Distribution and deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in precipitation in Guangzhou, South China

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs） were measured in precipitation from March to August 2005 in Guangzhou, South China. Fourteen PAHs were studied, and their total concentrations varied from 616.6 to 3486.7 ng/L in dissolved phase and from 403.8 to 3125.5 ng/L in particulate phase. The estimated deposition loading of PAHs was 3568 ug/m^2 during the monitoring period. The deposition of PAHs was a potential source for Pearl River comparing with the contents of surface water. In addition, the high concentration in precipitation here implied that PAHs pollution was a potential environmental problem in Guangzhou. Most precipitation concentrations of PAHs in March （the last month in winter in Guangzhou） were higher than in the other months （in rainy season）. PAHs inclined to be adsorbed to particulate phase with the increase of molecular weight in rainwater. Combustion of fossil fuel and biomass might be the major source of PAHs, while the direct leakage or volatilization from petroleum products might be insignificant.

Apparent ages of suspended sediment and soil erosion of the Pearl River (Zhujiang) drainage basin

The carbon isotopic composition (Δ 14 C,δ 13 C) and apparent ages of suspended sediment were determined in the Pearl River in the years 1998,2000 and 2005.These results indicate that suspended POC consists mostly of young carbon and some "old carbon".Apparent ages of suspended POC range from 540 to 2050 a BP.The apparent ages are older in the Xijiang and Beijiang Rivers,while these values are variable in the Dongjiang River,including old and young samples.The suspended POCδ 13 C values increase with increasing Δ 14 C in the Pearl River,indicating that its source is soil and bedrock from depths under 15 30 cm.Since the organic carbon of the surface soil is quickly decomposed when it enters the rivers,its carbon isotopic characteristics are insignificant in suspended sediment.In the Pearl River drainage basin,there are areas with more severe soil erosion than others.For example,erosion is much more severe in the Xijiang River drainage basin when compared to the light soil erosion in the Dongjiang River drainage basin.

Effects of melt percolation on the Re-Os systematics of continental mantle lithosphere: A case study of spinel peridotite xenoliths from Heilongjiang, NE China

Os isotope ratios of mantle peridotites have been considered to be largely immune to recent melt-rock interaction. However, Os isotope ratios and PGE (Platinum group elements) concentrations of the Yong'an xenoliths have been significantly modified by melt percolation, and are not suitable for determining the formation age of lithosphere mantle in Yong'an. In this study, the Yong'an spinel peridotite xenoliths are divided into two groups: N-Type and E-Type. The N-Type group including cpx (clinopyroxene)-poor lherzolite and harzburgite, shows a large variation of Cr#(sp) (13.2-48) and sulfur contents (from 171 ppm to below detection limit), whereas the E-Type peridotites are mainly refractory harzburgites and are characterized by high Cr#(sp) (35.3-42.2) and overall low sulfur contents (below 51 ppm). Both types show similar major and REE (rare earth element) patterns. Furthermore, the N-Type peridotites display a restricted range of iridium-group PGE (IPGE), Os/Ir and Ru/Ir ratios (Os/Ir = 0.64-1.12, Ru/Ir = 1.52-1.79) and variable palladium-group PGE (PPGE) contents (3.4-14.9 ppb), whereas the E-Type peridotites show a large variation of Os/Ir and Ru/Ir ratios (Os/Ir = 0.33-0.84, Ru/Ir = 0.94-1.6), and a restricted range of PPGE (4.3-6.9 ppb). 187Os/188Os ratios of E-Type peridotites are higher than those of N-Type peridotites at comparable fertility levels. These results suggest that N-Type peridotites may have been overprinted by metasomatism via small melt fractions, in which the percolation of the volatile-rich, small melt fractions only resulted in LILE (large ion lithophile element) enrichment of clinopyroxene, and their whole rock PGE contents and Re-Os isotope values were little changed. Moreover, E-Type peridotites may have been modified by melt-rock reaction involving relatively large melt fractions, which may result in the formation of secondary cpx and olivine and the removal of IPGE-bearing minerals such as Ru-Os-(Ir) alloys or laurite, followed by precipitation of secondary sulfides from melt with radiogenic isotopic signature.