Geochemical analysis of marine sediments using fused glass disc by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

A method was developed for content determination of Na, Mg, A1, Si, P,S, C1, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Nb, Zr, Y, Sr, Rb, Ba, La and Ce etc. covering 26 major, minor, and trace elements in marine sediment samples using fused glass disc by X-ray Fluorescence spectrometry. Calibration was made using marine sediment certified reference materials and the synthetic standard samples prepared by mixing several marine sediments with stream sediment and carbonate standard samples in different proportions. The matrix effect was corrected using theoretical alpha coefficients, experience coefficients and the scattered radiation as the internal standard （for the trace elements）. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by analysis of certified reference materials GBW07314, GBW07334 and GSMS6. The results are in good agreement with the certified values of the standards with RSD less than 2.60%, except for Y, Cr, Ga, Ce, La, Nb, Rb, and V with RSD less than 9.0% （n=12）.

Employing Geochemical Analysis to Reveal Pedogenic Processes in Wisconsin Bisequal Soils Having Spodic and Alfic Sequa

Bisequal soils in northern Wisconsin were described and characterized with the intent to determine if a near total elemental analysis protocol may estimate the effect of selected soil pedogenic pathways on soil morphology. The protocol reveals that gross elemental soil profile distributions do provide evidence that certain pedogenic processes are operating within a group of soils. Concentration differences between instrumental neutron activation analysis and an aqua regia digestion protocol infer that alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals and the rare earth elements are only incompletely weathered from primary minerals. Transition metals, alkali metals, alkaline earths, metalloids, and the rare earth elements all show inter-horizon mobility. Lessivage and the mobility of elements presumably adsorbed on soluble or suspended organic materials are the dominant soil processes influencing the soil profile redistribution of elements and the majority of these elements are shown to correlate with the soil profile distribution of Fe. Base cycling by the forest vegetation was shown to support A horizon enrichment of Ca, Sr, Ba, P, S, Mn, Zn, Sn and Pb. For clinical practice, elemental analysis may reveal important soil profile elemental differences when applied to variation of one soil forming factors, such as a chronosequence or toposequence within a landscape or soil association. Advantages and limitations of the protocol in identifying pedogenic pathways are discussed.

An Unique Glomerophyric Diorite Porphyry from the Southern Margin of North China Craton:Geochronology,Geochemical and Quantitative Textural Analysis Constraints

1 Introduction The Wulong glomerophyric diorite porphyry has an extremely peculiar texture with plagioclase phenocrysts clustered as flower-like glomerocrysts(Figs.1a&b),which is never discovered elsewhere of the world.The

Multielement Analysis of Deep-Sea Sediments by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Marine sediments were dissolved by HNO3-HF-HC104 in a sealed container at low pressure; HF was evaporated in an open container and salts were dissolved in HCl by heating, then transferred to 2% HNO3 solution. A total of 45 elements, including Li, Be, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Cd, In, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sin, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th and U, were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （ICP-MS）. Conditions and sample experiments showed that this procedure defines a good experimental method which has the advantages of clear interference, easy operation and reliable results. The concentrations of the 45 elements could be used for resource exploration, environmental assessment and academic research.

Delineation of spring capture zones in southern Great Basin,USA based on modeling results and geochemical data

The protection zones or capture zones of springs in desert environments can be hard to identify,but they are critical to spring protection.Most springs fed by regional aquifers are susceptible to contamination and groundwater development.The U.S.Environmental Protection Agency has established hydrogeologic mapping methods to delineate protection zones for springs.However,it is often difficult to determine a regional aquifer system's flow pattern with this technique alone,and the use of these methods is not conducive to efficient groundwater management.Particle tracking analysis using a well-conceptualized and calibrated numerical model for the three-dimensional groundwater flow domain feeding a given group of springs can help facilitate the identification of spring capture zone boundaries.Building upon this basis,a multifaceted approach was developed to define clear boundaries of the capture zones for the springs in the Furnace Creek,Ash Meadows,and the Muddy River areas in the southern Great Basin,USA.Capture zones were first delineated from inverse particle tracking and Hydrologic Unit 12 watersheds.Afterwards,they were adjusted based on water budgets,geology,and hydrologically significant faults.Finally,a geochemical analysis of the groundwater chemistry and isotopic data was conducted to verify the extent of each spring capture zone.This multifaceted approach adds confidence to the new delineations.

Evaluation of Source Rock Potential for Hydrocarbon Generation in Shallow Offshore, Lamu Basin, Kenya

The ever-increasing demand for oil and gas has driven its exploration in rather extreme conditions. In Lamu offshore, which is hitherto underexplored, most of the wells already drilled turned out dry save for a few wells with hydrocarbon shows despite the promising reservoir properties and related geological structures. This, therefore, necessitated a source rock evaluation study in the area to ascertain the presence and potential of the source rock by integrating the geochemical data analysis and petroleum system modeling. The shallow Lamu offshore source rock quantity, quality, and maturity have been estimated through the determination of the total organic carbon (TOC) average values, Kerogen typing, and Rock-Eval pyrolysis measurements respectively. Geochemical data for Kubwa-1, Mbawa-1, Pomboo-1, and Simba-1 were evaluated for determining the source rock potential for hydrocarbon generation. Petroleum system modeling was applied in evaluating geological conditions necessary for a successful charge within a software that integrated geochemical and petrophysical characterization of the sedimentary formations in conjunction with boundary conditions that include basal heat flow, sediment-water interface temperature, and Paleo-water depth. The average TOC of 0.89 wt % in the study area suggests a fair organic richness which seems higher in the late cretaceous (0.98 wt %) than in the Paleocene (0.81 wt %). Vitrinite reflectance and Tmax values in the study area indicate the possible presence of both mature and immature source rocks. Type III Kerogen was the most dominant Kerogen type, and gas shows are the most frequent hydrocarbon encountered in the Lamu Basin with a few cases registering type II/III and type II. The charge properties (i.e. Temperature, transformation ratio, and Vitrinite reflectance) over geologic time at each of the wells have been estimated and their spatial variation mapped as seen from the burial history and depth curves overlaid with temperature, transformation ratio, and Vitrinite reflectance respectively. From the upper cretaceous maturity maps, the results seem to favor near coastal regions where average TOC is about 1.4 wt %, Vitrinite reflectance is more than 0.5%, transformation ratio is more than 10%, and temperatures range from 80°C to 160°C. The results postulate the absence of a definitive effective source rock with a likelihood of having cases of potential and possible source rocks. Moreover, greater uncertainty rests on the source rock’s presence and viability tending toward the deep offshore. Geochemical analysis and petroleum system modeling for hydrocarbon source rock evaluation improved the understanding of the occurrence of the possible and potential source rocks and processes necessary for hydrocarbon generation.

Holocene Moisture Variation Recorded by Aeolian Sand-Palaeosol Sequences of the Gonghe Basin, Northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

The northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau(QTP) of China is located at the triple junction of the Asian winter and summer monsoons and the westerlies, where paleoclimatic evolution has an important scientific significance for recognizing the spatial-temporal pattern of Asian monsoons in the past and predicting environmental change in the future. Nevertheless, the framework of the Holocene moisture variation and related mechanisms remain controversial, owing to complex hydroclimatic conditions triggered by the landform of the large mountain-arid basin. Here, we employed geochemical proxies from typical aeolian sand-palaeosol sequences in the Gonghe Basin, northeastern QTP, together with Optically Stimulated Luminescence(OSL) dating, to reconstruct the pattern of effective moisture variation and associated mechanisms in this region. Our results indicate that the regional effective moisture was at its lowest until 9–8 ka, and approached a maximum during 8–4/3 ka of the middle Holocene. Afterwards, the climate became relatively dry in general, but with a transient humid interval around 2–1 ka. Our geochemical evidence indicates that the dry early Holocene probably can be attributed to a strong winter monsoon forced by remnant ice sheet, combined with the high evaporation caused by solar insolation. Also, shifts of humid-dry are closely linked to the Asian summer monsoonal strength and therefore the balance of evaporation-precipitation in the middle and late Holocene. Thus, the pattern of the Holocene effective moisture variation is characterized as the ‘monsoon model’ in a closed intermontane arid and semi-arid basin near the western Asian monsoonal limit.

Novel Gas-tight Multi-sampler for Discrete Deep-sea Water

The issues of how to quickly collect seawater samples and of how to make sure that those samples truly reflect the in-situ information on gas composition and concentration have therefore become a hot but difficult topic in the field of ocean technology.Most conventional seawater samplers only focus on collecting seawater itself,but take little consideration on gas preservation.A set of new oceanographic tools are presented for ocean resource exploration such as hydrothermal sulfide and gas hydrate,and for investigations on the processes and mechanisms of marine physical,chemical and biological evolutions.A gas-tight deep-sea water sampling system（GTWSS） is designed for the collection of deep-sea geochemical samples.This set of tools mainly consists of a conductivity temperature depth profiler（CTD）,release devices and gas-tight deep-sea water samplers（GTWS）.The GTWS is able to hold the gases in deep-sea water samples tightly,providing in-situ information on gas contents in the seawater samples and can be deployed on a routine wire-deployed CTD sampler for multi-layer discrete sampling of gas-tight seawater.Sea trials are performed successfully in 2008 and 2009,on a research vessel named HaiYang Si Hao in South China Sea,with the deepest trial depth 3 930 m.GTWSS is capable of quickly sampling 12 discrete gas-tight seawater samples（8.3 L per sample） during its single deployment.The head space method is employed to separate the gases from the seawater samples immediately after recovery of the seawater samples on the vessel.Field geochemical analysis is carried out by gaseous hydrocarbon sensors and an infrared gas analyzer.Results show that the concentrations of CH4 and CO2 in the seawater sampled by GTWSS are higher than those sampled by general non-gas-tight water samplers,thus confirming the gas tightness of GTWSS.Seawater samples can be collected quickly by using GTWSS,and GTWSS can keep the samples＇ integrity quite well.

Records in palaeo-notch sediment: changes in palaeoproductivity and their link to climate change from Svalbard

Palaeo-notch sediment, accumulated in lacustrine environment, is a reliable proxy material for palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental research. In this study, we collected a palaeo-notch sediment profile from the Blomstrandhalv?ya, used multiple geochemical proxies to reconstruct palaleoproductivity variations, and investigated their link to climatic records from surrounding regions. C/N atomic ratios and carbon isotope indicate that organic matter in the sediment is mainly derived from lacustrine algae. Toward the surface sediment, the TOC, TN, P contents and the reconstructed palaeoproductivity show remarkable fluctuations with several peaks and troughs, opposite to the variation trend of the CaCO3 contents. Changes in the reconstructed palaeoproductivity are in good agreement with palaeoclimatic records from the surrounding regions, and three interruptions are likely linked to the well-known cooling periods around 1900 BP, 2800 BP and 4200 BP. Thus palaeoproductivity variations on the Blomstrandhalv?ya are mainly driven by climate changes; palaeoproductivity increase during warmer periods, and vice versa. This study will help the research of Arctic lake ecosystem and its response to climate change.

Outcrops as windows to petroleum systems:Insights from the southern Bida Basin,Nigeria

The study assessed petroleum systems in the southern Bida Basin,Nigeria,focusing on the Cretaceous sediments.Reservoirs comprise Lokoja and Patti Formation sandstones,while shales,claystone,and siltstone serve as source rocks and stratigraphic traps/seals.Detailed studies delineating the key elements of the petroleum systems in the basin have not been conducted due to a lack of subsurface data.The goal of the current study was to use field observations,Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM),X-ray diffraction(XRD),and geochemical and geomechanical data to evaluate key components of petroleum systems in the southern Bida Basin.The results presented in this investigation are intended to attain specific objectives,especially those lacking in the basin's study sections.Petrophysical analysis revealed that the Lokoja Sandstone has porosity of 37%-39.5%and moderate permeability of 23.22-42.29 mD.The Patti Formation sandstone reservoirs exhibited high porosity(38%-42%)and moderate to good permeability(31.54-66.48 mD),suggesting good potential reservoirs.SEM results revealed intragranular pores and micro-fractures in the Patti Shale,whereas the sandstone reservoirs in the Lokoja and Patti formations displayed fractures,facilitating hydrocarbon migration.Quartz was the dominant mineral in the sandstone units of both formations.XRD analysis revealed that brittle and clay minerals influenced the microstructure of Patti Shale.Geochemical analysis indicated promising petroleum potential in the Patti Shale,with a total organic carbon(TOC)content of 1.87 wt%,free hydrocarbon from kerogen(S1)of 0.41 mg/g,hydrogen index(HI)of 0.75 mg HC/g TOC,and production index(PI)of 0.17.The Patti and Lokoja formations'shale,claystone,and siltstone exhibited sealing potential,with a plasticity index of 24-35 and coefficient permeability of 2.8×10^(-4)-3.6×10^(-4)cm/s.Field studies,XRD,geochemical data,and geomechanical index values have confirmed the key components of the petroleum system,which in turn facilitate hydrocarbon generation,migration,accumulation,and entrapment in the basin.

Attenuation of arsenic in a karst subterranean stream and correlation with geochemical factors: A case study at Lihu,South China

Arsenic （As） pollutants generated by human activities in karst areas flow into subterranean streams and contaminate groundwater easily because of the unique hydrogeological characteristics of karst areas. To elucidate the reaction mechanisms of arsenic in karst subterranean streams, physical-chemical analysis was conducted by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer and an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The results show that inorganic species account for most of the total arsenic, whereas organic arsenic is not detected or occurs in infinitesimal amounts. As（III） accounts for 51.0% ± 9.9% of the total inorganic arsenic. Arsenic attenuation occurs and the attenuation rates of total As, As（III） and As（V） in the Lihu subterranean stream are 51%, 36% and 59%, respectively. To fully explain the main geochemical factors influencing arsenic attenuation, SPSS 13.0 and CANOCO 4.5 bundled with CanoDraw for Windows were used for simple statistical analysis and redundancy analysis （RDA）. Eight main factors, i.e., sediment iron （SFe）, sediment aluminum （SAI）, sediment calcium （SCa）, sediment organic matter （SOM）, sediment manganese （SMn）, water calcium （WCa^2＋）, water magnesium （WMg^2＋）, and water bicarbonate ion （WILCOX） were extracted from thirteen indicators. Their impacts on arsenic content rank as： SFe〉SCa〉WCa^2＋〉SAl〉wHCO3^-〉SMn〉SOM〉WMg^2＋. Of these factors, SFe, SAl, SCa, SOM, SMn, WMg^2＋ and WCa＆2＋ promote arsenic attenuation, whereas WHCO3^- inhibits it. Further investigation revealed that the redox potential （Eh） and pH are adverse to arsenic removal. The dramatic distinction between karst and non-karst terrain is that calcium and bicarbonate are the primary factors influencing arsenic migration in karst areas due to the high calcium concentration and alkalinity of karst water.