黄土高原粉尘堆积源区环境及风化历史初步研究

In this study, we examined the surface features of quartz grains, the quartz oxygen isotopic ratios and the mineralogical compositions of the loess - paleosol - red clay sediments systematically. The surface features of quartz grains do not show significant changes of the dust deposits through the past seven million years. The particles were mainly created in the process of glacial and frost weathering of high mountains. Then the surfaces were altered in some degree by the flood and wind abrasion. The surface features registered all these processes. The assemblages of surface features changed for four times in the past seven million years, the occurrence ages are: 5.0~4.2MaBP, about 3.6MaBP, about 2.6MaBP and about 0.9MaBP, respectively. This may indicate that there were uplift events of the Tibetan Plateau during those times. The oxygen isotopic compositions of quartz in the sediments represent the oxygen isotopic compositions of the initial dusts because of the stable properties of quartz both physically and chemically. The oxygen isotopic compositions of 4~16um quartz changed significantly at about 2.6MaBP, decreasing from about 19.5%o to about 18.5%o. This decrease of quartz oxygen isotopic ratio suggests that the environments of the dust source areas changed at that time, or the range of dust source area changed at that time. The environmental change may result from the structural evolution of the Tibetan Plateau and global cooling at that time. The coarse fractions (>30μm) of the dust deposits were examined using the EDXA device for mineral identification. The quartz content has a decrease trend during 7~2MaBP, then increase rapidly at about 2MaBP. After 2MaBP, quartz content continues to decrease. The Ca-plagioclase content / quartz content ratio increase at about 3.6MaBP. The ratio shows a peak of 3-6 fold values at about 2.5~1.8MaBP, the cause of this is still unknown. The Ca-plagioclase content / quartz content ratio continues to increase after 1 MaBP. The flowing can be regarded as the conclusion remarks of this study: Some of the red clay sediment of the Chinese Loess Plateau (at least Lingtai and Jingchuan red clays) is eolian in origin. The quartz grains from dust deposits throughout the past seven million yeas showed the clues of glacial and frost processes. This indicates that the high mountains of western China reached a certain altitude to favor the glacial and/or frost processes at least seven millions years before. The weathering intensities of the past seven nnillion yeas have a decreasing trend. In about 5~4.5MaBP, the weathering is relatively weak, and the dust supply is relatively low. At about 3.6MaBP and 2.6MaBP, the dust supply increased significantly. The mineralogical composition, the quartz surface feature and the quartz oxygen isotope composition were influenced by the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. The Plateau may have reached a certain altitude to generate the arid regions of inland China and favor the glacial and frost weathering. And it underwent a phased uplift, which have uplift events at about 3.6MaBP and 2.6MaBP.

中-新元古代海洋的硫和碳同位素的演化

Data on seawater carbon isotope in the Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic is abundant. However, the sulfur isotopic age curve of seawater sulfates determined through the analysis of sulfur isotopic composition of marine evaporite is uncertain in the Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic since evaporites are generally rare in Precambrian. The Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic Carbonate Formations preserve not only the carbon isotopic records, but also the sulfur isotopic records of coeval seawater in the Huabei Platform and the Yangtze Platform, China. Sulfur isotopic composition can be determined by the extraction of trace sulfate from carbonate samples. Successive measurements of sulfur and carbon isotopic compositions of carbonate samples from the Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic strata in the Huabei Platform and the Yangtze Platform was accomplished through the extracting of trace sulfate from carbonates. Sulfur and carbon isotopic compositions of coeval seawater were obtained from analytical results of sulfur and carbon isotopes of the same sample without diagenetic alteration. The high-resolution age curve of sulfur isotope given in this paper may reflect the trend of variations in sulfur isotope composition of seawater sulfates during the Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic. It can be correlated with the characteristics of variation in age curve of carbon isotope of coeval seawater carbonates. The δ34S values of seawater varied from +10.3-37.0‰ during the Mesoproterozoic, which took on oscillated variation on the whole. The δ34S values took on high values in the Mesoproterozoic Chuanlinggou stage, Tuanshanzi stage Tieling stage and in Neoproterozoic Jing'eryu stage. The average of those was about +30‰. The sulfates have low δ34S values in the Mesoproterozoic Yangzhuang stage and Hongshuizhuang stage, The average of those was all lower than +20‰. There occured large-amplitude changs in δ34S values of seawater during the Mesoproterozoic. Large-amplitude oscillate of 534S values occured in the intervals of 1600~1400Ma and 1300~1200Ma. The δ13C values of seawater are mostly negative in Changcheng stage of late Paleoproterozoic, -0 ± 1‰ range in Jixian stage of Mesoproterozoic , and the positive 2±2‰ commonly in early Neoproterozoic Jing'eryu stage. From 1000 Ma to 900 Ma, about 108 years interval of oceanic 513C record is shortage. At the end of Paleoproterozoic (1700 - 1600 Ma), the oceanic 813C values change from -3‰ to 0‰, but strongly oscillate near 1600 Ma. Two larger variations of seawater 513C values occur in the Mesoproterozoic: one is a cycle of about 4%o happens at ca. 1400 Ma; another is rise from >2‰ to>5‰ at ca. 1250 Ma and then become stable at the near 1000 Ma. There appears a large positive excursion over +20‰ in 534S value of ancient seawater sulfates in the early Doushantuo stage. Simultaneously, 8 C values of ancient seawater occur a positive excursion reaching 10‰. These allow δ4S values and 513C values to reach high values of+51.7‰ and +6.9‰, respectively. The range of variation in 834S values of seawater is relatively narrow and 513C values are quite high in the middle Doushantuo stage. Then, δ34S values of seawater become oscillating, the same happens in δ13C values. Negative excursions in 834S values and 813C values occur simultaneously at the end of the Doushantuo stage, and the minimum of δ34S values and δ13C values dropped to -11.3‰ and -5.7‰, respectively. The ancient seawater in the Dengying stage has high δS values and δ13C values. Most of the δ34S values of the trace sulfate samples varied between +23.6‰ and +37.9‰ except two boundaries of the Dengying Formation, and the S13C values of the carbonate samples of the Dengying Formation varied between +0.5‰ and +5.0‰. There appeared large negative excursion in 834S values and δ13C values of ancient seawater at the bounder of Precambrian-Cambrian. The isotopic characteristics of sulfur and carbon implicated that the organic productivity and isotopic fractionation caused by biology were low and the palaeoceanic environment was quite unstable during the Mesoproterozoic. The increase and subsequent oscillation of seawater δ13C value occurred from 1700 to 1600 Ma and near 1300 Ma may be responsible to the two global tectonic events happened at coeval time. The characteristics of variation in sulfur and carbon isotopes of ancient seawater imply strong changes in oceanic environment, which became beneficial to inhabitation and propagation of organism. The organic production and the burial rate of organic carbon once reached a quite high level during the Doushantuo stage. However, the state of environment became unstable that means the global climate and the environment possibly were fluctuating and reiterating after the global glaciation. The negative excursions of S34S values and δ13C values occurring at the end of the Doushantuo stage represent a global event, which might be relative to the oxidation of deep seawater. The isotopic characteristics of sulfur and carbon implicated that there were a high organic productivity and a high burial rate of organic carbon in the Dengying stage. It is obvious that the palaeoceanic environment in Dengying stage was stable corresponding and beneficial for biology to inhabit and propagate except for the two boundaries. The tendency of sulfur and carbon isotopic variations maybe resulted from the gradual oxygenation of ocean environment during the Dengying stage. It has been reported that the secular variations of the sulfur isotopic compositions in seawater was negative correlated with that of carbon isotopic compositions. However, our results show that it is not the case. They were negatively correlated in some intervals and positively in some other intervals of the Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic. The difference in correlation may be associated with the changes in conditions of redox in oceanic environment, e.g. sharp change of the oxidation-reduction interface. The strong changes in global environment may induce the abnormality to occur in the biogeo chemical S and C cycles in the ocean and accordingly sharp Variations in isotopic composition of seawater sulfur and carbon during the Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic. Simultaneously, the global tectonism caused large changes of 87Sr/86Sr ratios. The leading factor that causes the variation in isotopic composition is different in the different intervals of the Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic. Thus, there may exist different models of the biogeochemical S and C cycles in the ocean during the Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic.

黄土高原全新世风成沉积的岩石磁学性质

Chinese eolian deposits are especially suitable for the studies of paleoclimatic changes, environmental magnetism and remanence acquisition mechanisms. In the past two decades, many studies have documented their magnetic properties. However, some important problems, such as the origin of magnetic minerals, the mechanisms for enhancing magnetic susceptibility and the lock-in effect, remain debatable. Therefore, it is essential to detail the rock-magnetic properties of the eolian deposits. This study shows thermomagnetic analyses, petrographic measurements and soil chemistry methods can be combined to obtain a better understanding of the sequence of magnetic mineral alterations during thermal treatment and of the pedogenic mechanism responsible for the susceptibility enhancement. This helps to further develop the interpretation of paleoclimate records in the Holocene eolian deposits along a NW-SE transect of the loess plateau. A partial heating/cooling method and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were performed on representative samples of the present-day loess, in order to investigate mineralogical changes during thermal treatment. The temperature-dependent susceptibility (TDS) and XRD results show complex alteration of magnetic phases during heating and cooling. The 300 ℃ susceptibility hump in heating curves might be due to the production of maghemite from less magnetic lepidocrocite during heating. Goethite is transformed into hematite when heating to above 300 ℃. The susceptibility decrease from 300 ℃ to 450 ℃ can be interpreted as the conversion of maghemite to hematite. This thermal instability makes it possible to quantatively estimate the maghemite contribution to the pedogenically-enhanced susceptibility in loess or paleosols. Minor occurrence of thermally-stable maghemite in the present-day loess is possible; nevertheless, the TDS measurements show that the degree of the thermally-induced alteration is closely related to pedogenesis. The TDS measurement and XRD analysis results demonstrate that although magnetite and hematite both exist in the Holocene loess eolian deposits and their modern source area, magnetite is the predominant contributor to magnetic susceptibility. Both magnetite and hematite are the primary carriers of the remanent magnetization. Fine-grained maghemite, mainly produced by pedogenesis, is significantly responsible for enhancement of the magnetic susceptibility in the Chinese loess and paleosols. Since the degree of oxidation of magnetite grains depends on climate, the presence of maghemite has paleoclimatic significance, and variations in climate could be reflected as variations in the amount of low-temperature oxidation. If that is the case, the TDS curves can be used to compare the effects of climate at different sampling sites. The TDS results along the studied NW-SE transect suggest that stronger pedogenesis results in higher content of maghemite and greater susceptibility decrease during thermal treatment. This behavior seems to indicate that the final product of pedogenic magnetite in Chinese loess and paleosols is maghemite, which makes significant contributions to the enhanced magnetic susceptibility of Chinese eolian deposits. It is interesting to note that the 510 ℃ Hopkinson/alteration peak is larger in the present-day loess than in the black loam for each section. Obiviously, the Hopkinson/alteration peak of the Holocene eolian deposits is closely related to the degree of pedogenesis, which is a function of climate, and thus the peak itself could be a useful climate indicator. There are three effects that may be important in producing this trend. First, low-temperature oxidation preferentially affects the finer single-domain magnetites responsible for the Hopkinson peak, which is therefore suppressed in the more oxidized loams. Second, the possible production of uniaxial magnetite with shape anisotropy can also lead to a relatively muted Hopkinson peak. There is, additionally, a third alternative, and the one preferred here, that the natural alteration processes involved in pedogenic susceptibility enhancement have probably depleted the supply of iron-bearing precursor phases, so that less new magnetite is formed on heating. In summary, the TDS method is very reliable and highly sensitive in detecting magnetic phase changes in eolian deposits during thermal treatment, which are closely related to pedogenic processes. Thus, the studied NW-SE transect clearly exhibits paleoclimatically-induced mineral- and rock-magnetic variations. It is suggested that TDS can be used as a new method for the analysis of pedogenesis and climatic change.

海绵钛生产中铜丝除钒废物回收过程的矿物学研究

海绵钛是钛工业的基础原材料。近年来国内海绵钛产业发展迅速，到2007年其产量已达到两万多吨。海绵钛生产产生大量的废渣、废气、废液等污染物质，对环境造成严重污染，是制约海绵钛产业发展的瓶颈。虽然国家早就将海绵钛生产的环境污染治理问题列为国家重大攻关课题，但长期以来却未从根本上得到很好的解决。本论文以海绵钛生产中铜丝除钒工艺产生的废物为对象，对其中的物质组成及其来源进行了分析，探索对该废物处置与综合回收技术。 除钒杂质是四氯化钛精制作业中极为重要的环节，铜丝除钒是国内采用的主要工艺技术，其产生的废物中含有铜、钒等有用资源。本文首先对海绵钛生产中四氯化钛精制环节铜丝除钒工艺产生的废物的物质组成进行研究，在确定其主要成分是含铜、钒的化合物基础上，设计了综合回收铜、钒等有用资源的技术方案——采用氢氧化钠进行碱处理形成铜钛沉淀物和含钒碱溶液；铜钛沉淀物用硫酸浸出得到硫酸铜溶液和钛沉淀物；硫酸铜溶液进一步电解得到电解铜；含钒碱溶液采用盐酸处理沉淀钒，再经焙烧得到五氧化二钒。在研究过程中主要采用环境矿物学的研究方法，利用化学分析、X射线衍射分析、扫描电镜观察等手段，查明该废物及回收过程产物的特点。 本文通过实验研究，得到以下主要结论： 1.海绵钛生产中铜丝除钒工艺产生的废物主要是水洗池废液，约占90%以上；水洗池废液中铜、钒的浓度很高，分别是5.4g/L、3.6g/L。水洗池沉淀物中的铜、钒主要是以(Cu0.95V2O5)CuO，Ni2V2O7的结晶态形式存在。 2.在废物的化学分析结果和X射线衍射分析结果的基础上，设计了对废物综合回收电解铜、五氧化二钒等资源的技术方案。该回收技术路线下电解铜的初步回收率可达97%，钒的一次回收率约为78%。 3.对回收过程中的各阶段产物进行了化学分析、物相分析和微观形貌观察，研究结果表明铜、钒、钛等资源得到了较好有分离和回收。

高强度瓷绝缘子的矿物组成和显微结构研究

以矿物学理论为基础，采用XRD、AAS、TEM和OM等分析仪器，对国产70kN、日本120kN和210kN高强度瓷绝缘子的化学成分、显微结构等特征进行了分析，找出造成国内外瓷绝缘子性能差异的主要因素。并对贵州地区的高强瓷非金属矿物原料进行了较系统的矿物学研究，确定了6个主要原料基地。在以上研究的基础上，优化设计了420kN和300kN高强度瓷绝缘子的配方及相关生产工艺。并对烧结出420kN高强度瓷绝缘子的化学成分与显微结构进行了研究分析。得到的主要结论如下： （1）对比国内外高强瓷得出，造成国内高强瓷性能差的主要因素是化学成分和显微结构。国内70kN样品含有较高的K2O和TiO2，严重超过了高强瓷标准配方值，而国外配方恰好落在标准值范围内；国内70kN样品晶相含量仅为35%，而国外210kN样品的晶相含量为48%，且晶粒细小分布均匀，玻璃相和气孔相含量也比国内产品少且分布均匀。 （2）采用XRD对贵州地区矿物原料进行分析，最终选定了毕节、大方6个高强瓷原材料产地。这些基地粘土类矿物原料，具有可塑性好，有害矿物含量少，化学成分中Si、Al比适中，Fe、Ti等杂质元素含量低的特点；铝氧类矿物具有含Al2O3含量高且杂质元素少的特点，是制备高强度瓷绝缘子的优质原料。 （3）在主要使用贵州所产的矿物原料基础上，结合国内外高强瓷的性能差异，优化设计了300kN和420kN高强瓷的配方和工艺。其中将坯料的颗粒度组成设定在：≥5µm43-48%，≥10µm25-31%，≥20µm5-12%，并采用合理烧结制度下烧结出420kN高强瓷，其烧结温度范围在13001400℃，最终产品通过IEC检测且显微结构较好。

伊/蒙不规则间层粘土的矿物学特征及其层柱化研究

该文首先详细而系统地介绍了一类新型纳米矿物材料——层柱粘土.论文以贵州大方I/S不规则有序间层粘土为例,在采用多种测试手段了解该矿物的组成、结构及性能的基础上,首次对I/S不规则间层粘土进行了较系统的铝、锆、钛的层柱化研究.XRD、HRTEM、FTIR及DTA-TG共同揭示了大方I/S间层粘土是以Rl型为主的I/S不规则有序间层粘土,化学分析数据计算表明结构中的八面体为二八面体,蒙皂石为钠型蒙脱石.通过对大方I/S不规则间层粘土的铝层柱研究发现,较低的初始铝浓度有利于形成较多的Keggin离子,产物层间距可达3.2～3.5nm,N<,2-BET比表面积达110m<'2>/g.首次对I/S不规则间层粘土进行了钻、钛层柱化研究,所获产物层间距都大于铝层柱者,分别为3.3～4.0nm和3.5~4.7nm.文章首次对层柱I/S不规则间层粘土进行了除层间距以外的孔结构、表面酸性、(水)热稳定性和显微形貌的表征.探讨了层与柱之间、颗粒与颗粒之间的排列和连接对层柱产物性能的影响,比较成功地用IR证据解释了层在机理中四面体的反转问题.最后初步试验了层柱I/S不规则间层粘土对水中重金属pb<'2+>和垃圾淋滤液中COD的去除效果,结果表明卫Ti-I/S对Pb<'2+>的吸附容量可达8.39mg/g,对COD的去除率可高达76.71%.

溶液介质条件和腐殖影响下REE在水/粘土界面分配和分馏的实验研究

过去几十年，由于REE具有重要的物源和过程示踪的地球化学意义，又与核放射性元素（钢系元素）的地球化学结构类似，因此，稀土元素的表生地球化学分配和行为研究便成为微量元素地球化学研究的一个重要部分。目前"通过水体悬浮物吸附态REE组成变化分析研究水／微粒界面作用REE分异现象．的工作不少，但至今进行的胶体或其他微粒吸附REE的实验研究不多，且已有的实验未能对溶液介质条件（如pH、离子强度、阴离子、固／液比），尤其是天然有机物的控制机理进行系统研究，对所观察到的水体中REE及其他微量元素分布变化多样性的解释仍缺乏实验依据。本文用结晶良好且粘土矿物含量高的苏州高岭土、美国粘土协会高岭土（Kga-1b）和蒙脱土（Wwy-2）作为吸附剂，采用系列吸附实验定量研究了不同理化条件（如pH值、离子强度、固／液比）下，受溶液阴离子（Cl-、C1O4-、SO42-、HCO3-）和Fluka胡敏酸（HA）影响，REE在粘土／水界面的分配和分馏，并讨论了HA和粘土的相互作用及胡敏酸存在与不存在时的REE形态分布。得到以下几点重要认识，为合理解释地表水体中既E和其他微量元素分布变化的多样性提供了实验依据：1、REE在苏州高岭土／水界面的重现性实验结果为：稀土配分系数D的相对标准偏差最大值为Eu8.4％，其他大多介于5．0％和6．6％间。而稀土吸附率Rd的相对标准偏差最大值为D2.2％，其他大多＜2％。较小误差表明本次研究所用实验方法是可行的。2、REE在苏州高岭土／水界面的动力学实验结果表明：短时间内（几分钟）稀土快速吸附在高岭土：接着因为粘土的层状结构，在20h内粘土层间金属与REE发生交换，稀土分配系数变化较大；20h以后能达到稳定的吸附／解吸平衡。因此本次研究采用的平衡时间为24h。3、pH分别为4.5和6.5时REE在苏州高岭土冰界面的分配能用Langmuir吸附等温线模拟和MINEQL＋软件表达。与静电吸附相对应，pH值越高REE最大吸附量越大。同时REE浓度的差异造成了REE分馏，总的趋势是REE含量越高，分馏越不明显。4、近中性（pH＝6.5）条件下不同阴离子的存在对REE在苏州高岭土／水界面分配和分馏的影响表明：随阴离子（Cl-、ClO4-、SO42-）含量升高REE吸附率降低，其中SO42-对REE吸附的影响最大，说明Na＋质量效应和阴离子配合的影响；同时由于不同阴离子与轻重R陇的络合差异所致，阴离子含量越高，轻重稀土的分馏越明显（La／Yb＝0.14-0.96），一般为阴离子含量的增加使得重稀土更多的被吸附，其中C1-和SO42+的影响最为明显。HCO3-虽然与REE有较强配合，但可能由于我们的HCO3-实验浓度低（＜0.0O25mol／L），在我们的实验结果中其对REE吸附和分馏的影响较小。5、由于不同pH和介质条件下，REE的络合形态分布不同，它们可以影响其在水／粒界面的分配。应用MINEQL＋模型，考虑REE的氢氧化物、碳酸盐和腐殖酸的影响，研究了REE的形态分布，结果表明fIA的存在对REE形态有很大影响：在HA不存在时，pH7-8间REECO3＋为主要的REEs形态，在更低和更高pH值，REE主要存在形式分别为REE加和REE（CO3）2-；而当HA存在时，在1）H值3-9，REEHA成为主要形态，在低pH（＜3）和高pH（＞9）时REE3+和REE（CO3）2-分别为主要形态。6、在较宽的pH范围HA能吸附在粘土上意味着在大多数含HA的天然水体中，粘土表面被HA覆盖。随H增加粘土对HA的吸附降低，反应了配位体交换或表面络合反应引起的专属吸附，其他如疏水性、、腐殖物质的溶解和HA的结构变化可能也影响了吸附。HA含量、矿物表面积和离子强度等理化条件对HA吸附会产生影响，从而影响HA对粘土表面的覆盖和接下来的粘土对REE的吸附。7、溶液介质条件对REE在粘土（Kga-1b和SWy-2）／水界面分配和分馏的影响表明：主要与静电相互作用、离子交换反应相对应，除低PH外，REE在高岭土上的吸附表现出弱的pH依赖性；而随pH增加REE在蒙脱土上的吸附呈下降趋势，显示交换反应为吸附过程的主要因素。在两种粘土中REE吸附均为随离子强度增加而降低，反应了Na质量效应。8、腐殖物质在粘土表面的吸附改变了吸附剂的属性。HA存在时REE在固液界面的分配反应了REEHA在固液界面的分配和HA在高岭土或蒙脱土／水界面上的分配，其他如静电吸附等机制也影响了吸附：在高岭土中，HA会增加低pH（＜4）吸附，随pH增加（＞5）HA会降低吸附。与此不同，在整个PH范围（3-10），HA的存在明显降低了REE在蒙脱土上的吸附。REE吸附在高岭土上随队含量增加是先增加后降低。而蒙脱土实验中，在低HA含量（＜5mg／L）处，RE阮吸附率与HA含量增加呈线性降低至几个百分比，而在高队含量处，REEs吸，附率无明显变化。这些清楚地说明水体环境中有机物的存在通常降低微量金属吸，附在微粒上，增加微量金属在水体中的溶解量，从而促进微量金属在水体环境中的长距离迁移。9、HA存在和不存在时，吸附／解吸过程中的REE分馏随pH或离子强度的变化都不明显，但由于REE系列与腐殖物质和矿物络合的差异，会随队含量的变化发生明显变化。通常溶液中高队含量增加了LREE在高岭土／蒙脱土上的吸附。这些结果是在HA存在时，微粒相上产生LREE富集的一个实验证实，也和大多数天然水体中的REEs分馏相一致。

贵州碳酸盐岩红色风化壳稀土富集与分异的机理研究

近期对贵州碳酸盐岩红色风化壳研究发现，碳酸盐岩基岩中稀土含量一般为几十个μg/g，而在岩一土界面附近即E显示超常富集，REE总量最高可达31000μg／g以上，远高于碳酸盐岩基岩和一般风化壳REE含量。同时，稀土富集的部位是剖面底部，而在其它的风化壳中稀上往往在剖面中部即全风化层底部富集。REE超常富集的样品同时伴有Ce的强烈亏损，6Ce值最低为0.007，这也是目前报道过的风化壳中的最低值。另外，风化前缘稀土相对于PAAs标准化后显示MREE富集的特征。弄清碳酸盐岩红色风化壳中稀土富集和分异的机理，有助于丰富稀土表生地球化学知识，同时也为喀斯特地区风化成土地球化学过程和土壤物质来源的示踪提供了重要依据。本文通过对稀土赋存状态的实验研究，结合稀土元素质量迁移系数，系统的分析了稀土元素在碳酸盐岩风化壳中的迁移、转化行为，探讨了稀土发生富集和分异的机理。本次研究取得了如下认识：1、通过对白云岩和灰岩风化壳稀土赋存状态的对比，发现在碳酸盐岩红色风化壳中稀土具有相同的赋存和转化规律。稀土富集层中稀土主要以专性吸附态和残渣态的形式存在，其次是有机质结合态。稀土的赋存状态说明粘土矿物对稀土的吸附是导致稀土在底部超常富集的主要原因。其次，次生稀土磷酸盐矿物，主要是La、Nd等的轻稀土磷酸盐矿物也是稀土富集的主要载体。此外，有机质和铁锰氧化物对稀土的迁移、富集也发挥着重要作用。非富集层主要以 残渣态和铁锰氧化物结合态的形式存在，表明随着风化作用的增强，稀土越易进入稳定的相态中。2、元素质量迁移系数真实的反应了元素的迁入迁出情况。碳酸盐岩的非等体积风化使得稳定的微量元素相对基岩富集，也为风化壳稀土提供了基本的物质来源，但不是导致稀土超常富集的主要原因。稀土元素在风化壳上部表现出很强的活化迁移能力，几乎全部迁出，并且在底部显示明显的带入富集，上部淋漓的稀土为底部稀土的超常富集提供了稳定而充足的物质来源。3、风化壳底部狭窄的碱性障是稀土超常富集的主要制约因素。碳酸盐岩的酸不 溶物含量低，碳酸盐矿物可溶性强，发育程度较高的风化壳剖面能够在垂向上很窄的范围内形成碱性障。7-9的pH值增大了粘土对稀土的吸附量，同时还提高了稀土与各种络阴离子络合的稳定性，有利于稀土沉淀。对于发育完整的碳酸盐岩红色风化壳，介质条件的改变是缓慢的，不能在剖面底部形成碱性障，因此稀土在剖面上部迁出，下部迁入富集，富集层位往往和其它岩类风化壳一样在全风化层的底部。4、经页岩标准化的稀土分布模式在风化前缘显示MREE富集。导致这一现象的原因主要是风化壳中MREE的迁出程度大于HREE和LREE，风化流体显示MREE富集。在底部碱性障条件下，富M咫E的风化流体沉淀、富集。风化流体向下渗透，水岩反应的结果是白云岩也显示M咫E富集，灰岩由于岩一土界面的阻挡，水岩反应深度不大，基岩往往无明显的稀土分异。5、在碳酸盐岩红色风化壳上部Ce显示正异常，底部富集层显示强烈负异常。剖面上部，Ce3＋氧化水解，氧化产物主要与铁锰氧化物共沉淀，少量的与粘土形成氢键或者与有机物络合沉淀，导致剖面上部正异常。Ce在剖面中的迁出量很少，在底部稀土富集层，沉淀富集时主要是La、Pr等LREE，Ce相对贫乏，因此，富集层Ce显示强烈的负异常。与碳酸（氢）根或者磷酸根等络合物形式迁走的Ce很少，不是导致Ce强烈负异常的主要原因。6、基岩性质和良好的水热条件导致碳酸盐岩风化前缘形成特殊的微环境一一碱性障，这是稀土在碳酸盐岩风化壳底部超常富集和分异的主要原因，也是碳酸盐岩红色风化壳稀土行为不同于其它岩类风化壳的主要原因。稀土元素在风化作用过程中发生明显的重组分配，其分布特征不能用以指示物源信息，只能反应风化作用过程信息。

Human plasma proteome analysis by multidimensional chromatography prefractionation and linear ion trap mass spectrometry identification

A resurgence of interest in the human plasma proteome has occurred in recent years because it holds great promise of revolution in disease diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring. As one of the most powerful separation techniques, multidimensional liquid chromatography has attracted extensive attention, but most published works have focused on the fractionation of tryptic peptides. In this study, proteins from human plasma were prefractionated by online sequential strong cation exchange chromatography and reversed-phase chromatography. The resulting 30 samples were individually digested by trypsin, and analyzed by capillary reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap mass spectrometry. After meeting stringent criteria, a total of 1292 distinct proteins were successfully identified in our work, among which, some proteins known to be present in serum in < 10 ng/mL were detected. Compared with other works in published literatures, this analysis offered a more full-scale list of the plasma proteome. Considering our strategy allows high throughput of protein identification in serum, the prefractionation of proteins before MS analysis is a simple and effective method to facilitate human plasma proteome research.

PROTRACTED HYPOFRACTIONATED RADIOTHERAPY for GRAVES' OPHTHALMOPATHY: A PILOT STUDY of CLINICAL and RADIOLOGIC RESPONSE

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and radiologic response of patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy given low-dose orbital radiotherapy (RT) with a protracted fractionation.Methods and Materials: Eighteen patients (36 orbits) received orbital RT with a total dose of 10 Gy, fractionated in 1 Gy once a week over 10 weeks. of these, 9 patients received steroid therapy as well. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiologically at 6 months after treatment. Clinical response assessment was carried out using three criteria: by physical examination, by a modified clinical activity score, and by a verbal questionnaire considering the 10 most common signs and symptoms of the disease. Radiologic response was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging.Results: Improvement in ocular pain, palpebral edema, visual acuity, and ocular motility was observed in all patients. Significant decrease in symptoms such as tearing (p < 0.001) diplopia (p = 0.008), conjunctival hyperemia (p = 0.002), and ocular grittiness (p = 0.031) also occurred. Magnetic resonance imaging showed decrease in ocular muscle thickness and in the intensity of the T2 sequence signal in the majority of patients. Treatments were well tolerated, and to date no complications from treatment have been observed. There was no statistical difference in clinical and radiologic response between patients receiving RT alone and those receiving RT plus steroid therapy.Conclusion: RT delivered in at a low dose and in a protracted scheme should be considered as a useful therapeutic option for patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc.

Building with Scottish Stone.

Building with Scottish Stone aims to encourage more use of stone sourced from Scotland’s working quarries and to provide a better understanding of those mineralogical properties which give each stone its distinctive quality. The nation’s architectural history is synonymous with the use of natural stone, and the principles of construction developed over generations in response to Scotland’s particular climatic conditions still find relevance today in the design and detailing of new buildings. Equally, an understanding of the ways in which stone is extracted and processed is as fundamental to its contemporary use as having up-to-date knowledge of the continuously changing legislation that affects its specification and procurement. Building with Scottish Stone is a stimulating introduction to these and many other factors to be considered when using this richly-varied and timeless resource in the design of new buildings.

Caratterizzazione geo-petrografica, petrologica e geochimica di rocce anatettiche del nord Sardegna

The High Grade Metamorphic Complex (HGMC) of Variscan basement of north Sardinia is characterized by the widespread of migmatites. This study is focused on two localities of NE Sardinia (Porto Ottiolu and Punta Sirenella) where ortho- and para-derivates migmatites outcrop. A geological and structural survey was carried out, leading to the realization of a geological schematic map of Punta Sirenella area. Several samples of different rocks were collected for petrographic, micro-structural minero-chemical and geochemical analyses. In the Porto Ottiolu area three main deformation phases have been identified; D1, characterized by tight folds with sub-horizontal axes, rarely preserved in paragneisses; D2, that produce a pervasive foliation oriented N100° 45°SW marked by biotite and sillimanite blastesis and locally transposed by shear zone oriented N170°; D3, late deformation phase caused symmetric folds with sub-horizontal axes with no axial plane schistosity. Leucosomes form pods and layers along S2 schistosity but also leucosomes along shear zones have been observed. In the Punta Sirenella area, three main deformation phases have been identified; D1, is manifested by the transposition of centimeter-sized leucosomes and is rarely observed in paragneisses were produce open folds with sub-vertical axes; D2, NW-SE oriented on whose XY plane three mineralogical lineation (quartz+plagioclase, fibrolite+quarz and muscovite) lie; D3, a ductile-brittle deformation phase that produce a mylonitc S3 foliation that locally become the most evident schistosity in the field oriented N140° steeply dipping toward NE. In both areas, leucosomes of sedimentary-derived migmatites are generally trondhjemitic pointing out for a H2O fluxed melting reaction, but also granitic leucosomes have been found, produced by muscovite dehydration melting. Leucosomes of migmatitic orthogneiss instead, have granitic compositions. Migmatization started early, during the compressional and crustal thickening (sin-D1, pre-D2) and was still active during exhumation stage. For each studied outcrop of migmatite pseudosections for the average mesosome composition have been calculated; these pseudosections have been used to model the P-T conditions of anatexis on the basis of the melt volume (%) of melt, Si/Al and Na/K molar ratios, modal content of garnet and Si content in metamorphic white mica. Further pseudosections have been calculated for the average composition of leucosomes in order to define the P-T conditions of the end of the crystallization through intersection of solidus curve and isopleths of Si content in white mica and/or XMg ratio in biotite. Thermodynamic modeling on ortho- and sedimentary-derived migmatites of Punta Sirenella yield P-T conditions of 1.1-1.3 GPa - 670-740°C for migmatitic event and 0.75-0.90 GPa - 660-730°C for the end of crystallization. These conditions are fit well with previous studies on adjacent rocks. Modeling of Porto Ottiolu ortho- and sedimentary-derived migmatites yield P-T conditions of 0.85-1.05 GPa - 690-730°C for migmatitic event and 0.35-0.55 GPa - 630-690°C strongly affected by re-equilibration during exhumation, expecially for crystallization conditions. Geochemical analyses of samples belonging to Porto Ottiolu and Punta Sirenella orthogneisses show a strong link with those of other orthogneisses outcropping in NE Sardinia (for instance, Lode-Mamone and Golfo Aranci) that are considered the intrusive counterparts of middle-Ordovician metavolcanics rocks outcropping in the Nappe Zone. Thus, the studied ortogneiss bodies, even lacking radiometric data, can be considered as belonging to the same magmatic cycle.

Analyses of patterns of copper and lead mineralisation in human skeletons excavated from an ancient mining and smelting centre in the Jordanian desert

Grattan, J.P., Al-Saad, Z., Gilbertson, D.D., Karaki, L.O., Pyatt, F.B 2005 Analyses of patterns of copper and lead mineralisation in human skeletons excavated from an ancient mining and smelting centre in the Jordanian desert Mineralogical Magazine. 69(5) 653-666.

Identification and characterization of innate immune receptor substrates of γ-secretase enzyme complex

The γ-secretase protease complexes and associated regulated intramembrane proteolysis play an important role in controlling receptor-mediated intracellular signalling events, which have a central role in Alzheimer’s disease, cancer progression and immune surveillance. It has previously been reported that the Interleukin-1 receptor, type 1, (IL-1R1) is a substrate for regulated intramembrane proteolysis, mediated by presenilin (PS)-dependent γ-secretase activity. The aims of this project were twofold. Firstly, to determine the conservation of regulated intramembrane proteolysis as a physiological occurrence amongst other cytokine receptors. In this regard, similar to IL-1R1, we identified the Tumour necrosis factor receptor type 1 (TNFR1) and the Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) as novel γ-secretase substrates. Secondly, given that the diversity of signalling events mediated by the IL-1R1, TLR4 and TNFR1 are spatially segregated, we investigated the spatial distribution, subcellular trafficking and subcellular occurrence of regulated intramembrane proteolysis of IL-1R1, TLR4 and TNFR1. Using dynasore an inhibitor of clathrin-dependent receptor endocytosis, both ectodomain shedding and γ-secretase-mediated cleavage of IL-1R1 were observed post-internalization. In contrast, TNFR-1 underwent ectodomain shedding at the cell surface followed by endosomal γ-secretase-mediated cleavage. Furthermore, immortalised fibroblasts from PS1-deficient mice showed impaired γ-secretasemediated cleavage of IL-1R1 and TNFR1, indicating that both are cleaved by PS1-and not PS2-containing γ-secretase complexes. Subcellular fractionation and immunofluorescence studies revealed that the γ-secretase generated IL-1R1 ICD translocates to the nucleus on IL-1β stimulation. These observations further demonstrate the novel PS-dependent means of modulating IL-1β, LPS and TNFα- mediated immune responses by regulating IL-1R1/TLR4/TNFR1 protein levels within the cells.