Composition Of Earth's Crust Research Articles

Study of Carbon‐Bearing Particles in Ascending Geogas Flows in theDongshengmiao Polymetallic Pyrite Deposit, InnerMongolia,China

AbstractSamples of ascending geogas flow particles were collected on toSiNgrids directly in theQuaternary sediments overlying theDongshengmiao polymetallic pyrite deposit, China. Corresponding soil samples were collected in the surface ofDongshengmiao district at the same time. After pretreatment, theseSiNgrid samples were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. The tests focused on the characteristics of particles including size, shape, chemical composition, structure and association. The results show that there are numerous carbon‐bearing particles in particulate samples of the ascending geogas flow. The particles contain organic matter, carbonate or carbonate mixed with other minerals. These carbon‐bearing particles generally contain metallic elements likeFe/Zn/Au/Cu/Pb. However, all of the soil particles do not contain elementalCand only consist of common elements (O,Na,Mg,Al,Si,Ca,Ti) just like the composition of earth crust. Through a comparison between the particles from different sources, the carbon‐bearing particles were found to come only from the deep earth and carried useful information about concealed deposits as they pass through the deep‐seated orebodies. Given the influences of organic matter on mineralization, the carbon‐bearing particle may provide information on the deposit genesis. Combining the use of geogas particle for prospecting with characteristics of large depth, and the carbon‐bearing materials' close spatial and genetic relationship with orebodies, we propose a new prospecting method based on the characteristics of carbon‐bearing particles, including morphology, size, chemical component and ultra‐microstructure. This approach could be applied to the exploration of deposits deep in the earth and abundant in carbon‐bearing matter. This approach can provide efficient and effective deposit exploration.

Aerosol lead and associated elements in Beijing, China

The relative importance of local and regional sources of lead and associated elements in fine and coarse aerosol particles of an urban atmosphere was assessed by means of a two-day study, July 20 and 30, 1980 in Beijing, China. Five near-ground locations were selected for aerosol sampling by cascade impactors and elemental analysis by proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE): the imperial palace courtyard, a park, near two streets, and a mid-street traffic island. These sites, ranked in order of increasing traffic intensity and fugitive surface dust, showed that concentrations of major dust constitutents, represented by coarse particle (>2 μm diameter) Si, Al, and Ca, increased correspondingly. Pb, as well as Zn, As, and Cu, were present mainly in fine (<2 μm) particles; their concentrations were unrelated to traffic, indicating they resulted mainly from regional combustion or other sources. However, these elements also were present in coarse particles at concentrations that varied with the major dust elements and were relatively enriched, compared to average earth crust rock material, by factors of more than 100 (Pb), 50 (Zn), and 10 (Cu). Nonurban Beijing shows much smaller coarse aerosol enrichments of Pb, Zn, and Cu, indicating urban contamination of surface dust. Published data from St. Louis, USA show both fine and coarse aerosol Pb and Zn. Compared with Beijing, fine and coarse concentrations in St. Louis are similar for Pb, but lower for Zn, Ca, and Fe. Both Pb and Zn are enriched relative to earth crust composition to a greater degree in St. Louis than Beijing in both fine and coarse particle size ranges. The results suggest that heavy metals from combustion occur in the air as fine particles and, after deposition on the surface, as reentrained coarse particles of fugitive dust. Both many contribute to human exposures of these heavy metals.