Glacial dispersal studies using indicator minerals and till geochemistry around two eastern Finland kimberlites

Diamondiferous kimberlites occur in eastern Finland, in the areas of Kaavi–Kuopio and Kuhmo. Active diamond exploration has been ongoing in the country for over two decades, but the Karelian craton still remains under explored given its size and potential. In order to develop techniques that can be applied to diamond exploration in glaciated terrains, the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) carried out a detailed heavy mineral and geochemical survey of Quaternary till in 2001–2003 around two of the known kimberlitic bodies in Finland, Pipe 7 in Kaavi and Dyke 16 in Kuhmo. The mineralogical and geochemical signatures of these two kimberlites were studied in the basal till deposited down-ice from the targets. The kimberlites were selected to represent two different types in terms of shape, size, age and petrology, as well as showing contrasting country rocks and Quaternary deposits. Till samples up to 60 kg in weight were taken by excavator and by drill rig. Kimberlitic indicator mineral grains (0.25–1.0 mm) were concentrated using a GTK modified 3″Knelson Concentrator. Fine fractions (< 0.063 mm) of selected samples were analyzed by XRF and ICP-MS. The indicator grains down-ice from Pipe 7 form a well-defined fan in the basal till that can be followed for at least 2 km with a maximum concentration at 1.2 km distance from the pipe. Another kimberlitic body discovered during the study 300 m down-ice from Pipe 7 demonstrates that there are in fact at least two superimposed indicator fans. The results do not rule out the possibility of even more undiscovered kimberlitic sources in the area. In contrast, the indicator dispersal trail from Dyke 16 is shorter (1 km) and less well-defined than that at Kaavi, mainly due to the lower indicator content in the kimberlite itself and subsequently in till, as well as a large population of background chromites in till. The latter population is likely having been derived from the Archean Näätäniemi serpentinite massif and the associated ultramafic metavolcanics of the Kuhmo greenstone belt, located ca. 30 km up-ice from the sampling area. The indicator maximum at Seitaperä dyke swarm occurs immediately down-ice from the kimberlite, after which the concentration drops rapidly. Results of this study contribute to the overall understanding of the Quaternary history of the Kaavi and Kuhmo areas, and more importantly, provide key information to diamond exploration in these particular regions and also elsewhere in glaciated terrains.     

Abundance and degree of residency of humpback dolphins Sousa plumbea in Mossel Bay,South Africa

Indian Ocean humpback dolphins Sousa plumbea inhabit nearshore waters from South Africa to eastern India. Humpback dolphins are vulnerable to conservation threats due to their naturally small population sizes and use of nearshore habitats, where human activities are highest. We investigated the abundance and residency of this species inhabiting Mossel Bay, South Africa, using photographic mark-recapture. Data were collected during 81 surveys in Mossel Bay between 2011 and 2013. Open population modelling using the POPAN parameterisation produced a ‘super-population’ estimate of 125 individuals (95% CI: 61–260) and within-year estimates of between 33 and 86 individuals (2011: 71 [95% CI: 30–168]; 2012: 33 [15–73], 32 [15–70]; 2013: 46 [20–108]). Although less appropriate, closed capture models were also run for comparison with previous studies in the region and generated similar, but slightly smaller, population estimates within each year. We compared our catalogue with opportunistic data collected from East London, Plettenberg Bay, De Hoop and Gansbaai. The only catalogue matches attained were between Plettenberg Bay (n = 44 identified) and Mossel Bay (n = 67 identified), separated by 140?km. Population exchange was moderate, with nine individuals resighted in multiple years between these two areas. This study supports previous findings of long-range movements for this species and provides a baseline from which to assess future impacts on the population.     

MULTIVARIATE RESPONSE SURFACE MODELLING BY PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS ANALYSIS

Analysis of multivariate response data by modelling the principal components of the response has beenapplied to two sets of data. In both cases principal components analysis revealed the relationships amongthe response variables and exploited them to simplify the problem of modelling and optimizing themultivariate response. The models and optima obtained from the principal components comparedfavourably with the individual models and simultaneous optima.     

Trends in 1,4-Dioxane Analyses: Implications for Identification and Characterization of Contaminated Groundwater Sites

1,4-Dioxane is a contaminant of emerging concern, and there is significant uncertainty about how its environmental occurrence in groundwater is being assessed given the various analytical methods available. This study compiled public sampling records from 2000 to 2019 that included >106,000 analyses of 1,4-dioxane from 822 different U.S. sites. The 1,4-dioxane detection frequency in the entire dataset (including all methods) was 45%, and the median detected concentration was 10 μg/L, highlighting the dilute nature of 1,4-dioxane in environmental media and the importance of selecting methods with adequate sensitivity. The annual distribution of samples analyzed by each method type confirmed a shift towards methods designed for semi-volatile compounds (Method 8270 and Method 8270 SIM) that exhibited consistently lower reporting limits (median reporting limit for each year typically ≤1 μg/L). In contrast, the method designed for volatile compounds (Method 8260) exhibited less sensitivity for 1,4-dioxane (median reporting limit per year between 40 and 100 μg/L) and its use declined significantly over time with increasing use of the moderately sensitive Method 8260 SIM in later years. This shift contributed to an increase in the 1,4-dioxane detection frequency over time, with a strong correlation between the annual detection frequency and the median reporting limit. Sites where 1,4-dioxane was analyzed but not detected overwhelmingly used less-sensitive methods that may not have been adequate for the expected concentration levels. Given the sub-μg/L groundwater criteria issued for 1,4-dioxane by some regulatory agencies, more sensitive and accurate methods will be increasingly needed to assess compliance.     

Determination of refractory gold distribution by microanalysis, diagnostic leaching and image analysis

Summary Samples of drill core, ore and concentrates from the Proterozoic Suurikuusikko Au deposit, Kittilä, Central Lapland were studied by optical microscopy, image analysis, Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (SIMS), trace gold analysis by electron microprobe, and diagnostic leaching techniques to characterize the mode of occurrence of the gold. The main ore minerals are pyrite, arsenopyrite and gersdorffite, and the minor ore minerals include chalcopyrite, sphalerite, tetrahedrite, galena, bournonite and rutile. Graphite is found in all samples as microcrystalline grains. Pyrite, arsenopyrite and occasionally gersdorffite occur as disseminated intimately intergrown grains and as large grain aggregates. Diagnostic leaching tests show that an average of only 4.1% of the gold is in cyanide leachable form i.e. free gold, whereas on average 57% of the gold is bound to pyrite and arsenopyrite as inclusions or as lattice gold. The weight percentage of arsenopyrite and pyrite in the concentrate determined with image analysis on backscattered electron images is 65.2 and 34.7, respectively. Trace Au analyses done with EPMA using the Australian CSIRO-TRACE program from the drill core samples and concentrates show that the average gold content in pyrite is 46 ppm (192 analyses) and in arsenopyrite 279 ppm (136 analyses). The CSIRO-TRACE microprobe analyses correspond favourably to SIMS analyses, e.g. 69 ppm for pyrite (16 analyses) and 217 ppm for arsenopyrite (22 analyses). The distribution of gold in concentrates was calculated as free gold 4.1%, gold in pyrite 22.7%, and gold in arsenopyrite 73.2%. Both arsenopyrite and pyrite show strong zoning when treated for 1–2 min with KMnO₄ dissolved in sulphuric acid, and trace Au microprobe analyses show that the zonal bands reflect different concentrations of gold in the minerals. Free gold was not found by optical microscopy, but a rare mineral search technique using TURBO-SCAN runs on the drill core samples and concentrates located 111 gold grains. The grains have a large compositional variation from silver-bearing gold to electrum and Au-Ag-amalgam.

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Bestimmung der refraktären Goldverteilung durch Mikroanalyse, diagnostisches Leaching und Bildanalyse

Zusammenfassung Proben von Bohrkernen, Erzen und Konzentraten aus der proterozoischen Goldlagerstätte Suurikuusikko, Kittilä, Zentrallappland, wurden mittels optischer Mikroskopie, Bildanalyse, Sakundär ionen messenspektrographie (SIMS), Gold-Spurenanalyse mit der Elektronen-Mikrosonde (EMS) und mit diagnostischen Lösungsverfahren untersucht, um die Art des Auftretens des Goldes zu charakterisieren. Die Haupterzminerale sind Pyrit, Arsenopyrit und Gersdorffit. Nebengemengteile sind Chalcopyrit, Zinkblende, Tetrahedrit, Bleiglanz, Bournonit sowie Rutil. Graphit kommt in allen Proben in Form mikrokristalliner Körner vor. Pyrit, Arsenkies und gelegentlich auch Gersdorffit treten als Imprägnation in engster Verwachsung und in Form größerer Kornaggregate auf. Diagnostische Lösungsversuche haben gezeigt, daß durchschnittlich nur 4.1% des Goldes von Cyanid gelöst wird, i.e. als Freigold vorliegt, während 57% des Goldes an Einschlüsse und in dem Gitter von Pyrit und Arsenkies gebunden ist. Mittels Bildanalyse an BSE- Bildern konnte der Anteil von Arsenkies in den Konzentraten mit 65.2, der Anteil von Pyrit mit 34.7 Gew.% ermittelt werden. Spurenanalyse auf Gold an Bohrkernproben und Konzentraten mit der EMS, unter Benützung des australischen CSIRO-TRACE Programmes, zeigen, daß der durchschnittliche Goldgehalt von Pyrit bei 46 ppm (192 Analysen), jener von Arsenkies bei 279 (136 Analysen) liegt. Die CSIRO-TRAGE Mikrosondenanalysen stimmen bevorzugt mit SIMS Analysen überein; z.B. Pyrit: 69 ppm (16 Analysen), Arsenkies: 217 ppm (22 Analysen). Die Berechnung der Goldverteilung in den Konzentraten ergibt 4.1% freies Gold, 22.7% Gold in Pyrit, und 73.2% Gold in Arsenkies. Sowohl Arsenkies als auch Pyrit zeigen starken Zonarbau, nachdem sie für 1–2 min mit in Schwefelsäure gelöstem KMnO₄ behandelt wurden. Die Mikrosondenanalysen auf Gold belegen, daß die einzelnen Wachstumszonen mit unterschiedlichen Goldkonzentrationen korrelieren. Freies Gold konnte nicht mittels normaler optischer Mikroskopie gefunden werden, aber mit dem Programm TURBO-SCAN für das automatische Suchen nach seltenen Mineralen an Bohrkernproben und Konzentraten konnte man 111 Goldkörner lokalisieren. Die Körner zeigen eine große Variation in ihrer Zusammensetzung, die von silberführendem Gold über Elektrum bis hin zu Au-Ag-Amalgamreicht.

     

Impact of different sea surface roughness on surface gravity waves using a coupled atmosphere–wave model: a case of Hurricane Isaac (2012)

Ocean Dynamics - The complicated pattern of the chaotic ocean surface depends strongly on the interaction between wind and waves. An accurate representation of momentum and energy exchange at...     

Re-Mo-Cu-Os sulphide from the Ekojoki Ni-Cu deposit,SW Finland

Summary This short communication reports the discovery and composition of the first Os-bearing rhenium sulphide. It occurs as a single euhedral crystal in the early Proterozoic Ekojoki Ni-Cu deposit in Finland, being enclosed by interstitial magmatic Fe-Ni sulphides. Electron microprobe analyses are most consistent with a general formula of Cu(Re,Os,Mo)₅S₉. The Re-Os model age calculations indicate that approximately 2/3 osmium is "common" Os that was accommodated by the sulphide at the time of crystallisation, 1/3 being produced via post-crystallisation decay of¹⁸⁷,Re to^{18 7}Os. We propose that this sulphide crystallised from an immiscible sulphide liquid that was unusually rich in rhenium due to extensive assimilation of black schist sulphides by the magma.With 2 Figures     

Indoor Air Background Levels of Volatile Organic Compounds and Air-Phase Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Office Buildings and Schools

A background indoor air study has been completed which includes the collection of indoor air samples from office buildings and schools. The anonymous study was designed with input from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The sampling was implemented in 2013, 2014, and 2015 and included the collection of 25 school building samples and 61 office building samples. The study generated 14,668 new indoor air background data points, with samples collected from buildings located in 26 cities in 18 states, including Arizona, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Utah, and Washington. Indoor air background concentrations of target compound volatile organic compounds (VOCs) ranged from less than the laboratory method reporting limit of 0.044 μg/m³ to concentrations up to 1190 μg/m³, with hydrocarbon ranges from less than the reporting method limit of 10 μg/m³ to concentrations up to 3000 μg/m³. Some VOCs were identified ubiquitously in indoor air background, and some were identified at concentrations which exceeded risk-based regulatory screening levels. These study results provide useful and updated information on indoor air background and air quality in offices and schools and can be used in future regulatory guidance update considerations, for further examination of relationships between these data and residential study data, in human health risk assessments and risk communication, and in planning future studies.     

DISCRIMINANT PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS ANALYSIS

When the number of variables exceeds the number of samples, one method of multivariate discriminationis to use principal components analysis to reduce the dimensionality and then to perform canonicalvariates analysis (PC-CVA). This paper proposes an alternative approach in which discriminant analysisis carried out by a weighted principal component analysis of the group means (DPCA). This method doesnot require prior data reduction and produces discriminant factors that are orthogonal in the original dataspace. The theory and performance of the two methods are compared. Although the individual factors ofDPCA are found to be less discriminating than PC-CVA, the overall discrimination, calculated bymultivariate analysis of variance, and the predictive value, estimated by the leaving-one-out error rate,are broadly comparable.