Leaching requirement and salinity threshold for the yield and agronomic characteristics of halophytes under salt stress

An experiment was carried out at Nahshala Farm, north west of Al-Ain City, U.A.E. during the 1998–2000 growing seasons, using six halophytes (Batis maritima, Distichlis spicata, Juncus roemerianus, Paspalum vaginatum, Salicornia bigelovii and Spartina alterniflora) and two levels of leaching fraction (0·25 and 0·50) under three irrigation salinity levels (10, 20, and 40 gL⁻¹) in a randomized complete block design arranged in split plots. The purpose of the research was to apply the theory of crop salt tolerance on aboveground yields and agronomic characteristics of halophytes to determine their thresholds for salinity and to determine leaching requirements. The results indicated that the halophyte species tested can grow with minimum reduction in the growth potential at <20 gL⁻¹of mean salinity of soil solution. Leaching fraction (LF) of 0·25 at the highest salinity of irrigation water (40 gL⁻¹) was inadequate to attain the steady-state salt balance during the growth period, although the drainage salinity reached more than 90 g L⁻¹. Furthermore, if the same level of LF is used for longer period, soil salinity under this high salt treatment will continue to rise, and plant growth may deteriorate. Leaching fraction of 0·50 is preferable if salinity of irrigation water was more than 20 gL⁻¹and dry matter production is considered, although the amount of water use will be excessive     

鄂西南渔塘坝硒矿区硒污染成因探讨

本文讨论了由风化作用与首次发现的烧石灰两种因素构成的硒污染，对硒矿石的可溶性及不等时可溶性硒浸取试验表明，不断运动的，成分复杂的，具有一定酸碱度的天然水溶液对硒矿石长期作用后，能分解出大量的元素硒，这些元素硒是参与形成亚硒酸盐和硒酸盐的源泉。由此说明，风化作用是硒污染的因素之一。     

稀王水冷浸—活性炭富集测定501铀矿床和土壤样品中的金

本文介绍了用稀王水冷浸、活性炭富集测定铀矿床和土壤样品中金的方法及结果。     

Study on treatment of wastewater from acid in-situ leaching of uranium ore with sulfate reducing bacteria

Synthetic surfactants are among the most widely used chemicals in the world （around 10 millions of tons are produced per year）, mainly as key components in detergent formulation, apart from other applications such as wetting agents or emulsifiers. Coastal ecosystems receive large quantities of these compounds and, after a relatively fast partial degradation in water, the remaining quantities end up in the sediments due to their high affinity for organic carbon in the particulate phase. We therefore focused our studies on sediments because they can be assumed to play an important environmental role acting as a sink for these contaminants. Moreover, because of their widespread use and source specificity, surfactants can usefully be employed as molecular indicators in sediments for more general contamination caused by human activities. This work deals with the vertical distribution in sediment cores of the main anionic surfactants, both linear alkylbenzene sulfonates （LAS） and alkyl ethoxysulfates （AES）, and non-ionic surfactants, including nonylphenol polyethoxylates （NPEOs） and alcohol polyethoxylates （AEOs）. In the case of LAS their degradation metabolites sulfophenyl carboxylic acids （SPCs） are also studied. The processes considered are degradation, sorption and diffusion occurring along the sedimentary column for the different homologues contained in the commercial surfactant mixtures. The most hydrophobic surfactants such as NPEOs and AEOs remain strongly attached to the particulate phase whereas polar metabolites such SPCs tend to be present in the pore water. Highest values of surfactants are found near the surface and, in most cases, there is a decrease in their concentration down the sediment core. Furthermore, the reduction in the average length of the ethoxylated chain in polyethoxylated surfactants, as well as the increase in the concentrations of SPCs at depths showing redox potential from -300 to -400 mV, suggests that surfactants may be degraded anaerobically in the sediment. In the case of LAS, these field results are compared with the data from laboratory experiments carried out in order to determine sorption capacity and anaerobic degradation.     

Extension-related origin of magmas from a garnet-bearing source in the Los Tuxtlas volcanic field, Mexico

The Los Tuxtlas volcanic field (LTVF) of late Miocene to Recent age is a key area to understand the consequences of the current subduction of the Cocos plate beneath the North American plate, as well as the competing effects of the ongoing extension along the Gulf of Mexico coast. Geochemical and radiogenic (Sr, Nd, and Pb) isotope data are used to constrain the origin of these 7 Ma to Recent magmas in this area. The basanitic and alkaline basaltic rocks show highly steep light rare-earth element-enriched patterns implying residual garnet in their mantle source, whereas the evolved alkaline and sub-alkaline rocks have less steep rare-earth element patterns consistent with a contribution from the continental crust. Geochemical and isotope data from the LTVF are compared with those from continental rifts, extension-related areas, continental break-up regions, and island and continental arcs, including the Central American volcanic arc related to the subduction of the same oceanic plate (Cocos plate), as well as with those from the two nearby Mexican provinces [the Eastern Alkaline Province (EAP) and the eastern part of the Mexican Volcanic Belt (E-MVB)]. These data for the LTVF primitive rocks are similar to rifts, extension-related areas and continental break-up regions, including the two Mexican provinces, but different from island and continental arcs, including the northern part of the Central American Volcanic Arc (CAVA). The LTVF rocks show an unusual Th and U enrichment with respect to Ba and Rb, which also renders a distinct negative Nb anomaly (with respect to Th and K) in them. These rocks also show a negative Nb anomaly (with respect to Ba and La) that is similar to numerous rift, extension-related areas, and continental break-up regions, but distinct from all arcs around the world, indicating that the magma genesis processes in the LTVF are similar to those in rifts. The “Sr-shift”, shown to be a typical feature of most, if not all, island and continental arcs including the CAVA, is not present in the LTVF rocks. Numerous discrimination diagrams, including the new discriminant function diagrams, suggest a rift setting for the LTVF. An essentially extension-related origin of the LTVF is, therefore, inferred in this study. Furthermore, in the light of major and trace element data for LTVF primitive rocks and their modelling an incompatible element-enriched garnet-bearing source seems plausible. The LTVF source is likely to reside in the lithosphere rather than the asthenosphere although the asthenospheric contribution cannot be completely ruled out. The evolved alkaline and sub-alkaline rocks might have a lower crustal component. Finally, it appears that the LTVF shows more affinity to the EAP rather than to the Mexican Volcanic Belt (MVB), implying that the LTVF should probably be considered as a part of the EAP.     

Spatial, temporal and geochemical characteristics of Silurian collision-zone magmatism, Newfoundland Appalachians: An example of a rapidly evolving magmatic system related to slab break-off

Silurian plutonic suites in the Newfoundland Appalachians include abundant gabbro, monzogabbro and granite to granodiorite and lesser quartz diorite and tonalite. Most are medium- to high-K, but included are some low-K and shoshonitic mafic compositions. Felsic rocks are of both alkaline (A-type or within-plate granite (WPG)) and calc-alkaline volcanic arc granite (VAG) affinity. Mafic rocks include both arc-like (Nb/Th < 3) calc-alkaline and non-arc-like (Nb/Th > 3) transitional calc-alkaline basalt to continental tholeiitic affinity compositions. ε_Nd(T) values range from − 9.6 to + 5.4 and δ¹⁸O (VSMOW) values range from + 3.1 to + 13.2‰.

A rapid progression from exclusively arc-type to non-arc-like mafic and then contemporaneous WPG plus VAG magmatism has been documented using precise U–Pb zircon dating. Earlier arc-like plutonism indicates subduction, while asthenosphere-derived mafic magmas support slab break-off, due to subduction of a young, warm back-arc basin. Contemporaneous mafic magmas with arc and non-arc geochemical signatures may reflect tapping of asthenospheric and subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) sources and/or contamination of asthenosphere-derived magmas by SCLM or crust.

The brevity (< 5 Ma) of the mafic magmatic pulse agrees with the transient nature of magmatism associated with slab break-off. The subsequent ca. 1 to 2 m.y. period of voluminous WPG and VAG plutonism likely reflects mafic magma-driven partial melting of both SCLM and crustal sources, respectively. Continuation of VAG-like magmatism for an additional 2 to 5 m.y. may reflect lower solidus temperatures of crustal materials, enabling anatexis to continue after mantle melting ceased. East to west spatial variation of ε_Nd and (La/Yb)_CN in Silurian plutons suggests a transition from shallow melting of juvenile sources proximal to the collision zone to deeper melting of old source materials in the garnet-stability field further inboard.

Previous work has demonstrated that geochemical discriminaton of post-collisional granitoid magmatism (PCGM) is difficult in the absence of other constraints. Our example should contribute to the understanding and identification of PCGM if it can be employed as a ‘fingerprint’ for slab break-off-related PCGM within the Paleozoic geological record.     

Reduction roasting of limonite ores: effect of dehydroxylation

The effect of pre-calcination in the reducibility of tropical limonite ore, obtained from New Caledonia, was investigated in this study. A series of reduction tests were carried out with pre-calcined and raw limonite ores. The extent of metallisation was determined from nickel and iron which dissolved in ammoniacal solution. Mineralogical transformations that occurred during reduction were analysed using thermal gravimetric, differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA) and in situ high temperature synchrotron based X-ray diffraction. Bulk mineral analysis of the raw ore was also obtained using neutron diffraction. This study suggests that there is benefit in the pre-calcination of limonite ores. Pre-calcination of the ores which opens the main gangue mineral structure, goethite, allows a rapid interaction between the reductant gases and the nickel species during reduction. The greater nickel metallisation achieved in reduction of pre-calcined ores resulted in higher dissolved nickel whilst reduced raw limonite showed poorer nickel recovery. Reduction of metal minerals was also accompanied by diffusion of nickel into the reduced iron matrix that resulted in the formation of ferro-nickel alloy (Ni₃Fe). The formation of this solid solution was monitored by in situ synchrotron based X-ray diffraction and was also reflected by the lower nickel leachability in ammoniacal solution. It was found that incorporation of nickel into the reduced iron oxide resulting from pre-calcination is significantly less in comparison to the diffusion occurring in reduced raw or uncalcined limonite ores. This effect is prevalent in prolonged reduction periods (greater than 20 min), at higher temperatures (>500 °C) and highly reducing conditions (H₂/CO₂=1:1). This study showed that optimal nickel recovery can be achieved by controlling the incorporation of nickel into the reduced iron structure by pre-calcination of the limonite ore.     

Geochemical assessment of the contaminant potential of granite fines produced during sawing and related processes associated to the dimension stone industry

Granite fines are inorganic wastes produced in the elaboration of dimension stone. Because of the increasing development of that industry in NW Spain, some concerns related to their classification as type of waste and their environmental impact have been raised. We have performed a detailed physicochemical, mineralogical and geomechanical characterization of the fines and the results make up the basis of several modeling exercises addressed to give answers to particular topics: the impact of high pH waters on the environment and the mobility of some toxic metals. Based on our analyses, we conclude that granite fines do not constitute a significant hazard to the quality of natural waters.     

Selective leaching of antimony and arsenic from mechanically activated tetrahedrite,jamesonite and enargite

In this study, the changes in surface area, morphology and leachability of antimony and arsenic from tetrahedrite, jamesonite and enargite mechanically activated by a high-energy planetary mill were investigated. It appears that the leaching of antimony from tetrahedrite and jamesonite and arsenic from enargite in alkaline solution of sodium sulphide is temperature-sensitive reaction. The temperature dependencies of all reactions were investigated in the interval 313–363 K. Resulting experimental activation energies were E_a = 111–182 kJ mol^− 1 for mechanically activated minerals. The values of E_a are characteristic for processes controlled by surface chemical reactions.