Mineral Sites Research Articles

The implications of Mineral Sector Reforms on the Livelihoods of Adjacent Local Communities in Simanjiro District, Tanzania

The aim of this study was to assess the governance of the tanzanite mineral resources at Mirerani in Simanjiro District. Specifically examining the effects of mineral legal reforms on the livelihoods of the local communities in the Simanjiro district. The study employed a mixed methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches with purposive and random sampling techniques. Data were collected through focus groups, in-depth interviews, and household questionnaire surveys were administered to 312 sampled heads of households. Thematic approach was used for analysing qualitative data and SPSS software was used to analyse quantitative data. The novel finding of this study is that while mineral reforms of the 1990s aimed to reduce the government’s control in natural resource governance, recent reforms through the Natural Wealth and Resources, Written Laws and the Natural Wealth Resource Contracts of 2017 which marked by the walling of tanzanite mining in Mirerani have powered the role of state control over mineral resource, raising Tanzanite profitability on markets scale while marginalizing the livelihoods assets of the local community surrounding the Tanzanite mineral site, by pushing many pastoralists out through reducing their access and control to grazing land, water resources through walling of the Mirerani Tanzanite mining site in 2017. With this evacuation resulted to low collection of fruits and roots causing food insecurity, deaths of livestock, decreased income, shrinking of pasture areas and unemployment. The study concludes that while reforms have restored the role of the state in the governance of mineral sector, ordinary citizens are deprived of their land, displaced, excluded and psychologically tortured. The study recommends that any government's management of natural resources must consider both national political and economic gains as well as the ability of displaced communities to maintain their standard of living.

Utilizing multi-criteria decision-making analysis and 3D visualization techniques for dam site selection and irrigation area identification in Gedeb River, Ethiopia

Irrigation dams and irrigation suitability analysis is important for optimal water management, crop selection and productivity, water conservation, environmental sustainability, and economic viability in agriculture arena. Thus, the main objectives of this study were to identify a suitable dam site and irrigation area in the Gedeb River, Ethiopia, using Multi-Criteria Decision-Making analysis and 3D Visualization techniques. To identify a suitable dam site, various parametrs such as rainfall, runoff, stream flow, mineral site, faulting areas, landslide site, rock types, elevation points, relief features, soil types were used while to identify a suitable irrigation area, different parametrs such as altitude, slope, soil, geological structure, distance, and land use land cover datasets were used. The necessary dataset which were used to identify a suitable dam site and irrigation area collected from Ethiopian Mapping Authority (EMA), Ethiopian irrigation and energy ministry freely. In addition, for the final irrigation dam site selection and suitable irrigation area in the Gedeb watershed, multi-criteria decision-making method with expert judgment were applied respectively. Based on the study's findings, a suitable irrigation water reservoir dam covering an area of 1886 ha, with a potential water holding capacity of 2,961,145,697 cubic meters was identified. The results also revealed a highly suitable area of 18,362.05 ha, a moderately suitable area of 19,204.05 ha, a marginally suitable area of 2095.25 ha, and a not suitable area of 2.89 ha for the aforementioned purpose. The methodological approach and research findings presented in this study can greatly assist government and non-governmental organization planners and decision-makers in the development of irrigation projects.

Effects of Fe(II) bio-oxidation rate and alkali control on schwertmannite microstructure and adsorption of oxyanions: Characteristics, performance and mechanism

Schwertmannite has attracted increasing interest for its excellent sorption of oxyanions such as AsO43−, CrO42−, and Sb(OH)6−. Controlling biomineralization by adjusting the Fe(II) oxidation rate and implementing alkali control can enhance the yield and adsorption performance of schwertmannite. However, the adsorption improvement mechanism is still unclear. The morphology, crystallinity, specific surface area (SSA) and oxyanion adsorption of schwertmannite synthesized with alkali control of solution pH and different Fe(II) oxidation rates were analyzed in this study. The differences in the adsorption mechanisms of As(V), Cr(VI) and Sb(V) on schwertmannite obtained under different synthesis conditions were also studied. Reducing the Fe(II) oxidation rate or maintaining the solution pH through alkali control significantly increased the SSA of schwertmannite and the proportion of outer-sphere sulfate. Alkali-controlled schwertmannite (Sch-C) exhibited superior As(V) and Sb(V) adsorption performance and slightly greater Cr(VI) adsorption than non-alkali-controlled schwertmannite. The As(V) and Sb(V) adsorption capacities of Sch-C greatly improved because the ultra-high SSA increased the surface hydroxyl content and reduced the passivation effect of amorphous precipitates on the mineral surface, allowing continuous sulfate exchange at inner mineral sites. An increased surface hydroxyl content had little effect on Cr(VI) adsorption, but an increased proportion of outer-sphere sulfate caused a slight increase in Cr(VI) adsorption. Sb(V) has a stronger hydroxyl exchange ability than As(V), but due to its octahedral structure, it exchanges only with outer-sphere sulfate on schwertmannite and hardly exchanges with inner-sphere sulfate.

A quantitative innovation perspective on synergism and selectivity mechanism of mixed collectors in flotation

Use of mixed collectors in froth flotation confirmed effective separation of minerals with better selectivity and synergistic effects. But the underlying interaction mechanism still keep vague and have not been interpreted clearly so far. This work proposed a quantitative perspective to account for experimental flotation behavior from active site calculation, which has not been involved in flotation areas yet. Specifically, the mineral site distributions of diaspore and kaolinite were quantitatively characterized through calculated collector (sodium oleate (NaOL) and benzohydroxamic acid (BHA)) adsorption intrinsic constants. The algorithm principle was radically different from common homogeneous solution system without electric double layer. Using collector adsorption constants, all the initial and adsorbed product sites were counted in any circumstances to compare with corresponding flotation tests. The results showed that the 5 % higher recovery of diaspore at NaOL/BHA = 9:1 was attributed with 2 % more adsorption sites occupied than a single NaOL when both doses were controlled at 5 × 10-4 mol/L. On the contrary for kaolinite, the overall coverage of collectors was much smaller, indicating its poor recovery. Despite 10 % NaOL replacement by BHA in mixed collectors, neither the adsorbed site content nor the flotation efficiency for kaolinite was facilitated finally. Therefore, the significant discrepancies in adsorptions and flotations between diaspore and kaolinite contribute to their separation with the better selectivity of mixed NaOL/BHA than individual NaOL. The method established in this study may draw further attention for complex collector adsorption to facilitate flotation development.

Bio-Leaching of Heavy Metals by Aspergillus niger from Mobile-Phone Scrap

The current study aimed to bioleach heavy metals from mobile phone scraps wastes (MPSs) which achieved by environmentally friendly method by employing Aspergillus nigur biomass which isolated from locally eroded mineral sites. Biological parameters of the experiment were: pH (5-2.5), temperature (28°C), ground mineral particle size (75-150 μm) and mineral particle amounts of (MPSs) were 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 grams/litter. The mineral content was analyzed for the recovery of heavy metals The results showed the highest values of the elements at a concentration of 0.5 g/L and pH 3.1 on day 28 of the experiment. The dead fungal biomass was also efficient in removing various heavy metals which charecterized by using XRF device and FT-IR technology was used to find out the active groups in fungal biomass. Electron microscopic imaging also showed the accumulation of metal particles within the fungal hyphae. The results of the current study indicate the possibility of applying Aspergillus niger for its ability to convert (MPSs) metals from solid to liquid phase, as an environmentally friendly and cost-efficient way of biologically leaching heavy metals.

146 Meteorological Influence on Measurement Strategy and Estimated Respirable Dust and Respirable Crystalline Silica Exposure Levels Within the European Minerals Industry

Abstract The evidence of meteorological conditions on occupational exposure measurements is limited, despite is expected to be important determinants of long-term exposures. We describe meteorological conditions for measurement and non-measurement days and evaluate associations between temperature and total precipitation and respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica (RCS) concentrations of the European Industrial Minerals Association-Dust Monitoring Programme. Geo-matched RCS and dust measurements were evaluated against meteorological data (archived satellite observations and weather station measurements). Temperature(0C) and total precipitation (mm) for RCS measurement and non-measurement days were described. A linear regression model was used to investigate the association between dust and RCS concentration and meteorological conditions. Overall, 2,840 dust measurements (GM=0.20mg/m3; GSD=3.43mg/m3) and 2,658 quartz measurements (GM=0.01mg/m3; GSD=5.23mg/m3) were collected across 96 an 94 industrial mineral sites over 262 and 259 days in 2011. Mean temperature and precipitation for dust and RCS measurements were similar for measurement and non-measurement days (dust: 10.490C and 10.830C, 2.23mm and 2.12mm; RCS: 11.050C and 10.820C, 2.08mm and 2.12mm). For respirable dust concentrations a 6.4% decrease per 1°C was estimated for temperatures<200C (p<0.001) and an 8.2% increase for temperatures≥200C (p=0.002). For RCS a 2% decrease in was estimated for every 1mm increase in total precipitation (p=0.02). No difference in meteorological conditions were seen between measurements days and non-measurement days. Associations of these conditions with exposure concentrations with showed differences between agents despite being collected and measured on the same filter. Long-term changes in meteorological conditions might be an important factor when estimating long term exposures.

Feeding trial evaluation of supplemental sodium and calcium use by pigeons

AbstractThe Pacific Coast band‐tailed pigeon's (Patagioenas fasciata monilis) conspicuous and well documented use of supplemental minerals has allowed wildlife managers to conduct counts of pigeons at sites with minerals to index their abundance; but despite at least 9 associated peer‐reviewed research publications since 1998, the reason that band‐tailed pigeons use mineral sites and necessity of that use remains unknown. I conducted feeding trials with pigeons during summers of 2009 and 2010 to evaluate maintenance and reproductive performance associated with access to supplemental minerals: one with 24 pairs of wild‐caught band‐tailed pigeons, and one with 30 pairs of wild‐caught rock pigeons (Columba livia). Data indicate that red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa var. arborescens) and cascara (Rhamnus purshiana) berries (natural food items) are high energy food sources for band‐tailed pigeons, and that band‐tailed pigeons can thrive on these berries without access to supplemental sodium and calcium. However, access to supplemental sodium could offer band‐tailed pigeons advantages in body weight maintenance or gain when consuming a diet low in sodium and high in potassium. Band‐tailed pigeons did not nest in this study; thus, it remains unknown if there are benefits to reproductive performance from access to supplemental minerals. Rock pigeons with access to supplemental sodium fledged ≥33% more young than those pigeons without access to supplemental sodium, and this was primarily associated with the increased number of clutches and increased fledging rate. Also, fledgling mass was greater ( ± SE = 35.5 ± 7.9 g, 95% CI = 19.3–51.8) for rock pigeons with access to supplemental sodium at fledging in 2010, but the difference was not statistically significant in 2009 (5.9 ± 22.9, 95% CI = − 43.2–55.0) possibly because of the nutritionally limited diet that year. Access to supplemental sodium could offer band‐tailed pigeons advantages in fecundity and hatchling survival rates (recruitment) through increased efficiency in food conversion. Natural mineral sites used by band‐tailed pigeons should be conserved until additional information is available for evaluation. Also, comparison of counts of band‐tailed pigeons at mineral sites over time and among sites must be interpreted cautiously until the factors (e.g., diet, weather, accessibility, supplemental mineral concentration, etc.) that influence the proportion of the local band‐tailed pigeon population that uses mineral sites can be determined.

Chapter 7 Scottish mineral Geological Conservation Review sites – Metamorphic minerals

Much of Scotland north of the Highland Boundary Fault has been affected by regional and, to a lesser extent, thermal metamorphism and minor metasomatism which, through variable temperatures and pressures, has produced a range of metamorphic minerals. This paper, the seventh of eight on Scottish Mineral Geological Conservation Review Sites, describes ten sites of the highest conservation value within the Lewisian, Moine and Dalradian terranes of the Scottish Highlands, together with thermally altered inclusions in Paleogene volcanic rocks. The minerals featured include the constituents of pelitic and semipelitic schist, such as kyanite and staurolite, unusually large garnet with orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene in ultramafic rocks, and calc silicate minerals, such as tremolite, actinolite, diopside and epidote, together with phlogopitic mica. One site is noted as having stratabound pyrite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite along with large concentrations of chromium mica. The presence of kyanite and tourmaline on the Ross of Mull is one of the few significant mineral sites within rocks of the Neoproterozoic-age Moine Supergroup.Six of the sites encompass extremely rare minerals, generated by the metamorphism of precursors with unusual rock compositions. Foremost amongst these are the barium minerals celsian, cymrite and hyalophane, and the first recorded occurrence in Great Britain of armenite. Although a range of amphibole species occur in both meta-igneous and metasedimentary rocks of the Scottish Highlands, the iron-magnesium clinoamphiboles of the grunerite-cummingtonite series are extremely rare. Indeed the site described in this paper is one of only two occurrences of cummingtonite within the Precambrian-age Dalradian Supergroup. In some cases, the regional mineral assemblages, including the cummingtonite-bearing rocks, have been overprinted by subsequent high temperature/low pressure thermal events associated with the emplacement of igneous intrusions. Pre-eminent amongst the thermal sites must be the occurrence of mullite and sapphire in aluminous shale xenoliths entrained within Paleogene-age basaltic lava flows on the Isle of Mull.

Cl isotope fractionation in magmatic and hydrothermal eudialyte, sodalite and tugtupite (Ilímaussaq intrusion, South Greenland)

We determined the Cl stable isotope composition of Cl-rich minerals (eudialyte, sodalite and tugtupite) from evolved peralkaline rocks of the Ilímaussaq complex (South Greenland) to determine the effects of orthomagmatic and hydrothermal processes on Cl isotope variations and to estimate the Cl isotopic composition of the lithospheric mantle source for the complex.The total variation of δ37Cl values is between +0.1 and + 0.4‰ for sodalites (N = 16), 0 and + 0.3‰ for tugtupites (N = 6) and + 0.2 and + 1.7‰ for eudialytes (N = 31). This data set allowed for estimating Cl isotope fractionation between minerals, melts and fluids in a well-defined natural system. The Cl isotope fractionation between magmatic sodalite and melt is slightly negative (about −0.05‰), decreasing to about −0.1‰ during hydrothermal conditions; Cl isotope fractionation between tugtupite and fluid (about −0.2‰) is slightly larger. Magmatic eudialyte has δ37Cl values that are approximately 0.35‰ higher than magmatic sodalite, indicating Cl isotope fractionation between eudialyte and melt of about +0.3‰.The Cl isotopic composition of the melt was estimated to a δ37Cl of about +0.3‰, which may be representative for the lithospheric mantle below South Greenland. This value is within the range of δ37Cl values of various mantle reservoirs (varying between −3‰ and + 3‰) including a recently suggested value of +0.9‰ derived from Mexican mantle-derived deep geothermal waters, and the generally accepted average mantle value of −0.2‰. The data indicate that large Cl isotope heterogeneities exist within the mantle that question the validity of using a general average Cl isotope ratio when Cl isotope mantle values are discussed, and that it is important to better understand the global variability of Cl isotopes in the mantle and Cl isotope fractionation between the fluid and crystalline phases.Cl isotopes in sodalite and tugtupite samples are compared to previously published Br isotope values. The range in Cl isotope values is less than the range of Br isotope values, and different sample groups are better constraint with Br isotopes. Br isotope fractionation is larger due to competition of Br with Cl which better fits at mineral site locations in the crystals. This results in better isotope separation between different sample groups using Br isotopes. Due to low Br concentrations in most samples, it is only rarely possible to measure Br isotope compositions so that generally it is not possible to apply this comparison.

Quantitative analysis of surface adsorption reactivity during flotation process by surface complexation model: diaspore and kaolinite

The considerable discrepancy of reagent adsorption is definitely a prerequisite to separate different minerals in flotation, making it necessary to quantify and analyze adsorption reaction with surface sites. In present study, it is the first attempt to quantitatively describe complexation adsorption of sodium oleate (NaOL) on diaspore and kaolinite surfaces through surface complexation model (SCM) theory. The high precision potentiometric titration was conducted to clarify hydration process of active sites on mineral surfaces. Furthermore, NaOL adsorption with great precision and stability was implemented by GCMS method. For diaspore, logarithmic protonation constants for ≡AlOH2+ and ≡AlO- are 5.308 and − 8.701, respectively, while ≡AlOH density is 7.956 sites/nm2. For kaolinite, 5.601, −9.405, −1.1, −7.725, 3.899 are output as the corresponding values of ≡AlOH2+, ≡AlO-, ≡SiOH2+, ≡SiO-, ≡XH. The site ratio on edge and basal planes (≡SOH: ≡X-) was 1.07: 1. NaOL adsorption equilibrium constants were 13.55 for ≡AlOL onto diaspore and 11.76 and 10.35 for ≡AlOL and ≡SiOL onto kaolinite. Finally, all the obtained results were successfully verified and predicted. It not only reflects the chemical characteristic of hydration and adsorption for mineral sites, but also provides the theoretical guidance and foundation for flotation optimization and database construction.

Minerals in gastroliths and foods consumed by band‐tailed pigeons

AbstractBand‐tailed pigeons (Patagioenas fasciata) congregate at and use mineral sites (mineralized water or soil) primarily within the breeding range of the Pacific Coast band‐tailed pigeon (P. f. monilis), but the Interior band‐tailed pigeon (P. f. fasciata) generally does not exhibit this behavior. Differences in supplemental minerals used between subspecies could be explained by differences in the diet (grit and foods) of these birds between their regional ranges. We necropsied 1,169 band‐tailed pigeons and sampled 35 primary foods of band‐tailed pigeons in the United States range of the Interior (AZ, CO, NM, and UT) and Pacific Coast (CA, OR, and WA) band‐tailed pigeons to evaluate regional differences in mineral and moisture in gastroliths and food items, and the association of grit with food items consumed. Grit and food types consumed by pigeons were similar between subspecies, but grit amount varied with foods consumed and food items varied with season and region in association with plant distribution and phenology. Gastroliths contained small amounts (≤3.3% each) of calcium, sodium, and potassium and were smooth and polished, indicating relatively long‐term retention and use primarily in food abrasion. Foods universally contained low amounts of sodium (0–328 ppm), moderate calcium (100–7,250 ppm), and high potassium (4,400–22,600 ppm), but varied somewhat with food type (e.g., acorns, berries, cultivated grains, pine seeds). Moisture and mineral content of grit consumed and foods used by Interior and Pacific Coast band‐tailed pigeons did not differ between their regional ranges in explaining differential use of supplemental mineral sites. Band‐tailed pigeon's use of supplemental sodium may not be necessary for survival and reproduction because Interior pigeons rarely use supplemental mineral sites unlike Pacific Coast pigeons despite similarities in moisture and mineral content of grit and foods consumed. Band‐tailed pigeons are able to concentrate sodium and calcium in crop milk to meet the nutritional needs of hatchlings despite a diet low in sodium and calcium.

Adsorptive removal of fluoride using biochar – A potential application in drinking water treatment

• Elevated fluoride levels in drinking water root cause of dental and skeletal fluorosis. • The Defluoridation capacity using water melon rind biochar(WMRBC was 9.5 mg/g. • Anions such as Cl - , NO 3 – , SO 4 2 , HCO 3 - and CO 3 2- did not affect fluoride adsorption. Fluoride as a geogenic contaminant is commonly encountered in groundwater-based drinking water sources. In the present study Watermelon Rind ( Citrullus lanatus ) Biochar (WMRBC) was investigated for its defluoridation potential. The factors affecting the removal of fluoride, including pH, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration, and contact time were investigated. The experimental data were fitted well by Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order model, the maximum fluoride adsorption capacity being 9.5 mg/g. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the fluoride adsorption process was a spontaneous exothermic process. The presence of other anions like HCO 3 – , CO 3 2– , Cl − , SO 4 2− , and NO 3 – (100 mg/L) had little effect on the adsorption of fluoride at 50 mg/L. Characterization studies of WMRBC before and after fluoride adsorption by SEM, ATR, EDX and XRD techniques, indicated that the adsorption of fluoride may be by electrostatic attraction through protonated basic functionalities present in WMRBC and by precipitation at the mineral sites. WMRBC could be a viable adsorbent for effective removal of fluoride from drinking water and industrial wastewater.

Response of peat-rich permafrost to a warming climate on the northeast Tibetan Plateau

Permafrost degradation leads to the release of organic carbon to the atmosphere, and in turn, affects climate change. The amount of organic carbon released to the atmosphere depends on the thawing rate of peat-rich permafrost. However, the exact mechanism of peat-rich permafrost thawing is still unclear. Here we choose two locations on the northeast Tibetan Plateau: the peat-rich EBoTA (“peatland”) site, and the mineral-rich PT5 (“mineral”) site. We use the Geophysical Institute Permafrost Laboratory model to reveal the response of permafrost to warming climate from 1850 to 2100 applying different shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs). Monthly soil temperature increased during the historical and future periods at both sites, but a slower trend is evident at the peatland site relative to the mineral site. Seasonally, the warming trend is faster in winter than that in summer at both sites. Active layer deepening at the mineral site is 3–12 times that of the peatland site. In addition, permafrost will persist until 2100 in all but one of the SSPs at the peatland site. At the mineral site, all permafrost will degrade to seasonally frozen ground, with only taliks remaining for all future scenarios. These changes indicated a slower response of peat-rich permafrost to climate change, due to peat's low thermal conductivity and high soil moisture. These results could be useful in permafrost carbon studies.

Introducing New Guidelines on Geoheritage Conservation in Protected and Conserved Areas

This paper introduces newly published guidelines on geoheritage conservation in protected and conserved areas within the “IUCN WCPA Best Practice Guidelines” series. It explains the need for the guidelines and outlines the ethical basis of geoheritage values and geoconservation principles as the fundamental framework within which to advance geoheritage conservation. Best practice in establishing and managing protected and conserved areas for geoconservation is described with examples from around the world. Particular emphasis is given to the methodology and practice for dealing with the many threats to geoheritage, highlighting in particular how to improve practice for areas with caves and karst, glacial and periglacial, and volcanic features and processes, and for palaeontology and mineral sites. Guidance to improve education and communication to the public through modern and conventional means is also highlighted as a key stage in delivering effective geoconservation. A request is made to geoconservation experts to continue to share best practice examples of developing methodologies and best practice in management to guide non-experts in their work. Finally, a number of suggestions are made on how geoconservation can be further promoted.

Biochar from Spent Malt Rootlets and Its Application to an Energy Conversion and Storage Device

Activated carbon obtained from biomass wastes was presently studied in order to evaluate its applicability in an energy storage device. Biochar was obtained by the carbonization of spent malt rootlets and was further processed by mild treatment in NaOH. The final product had a specific surface of 362 m2 g−1 and carried Na, P and a few mineral sites. This material was first characterized by several techniques. Then it was used to make a supercapacitor electrode, which reached a specific capacitance of 156 F g−1. The supercapacitor electrode was combined with a photocatalytic fuel cell, making a simple three-electrode device functioning with a single alkaline electrolyte. This device allows solar energy conversion and storage at the same time, promoting the use of biomass wastes for energy applications.

Dvorní rada Julius Frieser (1843–1908) a identifikace minerálů z jeho sbírky ve sbírce Národního muzea v Praze

Julius Frieser (1843–1908) was a prominent mineral collector who contributed to the research of minerals of the Bohemian Central Mountains, especially zeolites. He personally discovered a new mesolite mineral site in Bedřichov near Benešov nad Ploučnicí. He was known among professional mineralogists from Prague and Vienna, as well as among other collectors of minerals, and was a member of the Litoměřice mineral collectors‘ club, which organized regular mineral exchanges in Litoměřice around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, visited by famous geologists and mineralogists. He built a large systematic collection of minerals from around the world, which included about four thousand items and 350 species. After his death, the collection, or part of it, was acquired by the collector Julia Schildbach from Mariánské Lázně. Her collection was acquired by the National Museum, Prague in 1946. Among Schildbach‘s minerals, 854 items originally from Frieser have currently been identified.

Removal of Fluoride Ions from the Mine Water

Murmansk Region is home to some major mining and mineral sites. One of the most challenging environmental problems in themining industry is mine water treatment. For example, the rocks of the deposit operated by Lovozero Mining and Mineral ProcessingCompany contain villiomite (NaF). It is highly soluble in water, and the mine waters at the site have a high content of fluoride ions –significantly above the maximum permissible values.Lab-scale experiments were conducted to test various reagents and different initial concentrations of fluoride ions in the treatment ofmodel solutions and mine water. Depending on the initial concentrations, magnesium and calcium-containing sorbents are proposedfor the defluorization of water. Using scanning electron microscopy and microprobe analysis, it was found that fluorine can be boundin poorly soluble compounds, such as, for example, fluorite.Pilot trials are planned.

Radiocesium transfer from Andosols to brown rice in the northern and northwest areas of Tochigi Prefecture, in the first 3 years following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident

ABSTRACT Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident of 2011, the potential for radiocesium transfer from contaminated soils, such as Andosols, to agricultural crops became a significant concern. Andosols account for up to 70％ of paddy soils in the northern and northwest areas of Tochigi Prefecture, where the radiocesium concentration is 1000 Bq kg−1 or greater in the soil of some fields. The present study was carried out in order to determine the phytoavailability of radiocesium in Andosols by comparing it with that of gray lowland soils in the first 3 years following the accident. The transfer factor (TF) tended to be higher in Andosols than in gray lowland soils, leading to higher radiocesium concentrations in brown rice grown in Andosols. The exchangeable potassium (Ex-K2O) in Andosols was highly and negatively correlated with TF, followed by clay. The Ex-K2O value was positively correlated with the clay/total carbon (T-C) value, suggesting that a high T–C ratio could weaken K2O adsorption on clay mineral sites; hence, the low clay/T-C values can partially explain the relatively large TF values of Andosols. Samples with Ex-K2O contents less than 200 mg kg−1 and with low clay/T-C values showed striking decreases in TF values from 2011 to 2012. However, the decrease from 2012 to 2013 was quite small; radiocesium in these samples was potentially available for rice uptake for a long time, likely due to the reversible adsorption and fixation characteristics of allophane. Most gray lowland soil samples showed very low TF values over the 3 years of the study, except for those with TF values greater than 0.1 due to low Ex-K2O and clay contents; the geometric mean (GM) value of TF was below 0.01 in 2012. The extraction of exchangeable radiocesium (Ex-Cs) with a 1 mol L−1 ammonium acetate solution may not be an appropriate method for explaining the variability in radiocesium TF in Andosols. This is because the Ex-Cs value was significantly correlated with Ex-K2O in Andosols, but not in gray lowland soils, indicating that Ex-K2O explained this variability in relation to Ex-Cs.

Getting grounded? Miners’ migration, housing and urban settlement in Tanzania, 1980–2012

In the 1960s, Mitchell applied situational analysis to the question of miners’ residential stability on the Zambian Copperbelt. African mining has evolved since then and spread continentally. During the 1990s, artisanal mineral sites proliferated in northwest Tanzania, absorbing an increasingly significant segment of the national population in urbanizing settlements amidst deagrarianization. Thereafter foreign investment and the operational establishment of a number of large-scale mine sites attracted further in-migration. This article interrogates the residential stability of three types of mining settlements: artisanal rush sites, mature artisanal site and large-scale mining sites. Mining settlement residents’ migration histories, occupational pursuits, housing, investments, concepts of home and anticipated places of retirement, are probed to explore the question of just how grounded migrants are in mining settlements, the extent they identify as urbanites and how their residential and occupational patterns contrast with preceding mid-twentieth century miners’ migration in Southern Africa.

Chapter 2 Scottish mineral Geological Conservation Review Sites – Magmatic Minerals

Following the pioneering work of James Hutton in the 18th century, which was largely carried out on Scottish rocks and minerals, it became generally accepted that igneous rocks formed from liquid magmas. The selected 10 sites cover a wide range of magmatic events, rock types and mineral assemblages. In the case of basic and ultrabasic rocks, prolonged cooling and repeated injections of fresh magma into the magma chamber can lead to settling of early crystals resulting in a rhythmic mineral layering and accumulations of mineral species, such as those bearing chromium and nickel, which have economic importance. The former chromite quarries at Hagdale and Nikka Vord, on Unst ably illustrate the size and podiform nature of the massive chromite bodies and also contain examples of chromium secondaries, such as chromian clinochlore, whereas the water-worn rocks on the shore at Wick of Hagdale provide clean exposures of banded and disseminated chromite. Podiform chromite also features in the Corrycharmaig serpentinite, but the focus of interest there is on the extensive replacement of the original mineralogy by talc and ferroan magnesite. A somewhat different magmatic mineral assemblage is present at Talnotry where contamination of a noritic magma by sedimentary rocks led to the precipitation of Cu-Ni sulphides and platinum group minerals.Prolonged fractionation of mafic minerals in basic magmas can lead to the production of anorthosite. Since such rocks are extremely rare in Scotland the inclusion of the South Harris Anorthosite (which also includes gabbro) in the Scottish Mineral sites is particularly apposite. Mineral chemistries in igneous rocks can provide important indications of cooling histories and formational conditions, particularly with regard to depth of origin. Thus the presence of large zoned clinopyroxene crystals in the volcanic rocks at Bail Hill and sanidine phenocrysts, of appreciable size in a trachybasalt dyke at the Bangley Quarry, both within extremely fine-grained matrices, demonstrate development in a differentiating magma at depth before emplacement. The remaining two sites included in this chapter contain material which provides a window into the upper mantle below Scotland. These comprise pyrope and zircon xenocrysts along with ultramafic xenoliths in the volcanic ventat the Elie Ness site and large corundum (sapphire), sanidine, phlogopite, biotite and magnetite megacrysts in the Cnoc a’ Chapuill-Loch Roag dyke.