5-alkylsalicylaldoximes as collectors in flotation of sphalerite,smithsonite and dolomite in a Hallimond tube

Flotation tests for sphalerite, smithsonite and dolomite were carried out in a Hallimond tube at various pH values and two concentrations of collector.Adsorption of 5-alkylsalicylaldoximes on the surface of minerals was examined and isotherms for 5-butylsalicylaldoxime plotted.It was shown that sorption intensity of 5-alkylsalicylaldoximes on the surface of minerals decreased in the order: smithsonite, sphalerite and dolomite.Relationship between length of aliphatic chain and collecting activity of 5-alkylsalicylaldoximes was investigated in microflotation tests in a Hallimond tube.5-Propylsalicylaldoxime proved to have the best selectivity in flotation for the range of parameters studied, taking the difference in flotation rates of smithsonite and dolomite as a criterion.It was found that modifications of pH value resulted in changes in both adsorption and flotation.     

The human impact on the transformation of juniper forest landscape in the western part of the Pamir-Alay range (Tajikistan)

Detailed analyses were conducted of human impact on juniper forest landscapes occurring within the Zarafshan Range (Pamir-Alay). Juniperus seravschanica and J. semiglobosa belong to forest-forming species in Central Asia. At present, juniper forests all over Tajikistan are seriously threatened as a result of excessive logging and cattle grazing. The aim of this paper is to present juniper forest transformation as a result of human activities as well as the diversity of soil properties in the organic and humus horizons in the altitudinal system of soil zonation. Three groups of phytocoenoses were distinguished: those with a dominant share of Juniperus seravschanica; those with a dominant share of J. semiglobosa; and mixed. Associations with Juniperus seravschanica and J. semiglobosa feature several variants of phytocoenoses with dominant species: Artemisia lehmanniana, A. dracunculus, Eremurus olgae, Festuca sulcata, Ligularia thomsonii, Stipa turkestanica, Thymus seravschanicus, and Ziziphora pamiroalaica. The collected soil samples differ in their granulometric composition. Gravelly cobble fractions >2 mm are dominant; the share of sandy particles <2 mm is much lower (about 10–20%). Fraction 0.5–0.05 attains 35% on average. The Corg content of the soil varied from 0.26 to 11.40% in the humus horizon (A) and from 4.3 to 25% in the organic (O). Similar relationships were reported in the case of Ntot concentration. A clear relationship can be observed between concentrations of Corg and Ntot. Soil pH varied, ranging from very low acidic (pH 5.5) to neutral (pH 8.5). The content of available P varied; high concentrations were noted in organic (O) (40.46–211 mg kg^?1) and mixed horizons (OA) (2.61–119 mg kg^?1). Maximum accumulations of Pavail (1739.6 mg kg^?1) and Ptot (9696 mg kg^?1) were observed at a site heavily affected by intense grazing. Concentrations of Mgavail varied from 116 to 964 mg kg^?1. Most of the analysed soil profiles lacked an organic horizon; only thin humus occurred.     

Verification of the dualism ordering method by the canonical correspondence analysis: fish community samples

Two ordination techniques (Romaniszyn diagram, RD, and Canonical correspondence analysis, CCA) were applied to the same data set (fish assemblage composition along two Paraná river tributaries and associated environmental variables), to identify spatial community patterns and further to evaluate the performance of RD. The major patterns in these Brazilian streams were successfully revealed by both methods (i.e. clear separation of both tributaries on the basis of fish assemblage composition and environmental factors), but more complex situations may limit the application of RD in comparison with CCA.     

The use of cartographic control points in the harmonization and revision of MRDBs

The main purpose of the research is to achieve fully automated approach for supplying multi-resolution databases with linear objects in each scale. Moreover, the proposed solutions maintain the repeatability and accuracy of output data wherever possible according to the input scale. These properties are achieved by keeping the minimal object dimensions as well as the appropriate data pre-processing, based on the classification of source points. The classification distinguishes three classes of points: constant (unchangeable), temporary, and inherited. These classes build a structure of cartographic control points. Based on these solutions, the authors proposed an algorithm for linear object simplification based on minimal object dimensions and cartographic control points. It was also confirmed that the simplification between constant points does not cause geometry discrepancies in relation to the global simplification of the whole line.     

Passive Seismic Experiment “13 BB Star” in the Margin of the East European Craton,Northern Poland

The lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) is investigated recently very effectively, mostly using seismic methods because of their deep penetration and relatively good resolution. The nature of LAB is still debated, particularly under “cold” Precambrian shields and platforms. Passive experiment “13 BB star” is dedicated to study deep structure of the Earth’s interior in the marginal zone of the East European craton in northern Poland. The seismic network consists of 13 broadband stations on the area of ca. 120 km in diameter. The network is located in the area of well-known sedimentary cover and crustal structure. Good records obtained till now, and expected during next 1-year long recording campaign, should yield images of detailed structure of the LAB, ?410”, “?520”, and ?660” km discontinuities, as well as mantle-core boundary and inner core.     

Significance of stromatolites for the environmental interpretation of the Buntsandstein (Lower Triassic) rocks

When interpreting the depositional environment of the Buntsandstein sequence, thin stromatolite layers, if present, were often overlooked or given short shrift. The present paper provides evidence of value of stromatolites for the environmental interpretation of the Buntsandstein rocks. Algal stromatolites found in western Poland occur in form of thrombolites, LLH-type structures, SH-type structures, and rarely as oncolites. Stromatolites are usually associated with oolites. Very often stromatolites show important traces of scouring and channelling action of water. Since stromatolites occurred in the zone of clastic-carbonate deposition they were covered up by continuous sheet of detrital grains. Periodic catastrophic erosion and deposition was produced by hurricanes and severe storms in the peritidal and shallow subtidal zone. It is possible to distinguish the peritidal and subtidal stromatolites. In the vicinity of stromatolites are of frequent occurrence spirorbids, conchostracs, gastropods, and rare foraminifers. Besides, spirorbids are associated with stromatolites — they constituted the initial hard substratum for the stromatolitic structures and sometimes they also occur inside stromatolites. The not-hypersaline sedimentary environment of the Buntsandstein rocks can be compared with modern environments of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Aqaba.     

Study of vertical structure of aerosol optical properties with sun photometers and ceilometer during the MACRON campaign in 2007

This paper presents the measurements of a vertical structure of aerosol optical properties performed during the MACRON (Maritime Aerosol, Clouds and Radiation Observation in Norway) campaign, which took place in July and August 2007 at ALOMAR observatory on Andøya island (69.279°N, 16.009°E, elevation 380 m a.s.l.). The mean value of the aerosol optical thickness (AOT) at 500 nm during campaign was 0.12. Significant increase of the AOT above longtime mean value was observed on 7 and 8 August 2007 when the AOT exceeded 0.4 at 500 nm. Analyses of back trajectories show the aerosol transported from over Africa and Central Europe. The aerosol extinction coefficient obtained from the synergy of ceilometer and sun photometer observations reached 0.05–0.08 km^?1 (at 1064 nm) in the dust layer. The single scattering albedo at the ALOMAR observatory decreased during the dust episode to 0.93–0.94, which indicates some absorptive aerosols in the lower PBL.     

Strontium distribution and celestite occurrence in Zechstein (Upper Permian) anhydrites of West Poland

The previous study showed that the Zechstein (Upper Permian) anhydrites have about 0.2% strontium with a remarkably small sample scatter. Our study of three lower Zechstein anhydrite units (Lower Anhydrite, Upper Anhydrite and Basal Anhydrite) from West Poland indicate that although often the Sr content is 0.1–0.2%, there are common deviations. In particular, a considerable part (28%) of the studied samples is characterized by lower values (<0.1%), and on the other hand ca. 15% of samples are Sr-enriched, and in those samples celestite was recorded. Particular anhydrite levels differ especially in the frequency of samples showing great Sr content. The greatest variation was found in the Lower Anhydrite. This agrees well with the conclusion derived from the sedimentological studies indicating that there was the greatest differentiation of depositional environments during the deposition of the Lower Anhydrite. The Sr content is a good indicator of brine concentration during the gypsum precipitation and it seems that the subsequent gypsum–anhydrite transformation itself does not affect the strontium distribution. The histograms of Sr content in the Basal Anhydrite indicate a slightly higher brine concentration than it was during the Lower Anhydrite deposition, and the latter in turn was higher than brine concentration during the Upper Anhydrite sedimentation. Celestite veins are clearly diagenetic in origin. The form of celestite occurrence and the increased strontium content (1% or more) indicate an additional source of ions that occurred outside the anhydrite series. In the case of the Lower Anhydrite, the supposed additional source of Sr was related to aragonite-to-calcite transition and squeezing of CaCl₂ brines from reefs into anhydrite series due to increased pressure. For the Basal Anhydrite this source could be related to brines derived from the Older Halite deposits.     

A method for assessing generalized data accuracy with linear object resolution verification

The article is composed of two sections. In the first section, the authors describe the application of minimum line dimensions which are dependent on line shape, width and the operational scale of the map. The proposed solutions are based on the Euclidean metric space, for which the minimum dimensions of Saliszczew’s elementary triangle (Elementary triangle – is the term pertaining to model, standard triangle of least dimensions securing recognizability of a line. Its dimensions depend on scale of the map and width of the line representing it. The use of a triangle in the simplification process is as follows: triangles with sides (sections) on an arbitrary line and bases (completing the sides) are compared with lengths of the shorter side and the base of the elementary triangle.) were adapted. The second part of the article describes an application of minimum line dimensions for verifying and assessing generalized data. The authors also propose a method for determining drawing line resolution to evaluate the accuracy of algorithm simplification. Taking advantage of the proposed method, well-known simplification algorithms were compared on the basis of qualitative and quantitative evaluation. Moreover, corresponding with the methods of simplified data accuracy assessment the authors have extended these solutions with the rejected data. This procedure has allowed the identification of map areas where graphic conflicts occurred.     

Gypsum facies transitions in basin-marginal evaporites: middle Miocene (Badenian) of west Ukraine

In the middle Miocene Badenian gypsum basin of the Carpathian Foredeep, west Ukraine, three main zones of gypsum development occur in the peripheral parts of the basin. Zone I consists entirely of stromatolitic gypsum formed in a nearshore zone. Zone II is located more basinward and is characterized by stromatolitic gypsum in the lower part of the section, overlain by a sabre gypsum unit. Zone III occurs in still more basinward areas and is characterized by giant gypsum intergrowths (or secondary nodular gypsum pseudomorphs of these) in the lowermost part, overlain by stromatolitic gypsum, sabre gypsum and then by clastic gypsum units. Correlation between these facies and zones has been achieved using lithological marker beds and surfaces. Of particular importance for correlation is a characteristic marker bed (usually 20–40 cm thick) of cryptocrystalline massive gypsum occurring in zones II and III. The marker was not distinguished in zone I, possibly because this bed is older than the entire gypsum section of that zone. These new results strongly suggest that the deposition of giant gypsum intergrowth facies and stromatolitic gypsum facies was coeval. In some sections of zones I and II, limestone intercalations have been recorded within the upper part of the gypsum sections. Considerable scatter of the δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values of these limestones indicates variable diagenetic overprints of marine carbonates, but a marine provenance of the limestones is confirmed by microfacies analysis. Some of the limestones are coeval with an intercalation of gypsarenitic, mostly laminated gypsum occurring in the sabre gypsum unit of zones II and III. Badenian gypsum formed in extremely shallow‐water to subaerial environments on broad, very low relief areas of negligible brine depth, which could be affected by rapid transgressions. Stable isotope (δ³⁴S, δ¹⁸O) studies of the gypsum demonstrate that the sulphate was of sea‐water origin or was derived from dissolution of Miocene marine evaporites. Investigations of individual inclusions in the gypsum indicate decreased water salinity when compared with modern marine‐derived, calcium sulphate‐saturated water. Groundwater influences are indicated by high calcium sulphate contents of the brines in the evaporite basin. The chemical composition of Badenian waters was thus a mixture of relic sea water (depleted in NaCl), groundwater (enriched in calcium sulphate) and surface run‐off.