Speeding Up the Analytical Workflow for Coltan Fingerprinting by an Integrated Mineral Liberation Analysis/LA‐ICP‐MS Approach

Coltan (the African trade name for columbite‐tantalite, a tantalum ore) is one of several raw materials that finance the civil wars in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To improve the transparency along the tantalum trade chain, a ‘certificate of origin’ for so‐called ‘conflict minerals’ has been recommended by the United Nations. Accordingly, the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) has developed an analytical fingerprint procedure for coltan. Mineral formation age, modal mineralogy and chemical composition are important fingerprint parameters. The original workflow to obtain these parameters was streamlined and is now based on mineral liberation analysis and LA‐ICP‐MS. The use of an ICP‐MS instrument with a detector system covering an extended linear dynamic range and the application of an internal standard‐independent calibration strategy allowed data for major and trace element determination and mineral formation age estimates to be obtained simultaneously. The analytical results of this new approach were compared with analytical techniques of the original workflow and showed excellent agreement in terms of mineralogical and chemical characterisation and mineral formation age of coltan samples. Within a test, samples of different origin were allocated correctly and simple, binary mixtures were also identified successfully.     

Floating mucus aggregates derived from benthic microorganisms on rocky intertidal reefs: Potential as food sources for benthic animals

Mucus films, flocs or foams consisting of fine sand, algae and detritus frequently occur in the surface waters of rocky intertidal reef flats during incoming tide. These masses are referred to as mucus aggregates. We examined the developmental process of mucus aggregates and their abundance, distribution, migration and trophic composition. The trophic composition of mucus aggregates was then compared to those of sediments to evaluate their potential nutritional value for benthic animals. The organic matter content, chlorophyll a concentration, microalgal density and bacteria-derived fatty acid contents of mucus aggregates were higher than those observed in sediment, suggesting that mucus aggregates contain not only high levels of organic matter but also dense concentrations of microalgae and bacteria; therefore, mucus aggregates may serve as a qualitatively more energetic food source for benthic fauna compared to sediments. Benthic diatoms were the most abundant organisms in mucus aggregates. Large numbers of diatoms were trapped in fine mineral particles and mucilage-like strings, suggesting that a portion of the mucus is secreted by these benthic microalgae.Mucus aggregate accounted for only 0.01-3.9% of the daily feeding requirements of the dominant detritivore, Ophiocoma scolopendrina (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) over the entire sampling area. In contrast, for the species population on the back reef, where mucus aggregates ultimately accumulate, mucus aggregates provided from 0.4 to 113.3% of food for this species. These results suggest that mucus aggregate availability varies spatiotemporally and that they do not always provide adequate food sources for O. scolopendrina populations.     

Quantitative evaluation of soil processes using in situ-produced cosmogenic nuclides

In situ-produced cosmogenic nuclides provide a means for quantitative evaluation of a wide range of weathering and sediment transport processes. Although these nuclides have received attention for their power as geochronometers of surface exposure, it may be argued that they are more broadly suited for study of surface processes. In many environments, they may be used to evaluate collapse, erosion, burial, bioturbation, and creep, as well as providing a qualitative basis for distinguishing allochthonous from autochthonous materials. In addition, these nuclides can provide quantitative information on rates of erosion on scales of landforms and drainage basins. Here, we review the systematics of cosmogenic nuclide production within the Earth's surface, and present field examples demonstrating the utilization of in situ-produced cosmogenic nuclides distributions for evaluation of a range of soil evolution processes. To cite this article: E.T. Brown et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

Silicifications pédogénétiques dans les dépôts hamadiens du piémont de Boudenib (Maroc)

Résumé

— Le système de piémont atlasique du Sud marocain, d’âge tertiaire, est constitué dans le secteur de Boudenib de deux unités distinctes. La llamada de Boudenib forme l’unité inférieure et se caractérise par d’importants encroûtements carbonatés, riches en dolomite et attapulgite. L’unité supérieure de la llamada du Cuir marque une reprise de l’érosion et le dépôt de matériaux relativement peu altérés.

Des silicifications affectent les différents faciès de l’unité inférieure, ainsi que les grès crétacés sous-jacents, et jalonnent une surface d’érosion intra-fonnationnelle. Ces silicifications sont précoces, puisque remaniées dans les dépôts ultérieurs. Les illuviations d’opale et les accumulations gramdaires intercalées entre les concrétionnements successifs de silice attestent d’environnements pédologiques. La silicification plus forte vers la partie supérieure des coupes, ainsi que l’association fréquente des faciés silicifiés avec des niveaux hioturhés et altérés sont également à rapporter à des dispositions pédologiques. Ce sont des silcréles pédogénétiques.

L’étude micrographique montre que la silicification procède par épigénie des argiles et des carbonates, ainsi que par des cristallisations dans les vides. C’est à partir des vides existants (fentes, bioturbations et porosité intergranulaire) que se développe la silicification, montrant ainsi le rôle primordial des circulations. En particulier, l’épigénie des carbonates par la silice semble limitée par la diffusion de la silice à partir des vides, où le renouvellement des solutions est assuré. Les séquences de cristallisation des différentes formes de silice (allant de l’opale vers les quartz automorphes) peuvent être interprétées en terme d’évolution du milieu au cours de la silicification. Au fur et à mesure que des dépôts de silice se font sur les parois des vides, les solutions nourricières sont isolées de la roche encaissante, elles se chargent alors moins en cations étrangers, et la cristallisation de plus grands cristaux peut intervenir.

Les silicifications se développent pendant une période de stabilité tectonique et s’installent dans un paysage de glacis et sous des climats chauds à saisons alternées. Leur reconnaissance à l’échelle régionale peut constituer un repère lithostratigraphique précieux.     

投喂策略对多纹钱蝶鱼幼鱼生长的影响

为研究投喂策略对多纹钱蝶鱼(Selenotoca multifasciata)幼鱼生长的影响,实验选取初始湿体质量为1.19±0.35 g的多纹钱蝶鱼幼鱼进行养殖,实验为期60 d.1)投喂频率实验:实验设计4组,分别为F1(8:00投喂1次),F2(8:00、20:00投喂2次),F3(8:00、14:00、20:0...     

XL-5型机械动力头、液压控制长行程给进钻机的研制

分析了机械动力头、液压控制长行程给进钻机研发的必要性,提出了新型机械动力头钻机需要解决的相关问题,介绍了XL-5型钻机的结构形式、参数、特点及生产试验情况。     

Colonization and Probiotic Effect of Metschnikowia sp. C14 in the Intestine of Juvenile Sea Cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus

Viable cell count was used to determine whether Metschnikowia sp.C14 can colonize the intestine of juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus.Sea cucumber individuals were divided into two groups,which were fed the control diet for 38 days or the C14-supplemented diet at 105 cells g−1 diet for 28 days,then the control diet from day 29 to day 38.The number of C14 cells in the intestine of sea cucumber fed the C14-supplemented diet significantly increased from day 7 to day 28,and decreased from day 29 to day 38.Sea cucumber fed with the diet containing C14 showed a significant increase in trypsin activity and lipase activity from day 21 to day 33 compared with the control.Feeding C14 significantly improved the phagocytic activity and respiratory burst in coelomocytes from day 21 to day 35 and from day 14 to day 38,respectively.In addition,there was an obvious enhancement in lysozyme activity(from day 21 to day 38 or day 33),phenoloxidase activity(from day 21 to day 28)and total nitric oxide synthase activity(from day 14 to day 38)in coelomic fluid supernatant and/or coelomocyte cell lysate supernatant compared with the control.There were significant positive correlations between the number of C14 cells colonizing the intestine and trypsin activity of the intestine,lysozyme activity of the coelomic fluid supernatant and coelomocyte lysate supernatant from sea cucumber.These data suggested that the number of C14 cells should be maintained at 105 cfu(colony-forming units)g−1 intestine material for the maximum benefit.     

十溴联苯醚(BDE-209)胁迫对褶皱臂尾轮虫(Brachionus plicatilis)摄食与选食的影响

实验生态条件下研究十溴联苯醚(BDE-209)的急性毒性胁迫对褶皱臂尾轮虫(Branchionus plicatilis)运动行为与摄食行为的影响,探讨可用以表征胁迫-响应的生物标志物。结果表明:(1)BDE-209胁迫24h显著性增加了褶皱臂尾轮虫的运动抑制率,由此得到24h半数有效抑制浓度(24h-EC_(50))为9.084mg/L,但未达到半数致死作用;(2)当分别以四种海洋微藻:小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)、青岛大扁藻(Platymonas helgolandica)、等鞭金藻8701(Isochrysis galbana)和小新月菱形藻(Cylindrotheca closterium)为单一饵料来源时,褶皱臂尾轮虫对四种饵料单胞藻的滤水率(F)和摄食率(G)均随着胁迫时间和胁迫浓度的增加而不断下降,呈现出明显的浓度依赖性,说明BDE-209胁迫能显著抑制褶皱臂尾轮虫的摄食作用。(3)将其中三种微藻等生物量混合投喂时,褶皱臂尾轮虫对三种微藻的滤水率和摄食率与单一饵料投喂条件相比均发生变化,且对各种微藻的选食率(Sr)和摄食总生物量均随着胁迫时间和浓度的增加呈下降趋势,选择性指数(Si)发生变化,对小球藻的摄食选择性最高。滤水率的变化较其它指标更敏感,可用以指示浮游动物在个体水平上响应外源环境变化的标志物。结果表明,BDE-209胁迫能有效改变褶皱臂尾轮虫的摄食与选食行为,且其最适宜的饵料是小球藻。     

Pycnogonida of the snares islands∗

Eight species of Pycnogonida collected by University of Canterbury Expeditions and the New Zealand Oceanographic Institute are recorded from the Snares Islands, which lie at 48° 05’ S, 166° 20’ E, 60 miles SW of South Cape, Stewart Island. The following species are recorded: Pallenopsis obliqua (Thomson, 1884), Cheilopallene trappa n.sp., Ammothea magniceps Thomson, 1884, Achelia dohrni (Thomson, 1884), Tanystylum cavidorsum Stock, 1957, Ascorhynchus insularum n.sp., Austrodecus minutum n.sp. and Austrodecus enzoi n.sp.