Geology, Geophysics & Environment
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ISSN 2299-8004
e-ISSN: 2353-0790
Issue Date
2017
Volume
Vol. 43
Number
No 4
Description
Journal Volume
Geology, Geophysics & Environment
Vol. 43 (2017)
Projects
Pages
Articles
The Late Quaternary vegetational and environmental history of western tropical Africa - the eastern Benin Basin, Lagos, Nigeria
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2017) Adeonipekun, Peter Adegbenga; Adeniyi, Tiwalade Adeyemi; Mateawo, Jacob; Agbalaya, Biola
A palynological study of a 30 m borehole within the Akoka campus of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria revealed Late Quaternary paleo-vegetational, climatic and environmental changes. Sixteen samples at a regular interval of 2 m were subjected to standard palynological and sedimentological techniques. Six pollen zones representing six paleoclimatic phases within the Late Quaternary period were recognized. The age model is based on two radiocarbon dates (6 m: 5,495 $\pm$ 25 $^{14}$C yr and 12 m: 15,660 $\pm$ 40 $^{14}$C yr) and, by extrapolation, the sequence spans approximately the last 35,000 yr BP. The African maximum transgression and the African Humid Period (wet paleoclimate maximum) – the Nouaktchottian, and Pre-Nouaktchottian respectively – were recognized, while the Ogolian II (Erg II) was stratigraphically recognized and the Upper Inchirian extrapolated. Recovered diatom frustules with other proxies were employed for paleoclimatic and paleoecological deductions. Four hydrological cycles and three paleoecological settings were identified. Results from this work indicate the co-eval record of paleoclimatic events across Africa, suspected cooling during the African maximum transgression in Nigeria and the usefulness of coastal freshwater swamp sediments for paleoclimate studies.
A palynology and paleoenvironmental study of a section from the Amansiodo-1 well, Anambra Basin, southeastern Nigeria
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2017) Chukwuma-Orji, Jacinta Nkiru; Okosun, Edward Agboneni; Ekom, Joseph Clement; Abolarin, James Femi
Palynological analysis was carried out on twenty (20) ditch cutting samples from a section (1284.73–1496.57 m) of the Amansiodo-1 well, Anambra Basin, southeastern Nigeria with the aim of determining the age, biozone, and depositional environment of the sediments within the depth interval. The laboratory techniques of digesting sediments in hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids for silicates and carbonates removal were followed to process the samples for the recovery of palynomorphs. Fifty two (52) palynomorph specimens were recovered. An assemblage zone of <i>Echitriporites trianguliformis</i> Zone has been established. The section was dated to the upper Maastrichtian due to the occurrences of age diagnostic marker species such as: <i>Cingulatisporites ornatus</i>, <i>Distaverrusporites simplex</i>, <i>Proteacidites sigalii</i>, <i>Dinogymnium cf auclaense</i>, <i>Echitriporites trianguliformis</i> and <i>Retidiporites magdalensis</i>. Based on the palynomorph marine index and environmental indicator flora, the section was inferred to be deposited in marine to brackish (coastal) environments with little influence of fresh water.
Deterministic and probabilistic approaches to the denomination of the hydrochemical type of potentially medicinal groundwater from the »Zdrój Główny« intake (Krzeszowice, Poland)
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2017) Rusiniak, Piotr; Wątor, Katarzyna; Plata, Janusz
The analysis and quality control of potentially curative water in Krzeszowice (Lesser Poland Region, Poland) has been carried out since 2002. The analyses are performed in the certified Hydrogeochemical Laboratory of the AGH University of Science and Technology and the laboratory of Provincial Environmental Protection Inspectorate in Krakow. The main purpose of this paper was to confirm the denomination of the hydrochemical type of water taken from »Zdrój Główny« both for major ions and sulphur(II) compounds concentration which are specific components and assign curative properties to the examined water. On the basis of statistical analysis, it was stated that the concentrations of $SO_{4}$, $Ca$, $Mg$, $HCO_{3}$ and sulphur(II) compounds can be regarded as stable. Different methods of hydrochemical type determination lead to various classifications of groundwater. In the deterministic method and the probabilistic method with use of expanded uncertainty, the hydrochemical type of the examined water is $SO_{4}-Ca-Mg$, $S$. In the probabilistic method where the standard deviation was taken into account, fewer components were in the hydrochemical type ($SO_{4}-Ca$)-sulphur(II) compounds did not exceed the threshold value of 1 mg/L and, in this situation, the water cannot be regarded as potentially curative.
Studies of heavy metal content in bottom sediments and aquatic plants near treated wastewater discharge
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2017) Skorbiłowicz, Mirosław; Skorbiłowicz, Elżbieta; Tarasiuk, Urszula; Falkowska, Mariola
The paper attempts to determine the degree of impact of discharged wastewater from five treatment plants on the Bug River ecosystem and its inflow, the Kamianka. For laboratory tests, samples of bottom sediments and aquatic plants were collected in 2014. The content of heavy metals: Zn, Pb, Ni in bottom sediments and aquatic plants (root, stem, leaf) growing close to the discharge of purified sewage, were analyzed. The amount of metals in the samples was determined applying the AAS method in its flame version. The average content of the metals determined in bottom sediments from the study points located before the treatment plant were Zn – 21.8, Pb – 11.5, Ni – 13.7 mg $\cdot$ kg$^{-1}$. However, the content of these metals was higher in samples from the collection points which were located after the place of purified sewage discharge and amounted to: Zn – 34.3, Pb – 12.2, Ni – 16.9 mg $\cdot$ kg$^{-1}$. The test plants were <i>Acorus calamus</i> L., <i>Nuphar lutea</i> L., <i>Typha angustifolia</i> L. The content of metals in the individual parts of macrophytes (root, stem, leaf) was as follows: Zn > Pb > Ni. In the bottom sediments and aquatic plants of the Bug and Kamianka rivers, a higher content of lead, zinc and nickel was found after the discharge of treated sewage in relation to their content than before discharge, but it was not a threat to the aquatic environment of the watercourses studied. Statistical analysis showed that the amount of sewage discharged to the tested receivers influenced the content of organic matter, zinc and nickel in bottom sediments.
The application of the germination index in the assessment of the phytotoxicity of bottom sediments from the Rybnik Reservoir
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2017) Szara, Magdalena; Baran, Agnieszka; Tarnawski, Marek; Koniarz, Tomasz
The aims of the study were to assess the phytoxicity of bottom sediments collected from the Rybnik Reservoir. The water reservoir in Rybnik is located in the Silesian Voivodeship. The reservoir constitutes a part of the technological chain of Elektrownia Rybnik S.A. as a direct receiver of industrial and rainwater sewage, sewage from a water treatment plant, blowdowns from cooling towers, and as an essential source of cooling water. Sediment samples were collected with an Eckman sampler from 33 locations. The toxicity of bottom sediments was determined using the Phytotoxkit direct contact test, carried out for 3 plants: <i>Sorghum saccharatum</i>, <i>Sinapis alba</i> and <i>Lepidium sativum</i>. On the basis of the data received, the germination index (GI) was calculated. We found the mean value of the germination index indicated the dominance of the inhibitory effect of bottom sediments on plant growth. <i>Sorghum saccharatum</i> was the most sensitive to pollutants in sediments, while <i>Lepidium sativum</i> was the least sensitive. The Phytotoxkit is a good tool for assessing the toxicity of bottom sediments.