Native aluminium (spherules and particles) in the Central Indian Basin sediments: Implications on the occurrence of hydrothermal events

We have sampled particles of native aluminium (Al°) in two sediment cores from the Central Indian Basin (CIB). The cores are geographically separated but are located at the base of two seamounts. The native Al° particles occurring as grains and spherules, have an average Al content of  95% and are associated with volcanogenic–hydrothermal material. Morphologically and compositionally, the specimens are similar to those reported from the East Pacific Rise. After ruling out several processes for the presence of the native Al°, we hypothesize that during progressive melting of magma, a basaltic magma is produced which has high contents of reductants such as methane and hydrogen, and a low oxygen fugacity. During the upward migration of such magma, reduction to metallic aluminium and the formation of native Al° particles takes place.     

Yixunite and Damiaoite—A Twin of New Native Alloys of Indium and Platinum from the Yanshan Mountains

Yixunite and damiaoite Were found in a cobalt- and copper-bearing platinum ore vein of a contact metasomatic deposit. The chief ore minerals are bornite, chalcopyrite, magnetite and carrollite. The platinum minerals include moncheite, sperrylite, daomanite, cobalt malanite and cooperite. Yixunite and damiaoite occur as immiscible globules, 1.0 to 2.0 mm in diameter. Yixunite is always in the central part of a globule. It is opaque with metallic lustre, bright white colour and black streak. HM = 5.8; VHN50 = 634 kg/mm2 (573-681 kg/ mm2); insoluble in HCl, HNO3, HF or H3PO4; no cleavage; no magnetism. Density is hard to measure because of small grain size. Calculated density = 18.21 g/cm3. Reflective colour is bright white with a yellowish tint. Isotropic. The mean analytical results (ranges) (%) are: Pt 82.8 (81.8-83.6), In 16.4(15.6-17.1) and total 99.2. The empirical formula (based on 4 atoms) is Pt2.993 In1.007 . The five strongest lines of X-ray diffraction (hkl, d,I) are 111, 2.30 (100); 200, 1.99 (     

Local provenance in rehabilitation of degraded landscapes: a case study from the Hawkesbury–Nepean catchment, Australia

Throughout Australia thousands of volunteers are engaged in Landcare projects that should help rehabilitate degraded landscapes. Many of these projects involve tree planting, but their seed is not necessarily of local provenance. Based on a survey of 85 Landcare groups working in the Hawkesbury–Nepean catchment, data were collected about Landcare groups' knowledge of their seed source, understanding of local provenance and the ecosystem in which they were planting trees and the source of funding for their projects. The findings from the study indicate that about one in five (21%) of the groups surveyed that introduced plant material were not aware of local provenance issues. Indirect indications were that a large number of Landcare groups state-wide may be doing more harm than good to the landscape while trying to rehabilitate it. The data also showed that one in seven (13%) of the groups funded by the Australian Government through the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) had limited awareness of local provenance issues. With millions of dollars being spent on 'works on the ground', it would be prudent to allocate some funds to document and monitor current Landcare activities, so that the environmental outcomes can be quantified and more effective Landcare policies can be developed in the future.     

中国自然铜矿床类型、特征、分布及形成条件

近年来的找矿进展显示,我国至少存在2种以上成因类型的自然铜矿床(矿化带):火山-沉积碎屑岩型和陆相砂页岩型等,其主要分布在扬子地块西南缘和新疆天山地区.以湘西九曲湾(麻阳)铜矿和滇东北沿河铜矿为例,结合国外典型自然铜矿床(矿化带),分析了自然铜的成矿学特征及形成条件.通过对比分析沉积砂岩铜矿(硫化物)与自然铜矿的成矿学特征,认为自然铜成矿必须具备3个条件:①孔隙度丰富而适宜的储矿岩石;②水-岩反应中有利于含铜岩石的萃取和运移的浅成低温热液(卤水);③贫硫富生物有机质的地球化学还原障壁带.研究显示,自然铜形成于碱性贫硫的还原环境中,生物有机质对自然铜的成矿起重要作用,相对封闭的成矿环境、独特的流体性质对自然铜起保护作用.我国南方的自然铜矿床一般显示出层控、浅成低温及生物有机质参与成矿等特点.最后探讨了自然铜矿床在我国的找矿勘探前景.     

内蒙古通辽市科尔沁区土壤硒地球化学特征

对通辽市科尔沁区土壤与农作物中硒元素地球化学特征及影响因素的系统研究显示，研究区土壤硒含量水平普遍较低，且空间分布不均，仅局部达到足硒水平.硒元素主要富集在表层土壤中，且与有机碳、Al₂O₃、TFe₂O₃、Mn、P等呈正相关关系，表明土壤中有机碳、黏土矿物、铁锰氧化物对硒元素地球化学行为有重要影响.研究区土壤呈碱性至强碱性，富硒农作物并不严格产出在富硒土壤中.因此，开发富硒农产品要综合考虑土壤硒含量、土壤有效态硒含量、农作物硒含量、土壤理化性质及地理景观等因素.     

胶东金矿金成色及其指示意义

影响金成色的因素较多,包括矿床成因类型、形成深度、变质程度、成矿时代、成矿温度和矿化阶段等,其中金矿床形成深度是最关键的因素。矿床形成深度大,成矿的物化参数变化慢,形成的金成色高;形成深度小,成矿的物化参数变化快,形成的金成色低。以胶东金矿为例,统计并定性分析了这种关系,证明胶东金矿区存在类似的规律,据此可以推广,以矿床金的成色来判断矿床的形成深度和矿体的延深情况。胶东金矿金成色较低,以５５０～７５０居多,反映了金矿成矿以中浅成为主。南张家金矿金成色最低,暗示其形成深度最浅（小于１．５ｋｍ）。     

Determination of Ge, As, Se and Te in Silicate Samples Using Isotope Dilution-Internal Standardisation Octopole Reaction Cell ICP-QMS by Normal Sample Nebulisation

A method for the determination of Ge, As, Se and Te in silicate samples using isotope dilution-internal standardisation (ID-IS) octopole reaction cell (ORC) ICP-QMS by normal sample nebulisation was developed. The method does not involve either hydride generation or ion exchange. Germanium, Se and Te were determined by isotope dilution (ID), and As was determined by ID-IS. A silicate sample with an added Ge-Se-Te spike was digested with an HF-HNO₃-HBr mixture, dried, re-dissolved with HF and the supernatant liquid was directly aspirated into an ORC-ICP-QMS instrument with He or H₂ gas. No matrix effects were observed down to a dilution factor (DF) of ∼ 70 for Ge, Se and Te and DF of ∼ 1000 for As, which resulted in 3s detection limits in silicates of 2, 1, 0.1 and 4 ng g⁻¹, respectively. Advantages of the method are the simple sample introduction as well as a capability of determining S, Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, Sb, Hf and Ta by ID-IS-ICP-QMS/SFMS from the same solution. Furthermore, the total sample solution consumption was only 0.253 ml with DF = 2000. Therefore, only a 0.13 mg test portion was required. To demonstrate the applicability of this technique, Ge, As, Se and Te in eight silicate reference materials were determined, as well as S, Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, Sb, Hf and Ta in four carbonaceous chondrites.