Spatial and temporal variability of surface water and groundwater before and after the remediation of a Portuguese uranium mine area

The old Senhora das Fontes uranium mine, in central Portugal, consists of quartz veins which penetrated along fracture shear zones at the contact between graphite schist and orthogneiss. The mine was exploited underground until a depth of 90 m and was closed down in 1971. The ores from this mine and two others were treated in the mine area by the heap-leach process which ended in 1982. Seven dumps containing a total of about 33,800 m³ of material and partially covered by natural vegetation were left in the mine area. A remediation process took place from May 2010 to January 2011. The material deposited in dumps was relocated and covered with erosion resisting covers. Surface water and groundwater were collected in the wet season just before the remediation, in the following season at the beginning of the remediation and also after the remediation in the following dry season. Before, at the beginning and after the remediation, surface water and groundwater have an acid-to-alkaline pH, which decreased with the remediation, whereas Eh increased. In general, before the remediation, uranium concentration was up to 83 μg/L in surface water and up to 116 μg/L in groundwater, whereas at the beginning of the remediation it increases up to 183 μg/L and 272 μg/L in the former and the latter, respectively, due to the remobilization of mine dumps and pyrite and chalcopyrite exposures, responsible for the pH decrease. In general, after the remediation, the U concentration decreased significantly in surface water and groundwater at the north part of the mine area, but increased in both, particularly in the latter up to 774 μg/L in the south and southwest parts of this area, attributed to the remobilization of sulphides that caused mobilization of metals and arsenic which migrated to the groundwater flow. Uranium is adsorbed in clay minerals, but also in goethite as indicated by the geochemical modelling. After the remediation, the saturation indices of oxyhydroxides decrease as pH decreases. The remediation also caused decrease in Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cu, As, Sr and Mn concentrations of surface water and groundwater, particularly in the north part of the mine area, which is supported by the speciation modelling that shows the decrease of most dissolved bivalent species. However, in general, after the remediation, Th, Cd, Al, Li, Pb, Sr and As concentrations increased in groundwater and surface water at south and southwest of the mine area. Before and after the remediation, surface water and groundwater are contaminated in U, Cd, Cr, Al, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cu and As. Remediation caused only some improvement at north of the mine area, because at south and southwest part, after the remediation, the groundwater is more contaminated than before the remediation.     

Occurrence and composition of solid bitumens from the Bulonggoer Devonian paleo-oil reservoir,North Xinjiang,China

The Bulonggoer paleo-oil reservoir (BPR) on the northwest Junggar Basin is the first Devonian paleo-oil reservoir discovered in North Xinjiang, China. Solid bitumens occur within sandstone pores and as veins filling fractures. Samples of both types were analyzed using stable carbon isotope and reflectance measurements, as well as molecular biomarker parameters.The extremely positive δ¹³C values and biomarker indicators of depositional environment/lithology, such as pristane/phytane (Pr/Ph), C₂₉/C₃₀ hopane, diasteranes/regular steranes and dibenzothiophene/phenanthrene ratios, indicate a siliciclastic source for the BPR and their deposition in a highly reducing hypersaline environment. The presence of long chain n-alkanes and abundant tetracyclic diterpanes, C₂₀–C₂₁ tricyclic terpanes and perylene are indicators of higher plant organic matter input. Moreover, the bimodal distribution of C₂₇ > C₂₈ < C₂₉ regular steranes and abundant methyltriaromatic steroids also support a contribution of microalgae as well as higher plants organic matter. The similar molecular composition and thermal maturity parameters indicate that the reservoir and veined solid bitumens were altered from a common paleo-petroleum, which originated from peak oil window matured source rocks.All solid bitumens from the BPR are characterized by relatively low bitumen reflectance values (Rb% < 0.7), suggesting that they were generated from low temperature processes rather than oil thermal cracking. Comparatively, the Rb% values for veined bitumens are higher than reservoir bitumens, indicating that the veined bitumens occurred earlier and experienced higher thermal conditions.     

Geochemistry of sediment moisture in the Badain Jaran desert: Implications of recent environmental changes and water-rock interaction

Unsaturated zone pore water has the potential to record history of recharge, palaeoenvironment, pollution movement and water-rock interaction as it percolates through and moves towards the water table. In this study, two 6-m cores from the Badain Jaran desert (NW China) were collected to explore this potential using directly extracted moisture. Pore waters in these unsaturated zone sediments (1–5% moisture by wet weight) were directly extracted using immiscible liquid displacement and then analysed for major anions, cations and trace elements. Results show enrichment in pore water chemistry in the top 1–2 m where strong temperature and moisture fluxes occur. The enrichment in cations relative to chloride is primarily due to silicate mineral dissolution during infiltration. High nitrate and low iron concentrations indicate the overall oxidizing environment, which allows the mobility of oxyanions, such as uranium, arsenic and chromium. The trace elements show enrichment in the upper zone of fluctuation where chemical gradients are strong, but with lesser reaction lower in the profile. The calculated groundwater recharge rates using the chloride mass balance are negligible in this arid region between 1.5 and 3.0 mm/year. The modern rainfall infiltration signature contrasts with that of the underlying groundwater body, which has a distant, regional recharge signature.This reconnaissance study demonstrates the potential for a new geochemical approach to studying geochemical processes in the unsaturated sediments in semi-arid environments due to both natural and human influences. The use of directly extracted water, rather than extraction by dilution (elutriation), facilitates an improved understanding of hydrological and geochemical processes in the unsaturated zone and into the capillary fringe at the water table, because it avoids potential chemical changes induced during elutriation.     

哈尔滨地区罗家窝棚组地层的沉积学、矿物学及地球化学特征:对沉积环境的指示

罗家窝棚组是哈尔滨地区的第四纪下限地层,其岩性是紫红色砂砾石,被认为是冰碛物堆积。早期的区测资料对其进行了岩性描述,对于其它地层属性,特别是地球化学属性的认识尚未涉及。为此,本文选择黑龙江五常拉林镇罗家窝棚村层型剖面作为研究对象,首次对其沉积学、矿物学、元素地球化学展开综合研究,以揭示其沉积过程和沉积环境。结果表明,这套砾石分选和磨圆较差,风化程度很高,无定向性排列,砾石成分以陆源碎屑岩(砂岩和粉砂岩,44.2%)和花岗岩(37.4%)为主,其次为凝灰岩(11.2%),石英质、闪长岩、流纹岩和玄武岩等少量出现。重矿物组成以赤/褐铁矿占绝对优势(87.5%),其次是白钛石(5.0%),其它重矿物含量较少。元素地球化学揭示,罗家窝棚组中的细颗粒碎屑以及泥质基质经历了很强的化学风化过程,是初次循环的结果。砾石岩性和地球化学组成共同揭示了这些碎屑主要来源于长英质母岩,但中性和铁镁质母岩也有少量贡献。综合沉积学、矿物学和地球化学地层属性,本文认为罗家窝棚组地层是在炎热气候条件下的洪积物堆积,而非寒冷气候条件下的冰碛物。这项研究对于哈尔滨地区第四纪地层的划分和早更新世构造—地貌—气候—水系演化等地质事件的重建具有重要意义。     

鄂尔多斯盆地旬邑地区长8段沉积储层特征

通过野外露头、钻井岩心、铸体薄片、常规薄片、核磁共振、X-衍射和扫描电镜等方法,对旬邑地区长8段沉积及储层特征进行详细研究。结果表明:目的层长8段主要发育三角洲前缘亚相沉积,发育3支水下分流河道。砂岩岩性以灰绿色、灰白色细、粉-细为主的岩屑长石砂岩为主,其次为长石岩屑砂岩,储集空间主要为溶蚀孔,残余粒间孔次之;孔隙类型多为组合,以发育粒间孔—微孔为主,发育Ⅱ类、Ⅲ类孔隙结构,孔隙度平均为8.04%,渗透率0.42×10^-3μm²属于特低孔、超低渗油藏。长8储层I/S比为15%~20%,处于晚成岩A期;压实—压溶作用使得原始孔隙度减少52.3%,而胶结作用孔隙损失36%,建设性溶蚀作用增加面孔率1.67%。     

一次春季天气过程中不同降水类型的云图及雷达特征分析

本文利用常规气象资料、卫星、雷达及NCEP1°×1°的6小时再分析资料,对2013年4月发生在巴州北部的一次天气过程中两种不同的降水类型进行诊断、特别对云图及雷达特征进行详细分析。结果表明“S”型云西边界凹处对应系统性降水中心,低涡云系南段对应强对流中心。“S” 凹处的雷达图中对应有冷式切变,整层上升运动,水汽供应充足,且高层辐散、低层辐合,具备了大降水发生的环境场。雷达分析发现强对流发生在弱垂直风切变及辐散流场环境下,冰雹出现在与风速辐合中心对应的强回波中心下方。低涡云系中低层伴有下沉运动并配合冷平流,而近地面层为锋前暖平流,强对流发生在θse随高度降低的区域,是典型的冷锋锋面过境触发的强对流天气。     

川西滇北引水区河流水质特性与治污调水研究

本文重点概述了川西滇北地区 ,西线调水河流的地理背景 ,河水矿化度、化学类型与河水硬度等水质特性以及该区河流水环境与水体污染分析评价。旨在促进引水区调水前期工作的节水、治污和生态环境保护的科学监测预报.     

Estimation of submarine groundwater discharge in Plover Cove, Tolo Harbour, Hong Kong by Rn

Algal blooms in Tolo Harbour, Hong Kong have received much attention and submarine groundwater discharge is speculated to be a significant pathway carrying nutrients into the constricted estuary. Plover Cove, a small cove in the Harbour, was selected for SGD analysis using ²²²Rn budget. The volumetric SGD rates are estimated to be about 8000 m³/day for neap tide and about 17,000 m³/day for spring tide. Result of nutrient analysis of the porewater indicates that the nutrient loading through this pathway is speculated to be crucial for eutrophication in Tolo Harbour. Current practice for the management of algal blooms in Hong Kong, in which nutrient loading through SGD was ignored, has to be reviewed and the control measures of groundwater contamination are obviously required.     

地球化学动力学体系

本文以地球化学作用与其时-空结构的统一性为指导思想,将地质区域和各种地质体视为动力学体系,应用耗散结构理论,通过对云南个旧钖、多金属成矿区的研究,讨论地球化学动力学体系的建立。 作者应用马尔科夫过程理论揭示了沉积过程的地球化学旋回性,并用动力学体系分析阐明每一旋回的时间结构。花岗岩浆的分离结晶作用与对流驱动的热重力扩散作用相结合导致了岩体内痕量元素的化学分带。岩浆期后体系系由具有非线性动力学机制的复杂的反应-输运网络所构成,其拓朴结构使体系产生异常的动力学行为。通过各种物理化学参数的实验测定建立了成岩、成矿作用的动力学模型,并用计算机模拟了典型矿田内热液流体的流速场与温度场。 地球化学全过程的时间结构可以归结为热力学分枝的分支在时间上的展开或多阶耗散结构的阶梯。地球化学场的空间结构产生于耗散结构的局域化和化学波的成生与传播。成矿区域是囿于有界介质内的局域化耗散结构。不同反应前锋的差速前进从而产生不同物种的分异沉淀使成矿区域出现化学分带。成矿源区起因于某种化学反应核心或特殊的物理边界所产生的局域不均一性。 对地球化学动力学体系作进一步的研究可以揭示金属矿源学、历史地球化学与区域地球化学之间的内在联系。