China Geology最新文献

Groundwater is an important source of drinking water. Groundwater pollution severely endangers drinking water safety and sustainable social development. In the case of groundwater pollution, the top priority is to identify pollution sources, and accurate information on pollution sources is the premise of efficient remediation. Then, an appropriate pollution remediation scheme should be developed according to information on pollution sources, site conditions, and economic costs. The methods for identifying pollution sources mainly include geophysical exploration, geochemistry, isotopic tracing, and numerical modeling. Among these identification methods, only the numerical modeling can recognize various information on pollution sources, while other methods can only identify a certain aspect of pollution sources. The remediation technologies of groundwater can be divided into in-situ and ex-situ remediation technologies according to the remediation location. The in-situ remediation technologies enjoy low costs and a wide remediation range, but their remediation performance is prone to be affected by environmental conditions and cause secondary pollution. The ex-situ remediation technologies boast high remediation efficiency, high processing capacity, and high treatment concentration but suffer high costs. Different methods for pollution source identification and remediation technologies are applicable to different conditions. To achieve the expected identification and remediation results, it is feasible to combine several methods and technologies according to the actual hydrogeological conditions of contaminated sites and the nature of pollutants. Additionally, detailed knowledge about the hydrogeological conditions and stratigraphic structure of the contaminated site is the basis of all work regardless of the adopted identification methods or remediation technologies.

©2024 China Geology Editorial Office.

Kannemeyeriiformes were dominated tetrapods in the Middle Triassic terrestrial faunae of China. Although abundant materials of Sinokannemeyeria have been collected, their postcranial morphology information is not well studied, especially the juveniles. This paper presents a description of an articulated Sinokannemeyeria skeleton from the Middle Triassic Ermaying Formation and reports the histological microstructure of its femur. This specimen represents a late-stage juvenile based on the histological information. For the first time, this specimen offers insights into the postcrania information of juvenile Sinokannemeyeria.

©2023 China Geology Editorial Office.

The supergiant Shuangjianzishan (SJZ) Ag-Pb-Zn deposit is in the southern segment of the Great Hinggan Range (SGHR), northeast China. Previous studies suggest the ore-forming material and fluid originated from the magmatic system, and the mineralization age was consistent with the diagenetic age. However, the relationship between granitic magmatism and mineralization is still unclear in the SJZ. In this study, C-H-O-He-Ar and in-situ S-Pb isotope analyses were conducted to determine the sources of ore-forming fluids and metals, which were combined with geochemistry data of SJZ granitoids from previous studies to constrain the relationship between the magmatism and the mineralization. The C-H-O-He-Ar-S-Pb isotopic compositions suggested the SJZ ore-forming material and fluids were derived from a magmatic source, which has mixed a small amount of mantle-derived materials. In addition, the disseminated sulfide from the syenogranite has comparable S-Pb isotopic composition with the sulfide minerals from ore veins, suggesting that the generation of the SJZ ore-forming fluids has a close relationship with the syenogranite magmatism. Combining with the geochemical characters of the syenogranite, the authors proposed that the mantle-derived fingerprint of the SJZ ore-forming fluid might be caused by the parent magma of the syenogranite, which was derived from partial melting of the juvenile lower crust, and underwent the residual melts segregated from a crystal mush in the shallow magma reservoir. The extraction of the syenogranite parent magma further concentrated the fertilized fluids, which was crucial to mineralization of the SJZ Ag-Pb-Zn deposit.

©2023 China Geology Editorial Office.

A reasonable classification of deposits holds great significance for identifying prospecting targets and deploying exploration. The world’s keen demand for lithium resources has expedited the discovery of numerous novel lithium resources. Given the presence of varied classification criteria for lithium resources presently, this study further ascertained and classified the lithium resources according to their occurrence modes, obtaining 10 types and 5 subtypes of lithium deposits (resources) based on endogenetic and exogenetic factors. As indicated by surveys of Cenozoic exogenetic lithium deposits in China and abroad, the formation and distribution of the deposits are primarily determined by plate collision zones, their primary material sources are linked to the anatectic magmas in the deep oceanic crust, and they were formed primarily during the Miocene and Late Paleogene. The researchers ascertained that these deposits, especially those of the salt lake, geothermal, and volcanic deposit types, are formed by unique slightly acidic magmas, tend to migrate and accumulate toward low-lying areas, and display supernormal enrichment. However, the material sources of lithium deposits (resources) of the Neopaleozoic clay subtype and the deep brine type are yet to be further identified. Given the various types and complex origins of lithium deposits (resources), which were formed due to the interactions of multiple spheres, it is recommended that the mineralization of exogenetic lithium deposits (resources) be investigated by integrating tectono-geochemistry, paleoatmospheric circulation, and salinology. So far, industrialized lithium extraction is primarily achieved in lithium deposits of the salt lake, clay, and hard rock types. The lithium extraction employs different processes, with lithium extraction from salt lake-type lithium deposits proving the most energy-saving and cost-effective.

©2023 China Geology Editorial Office.

Heavy metal contents along the Northwest coast of Sabah were determined to interpret the pollution level in the marine sediment. The metal abundance is regulated by the physico-chemical properties such as the average sediment pH (7.82, 9.00 and 8.99), organic matter (0.62%, 1.60%, and 2.27%), moisture content (25.00%, 29.70%, and 15.00%) and sandy texture in Kota Belud, Kudat and Mantanani Island, respectively. The major elements show Ca>Fe>Mg>Al>Mn for all study sites, while the heavy metals show Ni>Cr>Zn>Cu>Co>Pb, Cr>Ni>Zn>Cu>Pb>Co and Zn>Pb>Cr>Ni, for Kota Belud, Kudat and Mantanani Island, respectively. The pollution degree of heavy metals was evaluated by using the Sediment Quality Assessment (SQA). The SQA parameters indicated none to moderate pollution in Kota Belud that shows Class 0, Class 1 and Class 2 pollution. The parameters also indicated none to low pollution in Kudat and Mantanani Island that show only Class 0 pollution. The enrichment factor (EF) suggested minor to moderately severe metal enrichment by anthropogenic sources in Kota Belud, whereas only minor enrichment in Kudat and Mantanani Island. The modified pollution degree (MCD<1.5) and pollution load index (0 ⩽ PLI<1) indicating only low pollution level in the marine sediments for all study sites. The objectives of this study are: (1) to determine the physico-chemical parameters of sediments, (2) interpret the heavy metal contents and (3) evaluate the sediment quality.

©2023 China Geology Editorial Office.

In recent years, the problem of environmental pollution caused by microplastics has attracted widespread attention. This paper reviews the latest research progress in terms of the source, content and distribution characteristics, harm, and detection technology of soil microplastics by referring to the relevant literature on soil microplastics worldwide. It concludes that: (1) Existing studies worldwide have detected the presence of microplastics in soil, water, and atmosphere, and the use of agricultural films, sewage sludge, and other man-made activities are the main sources of microplastics in soil; (2) microplastics can adsorb heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants and antibiotics in soil, change the physical and chemical properties of soil. This will result in composite pollution and harm to the ecosystem; (3) microplastics in soil not only can destroy the activity of key soil microorganisms, but also enter the body of crops and soil animals, affecting normal growth of crops and soil animals, and further threaten human health; (4) at present, there is no unified operating standard for the sampling, processing, and detection process of microplastics. Analysis methods such as visual inspection, spectroscopy, and thermal analysis have both advantages and disadvantages, and emerging detection technologies require urgent development. Microplastics have become a new pollutant in soil and their distribution characteristics are closely related to human activities. They pollute the environment and threaten human health through the food chain. Although related research on soil microplastics has just begun, it will become the focus of research in the future.

©2023 China Geology Editorial Office.

Heavy metal distribution in mining areas has always been a hot research topic due to the special environment of these areas. This study aims to explore the impact of heavy metal pollution on soils and crops in the study area, ensure the safety of local crops and the health of local residents, and provide a basis for the subsequent environmental restoration and the prevention and control of environmental pollution. Based on the analysis of the heavy metal concentrations in local soils and crops, the study investigated the spatial distribution, pollution degrees, and potential ecological risks of heavy metals in the farmland of a mining area in the southeastern Nanyang Basin, Henan province, China explored the sources of heavy metals and assessed the health risks caused by crop intake. The results of this study are as follows. The root soils of crops in the study area suffered heavy metal pollution to varying degrees. The degree of heavy metal pollution in maize fields is higher than that in wheat fields, and both types of fields suffer the most severe Cd pollution. Moreover, the root soils of different crops suffer compound pollution. The root soils in the maize fields suffer severe compound pollution at some sampling positions, whose distribution is similar to that of the mining area. Cd poses the highest potential ecological risks among all heavy metals, and the study area mainly suffers low and moderate comprehensive potential ecological risks. The principal component analysis (PCA) shows that the distribution of Zn, Cd, Pb, and As in soils of the study area is mainly affected by anthropogenic factors such as local mining activities; the distribution of Cr and Ni is primarily controlled by the local geological background; the distribution of Hg is mainly affected by local vehicle exhaust emissions, and the distribution of Cu is influenced by both human activities and the geological background. Different cereal crops in the study area are polluted with heavy metals dominated by Cd and Ni to varying degrees, especially wheat. As indicated by the health risk assessment results, the intake of maize in the study area does not pose significant human health risks; however, Cu has high risks to human health, and the compound heavy metal pollution caused by the intake of wheat in the study area poses risks to the health of both adults and children. Overall, the soils and crops in the study area suffer a high degree of heavy metal pollution, for which mining activities may be the main reason.

©2023 China Geology Editorial Office.