Origin of iron and aluminium in large particles (> 53 µm) in the Crozet region, Southern Ocean

Natural iron fertilization processes are occurring around the Crozet Islands (46°26′S–52°18′E), thus relieving the water masses from the normally encountered High Nutrients Low Chlorophyll (HNLC) conditions of the Southern Ocean. During austral summers 2004/2005 and 2005/2006, iron and aluminium concentrations were investigated in large particles (> 53 µm) collected from just below the mixed layer at stations under the influence of island inputs, and also in adjacent HNLC waters. These large particles are anticipated to sink out of the mixed layer, and to reflect the net effects of input and cycling of these elements in the overlying mixed layer. Labile and refractory fractions were determined by a two-stage leaching technique. Data showed that water masses downstream of the islands were enriched in total iron and aluminium (0.25–2.68 nmol L^− 1 and 0.34–3.28 nmol L^− 1 respectively), relative to the southern HNLC control sites (0.15–0.29 nmol L^− 1 for Fe and 0.12–0.29 nmol L^− 1 for Al), with only a small fraction (typically < 1%) being acid leachable in both environments. Particulate iron predominantly derived from the island system represents a significant fraction of the total water column iron inventory and may complement dissolved Fe inputs that help support the high summer productivity around the Crozet islands.     

Estuarine behaviour of metal loads leached from coastal lowland acid sulphate soils

The estuarine behaviour of the metal load leaching from acid sulphate (AS) soils was studied in a selected river system (the V?r? River), in western Finland. Large amounts of metals were transported with the river and deposited within the estuary, causing highly elevated metal concentrations in both the sediment traps and in the underlying bottom sediments. Among the metals, there was a diverging deposition pattern where Al, Cu, La and U demonstrated a strong association with organic matter and were deposited within approximately 4 km from the river mouth. In contrast, the deposition of Co, Mn, Ni and Zn occurred when pH reached circumneutral conditions further out in the estuary. Yet other metals were not abundantly leached from the AS soils and thus not elevated in the river and estuary (Fe, Ti, Cr, V). Five separate chemical extractions indicated the geochemical speciation of the metals.     

超分散剂的合成及其在微细CaSO4粉体改性中的应用表征

以硅烷为锚固基团(A段),丙烯酸丁酯为溶剂化链(B段),合成了超分散剂YB系列,研究了它对微细CaSO4粉体在液体石蜡中的沉降体积和粘度的影响。结果表明:YB系列超分散剂对CaSO4粉体有很好的分散和降粘作用,当锚固基团与溶剂化链摩尔比为1:10时,超分散剂用量为粉体质量的1%的情况下分散和降粘效果最佳,YB-2超分散剂的改性效果要优于F-2钛酸酯偶联剂和硬脂酸。同时通过对改性前后粉体做了扫描电镜(SEM)和红外光谱(FT-IR)检测,对比显示改性后的CaSO4粉体表面连接了有机基团。     

柴达木石——一种锌和铁的硫酸盐新矿物

柴达木石是一种Zn和Fe~(3+)的硫酸盐新矿物,发现于我国青海省柴达木锡铁山铅锌矿氧化带。矿物属单斜晶系,空间群P2_1/m或P2_1,晶胞参数a=9.759(9)A,b=7.134(9)A,c=7.335(11)A,β=106.2(1)°,Z=2。化学分子式为ZnFe~(3+)(SO_4)_2(OH)·4H_2O。它是四水铜铁矾(guildite)的类似物。     

地下水石油烃生物降解作用研究

在对某石油污染场地地质、水文地质条件、污染源污染方式调查基础上,根据地下水样测试结果,分析了地下水石油烃污染分布特征、污染晕中指示生物降解作用的电子受体、代谢产物以及重要地球化学参数的变化规律,通过计算矿物饱和指数和采用含水层介质X射线矿物衍射方法研究了污染晕中矿物沉淀反应,计算了含水层的氧化容量。结果表明：由于SO42-背景浓度值较高,硫酸盐还原是污染场地地下水石油烃生物降解的优势反应;菱铁矿、黄铁矿和FeS的沉淀反应是HS-、Fe2＋浓度异常的原因;SO42-的氧化容量在含水层中的氧化容量（OXC）所占比例最大,可进一步推断硫酸盐还原反应是引起污染场地地下水石油烃生物降解的优势反应。     

Relationships between microbial communities and groundwater chemistry in two pristine confined groundwater aquifers in central China

This study explores linkages between the microbial composition and hydrochemical variables of pristine groundwater to identify active redox conditions and processes. Two confined aquifers underlying the city of Qianjiang in the Jianghan Plain in China were selected for this study, having different recharge sources and strong hydrochemical gradients. Typical methods for establishing redox processes according to threshold concentration criteria for geochemical parameters suggest iron or sulphate reduction processes. High‐throughput 16S rRNA sequencing was used to obtain diversity and taxonomic information on microbial communities. Instead of revealing iron‐ and sulphate‐reducing bacteria, salt‐ and alkali‐tolerant bacteria, such as the phylum Firmicutes and the class Gammaproteobacteria, and in particular, the family Bacillaceae, were dominant in the downstream groundwater of the first aquifer that had high ion concentrations caused by the dissolution of calcite and dolomite; meanwhile, the heterotrophic microaerophilic families Comamonadaceae and Rhodocyclaceae prevailed in the upstream groundwater of the first aquifer. Sulphate‐reducing bacteria were extremely abundant in the upstream groundwater of the second aquifer, as the SO₄^2? concentration was especially high. Methanogens and methanotrophs were predominant in the downstream groundwater of the second aquifer even though the concentration of SO₄^2? was much higher than 0.5 mg L^?1. The microbial communities, together with the geochemical parameters, indicated that the upstream region of the first aquifer was suboxic, that Fe(III) and Mn(IV) reductions were not the main redox processes in the downstream groundwater of the first aquifer with high Fe and Mn concentrations, and that the redox processes in the upstream and downstream regions of the second confined aquifer were SO₄^2? reduction and methanogenesis, respectively. This study expands understanding of the linkages between microbial communities and hydrogeochemistry in pristine groundwaters and provides more evidence for identifying active redox conditions and processes.     

Unique authigenic mineral assemblages reveal different diagenetic histories in two neighbouring cold‐water coral mounds on Pen Duick Escarpment,Gulf of Cadiz

Alpha Mound and Beta Mound are two cold‐water coral mounds, located on the Pen Duick Escarpment in the Gulf of Cadiz amidst the El Arraiche mud volcano field where focused fluid seepage occurs. Despite the proximity of Alpha Mound and Beta Mound, both mounds differ in their assemblage of authigenic minerals. Alpha Mound features dolomite, framboidal pyrite and gypsum, whereas Beta Mound contains a barite layer and predominantly euhedral pyrite. The diagenetic alteration of the sedimentary record of both mounds is strongly influenced by biogeochemical processes occurring at shallow sulphate methane transition zones. The combined sedimentological, petrographic and isotopic analyses of early diagenetic features in gravity cores from Alpha Mound and Beta Mound indicate that the contrast in mineral assemblages between these mounds is caused by differences in fluid and methane fluxes. Alpha Mound appears to be affected by strong fluctuations in the fluid flow, causing shifts in redox boundaries, whereas Beta Mound seems to be a less dynamic system. To a large extent, the diagenetic regimes within cold‐water coral mounds on the Pen Duick Escarpment appear to be controlled by fluid and methane fluxes deriving from layers underlying the mounds and forcings like pressure gradients caused by bottom current. However, it also becomes evident that authigenic mineral assemblages are not only very sensitive recorders of the diagenetic history of specific cold‐water coral mounds, but also affect diagenetic processes in turn. Dissolution of aragonite, lithification by precipitation of authigenic minerals and subsequent brecciation of these lithified layers may also exert a control on the advective and diffusive fluid flow within these mounds, providing a feedback mechanism on subsequent diagenetic processes.     

Effects of alumina refinery wastewater and signature metal constituents at the upper thermal tolerance of: 1. The tropical diatom Nitzschia closterium

Ecotoxicological studies, using the tropical marine diatom, Nitzschia closterium (72-h growth rate), were undertaken to assess potential issues relating to the discharge from an alumina refinery in northern Australia. The studies assessed: (i) the species’ upper thermal tolerance; (ii) the effects of three signature metals, aluminium (Al), vanadium (V) and gallium (Ga) (at 32 °C); and (iii) the effects of wastewater (at 27 and 32 °C). The critical thermal maximum and median inhibition temperature for N. closterium were 32.7 °C and 33.1 °C, respectively. Single metal toxicity tests found that N. closterium was more sensitive to Al compared to Ga and V, with IC₅₀s (95% confidence limits) of 190 (140-280), 19,640 (11,600-25,200) and 42,000 (32,770-56,000) μg L⁻¹, respectively. The undiluted wastewater samples were of low toxicity to N. closterium (IC₅₀s > 100% wastewater). Environmental chemistry data suggested that the key metals and discharge are a very low risk to this species.     

Origin and evolution of polygonal cracks in hydrous sulphate sands,White Sands National Monument,New Mexico

The nucleation and propagation of polygonal cracks in hydrous sulphate dunes at White Sands National Monument, New Mexico, are affected by water availability, transport through the sand and exchange with the atmosphere. These gypsum sands are cohesive enough to crack due to capillary forces and gypsum cements formed during evaporation. Surface cracks form five‐sided polygons with a variety of triple‐junction angles. Cracks extend down to variable depths and polygons increase in size with depth, showing a maturation similar to experimentally produced polygonal columns in drying corn starch. Results from two years of monitoring crack geometries, temperature and humidity demonstrate that cracks form when water is lost to the atmosphere through the transport of water vapour. Subsurface relative humidity below 5 to 10 cm is almost always maintained at 100% by the evaporation and condensation of water in thin films on grains. The amplitude of daily temperature and thus absolute humidity changes decreases with depth, consistent with lower evaporation and condensation rates with increasing depth. Changes in absolute humidity and the contrast between humidity in pore spaces versus the overlying atmosphere result in significant water loss from the dunes except during times of precipitation and frost/dew condensation. This water loss allows cracks to nucleate and propagate into the dunes. This study hypothesizes that crack tips propagate into sand to the depth at which thin films of water on grains are drying, and that this depth varies from the surface of the dune during precipitation events to depths greater than 45 cm when dunes are drier.     

Spectral response of different eroded soils in subtropical china: A case study in Changting County,China

Hyper-spectral data is widely used to determine soil properties. However, few studies have explored the soil spectral characteristics as response to soil erosion. This study analysed the spectral response of different eroded soils in subtropical China, and then identify the spectral characteristics and soil properties that better discriminate softs with different erosion degrees. Two methods were compared： direct identification by inherent spectral characteristics and indirect identification by predictions of critical soft properties. Results showed that the spectral curves for different degrees of erosion were similar in morphology, while overall reflectance and characteristics of specific absorption peaks were different. When the first method is applied, some differences among different eroded groups were found by integration of associated indicators. However, the index of such indicators showed apparent mixing and crossover among different groups, which reduced the accuracy of identification. For the second method, the correlation between critical soil properties, such as soil organic matter （SOM）, iron and aluminium oxides and reflectance spectra, was analysed. The correlation coefficients for the moderate eroded group were primarily between -0.3 to -0.5, which were worse than the other twogroups. However, the maximum value of R2 was obtained as 0.86 and 0.94 for the non-apparent eroded and the severe group. Furthermore, these two groups also showed some differences in the spectral response of iron complex state （Fep）, Aluminium amorphous state （Alo） and the modelling results for soil organic matter （SOM）. The study proved that it is feasible to identify different degrees of soil erosion by hyperspectral data, and that indirect identification by modelling critical soil properties and reflectance spectra is much better than direct identification. These results indicate that hyper-spectral data may represent a promising tool in monitoring and modelling soil erosion.