Rich Mineral Research Articles

Comparative study on Pb2+ removal from aqueous solutions using biochars derived from cow manure and its vermicompost.

Waste emissions have increased the amount of water and soil contaminated with heavy metals such as Pb. To broaden the methods for the recycling and environmental usage of cow manure (CM) and its vermicompost (CV), CM, CV, and their derived biochars produced by the pyrolysis of CM or CV at 350 and 700°C were used as adsorbents for Pb2+ removal in this batch adsorption experiment to reveal their different Pb2+ removal efficiencies and the underlying mechanisms. The batch experiment results revealed that all adsorbents rapidly removed Pb2+ within 30min. A pH between 2.0 and 6.0 positively affected Pb2+ removal by CM and its biochar, whereas that by CV and its biochar was only positively affected by pH between 2.0 and 3.0. CV-derived biochar was more effective in the removal of Pb2+ than the other absorbents, with the maximum adsorption capacities (Qm) fitted from the Langmuir model reaching approximately 230.0mg·g-1 and the desorption rate (DR) being approximately 0.00-0.02%. Material physiochemical characterization, including X-ray diffraction analysis, showed that high pH, high ash content, rich mineral content, and high mineral contents might have been the main reasons for more effective removal of Pb2+ from aqueous solutions by CV-derived biochar. Fourier-transform infrared analysis indicated that surface functional groups such as -OH, CO, -COO-, and C-O; original and newly produced carbonate; and phosphate in CV also led to more effective Pb2+ removal efficiency from aqueous solution via surface functional group binding. Thus, pyrolyzing CVs may be used to produce biochar as a cost-effective adsorbent for heavy metal remediation in soil and water in the future.

Regional Differences and Spatial Pattern Evolution of Mineral Resources Industry in China

The mineral resources industry is the basic industry of national economy in the world. The distribution of mineral resources industry is often not matched with the areas with rich mineral resources. This paper analyzes the distribution characteristics of industrial added value of mineral resources in the mining and dressing industry, smelting and processing industry in China. Energy and metal mineral resource industries are focused on. The results show that the distribution of each link of the mineral resources industry does not match the resource enrichment area. The scope of the mining and dressing industry has expanded, mainly in the north of China, and the smelting and processing industry continues to gather in the coastal provinces. Energy mining and dressing industry is mainly located in the north of China, and the processing industry is mainly distributed in the middle and east of China. The metal mineral resources industry mainly depends on resource endowment. Metal products industry is different, mainly distributed in the coastal provinces with relatively developed processing technology.

Research on the melt behavior of rare-earth-rich iron minerals by direct reduction

The evolution of mineral phase structure during the reduction and melting separation of an rare earth (RE)-rich iron mineral (RER-IM) is investigated. The results show the iron oxides are reduced to their metallic iron or FeO at 1373 K. When reduction time is 180 min, the reduction degree is 84%. Both bastnaesite (RE(CO3)F) and monazite (REPO4) are transformed into Ca2RE8(SiO4)6O2 during carbothermic reduction at 1373 K. The mineral with a reduction degree of 84% is melt-separated in a graphite crucible at 1773 K for 20 min, the resulting slag contains 20.64% RE2O3, with RE existing in the form of Ca2RE8(SiO4)6O2. Moreover, P from the reduction of Ca3(PO4)2 dissolves in iron with a content ranging from 1.2 to 2.21%. The type of RE phase that occurs in the slag is related to the distribution of P between slag and iron. A low P content in the slag facilitates the formation of Ca2RE8(SiO4)6O2, but a high content in the slag favours Ca3RE2[(Si, P)O4]3F. Thus, it is confirmed that the RE phase structure is controlled by the distribution of P between slag and iron.

Chemical characterization and antioxidant potential of native fruits of the Cerrado of northern Minas Gerais

Abstract This study aimed to chemically characterize the pulps of the tropical fruits araticum (Annona crassiflora), buriti (Mauritia flexuosa), coquinho azedo (Butia capitata), cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica), and cajá (Spondias mombin), with a focus on antioxidant potential and microminerals. Calcium levels in the Araticum pulp are 9.35 mg/100 g and the iron content was 4.78 mg/100 g. In cagaita pulp, the calcium content was 15.35 mg/100 g and magnesium content was 66.00 mg/100 g. The iron content present in coquinho pulp was 11.47 mg/100 g and in cagaita it was 11.53 mg/100 g. The extracts with the highest contents of total phenolic compounds were araticum (433.80 mg GAE/g) and coquinho (173.5 mg GAE/g). Araticum pulp had the highest antioxidant potential because it had the lowest EC50 (0.04 mg/mL). The results presented here demonstrate the great potential of the fruits of the Cerrado in terms of rich mineral nutrients and bioactive compounds.

ПОВЫШЕНИЕ БИОГЕННОСТИ ТЕХНОГРУНТОВ ПРИ СОЗДАНИИ РАСТИТЕЛЬНОГО ПОКРОВА КАК СПОСОБА КОНСЕРВАЦИИ ХВОСТОХРАНИЛИЩ ГОРНОПРОМЫШЛЕННЫХ ОТХОДОВ

The article reviews the domestic and international practice of using municipal wastewater as an unconventional chemical meliorant with a fertilizing effect on irrigation fields, in hydroponic systems, as well as overburden dumps and ore enrichment waste during reclamation activities. The object of research was ore enrichment waste ("tailings") of the apatite-nepheline factory ANOF-2 of the Apatite CF JSC with a predominance of nepheline sands in their composition. The tailing dump is included in the list of objects of accumulated environmental damage in the region, but due to its rich mineral composition, it is recognized as a man-made Deposit that is subject to conservation in order to obtain Apatite, nepheline, sphene, aegirine and titanomagnetite concentrates in the future. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness and prolonged effect of chemical reclamation of nepheline sands by clarified municipal wastewater (CMWW) to increase the biogenicity (NPK status) of technical soil when creating vegetation cover as a method of preserving the tailings dump. The article uses the method of phytotesting of soil irrigated by the CMWW of a regional enterprise of the agricultural sector on a single-species seed material recommended for recultivation of disturbed territories in the Northern regions. During the formation of seeded phytocenosis from meadow Timothy (Phleum pratense L.) on nepheline sands the stimulating effect of CMWW on the soil nutrient regime was confirmed. After phytoextraction (at the end of the experiment), it retains a high residual level of the main nutrient elements (N, P, K), which indicates a prolonged effect of CMWW. To confirm the effect obtained in the laboratory, a field experiment was launched at the ANOF-2 reserve tailings storage facility in 2019, and observations are continuing. Irrigation of nepheline sands with clarified municipal wastewater at a total rate of 380 t/ha, subject to the conditions of multiple uniform distribution of irrigation water over the area, has a prolonged effect on the nutrient regime of the soil and is sufficient to create a stable vegetation cover from Timothy meadow on ore enrichment waste without land use.

Россия и Китай в Африке: соперничество или сотрудничество?

The article provides comparative analysis of political and economic activities of Russia and China in the African continent at the beginning of the 21st century. Drivers of modern processes of bilateral communication Russia–Africa and China–Africa are highlighted along with media and scholarly discourse of “expansion” and “colonialism”. Statistical data are grouped and compared according to traditional approach: bilateral trade; investments; credits and loans. It is evident that by quantitative indices in almost all spheres of economics (save for supply of weapons), Russia falls far behind China which is currently the main builder of various infrastructure objects in Africa. The basic principle of China–Africa cooperation can be formulated as “aid-to-resources exchange”. Chinese state-backed and private business regard the African infrastructure buildup as a means of access to rich mineral resources of the continent. Russia does not have an adequate demographic and financial background for deepening its involvement into the economic life of Africa. Cultural influence, rather strong in Soviet times, is also very limited in the modern “deideologised” political atmosphere. Therefore Russia is trying to substitute its relative economic weakness with bigger-scale involvement into military and political actions of some African regimes. Chinese expansion to Africa is primarily of economic character, Russia is preoccupied with political influence first of all. At the same time, the recent dynamics in Russian-African trade has shown a highly positive trend promising good prospects in the sphere of traditional low-technology products.

Neobvyklá žilná Cu-Zn-Ag-Pb-As-Sb-Se-Sn-Bi mineralizace z Jedové jámy u Vejprt v Krušných horách (Česká republika)

An extraordinary rich mineral assemblage consisting of 27 minerals has been newly discovered in quartz veins of the abandoned ore deposit, once exploited by the Drei König Mine, called also Giftschacht (Jedová jáma - Toxic shaft), situated approximately 2 km SE of Vejprty town. It includes 16 sulphides (plus one unnamed) with far prevailing arsenopyrite. In addition to common sulphides (chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena and minerals of the tetrahedrite group), a wide suite of sulphosalts with substantial Bi-content was identified. Besides common bismuthinite and emplectite, also relatively rare Bi minerals (matildite, aikinite, hammarite, wittichenite), in the Czech Republic known from few localities only, have been found here. Bi is bound also in a rather exotic selenide bohdanowitzite and native bismuth. Bi is substantially present in some domains of tetrahedrites [tetrahedrite-(Zn), tennantite-(Zn) and tennantite-(Fe)]. In addition to local Bi enrichment, also Sn-minerals occur in the ore, represented by cassiterite and rare sulphides (kësterite and stannoidite). The presence of phosphates of the plumbogummite group [plumbogummite, goyazite and florencite-(Ce)] contributes to the remarkable mineral assemblage. From geochemical point of view, very interesting is the presence of florencite-(Ce), in which REE with dominating Ce are fixed. In addition, grains of fluorite, fluorapatite, rutile, topaz and aggregates of illite and a phase from kaolinite group are present. Supergene mineralization is represented besides limonite by abundant scorodite and rare strengite.

Formation of Processes of Intensification of Crop Growth For The Formation of Business Structures

Aim of the study: The inclusion of products based on sprouted grain in the diet is a unique opportunity for a person to use a complete living organism for food, which has all natural biological properties and is in the phase of maximum vital activity. Sprouted grain is rich in enzymes necessary for digestion and assimilation of food, easily digestible monosaccharides, provides the human body with active energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), since it is during the germination period that it is most actively synthesized and used. Methodology: During germination, the amount of vitamins increases significantly (2-4 times), and the rich mineral composition is preserved. Germination of grains increases the concentration of biologically active substances in them. The use of products from sprouted triikale grain is recommended for the prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, atherosclerosis, and has a positive effect on the vitality of people who lead an active lifestyle. The main mechanism of preventive action of functional foods is their positive impact on such processes as increasing physical endurance, immunity, improving the function of digestion and regulating appetite, in particular, its reduction. Conclusion: At this stage, the goal of our work is to germinate triticale and the effect of different temperatures on the process of germinating triticale. It is noted how the temperature affects the germination of triticale, while the largest amount of protein is contained at 400C with a time delay of 0.5 minutes, which is the main indicators of its protein-proteinase complex.

Analysis of Land Use in Jining City

Jining City is a typical area with complex and diverse landforms, developed water systems and rich mineral resources. Research on its land use changes will be of great significance in terms of sustainable development and ecological protection. This paper is based on the four LANDSAT remote sensing image data in 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015, using RS, GIS, mathematical statistics and other methods, mainly analyze the land use of Jining City from 2000 to 2015 from three aspects: land use structure, land use characteristics and problems, land use area and structure changes. The results show that: (1) Jining City has the largest area of dry land, which is widely distributed in various regions; followed by construction land, water, grass, woodland, paddy field, and unutilized land. (2) The land use characteristics of Jining City are: high arable land rate, high land utilization rate, large proportion of water area, abundant surface water resources, and obvious regional differences in land use; the problems are that the land use structure is unreasonable, per capita land resources are few, and the contradiction between people and land has become increasingly prominent. (3) On the whole, land use changes in Jining City are relatively complex. The town house area has been showing an increasing trend; the grass area has shown a continuous decreasing trend; the fluctuations of dry land, paddy field, woodland, house-site in the countryside, water, and unutilized land area fluctuations are obvious. During the 15 years from 2000 to 2015, the largest change in the land use structure of Jining City was town house, followed by paddy field, house-site in the countryside, dry land, grass, woodland, unutilized land, and water. The area of town house, dry land, forest land, and water has increased, while the area of paddy field, house-site in the countryside, grass, and unutilized land has decreased.

Utilizing landsat-8 sensor operational land image data for hydrothermal alteration mapping within Anka Schist Belt, northwestern Nigeria

Exploring for mineral deposits within the Anka Schist Belt involves the use of traditional geological techniques such as geochemical and geophysical studies that are very expensive and time consuming. There is therefore need for a better alternative that will provide accurate and reliable information with cost effective and time efficient solution. This effort seeks to explore the potential of remotely sensed digital data in highlighting mineralized zones through hydrothermal alteration studies. Landsat 8 OLI data covering the investigated area was used to detect and map locations of hydrothermal alterations. Image processing methods used were spectral enhancement, false colour composites, band rationing and Principal Component Analysis. Results of false colour composites of band 5: 7: 3 highlighted generally locations of hydrothermal alterations. Band ratios of 4/2, 6/7 and 6/5 revealed the presence of ferric iron minerals, clay rich minerals and ferrous minerals respectively. Principal Components (PCs) of two sets of images (2, 4, 5, 7 H-image and 2,5,6,7 F-image) depicting iron-oxide and hydroxyl mineral deposits as bright pixels were generated. Colour composite of H, F and H+F images enhanced the location of the mineral deposits, by showing areas of mineralization in dark blue (Fe rich), bright yellow (clay rich) and white (Fe and clay rich areas) pixels. Field coordinates of mining locations were superimposed on the remote sensing generated mineral map. The results were found to be in tune. This study recommends the use of remote sensing and geospatial technology in mineral studies through hydrothermal alteration within the basement complex rocks of Nigeria.

Remote-controlled robotic complex for underground mining

As the global rich mineral deposits are becoming depleted, the deposit development is performed with a deeper bedding and in much more difficult mining and geological conditions. This circumstance determines both the increase in the labor intensity and development costs, and the increased likelihood of emergencies. In recent years, the accidents have become more frequent at the Russian mining enterprises, aggravated not only by the significant damages, but also by the casualties. The ongoing efforts to correct the tight situation do not have a perceptible effect. A complete exclusion of the presence of people underground should be considered as a drastic remedy for preventing human casualties. It can be achieved only through the use of machinery and technology for manless mining using the automated control systems. The Department of Engineering Mechanics of the Ural State Mining University has formed the concept of a “remote-controlled robotic complex for underground mining”, according to which a surface-controlled system of mining equipment will absolve the miners from working underground. At present, the favorable conditions have been laid for combining the in-mine equipment and permanent installations into a single complex under the control of operators located on the soil surface. In accordance with the concept, the technological robotic complex is transformed into a mechatronic system of the underground mining equipment. The mechatronic system is divided into the separate subsystems by the types of equipment. Particular attention is paid to the automated complex remote-control system based on the telemetry principles using the latest means of data acquisition, conversion and transmission. The system interface provides the most efficient and error-free performance of the operator throughout the entire shift. The concept implementation of the remote-controlled robotic complex in the mining industry will allow not only to avoid the tragic consequences of emergencies in the mines, but also to elevate the national mining equipment and technology to the highest world standards.

Preliminary Study on the Management System of Mineral Resources in Peru

Peru is located in the western part of South America, with Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, Chile to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The Andean metallogenic belt throughout the country, has excellent ore-forming conditions and rich mineral resources. It is one of the 12th largest mineral producing countries in the world, and its total mineral resources ranks seventh in the world. Mining occupies an important position in Peru’s economy. The main minerals are copper, silver, zinc, tin, gold, iron, tungsten, tantalum, lead. The reserves of copper, silver, zinc and tin are among the top in the world. In recent years, global mineral prices continued to run low, Peru’s mining enterprises capital chain tight and operational difficulties, in order to get rid of the mining industry downturn, the Peruvian government has issued a series of tax policies and preferential measures, provide opportunities for foreign enterprises to enter Peru’s mining market. The author collected and collated relevant data through field trips, the main research is based on Peru's mining management department, mining management system, classification and application of mining rights, land and mining taxes and fees, and a preliminary analysis of the country's mining market. Before entering the mining market in Peru, suggested companies should take advantage of our strengths, select own familiar ways of cooperation, comprehensive investigate cooperative partners, and pay attention to avoid risks.

Effect of Combination of Alumina-Silica Rich Minerals with Fly Ash on Structural Behaviour of the Basalt Fibre Reinforced Geopolymer Concrete

Cement production is one of the major C02 emitter which contributes around 8% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. So the Engineers are in the need of developing alternate material for cement to reduce the effect of vulnerable climatic changes in the world. This paper aims at presenting the experimental study on effect of combination of silica rich minerals with fly ash based geopolymer concrete. Fly ash was found to be successful in enhancing the performance of geopolymer concrete. The Utilization of more industrial wastes will promisingly contribute for reducing the environmental pollution. To determine the effective admixture combination with fly ash in geopolymer concrete, industrial wastes such as silica fume, GGBS, Metakaolin, palm oil fly ash were used. The concrete mixes were designed with 60 percentile of fly ash and 40 percentile of other industrial wastes to replace the cement in Geopolymer concrete. The Concrete specimens were casted and cured at different conditions namely Oven curing, Steam curing and sunlight. The Compressive, tensile and flexural strength behaviors were determined for the designed concrete mixes and the results were presented.

Nb and REE Distribution in the Monte Verde Carbonatite–Alkaline–Agpaitic Complex (Angola)

The Angolan alkaline–carbonatite complex of Monte Verde has a semi-circular shape and is comprised of a central intrusion of foidolite rocks surrounded by concentrically arranged minor bodies of other alkaline rocks and carbonatite magmatic breccias. This rock association is hosted by fenitized Eburnean granites. Concentric swarms of alkaline dykes of late formation, mostly of nepheline trachyte composition, crosscut the previous units. Most high-field strength elements (HFSE) and rare earth elements (REE) are concentrated in pyrochlore crystals in the carbonatite and alkaline breccias. Magmatic fluornatropyrochlore is replaced and overgrown by five secondary generations of pyrochlore formed during subsolidus stages and have higher Th, REE, Si, U, Sr, Ba, Zr, and Ti contents. The second, third, and fourth pyrochlore generations are associated with late fluids also producing quartz and REE rich minerals; whereas fifth and sixth pyrochlore generations are linked to the fenitization process. On the other hand, minerals of the rinkite, rosenbuschite, wöhlerite, eudialyte groups, as well as loparite-(Ce), occur in accessory amounts in nepheline trachyte, recording low to moderate agpaicity. In addition, minor REE-bearing carbonates, silicates, and phosphates crystallize as late minor secondary minerals into carbonatite breccia and alkaline dykes. In conclusion, the scarcity of HFSE and REE minerals at the Monte Verde carbonatite-alkaline-agpaitic complex suggests low metallogenetic interest and economic potential for the outcrops analysed in this study. However, the potential for buried resources should not be neglected.

China's multinational corporations in the Democratic Republic of Congo's mining industry: An Afrocentric critique

China's entrance in Africa in the early 2000s through the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation has apparently signalled several mutual beneficial agreements. However, there is a view that the Asian tiger's (China) arrival on the African soil was driven by its national interests. Such interests were particularly in the continent's rich mineral resources complex, which are deemed significant for its own economic boom. This observation reflects that scholars and practitioners alike have not uniformly understood China's engagement with Africa. Therefore, this paper problematizes what is often cited as the second “scramble for Africa” within the context of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It argues that Chinese mining companies' operations in DRC are no different to the early colonial masters who only came to Africa for nothing else but mineral resources in order to develop their own nations at the peril of Africa's own development. Based on Afrocentricity as the alternative theoretical lens, this paper seeks to critique the involvement of Chinese Multinational Corporations in the mineral resources complex of DRC. Methodically, this paper relies on document review and analysis in its broadest sense.

Impacts of mineral resources: Evidence from county economies in China

the literature proposes that a booming minerals sector leads to a development curse. The mineral markets in China experienced a prolonged boom over the period of 2000–2010. We empirically examine the effects of mineral resources on employment in county economies during the boom. We consider the endogeneity of the resource measure and employ an instrumental variables approach to resolve the problem. We find the mining boom exerts a significant “crowding out” effect on the manufacturing employment in mineral-resource-dependent counties, but benefits the employment in services. Because the increase in mining employment is sizeable in a mining boom, the overall employment in the resource-dependent counties has shown a small growth. These results are robust to alternative samples. Our findings confirm the argument that resource booms undermine manufacturing sectors through deindustrialization effects, though little evidence shows the existence of a resource curse in overall employment. We conclude that for a developing economy with rich mineral resources and a large population, it would be hard to following the road of industrialization relying on manufacturing.

Dust content in the air: A case study of the Afanasyevsky open pit mine (Russia)

According to experts, the world consumption of mineral raw materials and the rocks extraction have reached about 12 and 100 billion tons per year, respectively. Overall Russian coal production accounts for 259.9 million tons (according to the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation and the ‘Rosinformugol’ agency), metallic ores are estimated at 230 million tons, and building materials reach 1.4 billion tons. The overall growth in mineral production and capacity of ore producers cause an increase in the negative environmental impact of mining extraction and processing. It should be taken into account that due to the depletion of reserves of rich mineral raw materials, the volume of mined rock mass and the amount of processing waste of mineral raw materials increase. It results in the formation of mine dumps, consisting rocks, ore beneficiation wastes, ashes, slags, and sludge. Research data describe critical environmental situation within the mining enterprises, and especially mine dumps, as a result of massive dust emissions. In addition, there is a tendency to further environmental degradation, due to the increase in production capacity without complying with effective measures to reduce dust emissions. Considering the fact that fine particles are priority pollutants in the extraction and processing of mineral resources at mining enterprises, it is necessary to develop new environmentally efficient and economically viable methods of dust suppression.

Bioefficacy of red cabbage against hypercholesterolemic diet mediated oxidative stress

BackgroundThe shift towards hypercaloric diets and sedentariness has raised lifestyle related disorders and escalated health care cost. In order to tackle this epidemiological transition, healthy, affordable food choices should be introduced in the routine menu. In this context, red cabbage is known for its rich phytochemistry, minerals, antioxidant vitamins and dietary fiber. Considering these evidences, red cabbage leaves and its extract were assessed against hypercholesterolemia and associated oxidative stress.MethodsIn bioefficacy assessment trial (12 weeks), there were two dietary regimens; normal and hypercholesterolemic (1% cholesterol) that were further split into three groups each. In both feeding trials, red cabbage leaves (20%) and its extract in dose equivalent to red cabbage leaves were assessed against control diets. At termination of trial, serum lipidemic parameters and oxidative stress biomarkers were assessed to test the efficacy of diets.ResultsIn hypercholesterolemic rabbits, red cabbage leaves showed significant reduction in cholesterol, LDL-c and triacylglycerol levels i.e. 15.19, 18.09 and 9.42% than extract administered groups; 10.79, 12.24 and 5.72, respectively. Besides, red cabbage leaves also portrayed momentous enhancement of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity up to 13.29 & 17.63% by lowering lipid peroxidation by 27.86% in hypercholesterolemic diet fed groups, whereas red cabbage extract administered group depicted relatively lesser amelioration in lipid peroxidation i.e. 21.42%.ConclusionsRed cabbage leaves possess higher ameliorative potential against altered lipidemic profile and lipid peroxidation as compared to its extract thus explains its ability to prevent exhaustion of endogenous antioxidant enzymes; SOD and CAT.

APPLICATION OF WORLDVIEW-3 DATA IN ALTERATION MINERAL MAPPING IN CHADORMALU AREA, CENTRAL IRAN

Abstract. WorldView-3 (WV-3), launched in August 2014, is a commercial imaging satellite with high spatial resolution that measures reflected radiation in VNIR-SWIR regions in 16 bands. The main objective of this study was to discriminate the alteration minerals in Chadormalu iron deposit area, central Iran, using band ratio techniques on the selected bands of this satellite. To identify the appropriate band ratios the spectral bands of WV-3 were investigated and assessed. Regarding to Fe3+, Fe2+, Al-OH, Fe-OH, Mg-OH and CO32− spectral absorption features, band ratios B5/B2, B13/B9, B13/B14 and B14/B16 were proposed for enhancement of ferrous and ferric iron bearing minerals, sericite, epidote, chlorite, and dolomite. Combination of field observations, geological map and high resolution spectra of rock samples were used to verify the results. Band ratio B5/B2, B13/B9, B13/B14 gray scale images respectively illustrated that Fe3+-rich minerals are occurring in granite, the Fe2+-rich minerals are enhanced in iron ore, green schist, and diorite units, and sericite is occurring in hydrothermally altered granite and iron ore. Since the Fe/Mg-OH vibrational mode in chlorite-epidote and spectral absorption feature of CO32− in dolomite occur in B16, the B14/B16 ratio highlighted chlorite-epidote-rich green schist, diorite and dolomitic marble. The false color composite image of B13/B14, B13/B9, and B14/B16 as RGB produced a large scale map which successfully discriminated the rock types and accompanying alteration minerals. This study demonstrated that WV-3 data have efficient spectral resolution to discriminate alteration minerals with Fe3+, Fe2+, Al-OH and Fe/Mg-OH or CO32− spectral absorption features.

The Leaching of Sub-Florescent Soils as Used in the Ancient Qanat Karez Technology to Produce a Modern Cheap Solution for Controlling and Adjusting Marginal World Albedo

Huge desert endorheic basins with very substantial areas of flat evaporation pans were once in operation specifically for the precipitation of white crystalline sodium chloride. The Qanat Karez water distribution systems are thought to have been invented some 3000 years ago. Thousands of kilometers of tunnels and boreholes were designed and built with very heavy human investment, primarily to leach, dissolve and recrystallize salts - predominantly sodium chloride. They were only limited in capacity by the Qanat volumetric capacity watershed surge flow into the endorheic basins needed to extract these salts. Today we know that in addition nature has continuously supplied these basins with these rich minerals and rare earth materials, which in many cases lurk only a few meters in the water table below the basin surface. In the Tarim basin a Potash salt production unit is now pumping these brines to produce industrial Potassium fertilizer, using the Qanat Karez technology. Maintaining an industrial thin white crust layer of salt during critical hot seasons of the year over these huge desert areas and salar flats would it is calculated, increase the world albedo and enable cheap precise control of the total short/long wave reflection, in addition to the existing high albedo of the Polar Regions.