Optical Spectroscopy and Near-Infrared Observations of Comet C/2000 Wm1 (Linear) in December 2001 from Chile and Brazil

We report on the preliminary analysis of the high-resolution spectrum of CometC/2000 WM1 (LINEAR), obtained on Dec. 1, 2001 with the Fiber fed ExtendedRange Optical Spectrograph (FEROS) installed on the 1.52-m telescope of ESO(Chile). Many emission lines of the molecules C₂, C₃, CN, CH, CH⁺,NH₂, CO, CO⁺, H₂O⁺ and, presumably, C₂ ^- were identifiedin the spectral range 400–900 nm. Also, near-infrared photometry was performed on Dec. 2 and 3, with the infraredcamera (CamIV) attached to the 0.60-m Boller and Chivens telescope of the Picodos Dias Observatory (LNA/MCT), Brazil. We report the preliminary and comparativeanalysis of the I-J and J-H color indices.     

Florida Bay: Modern analogue for Lofer cyclothems?

Lofer cyclothems of the Alpine Upper Triassic have many features in common with Holocene sediments of Florida Bay. The modal ‘complete’ Lofer cycle is essentially symmetrical, having a deepening and shoaling phase, as does the cycle-in-progress in Florida Bay. Lateral discontinuity and thickness variations within members of the Lofer cyclothems indicate syn-depositional relief, possibly in the form of mud banks, the signature feature of Florida Bay sedimentation. Spatial and temporal dimensions, although poorly constrained, appear comparable. Analogous depositional textures, biota and sedimentary structures, while not unique to either environment, strengthen the inferences that can be made about the Triassic depositional environment and regarding future evolution of the modern environment. The striking similarities between the Holocene icehouse sediments and the Late Triassic greenhouse deposits suggest that sedimentation patterns at the scale of individual cycles or parasequences may be largely independent of the global climate regime.     

Removal of Fluoride from Aqueous Solutions by Adsorption Using a Siliceous Mineral of a Kenyan Origin

The problem of high fluoride in water sources in Africa and the rest of the developing world has exacerbated in the latest past due to increasing shortage of water. More people are being exposed to high water fluoride resulting in elevated levels of fluorosis in the societies. Fluoride (F) adsorption from solutions using a siliceous mineral from Kenya (M1) was studied on batch basis and results verified on high fluoride water using fixed‐bed column experiments. About 100% batch F adsorption was achieved at 200 mg/L F concentration, 0.5 g/mL adsorbent dosage, 303–333 K, and pH 3.4 ± 0.2. Based on Giles classifications, F adsorption isotherm was found to be an H3 type isotherm. The equilibrium data was correlated to Freundlich and Langmuir models and the maximum Langmuir adsorption capacity was found to be 12.4 mg/g. Column experiments were conducted for different fluoride concentrations, bed depths, and flow rates. The F breakthrough curves were analyzed using the Thomas model and efficient F adsorption was found to occur at low flow rates and low influent concentrations. The Thomas F adsorption capacity (11.7 mg/g) was consistent with the Langmuir isotherm capacity showing that M1 could be applied as an inexpensive medium for water defluoridation.     

Patterns of basin fill in Triassic turbidites of the Nanpanjiang basin: implications for regional tectonics and impacts on carbonate‐platform evolution

The Nanpanjiang Basin occurs in a key position for resolving controversies of basin tectonics and patterns of plate assembly at the junction between south China and Southeast Asian plates. Paleocurrent measurements indicate that siliciclastic turbidites in the basin were sourced by the Precambrian Jiangnan uplift to the northeast, the Precambrian Yunkai uplift to the southeast and the Triassic Songma suture to the south. Detrital zircon geochronology reveals Archean (2500 Ma), Paleoproterozoic (1800–1900 Ma), Neoproterozoic (900–1000 Ma) and Paleozoic (420–460 Ma) ages consistent with derivation from the Jiangnan and Yunkai uplifts. A large Permian‐Triassic peak of 250 Ma is present in the southern basin and attenuates northward suggesting derivation from an arc developed along the Songma suture. Sandstone QFL compositions average 65/12/23% and plot in the recycled orogen field except for a few samples in the southern basin that fall in the dissected arc field. The compositions are consistent with derivation from Precambrian basement that includes orogenic complexes. In the southern basin, Middle Triassic turbidites contain greater lithics and feldspars and Lower Triassic turbidites have volcaniclastic composition consistent with derivation from a southerly arc. Our preferred interpretation is evolution from remnant basin to a large peripheral foreland with southward subduction and convergence with Indochina along the Songma suture. The previously proposed Dian‐Qiong zone is not a suture as its map location places it within carbonate platforms bounded by identical stratigraphy. The Nan‐Uttaradit zone is too distant to have provided voluminous siliciclastic flux to the basin. The Nanpanjiang Basin provides an example of the evolution of an exceptionally large foreland with far‐field rejuvenation of Precambrian uplifts and carbonate platforms that were significantly influenced by siliciclastic flux. The timing and pattern of turbidite basin fill impacted platform evolution by enabling margin progradation in areas proximal to siliciclastic sources, whereas platforms distant from sources were driven to aggradation and extreme relief with large‐scale gravitational sector collapse.     

Coproduced Ground Water Treatment and Disposal Options During Hydrocarbon Recovery Operations

Reinjection of untreated ground water during hydrocarbon recovery operations provides for economical water handling and can accelerate the recovery of the free hydrocarbons. However, considering current regulatory trends, water containing dissolved hydrocarbon constituents would require treatment prior to reinjection into the aquifer. The disposal of coproduced ground water is dependent on several factors, including the volume of water, level of treatment required, and availability of disposal options. Disposal options include reinjection, discharge to surface water, and beneficial use. This paper presents treatment and disposal options for coproduced water during hydrocarbon recovery operations including cost comparisons for a particular case study.
Treatment technologies for oil/water separation, inorganics and heavy metals removal, and dissolved hydrocarbon removal are presented. The primary technologies discussed for dissolved hydrocarbon removal include air stripping, activated carbon adsorption, biological treatment, and combinations of these technologies. Consideration of the use of existing refinery waste water treatment facilities for ground water treatment should be encouraged where applicable. However, separate treatment facilities are usually required because the use of existing on-site treatment facilities is usually not feasible because of the volume of water produced during large recovery projects and the effectiveness of existing treatment facilities. A specific case example is presented with costs for applying different technologies including the use of existing on-site facilities. Treatment costs ranged between 44 cents to $2.82 per thousand gallons (11 cents to 75 cents per thousand liters) of water treated for the specific technologies examined herein.     

Giant sector-collapse structures (scalloped margins) of the Yangtze Platform and Great Bank of Guizhou,China: Implications for genesis of collapsed carbonate platform margin systems

Sector-collapse structures ranging up to 27 km wide with up to 7.7 km bankward erosion (scalloped margins) and linear escarpments occur along the east-north-east-trending, south-facing margins of the Yangtze Platform and Great Bank of Guizhou. Exposure of one of the structures on the rotated limb of a syncline displays the geometry in profile view. Declivities range from 65° to 90° in the upper wall and decrease asymptotically to the toe. Catastrophic collapses of the margins in both platforms occurred during the late Ladinian as constrained by the ages of strata truncated along the margins and the siliciclastic turbidites that onlap collapse structures. Middle Triassic Anisian and Ladinian platform-edge reef facies and platform-interior facies were truncated along both the Yangtze and Great Bank of Guizhou margins. Lower Triassic facies were also truncated along the Great Bank of Guizhou margin. Gravity transport during the main episodes of collapse occurred as mud-rich debris-flows and as mud-free hyper-concentrated flows. Clasts, several to tens of metres and, exceptionally, hundreds of metres across, were transported to the basin. Following collapse, talus, carbonate turbidites and periplatform-mud accumulated at the toe of slope. Shedding of skeletal grains and carbonate mud indicates active carbonate factories at the margin. Preserved sections of the margins demonstrate that the platforms evolved high-relief, accretionary escarpments prior to collapse. High-relief, without buttressing by basin-filling sediments, predisposed the margins to collapse by development of tensile strain and fracturing within the margin due to the lack of confining stress. The linear geometry of margins and active tectonics in the region supports tectonic activity triggering the collapse. Collapse is thus interpreted to have been triggered by fault movement and seismic shock. Comparison with other systems indicates that evolution from high-relief accretion to tectonic collapse of largely lithified margins resulted in large sector-collapse structures and deposition of a coarse, generally mud-poor breccia apron.     

扬子地台与华南南盘江盆地大贵州滩三叠系沉积演化史

扬子地台是一个横跨华南地块的以浅海沉积为主的大型碳酸盐岩台地,南盘江盆地是发育在扬子地台碳酸盐岩台地背景之上的一个沉积盆地,从晚元古代到晚三叠世长期海相沉积演化历史中,扬子地台-南盘江盆地体系经历了多次重要的构造演化阶段.扬子地台从晚元古代到早三叠世末期一直保持为一个稳定的碳酸盐岩台地,在中三叠世末期扬子地块整体抬升,海平面下降,形成了遍及扬子主体的拉丁期大海退,从而使扬子地块大部分地区抬升为陆.南盘江盆地位于华南地块南缘,从晚元古代到晚三叠世沉积了一套厚度巨大的海相碳酸盐岩,晚三叠世发育了一套硅质碎屑的浊流沉积,区域沉积也由此转化为河流相沉积.二叠纪和三叠纪碳酸盐岩地层记录了碳酸盐岩台地长期演化历史及其特征多样的沉积建造和沉积环境,而硅质碎屑流和构造沉降速率的变化反映了盆地在三叠纪期间经历的聚合构造和前陆盆地发展过程.在三叠纪时期扬子地台沿西南-北东方向从云南围绕南盘江盆地向贵州延伸,在南盘江盆地中发育了几个孤立的碳酸盐岩台地,包括位于贵州南部和广西境内的大贵州滩和崇左-平果台地.南盘江盆地在晚二叠世发生过一次区域性的海侵事件,早三叠世时期扬子地台和几个孤立台地为由鲕粒边滩组成的低角度斜坡,中三叠世(安尼期)变为由Tubiphytes边礁组成的陡倾斜坡.盆地范围内斜坡变陡激发了Tubiphytes礁和其它的生物体发育,而且它们组成了稳定碳酸盐岩台地的边缘.位于扬子地台西部地区的关林和贞丰一带与最北部的孤立台地(大贵州滩)在安尼期发育了陡倾的边礁.在拉丁期,扬子地台在关林一带进积并与盆地碎屑沉积互层穿插沉积,而位于贞丰的台地边缘出现了由断层控制的地貌特征.与此同时,扬子地台东部(贵阳)由侵蚀滑塌边缘变为进积边缘,向盆地内部进积充填形成了超过600 m的碎屑沉积.但是,与扬子地台不同,位于最北部的孤立台地(大贵州滩)在拉丁期由加积边缘礁变为起伏明显的侵蚀陡崖和饥饿盆地边缘.晚三叠世(卡尼期)扬子地台西部下沉并被晚三叠世浊流沉积埋藏,而扬子地台东部地区在被硅质碎屑沉积埋藏之前持续沉积了一套浅水碳酸盐岩沉积.孤立台地为从南到北逐渐变陡的边缘沉积,而且发育了多个小丘,其中南部地区早期沉降后来被硅质碎屑沉积埋藏,而北部地区到后期下沉.与扬子地台西部一样,最北部的孤立台地(大贵州滩)在晚三叠世下降被碎屑沉积埋藏.以上这种差异源于华南地块南缘因构造聚合作用导致的盆地南部地区不同沉降速率.大贵州滩是盆地中演化历史最长的孤立台地,穿过大贵州滩孤立台地内部和边缘的两条正交剖面显示出了一个被断层切断的向斜构造,这样就很容易识别其沉积建造特征及演化历史.大贵州滩发育的整合的二叠系-三叠系界线剖面以及从早三叠世到中三叠世生物复苏阶段连续的巨厚沉积,使其成为一个研究二叠世末期生物大绝灭期间的海相环境以及生物生态条件最为理想的地区.