Selenium attenuation via reductive precipitation in unsaturated waste rock as a control on groundwater impacts in the Idaho phosphate patch

Phosphate mining in southeastern Idaho has historically resulted in the release of dissolved metals and inorganics to groundwater and surface water, primarily due to leachate from waste rock in backfilled pits and overburden storage piles. Selenium (Se) is of particular concern due to its high concentration in leachate and its limited attenuation downgradient of source zones under oxic conditions. Assessments of potential groundwater/surface water impacts from waste rock typically involve laboratory characterization using saturated and unsaturated flow columns packed with waste rock. In this study, we compare the results of saturated and unsaturated column tests with groundwater quality data from the Mountain Fuel, Champ, South and Central Rasmussen Ridge Area (SCRRA), Smoky Canyon, Ballard, Henry, and Enoch Valley Mines, to understand the release and attenuation of Se in different geochemical environments. Column studies and field results demonstrate that the ratio of aqueous Se to aqueous sulfate (Se:SO₄ ratio) is a useful metric for understanding Se release and attenuation, where the extent of sulfate reduction is much less than Se reduction. Comparison of dissolved Se and sulfate results suggests that the net leachability of Se from unsaturated waste rock is variable. Overall, Se concentrations in groundwater directly beneath waste rock dumps is not as high as would be predicted from unsaturated columns. Lower Se:SO₄ ratios are observed immediately beneath waste rock dumps and backfilled pits relative to areas receiving shallow waste rock runoff. It is hypothesized that Se released in the oxic upper portions of the waste rock is subsequently attenuated via reductive precipitation at depth in unsaturated, low-oxygen portions of the waste rock. This highlights an important mechanism by which Se may be naturally attenuated within waste rock piles prior to discharge to groundwater and surface water. These results have important implications for mining practices in the region. A better understanding of Se dynamics can help drive waste rock management during active mining and capping/water management options during post-mining reclamation.     

Tectonostratigraphic history of the Neogene Maimará basin,Northwest Argentina

This paper presents the tectonostratigraphic evolution of the Maimará Basin and explores the relationship between the clastic sediments and pyroclastic deposits in the basin and the evolution of the adjacent orogeny and magmatic arc. The sedimentary facies in this part of the basin include, in ascending order, an ephemeral fluvial system, a deep braided fluvial system and a medial to distal ephemeral fluvial system. We interpret that Maimará Formation accumulated in a basin that has developed two stages of accumulation. Stage 1 extended from 7 to 6.4 Ma and included accelerated tectonic uplift in the source areas, and it corresponds to the ephemeral fluvial system deposits. Stage 2, which extended from 6.4 to 4.8 Ma, corresponds to a tectonically quiescent period and included the development of the deep braided fluvial system deposits. The contact between the Maimará and Tilcara formations is always characterized by a regional unconformity and, in the study area, also shows pronounced erosion.Rare earth element and other chemical characteristics of the tuff intervals in the Maimará Formation fall into two distinct groups suggesting the tuffs were erupted from two distinct late Miocene source regions. The first and most abundant group has characteristics that best match tuffs erupted from the Guacha, Pacana and Pastos Grandes calderas, which are located 200 and 230 km west of the study area at 22º-23º30′S latitude. The members the second group are chemically most similar to the Merihuaca Ignimbrite from the Cerro Galán caldera 290 km south-southwest of the studied section. The distinctive geochemical characteristics are excellent tools to reconstruct the stratigraphic evolution of the Neogene Maimará basin from 6.4 to 4.8 Ma.     

胶东玲珑金矿田175号脉群深部地质特征与成矿预测

玲珑金矿属于以石英脉型为主的金矿床,其矿脉受玲珑断裂和破头青断裂控制。区内脉群发育,175号脉群是玲珑金矿的主要大型金矿脉群之一。文章通过总结175号脉群成矿地质背景、矿床地质特征,分析了控矿因素、矿体赋存规律、矿石类型等;阐述了175号脉群深部成矿规律,并根据见矿工程利用地质块段法预测175号脉群11—101勘探线范围-800 m标高以下(332+333)金矿石量192.44×10~4 t,金金属量8.5t。     

季节性冰封热融浅湖水温原位观测及其分层特征

为探究季节性冰封浅湖热力学特征,于2010年10月至2013年7月对高原腹地一典型热融湖塘冰层生消、水/冰温及气象条件开展原位观测,分析了水温分布时间变化、温跃层以及冰生消对水温结构的影响。结果发现:冰面升华显著,贯穿整个冰期;水温日变化、季节变化和垂直结构受气温、大气辐射、风速、冰生消和湖底沉积层热贡献影响显著;在"无冰期-结冰前-冰生长期-冰融化期-融化后-无冰期"年循环过程中水温垂直结构分别呈现出"分层-翻转-逆温分层-逆温与正温共存-翻转-分层"的循环过程。分层期水温结构仅由上部混合层和温跃层构成,且偶因强风搅动而全湖翻转混合。可见,相比大中型湖泊,季节性冰封浅湖热力学结构差异显著。     

松花江白山河段冰情数值计算及分析

根据水动力学、河流动力学、热力学、河冰水力学及固体力学等原理,针对松花江上游白山河段具体特征,建立了河冰数学模型,并应用有限差分计算方法,对白山河段冬季冰情演变进行了精确模拟。应用该河段1958-1973年共15年完整的地形、气象、水文、热力、冰情等原型观测资料,分别进行了模型参数率定及冰情数值模拟。研究结果表明:白山河段的封冻首先开始于白山坝址下游4 km的大崴子河段,然后封冻边缘逐渐上溯,最终到达松14断面;计算的白山河段冰花堆积体外形与河床纵剖面呈相似趋势;各种水力及冰情要素的数值计算结果和实测值吻合较好,所建立的数值模型能较好地模拟该河道的冰情。研究结果对东北地区河流冬季冰情研究及冰害防治具有一定的借鉴意义。     

江苏省南京市江宁区杨库村铜矿地质特征及找矿前景

通过对江苏省南京市江宁区杨库村铜矿的地质背景、矿床地质特征、围岩蚀变及矿床成因、成矿控矿条件的分析研究,并与相邻已知矿区进行对比,结合近几年的工作成果,阐述了杨库村铜矿的找矿前景。     

昭通示范区黄金坝气田五峰—龙马溪组页岩气储层地质特征

昭通国家级页岩气示范区黄金坝气田是继礁石坝和长宁—威远之后中国又一个在页岩气勘探、开发领域实现重大突破的地区,为了系统地展示黄金坝气田页岩气资源富集的储层条件,为未来的勘探工作提供参考,以五峰—龙马溪组页岩气储层为研究对象,从区域地质条件、储层岩石学、物性和地球化学4个方面对该页岩气储层进行了综合研究。结果表明稳定的区域构造和良好的顶底板条件是黄金坝地区页岩气资源富集的关键,良好的保存条件使储层维持了较高的压力(压力系数1);较高的孔隙度(平均4%)和TOC含量(目的层2%)提供了良好的储集空间,使储层具有较高的含气量(1.35~3.48 cm3/g,平均2.50 cm3/g);天然气地球化学数据表明,区内天然气主要成分为CH4(97%),其次还含有少量的C2H6、C3H8和CO2;天然气同位素数据表明烃类C同位素组成发生了倒转,表明储层具有良好的封闭性。但储层孔隙系统较为复杂,且非均质性极强,从而导致渗透率较低,在储层改造施工过程中应予以充分考虑。总体上,黄金坝气田具有较好的开发前景,生产测试表明,区内直井压裂产量为0.5×104~3.5×104m3/d/井,水平井压裂产量可达12×104~40×104m3/d/井。     

西藏恐弄拉地区中侏罗统桑卡拉佣组的厘定及其地质意义

贵州省地质调查院在开展西藏自治区1∶5万班戈县恐弄拉地区区域地质调查时,在马前乡恐弄拉西侧车尖西南一带前人划分的一套早白垩世桂牙岩组碳酸盐岩地层中采集了腕足类和腹足类化石,据采集的古生物化石时代确定此套碳酸盐岩地层为中侏罗世沉积(晚巴柔期—卡洛期),通过岩石组合特征、基本层序、沉积环境及生物化石时代对比,将该套地层重新厘定为桑卡拉佣组。这一地层的确定为冈底斯带地层区侏罗系地层划分对比、地层格架建立提供了重要的依据,并为中生代盆地的演化历史,古地理轮廓的确定提供了新的基础资料。     

高研磨性地层复合式钻头的研制与应用

金山气田、龙凤山构造、长岭断陷等登娄库组以下深部地层可钻性差,研磨性强,导致钻头磨损严重,使用效率低。在对牙轮钻头、PDC钻头及孕镶金刚石钻头在高研磨性地层中的适应性进行细致和全面分析的基础上,提出了把PDC钻头机械钻速高和孕镶金刚石钻头进尺多的技术优势相结合的研制思路,开展PDC+孕镶复合式钻头设计。现场应用取得了良好的试验效果。提出了合理化的建议。     

冰层取心回转钻进模拟实验台的设计与测试

极地钻探实践表明,冰盖底部冰岩交界附近地质情况异常复杂,不但可能存在暖冰、基底融水,甚至还存在厚度不等的冰岩夹层,取心钻探异常困难,而优选钻头类型、确定合理的钻进参数是保证其安全、快速钻进的重要因素。本文设计了一套能够模拟冰层回转钻进的实验台,其技术参数为：钻压、转速分别可在0～10 kN、0～300 r/min范围内调节,最大扭矩约100 N·m。该实验台能够测量钻头切削具温度、钻孔深度及钻进速度等参数,为深入研究钻头类型及结构参数、钻进参数对扭矩、钻速和切削温度的影响规律提供了手段。采用PDC复合片钻头进行了冰钻实验,结果表明,实验台能够准确调节钻压和转速,可满足实验要求。