Carbon and Noble Gas Isotopes in the Tengchong Volcanic Geothermal Area, Yunnan, Southwestern China

Carbon and noble gas isotope analyses are reported for bubbling gas samples from the Tengchong volcanic geothermal area near the Indo-Eurasian suture zone. All samples contain a resolvable component of mantle-derived 3He. Occurrence of mantle-derived 3He coincides with surface volcanism. However, 3He occurs over a larger geographic areathan do surface volcanics. δ13C values for CO2 and CH4 vary from -33.4‰ to 1.6 ‰ and from -52.8‰ to -2.8‰, respectively. He and C isotope systematics indicate that CO2 and CH4 in the CO2-rich gases originated predominantly from magmatic component mixed with crustal CO2 produced from carbonate. However, breakdown of organic matter and near-surface processes accounts for the CH4 and CO2 in N2-rich gases. 3He/4He ratio distribution pattern suggests that mantle-derived He and heat sources of high-temperature system in central Tengchong originate from a hidden magma reservoir at subsurface. CO2-rich gases with the highest 3He/4He ratio (5.2 Ra) may be representative of the Tengchong magmatic component. Compared with MORB, this relative low 3He/4He ratio could be fully attributed to either deep crustal contamination, or radioactive aging, or past contamination of the local mantle by U- and Th-rich subducted crustal material. However, a combination of low 3He/4He, high radiogenic 4He/40Ar ratio and identical CO2/3He and δ13Cco2 relative to MORB may suggest addition of prior subductedd crsustal material (ca 1 %-2%) to the MORB reservoir around 1.3 Ga ago, which is essentially compatible with the LIL-elements, and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes of volcanic rocks.

S, C, O, H Isotope Data and Noble Gas Studies of the Maoniuping LREE Deposit, Sichuan Province, China: A Mantle Connection for Mineralization

The Maoniuping REE deposit, located about 22 km to the southwest of Mianning, Sichuan Province, is the second largest light REE deposit in China, subsequent to the Bayan Obo Fe-Nb-REE deposit in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Tectonically, it is located in the transitional zone between the Panxi rift and the Longmenshan-Jinpingshan orogenic zone. It is a carbonatite vein-type deposit hosted in alkaline complex rocks. The bastnaesite-barite, bastnaesite-calcite, and bastnaesite- microcline lodes are the main three types of REE ore lodes. Among these, the first lode is distributed most extensively and its REE mineralization is the strongest. The δ^34Sv.cDT values of the barites in the ore of the deposit vary in a narrow range of ＋5.0 to ＋5.1‰ in the bastnaesite-calcite lode and ＋3.3 to ＋5.9‰ in the bastnaesite-barite lode, showing the isotopic characteristics of magma-derived sulfur. The δ^13Cv-PDB values and the δ^Ov.SMOW values in the bastnaesite-calcite lode range from -3.9 to -6.9‰ and from ＋7.3 to ＋9.7 ‰, respectively, which fall into the range of ＂primary carbonatltes＂, showing that carbon and oxygen in the ores of the Maoniuping deposit were derived mainly from a deep source. The δ^13Cv.PDB values of fluid inclusions vary from -3.0 to -5.6‰, with -3.0 to -4.0‰ in the bastnaesitecalcite lode and -3.0 to -5.6‰ in the bastnaesite-barite lode, which show characteristics of mantle- derived carbon. The δDv-SMOW values of fluid inclusions range from -57 to -88‰, with -63 to -86‰ in the bastnaesite-calcite lode and -57 to -88‰ in the bastnaesite-barite lode, which show characteristics of mantle-derived hydrogen. The δ^18OH2OV.SMOW values vary from ＋7.4 to ＋8.6‰ in the bastnaesitecalcite lode, and ＋6.7 to ＋7.8‰ in the bastnaesite-barite lode, almost overlapping the range of ＋5.5 to ＋9.5‰ for magmatic water. The 4He content, R/Ra ratios are （13.95 to 119.58）×10^-6 （cm^3/g）STP and 0.02 to 0.11, respectively, and ^40Ar/^36Ar is 313± 1 to 437 ± 2. Considering the 4He increase caused by high contents of radioactive elements, a mantle-derived fluid probably exists in the inclusions in the fluorite, calcite and bastnaesite samples. The Maoniuping deposit and its associated carbonatite-alkaline complex were formed in 40.3 to 12.2 Ma according to K-Ar and U-Pb data. All these data suggest that large quantities of mantle fluids were involved in the metallogenic process of the Maoniuping REE deposit through a fault system.

Geochemical characteristics of noble gases in natural gas and their application in tracing natural gas migration in the middle part of the western Sichuan Depression, China

Noble gases in natural gas, from Xiaoquan, Xinchang, Hexingchang and Fenggu gas reservoirs in the middle part of the western Sichuan Depression, China, were analysed. Results show that the volume content of crustal noble gases accounts for 97.9% to 99.7% of the total noble gas content, indicating that the noble gases in the study area are very largely derived from the crust. Moreover, the 40Ar time-accumulating effect of source rocks is used to determine the complex relationship between gases and source rocks in this area, and the results agree well with that from analysis of source rock light hydrocarbons. Due to the short migration distance, the separation of 4He and 40Ar is not significant in Xujiahe natural gas and Lower and Middle Jurassic natural gas, so it is difficult to trace natural gas migration. However, this separation characteristic of 4He and 40Ar in Middle and Upper Jurassic natural gas is significant, which indicates that natural gas migration was from the Middle Jurassic to Upper Jurassic formations. In addition, the variation trends of 3He/4He ratio and δ13C1 value indicates that natural gas migration is from the Xujiahe formation to the Jurassic layer in the study area.

Noble Gas Isotopic Compositions of Cobalt-rich Ferromanganese Crusts from the Western Pacific Ocean and Their Geological Implications

Noble gas isotopic compositions of various layers in three-layered （outer, porous and compact layers） cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts and their basaltic and phosphorite substrates from the western Pacific Ocean were analyzed by using a high vacuum gas mass spectrum. The analytical results show that the noble gases in the Co-rich crusts have derived mainly from the ambient seawater, extraterrestrial grains such as interplanetary dust particles （IDPs） and wind-borne continental dust grains, and locally formation water in the submarine sediments, but different noble gases have different sources. He in the crusts derives predominantly from the extraterrestrial grains, with a negligible amount of radiogenic He from the eolian dust grains. Ar is sourced mainly from the dissolved air in the seawater and insignificantly from radiogenic Ar in the eolian continental dust grains or the formation water. Xe and Ne derive mainly from the seawater, with minor amounts of extraterrestrial Xe and Ne in the IDPs. Compared with the porous and outer layers, the compact layer has a relatively high 4He content and lower 3He/4He ratios, suggesting that marine phosphatization might have greatly modified the noble gas isotopic compositions of the crusts. Besides, the 3He/4He values of the basaltic substrates of the cobalt-rich crusts are very low and their R/R. ratios are mostly 〈0.1 R., which are similar to that of phosphorite substrates （0.087 R.）, but much lower than that of fresh submarine MORB （8.75±14 Ra） or seamount basalts （3-43 Ra）, implying that the basaltic substrates have suffered strong water/rock interaction and reacted with radiogenic ^4He and P-rich upwelling marine currents during phosphatization. The trace elements released in the basalt/seawater interaction might favor the growth of cobalt-rich crusts. The relatively low ^3He/^4He values in the seamount basalts may be used as an important exploration criterion for the cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts.

Comparison of Damages on Tungsten Surface Exposed to Noble Gas Plasmas

Tungsten was exposed to pure Ar or Ne plasmas over 1550 K at several incident ion energies. Even under the irradiation condition that the tungsten nanostructure is formed by He plasma irradiation, holes/bubbles and fiberform nanostructures were not formed on the surface by exposure to Ar or Ne plasmas. In addition, the results from energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy supported the facts that Ar and Ne did not remain in the sample. We will discuss the reason for the differences in the damage to the tungsten surface exposed to noble gas plasmas.

Deciphering fluid origins in the Paleozoic Laoshankou Fe-Cu-Au deposit, East Junggar: Constraints from noble gases and halogens

To constrain the ore-fluid source(s)of the Laoshankou Fe-Cu-Au deposit(Junggar orogen,NW China),we analyzed the fluid inclusion(FI)noble gas(Ar,Kr and Xe)and halogen(Cl,Br and I)compositions in the hydrothermal epidote and quartz.Four hypogene alteration/mineralization stages,including(I)pre-ore Ca-silicate,(II)early-ore amphibole-epidote-magnetite,(III)late-ore pyrite-chalcopyrite,and(IV)post-ore hydrothermal veining,have been identified at Laoshankou.Stage II FIs have salinity of 15.7 wt.%(NaCl eq.),I/Cl molar ratios of 75×10^(−6)-135×10^(−6),and Br/Cl molar ratios of 1.4×10^(−3)-2.1×10^(−3).The moderately-high seawatercorrected Br*/I ratios(0.5-1.5)and low 40ArE/Cl slope(-10−5)indicate the presence of sedimentary marine pore fluid,which was modified by seawater reacting with the Beitashan Fm.volcanic rocks.Stage III fluid is more saline than their stage II and IV counterparts,reaching up to 23.3 wt.%(NaCl+CaCl2 eq.)close to halite saturation(-26 wt.%).The fluid has I/Cl ratios of 75×10^(−6)-90×10^(−6) and Br/Cl ratios of 1.5×10^(−3)-1.8×10^(−3).Considering the increasing 40ArE/Cl trend toward bittern brine and the higher 36Ar content than air-saturated water(ASW),a bittern fluid source is inferred from seawater evaporation,which was modified by interaction with organic-rich marine sedimentary rocks.Stage IV FIs have lower temperature(110-228°C)and Br/Cl(0.90×10^(−3)-1.2×10^(−3)),but higher 36Ar content than ASW,indicative of dissolved evaporite or halite input.Considering also the lowδDfluid(−114‰to−144‰)andδ18Ofluid(2.1‰-3.5‰)values,meteoric water(with minor dissolved evaporites)likely dominated the stage IV fluid.The evaporites may have formed through continuous evaporation of the stage III surface-derived bittern.Involvement of non-magmatic fluids and different ore-fluid origins in stages II and III suggest that the ore-forming process was different from a typical magmatichydrothermal fluid-dominated skarn mineralization,which was previously proposed for Laoshankou.Our noble gas and halogen study at Laoshankou provide new insights on the fluid sources for the Paleozoic Fe−Cu(−Au)deposits in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB),and our non-magmatic fluid source interpretation is consistent with the basin inversion setting for the mineralization.

Relative Responses of Noble Gases Using a Pulsed Discharge Helium Photoionization Detector:Theoretical Calculation and Experimental Determination

The relative response factors（RRFs） for noble gas（Ng） were determined on a pulsed discharge helium photoionization detector. Using ab initio method, the atomic orbitals of noble gas were calculated and used to determine the number of ionizable electrons on the basis of the continuous emission of He2. The molar responses of noble gases is well correlated with the number of ionizable electrons.

Automatic ^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar Dating Techniques Using Multicollector ARGUS VI Noble Gas Mass Spectrometer with Self-Made Peripheral Apparatus

A new fully automatic ^40Ar/^39Ar laboratory with a Thermo Scientific ARGUS VI mass spectrometer has been established in China University of Geosciences （Wuhan）. We designed and developed a mini efficient preparation system （80 mL）, a CO2 laser for heating samples, a crusher for extracting fluid inclusions within K-poor minerals and an air reservoir （31 L） and pipette （0.1 mL） system. The ARGUS VI mass spectrometer is operated by the Qtegra Noble Gas software, which can control the peripheral accessories, such as pneumatic valves, CO2 laser and crusher through a PeriCon （peripheral controller）. The experimental procedures of atmospheric argon ana- lyses, ^40Ar/^39Ar dating by laser stepwise heating and by progressive crushing in vacuo, can be fully automatically performed. The weighted mean of atmospheric ^40Ar/^36Ar ratios is 302.22＋0.03 （1σ, MSWD=0.74, n=200）, indicating that air reservoir and pipette system and the whole instrument sys- tem are very stable. This laboratory is a successful pioneer example in China to establish a new no- ble gas laboratory with self-made peripheral accessories expect for the mass spectrometer.

Noble Gas Diffusion Mechanism in Lunar Soil Simulant Grains:Results from ~4He^+ Implantation and Extraction Experiments

Experiments on ion implantation were performed in order to better characterize diffusion of noble gases in lunar soil. ^4He^＋ at 50 keV with 5×10^16 ions/cm^2 was implanted into lunar simuiants and crystal ilmenite. Helium in the samples was released by stepwise heating experiments. Based on the data, we calculated the helium diffusion coefficient and activation energy. Lunar simulants dis- play similar ^4He release patterns in curve shape as lunar soil, but release temperatures are a little lower. This is probably a consequence of long-term diffusion after implantation in lunar soil grains. Variation of activation energy was identified in the Arrhenius plots of lunar simulants and Panzhihua （攀枝花） ilmenite. We conclude that noble gas release in lunar soil cannot be described as simple thermally activated volume diffusion. Variation of diffusion parameters could be attributed to physical transformation during high temperature. Radiation damage probably impedes helium diffusion. However, bubble radius growth during heating does not correlate with activation energy variation. Activation energy of Panzhihua ilmenite is 57.935 kJ/mol. The experimental results confirm that ilmenite is more retentive for noble gas than other lunar materials.

Are matrix isolated species really “isolated”? Infrared spectroscopic and theoretical studies of noble gas-transition metal oxide complexes

In this review, we summarize our recent results on matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic studies and theoretical investigations of noble gas-transition metal oxide complexes. The results show that some transition metal oxide species trapped in solid noble gas matrices are chemically coordinated by one or multiple noble gas atoms forming noble gas complexes and, hence, cannot be regarded as isolated species. Noble gas coordination alters the vibrational frequencies as well as the geometric and electronic structures of transition metal oxide species trapped in solid noble gas matrixes. The interactions between noble gas atoms and transition metal oxides involve ion-induced dipole interactions as well as chemical bonding interactions. Periodic trends in the bonding in these noble gas-transition metal complexes are discussed.

Fission gas released from molten salt reactor fuel:the case of noble gas short life radioisotopes for radiopharmaceutical application

The present study explores the potential of fission gas(Kr and Xe short life radioisotopes)released from a molten salt reactor,the separation of these noble gases using specific absorbents under well fixed conditions and the utilisation of these radioisotopes for radio-diagnostics.During operation,a molten salt reactor produces noble gas radioisotopes that bubble out from the liquid fuel and that can be sampled and treated for radiopharmaceutical applications including as tols for diagnostics using radioisotopes and/or potentially in radiotherapy for specific Vviral diseases usingβ^(-)emtters.Among them^(133)Xe is currenty used fr ung diagnostics thanks to its 132.9 keγ.The use of^(85)Kr for diagnostics is also examined.Its 514 keγcpuld be used for scintigraphy,However^(133)Xe utilisation imply also itsβ^(-)(E_(mean)≈100 kev)whose mean fre pathway of 100 nm in biological tissue or in wateris much smalier than the mean pathway of the^(95)Krβ^(-).Emphasis is placed on^(133)Xe because of its potential dual ability of imag ing and as a suggested therapeutic tool of viral lung diseases.

Source identification of methane in groundwater in shale gas development areas:A critical review of the state of the art,prospects,and future challenges

The study aims to identify a suitable site for open and bore well in a farmhouseusing ground magnetic survey in south India.It also aims to define depth to granitoid and structural elements which traverse the selected area.Magnetic data(n=84)measured,processed and interpreted as qualitative and quantitatively.The results of total magnetic intensities indicate that the area is composed of linear magnetic lows trending NE-SW direction and circular to semi-circular causative bodies.The magnetic values ranged from-137 nT to 2345 nT with a mean of 465 nT.Reduction to equator shows significant shifting of causative bodies in the southern and northern directions.Analytical signal map shows exact boundary of granitic bodies.Cosine directional filter has brought out structural element trending NE-SW direction.Results of individual profile brought to light structurally weak zone between 90 m and 100 m in all the profile lines.Sudden decrease of magnetic values from 2042 nT to 126 nT noticed in profile line 6 between 20 m and 30 m indicates fault occurrence.Magnetic breaks obtained from these maps were visualized,interpreted and identified two suitable sites for open and bore well.Radially averaged power spectrum estimates depth of shallow and deep sources in 5 m and 50 m,respectively.Euler method has also been applied to estimate depth of granitoid and structural elements using structural indexes 0,1,2,and 3 and found depth ranges from<10 m to>90 m.Study indicates magnetic method is one of the geophysical methods suitable for groundwater exploration and site selection for open and borewells.

Argon reduces microglial activation and inflammatory cytokine expression in retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury

We previously found that argon exerts its neuroprotective effect in part by inhibition of the toll-like receptors(TLR)2 and 4.The downstream transcription factors signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB)are also affected by argon and may play a role in neuroprotection.It also has been demonstrated that argon treatment could mitigate brain damage,reduce excessive microglial activation,and subsequently attenuate brain inflammation.Despite intensive research,the further exact mechanism remains unclear.In this study,human neuroblastoma cells were damaged in vitro with rotenone over a period of 4 hours(to mimic cerebral ischemia and reperfusion damage),followed by a 2-hour post-conditioning with argon(75%).In a separate in vivo experiment,retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced in rats by increasing intraocular pressure for 1 hour.Upon reperfusion,argon was administered by inhalation for 2 hours.Argon reduced the binding of the transcription factors signal transducer and activator of transcription 3,nuclear factor kappa B,activator protein 1,and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2,which are involved in regulation of neuronal damage.Flow cytometry analysis showed that argon downregulated the Fas ligand.Some transcription factors were regulated by toll-like receptors;therefore,their effects could be eliminated,at least in part,by the TLR2 and TLR4 inhibitor oxidized phospholipid 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine(OxPAPC).Argon treatment reduced microglial activation after retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury.Subsequent quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed a reduction in the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin(IL-1α),IL-1β,IL-6,tumor necrosis factorα,and inducible nitric oxide synthase.Our results suggest that argon reduced the extent of inflammation in retinal neurons after ischemia/reperfusion injury by suppression of transcription factors crucial for microglial activation.Argon has no known side effects or narcotic properties;therefore,therapeutic use of this noble gas appears ideal for treatment of patients with neuronal damage in retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury.The animal experiments were approved by the Commission for Animal Care of the University of Freiburg(approval No.35-9185.81/G14-122)on October 19,2012.

Constraints on granite-related uranium mineralization in the Sanjiu uranium ore field,SE China provided by pyrite mineralogy,major and trace elements,S-He-Ar isotopes

The Sanjiu uranium ore field,located in the central of Zhuguangshan granitic batholith,is a newly discovered granite-related uranium ore field in South China.The main sulfide in the ore field is pyrite,which is closely related to uranium mineralization.The textures major and trace elements,S-He-Ar isotopes compositions of pyrites in ores of different grade were observed and/or analyzed by optical microscope,scanning electron microscope,electron microprobe,laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry,and noble gas mass spectrometer(Helix-SFT).It is observed that these U-related pyrites are generally euhedral-subhedral with dissolution textures,anhedral variety with colloform texture veinlet and fine particles,and the color of the associated minerals is mostly dark hue,such as purple-black fluorite dark-red hematite,and dark-green chlorite,etc.The analytical results show that the average compositions of major elements in pyrite are FeS1.944.Pyrites are characterized by S-deficiency,low content of Co and Th,and Co/Ni>1which indicate that these ores are of low-temperature hydrothermal origin.We found that the higher the grade of ore,the more deficient in S,the more obvious negative δ^34S,and the higher REE content(close to U-rich granitic pluton)of pyrite.The S-He-Ar isotopic compositions of various varieties of pyrites indicate that the ore-forming fluids mainly come from crust-derived fluids and mixed with mantle-derived fluids.

Fault Zone Fluid Deep-penetrating Techniques for Potash Deposit Prediction in Lanping-Simao Basin,Yunnan,South China

In China,the strategic resource potash is suffering from severe shortages,and the ancient marine solid potash locating is still a problem of long impregnability.Till now,only the Mengyejing Potash Deposit was found

A new method to measure the concentration of argon-xenon gas mixture

RGAs are widely used in molec Background RGAs are widely used in molecular component examination,impurity analysis,leak detection and test of vacuum system performance.However,RGAs have different sensitivities to different gases,and the sensitivities can change quickly and depend on so many parameters,which make its ability severely limited.Methods In thiswork we established a newpractical method to precisely measure noble gas ratio of argon-xenon gasmixture.Gaseous argon and xenon were controlled,respectively,by two mass flow controller(MFC).A variable leak valve(VLV)was used to introduce the gas mixture sample into the RGA measurement chamber.Gas mixtures with xenon concentration from 200ppm to 20000ppm(by mass)were introduced and tested by RGA.Results The time stability of RGA-measurement system was optimized to 2.1%.A good linearity of MFC-RGA response was achieved,verifying the reliability of RGA in measuring noble gas mixture with component concentration down to several hundred ppm level.Conclusions Since the approach we used in our experiment is gas-species independent,we believe that it can be popularized to other gas species when properly applied.

Pressure-induced superconducting ternary hydride H3SXe： A theoretical investigation

In general, heavy elements contribute only to the superconductivity of hydrides. However, it acoustic phonon modes, which are less important for was revealed that the heavier elements could enhance the phonon-mediated superconductivity in ternary hydrides. In the H3S-Xe system, a novel H3SXe compound was discovered by first-principle calculations. The structural phase transitions of H3SXe under high pressures were studied. The R-3m phase of H3SXe was predicted to appear at pressures above 80 GPa, which transitions to C2/m, P-3m1, and Pm-3m phases at pressures of 90, 160, and 220 GPa, respectively. It has been anticipated that the Pm-3m-H3SXe phase with a similar structural feature as that of Im-3m-H3S is a potential high-temperature superconductor with a Tc of 89 K at 240 GPa. The Tc value of H3SXe is lower than that of H3S at high pressure. The ＂H3S＂ host lattice of Pm- 3m-H3SXe is a crucial factor influencing the Tc value. The Xe atoms could accelerate the hydrogen-bond symmetrization. With the increase of the atomic number, the Tc value linearly increases in the H3S- noble-gas-element system. This indicates that the superconductivity can be modulated by changing the relative atomic mass of the noble-gas element.