Global-scale emergence of continental crust during the Mesoarchean–early Neoarchean

The timing of the emergence of subaerial landmasses is equivocally constrained as post-Archean and continues to be a much-debated issue. In this study, we document exceptionally 18O-depleted (δ18O < 4.7‰) Mesoarchean to early Neoarchean magmatism in India that shows a similarity with the coeval low-δ18O magmas reported from Australia, South America, and northern China. Such global-scale low-δ18O magmatism would require high-temperature meteoric water–rock interaction in the uppermost crust synchronous with magma generation, necessitating the emergence of a substantial volume of the continental crust. The timing of this low-δ18O magmatism coincides with the development of extensive, subaerial large igneous provinces, a downward shift in δ18O and Δ17O values in pelitic rocks, the rise of normalized 87Sr/86Sr in seawater, and an intermittent upsurge in the proportion of atmospheric oxygen. We propose that the emergence of substantial volumes of continental crust initiated at ca. 3.2 Ga and peaked at 2.8–2.6 Ga, facilitating the generation of globally distributed low-δ18O magmas, and this event can be linked to the first appearance of atmospheric oxygen.

ECOLOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SHALLOW GROUNDWATER IN SOUTHERN BUG AND SYNIUKHA INTERFLUVE AREA

Problem Statement and purpose. The study area encompassing the territory of about 150 km2, in August 2000, was declared as a zone of environmental emergency due to increasing pollution rates in shallow groundwater, in surface water and to health deterioration of the inhabitants of some settlements. Groundwater is widely used by the local population in numerous boreholes for domestic and agricultural purposes. In the zone of environmental emergency there are about 35 anthropogenic objects, such as: industrial and domestic landfills, pesticide and fertilizer storage, various livestock farm complexes, settling tanks, wastewater and solid waste discharges, etc. The insecurity of shallow groundwater, also its location close to the surface and in the lowest parts of the terrain leads to intensive pollution of groundwater. Besides, groundwater in relation to the fractured waters of the Precambrian crystalline rocks, which lie below and are used for drinking water supply, perform the functions of both a protective screen and a source of pollution. In this case, a multifaceted study of shallow groundwater chemical composition and their formation conditions is a priority task of this study for the environmental emergency zone and for the district as a whole. The purpose of this paper to study the chemical composition and to establish the processes and factors controlling the shallow groundwater chemistry in modern and Pleistocene sediments of the Southern Bug and Syniukha interfluve. Data and Methods. A total of 102 water samples were collected from groundwater wells and boreholes and were hydrochemically analyzed for their macrocomponent composition. Groundwater quality geochemical assessment was carried out using statistical methods in combination with conventional graphical methods by examining groundwater in the Boleslavchik village, where they are most polluted. Results. The dominant hydrochemical types of shallow groundwater are SO4- Na, HCO3-Na and mixed SO4-Mg-Na, SO4-Ca-Na types, sometimes NO3-HCO3 and NO3-Cl-Na types. These groundwater types are formed under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors, such as water-rock interaction, evaporation-crystallization, precipitation and anthropogenic impact. In this case, water-rock interaction processes, such as silicate weathering, carbonate and sulfate dissolution, ion exchange, evaporation-crystallization and anthropogenic impact play major roles. The weathering of feldspars, chlorites and dissolution of calcites, dolomites are the primary sources for Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+ ions, and dissolution of gypsum, sulfide mineralization for SO4 2– ions. High concentrations of Na+, Cl–, SO4 2–, NO3 – in shallow groundwater reflect agricultural activity as the main source of these ions.

Geochemical and Isotope Characterisation of Thermo-Mineral Springs of Corsica Island: From Geological Complexity to Groundwater Singularity

Understanding hydrogeological processes at the origin of thermal and mineral groundwater are necessary to ensure their sustainable management. However, many processes are involved in their genesis and often only one or two processes are investigated at the same time. Here, we propose to use an innovative combination of geochemical, isotopic (34S, 14C, 18O, 2H) and geothermometry tools to identify, for the first time in a multi-composite geological context, all processes at the origin of diversified thermo-mineral waters. 19 springs covering a wide range of temperature and chemical composition emerging on a restricted area of Corsica Island (France) were selected. Geochemical results highlight five geochemical provinces, suggesting a common origin for some of them. Geothermometry tools show the unexpected involvement of a common deep groundwater reservoir within this non-active zone. Water stable isotopes highlight a contrasted altitude in recharge areas supplying lowland springs. This suggests that different flow patterns have to be involved to explain the wide geochemical diversity observed and to allow the design of a very first conceptual groundwater-flow model. This paper demonstrates the efficiency of the combination of the selected tools as tracers of water–rock interaction, independently of flow depth, intrinsic water properties, geological conditions and interaction time disparities.

Release characteristics of Pb and BETX from in situ oil shale transformation on groundwater environment

Oil shale has received attention as an alternative energy source to petroleum because of its abundant reserves. Exploitation of oil shale can be divided into two types: ex situ and in situ exploitation. In situ transformation has been favoured because of its various advantages. Heating of oil shale leads to the production of oil and gas. To explore the influence of solid residue after pyrolysis of oil shale on the groundwater environment, we performed ultrapure water–rock interaction experiments. The results showed that Pb tended to accumulate in solid residues during pyrolysis. Additionally, the Pb concentration goes up in the immersion solution over time and as the pyrolysis temperature increased. In contrast, when we measured the soaking data of benzene series, the concentrations of benzene and toluene produced at temperatures over 350 ℃ were highest in the four oil shale pyrolysis samples after pyrolysis. The water–rock interaction experiment for 30 days led to benzene and toluene concentrations that were 104 and 1070-fold over the limit of China’s standards for groundwater quality. Over time, the content of benzene series was attenuated via biological actions. The results show that in situ oil shale mining can lead to continuous pollution in the groundwater environment.

Insight into the Water Rock Interaction Process and Purification Mechanism of Mine Water in Underground Reservoir of Daliuta Coal Mine in China

The process of water rock interaction and the purification mechanism of mine water quality were not clear after being stored in underground reservoir. This study based on the analysis of the hydrochemical characteristics of the reservoir water samples and the characterization of the rock samples, combined with PHREEQC analysis, the mechanism of water quality purification of mine water was discussed. The results showed that the rocks in the underground reservoir had layered silicate structure and flaky kaolinite structure, with some irregular edges and micro cracks, and higher specific surface area and total pore volume. These characteristics made the rocks had a certain adsorption and removal capacity for heavy metal ions and other pollutants in the mine water. The water rock interaction, such as the dissolution of albite and halite, the precipitation of gypsum and kaolinite, and the cation exchange, resulted in the increase of the concentration of Na+ and the decrease of the concentration of Ca2+, Mg2+ and TDS in the outlet water. This study also showed that PHREEQC analysis can be used to analyze the water rock interaction of coal mine underground reservoir and obtained more detailed information.