Organic synthesis associated with serpentinization and carbonation on early Mars

Abiotic formation of organic molecules Mars rovers have found complex organic molecules in the ancient rocks exposed on the planet’s surface and methane in the modern atmosphere. It is unclear what processes produced these organics, with proposals including both biotic and abiotic sources. Steele et al . analyzed the nanoscale mineralogy of the Mars meteorite ALH 84001 and found evidence of organic synthesis driven by serpentinization and carbonation reactions that occurred during the aqueous alteration of basalt rock by hydrothermal fluids. The results demonstrate that abiotic production of organic molecules operated on Mars 4 billion years ago. —KTS

Byrsonima crassifolia seedlings growth on ground basalt rock

Ground basalt rock may represent a labile reservoir of nutrients, providing a low-cost, nutrient-rich substrate for seedling formation and plant growth. The study aimed to evaluate the development of a native plant murici [Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) H.B.K.] seedlings using two different application rates of ground basalt rock with two particles sizes. The experiment was performed in a greenhouse, in which treatments were arranged in a random block design with five replications in a factorial scheme (2 x 5 + 1), with five doses of finely ground basaltic rock (0.42; 1.04; 2.08; 4.17 and 8.33 g kg-1), two grain sizes (G1 Ø < 0.05 and G2 Ø < 0.10 mm mesh), and a treatment with soil without rock powder addition (the control 0.0 g kg-1 of rock powder). The seedlings were cultivated in substrate incubated for 120 days with the ground basaltic rock. Six months after the seedlings were planted variables involving growth and nutrient content variables were evaluated. Grain size affected nutrient availability from finely ground rock (Ca, Mg, Fe, and Zn). The growth of murici seedlings linear increase with ground basaltic rock application rates, with better results when a 0.05 mm grain size was used.

An Experimental Investigation on Concrete with Basalt Rock Fibers

Basalt fibre is formed from basalt rock when melted at a high temperature making it a non-metallic fibre. Basalt fibre reinforced concrete are good fire resistance, strength and light weight. These properties making it highly advantageous in the future to the construction business. There are many applications of basalt fibre like industrial, bridges, residential and highway etc. Fibres of basalt rock are used to make Basalt fibre, is cheaper and have improved physicomechanical properties which is very similar to the fibre glass and the carbon. They can replace many expensive materials resulting in wide range of applications in the field. The raw materials are available in all countries, making their production very simple. The biggest difficulties of the concrete and cement industry’s can be solved by the usage of basalt fibres. It is also used as composite and in the aerospace, automotive industries and fibre proof textile. Basalt fibres have no hazardous reactions with water or air and are explosion-proof and non-combustible. No chemical reaction will be produced that may damage environment or health when in contact with other chemicals. Reinforced plastics and steel maybe replaced by the basalt base composites. One kg of basalt reinforces equals to 9.6 kg of steel. Differences in compressive strength and split tensile test for concrete with and without basalt fibre by using cubes and cylinders are studied in this paper.

Pengaruh Sintering Serbuk Batuan Basalt sebagai Bahan Penguat pada Komposit Polyester terhadap Sifat Fisik dan Mekanik

Basalt rock has great potential in Lampung Province but is only used as a building construction material. Basalt has superior characteristics such as abrasion/wear resistance, compressive strength and chemical reaction resistance making it suitable as a filler or reinforcement for composites. This study aims to determine the effect of basalt rock powder sintering as a reinforcing filler on the mechanical and physical properties of polymer matrix composites. The parameters used included variations in sintering temperature: 8500C, 9500C, and 1.0500C, variations in particle size: 100 < X < 150 mesh, 150 < Y < 200 mesh and 200 < Z < 270 mesh, and the volume fraction comparison of basalt sintering powder and polyester resin. 70: 30%, 80: 20%, and 90: 10%. The experimental design uses the L9 3^3 taguchi orthogonal array run 9 specimens. Taguchi analysis shows that the parameters that affect the mechanical and physical properties are the sintering temperature. sintering temperature contributed 61.77% to wear, and 87.58% to compressive strength, and 95.32% to composite density. The experimental results with the best value obtained a wear value of 0.235 x 10-7mm2 / kg, a compressive strength of 118.873 MPa, and a density of 2.272 gr/cm3.

Study of influence of alkaline component type on pH value and properties of alkali activated concretes containing basalt rock

The paper discusses the questions of alkalinity changes in alkali activated cement-based materials at different stages of hardening. It was shown that use of alkali activated cement with dry alkaline component (“all-in-one system”) in the presence of basalt rock leads to the immediate decrease of pH value and strength drop of the material. On the other hand, using alkaline component in the form of alkaline solution provides almost normal hardening of systems. Taking into account obtained results a methodology of changes in concrete mix design was proposed. In general, for different cement systems under study pH value varies from 8.5 to 12 reflecting on the materials structure formation processes and strength gain. Shrinkage of the systems was within the ranges 0.3…0.6 mm/m at 28 days age and 0.3…0.5 mm/m for different systems. Absence of expansion witnesses about compensation of ASR results and normal structure developments processes in the material comparing to OPC.

Coating based on basalt protection metal structures

The paper present the results of the synthesis of a new refractory coating based on basalt for the protection of metal construction under conditions of cavitation. Initial basalt samples obtained from the locality Vrelo - Kopaonik. The basalt based refractory filler was obtained by crushing and grinding selected samples of basalt rock. XRD, SEM and optical microscopy methods were used to characterize the obtained filler samples. The research defined the composition of basalt -based coating with epoxy resinbased binder, organic additives and organic solvent. The resistance properties of protective coatings applied to metal surface were investigated using the ultrasonic vibration method with a stationary sample according to the ASTM G 32 standard. To evaluate the resistance of the sample surface to the action of cavitation, the sample surface was examined before and during testing. The surface of the samples was monitored by scanning electron microscopy in order to analyze the morphology of surface damage. Computer image analysis according to the Image Pro Plus program was applied to assess the damage to the sample surface. The obtained test results showed high resistance of the coating layers to the effect of cavitation, with small mass losses, small damage to the coating surface and a cavitation rate of 0,1 mg/min.

Effect of basalt rock powder associated with different substrates on the initial development of aroeira seedlings (Myracrodruon urundeuva)

This study aimed to evaluate the initial growth of aroeira in Oxisol soil with the addition of different organic (humus and vermicompost) and organic/mineral substrates (commercial substrate) and rock powder. Seeds were collected and, after germination, transplanted to different types of substrate. The treatments assembled, with different proportions of compounds, were: T1 (50% humus + 50% Oxisol); T2 (50% commercial substrate + 50% Oxisol); T3 (50% vermicompost + 50% Oxisol); T4 (40% humus + 40% Oxisol + 20% rock powder); T5 (40% commercial substrate + 40% Oxisol + 20% rock powder); T6 (40% vermicompost + 40% Oxisol + 20% rock powder); T7 (30% humus + 30% Oxisol + 40% rock powder); T8 (30% commercial substrate + 30% Oxisol + 40% rock powder); and T9 (30% vermicompost + 30% Oxisol + 40% rock powder). Initial plant development was influenced by the treatments; 20% powder and 40% nitrogen from humus (T4) produced seedlings with the greatest root, aerial part and total weight, in addition to greatest height and collar diameter. The data obtained indicate that aroeira develops better when in argillaceous substrates, with the addition of 40% humus and 20% rock powder, indicating the adequacy of this composition for its initial growth.