scholarly journals In Situ Formation of Monohydrocalcite in Alkaline Saline Lakes of the Valley of Gobi Lakes: Prediction for Mg, Ca, and Total Dissolved Carbonate Concentrations in Enceladus’ Ocean and Alkaline-Carbonate Ocean Worlds

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keisuke Fukushi ◽  
Eigo Imai ◽  
Yasuhito Sekine ◽  
Takuma Kitajima ◽  
Baasansuren Gankhurel ◽  
...  

The nature of mineral precipitations in terrestrial alkaline soda lakes provides insights into the water chemistry of subsurface oceans on icy bodies in the outer solar system. Saturation analyses of terrestrial alkaline lakes have shown that the solution chemistries of lake waters are generally controlled by the presence of monohydrocalcite (MHC) and amorphous Mg-carbonate (AMC). However, direct observations of the formation of these metastable carbonates in natural alkaline lakes have been limited. This study provides evidence of in situ MHC formation in alkaline lakes, based on the water chemistry and mineralogy of suspended matter in Olgoy, Boon Tsagaan, and Orog Lakes (Valley of Gobi Lakes, Mongolia). The solution chemistries were close to saturation with respect to MHC and AMC, consistent with other alkaline lakes worldwide. Suspended matter was separated by the ultracentrifugation of lake water following freeze-drying. Our results show that MHC is the common mineral phase in the suspended matter. These observations confirm that MHC is the direct authigenic product of evaporation in alkaline lakes. The carbonate fraction in suspended matter from Olgoy Lake has a Mg/Ca ratio of 0.4, suggesting the formation of AMC in association with MHC. Based on the dissolution equilibria of AMC and MHC, we predict the Mg2+, Ca2+, and total dissolved carbonate concentrations in Enceladus’ ocean to be ~1 mmol/kg, ~10 μmol/kg, and 0.06–0.2 mol/kg, respectively, in the presence of AMC and MHC. We propose that the measurements of Mg contents in plumes will be key to constraining the total dissolved carbonate concentrations and chemical affinities of subsurface oceans on Enceladus and other alkaline-carbonate ocean worlds.

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
Jasmine E. Chase ◽  
Maria L. Arizaleta ◽  
Benjamin M. Tutolo

Alkaline (pH > 8.5) lakes have been common features of Earth’s surface environments throughout its history and are currently among the most biologically productive environments on the planet. The chemistry of alkaline lakes favors the deposition of aluminum-poor magnesian clays (e.g., sepiolite, stevensite, and kerolite) whose chemistry and mineralogy may provide a useful record of the biogeochemistry of the lake waters from which they were precipitated. In this forward-looking review, we present six data-driven, testable hypotheses devoted to furthering our understanding of the biogeochemical conditions in paleolake waters based on the geochemical behavior of Mg and SiO2. In the development of these hypotheses, we bring together a compilation of modern lake water chemistry, recently published and new experimental data, and empirical, thermodynamic, and kinetic relationships developed from these data. We subdivide the hypotheses and supporting evidence into three categories: (1) interpreting paleolake chemistry from mineralogy; (2) interpreting the impact of diatoms on alkaline lake sedimentation; and (3) interpreting depositional mineralogy based on water chemistry. We demonstrate the need for further investigation by discussing evidence both for and against each hypothesis, which, in turn, highlights the gaps in our knowledge and the importance of furthering our understanding of the relevant geological and biological systems. The focused testing of these hypotheses against modern occurrences and the geologic record of alkaline lakes can have profound implications for the interpretation of the paleo-biogeochemistry and paleohabitability of these systems on Earth and beyond.


Author(s):  
J. S. Maa ◽  
Thos. E. Hutchinson

The growth of Ag films deposited on various substrate materials such as MoS2, mica, graphite, and MgO has been investigated extensively using the in situ electron microscopy technique. The three stages of film growth, namely, the nucleation, growth of islands followed by liquid-like coalescence have been observed in both the vacuum vapor deposited and ion beam sputtered thin films. The mechanisms of nucleation and growth of silver films formed by ion beam sputtering on the (111) plane of silicon comprise the subject of this paper. A novel mode of epitaxial growth is observed to that seen previously.The experimental arrangement for the present study is the same as previous experiments, and the preparation procedure for obtaining thin silicon substrate is presented in a separate paper.


1982 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. S. Fyfe

ABSTRACTSelection of the best rock types for radwaste disposal will depend on their having minimal permeability, maximal flow dispersion, minimal chance of forming new wide aperture fractures, maximal ion retention, and minimal thermal and mining disturbance. While no rock is perfect, thinly bedded complex sedimentary sequences may have good properties, either as repository rocks, or as cover to a repository.Long time prediction of such favorable properties of a rock at a given site may be best modelled from studies of in situ rock properties. Fracture flow, dispersion history, and geological stability can be derived from direct observations of rocks themselves, and can provide the parameters needed for convincing demonstration of repository security for appropriate times.


Author(s):  
José Lucas Martins Viana ◽  
Adriana Felix de Souza ◽  
Amauris Hechavarría Hernández ◽  
Lucas Pellegrini Elias ◽  
Carlos Eduardo Eismann ◽  
...  

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (7) ◽  
pp. 2150-2153 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Tsuneda ◽  
S. Murakami

Asci, ascospores, and arthroconidia of Dipodascus aggregatus were examined by electron microscopy. Freeze-drying of mature asci caused rupture of the ascal walls and made it possible to observe capsulated ascospores in situ. Two types of septa occurred: (i) one having a remarkably thickened cross wall which protruded to form a circumferential ridge on the hyphae, and (ii) the other without such a bulging ridge. Schizolysis of these septa resulted in the formation of morphologically distinct arthroconidia. The scizolytic process of the ridged septa was demonstrated in detail. There was no evidence to support that the plasmadesmal canals in the septa function as disjunctive pegs in the process of arthroconidial separation.


Author(s):  
Kyuya Nakagawa ◽  
Shinri Tamiya ◽  
Shu Sakamoto ◽  
Gabsoo Do ◽  
Shinji Kono ◽  
...  

X-ray computed tomography technique was used to observe microstructure formation during freeze-drying. A specially designed vacuum freeze-drying stage was equipped at the X-ray CT stage, and the frozen and dried microstructures of dextrin solutions were successfully observed. It was confirmed that the many parts of the pore microstructures formed as a replica of the original ice microstructures, whereas some parts formed as a consequence of the dehydration dependent on the relaxation level of the glassy phases, suggesting that the post-freezing annealing is advantageous for avoiding quality loss that relates to the structural deformation of glassy matters. Keywords: freeze-drying; X-ray CT; ice microstructure; glassy state


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel G. Woodman ◽  
Sacha Khoury ◽  
Ronald E. Fournier ◽  
Erik J. S. Emilson ◽  
John M. Gunn ◽  
...  

AbstractInsect defoliators alter biogeochemical cycles from land into receiving waters by consuming terrestrial biomass and releasing biolabile frass. Here, we related insect outbreaks to water chemistry across 12 boreal lake catchments over 32-years. We report, on average, 27% lower dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and 112% higher dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations in lake waters when defoliators covered entire catchments and reduced leaf area. DOC reductions reached 32% when deciduous stands dominated. Within-year changes in DOC from insect outbreaks exceeded 86% of between-year trends across a larger dataset of 266 boreal and north temperate lakes from 1990 to 2016. Similarly, within-year increases in DIN from insect outbreaks exceeded local, between-year changes in DIN by 12-times, on average. As insect defoliator outbreaks occur at least every 5 years across a wider 439,661 km2 boreal ecozone of Ontario, we suggest they are an underappreciated driver of biogeochemical cycles in forest catchments of this region.


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