Micro-XANES mapping of sulphur and its association with magnesium and phosphorus in the shell of the brachiopod, Terebratulina retusa

Biominerals are natural composite materials comprising organic and inorganic components. Detailed knowledge of the nature and distribution of both components is a crucial requirement in order to advance our understanding of biomineral formation, their material properties and preservation potential as well as the interpretation of environmental data. Detailed chemical data are essential for our understanding of the nature and distribution of such components. Micro-XANES mapping at the sulphur K-edge reveals that, in the brachiopod Terebratulina retusa, the sulphate concentration is higher in the outer (primary) layer than in the calcite fibres of the secondary layer. This is co-incident with a higher magnesium concentration. In contrast, the sheaths surrounding the calcite fibres contain sulphur as thiol, confirming the presence of protein while, the sulphur within the fibres themselves, occurs as sulphate. Micro-XANES analysis of the insoluble organic extract from T. retusa indicates the presence of organic sulphate while Micro-Raman spectroscopy confirms that structurally substituted sulphate (SSS) is also present although semi-quantitative Raman spectroscopy carried out in this spectral region (wavenumbers 900–1200) indicates that the sulphate present is at the threshold of detection by Raman spectroscopy. The distribution of phosphorus in the shell of T. retusa correlates well with that of protein indicating the presence of phosphorylated proteins in the periostracum, the sheaths surrounding the calcite fibres and the interface between the primary and secondary layer.     

Benthic mineralization rates at two locations in the southern North Sea

Benthic oxygen uptake, sulphate reduction and benthic bacterial production were measured at two contrasting locations in the southern North Sea: the shallow and turbulent Broad Fourteens area in the Southern Bight, and the deeper Oyster Grounds, a deposition area, where thermohaline stratification occurs during summer. Oxygen uptake and sulphate reduction showed a clear seasonal pattern in the Broad Fourteens area, indicating a supply of carbon to the benthic system that is closely related to the standing stock of carbon in the water column. This close benthic-pelagic coupling is probably due to the influence of the tide in this part of the North Sea, which keeps the water column permanently mixed. At the Oyster Grounds, no seasonal pattern was observed. Peaks in oxygen uptake and sulphate reduction were found in winter. Irregularly occurring events, such as storms and fishery-related activities, are likely to affect the benthic mineralization patterns in this area. Annual benthic carbon mineralization rates estimated from oxygen uptake rates were 44 gC·m⁻² at the Broad Fourteens, and 131 gC·m⁻² at the Oyster Grounds, of which 26 and 28%, respectively, could be attributed to sulphate reduction (assuming an annual sulphide reoxidation rate of 100%). Although sulphate reduction rates in the southern North Sea are higher than previously suggested, aerobic respiration is the most important pathway for benthic carbon mineralization at the stations visited. Production rates of benthic bacterial carbon measured with labelled leucine were much higher than carbon mineralization rates based on oxygen uptake or sulphate reduction. This may either imply a very high bacterial carbon conversion efficiency, or point to shortcomings in the accuracy of the techniques. A critical evaluation of the techniques is recommended.     

Interstitial water chemistry of the inner continental shelf sediments off the gironde estuary

The interstitial water composition ( , alkalinity, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Sr²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) and the cation exchange capacity (CEC) were determined for the muddy sediments of the continental shelf off the Gironde Estuary (France), in the area where the sediment represents the deposit of the muddy suspension of the river. In comparison with seawater concentrations, the pore waters below 10 cm depth, show depletions of and Ca²⁺ and below a 30 cm depth show depletions of Mg²⁺. Inversely, the upper 10 cm an enrichment of Ca²⁺ concentration, and an increase of K⁺ concentration to a 40 cm depth. High values of are observed at the top 4 cm. Alkalinity enrichment is observed along the length of the core. Applying the alkalinity models for the sediment below a 10 cm depth demonstrates generally that calculated alkalinities are higher than the measured ones. Ca²⁺ dissolution occurs at the first 10 cm and authigenic carbonate precipitation starts beneath that level. Mg²⁺ depletion is accompanied by bicarbonate loss. This proves that Mg²⁺ depletion is due to a Mg-silicate reaction. The result of the CEC does not confirm the Mg²⁺ uptake by clay minerals in exchangeable site, under reducing conditions. Diffusion and bioturbation play an important role in the pore water concentration at the top of the core.     

低硼氢氧化镁的制备及热分解动力学参数

本文以水合氯化镁、工业氨水为原料制备出了低硼含量的纯度 >99%的氢氧化镁和氧化镁。利用差热 -热重 (DTA- TG)、X-射线衍射 (XRD)、透射电子显微镜 (TEM)等手段 ,对氢氧化镁的热稳定性、相结构、表观状态以及脱水动力学参数进行了分析。结果为 :氢氧化镁以束状纤维和片状粉末共存 ,在 6 2 3K基本完成脱水反应生成氧化镁 ,其脱水反应的表观活化能 E为135 .4 k J· mol-1,指前因子 A为 5 .15× 10 10 ,反应级数 n为 1.10     

Growth Aspects and Magnesium Carbonate Concentrations of the Reef Building Octocoral Heliopora coerulea (Pallas) after Transplantation

Abstract. An experiment to test C have's hypothesis on temperature dependent MgCO₃ concentrations in marine calcareous skeletons was undertaken by transplanting colonies of Heliopora coerulea. The corals were transferred from a shallow lagoon with high average temperatures to the outer bottom of a fringing reef, 16 m depth, with low average temperatures. Against expectation, a statistically significant increase of average mol % concentrations from 0.48 to 0.54 % for upper growth regions and from 0.49 to 0.62% for lower growth regions was obtained. Temperature records during the experimentation period and the above data indicate that the mol% MgCO₃ concentration in the skeleton of living Heliopora colonies increases when transplanted to an environment with a lower temperature average than that of their original growth site, and with seasonal temperature fluctuations which are smaller in the experimental site than in the control site. Temperature fluctuations at the control site were up to 2.5 times greater than at the experimental site for most of the observation months. This supports the conclusion that the parameters a) minimum temperature and b) temperature stability of the environment are essential for the incorporation of Mg into the carbonate skeleton matrix of marine organisms. Within this study the results of a quantitative chemical analysis of the carbonate skeleton of H. coerulea are presented and growth data of transplanted colonies compared with those from the control site.     

利用不纯净十水芒硝与纯净氯化钾制取硫酸钾的研究

本文通过相图分析，对利用不纯净十水芒硝与纯净氯化钾通过二步转化制取硫酸钾进行了物料配比计算．给出了最佳物料配比及十水芒硝中氯离子的最大含量，对实际生产有指导意义。     

Effect of environmental factors on the flora of alluvial fans in southern Sinai

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the floristic and structural characteristics of simple alluvial fan vegetation of southern Sinai and to relate them to environmental variation. The main question addressed was: how does the floristic composition of fan habitats, species richness and life-form vary in relation to environmental change? Thirty-seven alluvial fans, randomly selected in two mainwadis(WadiFeiran andWadiDahab) were analysed quantitively. Two-way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN) classification and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) were applied in successive stages of the data analysis to describe vegetational variation in relation to physical gradients. Seven main clusters of fans were defined on the basis of environmental variation. These clusters are divided into three main groups of species richness. Species richness varied along a moisture gradient. The richest fans were the driest habitats, indicating that maximum species richness did not occur at high moisture availability. The moisture gradient is a complex gradient correlated with elevation, slope, climatic aridity, soil texture and the nature of the soil surface. Fine sand, silt plus clay and calcium carbonate showed significant differences between the internal groups and subgroups of the first and second level of the TWINSPAN classification.     

A Reflection on Mg, Cd, Ca, Li and Si Isotopic Measurements and Related Reference Materials

This contribution aims to report the reflections we had with the scientific community during two international workshops on reference materials for stable isotopes in Davos (2002) and Nice (2003). After evaluating the isotopic homogeneity of some existing reference materials, based on either certificates, literature data or specific inter-laboratory rounds, we confirm these as primary reference materials or propose new ones relative to which stable isotope compositions should be reported. We propose DSM-3 for Mg, NIST SRM 915a for Ca, L-SVEC for Li and NBS28 for Si. Cadmium does not yet have a well identified delta zero material, although three commercial mono-elemental Cd solutions have yielded the same isotopic composition relative to one another. In order to scale the linearity of any mass spectrometer, some secondary reference materials are also proposed: Cambridge-1 solution for Mg, the "Münster-Cd" and JEPPIM Cd solutions for Cd and the "Big Batch" silicate for Si. The team from Nancy propose to prepare a mixed spike solution for Li isotopes. Well-characterised natural samples such as ocean or continental waters, diatoms, sponges, rocks and minerals are needed to validate the entire analytical procedure, particularly to take into account the effect of sample mineralisation and of chemical manipulations for elemental separation prior to analysis.     

基于硫酸盐还原菌作用的油菜秆固定床处理模拟含Cr（Ⅵ）废水

探讨了固定床除Cr工艺以油菜秆为微生物生长的缓释碳源,含SRB的混合微生物和油菜秆对Cr（Ⅵ）的还原和固定的共同作用。动态实验分2阶段开展：初始2周的驯化阶段和梯度增加Cr（Ⅵ）浓度的除Cr实验阶段。除Cr实验中,间歇对固定床出水pH、氧化还原电位、SO42-及硫化物浓度、DOC、Cr（Ⅵ）浓度进行测试,实验结束后对固定床中固体产物进行SEM、EDS和XPS等分析。结果表明,油菜秆固定床处理模拟含Cr（Ⅵ）废水效果明显。当进水Cr（Ⅵ）浓度ρ[Cr（Ⅵ）]〈19.52 mg/L时,出水Cr（Ⅵ）和Cr（Ⅲ）浓度均低于排放标准（0.05 mg/L）;Cr（Ⅵ）被还原为Cr（Ⅲ）,Cr（Ⅲ）以氢氧化物的形式沉淀附着于油菜秆和其它固体物质之上。分析认为,油菜秆在固定床处理模拟含Cr（Ⅵ）废水中所起的作用主要包括3方面（作为微生物生长的缓释碳源;吸附Cr（Ⅵ）,降低其对微生物的毒性;作为Cr（Ⅲ）矿化产物的沉淀附着界面）;Cr（Ⅵ）主要通过SRB的直接作用及H2S的作用被还原为Cr（Ⅲ）;以油菜秆为碳源的固定床处理Cr（Ⅵ）的浓度上限介于15.05～19.52mg/L之间。     

广西宜州裂陷槽晚古生代演化与早石炭世沉积锰矿分布*

滇黔桂地区晚古生代浅水碳酸盐岩台地与深水硅泥质盆地共存的古地理格局,是在加里东期褶皱基底上发生裂陷及差异沉降而发展起来的。广西宜州—柳州一带既是晚古生代上扬子碳酸盐岩地台南缘1条重要的沉积相分界线,也是晚古生代桂中和桂北地层分区、古生代—中生代雪峰山南段构造体系和桂中坳陷构造体系的分界线。文中通过对宜山—柳州一带晚古生代地层的区域对比和成因分析,恢复了桂中宜山—柳州地区晚古生代沉积盆地的演化历史。狭长型宜州裂陷槽盆地西起丹池断裂,向东经龙头、北牙、宜州延伸至柳州。自中泥盆世开始,首先在东西两端开始裂陷下沉,至早石炭世发展成型。受北侧来自江南隆起带陆源碎屑物质充填影响,其表现为南北不对称并在早石炭世晚期被填平。在宜州裂陷槽内发育多处早石炭世沉积型碳酸锰矿,含矿地层分布、地层序列及其沉积背景明显与裂陷槽演化有关。它们既是盆地演化历史的见证,也体现了桂中地区裂陷海槽的特色,值得在后续锰矿成因研究中予以重视。