Variations of U and Sr isotope ratios in Alsace and Luxembourg rain waters: origin and hydrogeochemical implications

Major and trace element concentrations, as well as Sr and U isotope ratios, were measured in rainwater samples collected in three different locations in Alsace (East of France) and Luxembourg: a mid-altitude mountain site (Aubure Environment HydroGeochemical Observatory), an urban site (Strasbourg) and a peri-urban site located in an area of well developed industrial activity (Esch-sur-Alzette in Luxembourg). Results highlight the quite high spatial and temporal variability of the chemical and isotopic characteristics of rainwater at the regional scale. They also suggest a quite systematic contribution of a local component in the chemical composition of rainwater. In urban and peri-urban sites, the local component is certainly linked to human activities, as it is well illustrated in this study with the Esch-sur-Alzette samples. On the other hand, for the Aubure site, i.e. a small forested watershed of mid-altitude mountain, data presented in this study demonstrate the influence of the vegetation on the chemical composition of rainwater for alkali and calc-alkali elements, as well as for the Sr isotope ratios. Such a result questions the reliability of the method classically used to estimate the rainwater contribution on the river chemical budget. In addition, data of the present study confirm the very low content of uranium in rainwater and demonstrate, especially through the U isotope analysis of Aubure rainwater, the negligible effect of rainwater on U budget of river waters. This work thus outlines the property of U to be a geochemical tracer specific of weathering fluxes carried by rivers. To cite this article: F. Chabaux et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Interpretation of gamma-ray logs: The distribution of uranium in carbonate platform

High gamma-radioactivity in carbonates is usually ascribed to uranium of detrital minerals and organic matter, and to thorium and potassium of clays. The present study based on Urgonian marls and marly limestones (France) shows that some of the most radioactive values correspond instead to some ‘pure’ limestones. These peaks are generally associated with a sequence boundary or a maximum flooding surface. Low-level γ-spectrometry and ICP–MS analyses show that although high radioactivities are mostly associated with uranium, there is no obvious correlation between uranium enrichment and lithology. Also, correlation between high radioactivity and argillaceous beds might not be systematic. To cite this article: M.C. Raddadi et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Zircon M127 – A Homogeneous Reference Material for SIMS U–Pb Geochronology Combined with Hafnium,Oxygen and,Potentially, Lithium Isotope Analysis

In this article, we document a detailed analytical characterisation of zircon M127, a homogeneous 12.7 carat gemstone from Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. Zircon M127 has TIMS‐determined mean U–Pb radiogenic isotopic ratios of 0.084743 ± 0.000027 for ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U and 0.67676 ± 0.00023 for ²⁰⁷Pb/²³⁵U (weighted means, 2s uncertainties). Its ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 524.36 ± 0.16 Ma (95% confidence uncertainty) is concordant within the uncertainties of decay constants. The δ¹⁸O value (determined by laser fluorination) is 8.26 ± 0.06‰ VSMOW (2s), and the mean ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratio (determined by solution ICP‐MS) is 0.282396 ± 0.000004 (2s). The SIMS‐determined δ⁷Li value is ?0.6 ± 0.9‰ (2s), with a mean mass fraction of 1.0 ± 0.1 μg g^?1 Li (2s). Zircon M127 contains ~ 923 μg g^?1 U. The moderate degree of radiation damage corresponds well with the time‐integrated self‐irradiation dose of 1.82 × 10¹⁸ alpha events per gram. This observation, and the (U–Th)/He age of 426 ± 7 Ma (2s), which is typical of unheated Sri Lankan zircon, enable us to exclude any thermal treatment. Zircon M127 is proposed as a reference material for the determination of zircon U–Pb ages by means of SIMS in combination with hafnium and stable isotope (oxygen and potentially also lithium) determination.     

Ablation Characteristic of Ilmenite using UV Nanosecond and Femtosecond Lasers: Implications for Non‐Matrix‐Matched Quantification

Ilmenite (FeTiO₃) is a common accessory mineral and has been used as a powerful petrogenetic indicator in many geological settings. Elemental fractionation and matrix effects in ilmenite (CRN63E‐K) and silicate glass (NIST SRM 610) were investigated using 193 nm ArF excimer nanosecond (ns) laser and 257 nm femtosecond (fs) laser ablation systems coupled to an inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometer. The concentration‐normalised ⁵⁷Fe and ⁴⁹Ti responses in ilmenite were higher than those in NIST SRM 610 by a factor of 1.8 using fs‐LA. Compared with the 193 nm excimer laser, smaller elemental fractionation was observed using the 257 nm fs laser. When using 193 nm excimer laser ablation, the selected range of the laser energy density had a significant effect on the elemental fractionation in ilmenite. Scanning electron microscopy images of ablation craters and the morphologies of the deposited aerosol materials showed more melting effects and an enlarged particle deposition area around the ablation site of the ns‐LA‐generated crater when compared with those using fs‐LA. The ejected material around the ns crater predominantly consisted of large droplets of resolidified molten material; however, the ejected material around the fs crater consisted of agglomerates of fine particles with ‘rough' shapes. These observations are a result of the different ablation mechanisms for ns‐ and fs‐LAs. Non‐matrix‐matched calibration was applied for the analysis of ilmenite samples using NIST SRM 610 as a reference material for both 193 nm excimer LA‐ICP‐MS and fs‐LA‐ICP‐MS. Similar analytical results for most elements in ilmenite samples were obtained using both 193 nm excimer LA‐ICP‐MS at a high laser energy density of 12.7 J cm^?2 and fs‐LA‐ICP‐MS.     

基于ArcGIS Engine成矿预测系统的设计与功能开发

针对地质数据的特点以及GIS技术在数据处理、空间分析与表达、地质统计等方面的优势,提出将GIS技术与成矿预测模型进行集成,综合利用空间数据和属性数据(地质数据、物探数据、化探数据、遥感数据等),基于ArcGIS Engine和.NET平台,采用C/S和B/S双模式结构,设计并初步实现了成矿预测系统。利用该系统,可以对研究区潜在矿产进行预测,并划分成矿远景区,为下一步找矿指明方向。     

Uranium and Thorium Concentration and Isotopic Composition in Five Glass (BHVO‐2G,BCR‐2G,NKT‐1G,T1‐G,ATHO‐G) and Two Powder (BHVO‐2, BCR‐2) Reference Materials

Here we report uranium and thorium isotopic ratios and elemental concentrations measured in solid reference materials from the USGS (BHVO‐2G, BCR‐2G, NKT‐1G), as well as those from the MPI‐DING series (T1‐G, ATHO‐G). Specifically created for microanalysis, these naturally‐sourced glasses were fused from rock powders. They cover a range of compositions, elemental concentrations and expected isotopic ratios. The U‐Th isotopic ratios of two powdered source materials (BCR‐2, BHVO‐2) were also characterised. These new measurements via multi‐collector thermal ionisation mass spectrometry and multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry can now be used to assess the relative performance of techniques and facilitate comparison of U‐Th data amongst laboratories in the geoscience community for in situ and bulk analyses.     

ArcGIS在地下管线信息管理方面的应用

地下管线是城市的重要基础设施,对城市地下管线信息进行科学的管理显得尤为重要,本文通过分析城市地下管网信息管理的现状和发展趋势,简述了运用计算机技术和G IS技术科学管理地下管线的必要性,并在此基础上以某矿区地下管线数据为例详细介绍了通过对ArcG IS软件进行二次开发来实现对城市地下管线信息的管理。     

基于ArcGIS的整装勘查信息系统设计与建立

实施找矿突破战略行动是保障我国经济社会可持续发展、提高矿产资源保障能力的重大举措,整装勘查是实现找矿突破的重要途径。整装勘查信息系统利用地理信息系统技术、数据库技术,整合全国、整装勘查区、重点工作区、实施项目等四层次的基础地理、地质、矿产地、矿业权、潜力评价成果等数据,实现数据管理、信息浏览、地图浏览、查询检索、统计分析、数据输出、地图制作及动态评估跟踪等功能,为全面了解掌握整装勘查区地质背景、找矿潜力及找矿进展,开展整装勘查业务支撑与研究、整装勘查区进展与成果展示提供了平台支持。通过整装勘查信息系统建设,笔者建议建设全国矿产勘查信息系统,集成基础地质、物化遥、潜力评价预测成果、矿业权等,及时跟踪补充重大进展地区的空间位置、地形地质图、重要勘探线剖面图、重要进展描述等矿产勘查数据,为国内矿产勘查的宏观决策、微观工作部署提供信息支持。     

A Review of the IAG GeoPT™ and Certification Programmes,their Protocols,and the Differences between the Original and Potential Modifications to the Certification Protocol

The IAG conducts two programmes, the GeoPT ^? proficiency test and a certification programme that are closely interconnected. Both support the quality control/quality assurance activities of geochemical laboratories. Each derives an estimate of ‘true value’ for a number of samples, but arrives at that estimate, and its uncertainty, differently. This review discusses the history of the two programmes and compares the ‘true values’ and their uncertainties obtained through each. It then considers ‘fitness‐for‐purpose’ issues related to both GeoPT ^? and certification uncertainties. Issues related to potential modification of the IAG protocol for certification are also considered.     

辽宁省沈抚新区区域地壳稳定性评价

在广泛收集资料和野外调查工作的基础上,经综合分析控制和影响区域地壳稳定性的主要因素和内外动力地质的耦合作用,基于ArcGIS平台采用多因素加权叠加分析方法开展了沈抚新区区域地壳稳定性评价研究.评价因素主要选取活动断裂、 地震活动性和深部地球物理以及工程岩组、 地形地貌与地表地质灾害等共12个影响因子,并依据评价因素的关...