Transport of dissolved methoxy-nonafluorobutane through a saturated column

Solute transport experiments were conducted in a one-dimensional saturated column using dissolved methoxy-nonafluorobutane (HFE-7100), a Novec engineered fluid developed by the 3M Corporation, as the solute. Novec engineered fluids are considered dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) because they are immiscible with water and have a specific gravity greater than one. The HFE-7100 fluid is safer and environmentally friendlier than common DNAPL contaminants such as tetrachloroethylene (PCE) or trichloroethylene (TCE); thus, it is an ideal substitute DNAPL for laboratory groundwater contamination research. Three sets of solute transport experiments were conducted. The first set of experiments was conducted in a glass-bead-packed column using dissolved HFE-7100 as the solute. The second set of experiments was conducted in a sand-packed column using dissolved HFE-7100 as the solute. The third set of experiments was conducted in a sand-packed column using dissolved PCE as the solute. The dissolved HFE-7100 column breakthrough concentrations were compared with dissolved PCE breakthrough concentrations. Results show that the one-dimensional solute transport equation was successful in describing the transport behavior of dissolved HFE-7100. This study demonstrates that the HFE-7100 fluid can be used as a safer substitute DNAPL for groundwater contaminant dissolution and transport research.     

Environmental geochemistry of Zarshuran Au-As deposit, NW Iran

Zarshuran deposit is the most famous and important As-Au mine in Iran. However, there is no information on the impact of mining activity on the surrounding environment, especially on water systems. This paper attempts to document the concentration of arsenic and associated elements in waters and sediments resulting from the mining history of Zarshuran, a period covering hundreds of years. Water and sediment samples collected from Zarshuran Stream indicate high content of some potentially toxic elements, especially of As which ranges from 0.028 to 40 ng/l in water and 182 to 36,000 mg/kg in sediment samples. Mining activity, exposure of a large volume of mining wastes to weathering, and the anomalously high background of trace metals in the mining area are considered to be the main sources of heavy metal pollution.     

Particularités de la contamination crustale des phonolites : exemple du Velay oriental (Massif central)

Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of one trachyte, eight phonolites and five basalts have been measured. The isotopic characteristics of the trachyte can be explained by a combined assimilation–fractional crystallization process within an upper crustal magmatic chamber. Some phonolites display isotopic signatures identical to basalts, suggesting that they have been protected against any crustal assimilation during their formation. Some others have low Sr contents, whereas they are enriched in radiogenic Sr (0.70451<⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i<0.71192), and display basaltic ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios. Both observations could be explained by very strong alkali feldspar fractionation and by subsequent very low assimilation of surrounding rocks (between 0.3 and 4%) during intrusion. To cite this article: J.-M. Dautria et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Recent Environmental Change and Atmospheric Contamination on Svalbard as Recorded in Lake Sediments – an Introduction

This paper outlines an interdisciplinary project on recent environmental change and atmospheric contamination on the high Arctic archipelago of Svalbard (76°30′N–80°30′N). It describes the rationale and aims of the project and summarises the location, climate, geology, vegetation, and land-use of Svalbard.     

Influences of wastewater discharges on the water quality of Mamasın dam watershed in Aksaray, Central Anatolian part of Turkey

Sustaining the human ecological benefits of surface water requires carefully planned strategies for reducing the cumulative risks posed by diverse human activities. Municipal governments in Aksaray City play a key role in developing solutions to surface water management and protection problems. The responsibility to provide drinking water and sewage works, regulate the use of private land, and protect public health provides the mandate and authority to take action. A large part of Aksaray City uses Mamasın dam water as its primary source for drinking water. Several point sources of contamination may result from direct wastewater discharges from Melendiz and Karasu rivers, which recharge the Mamasın dam watershed. Relevant studies were carried out for monitoring the eutrophication process, which usually occurs in the static water mass of the Mamasın dam lake. This process may be caused by the continual increase in nutrients and decrease of O₂ levels, causing anaerobic conditions. Stimulated algae growth in these water bodies consequently reduces water quality. Hydrochemical parameters were evaluated to estimate the types of pollution sources, the level of pollution, and its environmental impacts on the Mamasın dam drinking water reservoir.     

Origin of Exceptionally Abundant Phonolites on Ua Pou Island (Marquesas, French Polynesia): Partial Melting of Basanites Followed by Crustal Contamination

On the basis of the first systematic mapping of Ua Pou, longknown for its exceptionally abundant phonolites, we estimatethat these rocks cover 65% of the surface of the island whereasmafic lavas cover 27% and intermediate ones 8%. The silica-undersaturatedsuite was erupted in a restricted time span (2·9–2·35Myr), following the emplacement of tholeiites derived from ayoung HIMU-type source at c. 4 Ma. Primitive basanites, derivedfrom a heterogeneous mantle source with a dominant EM II + HIMUsignature, represent likely parental magmas. The series is characterizedby a Daly gap defined by a lack of phonotephrites. We considerthat the most likely model for the origin of evolved lavas ispartial melting at depth of primitive basanites, leaving anamphibole-rich residuum and producing tephriphonolitic magmas.These tephriphonolitic magmas may have evolved by closed-systemfractional crystallization towards Group A phonolites. Threeother groups of phonolites could have been derived from tephriphonoliticmagmas by open-system fractional crystallization processes,characterized respectively by seawater contamination (GroupB), assimilation of nepheline syenite-type materials (GroupC) and extreme fractionation coupled with assimilation of theunderlying oceanic crust (Group D). The prominence of evolvedlavas is a consequence of their origin from partial meltingof mafic precursors followed by crustal contamination. KEY WORDS: Marquesas; French Polynesia; phonolite; partial melting; contamination     

Effects of natural attenuation processes on groundwater contamination caused by abandoned waste sites in Berlin

The aim of this research project is to identify, characterize and quantify natural attenuation (NA) processes in groundwater affected by emissions of abandoned waste disposal sites in Berlin-Kladow/Gatow, Germany. It is part of the funding priority called KORA established by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) to explore the extent to which NA can be used for remedial purposes for varied forms of soil and groundwater contamination. Information on the emission behaviour of individual parameters is generated on the basis of hydrogeochemical comparison of 20 years old and new data. Using groundwater-modelling and CFC-analysis, information on the transport and retention of pollutants in groundwater is compiled. The microbial colonization of contaminated aquifers is characterized by molecular biological methods [polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)] to differentiate between contaminated and not contaminated zones.     

塔里木板块东北部坡北岩体内橄榄辉长苏长岩岩石成因

坡北岩体位于塔里木板块东北部,由5个阶段的岩浆作用形成,其中,第二阶段岩浆作用形成的侵入体岩石类型单一,主要为橄榄辉长苏长岩,局部有零星的辉长苏长岩和斜长岩。岩石的SiO₂—FeO/MgO图解显示其化学组成为钙碱性系列,但单斜辉石的Al₂O₃—SiO₂及n（Si）—n（Al^Ⅳ）图解表明母岩浆为拉斑玄武质岩浆。岩浆演化方向与岩石化学系列的转化是同化混染作用的结果,侵入体遭受了长城系古硐井岩群1.38%～3.15%的混染。原生岩浆为MgO含量约7.31%的玄武质岩浆。岩石的TiO₂、Na₂O、K₂O、稀土元素、大离子亲石元素丰度均很低;除一件样品外,其余岩石的ε_Nd（t）值为+2.54～+2.81,这些特征表明岩浆源区属亏损型大陆岩石圈地幔。岩浆在结晶过程中处于物理化学条件相对稳定的近平衡状态,局部不平衡分离结晶形成堆晶结构和纹层状构造,岩浆结晶温度约为1070℃。由于岩浆源区熔融程度低,导致原生岩浆贫硫,且岩浆在演化过程中没有经历充分的分离结晶作用,这些因素使得橄榄辉长苏长岩侵入体不具备硫达到过饱和进而发生铜镍硫化物熔离成矿的潜力。     

乳化植物油强化土著微生物修复中高浓度Cr(Ⅵ)污染地下水

以天然细砂为微生物来源,模拟研究了乳化植物油强化原位生物修复中高浓度Cr（Ⅵ）污染地下水的可行性,考察了修复效果及修复过程中地下水质变化及产物的稳定性。结果表明,反应77 d后,Cr（Ⅵ）质量浓度分别从20.0、30.0、50.0、80.0、110.0 mg/L降低到0.0、5.8、19.0、43.6、65.8 mg/L,去除率分别为100.0%、80.7%、61.9%、45.5%、40.2%。反应后介质中Cr形态分析表明,其主要以能在自然条件下稳定存在的铁锰结合态和有机结合态形式存在。此外,随反应进行,实验体系逐渐呈弱酸性环境,pH为5.80~6.70。当Cr被完全还原后,体系会发生异化铁还原,Fe（Ⅱ）质量浓度逐渐升高,最高可达117.0 mg/L,最终形成二价铁矿物。综上所述,天然细砂介质中的土著微生物能够利用乳化植物油强化并还原地下水中的中、高浓度Cr（Ⅵ）,且产物能够在自然状态下稳定存在,修复过程对地下环境的影响较小。     

Magnitudes, spatial scales and processes of environmental antimony mobility from orogenic gold–antimony mineral deposits, Australasia

Antimony (Sb) is strongly concentrated into hydrothermal mineral deposits, commonly with gold, in metasedimentary sequences around the Pacific Rim. These deposits represent potential point sources for Sb in the downstream environment, particularly when mines are developed. This study documents the magnitude and scale of Sb mobility near some mineral deposits in Australia and New Zealand. Two examples of New Zealand historic mining areas demonstrate that natural groundwater dissolution of Sb from mineral deposits dominates the Sb load in drainage waters, with Sb concentrations between 3 and 24 μg/L in major streams. Mine-related discharges can exceed 200 μg/L Sb, but volumes are small. Sb flux in principal stream waters is ca 1–14 mg/s, compared to mine tunnel fluxes of ca 0.001 mg/s. Dissolved Sb is strongly attenuated near some mine tunnels by adsorption on to iron oxyhydroxide precipitates. Similar Sb mobilisation and attenuation processes are occurring downstream of the historic/active Hillgrove antimony–gold mine of New South Wales, Australia, but historic discharges of Sb-bearing debris has resulted in elevated Sb levels in stream sediments (ca 10–100⁺ mg/kg) and riparian plants (up to 100 mg/kg) for ca 300 km downstream. Dissolution of Sb from these sediments ensures that river waters have elevated Sb (ca 10–1,000 μg/L) over that distance. Total Sb flux reaching the Pacific Ocean from the Hillgrove area is ca 8 tonnes/year, of which 7 tonnes/year is particulate and 1 tonne/year is dissolved.