Boron in Foraminiferal Calcite as an Indicator of Seawater Carbonate Chemistry Katherine A. Allen Foraminifera are unicellular organisms with a wide marine distribution. Many species secrete carbonate tests whose physical and chemical nature reflect the seawater conditions in which they grow. Thus, fossil tests preserved on the sea floor represent an archive that may be used to investigate the composition of ancient seawater. With the aim of improving our understanding of past ocean-climate links, I have tested proxies for seawater composition in the modern ocean and applied them to a key period in Earth history. The ratio of boron to calcium (B/Ca) in the calcite tests of planktic foraminifers has previously been suggested as a proxy for past seawater carbonate chemistry, but controls on B incorporation are not yet clear. The theoretical basis for this proxy is rooted in the pHdependent concentration of dissolved borate (B(OH)4 ) and its subsequent incorporation into foraminiferal calcite. In this thesis, I present: 1) new insights into the environmental controls on B/Ca revealed by culture experiments with living foraminifers, and 2) new reconstructions of past seawater chemistry during the last deglaciation based on B/Ca of fossil calcite from deep sea sediments. To test environmental controls on B incorporation, I performed several culture experiments that quantified the effects of pH, temperature, salinity, dissolved boron and inorganic carbon concentrations on the calcite tests of the planktic foraminifer species O. universa, G. sacculifer, and G. ruber (pink). In these experiments, B/Ca increases with pH (lower [HCO3 ], higher [CO 2− 3 ] and [B(OH) − 4 ]) and salinity, but not with temperature. Thus, normalizing B/Ca data to a constant salinity (e.g., S=35) should improve our ability to isolate the carbonate chemistry signal in B/Ca paleo-records and samples from different ocean sites. In addition, B/Ca decreases with total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) at constant pH (higher [HCO3 ] and [CO 2− 3 ], constant [B(OH) − 4 ]), which suggests competition between aqueous boron and carbon species for inclusion into the calcite lattice. While different cultured species exhibit similar B/Ca behavior in response to salinity, temperature, and pH changes, their absolute B/Ca values are offset under identical seawater conditions. Thus, B/Ca is both a function of environmental parameters that exert strong influence on test composition as well as biological processes that result in species offsets. To determine whether these culture calibrations are applicable in the open ocean, I used equations relating the B/Ca of cultured foraminifers with experimental seawater properties to predict B/Ca of wild specimens derived from sediment core-tops. Most measured core-top values for O. universa and G. sacculifer are similar to values predicted by culture calibrations (average offsets are 4 and 15 μmol mol−1, respectively) but values predicted for coretop G. ruber deviate by up to 60 μmol mol−1 from predicted values. The greater discrepancy observed for core-tops may suggest that our experiments still fall short of identifying all environmental controls on B/Ca and/or that we need to revisit the growth conditions assumed for planktic foraminifers, in particular the depth habitat of G. ruber. Further, an evaluation of planktic foraminiferal downcore data shows that B/Ca in planktic foraminifers is not sufficiently sensitive to surface ocean carbonate chemistry to permit reconstruction of Pleistocene atmospheric CO2 changes. However, B/Ca may serve as a useful proxy in environments that experienced large carbonate system changes, such as upwelling zones, or large events such as those during the Paleocene-Eocene. In contrast to planktic foraminifers, B/Ca of benthic foraminifer tests appears to respond to deep-water carbonate saturation state (∆CO2− 3 ). B/Ca of the benthic species Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi increases linearly with ∆CO2− 3 in all major ocean basins, as demonstrated in the modern core-top calibration of Yu and Elderfield (2007). To gain insight into carbon storage in the deep ocean across the last glacial termination, I investigated the B/Ca composition of C. wuellerstorfi in a sediment core from New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty, located at a depth of 1,627 meters. The resulting reconstruction indicates that ∆CO2− 3 changed up to 30 μmol kg −1 across the deglaciation. Combined with benthic δC and independent paleo-O2 estimates, the [CO2− 3 ] record indicates increased storage of CO2 in the deep ocean during the LGM, with major roles for the biologic pump and carbonate compensation.

In this paper the characterization of pigments and materials from wall fragments found at Rocca Manerba (on the Garda lakeshore, Italy) is presented in order to contribute to setting this archaeological site within a historical context. Although a stylistic analysis of the paintings was almost impossible owing to the high fragmentation of the samples, analytical techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIRS), Raman, Scan- ning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersion (SEM-EDS) Spectroscopy, and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) showed the presence of common pigments (yellow and red ochres, green earths, calcite white, and carbon black) as well as of the precious cinnabar, mixed with hematite. Blue pigments were not found, whereas a yellow-green one containing lead and tin used since the XV th Century was found in some over-paintings.

This detailed scientific study of the carbonate-hosted gem corundum occurrences near Revelstoke, British Columbia and Kimmirut, Nunavut, Canada was completed in order to: (1) characterize the gem corundum mineralization; (2) develop genetic models for gem corundum mineralization; and (3) develop exploration strategies for gem corundum in carbonate-hosted deposits. These unique localities were chosen to help develop exploration strategies for gem corundum deposits in Canada since existing models of gem corundum genesis are unable to explain their origin. The Revelstoke occurrence is located in the Monashee Complex of the Omineca belt of the Canadian Cordillera. Pink (locally red or purple) corundum crystals occur in thin, folded and stretched layers containing the assemblage of green muscovite + Ba-bearing K-feldspar + anorthite ± phlogopite ± Na-poor scapolite. Mineral assemblages and textures in these silicate layers and thermodynamic modeling suggest that corundum formed from muscovite dehydration at the peak of metamorphism (~650-700 °C at 8.5-9 kbar). Observed trends in whole rock geochemical data indicate that the corundum-bearing silicate (mica-feldspar) layers formed by mechanical mixing of carbonate with the host gneiss protolith; the bulk composition of the silicate layers was modified by Si and Fe depletion during prograde metamorphism. High element mobility is supported by homogenization of δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values in carbonates and silicates for the marble and silicate layers. The Kimmirut Sapphire Occurrence is located in the Lake Harbour Marble of the Baffin Island segment of the Trans Hudson Orogen. Blue and colourless zoned gem corundum crystals occur in coarse-grained calc-silicate pods with albite + calcite + muscovite ± K-feldspar. Corundum-bearing zones are separated from a phlogopite + plagioclase symplectite around violet diopside crystals by scapolite which fluoresces in UV light. Corundum likely formed during retrograde metamorphism at P-T < 710°C and 6 kbar due to: 1) hydrous fluid alteration of the assemblages nepheline + scapolite and/or nepheline + anorthite or 2) Na-bearing hydrous fluid alteration of anorthite. Comparison of the prograde mineral assemblages, whole rock geochemistry, field relations, and one oxygen isotope measurement of corundum suggest that the most likely protolith is the metamorphism and metasomatism of evaporite-black shale layers within marble.

The processes controlling tufa deposition along the River Mesa (NE Spain) were studied from April 2003 to September 2009, based on six-monthly monitoring of physical and chemical parameters of the river water and sedimentological characteristics, including deposition rates on tablets. With a mean annual discharge around 1.5m3 /s, the sedimentation rate (mean 2mm/yr) recorded important spatial, seasonal and interannual variations. The river waters are of the calcium bicarbonate type. In this study, three distinct river stretches were distinguished based on the steady groundwater inputs, some of low-thermal nature. Groundwater discharges controlled the water chemical composition, and some sedimentation features too. At each stretch, an increase in pCO2 and conductivity was measured around the spring sites. Decreasing trends in conductivity or alkalinity with high enough saturation values with respect to calcite were only clearly observed in the intermediate stretch, which had higher tufa deposition rates than the other two. Tufa deposition rates were higher in cool (autumn+winter) than in warm (spring+summer) periods. In some low-rainfall warm periods, tufa deposition was inhibited or limited due to the low flow -mainly from groundwater inputs- and to the dryness of some river sites, which indeed favoured erosion during flooding. A decrease in yearly deposition rates from April 2006 onwards paralleled an important reduction in the river discharge. Groundwater inputs, drought periods and flood events should therefore be considered to understand fluvial tufa sedimentation in semi-arid conditions.

Removal and Recovery of Phosphonate Antiscalants

The Nuragic village of Sant’Imbenia in Alghero in north-western Sardinia (Italy) was inhabited between approximately the 14 th and the 7 th century BC. Foreigners including Eastern Phoenicians and perhaps Greeks settled in the village during the last stages of its existence in the Early Iron Age, importing their own culture and technology and developing the area. Some of the pottery artifacts produced during this period do not seem to belong to the Nuragic tradition, which suggests that local craftsmen were influenced by these contacts and exchanges with foreign cultures. The objective of this work was to characterize the artifacts and analyze the evolution in production techniques during the Middle-Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age. The main changes seem to have occurred during the transition from the Bronze to the Iron Age, and there was also a clear distinction between cooking and serving wares. We observed that the decoration on the surface of the ceramics changed from the smooth surfaces of the Middle-Late Bronze Age to the partially vitrified, normally red slip wares of the Early Iron Age. Fragments of volcanic rocks were detected in the Early Iron Age cooking wares instead of calcite, the temper typically used during the Middle-Late Bronze Age. Firing temperatures were slightly higher in the Early Iron Age, as inferred by the presence of new mineral phases and the vitrification of the matrix. The surfaces of the ceramics were red, especially during the Early Iron Age, while the mixture often had a black heart.

The Origin of Brucite in Hydrothermally Altered Limestone Near .Devil Peak, Nevada by Rhonda Knupp Dr. Rodney Metcalf; Examination Committee Chair Associate Professor of Geology University ofNevada, Las Vegas Open-space brucite was identified in veins crosscutting hydrothermally altered limestone near the Devil Peak rhyolite plug in southern Nevada. The brucite occurs with serpentine, calcite, chalcedony, hydromagnesite, dolomite, and clinochlore. Brucite usually forms as a replacement mineral, but textural evidence indicates that the brucite at Devil Peak precipitated in open space. The presence of chalcedony in veins indicates the temperature of the hydrothermal fluid was< 180°C during and after mineral deposition. Thermodynamic modeling shows this temperature is too low for replacement brucite to fonn, thus the low temperature of alteration may be a factor in this unusual occurrence of brucite. Infiltration modeling of isotopically depleted wall rocks shows that the hydrothermal fluid was initially composed of a mixture of metamorphic and meteoric water, with Xc02 = 0.15-0.16. Later, an influx of magmatic fluid or metamorphic water

The airborne particles were collected near the power plant and the opencast coal mine of the Kolubara basin. This paper represents the part of the one-year project aiming to collect, characterize and then determine the mineralogical composition of the airborne particles. Samples of deposited particulate matter from the air were collected between March 2007 and March 2008. Mean concentrations content of soluble, insoluble and total deposited matter measured annually exceed 200 mg/m 2 per day (U-1 and U-3). The particle distribution at all sites was classified in three classes: the particles larger than 10 μm, the particles from 10 to 2.5 μm and the particles below 2.5 μm. Such a division gave the ratio of inhaled and respiratory particle concentrations by the measuring points. Scanning electron microscopy showed that dust from coal mines and power plant largely consists of the group of mineral grains and coal particles. SEM-EDS analysis also showed that the mineral composition of the deposited particulate matter was heterogeneous but uniform throughout the investigated area. These findings were also supported by X-ray powder diffraction analytical studies, which gave a similar mineral composition for all samples (quartz, feldspar, clays, gypsum, dolomite, calcite, micas, chlorite and hematite). This paper shows that both concentration and mineralogical characterization of airborne particles from mine and power plant are essential for quantification of the fractions that are inhaled and for the identification of potentially dangerous (hazardous) components in the deposited matter.

منطقه مورد مطالعه در جنوب شرق ایران، حدود 110 کیلومتری جنوب غربی کرمان قرار گرفته است. واحدهای زمین شناسی در منطقه شامل سنگهای افیولیتی، سنگهای آتشفشانی، توده های نفوذی و سنگهای رسوبی می باشند. کانسارسازی در امتداد گسل چهارگنبد درون سنگهای آندزیتی، آندزیت بازالتی و توف های آندزیتی به‌صورت رگه ای رخ داده است. کانی سازی سولفیدی در سنگهای کانه زا به سه صورت انتشاری، رگه چه ای و رگه ای دیده می شوند که در این میان، پیریت و کالکوپیریت مهم ترین کانه های سولفیدی می باشند. دگرسانیها در منطقه مورد مطالعه شامل دگرسانیهای آرژیلیک، فیلیک و پروپیلیتیک می باشند. عناصر طلا، بیسموت، مس، گوگرد و سلنیم نسبت به سایر عناصر غنی شدگی بالاتری دارند، غنی شدگی این عناصر نسبت به زمینه طبیعی منطقه به‌ترتیب 321، 503، 393، 703، 208 و نسبت به کلارک 401، 222، 532، 101 و 156 برابر می باشد. براساس آزمونهای چند متغیره آماری، سه فاز اصلی کانه زایی در کانسار شناسایی شد که در اولین فاز، آرسنیک، کادمیم، سرب، روی و کلسیم در رگه های کلسیتی گرمابی غنی شده اند؛ در فاز دوم، مس، طلا، نقره، بیسموت، آهن و گوگرد درون رگه های سولفیدی غنی شدگی نشان می دهند و فاز سوم کانه زایی شامل غنی شدگی نیکل، منگنز، سلنیم و آنتیموان می باشد و مبین مرحله حدواسطی بین دو فاز کانه زایی قبلی است.

The influence of the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2) on the thermal decomposition process of a calcite (CI) and a dolomite (DP) is investigated in this paper using a thermogravimetric analyser. The tests were non-isothermal at five different heating rates in dynamic atmosphere of air with 0% and 15% carbon dioxide (CO2). In the atmosphere without CO2, the average activation energies (E α) were 197.4 kJ mol−1 and 188.1 kJ mol−1 for CI and DP, respectively. For the DP with 15% CO2, two decomposition steps were observed, indicating a change of mechanism. The values of E α for 15% CO2 were 378.7 kJ mol−1 for the CI, and 299.8 kJ mol−1 (first decomposition) and 453.4 kJ mol−1 (second decomposition) for the DP, showing that the determination of E α for DP should in this case be considered separately in those two distinct regions. The results obtained in this study are relevant to understanding the behaviour changes in the thermal decomposition of limestones with CO2 partial pressure when applied to technologies, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), in which carbon dioxide is present in high concentrations.

The present paper aims at characterizing some deterioration products formed on the decorated walls of the tomb of Kheruef (TT192), El-Assasif district, El-Qurna necropolis (Luxor), Upper Egypt. Mainly, the deterioration phenomenon affecting in the area is closely related to the crystallization of salts. The local supply of salt ions usually comes from the abundance of soluble salts in the bed-rock and ground layers. The morphology and the microanalysis of the contained mineral phases in the damaged layers were carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDS). The mineralogical composition of the samples was determined using X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRD), while the petrographic examination on the prepared thin-sections was carried out using the polarized light microscope (PLM). The results showed that the limestone is consisting of fine-grained calcite crystals embedded in a micritic matrix rich in quartz and fossils (e.g. foraminifera ). Also, the results allowed the determination of the main deterioration mechanisms affecting in the tomb. Based on the results of these analyses, different salt minerals were identified such as halite (NaCl), gypsum (CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O), and bassanite (CaSO 4 ∙0.5H 2 O). The obtained results will be used in the conservation-restoration interventions of the tomb.

کانسار کائولن زنوز، در 15 کیلومتری شمال شرق مرند، استان آذربایجان شرقی واقع می باشد. بر اساس سیماهای فیزیکی در بررسی های صحرایی، نظیر رنگ، 5 نوع مشخص از کائولن، شامل (1) سفید، (2) لیمویی، (3) خاکستری، (4) قهوه ای و (5) زرد در این کانسار تشخیص داده شد. شواهد صحرایی و مطالعات سنگ نگاری نشان می دهندکه این کانسار از نظر ژنتیکی در ارتباط با سنگهای تراکی آندزیتی است. با توجه به یافته های کانی شناسی، این کانسار شامل کانیهای کوارتز، کائولینیت، مونت موریلونیت، کلسیت، پیروفیلیت، کلریت، موسکویت- ایلیت، دولومیت، هماتیت و آناتاز است. یافته های زمین شیمیایی نشان می دهند که عملکرد فرایندهای دگرسانی روی سنگهای تراکی آندزیتی در طی توسعه کانسار کائولن زنوز با شست وشوی عناصری نظیر Al، Na، K، Rb، Ba، V، Hf، Cu، Zr، Tm، Yb و Lu، غنی شدگی عناصری نظیر U، Nb و Ta و شست وشو تثبیت عناصری چون Si، Fe، Ca، Mg، Ti، Mn، P، Cs، Sr، Th، Co، Cr، Ni، Y، Ga، LREE، Tb، Dy، Ho و Er همراه بوده است. تلفیق نتایج به دست آمده از مطالعات کانی شناسی و زمین شیمیایی حکایت از آن دارند که شرایط فیزیکوشیمیایی محیط دگرسانی، پایداری نسبی کانیهای اولیه، جذب سطحی، جذب ترجیحی توسط اکسیدهای فلزی، وجود مواد ارگانیکی، فرآیندهای روبش و تمرکز، تثبیت در فازهای کانیایی نئومورف نقش مهمی در توزیع عناصر در این کانسار ایفا نموده اند. مطالعات زمین شیمیایی نشان می دهند که توسعه این کانسار در ارتباط با دو تیپ فرآیند، (1) هیپوژن و (2) سوپرژن می باشد. الگوی توزیعREEها نشان می دهد که درجه تفریق LREEها از HREEها در کائولن های سوپرژن بیشتر از کائولن های هیپوژن است. مطالعات زمین شیمیایی نشان می دهند که اکسیدهای منگنز، زیرکن، آناتاز، هماتیت، سریانیت و فسفات های ثانویه (مونازیت، رابدوفان، چورچیت و زینوتایم) میزبان عناصر نادر خاکی در این کانسار می باشند.

<div class="WordSection1"> <em><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.17014/ijog.vol4no3.20092">http://dx.doi.org/10.17014/ijog.vol4no3.20092</a></em> <em>The purpose of the study carried out on the claystone of Batuasih Formation in Sukabumi area is to find out the hidrocarbon potential and its characteristics. The Batuasih Formation, overlying conform- ably the Walat Formation, consists of claystone, dark gray, shaly, brittle, containing clay ball, calcite veins, with carbonate intercalations. The geochemical analysis conducted on twelve samples shows the TOC <em>values vary between 0.49 – 1.14 % and T</em></em><em>max of 431 – 434</em><em>o </em><em>C. Four samples are categorized to be <em>immature, while the rests are mature</em></em><em>. HI values of the Batuasih Formation varying from 77-191 mg HC/ TOC indicate that the samples are of C and CD organic facies. Based on those analyses, the source rock is favourably potential to generate a small quantity of hydrocarbon and gas. The hydrocarbon source rock potential level in the investigation area shows a poor to fair organic richness, and its kerogen is included into types II and III. The source rock quality based on the Hydrogen Index (HI) value tends to be a gas prone.</em> </div>

This work investigates sulfate attack in complex sulfate environments by exposing different binder types to various sulfate solutions and comparing predicted phase and volume changes with experimental data. The most important aspects of this work can be grouped in three topics: The comparison of the predicted volume increase with the experimentally observed length changes. This part of the work shows that volume increase cannot be linked directly to the observed expansions. Additionally, the volume increase model does not provide an explanation for the driving force for the space filling to overcome mechanical constraints. A more plausible explanation of expansion lies in the theory of crystallization pressure, in which crystals forming from a supersaturated solution seem to be a more applicable explanation for the deterioration differences. However, this is difficult to verify directly as it is impossible to measure the solution concentration or individual crystals exert pressure on their surroundings. It is observed that expansion occurs in systems where thermodynamic modelling predicts the co-existence of ettringite with gypsum. In such a case, if monosulfate and gypsum are both present locally, the solution can be highly supersaturated with respect to ettringite within the exposed materials. An increase of sulfate contents in the C-S-H phase has been observed for these cases, indicating increased sulfate concentrations in the pore solution while providing the necessary confinement for the crystals in intimate phase mixtures to exceed pressure. The presence of bicarbonate ions in the sulfate solution reduces the expansion significantly for the CEM I and CEM III/B binders, and reduced the sulfate uptake in the phase assemblage. The CEM III/B mortars showed a highly leached zone at the surface in which also calcite was observed, this is attributed to the destabilisation of ettringite in the presence of high concentrations of bicarbonate ions. The microstructural characterization combined with the information from thermodynamic modelling suggests that conditions of high supersaturation with respect to ettringite are unlikely to occur in samples exposed to solutions containing bicarbonate ions. Degradation of mortars exposed to complex magnesium containing sulfate solutions showed that the presence of sodium, potassium and calcium in a magnesium solution reduce the deterioration symptoms significantly for the CEM I and CEM III/B mortars. The experimental observations suggest that sulfate attack in natural environments is not only less severe, due to reduced sulfate concentrations in the field, but are likely to be affected by the presence of bicarbonate anions and the common occurrence of different cations. Both of these aspects reduce the deterioration significantly and can be assumed to occur in most natural waters.

Salt-affected soils are characterized by the occurrence of salt and sodium to levels that can adversely affect several soil properties and growth of most crops. In this study, we reported a pot experiment for studying the potential soil reclamation effects and biomass production of Lotus corniculatus grown under calcareous saline-sodic soil conditions. Seed-derived plants of L. corniculatus were grown in pots filled with three different soils collected from two saline-sodic and one nonsaline area. Study results reveal that L. corniculatus biomass production was almost two times higher under nonsaline soil than saline-sodic soils. Herbage Na+concentration were the highest in all soils. Salty characteristic of the soils led to increase in the concentrations of Na+ and Cl- in plant. L. corniculatus plantation on saline-sodic soils reduced the soil initial ECe values from 5.27 to 2.40 dS m-1 in saline-sodic soil-I and from 8.37 to 2.8 dS m-1 in saline-sodic soil-II. Plant stimulated calcite dissolution and increased soil soluble Ca++. This reduced the initial ESP values of saline-sodic soils from 23 and 26% to 18 and 21%, respectively. At harvest, plant removed approximately 15 and 33 kg salt ha-1 from saline-sodic soils, respectively. Key words: Soil salinity, saline-sodic soils, Lotus corniculatus, forage plants, soil reclamation, bioreclamation

Mineralogical, IR-spectral and geochemical monitoring of hydrothermal alteration in a deformed and metamorphosed Jurassic VMS deposit at Arroyo Rojo, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

The Mandan and Deh-Now bauxite deposits are located 40 km northeast of Dehdasht in Kohgiloye and Boyer-Ahmad province in the Zagros simply folded belt. The deposits were formed in the oldest rocks of the area of late Cretaceous age. The bauxite horizon is situated between Sarvak and Ilam formations. The aim of this study is to determine the mineralogy and texture relations of the deposits in order to determine the environment and status of bauxite mineralization. In this way, samples were selected from these bauxite deposits for mineralogical studies based on microscopic and XRD techniques. The bauxite horizon in the Mandan deposit consists of white, gray, black, pisolitic, red and yellow bauxites. The sequence was repeated in the Deh-Now without black and gray bauxites. Mineralogy is similar in all bauxitic layers and the main textures are pisolitic-ooide, ooide-spheroid, pisolitic, pelitomorphic and pseoudomorphic. Bohmite, diaspore, kaolinite and calcite are the most important minerals in both bauxitic layers of the Mandan and Deh-Now deposits. Due to bohmite mineralization in the study area, erosional and intense weathering environment in the Touronian-Cenomanian could be suggested for the deposition of bauxite in these deposits. Existence of interclasts in the pisolites and ooides indicate that these bauxites were transformed from the primary in situ environment to karstic sedimentary basin as authigenic origin. These studies indicate that there are two mineralized facies with different environmental status: (1) oxidation facies with bohmite, diaspore, kaolinite and hematite minerals and (2) reduced facies with pyrite, diaspore and chlorite mineralization. The lack of reduced condition at the Deh-Now deposit shows that the deposit formed only in oxidation status.

Abstract In this study, melt‐crystallization behaviors of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) composites including different types of inorganic fillers were investigated. Composite samples having 5 wt % of fillers were prepared by melt processing in a twin screw extruder using commercial grades of calcite (CA), halloysite (HL), and organo‐montmorillonite (OM) as filler. Depending on the filler type and geometry, crystallization kinetics of the samples was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods. Effect of filler type on the nonisothermal melt‐crystallization kinetics of the PBT was analyzed with various kinetic models, namely, the Ozawa, Avrami modified by Jeziorny and Liu‐Mo. Crystallization activation energies of the samples were also determined by the Kissinger, Takhor, and Augis–Bennett models. From the kinetics study, it was found that the melt‐crystallization rates of the samples including CA and HL‐nanotube were higher than PBT at a given cooling rate. On the other hand, it was also found that organo‐montmorillonite reduced the melt‐crystallization rate of PBT. It can be concluded that organic ammonium groups in the OM decelerate the crystallization rate of PBT chains possibly due to affecting the chain diffusion through growing crystal face and folding. This study shows that introducing organically modified alumina‐silicate layers into the PBT‐based composites could significantly reduce the production rate of the injection molded parts during the processing operations. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011

The results of this study were to determine the suitability of fine and large crystalline marble from the Afyonkarahisar-Iscehisar region of Turkey, for use in the restoration of the Harbor Agora Foundation, located in Kaunos, one of the antic cities surrounding Mugla Province. The study presents the results obtained in relation to the usability of the marble for restoration. Marble samples were exposed to environmental interactions under laboratory conditions and then a series of characterization tests (mineralogical and petrographic examination, physic-mechanical and chemical tests) were accomplished an acidic environmental interaction of the samples was analyzed, using hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, and nitric acid solutions at 2.0%, 1.2%, 0.9%, and 0.6% concentrations. The test results indicated that the marble was composed of (> 95%) a fine and large calcite crystalline structure, had a porosity ratios of 0.37%-1.24%, a permeability of 0.58-1.52 x 10-2 mD, a density of 2740-2760 kg/m3, a water absorption capacity of 0.21%-0.84%, and a compressive strength of 68.16-65.41Mpa. The analyses made with different acid solutions showed an increase in the weight loss percentage ( w) depending on the concentration percentage ( ) and length of exposure (24-168 h). In addition, the upper and lower limit of the weight loss percentage was observed to increase as the pH value decreased i n the different solutions. The results suggest that fine-crystalline marble is suitable for use in the architectural restoration.

Absence of specific name and classification of the Isiagu intrusive rock and definition of its petrographic province became a challenge. To this effect, we collected rock samples at various depths from a deep quarry pit at Ishiagu and subjected the samples to both physical and optical analysis. This analysis was further tied to the basic principles of magma fractionation and crystallization. Physical analysis of hand specimens obtained at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 feet depths found the rock as hollo-crystalline, consisting of phenero-crystals. The texture is finer top-down, with mafic minerals increasing bottom-up, and felsic minerals greater top-down. This describes the intrusive as intermediate between felsic and mafic, rather than the use of basic and acidic in existing literature. Average specific gravity (SG) of the rock samples is 2.8, but the 45 ft sample has the highest SG of 3.0, and consists mainly of mafic minerals. Others have light to intermediate colours. A calcite vein of average width (30 cm) runs top-down of the intrusive body. This calcite (secondary mineral) is vitreous, colourless, has perfect cleavage, and hardness less than 4. From both physical and optical analysis, the major minerals of the Isiagu intrusive are in the order of abundance: Augite, Plagioclase, Quartz, Olivine, Hornblende, Biotite and Magnetite (main accessory). Plagioclase however is more abundant at depths ≥ 60 ft. The percentage concentrations of these minerals vary with depth and described the Ishiagu intrusive as Olivine-diabase of Lacolith structure. Key words: Olivine-diabase, intermediate intrusive, petrographic province, Isiagu.