A numerical study of steady state evaporative conditions applied to mine tailings

The suction profile of a desiccating soil is dependent on the water table depth, the soil-water retention characteristics, and the climatic conditions. In this paper, an unsaturated flow model, which simulates both liquid and vapour flow, was used to investigate the effects of varying the water table depth and the evaporation rate on the evaporative fluxes from a desiccating tailings deposit under steady-state conditions. Results obtained showed that at a critical evaporation rate, beyond which evaporation is no longer dictated by climatic conditions, the matric suction profiles remain basically unchanged. The critical evaporation rate varies inversely with the water table depth. It is associated with the maximum evaporative flux that might be extracted from a soil at steady-state conditions. The time required to establish steady-state conditions is directly proportional to the water table depth, and it acquires a maximum value at the critical evaporation rate. A detailed investigation of the movement of the drying front demonstrated the significance of attaining a matric suction of about 3000 kPa on the contribution to flow in the vapour phase.

40Ar/39Ar dating of Mn-iron ore of the Sapecado Mine, Qadrilatero Ferrifero, Brazil

The SW region of Amazonian craton presents policyclic evolution between 1.80-1.00 Ga and is comprised of the Rio Negro-Juruena, Rondoniana and Sunsas Provinces. The evolution of this region has being characterized by four orogens: Alto Jauru (1.79-1.74 Ga), Cachoeirinha (1.58-1.52 Ga), Suíte Santa Helena (1.45-1.42 Ga) e Sunsas/Aguapeí (1.0-0.9 Ga). The Alto Jauru orogen consists of TTG gneissic associations, greenstone sequences and intrusive granitoids origined in volcanic arc setting. Eight 40Ar/39Ar step-heating analyses were carried out in minerals (biotiteand hornblende) to investigate the thermal history and crustal evolution of this region. From the Alto Jauru orogen was sampled the gneiss banded and two biotite grains provide large dispersion of apparent ages, suggesting heterogenity in reservoir of the argon. Apparent age diagram yielded integrated ages of 1472 ± 6 Ma, interpreted as minimum ages of regional cooling episode. Three analyses of hornblende present ages varing from 1310 to 1400 Ma, possibly because smaller grain size become more susceptible to argon loss. 40Ar/39Ar step-heating methodology applied on biotite of pyroclastic tuff (U-Pb age about 1758 ± 7 Ma) presented integrated age of 1507 ± 7 Ma. The results found for this terrane demonstrated a geochronological correlation with metamorphic process linked Cachoeirinha orogen. Biotite and hornblende grains separates from granite and a tonalite origined during Cachoeirinha orogen were analyzed and the apparent age diagrams indicated well-defined plateau ages of 1520-1540 Ma. Biotite grains from a granitic sample were analized, and integrated ages about 1526 ± 2 Ma were obtained due argon loss in the initial steps. Thermochronologic history of SW region Amazonian craton is coherent with regional policyclic events and 40Ar/39Ar ages here presented probably correspond to regional cooling period of Cachoeirinha orogen.