Early Proterozoic syn-and postcollision granites in the northern part of the Baikal fold area

Early Proterozoic granitoids are of a limited occurrence in the Baikal fold area being confined here exclusively to an arcuate belt delineating the outer contour of Baikalides, where rocks of the Early Precambrian basement are exposed. Geochronological and geochemical study of the Kevakta granite massif and Nichatka complex showed that their origin was related with different stages of geological evolution of the Baikal fold area that progressed in diverse geodynamic environments. The Nichatka complex of syncollision granites was emplaced 1908 ± 5 Ma ago, when the Aldan-Olekma microplate collided with the Nechera terrane. Granites of the Kevakta massif (1846 ± 8 Ma) belong to the South Siberian postcollision magmatic belt that developed since ～1.9 Ga during successive accretion of microplates, continental blocks and island arcs to the Siberian craton. In age and other characteristics, these granites sharply differ from granitoids of the Chuya complex they have been formerly attributed to. Accordingly, it is suggested to divide the former association of granitoids into the Chuya complex proper of diorite-granodiorite association ～2.02 Ga old (Neymark et al., 1998) with geochemical characteristics of island-arc granitoids and the Chuya-Kodar complex of postcollision S-type granitoids 1.85 Ga old. The Early Proterozoic evolution of the Baikal fold area and junction zone with Aldan shield lasted about 170 m.y. that is comparable with development periods of analogous structures in other regions of the world.     

Regional Air Quality Modelling in Canada – Applications for Policy and Real-Time Prediction

Acid rain and photochemical smog are two regionalair-quality issues that have received considerableattention in the last two decades due to their harmfuleffects. Health impacts of particulate matter (PM) inthe atmosphere is another issue of concern.Sulphur dioxide emission controls were introducedin both Canada and the U.S.A. to reduceacid-deposition-related damage. While these emissionreductions have already resulted in reduced sulphatedeposition, based on results from modelling studiesmuch of southeastern Canada is still expected toexperience damaging levels of acid deposition evenafter all currently legislated emission controls arefully implemented. Moreover, there has not been acorresponding reduction in the acidity ofprecipitation. This may be attributable to aconcurrent reduction in base-cation concentration inprecipitation.Models were also developed to understand theformation, transport and diffusion of troposphericozone. The models have been used to provide policyguidance for emission control options to reduceground-level ozone to acceptable limits. In thesummer of 1997 a Canadian pilot project was initiatedto provide real-time forecasts of ground-level ozonein the southeastern part of the province of NewBrunswick in eastern Canada.With the emergence of fine Particulate Matter(PM_2.5) as a health concern, efforts are underwayin Canada to develop a unified' regional air-qualitymodel that will address the combined impacts ofvarious pollutants in the atmosphere. In this effortthe atmosphere is viewed as a single entity where theimpacts of multiple pollutants are considered at thesame time.     

Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic systems in basalts of the Franz Josef Land Archipelago

Rb, Sr, Sm, Nd, U, and Pb contents and Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic composition were determined in tholeiite and subalkaline basalts (in both whole-rock samples and individual minerals) from the Franz Josef Land Archipelago. Isotopic data obtained for the Arctic basin are similar to those for islands from the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. The assimilation of crustal (sedimentary) rocks by primary depleted material makes isochron determination of basalt age difficult or impossible. The subalkaline basalts (basaltic andesites) were presumably formed by the metasomatic introduction of incompatible elements in tholeiitic basalts and, only partially, through crustal contamination and fractional crystallization.     

Magnetic parameters and variations in the composition of igneous rocks of the Franz Josef Land archipelago

A combined study of magnetic parameters of basalt and andesite samples is performed in the framework of geological investigations of the Franz Josef Land at the paleomagnetic laboratory of Munich University. The study included the determination of the coercivity, saturation magnetization, Curie points, natural remanent magnetization (NRM), and magnetic susceptibility and the examination of ferromagnetic minerals with a microscope. Data on the chemical composition of rocks are obtained for all samples, and radiological ages are determined for the majority of rocks.Thermomagnetic curves of samples are subdivided into four types depending on the composition of ferromagnetic NRM carriers.The data obtained point to multiple changes in the predominant composition of igneous rocks. Each stage of magmatism is characterized by a specific type of the ferromagnetic component in the rocks and, therefore, magnetomineralogical investigations can be used for differentiation and correlation of the igneous rocks.     

The outlook for the discovery of new types of economic uranium deposits in the Kodar-Udokan zone of the Transbaikal territory in Russia

On the basis of detailed fieldwork and analytical procedures (microprobe, X-ray diffraction, chemical analysis, etc.), ores and altered wall-rock rocks of the Khadatkanda and Etyrko deposits in the Kodar-Udokan mineragenic zone were studied. Economic concentrations of gold and some other accompanying metals have been established in ore of the Khadatkanda uranium deposit in the Syul’ban uranium district. REE-U lodes with brannerite-uraninite have been found at the Etyrko Fe-Ti-V deposit related to the Chinei layered pluton in the Udokan mining district. The outlook for the discovery of new types of economic uranium deposits is substantiated with respect to the known hydrothermal uranium ore objects and nontraditional setting related to the layered mafic-ultramafic intrusions.     

Recycling in the metals industry

In 1990, scrap was a major feedstock component of U.S. metals production. Steel scrap represented 56% of raw steel production, old lead scrap was 66% of total lead production, and purchased aluminum scrap represented 37% of total production. Copper scrap makes up 44% of total U.S. copper consumption annually. Although some recycling operations, such as past (but now obsolete) lead-acid battery breaking and the use of high salt fluxes on aluminum drosses have created environmental problems, the recovery of obsolete autos, cast or extruded products, appliances, lead-acid batteries, beverage containers, and drosses represents major environmental benefits in terms of reduced litter, landfill wastes, and energy savings. Evolving technologies, marketing concepts, and regulations promise even higher levels of recycling in the future. The cumulative amounts of aluminum, copper, lead, and ferrous scrap that would have had to be absorbed by our environment as discards during the period 1965–1990 had they not been recycled totaled more than 2.2 billion tons, just for the four metal groups. Concurrently, huge energy savings were realized and environmental benefits achieved through reduced emissions associated with generating that energy.Correspondence should be directed to: Earle B. Amey, U.S. Geological Survey, National Center 983, Reston, Virginia 20192.     

Deposition and remobilization of uranium in the North Baikal region: Evidence from the U-Pb isotopic systems of uranium ores

Based on the study of local volumes of minerals, including their microsampling and subsequent analysis of Pb/Pb and U/Pb isotope ratios with the classic methods of isotopic dilution and thermoionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), U-Pb and Pb-Pb isotopic datings of minerals were carried out in uranium ores from deposits in the Akitkan and Nechera-Nichatka ore districts (North Baikal region). Reliable evidence in favor of the Middle Devonian (384 ± 8 Ma) remobilization of Paleoproterozoic primary uranium concentrations and the redeposition of uranium as pitchblende 2 has been obtained for the first time for ores of the Akitkan district. The Paleoproterozoic (1832 ± 13 Ma) age of uraninite mineralization and the timing of the latest (377 ± 5 Ma) transformation of uranium ores at the Chepok deposit (Nechera-Nichatka district) are substantiated.