Spatial Geochemistry: A Characterisation of Heterogeneity in Reference Materials

Geochemical reference materials (RMs) for microbeam techniques are typically characterised by averages and dispersion statistics (e.g., standard deviation, variance) that are calculated for a number of measurements (beam shots). It is proposed that the mapping of RMs will add spatial information that better characterises the grouping and magnitudes of the heterogeneities and provides the information necessary to define a minimum analytical mass. A simple mathematical solution is proposed, which can be easily computed and understood. The analogous notions to sill and range from geostatistics are applied to the minimum analytical mass versus the relative standard deviation. To assess grouping and magnitudes of the heterogeneities, a ‘proximity number’ is computed for each average value ± ‘n’ standard deviations (magnitude). Different chemical anomalies have been simulated to demonstrate the behaviour of the proximity number. To further test the proposed spatial geochemistry concept, sulfide‐ and oxide‐bearing RMs have been selected because many are crippled with nugget effect. They have been mapped with a micro‐XRF apparatus, and results are presented for CHR‐Bkg, CHR‐Pt+, MASS‐1, MASS‐3, WMS‐1 and WMS‐1a. MASS‐1 and MASS‐3 are the most suitable RMs for microbeam techniques. Spatial geochemistry offers a new approach to better characterise reference materials.     

Preparation and Characterisation of Two Geochemical Reference Materials: DG‐H (Granite) and AM‐H (Amphibolite) from the Himalayan Orogenic Belt

Two geochemical reference materials of Himalayan origin named DG‐H (a granite) and AM‐H (an amphibolite) prepared by the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology Dehradun are described. Both samples were collected from the NW Himachal Himalaya in India. With the participation of analysts from more than forty international laboratories, element determination data collected during the past 10 years for characterisation of the samples was processed to assign working values using statistical procedures in use for this purpose. Earlier work published on these samples is incorporated in the present communication making it an updated document. The typical chemical and petrological characteristics of these two samples may prove useful for method validation and calibration of analytical instruments used for analysing similar rock types, and for widening the analytical range of several analytical methods used for geochemical analysis.     

Towards a Higher Comparability of Geothermometric Data obtained by Raman Spectroscopy of Carbonaceous Material. Part I: Evaluation of Biasing Factors

Raman spectroscopy of carbonaceous material (RSCM) is frequently used to determine metamorphic peak temperatures from the structural order of carbonaceous material enclosed in metasediments. This method provides a quick, robust and relatively cheap geothermometer. However, the comparability of the RSCM parameter is low as there are at least three major sources of biasing factors. These sources are the spectral curve‐fitting procedure, the sample characteristics itself and the experimental design including the used Raman system. To assess the impacts of the biasing factors on RSCM, a series of experiments was performed. The experiments showed that curve‐fitting is strongly influenced by individual operator‐bias and the degrees of freedom in the model, implying the need for a standardised curve‐fitting procedure. Due to the diversity of components (optics, light detection device, gratings, etc.) and their combinations within the Raman systems, different Raman instruments generally give differing results. Consequently, to estimate comparable metamorphic temperatures from RSCM data, every Raman instrument needs its own calibration. This demands a reference material series that covers the entire temperature calibration range. Although sample heterogeneity will still induce some variation, a reference material series combined with standardised curve‐fitting procedures will significantly increase the overall comparability of RSCM data from different laboratories.     

Towards a Method for Quantitative LA‐ICP‐MS Imaging of Multi‐Phase Assemblages: Mineral Identification and Analysis Correction Procedures

Here, we present an approach to laser ablation ICP‐MS mapping of multi‐phase assemblages that permits the use of different internal standard elements, concentration values and reference materials for each mineral. In this way, we obtain not only broad pictures of elemental distributions within samples but can also extract high accuracy concentration data for any user‐selected region. This is accomplished by assigning regions of an image to corresponding mineral phases on a pixel‐by‐pixel basis. In this way, accurate trace element concentrations can be determined for each mineral phase, despite potential variations in their ablation characteristics. We present an example where elemental maps are constructed from ablation of a gabbroic sample that includes the phases apatite, amphibole and plagioclase. This work represents an important first step towards development of a method to produce highly accurate LA‐ICP‐MS elemental maps of multi‐phase samples.     

Iron Distribution in Size‐Resolved Aerosols Generated by UV‐Femtosecond Laser Ablation: Influence of Cell Geometry and Implications for In Situ Isotopic Determination by LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS

The influence of ablation cell geometry (Frames single‐ and HelEx two‐volume cells) and laser wavelength (198 and 266 nm) on aerosols produced by femtosecond laser ablation (fs‐LA) were evaluated. Morphologies, iron mass distribution (IMD) and ⁵⁶Fe/⁵⁴Fe ratios of particles generated from magnetite, pyrite, haematite and siderite were studied. The following two morphologies were identified: spherules (10–200 nm) and agglomerates (5–10 nm). Similarity in IMD and ablation rate at 198 and 266 nm indicates similar ablation mechanisms. ⁵⁶Fe/⁵⁴Fe ratios increased with aerodynamic particle size as a result of kinetic fractionation during laser plasma plume expansion, cooling and aerosol condensation. The HelEx cell produces smaller particles with a larger range of ⁵⁶Fe/⁵⁴Fe ratios (1.85‰) than particles from the Frames cell (1.16‰), but the bulk aerosol matches the bulk substrate for both cells, demonstrating stoichiometric fs‐LA sampling. IMD differences are the result of faster wash out of the HelEx cell allowing less time for agglomeration of small, low‐δ ⁵⁶Fe particles with larger, high‐δ ⁵⁶Fe particles in the cell. Even with a shorter ablation time, half the total Fe ion intensity, and half the ablation volume, the HelEx cell produced Fe isotope determinations for magnetite that were as precise as the Frames cell, even when the latter included an aerosol‐homogenising mixing chamber. The HelEx cell delivered a more constant stream of small particles to the ICP, producing a more stable Fe ion signal (0.7% vs. 1.5% RSE for ⁵⁶Fe in a forty‐cycle single analysis), constant instrumental mass bias and thus a more precise measurement.     

平朔矿区安太堡煤矿9^#煤的有机地球化学特征

9^#煤是安太堡煤矿的主要可采煤层之一,宏观煤岩类型为半暗型煤。通过对煤中可溶有机质成分特征及饱和烃、芳香烃中各项生物指标化合物含量进行分析,得出：（1）样品中较高的芘含量反映煤样中的成煤母质中陆源高等植物占优势;（2）OEP指数和芳香烃中MPI指数均呈现低值,指示有机质的成熟度较低;（3）Pr/Ph值变化较大,氧芴含量稍高,指示成煤环境海侵频繁,氧化还原沉积环境交替。     

Tephras in lacustrine sediments of the Sarliève marsh (French Massif Central): age and preservation

The Sarliève marsh sediments (Massif Central, France) contain two tephras. The first tephra [, ca. 12 000 BP], regionally well known, enables to date the beginning of lacustrine infill to the Lateglacial. The second tephra, the ‘tephra de Sarliève’, the emitting volcano of which is unknown, would be dated to around the Early Subboreal from pollen data. This occurrence, after the discovery of the ‘tephra de Beaunit’, emphasizes that volcanic eruption(s) occurred in the ‘Chaîne des Puys’ or in the volcanic Cézallier more than 1000 years after the last known eruption (Pavin) in the ‘Chaîne des Puys’ at around 6.6/6.7 ka (5800/5900 BP). In the Sarliève piles, these tephras, well preserved in thick and more silicated deposits of deltas, were not observed in carbonated basin sediments where they were altered. The abundance of authigenic zeolites formed during the Lateglacial in restricted depocentre lacustrine waters allows us to detect initial CF1 tephra occurrence. To cite this article: A. Fourmont et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).     

鄂尔多斯盆地旬邑地区三叠系延长组长9储层成岩作用及成岩相

通过铸体薄片、扫描电镜、高压压汞等方法对鄂尔多斯盆地旬邑地区三叠系延长组孔隙演化,并对储层成岩相进行划分。结果表明：旬邑地区长9 储层主要以长石砂岩和岩屑长石砂岩为主。压实作用及胶结作用是造成储层物性变差的主要原因,压实作用造成孔隙度降低约15.5%,胶结作用造成孔隙降低约13.6%。溶蚀作用对储层孔隙改善不明显,仅增加孔隙度约为1.98%。通过分析影响储层物性的主要成岩作用,综合实验测试数据将长9储层划分为4种成岩相：绿泥石膜-粒间孔相、长石溶孔-粒间孔相、碳酸盐致密胶结微孔相及塑性岩屑压实致密相等。其中绿泥石膜-粒间孔相、长石溶孔-粒间孔相为有利的成岩相带,主要分布在砂体中部区域。     

Photometric membership and metallicities of red giant candidates in selected open clusters

As part of a long‐term project to determine abundances and astrophysical properties of evolved red stars in open clusters, we present high‐precision DDO photoelectric observations for a sample of 33 red giant candidates projected in the fields of nine Galactic open clusters. These data are supplemented with UBV photoelectric photometry of 24 of these stars as well as with CORAVEL radial‐velocity observations for 13 red giant candidates in four of the clusters. We also present Washington photoelectric photometry of a small sample of red giant candidates of the open cluster Ruprecht 97. The likelihood of cluster membership for each star photometrically observed and for 23 additional red giant candidates with UBV and DDO data available in the literature, is evaluated by using two independent photometric criteria. Nearly 82% of the analysed stars are found to have a high probability of being cluster giants. Photometric membership probabilities show very good agreement with those obtained from CORAVEL radial velocities. While E (B –V) colour excesses were determined from combined B – V and DDO colours, calibrations of the DDO system were used to derive MK spectral types, effective temperatures and metallicities. The derived DDO metallicities range between values typical of moderately metal‐poor clusters ([Fe/H] = –0.19) to moderately metal‐rich ([Fe/H] = 0.25) ones. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The demographics of energy and mobility poverty: Assessing equity and justice in Ireland,Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates

Energy and mobility poverty limits people’s choices and opportunities and negatively impinges upon structural economic and social welfare patterns. It also hampers the ability of planners to implement more equitable and just decarbonization pathways. Research has revealed that climate policies have imposed a financial burden on low-income and other vulnerable groups by increasing food and energy prices, leading as well to global inequality. Similarly, researchers have warned that in developing countries, emission mitigation policies could increase poverty rates and even frustrate progress towards universal access to clean energy. This research explores whether low-income social groups experience a 'double energy vulnerability', a situation that simultaneously positions people at heightened risk of transport and energy poverty. We investigate this 'double vulnerability' through original data collection via three nationally representative surveys of Mexico (N = 1,205), the United Arab Emirates (N = 1,141), Ireland and Northern Ireland (N = 1,860). We draw from this original data to elaborate on the sociodemographic attributes, expenditure and behaviour emerging from energy and transport use, focusing on themes such as equity, behaviour and vulnerability. We propose energy and transport poverty indexes that allow us to summarize the key contributing factors to energy and transport poverty in the countries studied and uncover a strong correlation between these two salient forms of poverty. Our results suggest that energy and transport poverty are common issues regardless of the very different national, and even sub-national, contexts. We conclude that energy and transport poverty requires target policy interventions suitable for all segments of society, thus enabling contextually-tailored, just energy transitions.