Genesis of the Xinqiao Gold-Sulfide Orefield, Anhui Province, China

The Xinqiao S-Fe-Cu-Au orefield is located in the Tongling ore cluster in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in East China. There have been many researches regarding the genesis of the Xinqiao orefield in recent years, showing that it belongs to various types, such as sedimentary-reformed type, stratabound-skarn type, sedimentary submarine rocks-hosted exhalative type. We propose that it was formed in two periods of mineralization base on systematic field observation and Pb and S isotopic analyses in nearly ten years. The first period was formed during a syngenetic sedimentary process, whereas the massive sulphide orebodies are mainly related to the Yanshanian granitic magmatism. Sulfide metallic mineral associations show zoning around a granite intrusion, i.e. magnetite and pyrite→pyrite, chalcopyrite and native gold→pyrite, sphalerite and galena. Gold orebodies occur outside the contact zone of the granite intrusion.     

Geochemistry of Flooded Underground Mine Workings Influenced by Bacterial Sulfate Reduction

Unlike the majority of the water in the flooded mine complex of Butte Montana, which includes the highly acidic Berkeley pit lake, groundwater in the flooded West Camp underground mine workings has a circum-neutral pH and contains at least 8 μM aqueous sulfide. This article examines the geochemistry and stable isotope composition of this unusual H₂S-rich mine water, and also discusses problems related to the colorimetric analysis of sulfide in waters that contain FeS_(aq) cluster compounds. The West Camp mine pool is maintained at a constant elevation by continuous pumping, with discharge water that contains elevated Mn (90 μM), Fe (16 μM), and As (1.3 μM) but otherwise low metal concentrations. Dissolved inorganic carbon in the mine water is in chemical and isotopic equilibrium with rhodochrosite in the mineralized veins. The mine water is under-saturated with mackinawite and amorphous FeS, but is supersaturated with Cu- and Zn-sulfides. However, voltammetry studies show that much of the dissolved sulfide and ferrous iron are present as FeS_(aq) cluster molecules: as a result, the free concentration of the West Camp water is poorly constrained. Concentrations of dissolved sulfide determined by colorimetry were lower than gravimetric assays obtained by AgNO₃ addition, implying that the FeS_(aq) clusters are not completely extracted by the Methylene Blue reagent. In contrast, the clusters are quantitatively extracted as Ag₂S after addition of AgNO₃. Isotopic analysis of co-existing aqueous sulfide and sulfate confirms that the sulfide was produced by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). The H₂S-rich mine water is not confined to the immediate vicinity of the extraction well, but is also present in flooded mine shafts up to 3 km away, and in samples bailed from mine shafts at depths up to 300 m below static water level. This illustrates that SRB are well established throughout the southwestern portion of the extensive (>15 km³) Butte flooded mine complex.     

Geogenic and anthropogenic zinc in epiphytic and terricolous lichens in Finland

At 31 sites in Finland the Zn content was determined of the epiphytic lichen Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. growing on pine and birch, the terricolous lichen Cladina spp. in pine bark, and the inner part of birch bark. The anomalous contents of Zn in H. physodes on pine and Cladina spp. in soil appeared to be strongly related to sulphide ore deposits. Anthropogenic Zn correlated closely with S and Fe in H. physodes on pine and with Fe in Cladina spp. The binding of geogenic Zn was related to iron hydroxides, and was attributed to the different uptake mechanism of S in these lichens. Elevated values of Zn in H. physodes on birch were due to both geogenic and anthropogenic sources. Zinc in pine bark increased with the Zn content in H. physodes and reached a limiting value.     

Massive Sulphide Deposits Related to the Volcano-Passive Continental Margin in the Altay Region

The Devonian volcano-passive continental margin in southern Altay is a significant volcanogenic massive sulphide metallogenic belt. Acidic volcanism has been dominant on the inner side of the volcano-passive continental margin, i.e., near the old land, resulting in a Pb-Zn metallogenic sub-belt, in which the ore deposits are hosted by sedimentary rocks in volcanic series, as represented by the large Koktal Pb-Zn deposits. In the central part of the margin far away from the old land, bimodal volcanic formations are well developed, forming volcanics-hosted Cu-Zn metallogenic sub-belts, e.g., the large-scale Ashele Cu-Zn deposit. The Qiaoxiahala sub-belt on the outer side of the margin near the ocean ridge is located at the spreading central trough, where ophiolite suites are developed. This type of deposits is rich in gold and copper, similar to the Cyprus-type Fe-Cu-Au metallogenic sub-belt in metallogenic environment (represented by the Qiaoxiahala medium-scale Fe-Cu-Au deposit). From the old land to th     

Subterranean microorganisms and radioactive waste disposal in Sweden

In 1987, microbiology became a part of the Swedish scientific program for the safe disposal of high level nuclear waste (HLW). The goal of the microbiology program is to understand how subterranean microorganisms will interact with the performance of a future HLW repository. The Swedish research program on subterranean microbiology has mainly been performed at two sites in granitic rock aquifers at depths ranging from 70 m down to 1240 m, the Stripa research mine in the middle of Sweden and the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory (HRL) situated on the south eastern coast of Sweden. Some work has also been performed in cooperation with other national or international research groups in Sweden, Canada and at the natural analogue sites Oklo in Gabon and Maqarin in Jordan. The following conclusions are drawn. There is a very high probability of the existence of a deep subterranean biosphere in granitic rock. The documented presence of a deep biosphere implies that relevant microbial reactions should be included in the performance assessment for a HLW repository. A HLW repository will be situated in a subterranean biosphere that is independent of solar energy and photosynthetically produced organic carbon. The ultimate limitation for an active microbial life will be the availability of hydrogen as energy source over time, and hydrogen has indeed been found in most deep groundwaters. Sulphide producing microorganisms are active in environments typical for a Swedish HLW repository, and the potential for microbial corrosion of the copper canisters must be considered. The bentonite buffer around the copper canisters will be a hostile environment for most microbes due to the combination of radiation, heat and low water availability. Discrete microbial species can cope with each of these constraints, and it is theoretically possible that sulphide producing microbes may be active inside a buffer, although the experiments conducted thus far have shown the opposite. Microorganisms have the capability to enzymatically recombine radiolysis oxidants formed by radiation of water. It has earlier been concluded that the migration of radionuclides due to sorption on microorganisms can be neglected. The influence of microbially produced complexing agents remains to be studied at realistic conditions in deep groundwater. Microorganisms have been found in natural alkaline groundwaters, but it could not be conclusively demonstrated that they were in situ viable and growing, rather than just transported there from neutral groundwater. A possible hypothesis based on the obtained results from investigations of natural alkaline groundwaters is that fresh concrete may be a bit too extreme for active life even for the most adaptable microbe – but this remains to be demonstrated.     

Intercalation of kaolinite with acetamide

Upon intercalation of both ordered (low defect) and disordered (high defect) kaolinites with acetamide, two types of interaction are observed. Firstly, hydrogen bonding between the NH₂ groups of the acetamide with the siloxane oxygens is formed, as evidenced by the formation of two new bands at 3400 and 3509 cm^–1. Secondly, the appearance of additional bands at ∼3600 cm^–1 in both the infrared and Raman spectra of the acetamide intercalates is attributed to a second type of hydrogen bonding by the interaction of the C=O group and the inner surface hydroxyls. Changes in the intensity of the hydroxyl deformation modes in the 895 to 940 cm^–1 region are attributed to the changes in the hydrogen bonding of the kaolinite surfaces. It is proposed that the hydrogen bonding between the adjacent kaolinite layers is replaced with hydrogen bonding between both kaolinite surfaces and the acetamide molecule. Changes in the molecular structure of acetamide are observed upon intercalation. The amide 1 band is lost and replaced with a well-defined NH₂ deformation vibration. The loss of the amide 1 band is attributed the hydrogen bond formation between the amide hydrogens and the siloxane surface. The bands of the C=O group at 1680 and 1740 cm^–1 become a single band at 1680 cm^–1. The amide 2 band remains unchanged. The lack of intensity of the 1740 cm^–1 band is attributed to the formation of hydrogen bonding between the inner surface hydroxyl groups and the carbonyl group. Received: 4 February 1998/ Revised, accepted: 30 June 1998     

铁硫化物球粒

铁硫化物的合成,通常是通过固－气反应来实现,本文利用电弧放电的方法,使黄铁矿（ＦｅＳ２）还原成磁黄铁矿（Ｆｅ１－ｘＳ）、陨硫铁（ＦｅＳ）和金属铁（Ｆｅ）,利用反光显微镜（ＲＬＭ）,Ｘ射线衍射（ＸＲＤ）,扫描电镜（ＳＥＭ）,透射电镜（ＴＥＭ）和能谱（ＥＤＳ）综合研究合成物的特征及各物相的相互关系。初步研究了合成物的电学和磁学性能。讨论在电弧作用的还原环境里,ＦｅＳ２向ＦｅＳ、Ｆｅ１－ｘ和Ｆｅ转变的特     

通过断层气氢探测新郑-太康断裂的浅层位置

新郑-太康断裂隐伏于河南省东部平原下,是一条规模较大的北西向断裂带,曾于2010年发生太康4.7级地震,确定该断裂准确的浅层位置对防震减灾具有重要意义。根据深部石油勘探资料,应用德尔格X-am 7000型多气体检测仪,在新郑地区布置2条与断裂走向近垂直的地球化学测线进行土壤氢气浓度测试,结果发现解放路和马庄村-前宫村测线异常点位处氢气浓度分别为背景值的16-33倍和40-50倍。2条H₂浓度曲线同步解释出一条倾向变化、宽约150m的走滑断裂带,位置与石油勘探资料吻合良好。此次研究表明利用断层气氢探测隐伏断裂的浅层位置在该区具有较好的可行性。     

云南维西大宝山铜矿地质特征及矿石中Ag与Cu关系探讨

云南维西大宝山铜矿区位于青藏高原东南缘,哀牢山-金沙江构造带西北部雪龙山成矿带中,是典型的中低温热液矿床。矿区主要包括望香台及滑石板矿段,根据矿床、矿体特征及详尽的镜下观察,将矿石类型划分为氧化矿、硫化矿及混合矿。氧化矿主要包括孔雀石及蓝铜矿,多分布在望香台矿段中浅部,是辉铜矿次生氧化富集作用的结果,出露形式多以混合矿产出;硫化矿主要包括辉铜矿及黄铜矿,且独立组成不同的矿物组合类型,分别为望香台矿段、滑石板矿段的主要矿石矿物。不同的矿石组合类型所含矿物种类、矿石结构构造不尽相同。通过对不同样品进行化学分析测试,发现在硫化矿辉铜矿等矿物组合中,Cu品位越高,相应Ag品位越高,存在一定的线性关系;而在硫化矿黄铜矿矿体中,Ag含量与Cu品位无相应关系;混合矿(辉铜矿、孔雀石及蓝铜矿)中此类关系更加显著。此外,辉铜矿、孔雀石、蓝铜矿单矿物矿石及混合矿矿石中含有硫砷铜银矿、深红银矿、雌黄及雄黄等伴生矿物,而黄铜矿中矿物种类较为单一。综合矿区地质特征、矿体分布特征、矿物组合类型认为,矿区中辉铜矿、孔雀石、蓝铜矿等组合类型为含银矿物的主要载体。