Biogeochemistry in Castilla-La Mancha region: concerns on mining/agriculture relationship.

Author(s):  
Pablo Higueras ◽  
Francisco-Jesus Garcia-Navarro ◽  
Marta-Maria Moreno-Valencia ◽  
Jose-Maria Esbrí ◽  
Jesús Garcia-Pradas ◽  
...  

<p>Castilla-La Mancha (CLM), located in South-Central Spain, is a region of some 80,000 Km<sup>2</sup> centered in agricultural and livestock activity, being the first major producer of wine and second of olive oil in Spain (after Andalucía), and an important producer of sheep cheese and lamb meal. Besides, the region has supported an important metallic mining activity, including mercury and base metals; these mines, most of them located in the West of the region, are actually closed, but still an important number of industrial minerals (limestone and gypsum as most important, but also other salts and clays varieties) are active in the central and Eastern part of the region.</p><p>Up to date, CLM does not have generic reference levels (GRLs) for elemental concentrations; neither it has a distribution map of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) along its territory. These are actually basic needs for regions with economy based on agriculture and livestock.</p><p>The project BiGeoQCLM, funded by Consejería de Educación, Cultura y Deportes, Regional Government of CLM, is aimed to obtain a portrait of the distribution of elements in the whole region; the information to collect is aimed to three main objectives: (1): characterize the elemental distribution, including the estimation of GRLs, and the delimitation of the distribution of elements, and in particular of PTEs in the mining areas; together with this, the characterization of the soils of the region, including the distribution of their pedological parameters (2): characterize the soil-to-organisms interactions, including microbiology (through enzymatic activity) and plants (through characterization of elemental plant uptake; and (3): the characterization of the elemental uptake by plants aimed to assess the origin of wine, including the isotopic footprint of soils and wines with certified origin.</p><p>The project is in its second year (of three) of development and the work in activity is still mostly related with the field and laboratory work. However, some results are available, and are being presented in other communications of this Conference. In particular, the activity in the South-West of the region, which was the richest in metals-based mining, has been boosted with the starting of the AUREOLE project, funded by European ERA-MIN program, and aimed to find new criteria for the research of Sb and related elements, as well as with the environmental concerns related with the mining of such elements.</p><p>This study is being funded by Consejería de Educación, Cultura y Deportes, JCCM (SBPLY/17/180501/000273), with the additional support of project PCI2019-103779, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.</p>

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofía Rivera Jurado ◽  
Saturnino Lorenzo ◽  
Carmelo Monsuy Minang Eyang ◽  
José María Esbrí Víctor ◽  
Eric Gloaguen ◽  
...  

<p>The geochemical similarities between Hg and Sb (along with W and As), have produced ore deposits in which both elements are present. In the present work we investigate the relationships between the Sb deposits of the Guadalmez synclinal and the Hg deposits of the Almadén synclinal, separated only 8 kilometres. To accomplish this porpoise a regular sampling grid was used, locating samples in each square (4 km2) according to lithologic criteria. In total, 116 soil samples have been taken at two depths using an Ejkelkamp sampler. The samples have been taken in an area of around 100 m2 around the set point at different depths, sample A at 2-15 cm and sample B at 15-30 cm. Each sample represents a composite sample of 3 subsamples taken at different but close locations, randomly chosen. The preparation of the samples has included drying at room temperature to avoid Hg losses, as well as its disaggregation and homogenization, prior to obtaining an aliquot of 100 grams that was ground in agate mortar until obtaining a grain size of less than 100 microns. The geochemical characterization of the samples included the analysis by energy dispersion X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) to obtain the concentrations of major and trace elements. Total Hg data has obtained by means of Atomic Absorption Spectrometry using a Lumex equipment with a pyrolysis attachment. The distribution of Sb and Hg contents in the two synclines studied has not shown appreciable similarities. The highest concentrations of Sb have been found in the Guadalmez syncline, where the known mines of La Balanzona and Accesos are located. A particularly anomalous zone has been located in the southeaster zone of the Guadalmez synclinal, in the Ordovician age materials. Elevated Sb contents have also been found in the Almadén syncline, especially in the western zone without an observable predominance by lithology using a 4 km² grid size that could be less sensitive to scarces lithologies (e.g dykes). The Hg distribution, on the other hand, offers its maximum contents, as expected, in the Almadén syncline, particularly at the southeast part. Some anomalous Hg values have been found in Devonian materials of Guadalmez syncline. Concentrations of Cr and Ni are clearly related with the volcanic rocks of Almadén syncline, as well as with the presence of diabase intrusions in the Guadalmez syncline. Considering the age, a higher variability is observed in Hg contents than in Sb, especially in Devonian materials. Sb contents show little variability in general, but this is appreciable in the Ordovician materials of the Gualdamez syncline.</p><p>This work was funded by the ANR (ANR-19-MIN2-0002-01), the AEI (MICIU/AEI/REF.: PCI2019-103779) and author’s institutions in the framework of the ERA-MIN2 AUREOLE project, as well as by Project SBPLY/17/180501/000273, Consejería de Educación, Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain.</p>


Author(s):  
Judith M. Brock ◽  
Max T. Otten

A knowledge of the distribution of chemical elements in a specimen is often highly useful. In materials science specimens features such as grain boundaries and precipitates generally force a certain order on mental distribution, so that a single profile away from the boundary or precipitate gives a full description of all relevant data. No such simplicity can be assumed in life science specimens, where elements can occur various combinations and in different concentrations in tissue. In the latter case a two-dimensional elemental-distribution image is required to describe the material adequately. X-ray mapping provides such of the distribution of elements.The big disadvantage of x-ray mapping hitherto has been one requirement: the transmission electron microscope must have the scanning function. In cases where the STEM functionality – to record scanning images using a variety of STEM detectors – is not used, but only x-ray mapping is intended, a significant investment must still be made in the scanning system: electronics that drive the beam, detectors for generating the scanning images, and monitors for displaying and recording the images.


Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 548
Author(s):  
Lia N. Kogarko ◽  
Troels F. D. Nielsen

The Lovozero complex, Kola peninsula, Russia and the Ilímaussaq complex in Southwest Greenland are the largest known layered peralkaline intrusive complexes. Both host world-class deposits rich in REE and other high-tech elements. Both complexes expose spectacular layering with horizons rich in eudialyte group minerals (EGM). We present a detailed study of the composition and cryptic variations in cumulus EGM from Lovozero and a comparison with EGM from Ilímaussaq to further our understanding of peralkaline magma chambers processes. The geochemical signatures of Lovozero and Ilímaussaq EGM are distinct. In Lovozero EGMs are clearly enriched in Na + K, Mn, Ti, Sr and poorer Fe compared to EGM from Ilímaussaq, whereas the contents of ΣREE + Y and Cl are comparable. Ilímaussaq EGMs are depleted in Sr and Eu, which points to plagioclase fractionation and an olivine basaltic parent. The absence of negative Sr and Eu anomalies suggest a melanephelinitic parent for Lovozero. In Lovozero the cumulus EGMs shows decrease in Fe/Mn, Ti, Nb, Sr, Ba and all HREE up the magmatic layering, while REE + Y and Cl contents increase. In Lovozero EGM spectra show only a weak enrichment in LREE relative to HREE. The data demonstrates a systematic stratigraphic variation in major and trace elements compositions of liquidus EGM in the Eudialyte Complex, the latest and uppermost part of Lovozero. The distribution of elements follows a broadly linear trend. Despite intersample variations, the absence of abrupt changes in the trends suggests continuous crystallization and accumulation in the magma chamber. The crystallization was controlled by elemental distribution between EGM and coexisting melt during gravitational accumulation of crystals and/or mushes in a closed system. A different pattern is noted in the Ilimaussaq Complex. The elemental trends have variable steepness up the magmatic succession especially in the uppermost zones of the Complex. The differences between the two complexes are suggested to be related dynamics of the crystallization and accumulation processes in the magma chambers, such as arrival of new liquidus phases and redistributions by mush melts.


Plant Disease ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 87 (11) ◽  
pp. 1322-1328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Alvarez ◽  
Juan Fernando Mejia ◽  
Teresa L. Valle

Isolates of Sphaceloma manihoticola, the asexual stage of Elsinoe brasiliensis, were collected from several regions of south-central Brazil. The isolates were obtained from samples of leaves, stems, and petioles of cassava (Manihot esculenta) and the weedy Euphorbia heterophylla (“amendoim bravo”) by directly plating infected tissue onto acidified potato dextrose agar. For pathogenicity studies, 19 isolates were inoculated onto each of two cassava cultivars, MBRA 703 as a susceptible cultivar and MBRA 12 as a resistant cultivar to S. manihoticola. MBRA 703, with the greatest pathogenicity to 58% (11) of the isolates, showed an intermediate pathogenic reaction to 16% (3) of the isolates, and was less pathogenic to 26% (5) of the isolates. MBRA 12, with a less pathogenic reaction to 63% (12) of the isolates, showed an intermediate pathogenic reaction to 16% (3) of the isolates, and was highly pathogenic to 21% (4) of the isolates. The isolates were verified as belonging to the genus Sphaceloma based on their morphological characteristics, including conidia and hyphae of monoconidial isolate. Conidia of isolates were small, thin-walled, ellipsoid to (rarely) globose, commonly with one or two gut-tules. Conidiophores were phialides, hyaline to slightly pigmented 0-to-1 septate; conidiophores from the weedy specie were phialides, hyaline to brown 0-to-2 septate producing hyaline conidia. The isolates also were verified as belonging to the genus Sphaceloma by using a poly-merase chain reaction (PCR) assay, which detected a 645-bp band in all isolates except two (1 and 6) for which the PCR product had 600 bp. Digestion of the amplified product with the enzymes MspI and CfoI allowed differences to be detected in restriction patterns among isolates. A homogeneous banding pattern was obtained for 17 of the isolates but a different restriction pattern was obtained for isolates 1 and 6 of E. heterophylla. This suggests the possibility of another species within this group of isolates. The results indicate the presence of pathogenic variation among isolates of the fungus and an isolate-host interaction, because statistically significant differences were observed between the two cassava cultivars in response to inoculation with the isolates of S. manihoticola.


2012 ◽  
Vol 266 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angélica Torices ◽  
María-Teresa Fernández-Marrón ◽  
Fernando Fonollá ◽  
Nieves López-Martínez

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Pimentel ◽  
Pedro Torralbo ◽  
Javier Aparicio ◽  
María José Pérez-Palazón ◽  
Ana Andreu ◽  
...  

<p>Mediterranean mountain areas are especially vulnerable to changes. Climatic trends observed in the last decades point out to an increasing number of extreme events (i.e., number of heat waves and droughts) and consequently, a direct alteration of the hydrological states of their associated ecosystems. The savanna type ecosystem called <em>dehesa</em> is one of them. This system is the result of a long-term co-evolution of indigenous ecosystems and human settlement in a sustainable balance, with high relevance from both the environmental (biodiversity) and socioeconomic (livestock farming, including Iberian pork food industry) point of view. <em>Dehesa </em>systems have a complex vegetation cover structure, where isolated trees, mainly holm oak, cork oak and oak, Mediterranean shrubs, and pastures coexist. Different problems have arisen in <em>dehesa</em> during last years, an example of them are seca episodes, a disease of oak trees that results in drying and final death. This condition is caused by a fungus, but very likely triggered by external hydrological related conditions like air temperature and soil water content.  Remote sensing techniques have been widely used as the best alternative to monitor vegetation patterns over these areas. However, the presence of clouds and the fixed spatiotemporal resolution of these sensors constitute a limitation in more local studies.</p><p>This work proposes the combined use of remote sensing by both terrestrial photography and satelital sensors, and hydrometeorological information as data sources for improving the hydrological characterization of vegetation in <em>dehesa</em> areas. The study was carried out in the Santa Clotilde experimental area, within the Cardeña-Montoro Natural Park (southern Spain). Three years of local sub-daily terrestrial photography and hydrometeorological information allowed us to define different hydrometeorological/ecohydrological indicators that are representative of key vegetation states. This local information is linked with vegetation indexes derived from high spatial resolution satellite information (i.e., Landsat TM, ETM+ and OLI (30 m x 30 m) and Sentinel-2 (10 m x 10 m) and distributed meteorological variables to extend the results from the local to the watershed scale. The promising results will be used in a short future as the basis of an advanced monitoring service where meteorological seasonal forecast information could be used to derive key indicators and help in a priori diagnosis of the system facilitating decisions making.</p><p>This work has been funded by project SIERRA Seguimiento hIdrológico de la vEgetación en montaña mediteRránea mediante fusión de sensores Remotos en Andalucía), with the economic collaboration of the European Funding for Rural Development (FEDER) and the Office for Economy, Knowledge, Enterprises and University of the Andalusian Regional Government.</p>


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 4924-4937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Samuel Olise ◽  
Samuel Adedigba Adeojo ◽  
Oyediran Kayode Owoade ◽  
Oyebamiji Oyedele Oketayo ◽  
Solomon Adeniyi Adekola ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document