are rocks crystallized from late-stage, highly fractionated derivative liquids in large differentiated terropicritic units.     

凹凸棒石粘土处理城市废水的实验

目前的城市废水处理方法有活性污泥法及粉末活性炭投料－活性污泥性,但两者皆存在不足之处。凹凸棒石具独特的结构和良好的吸附、脱色、净化和过滤性能。通过实验对其用于城市废水处理作了技术可行性研究,并进行了相应的经济可行性分析,认为凹凸棒石粘土可替代粉末活性炭处理城市废水且成本很低。     

Redox reactions between iron and quinones: Thermodynamic constraints

Iron is the most abundant redox-active metallic element on the earth’s surface. Quinones, a term that encompasses dihydroxybenzenes (catechol and hydroquinone), semiquinone radicals, and benzoquinones, are abundant moieties within natural organic matter. Separately or in concert, iron species (both dissolved and precipitated) and quinones are believed to be key participants in a wide range of environmental redox reactions. Here, we investigate how pH, quinone structure, and iron speciation impose thermodynamic constraints on possible reactions. The steps outlined in this work must be followed to evaluate whether postulated redox processes involving iron and quinones are energetically feasible.     

The origin of alluvial gold in the Leadhills area of Scotland: evidence from interpretation of internal chemical characteristics

A detailed chemical study has been carried out of 1794 gold grains from 55 sites within an area approximately 7 km by 18 km around Leadhills in the turbidite-facies, wacke-dominant Southern Uplands terrane of Scotland, formed as an accretionary thrust complex at the Laurentian continental margin during Ordovician and Silurian subduction of the Iapetus Ocean. The Leadhills area has had a long history of alluvial gold working, since at least 1510, and probably much earlier, but few bedrock sources of mineralisation have been located. Quantitative electron microprobe point analyses were obtained of sectioned and polished gold grains and of the associated microscopic inclusions, which in total comprised 35 types of opaque minerals. Microchemical X-ray maps were also obtained using a fully automated electron microprobe to show internal chemical compositional variation, to resolve the components of multiple and composite inclusions and to help in the identification of the smallest examples. Silver is present within most grains but Cu, Hg and Pd were only detected in about 3% of the grains. The shapes of cumulative frequency plots of the Ag contents of grains from different sites allow recognition of populations from different sources and enables comparison and differentiation between sites. In one of the main rivers, the Shortcleugh Water, the nature of the gold is generally similar, both in terms of Ag content and inclusion type, but a further type of gold, relatively rich in Ag and containing distinctive Ni and Sb-rich inclusions, is also present in 4 adjacent samples in one sector of the watercourse. This component of the samples reflects downstream dispersion, of up to 400 m, of gold grains from a mineralised structure cutting the river almost perpendicularly. Elsewhere abrupt changes in the nature of the alluvial gold within streams reflect a series of different sources and indicate limited glacial and alluvial dispersion. Four main types of gold which are considered to be derived from different varieties of source mineralisation can be recognised on the basis of composition and inclusion assemblage. The commonest type (ca. 70%) contains 8.4–13.1% Ag and inclusions, mostly of arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite and cobaltite, characteristics typical of mesothermal gold from shear-zones within a turbidite environment, suggesting sources within the local Lower Palaeozoic sedimentary rocks. The second type is richer in Ag (15.8–31.3%) with a basic igneous signature indicated from inclusions of Sb-rich gersdorffite, pyrite, Ni arsenide and other Ni-rich minerals, and shows some spatial association with discordant Tertiary basaltic dykes which cut the sedimentary rocks. The third type, mostly found in an area mantled by glacial drift, is poor in Ag (<1.2%) but frequently Cu-bearing and with inclusions of platinoids and Cu oxide. Associated with this type of gold are grains of the intermetallic compound Au₃Cu and platinoids such as isoferroplatinum and a complex Ir-rich phase. Its source is problematical and could partly reflect detrital material associated with ophiolitic debris, which is common in the northernmost turbidites, and partly a local source of lode gold. The fourth gold type is also Ag-poor (<3.2%), but frequently contains Pd, up to 6.3%, while the inclusions comprise selenides of Pb, Hg and Cu. In nearby areas this type of gold is associated with Permian red beds and associated basaltic volcanics and also structures in the Lower Palaeozoic into which oxidising solutions derived from the red bed sequence have penetrated.     

Bayesian estimation of undiscovered pool sizes using the discovery record

This paper presents a Bayesian version of the classical model of Kaufman et al. for the order of discovery of hydrocarbon pools and the distribution of their sizes in a geologically homogeneous area. Using the model, a Bayesian method is developed for estimating the distribution of the size of the undiscovered pools using the information from the discovery record. This method avoids most of the arbitrary choices required by the modified maximum likelihood method developed by Lee and Wang. As an example, this method is applied to the same Bashaw reef data on which Lee and Wang demonstrated their approach. For this case, the Bayesian approach produces sharly lower estimates of undiscovered resources.     

Mineralogic investigation into occurrence of high uranium well waters in upstate South Carolina, USA

High levels of U (up to 5570 μg/L) have been discovered in well waters near Simpsonville, South Carolina, USA. In order to characterize the mineralogical source of the U and possible structural controls on its presence, a deep (214 m) well was cored adjacent to one of the enriched wells. The highest gamma-ray emissions in the recovered core occur in coarse biotite granite at a depth just below 52 m. A slickenlined fault plane at 48.6 m and narrow pegmatite layers at depths of 113, 203 and 207 m also yield high gamma-ray counts. Thin sections were made from the above materials and along several subvertical healed fractures. Uraninite and coffinite are the principal U-rich minerals in the core. Other U-bearing minerals include thorite and thorogummite, monazite, zircon and allanite. Primary uraninite occurs in the biotite granite and in pegmatite layers. Secondary coffinite is present as tiny (<5 μm) crystals dispersed along fractures in the granite and pegmatites. Coffinite also occurs along the slickenlined fault plane, where it is associated with calcite and calcic zeolite and also replaces allanite. Coffinite lacks radiogenic Pb, hence is considerably younger than the uraninite.Dissolution of partially oxidized Ca-rich uraninite occurring in the surficial biotite granite (or secondary coffinite in fracture zones) is likely the main source for the current high levels of U in nearby area wells. The high-U well waters have a carbonate signature, consistent with pervasive calcite vein mineralization in the core. Aqueous speciation calculations suggest U transport as an uranyl (U⁶⁺) hydroxyl-carbonate complex. Later reduction resulted in secondary precipitation along fractures as a U⁴⁺ mineral (i.e., coffinite).     

Spatio-temporal dynamics of suspended matter properties and bacterial communities in the back-barrier tidal flat system of Spiekeroog Island

Back-barrier tidal flat systems are characterized by basins and inlets through which water is exchanged with the coastal sea by tidal water movements. The hydrographic and morphometric properties at the inlets and in the basins vary considerably, but there is little information available how biogeochemical properties in the water column at these different sites respond to these differences. Therefore, we investigated tidal dynamics of suspended particulate matter (SPM), particulate and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), chlorophyll a, phaeopigments, numbers of particle-associated (PA) and free-living bacteria (FL), bacterial biomass production, and concentrations of dissolved manganese (Mn). Samples were taken at the surface, a mid-depth and 1 m above the bottom at a fixed station at the inlet and in the basin of the Spiekeroog back-barrier tidal flat system in the German Wadden Sea. Five tidal cycles representative for typical seasonal situations, January (winter), April and May (late spring bloom), July (summer), and November (late fall) were studied in 2005 and 2006. In July, processes related to phytoplankton dynamics and bacterial decomposition were much more enhanced in the basin, whereas in April, these processes were enhanced at the inlet but were particularly low within the basin itself. The low values within the basin were a result of the settled phytoplankton spring bloom and represent a rather short period at the decline of this bloom. In November and January, differences were much less pronounced than during the growing season and restricted mainly to SPM and PA bacteria, exhibiting higher values in the basin. FL bacteria, DOC, and dissolved Mn exhibited different patterns and much less differences between the two stations, indicating that biogeochemical processes in the dissolved phase were controlled by different factors than PA biogeochemical processes. These differences reflect the retentive properties of the basin for particles and PA biogeochemical processes, particularly during the growing season, and in general emphasize the high productivity of back-barrier tidal flat systems.     

Fractal dimensions of individual flocs and floc populations in streams

The fractal dimension of an individual floc is a measure of the complexity of its external shape. Fractal dimensions can also be used to characterize floc populations, in which case the fractal dimension indicates how the shape of the smaller flocs relates to that of the larger flocs. The objective of this study is to compare the fractal dimensions of floc populations with those of individual flocs, and to evaluate how well both indicate contributions of sediment sources and reflect the nature and extent of flocculation in streams. Suspended solids were collected prior to and during snowmelt at upstream and downstream sites in two southern Ontario streams with contrasting riparian zones. An image analysis system was used to determine area, longest axis and perimeter of flocs. The area–perimeter relationship was used to calculate the fractal dimension, D, that characterizes the floc population. For each sample, the fractal dimension, D_i , of the 28 to 30 largest individual flocs was determined from the perimeter–step‐length relationship. Prior to snowmelt, the mean value of D_i ranged from 1·19 (Cedar Creek, downstream) to 1·22 (Strawberry Creek, upstream and downstream). A comparison of the means using t‐tests indicates that most samples on this day had comparable mean values of D_i . During snowmelt, there was no significant change in the mean value of D_i at the Cedar Creek sites. In contrast, for Strawberry Creek the mean value of D_i at both sites increased significantly, from 1·22 prior to snowmelt to 1·34 during snowmelt. This increase reflects the contribution of sediment‐laden overland flow to the sediment load. At three of the sampling sites, the increase in fractal dimensions was accompanied by a decreases in effective particle size, which can be explained by an increase in bed shear stress. A comparison of fractal dimensions of individual flocs in a sample with the fractal dimensions of the floc populations indicates that both fractal dimensions provide similar information about the temporal changes in sediment source contributions, about the contrasting effectiveness of the riparian buffer zones in the two basins, and about the hydraulic conditions in the streams. Nevertheless, determining the individual fractal dimensions of a set of large flocs in a sample is very time consuming. Using fractal dimensions of floc populations is therefore the preferred method to characterize suspended matter. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.