Distribution of gold in igneous granitoid complexes in the central and southwestern areas of eastern Transbaikalia

The distribution of gold in rocks from some igneous complexes of the central and southwestern areas of eastern Transbaikalia (Daurian, Aga, and Argun structure-formational zones) was studied by quantitative extraction–atomic-absorption analysis and mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (Element-2 mass spectrometer). High gold concentrations (on average, 0.0043 ppm) are typical of the most widespread hornblende-biotite granodiorites and granites of the main phases of batholith intrusions in the Upper Paleozoic Unda complex in the east of the study area and in the Triassic–Middle Jurassic Kyra complex in the west. The rocks of the Early–Middle Jurassic (Sokhondo) and Middle–Upper Jurassic (Shakhtama, Kharalga, and Kukul’bei) complexes have much lower Au concentrations (mainly 0.0014–0.0030 ppm), with the minimum ones established in the Shakhtama complex. During the magmatic differentiation of granitoid intrusions, the concentrations of gold in the late leucogranite differentiates decreased.The Au concentrations in the studied complexes do not depend on the composition of the host terrigenous rocks of different ages, which evidences the endogenous nature of the revealed differences in Au concentrations in the regional granitoids. Abnormally high concentrations of gold in some studied samples are observed mainly in the regional hydrothermal mineralization occurrences.The classification R-type cluster analysis showed that all variables of the studied igneous rocks are subdivided into three groups by the degree of correlation. Gold shows a distinct tendency to the correlation with siderophile oxy- and sulfurophile groups of metals. The Q-type analysis generally confirmed the correctness of the known formational classification of the regional granitoids.     

The off-focus photograph technique for low dispersion spectra

We have developed a photograph filtering technique to search for QSOs with objective prism plates. After off-focus reproduction, the signal-to-noise ratio increases and some spectral lines in the prism spectra may be recognized by eye against the noise. Principle of this technique is discussed.     

青藏高原北部地区未来3～5年内强震形势研究

应用统计分析、有序性分析、干支预测模型、可公度模型等方法,对青藏高原北部地区7级强震以及青海省M≥6级强震的危险性进行预测估计。结果表明,目前该区累积发震概率已达60％,到2000年初将达到75％,2000年前后有可能发生7级强震,青海省1998年前后有可能发生M≥6．5级强震。     

Alleviating the effect of collinearity in geographically weighted regression

Geographically weighted regression (GWR) is a popular technique to deal with spatially varying relationships between a response variable and predictors. Problems, however, have been pointed out (see Wheeler and Tiefelsdorf in J Geogr Syst 7(2):161–187, 2005), which appear to be related to locally poor designs, with severe impact on the estimation of coefficients. Different remedies have been proposed. We propose two regularization methods. The first one is generalized ridge regression, which can also be seen as an empirical Bayes method. We show that it can be implemented using ordinary GWR software with an appropriate choice of the weights. The second one augments the local sample as needed while running GWR. We illustrate both methods along with ordinary GWR on an example of housing prices in the city of Bilbao (Spain) and using simulations.     

The Adsorption Behavior of Functional Particles Modified by Polyvinylimidazole for Cu(II) Ion

In this paper, a novel composite material the silica grafted by poly(N‐vinyl imidazole) (PVI), i.e., PVI/SiO₂, was prepared using 3‐methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (MPS) as intermedia through the “grafting from” method. The adsorption behavior of metal ions by PVI/SiO₂ was researched by both static and dynamic methods. Experimental results showed that PVI/SiO₂ possessed very strong adsorption ability for metal ions. For different metal ions, PVI/SiO₂ exhibited different adsorption abilities with the following order of adsorption capacity: Cu²⁺ > Cd²⁺ > Zn²⁺. The adsorption material PVI/SiO₂ was especially good at adsorbing Cu(II) ion and the saturated adsorption capacity could reach up to 49.2 mg/g. The empirical Freundlich isotherm was found to describe well the equilibrium adsorption data. Higher temperatures facilitated the adsorption process and thus increased the adsorption capacity. The pH and grafting amount of PVI had great influence on the adsorption amount. In addition, PVI/SiO₂ particles had excellent eluting and regenerating property using diluted hydrochloric acid solution as eluent. The adsorption ability trended to steady during 10 cycles.     

Offshore Occurrences of Heavy-Mineral Placers,Northwest Galicia,Spain

ABSTRACT

Results of offshore water-jet sediment sampling demonstrate the potential for interstadial placer deposits of industrial minerals in the shore-face to inner-shelf of Cape Ortegal, NW Spain. Placer deposition is interpreted to have occurred during glacial interstadials since the Last Glacial Maximum, and deposits sampled at 24 to 42 m. BSL were formed during the Younger Dryas, and subsequently preserved as a result of very rapid rising sea-levels. The sediments are almost entirely terrestrially derived with a particularly high heavy mineral content (Sp. Gr. >2.9), of more than 75% in all samples. Reworked garnet from earlier-sedimentary deposits constitutes an important fraction of the placer deposits identified but is generally absent in other sediments. Indications of the presence of +5 m-thick paleo-placer deposits with sections include:

• Placer garnet + spinel grades increase with depth in those sediments at 24 to 42 m BSL to the ocean-floor.

• The d50 of sediments with background grades decrease with depth while those of placer deposits do not display any significant trend.

• Garnets in non-mineralized sediments are almost entirely angular, whereas in placer enriched sediments they vary in form from well-rounded to angular. Some grains in the latter display surface morphologies typical of reworked sediment while none of the former do.

Sediments deposited during glacial interstadials at depths of up to 130 m BSL may represent important, undeveloped exploration targets for offshore placer deposits of industrial minerals. Industrial mineral exploration should extend the depths of investigations to those corresponding to major interstadial periods.     

Strong Medieval Earthquake in the Northern Issyk-Kul Lake Region (Tien Shan): Results of Paleoseismological and Archeoseismological Studies

A number of archeological monuments in the northern Issyk-Kul Lake region (Tien Shan) in the basins of the Chet-Koysuu and Chon-Koysuu rivers are studied. All monuments have undergone significant seismogenic deformations and destructions. A cromlech (7th century BC to 8th centuries AD) was displaced along the sinistral strike-slip fault. A kurgan (7th–13th centuries AD) was deformed in a front of the reverse fault scarp. A fortress (14th–15th centuries AD) was submerged beneath the lake water during the catastrophic subsidence of the coastal zone. We identify a zone of the seismogenic rupture. It is located along the Kultor border fault, which separates the Issyk-Kul depression and its surrounding mountains (Kungey Ala-Too Range). During the earthquake, the seismogenic reverse fault scarp was formed. A total of 1.6 m was offset along the rupture, which corresponds to an earthquake with М _S ≥ 7 and seismic intensity of I ₀ ≥ IX. Judging by numerous radiocarbon datings of submerged wood, which was used in building the fortress (end of 14th to the beginning of 15th centuries AD), the earthquake occurred in the 16th century AD and could have caused the decline of the Mogul civilization in the northern Issyk-Kul Lake region.     

Design of ASTROD-GW Orbit

The ASTROD-GW (ASTROD [Astrodynamical Space Test of Relativity Using Optical Devices] Optimized for Gravitation Wave Detection), the mission of the laser astrodynamical gravitational wave detection, is the scheme of optimality of the gravitational wave detection on which the ASTROD is concentrated. Its spacecraft orbits form a triangular array close to an equilateral triangle in the vicinity of the solar-terrestrial Lagrangian points L₃, L₄ and L₅. The length of the interference arm is about 2.6 × 10⁸ km and the detectable wavelength of the gravitational wave is 52 times larger than that detected by the LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna). In this article, the design and optimization method of the ASTROD-GW orbit are summarized. After the orbit is optimized, the variation in the arm length difference (which can be called the interference difference in laser interferometry) within 10 years is in the order of magnitude of 10⁻⁴ AU. The Doppler velocities in the three arm length directions are smaller than 4 m/s, and all of them are less than that required by the LISA. Therefore the laser ranging techniques developed by the LISA can be applied to the ASTROD-GW.     

Adsorption of phenanthrene and pyrene by biochar produced from the excess sludge: experimental studies and theoretical analysis

A biochar derived from the pyrolysis of excess sludge of sewage treatment plant at 700 °C was used to remove phenanthrene and pyrene from aqueous solution. The adsorption equilibrium for phenanthrene and pyrene was achieved within 7.5 and 15 h, respectively. The adsorption kinetics of phenanthrene and pyrene were well fitted to pseudo-second-order model, and the isotherms were well fitted to Freundlich adsorption isotherm model (R ² > 0.96). The effect of variation of pH on the adsorption of the biochar was observed to be insignificant. The hydrophobic action and pore filling might be the main mechanisms of the adsorption of phenanthrene and pyrene on the biochar. The density functional theory calculations confirmed that the adsorption depended mainly on the biochar structure and the molecular volumes of phenanthrene and pyrene. Phenanthrene molecule is smaller than the pyrene molecule and therefore showed better adsorption characteristics with the biochar than the pyrene molecule.