Chemical composition of glacial meltwaters and river waters within the Aktru river basin (Gornyi Altai)

An assessment was made of the mean levels of major and trace elements and of biogenic and organic matter in glacial and river waters within the Aktru river basin (Gornyi Altai, Russia). The analysis showed a general tendency for an increase in mineralization along the direction from the region of alimentation of glaciers to the mouth of the river. A relatively abrupt increase was revealed in Al, Zn, Cu, Pb, Si, NO₂ ^? and NH₄ ⁺ concentrations in the source of the Aktru river and its glacial tributaries, with their subsequent decrease downstream. The mechanism for such changes is governed by the conditions of interaction of rocks with meltwaters and river waters.     

Mixed-layer corrensite-chlorites and their formation mechanism in the glauconitic sandstone-clayey rocks (Riphean, Anabar Uplift)

The paper presents the first detailed mineralogical, structural, and crystal-chemical characteristics of the mixed-layer corrensite-chlorites from the glauconitic sandy-clayey rocks that make up the bottom (0.10 m) of a basal member (1.50 m) of the lower subformation of the Yusmastakh Formation (Riphean, Anabar Uplift, North Siberia). Like the overlying mudstones (1.40 m) in the basal member, these rocks are generally transformed up to the deep catagenesis level and included in a thick dolomite sequence. In mudstones represented by the dioctahedral micas, the corrensite-type minerals are observed as traces.     

Hydrothermally altered hyaloclastites at the Earth’s surface in the rift zone of Iceland: Problem of the biochemogenic accumulation of trace elements

Results of the mineral and chemical study of surface-altered hyaloclastites from the Theistareykir and Nämafjall geothermal zones, the North Iceland rift, are considered. The paper scrutinizes the composition of hydrothermally altered rocks mainly consisting of clay minerals related to the transformation of bedrock hyaloclastites. The clay minerals also make up slope talus or proluvial deltas around highlands. The major clay minerals in areas of the present-day fumarole activity are kaolinite and smectite, while the redeposited talus-proluvial sediments are mainly composed of smectites. The studied rocks contain framboids, globules, rods, and other structures with morphology and size similar to those of mineralized bacteria. The local concentration of Ag in proluvial deposits is attributed to the intense bacterial activity. It is supposed that elevated contents of some trace elements could be related to an intense microbiotic influence.     

Nature of the structural and crystal-chemical heterogeneity of the Mg-rich glauconite (Riphean,Anabar Uplift)

The detailed mineralogical and structural-crystal-chemical characteristics are reported for the first time for glauconite grains extracted from the fine-platy silty-sandy dolomites at the roof of the lower subformation of the Yusmastakh Formation (Riphean, Anabar Uplift, North Siberia). Based on the complex study (X-ray diffraction, classical chemical analysis, microprobe analysis, IR-spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy with microprobe analysis, and Mössbauer spectroscopy), it was demonstrated that the studied glauconite sample is characterized by unique chemical and structural heterogeneity.The mineral structure consists of micaceous (90%), smectite (6%), and di-trioctahedral chlorite (4%) layers. Mica is classed with Al-glauconite (Al > Fe³⁺) with elevated Mg content. The elevated Mg mole fraction of the mineral is caused by the presence of Mg-bearing brucite-type interlayers of di-trioctahedral chlorite and the high Mg content in the octahedral sheets of 2: 1 layers. It was first discovered that glauconites are characterized by the heterogeneous distribution of cations over the available trans- and cis-octahedra due to the coexistence of trans- and cis-vacant octahedra and small trioctahedral clusters in octahedral sheets. The distribution of isomorphic cations over the accessible octahedral sites is also heterogeneous due to the tendency of Fe, Mg and Al, Mg cations to segregation and formation of corresponding domains.It was found that structure of the studied glauconite has a specific stacking defect: in addition to the predominant subsequent layers of similar azimuthal orientation according to 1M type (～77%), some layer fragments are rotated at 180° (～15%) and ±120° (8%). The structural-crystal-chemical heterogeneity of the mineral is explained by the fact that its microcrystals grew in the dolomitic sediment under nonequilibrium conditions of the reduction zone of a shallow-water basin with a sufficiently high content of Mg cations, which significantly contributed to the glauconite formation.     

Influence of hydrothermal-metasomatic processes on the formation of present-day sulfide ores in carbonate bottom sediments of the mid-Atlantic Ridge (19°–20° N)

Based on materials obtained in Cruises 33 and 34 of the R/V Professor Logachev, the paper addresses formation conditions, morphology, structures, mineral composition of the present-day oceanic sulfide ores, and their relationships with the host (biogenic carbonate) bottom sediments in the 19°–20° N MAR (Zenith-Victoria and Petersburg hydrothermal fields) region. The grain size distribution, mineral composition of the carbonate (background) and ore-hosting sediments, as well as physicochemical parameters of their interstitial waters, are examined. The results suggest a significant role of hydrothermal-metasomatic processes in the formation of ores and ore-bearing sediments. A model is proposed for the formation of sulfide mineralization in oceanic sediments at the geochemical barrier in the zone of their interaction with the acid hydrothermal (diffuse-type) ore-bearing solutions delivered from rocks of the ocean floor.     

Geochemistry of wetland waters from the lower Tom basin,Southern Tomsk oblast

New data are reported on the major- and trace-component compositions of acidic and weakly acidic low-concentration wetland waters and other water types. Special attention was given to dissolved organic compounds: fulvic and humic acids, bitumens, and hydrocarbons. The first comprehensive data are presented for organic trace components in the wetland waters of western Siberia: alkanes, pentacyclic terpenoids, steranes, alkylbenzenes, naphthalenes, phenanthrenes, tetraarenes, etc.     

Evaluation of chemical composition changes of surface water in Boguchan Reservoir (Siberia,Russia)

Abstract

Mathematical transformation models of TDS (total dissolved salts) and organic substance concentration as BOD₅ (biochemical oxygen demand) in water of the Angara River and the proposed Boguchan Reservoir have been developed. Having filled the reservoir to a water level of 208 m, in an average year it is shown that increase in surface water mineralization is expected in the cross-section of Boguchan Hydroelectric Power Station giving TDS of up to 20–40 mg/dm³, and values of BOD₅ will increase to 2.0–3.9 mgO₂/dm³. In a low-water year the value of BOD₅ may be as great as 5 mgO₂/dm³; mineralization, in contrast, decreases. Several years after reservoir filling, the values of BOD₅ would decrease, but water quality of the upper part of the reservoir would still depend on the degree of treatment of wastewater discharged to it.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis

Citation Savichev, O.G. and Matveenko, I.A., 2013. Evaluation of chemical composition changes of surface water in Boguchan Reservoir (Siberia, Russia). Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (3), 706–715.     

Influence of the interactions within the water – earth materials system on the formation of river water composition in the Ob basin

Physicochemical calculations of the abundance of a number of minerals and organo-mineral compounds in the river waters of the Ob basin revealed that the river waters throughout a year are able to actively interact with bottom sediments and river loads. The most active interactions occur in areas and during periods with increased moduli of river flow. It is shown that the increase in concentrations of dissolved organic matter in the river waters, including in the case of waste water discharges, is limited to a relatively low solubility of a number of compounds of metals with carbonates and humic acids.     

The ecologo-geochemical state of water bodies in the Taz-Yenisei interfluve

Presented are the results from investigating the chemical composition and quality of surface waters and bottom sediments in the Taz-Yenisei interfluve. The mean values of hydrochemical and geochemical indicators were determined, which can be used as background values in assessing the actual and allowable anthropogenic impact on water bodies. The elevated contents of a number of metals and organic and biogenic substances in the water are largely associated with the climatic conditions favorable for accumulation in aqueous medium of plant remains and products of their decomposition.     

Siderite microconcretions in the glauconite-bearing clayey-silty rocks of the Khaipakh Formation (Middle Riphean,Olenek Uplift)

Siderite microconcretions in the glauconite-bearing clayey-silty rock member of the lower sub-formation of the Khaipakh Formation (Middle Riphean, Olenek Uplift) are scrutinized for the first time. In two Khorbusuonka River sections located with a spacing of 12 km, the microconcretions occur as lenses and interlayers. Together with glauconitites, they serve as a distinct marker horizon of this stratigraphic interval. Their structures, morphologies, diffraction characteristics, chemical compositions, and isotope data are considered. They were examined comprehensively with modern investigation methods (X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with the application of local microprobe analysis, and others). Structural-morphological types of microconcretions are identified. Calculation of the chemical composition of carbonates based on numerous microprobe analyses made it possible to reveal different degrees of mineral heterogeneity in each type in terms of the distribution of macro- and microlevel isomorphous trace-elements and to refine the character of their secondary alterations at different stages of lithogenesis. The results of oxygen and hydrogen isotopic studies are presented for algal dolomites and limestones from the Middle and Lower Riphean sections in the Olenek Uplift (Debengda, Arymass, and Kyutingda formations). They demonstrated that siderites are similar to limestones and dolomites in terms of the oxygen isotopic composition (δ¹⁸O = 17.6–24.8, δ¹⁸O_av = 20.0 ± 2.4‰), but are marked by low δ¹³C values (from ?6.3 to ?12.0‰ (δ¹³C_av = ?8.6 ± 2.1‰), suggesting the formation of microconcretions during early diagenesis. Siderite microconcretions were formed in the clayey-silty sediment slightly after glauconite, whose grains could serve as crystallization centers and (or) be entrapped during the growth of separate microcrystals. The role of catalyzers during the formation of both glauconite and siderite was played by bacterial communities, whose poorly preserved remnants have been detected not only in the studied member of the lower Khaipakh subformation, but also above and below the section. Separate types of microconcretion could be formed during the replacement of oncolites by siderite.