Cornetite: Modulated densely-packed Cu2+ oxysalt

Summary The crystal structure of cornetite, Cu₃(PO₄)(OH)₃, orthorhombic, a = 10.854(1), b = 14.053(3), c = 7.086(2), Å, V = 1080.8(3) ų, Z = 8, space group Pbca, has been refined to an R-index of 3.9% for 1231 observed reflections (I > 3I), measured with MoK X-radiation on an automated four-circle diffractometer. The structure consists of edge sharing zig-zag chains of distorted octahedra, cross-linked by edge-sharing octahedral dimers into complex octahedral layers. Adjacent layers are corner-linked together by neighbouring octahedra and PO₄ tetrahedra into a densely-packed heteropolyhedral framework, in which the phosphate tetrahedra share edges with the octahedral dimers. The polyhedral layers exhibit a commensurate modulation that results from the interaction between local relaxation of Jahn-Teller distorted octahedra and the long-range requirements of translational periodicity.

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Cornetit: Ein moduliertes, dicht gepacktes Oxosalz des zweiwertigen Kupfers

Zusammenfassung Die Kristallstruktur des Cornetits, Cu₃(PO4)(OH)3, orthorhombisch, a = 10,854(1), b = 14,053(3), c = 7,086(2,) Å, V = 1080,8(3) ų, Z = 8, Raumgruppe Pbca, wurde mit 1231 beobachteten Röntgenreflexen (I > 3I), die mit MoK-Strahlung auf einem automatischen Vierkreis-Diffraktometer gesammelt worden waren, auf einen R-Wert von 3,9% verfeinert. Die Struktur besteht aus kantenverknüpften Zickzack-Ketten verzerrter Oktaeder, die über kantenverknüfte Oktaeder-Dimere zu komplizierten Oktaederschichten verbunden sind. Benachbarte Schichten sind über Ecken durch benachbarte Oktaeder und PO₄-Tetraeder zu einem dichtgepackten, heteropolyedrischen Gerüst verknüpft, in welchem die Phosphattetraeder mit den Oktaeder-Dimeren Kanten gemeinsam haben. Die Polyederschichten zeigen eine kommensurable Modulierung, die aus der Wechselwirkung zwischen der lokalen Relaxation von Jahn-Teller-verzerrten Oktaedern und den Forderungen der translatorischen Periodizität über größere Entfernungen resultiert.

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Preliminary results of seismic hazard assessment in the Sannio-Matese area of Southern Italy

The seismic hazard in the Sannio-Matese area has been worked out by a modification of the McGuire (1976) computing programme, taking into account the influence of nine potential seismic source zones.The method uses truncated-quadratic intensity-frequency distribution and azimuth-dependent intensity attenuation derived from isoseismal maps for each of the seismogenetic sources. A new modification has been introduced to take into account different decay of the intensity in the near (to VIII degree) and far (from VIII degree) field.Different assumptions about maximum possible intensities and truncation of intensity-frequency laws are used to evaluate the effects of the uncertainties on the computed hazard at high intensities. Intensities associated with different level of annual probability are computed for five test sites in the considered area. Maps displaying the expected intensity for a mean return period of 500 years (pa 0.002) are presented and compared with observed intensities.Presented at the XXIst General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission, Symposium on Methods of Seismic Hazard Assessment in Europe, Sofia, 23–27 August 1988.     

Development of groundwater modeling for the Azraq Basin, Jordan

 The three-dimensional groundwater flow model MODFLOW was applied to simulate water level change in the complex multi-aquifer systems (the Upper and Middle Aquifers) of the Azraq basin. The model was calibrated by matching observed and simulated drawdown for steady and transient states over the period 1970–1992. Drawdown data for the period 1993–1997 were used to test the model's ability to predict the response of the aquifers. The model performed well in representing the water level contours of the Upper and Middle Aquifers for steady state calibration. Agreement between the observed and simulated drawdowns was obtained for transient state calibration. To predict the aquifer system responses for the period of 1997–2025, four different pumping schemes (scenarios) have been investigated. The first scenario (present pumping rate) reveals that there will be approximately a 25 m drop in the water level at the well-field area in 2025. However, the worst scenario (pumping rate at 1.5 times the present rate) reveals an approximate 39 m drop in the water level at the well-field area in 2025. The safe yield for the Upper Aquifer System was found to be about 25 million cubic meters (MCM) yearly. Received: 24 June 1999 · Accepted: 30 November 1999     

Health risk of heavy metals from vegetables irrigated with sewage water in peri-urban of Dera Ismail Khan,Pakistan

Health risks of heavy metals in vegetables irrigated with sewage water were investigated in the present study. The findings indicated a massive accumulation of heavy metals in soil and vegetables collected from Dera Ismail khan, Pakistan. The concentration levels of heavy metal in vegetables grown on soil irrigated with untreated sewage water were significantly higher at (P ≤ 0.001) than in vegetables grown on fresh-water-irrigated soil and proceeded the recommended limits of World health organization. Moreover, the findings also indicated that the adults and children consuming such vegetables ingested a large proportion of the selected toxic metals. Health risk index was greater than one for Pb and Cd in all the selected vegetables and was greater than one for Ni in three vegetables like Spinacia oleracea, Benincasa fistulosa and Lactuca sativa. Health risk assessment would be a useful tool for information regarding any threats of heavy metals contamination in vegetables.     

金刚石伴生矿物中的烃类包裹体问题(英文)

首次在Mir金伯利岩筒中的锆石中发现了烃类包裹体。利用低温荧光光谱仪测定出烃类包裹体的成分为萘和菲的同系物 ,芘 ,1,12苯并芘等 ;其成分与Udachnaya岩筒中的橄榄石内的烃类和Mir岩筒中的石榴石中的烃类的成分相近。测定出锆石的δ13C值为 - 2 1 83‰～ - 3 3 5 4‰ ,与用榴辉岩共生组合中最轻的金刚石测出的同位素δ13C值范围相符。文中引述了有关有机物来源的讨论及多环芳烃 (PAH)由缩聚作用形成的论述。伴生矿物中相当数量的PAH的存在证明在形成金刚石及其伴生矿物的情况下 ,若有相当浓度的自由氢存在则可能发生缩聚作用。这些缩聚作用中碳的来源显然与形成金刚石时碳的来源是相同的 (即液态的CH4,CO及CO2 )。     

Holocene record of productivity in the NW Iberian continental shelf

A multiproxy approach (textural characteristics, heavy metal concentrations and benthic foraminifera data) was adopted to study the OMEX core KSGX 40, collected at the Galicia Mud Deposit (NW Iberian outer continental shelf) and recording the last ca. 4.8 ka cal BP. Geochemical profiles of Fe, Mn, Zn, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Al and Ca show significant temporal variations. Benthic foraminifera productivity proxy suggests that the recorded muddy events were contemporaneous of a higher C_org flux to the marine benthic environment. The higher flux of organic matter, following a long-term intensification of the upwelling and coinciding with a finer sedimentation, led to depressed levels of oxygen beneath the water-sediments interface and to early diagenetic processes of several redox-sensitive elements.     

Middle Weichselian environments on western Yamal Peninsula, Kara Sea based on pollen records

Pollen data from two sections from a coastal cliff on the western Yamal Peninsula (69°43.27′N, 66°48.80′E) document the environmental history during the Karginsky (Middle Weichselian) interstadial. Low pollen concentrations, high amounts of redeposited pollen, and relatively high presence of Artemisia pollen characterize sediments deposited at about 33,000 ¹⁴C yr B.P. Grass-sedge plant associations with few other herbs occupied the area during the late Karginsky interstadial. Artemisia pollen may indicate rather xerophytic vegetation and disturbed soils in the area. The dominance of redeposited pollen reflects scarce (disturbed) vegetation cover and low pollen productivity. The climate was relatively cold and dry. Sediments dated to 32,400 ¹⁴C yr B.P. contain fewer redeposited pollen and concentration of non-redeposited pollen is significantly higher. Pollen contents indicate the dominance of tundra-like grass-sedge vegetation and more humid conditions. Pollen records dated between 30,100 and 25,100 ¹⁴C yr B.P. also reflect scarce tundra-like vegetation during this interval. The presence of Betula nana and Salix pollen may reflect limited presence of shrub communities. This suggests that the climate was somewhat warmer during the latter part of the interstadial. However, generally the pollen records show that harsh environmental conditions prevailed on the Yamal Peninsula during the Karginsky interstadial.     

Modified column flotation of adsorbing iron hydroxide colloidal precipitates

A promising technique for the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater streams involved firstly the ions adsorption on a colloidal precipitate (carrier) and then the separation of the loaded flocs (coagula) by a modified column flotation. Here, the effluent feed and the carrier (ferric hydroxide) enter smoothly by the top of the column through a special diffuser, in counter current with rising bubbles (100–600 μm diameter) generated by using recycled water, surfactant and air suction through a venturi. High separation values of the column flotation of the carrier precipitates were achieved, despite the high superficial flow rate and the high Fe^+ 3 concentration utilized (> 60 mg L^− 1 Fe). No rupture of colloidal carrier aggregates was observed and a low split was ensured by monitoring the concentrate (floated product) flow rate. Results indicated that best separation was attained by controlling the medium pH (for best heavy metal ion adsorption onto the carrier), followed by sodium oleate, used as “collector” and optimizing operating parameters (conditioning, flow rates, etc.). The column throughput reached 43 m h^− 1 (m³ m^− 2 h^− 1), which is about 4 times the normal capacity of DAF-dissolved air flotation unit, the most used floater in wastewater treatment. Various metals (Cu, Ni, Pb, etc.) and molybdate ions present in synthetic and real effluent were successfully removed based on this colloidal adsorbing flotation principle. The process was also applied in a pilot scale to treat an industrial electroplating wastewater. Most of toxic metals (Cu, Ni and Zn) were reduced from initial concentrations of about of 2 to 10 mg L^− 1, to below 0.5 to 1.0 mg L^− 1, meeting local municipal discharge limits (but Cd ions). It is believed that flotation separation using medium-sized bubbles has great potential as a clean water and wastewater treatment technology.     

Geomorphological,stratigraphic and geochronological evidence of fast Pleistocene coastal uplift in the westernmost part of the Corinth Gulf Rift (Greece)

Rapid extension and active normal faulting in the western extremity of the Corinth Gulf are accompanied by fast coastal uplift. We investigate Pleistocene uplift west of Aigion, by attempting to date remains of marine terraces and sedimentary sequences by calcareous nannoplankton and U‐series analyses. Net uplift initiated recently, due to abandonment of an older rift‐bounding fault zone and increase in activity on the presently active, coastal fault zone. This change apparently coincides with an abrupt slow down (or, termination) of secondary fault block tilting within the broader hangingwall block of the older zone, indicated by an angular unconformity that dates in the early part of MIS10 (∼390–350 ka BP, preferably, in the earlier part of this period). Net uplift driven by the coastal zone resulted in the formation of MIS9c (330 ka) and younger terraces. The formation of the unconformity and the initiation of net uplift coincide temporally with a ∼300–400 ka unconformity recognized by recent studies in a wide area offshore Aigion i.e. they could be part of an evolutionary event that affected the entire western part of the Corinth Rift or, a large area therein. Uplift rate estimates at four locations are discussed with reference to the morphotectonic context of differential uplift of secondary fault blocks, and the context of possible increase in uplift rate with time. The most reliable and most useful estimate for uplift rate at the longitude of the studied transect is 1.74–1.85 mm/year (time‐averaged estimate for the last ∼240 ka, based on calcareous nannoplankton and sequence‐stratigraphic interpretation). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.