Weathering process at the natural fission reactor of Bangombé     

G. Bracke  S. Salah  F. Gauthier-Lafaye 《Environmental Geology》2001,40(4-5):403-408

 The uranium deposits in the basin of Franceville (Gabon) host the only natural fission reactors known in the world. Unique geological conditions favoured a natural fission reaction 2 Ga ago. This was detected by anomalous isotopic compositions of uranium and rare earth elements (REE), which are produced by the fission reaction. In total, 16 reactor zones were found. Most of them are mined out. The reactor zone of Bangombé, is only 10–11 m below the surface. This site has been influenced by surface weathering processes. Six drill cores have been sampled at the site of the reactor zone of Bangombé during the course of the study and only one drill core (BAX 08) hit the core of the reactor. From these data and previous drilling campaigns, the reactor size is estimated to be 10 cm thick, 2–3 m wide and 4–6 m long. The migration of fission products can be traced by the anomalous isotope ratios of REE because of the fission process. The ¹⁴⁹Sm/¹⁴⁷Sm ratio close to the reactor zone is only 0.28 (normal: 0.92) because of the intense neutron capture of ¹⁴⁹Sm and subsequent transmutation, whereas ¹⁴⁷Sm is enriched by the fission reaction. Similar changes in isotopic patterns are detectable on other REE. The isotope ratios of Sm and Nd of whole rock and fracture samples surrounding the reactor indicate that fission-genic REE migrated only a few decimetres above and mainly below the reactor zone. Organic matter (bitumen) seems to act as a trap for fission-genic REE. Additional REE-patterns show less intense weathering with increasing depth in the log profile and support a simple weathering model. Received: 26 November 1999 · Accepted: 2 May 2000  相似文献   

Seasonal DOC accumulation in the Black Sea: a regional explanation for a general mechanism   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

Gustave Cauwet  Gaëlle Dliat  Anton Krastev  Galina Shtereva  Sylvie Becquevort  Christiane Lancelot  Andr Momzikoff  Alain Saliot  Adriana Cociasu  Lucia Popa 《Marine Chemistry》2002,79(3-4)

During three cruises in the Black Sea, organised in July 1995 and April–May 1997, biological and chemical parameters that can influence the carbon budget were measured in the water column on the NW shelf, particularly in the mixing zone with Danube River waters. We observed in early spring (end of April–May) conditions an important input of freshwater organisms that enhanced the microbial activity in the low salinity range. High bacterial activity regenerates nitrogen in the form of nitrates, but is also responsible for an important consumption of ammonium and phosphate, leading to a high N/P ratio and a strong deficit in phosphorus. The consequence is a limitation of phytoplankton development but also a production of carbohydrates that accumulate all along the salinity gradient. These mechanisms are responsible for a seasonal accumulation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) that increases from 210 μM in winter to about 280 μM in summer. All this excess DOC disappears during winter, probably degraded by bacterial activity. The degradation of carbon-rich organic matter increases the phosphorus demand by bacteria bringing limitation to phytoplankton primary production.  相似文献   

Modeling of flowing film concentrators: Part 1. Water split behaviour     

A.K. Majumder  G.J. Lyman  M. Brennan  P.N. Holtham 《International Journal of Mineral Processing》2006

A large number of mineral processing equipment employs the basic principles of gravity concentration in a flowing fluid of a few millimetres thick in small open channels where the particles are distributed along the flow height based on their physical properties and the fluid flow characteristics. Fluid flow behaviour and slurry transportation characteristics in open channels have been the research topic for many years in many engineering disciplines. However, the open channels used in the mineral processing industries are different in terms of the size of the channel and the flow velocity used. Understanding of water split behaviour is, therefore, essential in modeling flowing film concentrators. In this paper, an attempt has been made to model the water split behaviour in an inclined open rectangular channel, resembling the actual size and the flow velocity used by the mineral processing industries, based on the Prandtl's mixing length approach.  相似文献   

Monte Carlo simulation of mixing in Ca3Fe2Ge3O12–Ca4Ge4O12 garnets and implications for the thermodynamic stability of pyrope–majorite solid solution     

Victor L. Vinograd  Bjoern Winkler  Daniel J. Wilson  Andrew Putnis  Julian D. Gale 《Physics and Chemistry of Minerals》2006,33(8-9):533-544

Static lattice energy calculations, based on empirical pair potentials, were performed for a large set of structures differing in the arrangement of octahedral cations within the garnet 2 × 2 × 2 supercell. The compositions of these structures varied between Ca₃Fe₂Ge₃O₁₂ and Ca₄Ge₄O₁₂. The energies were cluster expanded using pair and quaternary terms. The derived ordering constants were used to constrain Monte Carlo simulations of temperature-dependent mixing properties in the ranges of 1,073–3,673 K and 0–10 GPa. The free energies of mixing were calculated using the method of thermodynamic integration. The calculations predict a wide miscibility gap between Fe-rich (cubic) and Fe-pure (tetragonal) garnets consistent with recent experimental observations of Iezzi et al. (Phys Chem Miner 32:197–207, 2005). It is shown that the miscibility gap arises due to a very strong cation ordering at the Fe-pure composition, driven by the charge difference between Ca²⁺ and Ge⁴⁺ cations. The structural and thermodynamic analogies between Ca–Ge and Mg–Si systems suggest that a similar miscibility gap should exist between pyrope and Mg–Si-majorite.  相似文献   

Seasonal Diatom Variability and Paleolimnological Inferences – A Case Study     

Dörte Köster  Reinhard Pienitz 《Journal of Paleolimnology》2006,35(2):395-416

The seasonality of physical, chemical, and biological water variables is a major characteristic of temperate, dimictic lakes. Yet, few investigations have considered the potential information that is encoded in seasonal dynamics with respect to the paleolimnological record. We used a one-year sequence of diatoms obtained from sediment traps and water samples, as well as the sedimentary diatom record covering the past ca. 1000 years in Bates Pond, Connecticut (USA), to investigate which variables influence the seasonal distribution of diatoms and how this can be used for the interpretation of the fossil record. The seasonal patterns in diatom assemblages were related to stratification and, to a lesser extent, to nitrate, silica, and phosphorus. During mixing periods in spring and autumn, both planktonic and benthic species were collected in the traps, while few lightly silicified, spindle-shaped planktonic diatoms dominated during thermal stratification in summer. Changes in fossil diatom assemblages reflected human activity in the watershed after European settlement and subsequent recovery in the 20th century. A long-term trend in diatom assemblage change initiated before European settlement was probably related to increased length of mixing periods during the Little Ice Age, indicated by the increase of taxa that presently grow during mixing periods and by application of a preliminary seasonal temperature model. We argue that the analysis of seasonal diatom dynamics in temperate lakes may provide important information for the refinement of paleolimnological interpretations. However, investigations of several lakes and years would be desirable in order to establish a more robust seasonal data set for the enhancement of paleolimnological interpretations.  相似文献   

Fractal analysis of mingled/mixed magmas: an example from the Upper Pollara eruption (Salina Island, southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy)     

Rosanna De Rosa  Paola Donato  Guido Ventura   《Lithos》2002,65(3-4):299-311

Upper Pollara eruption products (13 ka, Salina Island, Italy) include both homogeneous and heterogeneous pumices resulting from mixing/mingling processes between an HK andesite and a high-SiO₂ rhyolite. Representative samples of heterogeneous pumices are collected and analyzed in order to check the correspondence between glass composition and morphological features of the mingling/mixing structures. Image analysis techniques are applied and eight grey color ranges (classes) are extracted from high-resolution scans of pumice. Class 1 (lighter colors) and class 8 (darker colors) show end-member glass compositions, i.e. HK andesite and high-SiO₂ rhyolite, respectively. These two classes show spot- to cluster-like morphological structures. Intermediate classes show an HK dacitic to rhyolitic composition and a banding- to fold-like morphology. Fractal analysis by box-counting of the boundary pattern of eight grey classified images is performed over a length scale of 0.028–1.8 cm. Fractal dimension D is between 1.01 and 1.84. Coupled fractal analysis and geochemical data reveal that D increases as the degree of magma interaction (homogenization) increases. This feature well fits the results from numerical models on the convective mixing of fluids driven by thermal convection. We conclude that the increase of D observed in the Upper Pollara samples reflects the transition from fractal mixing to homogenization. End-member magmas (HK andesite and high-SiO₂ rhyolite) represent isolated mixing regions, while homogenized magmas represent active mixing regions. In the analyzed pumices, isolated and active mixing regions coexist at scales between 10⁻⁴ and 10⁻² m. Morphological and compositional features of the Upper Pollara pumices result from turbulence.  相似文献   

Isotope variations in a Sierra Nevada snowpack and their relation to meltwater     

Padinare V. Unnikrishna  Jeffrey J. McDonnell  Carol Kendall   《Journal of Hydrology》2002,260(1-4):38-57

Isotopic variations in melting snow are poorly understood. We made weekly measurements at the Central Sierra Snow Laboratory, California, of snow temperature, density, water equivalent and liquid water volume to examine how physical changes within the snowpack govern meltwater δ¹⁸O. Snowpack samples were extracted at 0.1 m intervals from ground level to the top of the snowpack profile between December 1991 and April 1992. Approximately 800 mm of precipitation fell during the study period with δ¹⁸O values between −21.35 and −4.25‰. Corresponding snowpack δ¹⁸O ranged from −22.25 to −6.25‰. The coefficient of variation of δ¹⁸O in snowpack levels decreased from −0.37 to −0.07 from winter to spring, indicating isotopic snowpack homogenization. Meltwater δ¹⁸O ranged from −15.30 to −8.05‰, with variations of up to 2.95‰ observed within a single snowmelt episode, highlighting the need for frequent sampling. Early snowmelt originated in the lower snowpack with higher δ¹⁸O through ground heat flux and rainfall. After the snowpack became isothermal, infiltrating snowmelt displaced the higher δ¹⁸O liquid in the lower snowpack through a piston flow process. Fractionation analysis using a two-component mixing model on the isothermal snowpack indicated that δ¹⁸O in the initial and final half of major snowmelt was 1.30‰ lower and 1.45‰ higher, respectively, than the value from simple mixing. Mean snowpack δ¹⁸O on individual profiling days showed a steady increase from −15.15 to −12.05‰ due to removal of lower δ¹⁸O snowmelt and addition of higher δ¹⁸O rainfall. Results suggest that direct sampling of snowmelt and snow cores should be undertaken to quantify tracer input compositions adequately. The snowmelt sequence also suggests that regimes of early lower δ¹⁸O and later higher δ¹⁸O melt may be modeled and used in catchment tracing studies.  相似文献   

Mixing, sediment accumulation and focusing using 210Pb and 137Cs     

San Miguel  J.P. Bolívar  R. García-Tenorio 《Journal of Paleolimnology》2003,29(1):1-11

The Portil lagoon is a natural freshwater reservoir located at the southwest of Spain, near the coast. In its surroundings an important tourist complex has been developed since the earlier 1970s. This has resulted in increased loads of nutrients, specially during summer months. In order to evaluate the impact from humans on the lagoon caused by anthropogenic activities, we have determined vertical profiles of excess ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs in a sediment core taken from its bottom. Vertical profile of excess ²¹⁰Pb seems to indicate that the sediment core was affected by large-scale mixing processes. Nevertheless this possibility was ruled out based on the shape of the ¹³⁷Cs vertical distribution after modelling the ¹³⁷Cs profile considering large-scale mixing. The chronology developed from ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs has allowed us to calculate the temporal evolution of the mass sedimentation rate during the last century. This mass sedimentation rate increased in 1973: from 0.08(2) g cm^-2 a^-1 in the period 1900-1973 to 0.17(5) g cm^-2 a^-1 in the period 1973-1995. This increase could be related to land-movements in the drainage area and to permitted sewage inputs into the lagoon, both with its origin in the growing/running of the surrounding tourist complex.  相似文献   

黄河上游河南县地面大气冰核观测分析   总被引：7，自引：2，他引：7       下载免费PDF全文

李淑日黄庚  胡志晋 《应用气象学报》2003,14(Z1):41-48

用Bigg型混合云室对2001年8月黄河上游青海省河南县的地面大气冰核浓度进行了观测,分析发现(1)青海省河南县冰核浓度低于北京20世纪90年代的测值,但高于大连、西安和兰州(20世纪60年代)等地的测值,同时也高于黄河上游的玛曲(2000年)、西宁(1989年)两地的测值,高温核尤其偏高.(2)降水时大气冰核浓度减少,降水的冲刷可能是其主要原因.(3)当地冰核浓度和气压成正相关.(4)大气冰核浓度受风向的影响,无风时测值较小,偏东风时测值较大,高温核浓度增加明显.  相似文献   

Geochemical characteristics and isotopic reversal of natural gases in eastern Kopeh-Dagh,NE Iran     

《Marine and Petroleum Geology》2016

Natural gas samples from two gas fields located in Eastern Kopeh-Dagh area were analyzed for molecular and stable isotope compositions. The gaseous hydrocarbons in both Lower Cretaceous clastic reservoir and Upper Jurassic carbonate reservoir are coal-type gases mainly derived from type III kerogen, however enriched δD values of methane implies presence of type II kerogen related material in the source rock. In comparison Upper Jurassic carbonate reservoir gases show higher dryness coefficient resulted through TSR, while presence of C₁C₅ gases in Lower Cretaceous clastic reservoir exhibit no TSR phenomenon. Carbon isotopic values indicate gas to gas cracking and TSR occurrence in the Upper Jurassic carbonate reservoir, as the result of elevated temperature experienced, prior to the following uplifts in last 33–37 million years. The δ¹³C of carbon dioxide and δ³⁴S of hydrogen sulfide in Upper Jurassic carbonate reservoir do not primarily reflect TSR, as uplift related carbonate rock dissolution by acidic gases and reaction/precipitation of light H₂S have changed these values severely. Gaseous hydrocarbons in both reservoirs exhibit enrichment in C₂ gas member, with the carbonate reservoir having higher values resulted through mixing with highly-mature-completely-reversed shale gases. It is likely that the uplifts have lifted off the pressure on shale gases, therefore facilitated the migration of the gases into overlying horizons. However it appears that the released gases during the first major uplift (33–37 million years ago) have migrated to both reservoirs, while the second migrated gases have only mixed with Upper Jurassic carbonate reservoir gases. The studied data suggesting that economic accumulations of natural gas/shale gases deeper than Upper Jurassic carbonate reservoir would be unlikely.  相似文献