Search

To determine the nature and origin of the unconsolidated bottom sediments, as well as to demonstrate and quantify the presence of Presumably Contaminating Elements (PCE) in the Serbian Danube River, as a novelty, the mass fractions on nine major elements as oxides-SiO 2 , TiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , FeO, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na 2 O, and K 2 O, as well as Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Zr, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Hf, Ta, W, Th, and U were determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) in 13 sediment samples collected between Belgrade and Iron Gate 2 dam. INAA was chosen for its ability to perform elemental analysis without any preliminary sample treatment that could introduce systematic errors. The distribution of major elements was relatively uniform, with the sampling locations having less influence. Concerning the trace elements, excepting the PCE Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Sb, their distributions presented the same remarkable similarity to the Upper Continental Crust (UCC), North American Shale Composite (NASC), Average Bottom Load (ABL), and Average Dobrogea Loess (AVL), and were in good concordance with the location of the Serbian Danube River in the Pannonian Plain. In the case of considered PCE, both Enrichment Factor and Pollution Load Index showed values higher than the pollution threshold, which pointed towards a significant anthropogenic contamination, and rising concern to what extent the water quality and biota could be affected.

Because wild-growing edible mushroom species are frequently consumed, a knowledge of their mineral composition is essential. The content of elements in mushrooms and their possible beneficial or harmful effect may be influenced by the human-impacted environment. Thus, the aim of the study was to analyse the mineral composition of the soil, trees, and especially soil- and tree-growing mushroom species collected from within a city and from rural areas. Due to potentially higher pollution in urban areas, we assumed that mushrooms from a city environment will contain higher levels of mineral elements than those from rural areas and that the high content will be attributed to greater contamination of city soils. Significantly higher concentrations of several elements in soils (Ca, Ba, Bi, Hg, Pb, Sb, Sr, W and Zr) and trees (Ag, Bi, Ce, Co, Mn, Mo, Nd, Pr, Ta, Tm and W) were observed from the samples collected in the city. Additionally, significantly higher contents of Ag, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Sr, Y and Zn in soil-growing, and Al, As, Ba, Cr, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ta and Zn in tree-growing mushroom species were recorded from the urban area. These differences formed the basis for the observation that the content of elements in urban mushrooms is generally higher than in those from rural areas. However, a higher content of several soil elements does not necessarily mean that there will be a significantly higher content in fruit bodies. There was also no real risk of consuming soil-growing mushroom species collected in recent years from the city, suggesting that this practice may still be continued., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Obtaining correct amounts of essential elements, and avoiding toxic metals are key factors in dog health. Through analyzing major and trace elements in hair and blood of 50 healthy companion dogs using ICP-MS, we study their associations with dog characteristics and diet, hypothesizing that eating the same diet long-term results in strong correlations between hair and blood element concentrations, and that dog characteristics and diet affect element status. The correlation between hair and blood was significant for Hg (R = 0.601, p = 0.000) and Pb (R = 0.384, p = 0.010). The following associations were significant (p < 0.05): Dark hair had higher Ca and Mg compared to light hair. Females had higher hair Zn, blood Mn, and blood As compared to males. Blood Mn and Se increased, while blood Pb decreased with age. Raw diet fed dogs had higher hair Zn and Se compared to dry or mixed diet fed dogs, and lower blood Mn compared to dry diet fed dogs. Dry and mixed diet fed dogs had higher blood Cd compared to raw diet fed dogs. Mixed diet fed dogs had higher hair Ca and Mg compared to raw or dry diet fed dogs, and higher hair Pb compared to dry diet fed dogs. Wild game consumption was associated with higher blood Pb, and rice consumption with higher blood As. In conclusion, hair provides an alternative for assessing Hg and Pb exposure, and major and trace elements status is affected by hair color, sex, age, and diet., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Novelty Statement: That is probably the first study to date of trees and shrubs differing in age and growing on post-industrial soil contaminated with calcium (Ca) and selected toxic metals/metalloids. The obtained results show that an alkaline reaction (less than 9) of soil and an unusually high Ca concentration may help the studied tree species to adapt/survive in unfavorable habitat conditions (high concentration of toxic elements). The efficiency of phytoextraction of toxic elements was so high that, especially for forest animals (roe-deer) that consume, e.g. , willow shoots, it could pose a serious threat to health and life, both for them and potentially for humans.

Water fountains are usually present in the urban public places and often draw the attention of citizens and tourists. Their water is often, in various ways, used by adults and children, but water from fountains is not usually a subject of researchers' interest. This paper describes the analytical procedure and the results of the multi-elemental characterisation of the waters from the selected public water fountains in the city of Zagreb, Republic of Croatia. Twenty-eight chemical elements (Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Se, Sr, Ti, Tl, V, Zn and Ca, K, Mg and Na) were quantified by means of ICP-AES technique. In addition to the multi-elemental analysis, determination of pH values was performed too. Pearson's correlation coefficients suggest that Al, Cu, Fe, Mn and Pb originate from the plumbing system and their leaching is strongly negatively correlated with the pH values of the tested samples. On the other hand, alkali and alkaline-earth metals as well as Mo, Ti, Zn and B, P and S are most probably of a natural origin in the water samples tested in this study. The results lead to the conclusions that (i) trace and major element content in squirt of a monumental water fountain is analogous to their content in water of the same origin and (ii) a pool of a fountain which is made of a high-quality stone, in the context of the herein performed testings, generally does not affect the quality of water which is contained in it.

The total content of 8 major and 32 trace elements in four species of mosses and two of lichens as well as neighboring soil and rocks collected from different places of the Livingston Island Antarctica was determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The main goals of the project consisted of evidencing the possible trace of anthropogenic contamination as well as the influence of altitude on the distribution of considered elements. In the absence of a unanimously accepted descriptor, enrichment factor, geo-accumulation, and pollution load indices with respect to soil and rocks were used. The data, interpreted within the model of a reference plant, were compared with previous studies regarding the same organisms in similar geographic and climatological areas. The experimental results evidenced different capacity of mosses and lichens to retain the considered elements, but within experimental uncertainties, no traces of anthropogenic pollution were found. At the same time, it was found that the content of most of the elements decreased with the altitude.

A quick and accurate method was devised to determine Se, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn in Se-rich rice samples by microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Spectral interferences on Se were eliminated using methane as a reaction gas in the dynamic reaction cell (DRC). Rhodium was used as an internal standard to compensate for sample matrix effects. A rice-certified reference material (CRM) (GBW 10010) was used to verify the accuracy of the method. The method detection limits were 0.001-0.03 mg/kg, analyte recoveries were 85-108% and precisions (RSDs) ranged from 2.1% to 5.8%. Correlation analysis showed that the Se concentrations in the Se-rich rice samples correlated well with the Cu concentrations (r=0.53, p<0.05)., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study analyzes 105 coal ash samples from Jurassic and Carboniferous coals from five mines in Kazakhstan, Lenin, Saradyr, Bogatyr, Maikuben, and Shubarkol, focusing on the inorganic elemental compositions, their occurrence, and industrial and environmental implications. Methods include coal ash yield and volatile matter analysis, mineralogical characterization via low-temperature ash X-ray diffraction (LTA-XRD), and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). High-temperature ash (HTA) was analyzed using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), highlighting XRF's potential for rapid multi-elemental analysis. Nine major elements (Al, Si, P, S, Fe, K, Ca, and Ti) and eleven trace elements (As, Cu, Cr, Zn, Pb, V, Ga, Mn, Ni, Y, Yb, and Zr) were identified in HTA samples through EDXRF. SEM and dendrogram analysis confirm their co-occurrence with quartz, kaolinite, pyrite, and accessory minerals such as chalcopyrite, zircon, rutile, and REE-bearing apatite. The elemental content of samples enhances industrial suitability by reducing emissions. Only Yb shows slight enrichment for economic benefits, along with La, Ce, and Nd, while concentrations of potentially toxic elements indicate minimal environmental risk. EDXRF demonstrates its efficiency for large-scale investigations, with all samples analyzed in a few days using automated overnight measurements. This approach shows promise for future studies focusing on trace elements, including REE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a detailed characterization of the 5.7 106 mt phosphogypsum (PG) stack in the vicinity of Bacau city, Romania, the air dose rate (ADR) was measured in 72 points covering the stack surface, while 10 samples of stack material were collected for future analysis. Radiometric determinations showed for the ADR values varying between 364 ± 53 and 489 ± 8 nSv/h, with some extreme values of 2775 ± 734 nSv/h, significantly exceeding 90 nSv/h, the average value reported for the Romanian territory. High-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy (HRGS), performed on 10 samples collected from the entire PG stack evidenced only the presence of 226Ra as the major radioactive element with a specific activity varied between 820 ± 150 and 5278 ± 264 Bq/kg for hot spots. Further analysis performed on a similar number of samples by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), evidenced, beside gypsum as the main component, traces of brushite (CaHPO4·2H2O) and ardealite (Ca2(PO3OH)(SO4)·4H2O), as well as the presence of small acicular celestine (SrSO4) agglomerates. XRF determinations of the mass fractions of major elements evidenced values such as SiO2 (2.31 ± 0.73 %), TiO2 (0.07 ± 0.01 %), Al2O3 (0.17 ± 0.04 %), Fe2O3 (0.87 ± 0.18 %), MnO (0.01 ± 0.01 %), MgO (0.17 ± 0.02 %), CaO (32.5 ± 0.82 %), Na2O (0.04 ± 0.04 %), K2O (0.05 ± 0.01 %), P2O5 (2.12 ± 0.51 %), LOI (20.2 ± 0.3 %), i.e. closer to literature reported data for PG of different provenience while the data concerning the distribution of 20 trace elements, including incompatible Sc, La, Ce, and Th were relatively closer to the upper continental crust (UCC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of the study is the phosphates of the Djebel Onk region, which are part of a vast group of phosphate deposits formed in the Late Cretaceous-Eocene period on the South and Southeast Mediterranean shores. These concentrations of economic interest are operated near the town of Bir El Ater (Tebessa, Algeria). The mining industry based on the extraction and processing of different minerals while respecting the environmental framework plays an important role in the economy of a country. The economic potential of each country will be determined based on the level of production of metals and various mineral substances. In the case of the Djebel Onk phosphate ore, the most dominant mineral in addition to P2O5 is calcium carbonate CaCO3 with more than 50 % in the all-mineral content. In addition, phosphate concentrate contains harmful elements which reduce the value of the market product. Therefore, this study aims to recover the enriched product efficiently and profitably with a minimum of deleterious elements. This work aims to develop a treatment technology with a minimum rejection rate, which allows for achieving production goals and reducing environmental impacts. For this purpose, we proposed an enrichment of these phosphate discharges from the settling process utilizing pneumatic selection (Turbo Separator Ventilate – TSV). The results of the chemical analyses confirm the significant difference in useful and major elements (P2O5) and the minor and harmful elements (MgO). According to the granulochemical analysis of each slice, it is possible to note that the P2O5 content is similar to the various particle-size slices. It is therefore necessary to treat the mass of waste if we want to recover as much phosphate as possible. The obtained X-ray diffractograms highlighted appreciable differences between the raw phosphates and the concentrates, in fact, the qualitative and quantitative variation of the mineralogical species, particularly the calcite, quartz, dolomite, and apatite. TSV is a process used to improve the quality and quantity of phosphate and to eliminate the layer below 0.8 mm. Corresponding to the analyses it was appeared that the P2O5 content 29.5–30 % of the settled product increases to 30.2–31 % after dust removal. Then it is possible to achieve an increase in the quality of phosphate from 63/65 % TPL to 66/68 % TPL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes 105 coal ash samples from Jurassic and Carboniferous coals from five mines in Kazakhstan, Lenin, Saradyr, Bogatyr, Maikuben, and Shubarkol, focusing on the inorganic elemental compositions, their occurrence, and industrial and environmental implications. Methods include coal ash yield and volatile matter analysis, mineralogical characterization via low-temperature ash X-ray diffraction (LTA-XRD), and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). High-temperature ash (HTA) was analyzed using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), highlighting XRF’s potential for rapid multi-elemental analysis. Nine major elements (Al, Si, P, S, Fe, K, Ca, and Ti) and eleven trace elements (As, Cu, Cr, Zn, Pb, V, Ga, Mn, Ni, Y, Yb, and Zr) were identified in HTA samples through EDXRF. SEM and dendrogram analysis confirm their co-occurrence with quartz, kaolinite, pyrite, and accessory minerals such as chalcopyrite, zircon, rutile, and REE-bearing apatite. The elemental content of samples enhances industrial suitability by reducing emissions. Only Yb shows slight enrichment for economic benefits, along with La, Ce, and Nd, while concentrations of potentially toxic elements indicate minimal environmental risk. EDXRF demonstrates its efficiency for large-scale investigations, with all samples analyzed in a few days using automated overnight measurements. This approach shows promise for future studies focusing on trace elements, including REE.

The Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB), located in southern Poland, is the major coal basin in Poland, and all technological types of hard coal, including coking coal, are exploited. It is also an area of high potential for coal-bed methane (CBM). Despite the increasing availability of alternative energy sources globally, it is a fact that the use of fossil fuels will remain necessary for the next few decades. Therefore, research on coal-bearing formations using modern research methods is still very important. The application of geochemistry and chemostratigraphy in reservoir characterization has become increasingly common in recent years. This paper presents the possibility of applying chemostratigraphic techniques to the study of the Carboniferous coal-bearing succession of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. The material studied comes from 121 core samples (depth 481–1298 m), representing the Mudstone Series (Westphalian A, B). Major oxide concentrations of Al2O3, SiO2, Fe2O3, P2O5, K2O, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O, MnO, TiO2, and Cr2O3 were obtained using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. Trace elements were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP/MS). The geochemical record from the Mudstone Series shows changes in the concentration of major elements and selected trace elements, leading to the identification of four chemostratigraphic units. These units differ primarily in the content of Fe, Ca, Mg, Mn, and P as well as the concentration of Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, and Ti. The study also discusses quartz origin (based on SiO2 and TiO2), sediment provenance and source-area rock compositions (based on Al2O3/ TiO2, TiO2/Zr, and La/Th), and paleoredox conditions (based on V/Cr, Ni/Co, U/Th, (Cu+Mo)/Zn, and Sr/Ba) for the chemostratigraphic units. Chemostratigraphy was used for the first time in the study of the Carboniferous coal-bearing series of the USCB, concluding that it can be used as an effective stratigraphic tool and provide new information on the possibility of correlating barren sequences of the coal-bearing succession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic matter (OM) enrichment mechanisms and depositional environment characteristics of lacustrine source rocks in the western Bozhong Sag, Bohai Bay Basin in Northeast China remain controversial. To address these issues, based on Rock‐Eval pyrolysis, kerogen macerals, H/C and O/C ratios, GC‐MS, major and trace elements, the Dongying Formation Member (Mbr) 3 (E3d3), the Shahejie Formation mbrs 1 and 2 (E2s1+2), and the Shahejie Mbr 3 (E2s3) source rocks in the western Bozhong Sag were studied. The above methods were used to reveal their geochemical properties, OM origins and depositional environments, all of which indicate that E2s1+2 and E2s3 are excellent source rocks, and that E3d3 is of the second good quality. E3d3 source rocks were formed under a warm and humid climate, mainly belong to fluvial/delta facies, the E3d3 sediments formed under weakly oxidizing and freshwater conditions. Comparatively, the depositional environments of E2s1+2 source rocks were arid and cold climate, representing saline or freshwater lacustrine facies, and the sediments of E2s1+2 belong to anoxic or suboxic settings with large evaporation and salinity. During the period of E2s3, the climate became warm and humid, indicating the freshwater lacustrine facies, and E2s3 was characterized by freshwater and abundant algae. Moreover, compared with other intervals, the OM origin of E3d3 source rocks has noticeable terrestrial input. The OM origin of the E2s1+2 and E2s3 are mainly plankton and bacteria. Tectonic subsidence and climate change have affected the changes of the depositional environment in the western Bozhong Sag, thus controlling the distribution of the source rocks, the geochemical characteristics in the three intervals of lacustrine source rocks have distinct differences. Overall, these factors are effective to evaluate the paleoenvironmental characteristics of source rocks by biomarkers, major and trace elements. The established models may have positive implications for research of lacustrine source rocks in offshore areas with few drillings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of the research related to the transformation of organic waste of different nature, through biodigester bales, are presented below.5 bales of approximately 1m3 were assembled with the following waste types: No0 (plant material), No1 (plant material+composting inoculum), No2 (plant material+Genesis®), No3 (plant material+goat manure), and No4 (plant material+coffee waste). The bales were made through non-probability sampling for convenience, because limited supply of waste at the time of the investigation (Pandemic). They were built with a 1t/m3 compaction system and monitored for 20 weeks, measuring height and temperature. Prior to its disassembly, samples were taken to determine the physicochemical composition, and organisms present. It was found that bale No. 0 was the one that presented the best behavior in terms of height, followed by bales 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Bale No. 4 presented a better C/N ratio due to the high concentrations of organic carbon in coffee. It is concluded that the resulting material cannot be classified as organic fertilizer according to NTC 5167 of 2022, because not all the parameters comply. However, organic matter and major and minor elements are at optimal values to be classified as soils for agricultural crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterotrigona itama (H. itama) honey was collected from apiculturists in three different meliponiculture sites in Peninsular Malaysia and was subjected to major-to-trace elements analysis using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Four major elements and eight trace elements were analysed in all the samples and a chemometric approach was used for the topographical discrimination of these samples. The average concentration range of major elements was 385.19 ± 14.63 to 1197.58 ± 678.34 mg/kg for potassium, 41.05 ± 20.22 to 57.34 ± 19.98 mg/kg for sodium, 116.94 ± 16.58 to 144.40 ± 16.12 mg/kg for calcium, and 30.01 ± 3.19 to 182.92 ± 153.18 mg/kg for magnesium. Comparing the estimated daily intake of Malaysian adults per capita and the daily recommended intake by the Ministry of Health Malaysia, it can be deduced that H. itama honey is safe for human consumption. Nevertheless, H. itama honey from Pulau Pinang should be avoided as it contains toxic trace elements (Cd, Ni, and As), which can be accumulated in human bodies. Besides, principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) showed a good discrimination pattern among the samples from different origins. The discrimination pattern was strongly associated with trace elements (Cu, Fe, and Mn) as the variable importance in projection (VIP) scores for these elements were > 1.0. The PLS-DA score plot was also justified with a permutation test and the result was valid (p < 0.001). Putative chemical markers of major-to-trace elements followed this order: manganese > iron > copper > sodium > calcium > nickel > arsenic > cadmium > zinc > aluminium > potassium > magnesium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The El-Kharga City/Oasis has hyper arid climate condition and a limited supply of water. In this area, the fossil groundwater is the primary water source. This study aimed to measure the concentrations of major, trace elements, and toxic heavy metals in 50 samples of fresh cow's milk taken from three regions in El-Kharga city, New Valley Governorate (NVG), Egypt. Slight significant differences in the concentrations of major elements were observed among the different regions. The average contents of Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), and Phosphorus (P) were 477.27, 1416.04, 1115.10, 119.91 and 848.49 mg/L, respectively. Ranges of trace elements were Fe (1.02- 10.30), Zn (1.82- 7.11), and Mn (0.07- 3.98) and the average was 3.09, 4.00 and 0.612 mg/L, respectively. While, toxic heavy metals ranges were Cu (0.01- 0.48), Pb (0.00 - 0.11), and Cd (0.00 - 0.03) as well the average was 0.113, 0.054 and 0.005 mg/L, respectively. The highest average concentration of Fe, Zn, Mn and Cd (4.88, 4.25, 1.29 and 0.007 mg/L, respectively) was in El Mounira villages while those of Cu in Naser El Thowra villages and Pb in Al-Shula area. Furthermore, Zn, Mn and Pb contents were higher while Fe and Cd were lower, and Cu was within the permissible limits recommended by international dairy federation Standard (IDF) and Egyptian standards. As the concentrations of toxic heavy metals did not exceed the safety limits, it could not pose a serious danger to public health.

• A full understanding of the role of elements in wood degradation was analysed. • The physic-chemical parameters of archaeological wood are closely related to the elements. • There is a difference in the tendency of wood of different species to collect elements. • Many elements affect quantity and quality of cellulose of archaeological wood. The contents of 47 major and trace elements and 6 wood physico-chemical parameters were determined in contemporary and archaeological fir (Abies alba Mill.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), oak (Quercus sp.), and elm (Ulmus sp.), to determine their mutual relations. The concentration of elements in soil and wood samples was determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP MS) and the obtained results were interpreted based on statistical analyses (t -test, one-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD). Identification of wood physico-chemical parameters included detection of conventional density, content of cellulose, lignin and ash, identification of cellulose molecular weight, and content of lignin metoxyl groups was also performed. Mean content of As, B, Ca, Cu, and Sr in urban soils, where archaeological wood samples were found was higher than in forest soils where contemporary samples were collected, while for Cd, Co, Mn, Na, V, and Zn there were no significant differences between their mean concentration in urban and forest soil. Higher contents of elements were recorded for all investigated archaeological woods. There is a difference in the tendency of wood of different species to collect elements. Moreover both the quantity and quality of archaeological wood cellulose is related to the content of As, DMA, B, Ca, Ce, Co, Cu, Na, Nb, Se, Sr and V. It is clear that in archaeological wood the relationship between a chemical element and a physico-chemical parameter is stronger than in contemporary wood. A full understanding of the role of elements, particularly of non-biodegradable and environmentally harmful heavy metals in wood degradation, will allow for a better choice of methods for the appropriate protection of archaeological wooden objects. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hunan region is a high geological background area of black rock series rich in various metallic elements; accordingly, local heavy metal pollution is severe. Previous studies on black shale have primarily focused on the lower Cambrian strata, while research on Carboniferous black shale remains scarce. To better explore the activity law of heavy metals during Carboniferous black shale weathering, this study analyzed the elemental components of samples through field observations of outcrops in the Qiziqiao area of central Hunan province, China using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The results showed that the heavy metal content of black shale under different degrees of weathering varied greatly, with different heavy metals maintaining distinct migration and enrichment rules throughout this process. The heavy metal content in Carboniferous black shale and soils of central Hunan was generally less than that of the regional lower Cambrian black shale and soil; however, the Cd content in the black shale soil was slightly higher than background values, while the Sr content was substantially higher than background values. Heavy metals V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, and Pb were not generally leached or released during weathering, and may undergo relative enrichment or secondary enrichment. Comparatively, Zn, Cd, and Ba can be more readily leached and released, and may undergo secondary enrichment. The lithophilic element Sr tended to leach out overall and expressed strong activity, whereas the chemical activities of the high-field-strength elements, Zr and Hf, were relatively stable. During soil formation, all heavy metal elements save Sr were significantly enriched. The enrichment factor analysis of different degrees of weathered black shale reveals that the heavy metals Ba, Hf, and Sr in black shale soil originate from the parent rock. V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb are influenced by both natural and anthropogenic factors, with Cd being significantly impacted by human activities. The evaluation of soil heavy metals using the geoaccumulation index method indicates that V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Ba, Hf, and Pb are non-polluted, Cd exhibits moderate pollution, and Sr shows moderately heavy pollution. From a geochemical perspective, it can be inferred that heavy metals in black shale soil are likely to be secondarily enriched in clay and iron oxide minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lower Permian Fengcheng formation is a significant source of rocks and a reservoir for the Mahu Sag in the Junggar Basin. Recently, the paleo-environment deposition factors of the P1f formation have become a popular research topic. This research was conducted using data from the F7 well of Mahu Sag, based on the geochemical analysis results of TOC (total organic carbon), REE (rare earth elements), and major and trace elements of 53 samples from P1f (Lower Permian Fengcheng formation), and some deposition factors are discussed. The P1f deposition process was classified into four stages based on paleo-environment elemental indicators. This research describes the deposition process of the evolution of alkaline lakes. The early and preliminary stages of alkali lake evolution are considered as late P1f1 to middle P1f2; the paleoclimate of this process was dry, the reduction conditions increased, and the paleo-productivity and lake salinity were enhanced. The terminal stage of alkali lake evolution is considered as late P1f2 to middle P1f3; in this period, the paleoclimate changed with seasonal cycles, resulting in a decrease in water salinity and an increase in oxidation; the paleo-productivity of the alkaline lake was at a medium level. Until the end of P1f3, the salinity of the lake decreased, and the water body became anoxic and weakly alkaline. Furthermore, the research on TOC and sedimentary parameters confirmed that the deposition of P1f organic matter is affected by multiple types of factors. A relatively warm climate, lack of oxygen, fresh water–brackish water, suitable debris flow, and high primary productivity conditions promoted organic matter deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Sedimentologica Sinica is the property of Acta Sedimentologica Sinica Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Sedimentologica Sinica is the property of Acta Sedimentologica Sinica Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Natural and anthropogenic factors highly influence the concentration of major (Na, Mg, K, Ca) and trace (Sr, Ba, Mn, Li) elements, anions (HCO3−, NO3−, SO42−, Cl−), and Sr isotopic signatures. The current study identified the Sr isotopic signature in groundwaters from the Southern Carpathians and Apuseni Mountains karst areas of Romania and its relation to the water's chemistry. The Sr concentration ranged between 16.5 and 658 µg/L, but in most groundwaters, it was below 200 µg/L. A considerable spatial variation and a low temporal variation, with a slightly lower Sr concentration in the winter than in spring, were observed. The strong positive correlation of the Sr with Ca, Mg, K, and Na indicated the common source of these elements. The main source of the Sr in groundwaters was the dissolution of carbonates, especially calcite, and dolomite to a lesser extent. The 87Sr/86Sr isotopic ratio ranged between 0.7038 and 0.7158. Generally, waters with a high Sr concentration and moderate 87Sr/86Sr ratios indicated carbonate dissolution, whereas samples with low Sr concentrations and high 87Sr/86Sr ratios suggested the dissolution of silicates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB), located in southern Poland, is the major coal basin in Poland, and all technological types of hard coal, including coking coal, are exploited. It is also an area of high potential for coal-bed methane (CBM). Despite the increasing availability of alternative energy sources globally, it is a fact that the use of fossil fuels will remain necessary for the next few decades. Therefore, research on coal-bearing formations using modern research methods is still very important. The application of geochemistry and chemostratigraphy in reservoir characterization has become increasingly common in recent years. This paper presents the possibility of applying chemostratigraphic techniques to the study of the Carboniferous coal-bearing succession of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. The material studied comes from 121 core samples (depth 481–1298 m), representing the Mudstone Series (Westphalian A, B). Major oxide concentrations of Al2O3, SiO2, Fe2O3, P2O5, K2O, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O, MnO, TiO2, and Cr2O3 were obtained using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. Trace elements were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP/MS). The geochemical record from the Mudstone Series shows changes in the concentration of major elements and selected trace elements, leading to the identification of four chemostratigraphic units. These units differ primarily in the content of Fe, Ca, Mg, Mn, and P as well as the concentration of Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, and Ti. The study also discusses quartz origin (based on SiO2 and TiO2), sediment provenance and source-area rock compositions (based on Al2O3/ TiO2, TiO2/Zr, and La/Th), and paleoredox conditions (based on V/Cr, Ni/Co, U/Th, (Cu+Mo)/Zn, and Sr/Ba) for the chemostratigraphic units. Chemostratigraphy was used for the first time in the study of the Carboniferous coal-bearing series of the USCB, concluding that it can be used as an effective stratigraphic tool and provide new information on the possibility of correlating barren sequences of the coal-bearing succession.

Based on analytical data on the geochemistry of tectonic pseudotachylytes and their host rocks, the specific trends of redistribution of major, trace, and rare earth elements in the course of seismogenic frictional melting of the arkosic metaterrigenous rocks from three zones of regional metamorphism with different temperatures (greenschist, amphibolite, and granulite) in the Northern Ladoga region are discussed. Oppositely directed trends of changes in the contents of the oxides of major elements in the protolith–blastocataclasite–pseudotachylyte triad were revealed, and a unidirectional increase in the basicity of the frictional melt as compared with the protolith was established at the same time. Geochemical evidence for partial selective melting of the protoliths is discussed. The specific features of the fractionation of trace and rare-earth elements during the transition of the protolith into the melt, as well as during its subsequent partial recrystallization, are shown. The emergence of a peak of elevated europium contents relative to the protolith in the melt matrix of all three sampling points is noted. Based on changes in the concentrations of these elements in the zones of pseudotachylyte substrate generation and in the areas of its moving and injection, the estimates of their differential mobility during frictional melting in a dynamic slip zone are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing influence of Atlantic inflows in the Arctic Ocean in recent decades has had a potential impact on regional biogeochemical cycles of major and trace elements. The warm and salty Atlantic water, entering the Eurasian Basin through the Norwegian Sea margin and the Barents Sea, affects particle transport, sink, phyto-, and zooplankton community structure and could have far-reaching consequences for the marine ecosystems. This study discusses the elemental composition of suspended particulate matter and fluffy-layer suspended matter derived from samples collected in the Barents Sea and northern Norwegian Sea in August 2017. The mosaic distribution of SPM elemental composition is mainly determined by two factors: (i) The essential spatial variability of biological processes (primary production, abundance, and phytoplankton composition) and (ii) differences in the input of terrigenous sedimentary matter to the sea area from drainage sources (weak river runoff, melting of archipelago glaciers, etc.). The distribution of lithogenic, bioessential, and redox-sensitive groups of elements in the particulate matter was studied at full-depth profiles. Marine cycling of strontium in the Barents Sea is shown to be significantly affected by increasing coccolithophorid bloom, which is associated with Atlantic water. Mn, Cu, Cd, and Ba significantly enrich the suspended particulate matter of the benthic nepheloid layer relative to the fluffy layer particulate matter within the benthic boundary layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, the limestone karst cave systems in southern China are extensive and well developed. Due to the slow uplift of the crust since the Neogene and extensive river downcutting that made these caves accessible, the sediments in these karst caves preserve a plethora of Quaternary vertebrate fossils (including hominins) and occasionally stone artifacts. These remains provide important clues for studying the paleontology, archaeology and paleoenvironment in the region. However, in these caves it is difficult to understand how these fossils were deposited. In fact, it is often extremely difficult to determine the provenance and transport history of homogeneous clastic sediments, which may carry these fossils and artifacts into these caves, because they often do not have distinct sedimentological features. Here we present a provenance analysis of the Pleistocene clastic sediments from Chuifeng, Mohui, Ganxian and Luna Caves, four caves that may be considered representative of the basin, and compared with the sediment samples from the local fluvial terraces and the surface of limestone hills in Bubing Basin, Guangxi, southern China, utilizing their major and trace element composition as a provenance marker. The major, trace element ratios, and rare earth element distribution data all indicate that the clastic sediments of these four cave sites are directly derived from the weathered residual sediments found on the limestone hills where these caves are located. In all cases, the cave deposits are clearly different from the clastic sediments from the four local fluvial terraces in the basin. Our results provide a new set of data that complement and further expands the common view that these clastic sediments and encased mammal fossils are transported into these cave sites by fluvial action. The clastic sediments on these limestone hills are primarily transported into the caves through cave entrances and/or pipeline or fractures in the hills by sheet flow. As such, it is likely that biological agents (e.g., porcupine and/or carnivore/hominin transport) and not fluvial activity may have played an even greater role in the accumulation of vertebrate fossils in cave sites than traditionally thought. This study should have broader implications in investigations into the relationship between clastic sediments and fossils in cave sites across time and space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical weathering of parent rocks in river basins plays a significant role in controlling the global geochemical cycle and climate change, especially in the world's largest river basins such as the Mekong River Basin in tropical regions. However, the chemical weathering process of the Mekong River Basin is still not well understood. In this study, clay mineralogy and major/trace-element geochemistry of fluvial sediments (clay, silt, and sand fractions) collected from the lower Mekong River Basin (Cambodia and Vietnam) were utilized to investigate the sediment provenance and chemical weathering process. The major-element compositions of the clay, silt, and sand fraction sediments from both the mainstream and tributaries consist of dominant SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , and Fe 2 O 3 , (84 wt%, 89 wt%, and 95 wt%, respectively) and minor K 2 O, Na 2 O, MgO, CaO, TiO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and MnO. The clay mineral assemblages in mainstream sediments are high in illite (36 wt%), moderate in kaolinite (28 wt%) and chlorite (26 wt%), and low in smectite (10 wt%), whereas those in tributary sediments are high in smectite (37 wt%), moderate in kaolinite (26 wt%) and chlorite (22 wt%), and low in illite (15 wt%). The different clay mineral assemblages between mainstream and tributary sediments can be significantly related to the parent rock lithology and/or the weathering process in the source region. On the basis of clay mineralogy and elemental geochemistry, river sediments of the mainstream in the lower reach may be derived mainly from felsic rocks in the lower part of the middle reach of this basin, with secondary contributions from the upper and lower reaches as well as the upper part of the middle reach. Sediments in the Kampi and Speu tributaries highly originate from felsic rocks, whereas sediments in the Srepok, Ter, and Chhiong tributaries can be mostly weathering products of mafic rocks. The clay mineral proxies (smectite/(illite + chlorite) and kaolinite/(illite + chlorite)) combined with the elemental geochemistry (CIA, αAlE values, and weathering trends) of the clay fraction sediments indicate intensive chemical weathering in the lower and middle reaches. The high-relief topography and cold and dry climatic conditions in the upper reach result in high illite and chlorite contents in the soil and moderate chemical weathering. The chemical weathering intensity increases from the upper to middle reaches and further to the lower reach. Tectonics in the middle and upper reaches of the Mekong River Basin play the most important role in controlling weathering and erosion processes, whereas East Asian–Indian monsoon climate conditions with warm temperature and predominant rainfall throughout the year and lithology are the main forcing factors for the intensity of chemical weathering in the lower reach. • Lower-reach sediments originate from felsic rocks in the middle reach of Mekong Basin. • Intensive chemical weathering occurs in middle and lower reaches of the Mekong Basin. • Tectonic and climate-lithology control weathering in the middle-lower Mekong Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Huayuan orefield in the SW Yangtze Block (SW China) is a world-class Pb-Zn orefield, with over 20 million tonnes (Mt) metal reserve. However, the Pb-Zn ore fluid source and evolution in Huayuan remain controversial. This study determined the major and trace element compositions of the newly-identified apatite from the Pb-Zn ores, using electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The apatite samples are of hydrothermal origin, and have high CaO (52.57–57.15 wt%), P2O5 (39.26–42.88 wt%) and F (1.82–3.90 wt%) but low Cl (< 0.42 wt%) contents. The samples have total rare Earth element content (ΣREE) of 74.07–1,255.34 ppm, and they all show negative Eu and weakly positive Ce anomalies. The result suggests that the apatite was formed in an environment with decreasing oxygen fugacity, and in relatively F-rich, Cl-poor, and REE-poor ore-forming fluid. We geochemically compared the apatite from Huayuan with those from different geneses by Fisher discriminant. The result suggests that the Huayuan apatite is distinct from typical magmatic and purely hydrothermal apatite, and that the ore-forming fluids may have had multiple sources. The mixing of fluids with different origins may have triggered significant metal ore deposition.

Simple Summary: Coastal systems often serve as sinks for toxic elements, and seasonality has been responsible for many changes in the physical and chemical parameters of waters and sediments, leading to geochemical alterations in aquatic systems and the alteration of element uptake rates in organisms. Diopatra neapolitana worms were collected from five sites of the Ria de Aveiro lagoon in the autumn, winter, spring, and summer of 2018/2019 and were tested to check for differences in the biochemical responses (cell damage, antioxidant enzymes, biotransformation enzymes, and energy-related parameters) among seasons and sites. In general, the results demonstrated that enzyme activities were higher in spring and summer due to high temperatures and element bioaccumulation. Energy-related parameters presented with higher levels in spring and autumn, which was mainly due to element bioaccumulation. Oxidative damage was higher during winter and was related to salinity and decreases in temperature. This study demonstrated that abiotic factors influence the geochemistry of elements and that both significantly affect organism performance in low-contamination systems, such as the Ria de Aveiro lagoon. This knowledge is important to understand how ecological and economically relevant species such as D. neapolitana respond to environmental changes. Polychaetes are known to be good bioindicators of marine pollution, such as inorganic contamination. Major and trace elements are commonly present in sediment and may be accumulated by polychaetes such as the tubiculous Diopatra neapolitana. In this study, D. neapolitana individuals were collected in the autumn, winter, spring, and summer of 2018/2019 from the Ria de Aveiro lagoon (western Portugal) to understand how seasonality influences element accumulation. The impact of the interaction of seasonality and elements on oxidative status, energy metabolism, and oxidative damage was also assessed. The obtained results showed that the activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione S-transferases, and non-protein thiol levels were higher in summer and that superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidation, and electron transport system activity increased in winter. The lowest glycogen levels were observed during spring, and protein carbonylation was the highest during autumn. These results could mainly be related to high temperatures and the bioaccumulation of Al, As, Mn, and Zn. Energy-related parameters increased during spring and autumn, mainly due to the bioaccumulation of the same elements during spring and summer. Lipid damage was higher during winter, which was mainly due to salinity and temperature decreases. Overall, this study demonstrates that seasonality plays a role in element accumulation by polychaetes and that both impact the oxidative status of D. neapolitana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the petrological characteristics and elemental geochemical analysis of core samples from the Pingtai area in the northern structural belt of the Qaidam Basin, this study shows that the clay mineral assemblage of Lulehe Formation sandstone is dominated by high contents of smectite, chlorite and illite, and does not contain illite–smectite mixed layers or kaolinite. The chlorite and illite in the Xiaganchaigou Formation decreased gradually and the smectite disappeared. In addition, illite–smectite mixed layers began to appear and kaolinite was not present. These results indicate that the diagenetic environment of the Pingtai area in the early Eocene was dominated by alkaline media poor in K+ and rich in Mg2+, Na+ and Ca2+. In the late Eocene, K+ content in the diagenetic medium increased significantly, and smectite began to transform into illite. From the early Eocene to the late Eocene, the overall climate and environmental characteristics showed a transition from cold and dry to a cold climate that alternated between dry and wet. The content changes of common oxides, such as CaO, MgO, K2O, Na2O, SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3 and TiO2, showed obvious correlation. Based on the content and ratio change tendencies of Sr, Ba, Cu, Zn, U, Th, Ce and other trace elements, combined with the variation characteristics of rare earth element contents, it is suggested that the Lulehe Formation was dominated by a dry and cold freshwater sedimentary environment, and that paleoclimatic conditions were relatively cold and arid during this sedimentary period. However, the climate in the sedimentary period of the Xiaganchaigou Formation was dominated by a cold environment alternating between dry and wet, which also reflected the finding that the global climate was mainly cold and dry in the early Eocene and gradually became warm and humid in the late Eocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MeV ion microprobe measurements of the lesser and trace life element concentrations in biological tissues are challenging because of complex spatial inhomogeneities in these types of samples. Measurements on ex vivo tissue sections require determination of the matrix element composition and the tissue section thickness. For these reasons, in this work, we adapted the Dynamic Analysis approach known from literature, to interpret the MeV ion microscopy data to determine concentrations of H, C, O, and N as well as the thickness of different tissue regions in Non Human Primate (NHP) mesenteric lymph node section. The results showed no strong variations of the matrix element contents regardless of section thickness variations in the tissue. The matrix information was used to quantify total-Ca molarities and a significant ∼ 30 mM Ca concentration hotspot was observed at the edge of sinus structure in the mesenteric lymph node as compared to the 3-4 mM total-Ca levels in the surrounding tissues. Thus, MeV ion microprobe imaging combined with dynamic analysis comprise a novel chemometric approach paving a way for quantitative analysis of similarly complicated animal and plant biological tissue sections. [Display omitted] • Quantitative matrix element maps have been measured using Dynamic Analysis. • Total-Ca molar concentrations were determined in lymph node tissue. • The method can generalised to image and quantify animal and plant biological tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combined magnetic and geochemical analysis was carried out to identify the relationship between magnetic parameters, concentration of major elements and heavy metals in urban dust of Mexico City. Here, we propose simple mathematical models that can estimate the concentration of elements in urban dust by means of magnetic parameters, as well as establish the degree of precision of each model. Magnetic threshold values are also proposed to identify samples with low, medium and high concentrations of elements. Urban dust from Mexico City showed a different concentration of essentially ferrimagnetic minerals and superparamagnetic particles. The concentration of the elements in the urban dust samples were: Al between 3,325 to 27,336 mg kg-1; Cr between 17 to 117 mg kg-1; Cu between 15 to 405 mg kg-1; Fe between 653 to 39,217 mg kg-1; Ni between 21 to 66 mg kg-1; Pb between 27 to 366 mg kg-1; V between 11 to 52 mg kg-1 and Zn between 102 to 537 mg kg-1. The relationship between magnetic parameters and concentration of element is rather linear, showing positive Pearson correlation coefficients with values between 0.26 to 0.69. Magnetic threshold values were proposed to identify sites with relatively high accumulation of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. These values for specific magnetic susceptibility are: Low < 2.86 µm3 kg-1; Moderate: 2.86 to 3.46 µm3 kg-1 and High > 3.46 µm3 kg-1; and for remanent isothermal magnetization of saturation: Low < 38 mAm2 kg-1; Moderate: between 38 to 46 mAm2 kg-1 and High > 46 mAm2 kg-1. Mathematical models to estimate the concentration of elements showed effectiveness of about 60%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study deals with the geochemical changes observed along Nile Delta inner shelf sediments over a period of 20 years (1995–2015). Major, minor, and trace constituents as well as rare earth elements (REE) were investigated in the surface sediments collected from seven transects along the inner shelf on five years intervals. Geochemical composition of sediments in Nile Delta inner shelf exhibits continuous changes over time due to the depositional and sediment transport processes. The sediments are generally enriched with Fe and Ti oxides, as well as Ta, Nb, Y in comparison to the Upper Continental Crust (UCC). These alterations signify the impact of processes such as erosion and sediment transport, as well as the impact of anthropogenic interferences such as damming the Nile River Flow. The reduction of the sediment input from the Nile River has somehow altered the geochemical signature of the inner shelf sediments. The REE patterns indicate weathering in areas subjected to erosion, while trace elements and major oxides spatial and temporal distributions concentrate eastwards under the influence of the easterly sediment transport pattern. Nile Delta inner shelf presented a typical case for understanding the link between geochemistry and sedimentary processes in nearshore and deltaic systems.

This study was carried out alongthewestern coastal parts of Balochistan from Gwadar east Bay to Jiwani. The local anomaly of major, minor and trace elements were studied in this area. Zone-I (Gwadar east and west Bay) indicates that calcium oxide, potassium oxide and titanium dioxide havehigher or average concentrations, while Zone-II indicates higher or average concentrations of calcium oxide, titanium dioxide and ferric oxide. Trace elements zirconium, chromium, europium, strontium, and copper are in higher or average concentrations in both zones. Gwadar west Bay and Jiwani are intermediate in carbonate, which show a high degree of maturity, suggesting the high rate of weathering in the source area. Sediment samples from Ganz, Jiwani, and Gwadar east Bay represent the quartz-rich fieldsin this region. Gwadar east Bay has a positive correlation between aluminium oxideand potassium oxidewhich suggests that abundance of potassium oxideis controlled by variation in K-feldspar contents. A positive correlation between strontiumand calciumoxide suggests that strontiumis associated with calcium oxidein biogenic carbonate material in Gwadar west Bay. The positive correlation between aluminium oxide, copper,andzincin Pishukan indicates that the abundance of these elements is due to limited silt and clay fractions present in sediments. Enrichment factor shows that chromiumandstrontiumare probably of anthropogenic origin in this region

BACKGROUND The zircon U-Pb dating and analysis of major, trace and rare earth elements of rocks are the main research methods used to study the genesis of intrusive rocks. OBJECTIVES To constrain the genesis of neoproterozoic gneissic moyite of the Yangsanzhai, Xiaotian volcanic basin. METHODS Chemical composition of rocks was analyzed by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and the zircon U-Pb age was determined by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). RESULTS Results show that the rock was characterized by high silicon, kalium and sodium, and low iron, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus. The content of SiO2, Al2O3, MgO, K2O and Na2O were 65.86%-78.29%, 10.89%-16.02%, 0.17%-1.17%, 1.37%-6.44% and 0.53%-6.50%, respectively. The rock belonged to the high potassic calc-alkaline series. The samples were characterized by depletion of Nb, Sr, P and Ti, and enrichment of La, Ce, Nd and Zr. The samples had high content of rare earth elements (ΣREE=152.70-650.88μg/g) with light rare earth enrichment (LREE/HREE=6.77-20.64). Most of the samples had weakly negative europium anomalies (δEu=0.29-1.15) without cerium anomaly. The normalized curve of rare earth elements was characterized by right-incline. The 206Pb/238U ages of the 30 zircon points ranged from 720 to 828Ma, with a weighted average age of 776±11Ma (MSWD=2.1). CONCLUSIONS The discovery of Neoproterozoic gneissic moyite in the Xiaotian Basin indicates that there is uplift in the center of this basin, not the 'bucket' shape of thick in the middle and thin at the sides, as previously recognized. This has important guiding significance for the understanding of the tectonic morphology of the basin and further prospecting.

Floodplain soils function as long-lasting stock or source of different substances, including pollutants. The main factor determining biochemical processes in fluvisols is flooding. Global climate change, which is causing more frequent and massive floods, is urging us to assess the potential environmental risks and create appropriate environmental management strategies. This study was performed to estimate the impact of a heavy flood on the total content of major elements and both total and mobile trace elements in fluvisols of one of the longest rivers in the world, the Amur. The study was conducted in field conditions by sampling from the same soil profiles before and after the flood. As a result, 10 major and 42 trace elements were distinguished. Major-element composition was determined with X-ray fluorescent method, trace-element composition - with the inductive coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Maximum decrease of concentration was determined for CaO, MnO, P2O5 (up to 60%) and Sr, Cd, Ba, Tl and Pb (up to 40%). Significant increase was in concentration of Ni, Cu, and Mo (up to 160%). Among mobile trace elements, increase was observed in concentration of Sc, Ni and Th (up to 400%). With the correlation analysis, it was also established that the main causes of changes in elemental composition of the soils were decrease of pH, development of redox environment and washing out of organic matter. The main factor determining the influence of the flood on fluvisols was floodplain relief, which affected the length of the inundation, flood water velocity and the way allochthonic matter retained.

The increasing influence of Atlantic inflows in the Arctic Ocean in recent decades has had a potential impact on regional biogeochemical cycles of major and trace elements. The warm and salty Atlantic water, entering the Eurasian Basin through the Norwegian Sea margin and the Barents Sea, affects particle transport, sink, phyto-, and zooplankton community structure and could have far-reaching consequences for the marine ecosystems. This study discusses the elemental composition of suspended particulate matter and fluffy-layer suspended matter derived from samples collected in the Barents Sea and northern Norwegian Sea in August 2017. The mosaic distribution of SPM elemental composition is mainly determined by two factors: (i) The essential spatial variability of biological processes (primary production, abundance, and phytoplankton composition) and (ii) differences in the input of terrigenous sedimentary matter to the sea area from drainage sources (weak river runoff, melting of archipelago glaciers, etc.). The distribution of lithogenic, bioessential, and redox-sensitive groups of elements in the particulate matter was studied at full-depth profiles. Marine cycling of strontium in the Barents Sea is shown to be significantly affected by increasing coccolithophorid bloom, which is associated with Atlantic water. Mn, Cu, Cd, and Ba significantly enrich the suspended particulate matter of the benthic nepheloid layer relative to the fluffy layer particulate matter within the benthic boundary layer.

The study area is located in northeastern Anatolia and represents a thick sequence (with gypsum, halite, clay, carbonate and siliciclastics) in a Miocene intermontane basin. The purpose of this study is to determine the depositional basin conditions, diagenetic processes and parent brine of the Miocene evaporite deposits (salts and gypsums) in the basin, by using sedimentological properties and geochemical composition. Sedimentological parameters and high positive correlations between some major ion (Fe, Al, and P oxides) and trace element (Zn, Co, Ni, Mo, Ba, and Sr, etc.) concentrations reveal that Tuzluca evaporites accumulated in a shallow terrestrial environment (playa lake-mud flats) exposed to high salinity conditions (Al2O3-Sr/Ba) under the effects of tectonism, diagenesis processes (replacement, dissolution-recrystallization, etc.), intense wave and biological activity (Zn-Fe2O3-P2O5, Ba-Sr-Fe2O3, etc.). The 87Sr/86Sr, δ34S and δ18O results of the evaporite minerals also support the view that these evaporites may originate from non-marine water. Also, these values suggest that these may be derived from the dissolution and re-precipitation of ancient marine evaporites. The variable crystal sizes of the evaporites and low δ18O values indicate that the salinity and pH conditions in the environment changed from time to time. The high trace element values, positive Ce and Eu anomalies and low δ34S value reflect the important contribution of diagenetic and hydrothermal solutions to these evaporites. Some important positive correlations between major ions (Si, Al, Mg, and Ti, etc.), trace (Rb, Th, Pb, Zr, Hf, and Ni etc.) and rare earth elements (La, Ce, Er, etc.), the distribution pattern of REE normalized to MUQ and chondrite, and low δ18O values indicate terrigenous detritic input transported into the basin with the contribution of terrestrial waters (river, meteoric, etc.). Also, the presence of fine-grained clay minerals (kaolinite, illite and montmorillonite), which are determined by these relationships and X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) reveal that the evaporites deposited in the basin were exposed to both humid and hot-dry climates under alkaline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This data article refers to the paper entitled “Multi-element signatures in solid and solution phases in a tropical mixing zone: A case study in the Cai River estuary, Vietnam” (Koukina et al., 2021), which considers the fate of major, trace, and rare-earth elements transported through the estuarine geochemical filter of the typical tropical estuary. The present work contributes to the local geochemical baselines as a background for long-term monitoring of potential hazardous elements. Therefore, the dataset covers the abundance, enrichment, and partitioning parameters of 53 chemical elements in the water, suspended particulate matter, and bottom sediment samples collected in the Cai River estuary and the adjacent part of the Nha Trang Bay (South China Sea) between July and August 2013. The total filtered, particulate, and sedimentary elements were determined by atomic emission and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-AES; ICP-MS). The environmental indices (the enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index) and partition coefficients were calculated from the total element contents. The data provided is essential for the comprehensive environmental assessment of the anthropogenic impact on the coastal ecosystem as well as for the evaluation and modelling of element fractionation and mobility at the estuarine gradients.

Many temporary and permanent reservoirs of water occur on or near coal-waste dumps in the Lower- and Upper Silesian Coal Basins (Poland). Little or nothing is known of the degree to which their water chemistry might reflect (i) reservoir type, i.e., whether permanent or temporary, (ii) level of coal-waste thermal activity, i.e., whether inactive or self-heating or burnt-out or (iii) region, i.e., whether the dumps are in Upper- or Lower Silesia. To provide some answers, concentrations of selected ions (NH4+, HCO3−, F−, Cl−, Br−, NO2−, NO3−, PO43−,SO42−) were determined by ion chromatography and of nineteen elements (Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Pb, S, Si, Sr, Zn) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The data allow a number of the following observations. When permanent reservoirs are considered, there is a clear relationship between concentrations of ions and major and trace elements and dump thermal activity. The highest concentrations occur where the thermal activity is high as inorganic components are transformed into more water-soluble forms. As dump thermal activity shows a regional pattern, it follows also that elemental and ion concentrations in the dump waters show significant regional differences. In temporary reservoirs, concentrations of ions and major and trace elements are much lower and any correlations between components less significant than in the permanent reservoirs; these reservoirs exist for too short a time for any balance between coal waste- and water components to be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourmaline occurs in the biotite-muscovite granite of Mashhad as nodule, euhedral tourmalines in pegmatite and aplite, quartz-tourmaline veins, tourmaline-rich veins and radial tourmalines. Compositionally, they all are between schorl and dravite end- members and alkali group tourmalines. The euhedral tourmalines in pegmatite and aplite are Fe - enriched schorl whereas the nodule, quartz-tourmalines, the radial and the vein tourmalines are Mg- rich schorl. The higher Mg concentration in these tourmalines relative to those of the pegmatite and aplite are probably related to the crystallization of Fe -rich minerals including biotite, garnet, and the pegmatite and aplite tourmalines during the evolution of granitic magma. The LA ICP (MS) results indicate that all types of studied tourmalines are characterized by low trace element abundances and have more concentration of Sr, Ga, Li, Be, Sn, Pb as well as some transitional elements. The tourmalines studied show similar REE patterns, LREE enrichment and positive Eu anomalies. The low Ba, Rb, W, Sn، Y, Nb and HREE concentrations can be due to crystallization of some minerals such as garnet, biotite, muscovite and feldspar prior to the tourmalines. The correlation between major and trace elements of the tourmalines is the effects of atomic sites and thermodynamic in the crystal chemistry and the behavior of trace elements in the tourmalines.

Based on the petrological characteristics and elemental geochemical analysis of core samples from the Pingtai area in the northern structural belt of the Qaidam Basin, this study shows that the clay mineral assemblage of Lulehe Formation sandstone is dominated by high contents of smectite, chlorite and illite, and does not contain illite–smectite mixed layers or kaolinite. The chlorite and illite in the Xiaganchaigou Formation decreased gradually and the smectite disappeared. In addition, illite–smectite mixed layers began to appear and kaolinite was not present. These results indicate that the diagenetic environment of the Pingtai area in the early Eocene was dominated by alkaline media poor in K+ and rich in Mg2+, Na+ and Ca2+. In the late Eocene, K+ content in the diagenetic medium increased significantly, and smectite began to transform into illite. From the early Eocene to the late Eocene, the overall climate and environmental characteristics showed a transition from cold and dry to a cold climate that alternated between dry and wet. The content changes of common oxides, such as CaO, MgO, K2O, Na2O, SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3 and TiO2, showed obvious correlation. Based on the content and ratio change tendencies of Sr, Ba, Cu, Zn, U, Th, Ce and other trace elements, combined with the variation characteristics of rare earth element contents, it is suggested that the Lulehe Formation was dominated by a dry and cold freshwater sedimentary environment, and that paleoclimatic conditions were relatively cold and arid during this sedimentary period. However, the climate in the sedimentary period of the Xiaganchaigou Formation was dominated by a cold environment alternating between dry and wet, which also reflected the finding that the global climate was mainly cold and dry in the early Eocene and gradually became warm and humid in the late Eocene.

Polychaetes are known to be good bioindicators of marine pollution, such as inorganic contamination. Major and trace elements are commonly present in sediment and may be accumulated by polychaetes such as the tubiculous Diopatra neapolitana. In this study, D. neapolitana individuals were collected in the autumn, winter, spring, and summer of 2018/2019 from the Ria de Aveiro lagoon (western Portugal) to understand how seasonality influences element accumulation. The impact of the interaction of seasonality and elements on oxidative status, energy metabolism, and oxidative damage was also assessed. The obtained results showed that the activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione S-transferases, and non-protein thiol levels were higher in summer and that superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidation, and electron transport system activity increased in winter. The lowest glycogen levels were observed during spring, and protein carbonylation was the highest during autumn. These results could mainly be related to high temperatures and the bioaccumulation of Al, As, Mn, and Zn. Energy-related parameters increased during spring and autumn, mainly due to the bioaccumulation of the same elements during spring and summer. Lipid damage was higher during winter, which was mainly due to salinity and temperature decreases. Overall, this study demonstrates that seasonality plays a role in element accumulation by polychaetes and that both impact the oxidative status of D. neapolitana.

The ability of bivalve mollusks to accumulate chemical elements from the environment makes them an important object for environmental monitoring and assessments of anthropogenic impact on marine ecosystems. The paper presents the data on the content of 65 chemical elements in soft tissues and shells of five species of bivalve mollusks (Astarte crenata, Ciliatocardium ciliatum, Portlandia arctica, Chlamys islandica, Hiatella arctica), as well as in the upper layer (0-5 cm) of bottom sediments of the Kara Sea, the Arctic Ocean. The content of major-, trace and rare-earth elements was determined by atomic emission and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-AES; ICP-MS). The age, size, and weight of mollusks were measured. There were differences in the content of chemical elements accumulated in soft tissues and shells of mollusks, as well as the significant interspecific difference in the chemical composition of the studied mollusks. The soft tissues of mollusks were accumulated with toxic metals (Hg, Ag, and Cd) in comparison with the content of these elements in bottom sediments. In Chlamys islandica and Hiatella arctica, the shell was accumulated in Cd in contrast to other species. The data obtained may be used for a comprehensive assessment of the state of ecosystems in the seas of the Siberian sector of the Arctic Ocean under changing environment and for studying the fundamental base of the accumulation of chemical elements by marine organisms.