A three-dimensional analytical tool for modeling reactive transport

In this note, we present a public domain analytical reactive transport modeling tool (ART3D, version 2.0). The tool is developed in FORTRAN and can be used for solving a system of a set of partial differential equations coupled with a first-order reaction network. ART3D uses a novel analytic solution technique proposed by Clement. The new software includes options for performing Monte Carlo simulations and automated parameter estimation.     

Smart Interpretation – automatic geological interpretations based on supervised statistical models

A method that infers a statistical model, which describes a relation between the knowledge of a geologist (quantified by geological interpretations) and the available information (such as geophysical data, well log data, etc.) that a geologist uses when he/she interprets is proposed and tested. The statistical model is then used to perform automatic geological interpretations wherever the same kinds of information, as used for the initial interpretations, are available. This methodology is named Smart Interpretation (SI). In this study, we look at two different approaches to infer such a model, and we demonstrate the applicability of the model to predict the depth to a low resistivity subsurface layer, based on interpretations from a geological expert, using a 19-layered resistivity model obtained from inversion of airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data. This study shows that SI is capable of making predictions with great accuracy. The method is fast and is able to handle large amounts of data of different origin, which suggest that the method may become a very useful approach to assist in geological modeling based on increasingly large amounts of data of different nature.     

Is Climate Change Shifting the Poleward Limit of Mangroves?

Ecological (poleward) regime shifts are a predicted response to climate change and have been well documented in terrestrial and more recently ocean species. Coastal zones are amongst the most susceptible ecosystems to the impacts of climate change, yet studies particularly focused on mangroves are lacking. Recent studies have highlighted the critical ecosystem services mangroves provide, yet there is a lack of data on temporal global population response. This study tests the notion that mangroves are migrating poleward at their biogeographical limits across the globe in line with climate change. A coupled systematic approach utilising literature and land surface and air temperature data was used to determine and validate the global poleward extent of the mangrove population. Our findings indicate that whilst temperature (land and air) have both increased across the analysed time periods, the data we located showed that mangroves were not consistently extending their latitudinal range across the globe. Mangroves, unlike other marine and terrestrial taxa, do not appear to be experiencing a poleward range expansion despite warming occurring at the present distributional limits. Understanding failure for mangroves to realise the global expansion facilitated by climate warming may require a focus on local constraints, including local anthropogenic pressures and impacts, oceanographic, hydrological, and topographical conditions.     

When plenty is not enough: an assessment of the white stumpnose (Rhabdosargus globiceps) fishery of Saldanha Bay,South Africa

White stumpnose Rhabdosargus globiceps is the main target of the linefishery in Saldanha Bay. Increased fishing pressure over the last three decades, particularly by the recreational sector, has led to concerns regarding sustainability of the local white stumpnose stock. The fishery was exceptionally productive between 2006 and 2008, with an estimated annual catch of 141.2 tonnes (t). Only 3% of boat outings surveyed were commercial boats targeting white stumpnose, yet this sector accounted for 39.3 t (31%) of the average annual catch. The recreational boat sector accounted for most of the catch (70.0 t), and the recreational shore sector the least (31.9 t). Commercial boat catch per unit effort (CPUE; 3.7 fish angler^–1 h^–1) was more than 10 times that of recreational boats (0.3 fish angler^–1 h^–1). White stumpnose catch length-frequency differed significantly (p < 0.01) between the fishing sectors, with the commercial sector retaining larger fish (34.7 cm [SD 5.9]) than the recreational boat (33.9 cm [SD 5.9]) and shore (30.4 cm [SD 5.8]) sectors. A decline in commercial CPUE (2000–2015) of approximately 40% and a concomitant severe decline (>95%) in survey data for juvenile white stumpnose CPUE (2007–2016) indicate that the current rate of exploitation is not sustainable. Recovery of the white stumpnose stock will require a decrease in fishing mortality. Possible management regulations include sector-specific effort limitations, extending the ‘no take’ marine protected area, reducing the recreational-sector bag limit to 5 fish person^–1 day^–1, implementing a commercial-sector bag limit, and increasing the minimum size limit to 30 cm TL.     

Aerosol black carbon measurements in the Arctic haze during AGASP-II

During the second Arctic Gas and Aerosol Sampling Program conducted in April 1986, we performed measurements of the optically absorbing carbonaceous component of the ambient aerosol from the NOAA WP-3D aircraft operating between sea level and 10 km altitude. We collected the aerosol of filters that were exposed for several hours; we also operated the aethalometer to measure the concentration of aerosol black carbon in real time. The filter analyses represent averages over the altitude range and time span during which the filter was collecting. The real-time results were sorted by altitude to calculate vertical profiles of black carbon concentration. Values typically ranged from 300 to 500 ng m^–3 at lower altitudes, decreasing gradually to 25 to 100 ng m^–3 at 8–10 km. Strong stratification at lower altitudes was frequently observed. The magnitude of these concentrations suggests that the sources are distant regions of considerable fuel consumption. The presence of this material in the tropospheric column and its probable deposition to the high-albedo surface may result in perturbations of the solar radiation balance. The concentrations measured at the highest altitudes may mean that particulate carbon and accompanying emissions for which it is a tracer are mixing into the stratosphere.     

塔里木西克尔基性麻粒岩捕虏体的发现及其地质意义

在塔里木西部新生代碧玄岩中新发现了基性麻粒岩捕虏体。其原生矿物组合为Cpx+Opx+Pl (An=30~50)+Sp+Ilm+Tim,次生矿物组合为Ol+Pl (An>50)+alkaline feldspar+glass。原生矿物组合的温度和压力分别为1005~1059℃ 和 0.6~1.1GPa; 次生矿物组合形成于近等温减压过程和固相线上熔融以及之后的近地表快速冷却。这些麻粒岩捕虏体代表了早期底侵到塔里木板块下地壳的幔源岩浆。     

Behaviour of Fe-oxides relevant to contaminant uptake in the environment

The behaviour of Fe-oxides was investigated during precipitation and co-precipitation, phase transformation and dissolution, while their ability to adsorb and incorporate trace components was examined. Some samples were synthesised and studied under controlled laboratory conditions and other samples were taken from experiments designed to test the effectiveness of waste treatment strategies using iron. Surface-sensitive and high-resolution techniques were used to complement information gathered from classical, macroscopic methods.

Adsorption isotherms for Ni²⁺ uptake on synthetic ferrihydrite (Fe₅HO₈·4H₂O, often written simply Fe(OH)₃), goethite (-FeOOH), hematite (-Fe₂O₃) and magnetite (Fe₃O₄) were all similar, increasing as expected at higher pH. Desorption behaviour was also similar, but one third or more of the Ni²⁺ failed to return to solution. In the past, “irreversible sorption” has been blamed on uptake into micro-fractures or pores, but during examination (using Atomic force microscopy, AFM) of hundreds of Fe-oxide particles, no evidence for such features could be found, leading to the conclusion that Ni²⁺ must become incorporated onto or into the solids. When solutions of Fe(II) are oxidised in controlled laboratory conditions or during treatment of ash from municipal waste incinerators, two-line ferrihydrite forms rapidly and on never-dried samples, AFM shows abundant individual particles with diameter ranging from 0.5 to several tens of nanometers. Aging in solution at 70°C promotes growth of the particles into hematite and goethite and their identification (by X-ray powder diffraction, XRPD, with Rietveld refinement) becomes possible at the same aging stage as mineral morphology becomes recognisable by AFM. In other experiments that were designed to mimic natural attack by organic acids, colloidal lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) was observed in situ by AFM, while reductive dissolution removed material on specific crystal faces. Lath ends are eroded fastest while basal planes are more stable.

In order to help elucidate mechanisms of contaminant immobilisation by Fe-oxides, we examined samples from a reactive barrier made with 90% quartz sand, 5% bentonite and 5% zero-valent iron filings that had reacted with a solution typical of leachate from coal-burning fly ash using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS). Fe(0) oxidised to Fe(III), while soluble and toxic Cr(VI) was reduced to insoluble Cr(III). Chemical maps show Fe-oxide coatings on bentonite; Cr is associated with Fe-oxides to some extent but its association with Ca in a previously undescribed phase is much stronger. Other samples taken from municipal waste incinerator ash that had been treated by aeration in Fe(II) solutions were examined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Pb and some Zn are seen to be dispersed throughout two-line ferrihydrite aggregates, whereas Sn and some Zn are incorporated simply as a result of entrainment of individual ZnSn-oxide crystallites.

Geochemical speciation models that fail to account for contaminant uptake in solid solutions within major phases or as thin coatings or entrained crystals of uncommon phases such as those described here risk to underestimate contaminant retardation or immobilisation.     

东昆仑牦牛山组流纹岩锆石U-Pb年龄及构造意义

东昆仑水泥厂地区造山后火山-沉积盆地内形成的牦牛山组磨拉石建造不整合覆盖在前泥盆系地层之上,其形成时代的研究对限定东昆仑早古生代洋盆关闭的时间具有重要意义。应用激光烧蚀多接收器电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(LAMC-ICPMS)方法,对火山-沉积盆地内牦牛山组不同层位的流纹岩夹层进行了精确的锆石U-Pb定年研究。结果表明,盆地北缘牦牛山组底砾岩之上的流纹岩(B743-2)中岩浆锆石~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄平均值为423.2±1.8Ma,盆地西缘牦牛山组底砾岩之上的流纹岩(B820-1)中岩浆锆石~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄平均值为408.2±2.4Ma,盆地西缘和南缘牦牛山组中上部碎屑岩中流纹岩夹层(B705-1和B656-1)的岩浆锆石~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄平均值分别为404.9±4.8Ma和399.6±2.8Ma。它们代表了牦牛山组不同层位火山岩的形成年龄,由此可以限定水泥厂地区牦牛山组形成时间为400～423Ma。上述年代学结果较为精确地限定了东昆仑早古生代洋盆关闭的构造年代。流纹岩中2486～920Ma元古代继承锆石的发现,说明东昆仑南的变质基底和扬子板块变质基底类似,是晋宁期0.9～1.0Ga罗迪尼亚超大陆形成时发育起来的。     

东坪金矿“芥末金”及其类型

对中国河北东坪金 -碲化物型金矿的成分及性质复杂多样的金矿物的研究表明 ,东坪金矿产有由不同尺寸微粒金与碲酸盐 /亚碲酸盐 /含水氧化物组成的一些特殊的混合相 ,具芥末状或胶状结构 ,沿用“芥末金”之称。研究所获众多的分析数据得以对这些成分复杂的物质进行鉴别和分类。并按碲金矿蚀变模式 ,利用孔隙中充填的针铁矿、水硫碲铅石、绿碲铁矿、黄碲矿、黄碲铁石、碲酸等 (或一些未知混合相 )对铁芥末金、碲铅芥末金、碲铁芥末金、锰铅芥末金等各类型的化学组成及性质进行模式化。与前人资料进行了对比 ,对蔡长金、田澍章等描述过的金的碲酸盐或氧化物矿物做出了新的解释 ,提出其中某些未定名的新矿物应解释为芥末金的变种。根据电子能谱学数据推测 ,芥末金中可能存在金的纳米级团簇。