Vibrational spectroscopy applied to the study of archeological ceramic artifacts from Guarani culture in Brazil

An archeological artifact can be seen as a chronological element, which helps to determine the age of certain society and to understand the thinking, values and the way of life of this society. Thus, the classification of archeological artifacts is one of the approaches used to study the cultural system of antique societies trying to reconstruct their history. The "Centro de Museologia, Antropologia e Argueologia (CEMAARQ)" of the "Unesp Univ Estadual Paulista" in Presidente Prudente, São Paulo state, Brazil, develops projects within this context (identification and preservation). This is the case of the archeological site named "Lagoa São Paulo-02" discovered in 1993 at the margins of the Parana river in the region of Presidente Epitacio city, São Paulo state, Brazil. This site has ceramic fragments of different shapes and sizes that have a strong influence of traces of the Guarani culture, which is one of the Brazilian native populations. These samples were basically characterized via micro-Raman scattering and Fourier transform infrared absorption (FTIR) spectroscopies. The main objective was to identify the pigments used in the manufacture of the ceramic artifacts and to analyze the composition of the ceramic body to understand how the artifacts were made. Three pigments were found: red, black and white. For the red pigment were identified characteristic bands of hematite, an iron oxide found in the red rocks of the river banks that were eroded by water. The black pigment, probably, is due to the use of vegetal charcoal, which is found in nature as the product of burning organic material such as wood. For the white pigment, the FTIR spectra suggested the use of kaolin, either in the ceramic body or in the proper white pigment, due to the presence of the characteristic bands of the kaolinite. Complementary, the additives applied as anti-plastics were identified as charcoal and quartz, being the latter found in the rocks present in the archeological site. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Stable isotopes (H-2, O-18 and C-13) in groundwaters from the northwestern portion of the Guarani Aquifer System (Brazil)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A combined method for evaluating radon and progeny in waters and its use at Guarani aquifer, São Paulo State, Brazil

A combined method for evaluating radon (Rn-222) and progeny (Pb-214 and Bi-214) in water was developed by using inexpensive alpha scintillation Counting and gamma ray spectrometry through NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors. A groundwater sample collected at the Pocos de Caldas alkaline massif in Brazil was submitted to the technique in order to assure its applicability by comparing the volumetric activities by different methods. Similar volumetric activity was determined for Pb-214 and Bi-214 in the sample analyzed that is compatible with the expected condition of radioactive equilibrium between these nuclides. The combined method was successfully used to analyze groundwater samples from Guarani aquifer in S (a) over tildeo Paulo State, Brazil, and the results of the measurements indicated that Pb-214 and Bi-214 provide useful information concerning the evaluation of the drinking water quality in terms of radiological aspects. This is because they are directly identified in the water samples, without the need of requiring the assumption of the establishment of the transient equilibrium condition with its parent Rn-222. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hydro(radio)chemical relationships in the giant Guarani aquifer, Brazil

This investigation was carried out within the Parana sedimentary basin and involved the sampling of 78 pumped tubular wells for evaluating the hydrochemistry and radioactivity due to the nuclides (238)U, (234)U, (222)Ra, (226)Ra, and (228)Ra in the Brazilian part of Guarani aquifer. Several significant correlations were found involving the geostatic pressure, for instance, specific flow rate, CO(3)(2-), SO(4)(2-) temperature, dissolved O(2), free CO(2), pH, redox potential Eh, conductivity, Na, HCO(3)-, CO(3)(2-) , SI(calcite), Cl(-), F(-), SO(4)(2-), and B. Carbonates precipitation was evidenced by inverse correlation between CO(3)(2-) and Ca, Mg, Sr, and Ba, whereas Na exhibited an opposite trend, dissolving rather than precipitating with increasing CO(3)(2-) concentration. An inverse correlation between 3 and K was found, possibly related to the increasing tendency of K to recombine with the thickness of the clayey layers. HCO(3)-played an important role on Na, Ca, Mg, and Sr dissolution. The dissolved U content and (234)U/(238)U activity ratio data were plotted on a two-dimensional diagram that was successfully utilized on identifying an unreported zone of U accumulation, though not necessarily of economic size and grade. The variability in chemical and radionuclides data indicated an important influence of the underlying Paleozoic sediments in the composition of waters from Guarani aquifer. The available data allowed estimate the groundwater residence time by two U-isotopes disequilibrium methods. Values of 45-61 ka were initially calculated, depending on the adopted porosity (15-20%), but a longer residence time (- 640 ka) was also estimated, which is more compatible with the hydraulic conductivity data in Guarani aquifer and groundwater flow velocity occurring at Milk River aquifer, Alberta, Canada. Such time range agrees with previously reported (14)C ages exceeding 30 ka BP at the more central parts of the Parana sedimentary basin. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Some possible evolutionary scenarios suggested by Cl-36 measurements in Guarani aquifer groundwaters

The Guarani aquifer underlies 1.2 M km(2) in the Parana sedimentary basin of South America and is an important source of water for industry, agriculture, and domestic supplies. To determine the sustainability of this aquifer we need to understand the dynamics of the groundwater system. This paper describes the first Cl-36 measurements on aquifer groundwaters and some measurements on South American rainwaters, thought to be indicative of the recharge water. The results are compared to previous work in the region, including other radioisotope analyses. A simple model is developed, incorporating radioactive decay, allowing scenarios to be developed for mixing different waters at different mixing rates. Thus, mixing scenarios consistent with other hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical data could be assessed. A model that mixes fresh recharging waters with formational waters, that contain elevated chloride levels, but low (in situ) Cl-36 levels, can explain most of the results presented here. The expectation that rainwater samples would provide a good end-member for modelling recharge proved problematic, however. As a consequence, it is suggested that either: the recharge waters are not sourced from the same locations as the rains; that the current rainfall and fallout conditions were significantly different in the past; or that the low levels of chloride in rainfall may have allowed some contamination of the samples by old (Cl-36-free) chloride during the recharge process. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dissolved Po-210 and Pb-210 in Guarani aquifer groundwater, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The natural radioactivity in Guarani aquifer groundwater, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Efeitos de doses de fósforo em mamoneira (Ricinus communis L.) cultivar 'Guarani'

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar os efeitos de doses crescentes de fósforo na produção, no teor de óleo das sementes e nas concentrações de macronutrientes, exceto o S, das sementes e da casca da mamona, em cultivar 'Guarani'. As doses utilizadas foram 0-40-80-120-160-200 kg/ha de P2O5, num Latossolo Vermelho Escuro - fase arenosa de baixa fertilidade, no Município de São Manuel, Estado de São Paulo. Os resultados mostraram que o fósforo aumentou o número de frutos por cacho, diminuiu a porcentagem de casca no fruto e aumentou o peso de sementes por cacho. Disto resultou um aumento médio na produção de 100,21%, em relação à produção do tratamento sem fósforo. No que tange aos teores dos elementos nos frutos, observou-se um aumento de P e uma tendência de diminuir o N, nas sementes colhidas dos tratamentos adubados com fósforo. Os efeitos do fósforo no teor de óleo das sementes não ficou bem caracterizado, devendo o problema merecer maiores estudos.

Saúde materno-infantil e nutrição de crianças Kaiowá e Guaraní, Área Indígena de Caarapó, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

Este trabalho teve como proposta estudar o estado nutricional de crianças indígenas e conhecer condições de saúde materno-infantil. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, com uma amostra de 137 crianças de zero a 59 meses de idade, das comunidades Kaiowá e Guaraní, Área Indígena de Caarapó, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Foram realizadas entrevistas com a aplicação de um questionário sobre as condições de saúde materno-infantil. A avaliação nutricional foi obtida por meio de medidas antropométricas (peso e estatura). Verificou-se que 19,7% das mães não realizaram o pré-natal e 53,3% tiveram parto domiciliar. A ocorrência de desnutrição para o índice peso/idade foi de 18,2% e para o índice altura/idade foi de 34,1%. A proporção de crianças desnutridas quando separadas por sexo, faixa etária e escolaridade materna não apresentou diferença estatisticamente significante para ambos os índices. Este estudo evidenciou elevada ocorrência de desnutrição infantil e uma preocupante situação de saúde materno-infantil.

Doses from Rn-222, Ra-226, and Ra-228 in groundwater from Guarani aquifer, South America

Groundwater samples were analysed for Rn-222, Ra-226, and Ra-228 in Guarani aquifer spreading around I million kin 2 within four countries in South America, and it was found that their activity concentrations are lognormally distributed. Population-weighted average activity concentration for these radionuclides allowed to estimate a value: either slightly higher (0.13 mSv/year) than 0.1 mSv for the total effective dose or two times higher (0.21 mSv/year) than this limit, depending on the choice of the dose conversion factor. Such calculation adds useful information for the appropriate management of this transboundary aquifer that is socially and economically very important to about 15 million inhabitants living in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Health risk related to radon in a thermal spa utilizing waters from Guarani aquifer

This investigation was carried out within the Parana sedimentary basin, Brazil, involved the sampling of groundwater and air, and was realized with the purpose of evaluating the radioactivity, due to radon gas, in a thermal spa utilizing the waters from Guarani (Botucatu-Piramboia) aquifer. The results reported here provide additional information relative to that of previous studies focusing on the presence of radionuclides in the aquifer, which have mainly characterized those belonging to uranium and thorium series decay, such as the uranium isotopes (U-238 and U-234), radium isotopes (Ra-226 and Ra-228), radon daughters (Bi-214 and Pb-214) and radon (Rn-222) itself the results obtained were compared with the maximum permissible concentration limits in air and drinking water defined by international standards, such as the guidelines for drinking water quality established by the World Health Organization. The possible processes responsible for the presence of radon in the aquifer were also considered in order to evaluate the data obtained.

Groundwater geochemical evolution in the northern portion of the Guarani Aquifer System (Brazil) and its relationship to diagenetic features

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Geo(anthropo)genic factors affecting the radioactivity in groundwaters from Guarani aquifer, Brazil

This investigation was carried out within the Paraná sedimentary basin, involved the sampling of 77 pumped tubular wells, and was realized with the puipose of evaluating the radioactivity in the Brazilian part of Guarani (Botucatu-Pirambóia, Tacuarembó, Misiones) aquifer. The radioactivity due to nuclides belonging to uranium and thorium series decay was investigated in terms of the uranium isotopes 234U and 238U, radon (222Rn), and the radium isotopes 226Ra and 228Ra. The obtained results were compared with the maximum permissible concentration limits in drinking water defined by the Brazilian national standard, as well with the guidelines for drinking water quality established by the World Health Organization. The importance of water-rock/soil interactions was considered in order to explain most of the obtained data.