Selenium attenuation via reductive precipitation in unsaturated waste rock as a control on groundwater impacts in the Idaho phosphate patch

Phosphate mining in southeastern Idaho has historically resulted in the release of dissolved metals and inorganics to groundwater and surface water, primarily due to leachate from waste rock in backfilled pits and overburden storage piles. Selenium (Se) is of particular concern due to its high concentration in leachate and its limited attenuation downgradient of source zones under oxic conditions. Assessments of potential groundwater/surface water impacts from waste rock typically involve laboratory characterization using saturated and unsaturated flow columns packed with waste rock. In this study, we compare the results of saturated and unsaturated column tests with groundwater quality data from the Mountain Fuel, Champ, South and Central Rasmussen Ridge Area (SCRRA), Smoky Canyon, Ballard, Henry, and Enoch Valley Mines, to understand the release and attenuation of Se in different geochemical environments. Column studies and field results demonstrate that the ratio of aqueous Se to aqueous sulfate (Se:SO₄ ratio) is a useful metric for understanding Se release and attenuation, where the extent of sulfate reduction is much less than Se reduction. Comparison of dissolved Se and sulfate results suggests that the net leachability of Se from unsaturated waste rock is variable. Overall, Se concentrations in groundwater directly beneath waste rock dumps is not as high as would be predicted from unsaturated columns. Lower Se:SO₄ ratios are observed immediately beneath waste rock dumps and backfilled pits relative to areas receiving shallow waste rock runoff. It is hypothesized that Se released in the oxic upper portions of the waste rock is subsequently attenuated via reductive precipitation at depth in unsaturated, low-oxygen portions of the waste rock. This highlights an important mechanism by which Se may be naturally attenuated within waste rock piles prior to discharge to groundwater and surface water. These results have important implications for mining practices in the region. A better understanding of Se dynamics can help drive waste rock management during active mining and capping/water management options during post-mining reclamation.     

定向钻进敷设电缆保护管轨迹优化设计研究

在老旧城区内采用定向钻进敷设地下管线,常常需要从已有的各类地下建（构）筑物或管线下方穿过,方案设计时就应考虑新建管道与之安全距离的取值问题。以厦门市某110 kV电力电缆的定向钻进工程的实际需求为出发点,在对国内现有规程规范及工程实例调查的基础上,对电力电缆保护管定向钻进敷设安全距离取值的影响因素进行分析,优化工程定向钻进敷设方案,指导该工程的建设,并为类似工程建设提供参考。     

Seismic attenuation estimation using a complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition-based method

The frequency attenuation gradient method can provide important information for hydrocarbon detection. In this paper, a method using Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (CEEMD), Hilbert transform and the least-squares curve-fitting is proposed for seismic attenuation estimation as an effective frequency attenuation gradient estimation approach. We first use CEEMD to obtain the different Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs), which have a narrow band and can enhance the physical meaning of instantaneous attributes trace by trace. The time-frequency spectrum, which is computed using a Hilbert transform of each IMF, is represented as a spectrum with a single-peak that has narrow side lobes, which is conducive to frequency attenuation gradient estimation. Second, for each time sample, the frequency-amplitude spectrum of each IMF trace is extracted from the time-frequency spectrum to conduct the attenuation gradient computation. Then, the logarithm operation is performed for each IMF trace. Due to the very narrow bands of some IMFs in some seismic traces, a variable frequency window is adopted along the IMF trace according to the local data characteristics. Finally, the attenuation gradient for each IMF in a seismic trace can be computed using least-squares fitting. A different IMF reflects a seismic trace with a different spatiotemporal scale and can highlight different geologic and stratigraphic information. The correlation weighted average operation is used to highlight some useful details in seismic trace and obtains the attenuation gradient for each seismic trace. Field data examples demonstrate our method and its effectiveness. The proposed method can stably estimate the frequency attenuation gradient.     

Calculation method for thickness of discontinuous boundary layer of engineering pavement

The boundary layer is a buffer layer of water and heat exchange between the atmosphere and permafrost.Based on the atmospheric boundary layer and heat transfer theory,we established a method for determining the boundary layer thickness of engineering pavement(asphalt and sand pavement)in permafrost region.The boundary layer can be divided into the Boundary Layer Above Surface(BLAS)and the Boundary Layer Below Surface(BLBS).From in-situ monitoring data,the thickness of BLAS was determined through the laminar thickness,and the thickness of BLBS was determined through ground temperature,the heat conduction function,and the mean attenuation function(α).For asphalt pavement,the BLAS thickness varied between 2.90 and 4.31 mm and that of BLBS varied between 28.00 and 45.38 cm.For sand pavement,the BLAS thickness varied between 2.55 and 3.29 mm and that of BLBS varied between 15.00 and 46.44 cm.The thickness varied with freezing and thawing processes.The boundary layer calculation method described in this paper can provide a relatively stable boundary for temperature field analysis.     

Overcoming Trade Impediments: Considering SME Exporters from Nova Scotia

Firms often encounter location-based impediments that hinder them from engaging with international markets. These challenges can be exacerbated for smaller firms, which often have limited resources and exposure to global markets. This article examines successful small and medium-sized exporters from Nova Scotia, a province with decreased export activity in recent years. It explores these firms’ trade-related motivations, their impediments, and the strategies that they have used to address possible location-related problems. Although geographical distance does not appear to be a competitive challenge, other issues emerge, including travel expenditures and the costs of export intelligence gathering. Successful exporters have overcome many potential impediments by using government trade programs, establishing and maintaining face-to-face contacts, and working with international partners.     

现代海底块状硫化物矿床储量估算方法探讨

海底块状硫化物矿床具有巨大的经济价值和良好的开发前景。但是由于勘探难度和技术手段的限制,在全球已经发现的600多个海底热液喷口和硫化物矿床中,不到5%的矿床进行了详细的勘探,进行资源量计算的矿床更是屈指可数。选择适当的方法估算储量对于深海资源开发意义重大。本文系统总结了前人估算海底硫化物储量的方法,并以勘探程度相对较高、数据资料相对丰富的Atlantis-II-Deep矿床和Solwara 1矿床为例,评析了前人采用不同储量计算方法得到的结果和各种方法计算的准确性;针对有一定钻孔数据的TAG硫化物堆丘,采用距离反比法重新计算了储量,并和块段法估算的结果进行对比。得到以下结论:(1)海底硫化物矿体形态是制约储量估算方法适用性的一个重要因素;(2)传统几何法可以在极低勘探条件下估算海底硫化物储量量级;(3)对于海底硫化物储量估算,地质统计学的精度高于传统几何法;(4)较高勘探条件下距离反比法可以与地质统计学相互对照、验证;(5)在一定钻孔数量的条件下,可以应用距离反比法进行海底硫化物储量估算。     

高寒区抽水融冰渠道水温沿程衰减规律——以红山嘴水电站为例

抽水融冰技术是解决高寒区引水式电站冬季运行冰害问题的有效措施之一。为研究抽水融冰对电站引水渠道冬季引水的水温控制规律,以红山嘴水电站为例,基于RNG κ-ε模型数值模拟研究结果,从热流量比角度探讨了渠道水温沿程衰减规律,并采用2013年2月和2014年1月原型观测结果进行了验证。结果表明:渠道水温沿程衰减过程可分为骤降段、过渡段和缓降段3部分,各段范围受外界条件控制;衰减曲线呈幂函数分布,相关系数达到98%;对比气温对渠温沿程衰减的影响表明,随着大气温度的降低,渠道水温沿程衰减速度明显加快;-10 ℃为水温衰减过程变化转折点,当气温高于-10 ℃时,可以近似认为渠温衰减规律一致,渠温沿程变化主要受到热流量比值影响;低于-10 ℃时,气温对渠道水温沿程变化影响显著。     

Revisiting the death of geography in the era of Big Data: the friction of distance in cyberspace and real space

Many scholars have argued that the importance of geographic proximity in human interactions has been diminished by the use of the Internet, while others disagree with this argument. Studies have noted the distance decay effect in both cyberspace and real space, showing that interactions occur with an inverse relationship between the number of interactions and the distance between the locations of the interactors. However, these studies rarely provide strong evidence to show the influence of distance on interactions in cyberspace, nor do they quantify the differences in the amount of friction of distance between cyberspace and real space. To fill this gap, this study used massive amounts of social media data (Twitter) to compare the influence of distance decay on human interactions between cyberspace and real space in a quantitative manner. To estimate the distance decay effect in both cyberspace and real space, the distance decay function of interactions in each space was modeled. Estimating the distance decay in cyberspace in this study can help predict the degree of information flow across space through social media. Measuring how far ideas can be diffused through social media is useful for users of location-based services, policy advocates, public health officials, and political campaigners.     

A model for integrated spatial land use characteristics linking to surface nutrient concentration

Quantifying land use heterogeneity helps better understand how it influences biophysical systems. Land use area proportions have been used conventionally to predict water quality variables. Lacking an insight into the combined effect of various spatial characteristics could lead to the statistical bias and confused understanding in previous studies. In this study, using spatial techniques and mathematical models, a diagnostic model was developed and applied for quantifying and incorporating three spatial components, namely, slope, distance to sampling spots, and arrangement. The upper catchment of Miyun Reservoir was studied as the test area. Total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chemical oxygen demand of water samples from field measurements were used to characterize the surface water quality in 52 sub-watersheds. Using parameter calibrations and determinations, combined spatial characteristics were explored and detected. Adjusted land use proportions were calculated by spatial weights of discriminating the relative contribution of each location to water quality and used to build the integrated models. Compared with traditional methods only using area proportions, our model increased the explanatory power of land use and quantified the effects of spatial information on water quality. This can guide the optimization of land use configuration to control water eutrophication.     

TRANSIT: a GIS toolbox for estimating the duration of ancient sail-powered navigation

Cost-surface analysis in Geographic Information System (GIS) environment has been less frequently used in the study of ancient sail navigation than in other studies of the human past. Navigation cost-surface analysis entails the use of GIS tools that are versatile but not very easy to grasp and to put to work. This article describes an ArcGIS toolbox built to facilitate cost-surface analysis of ancient sail navigation. It estimates the navigation time from a start location, considering parameters relevant for the generation of an accumulated anisotropic cost-surface, automating the complex workflow required to meaningfully pre- and post-process the data. Acknowledging the limitations inherent to the tool, and to the modeling of a complex matter such as sail navigation, the toolbox is first described and then used in a worked example. Historically recorded voyages in the Mediterranean during classical antiquity are compared to estimated durations generated by the toolbox. In spite of structural and expected limitations, the results indicate that the proposed toolbox may produce reasonable estimates. These should be thought of as values gravitating around, not matching, likely past durations. The estimated values may prove useful as an indication of the order of magnitude of past voyages’ duration, and as frame of reference in measuring ancient maritime space through time.