Geochemical analyses of geological layers and groundwater flows

X-ray fluorescent spectroscope analysis easily finds ratios of geochemical elements in soil. Applying the method of ratio matching to measured ratios, the classification of geological layers, and the flow directions of groundwater can be determined. This method is applied to three hill slopes in Japan and the results are in good agreement with the observations and measurements of soil cores obtained by drilling. The classification of geological layers is found to be quantitatively connected with the rates of organic matter in soil cores. Received: 5 February 1999 · Accepted: 7 September 1999     

Ore mineralogy and sulfur isotope study of the massive sulfide deposit of Filon Norte,Tharsis Mine,Spain

The volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit of Filon Norte at Tharsis is hosted by carbonaceous black slate and connected only partly with stockwork veins. The massive ores are usually composed of fine-grained pyrite with subordinate amounts of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena and arsenopyrite. Monoclinic pyrrhotite sometimes occurs in massive pyritic ores in the apparently middle and upper horizons of the orebody, and siderite-rich ores are interstratified with compact pyritic ores in the apparently lower horizons. From the occurrence of monoclinic pyrrhotite, together with the FeS contents of sphalerite mostly ranging from 11 to 16 mol %, it is inferred that the sulfide minerals of the massive orebody were precipitated in euxinic muds on the sea-floor at temperatures below 250°C. The negatively shifted, highly variable ³⁴S values of the massive ores and their close similarity to those of the underlying black slates strongly suggest that the sulfide sulfur of the massive orebody and the slates is cognate and biogenic.     

Interstellar cyanomethane

We have made an observational study of the newly identified cyanomethane radical CH2CN and the possibly related species CH3CN with the goals of (1) elucidating the possible role of reactions of the type CnHm(+) + N in astrochemistry, and (2) providing a possible test of Bates's models of dissociative electron recombination. We find a remarkably different abundance ratio CH2CN/CH3CN in TMC-1 and Sgr B2, which we deduce is a result of the large difference in temperature of these objects. Studies of CH2CN and CH3CN in other sources, including two new detections of CH2CN, support this conclusion and are consistent with a monotonic increase in the CH2CN/CH3CN ratio with decreasing temperature over the range 10-120 K. This behavior may be explained by the destruction of CH2CN by reaction with O. If this reaction does not proceed, then CH2CN and CH3CN are concluded to form via different chemical pathways. Thus, they do not provide a test of Bates's conjectures (they do not both form from CH3CNH+). CH2CN is then likely to form via C2H4(+) + N --> CH2CNH+, thus demonstrating the viability of this important reaction in astrochemistry. The T dependence of the CH2CN/CH3CN ratio would then reflect the increasing rate of the C2H4(+) + N reaction with decreasing temperature.     

Laboratory detection of a new interstellar free radical CH2CN(2B1)

An asymmetric-top free radical CH2CN, which as a 2B1 ground state, was detected for the first time by laboratory microwave spectroscopy. The radical was produced in a free-space absorption cell by a DC glow discharge in pure CH3CN gas. About 60 fine-structure components were observed for the N = 11-10 to 14-13 a-type rotational transitions in the frequency region of 220-260 GHz, and many hyperfine resolved components for the N = 4-3 and 5-4 transitions in the 80 and 100 GHz regions, respectively. The molecular constants, including the rotational constants, centrifugal distortion constants, and spin-rotation coupling constants with centrifugal distortion correction terms were determined from the fine-structure resolved transitions, and the hyperfine coupling constants due to the hydrogen and nitrogen nuclei were obtained from the low-N transitions. As a result we assigned U100602 and U80484 from Sgr B2, and U40240 and U20120 from TMC-1, to the N = 5-4, 4-3, 2-1, and 1-0 transitions with K-1 = 0 of the CH2CN radical.     

Ca isotopic compositions of dolomite, phosphorite and the oldest animal embryo fossils from the Neoproterozoic in Weng'an, South China

Deciphering the drastic changes of surface environment and the emergence of animals after the Neoproterozoic Snowball Earth event are important for understanding the changes of surface environment and its influence on the evolution of life through geologic time. Especially, the emergence of two types of Metazoan animals such as animal embryo fossils, cnidarians or sponges, and Ediacaran fauna in the late Neoproterozoic was one of the critical turning points in the biological evolution.Calcium is one of the essential elements for the growth of most animals. In this study, in order to evaluate the Ca cycles in the Neoproterozoic, we have measured Ca isotopic ratios (⁴⁴Ca/⁴²Ca and ⁴³Ca/⁴²Ca) for phosphorite, dolostone and phosphatic animal embryo fossils with a multiple collector, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS). The resulting ⁴⁴Ca/⁴²Ca ratio defined by the relative deviation from the ratio of NIST SRM915a (δ^44/42Ca_NIST915) for phosphorite and dolostone ranges from 0.83 to 0.95‰, demonstrating that the fractionation between phosphorite/dolostone and seawater was very small. This evidence indicates that at the emergence of the Weng'an biota seawater was deficient in Ca probably due to mass deposition of phosphorite/dolostone and to the beginning of Ca-biomineralization.Three phosphatic animal embryo fossils have lower δ^44/42Ca values than the phosphorite and dolomite, implying that the precursor of the phosphatic embryo fossils was able to fractionate Ca isotopes through Ca-biomineralization, consistent with marine gastropods.     

The development of Fe-nodules surrounding biological material mediated by microorganisms

Takashikozo is a phenomenon of Quaternary sediments in Japan. They are cylindrical Fe-oxyhydroxide nodules that form as plaques round plant roots, where Fe is preferentially concentrated to develop a solid wall. Structural features suggest that after the roots have decayed, the central space where the roots were situated acts as a flow path for oxidized water. Analysis of microbial 16S rDNA extracted from the nodules identified iron-oxidizing bacteria encrusted round the roots where they are the likely initiators of nodule formation. Direct microscopic observation revealed an accumulation of Fe-oxyhydroxides that fill the pore spaces and is also likely to be linked with the encrusting microbial colonies. Geological history and nanofossil evidence suggest that these Fe-nodules may have been buried at a depth of up to several tens of meters for at least 10⁵ years in reducing Quaternary sediments. Thus Fe-oxyhydroxide nodules that have formed in a geological environment at the interfaces between water and rock by microbial mediation can persist under reducing conditions. If this is the case, the phenomenon is significant as an analogue of post-closure conditions in radioactive waste repositories, since it could influence nuclide migration.     

Influences of channelization on discharge of suspended sediment and wetland vegetation in Kushiro Marsh, northern Japan

The effects of wetlands on hydrology, water quality, and wildlife habitat are internationally recognized. Protecting the remaining wetlands is one of the most important environmental issues in many countries. However wetlands in Japan have been gradually shrinking due to agricultural development and urbanization, which generally lowers the groundwater level and introduces suspended sediment and sediment-associated nutrients into wetlands. We examined the influences of channelization on discharge of suspended sediment and wetland vegetation in Hokkaido, northern Japan. The impact of river channelization was confirmed not only by the sediment budgets but also by river aggradation or degradation after the channelization and by the resultant vegetational changes. The budgets of suspended sediment demonstrated that wash load was the predominant component accounting for 95% of the total suspended load delivered into the wetland. This suspended sediment was primarily transported into the wetland by flooding associated with heavy rainfall. Twenty-three percent of the wash load and 63% of the suspended bed material load were deposited in the channelized reach, which produced aggradation of about 2 m at the end of the reach. A shorting of the length of the channel, due to channelization of a meandering river, steepened the slope and enhanced the stream power to transport sediment. This steepening shifted the depositional zones of fine sediment 5 km downstream and aggraded the riverbed. Development of the watershed may increase not only the water discharge but also the amount of suspended sediments. The aggradation reduced the carrying capacity of the channel and caused sediment ladened water to flood over the wetlands. The fine sediment accumulated on the wetlands gradually altered the edaphic conditions and wetland vegetation. A low percentage (10 to 15%) of organic contents of wetlands' soil is more evidence indicating that the present condition is far different from normal. Original vegetation such as sedges and Alnus japonica were disappearing from the adjacent areas of the river channel and were being replaced by willow trees (Salix spp.).     

High thallium content in Kuroko-type ore

Tl, Ga and Ge contents of Kuroko and other types of ore deposits were analysed semiquantitatively and quantitatively. The results show that Tl content is extremely high in Kuroko-type deposits compared to other types of mineralization. The T1 content is especially high in yellow ore and pyrite crystals; thus this element is considered to be incorporated in pyrite.     

Case study of debris flow disaster scenario caused by torrential rain on Kiyomizu-dera,Kyoto, Japan - using Hyper KANAKO system

This paper presents debris-flow numerical simulations using the Hyper KANAKO system, developed by the authors. The system uses the debris flow simulator KANAKO 2D equipped with a graphical user interface (GUI); hence, a user can easily produce appropriate landform data for simulations using standard laser profiler data, and visualize the results using a GIS. Hyper KANAKO was applied to the streams around Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto, Japan. Kiyomizu-dera is a famous temple in Japan which is visited by numerous tourists throughout the year. We simulated a disaster scenario of debris flow caused by torrential rain. We set the hydrograph using rainfall intensity data, and set the landform data using information from the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) and a digital elevation model (DEM). We evaluated different mesh sizes and also used a digital surface model (DSM) to consider the building heights. The simulation results showed that with small mesh size, the debris flow moved through the roads, which seems realistic for a disaster situation. When buildings were considered, the flow direction changed, and a 1-m flow depth, which was deeper than in other cases, appeared in the flow path. This may pose a dangerous situation for evacuations.