Geology, Geophysics & Environment
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ISSN 2299-8004
e-ISSN: 2353-0790
Issue Date
2015
Volume
Vol. 41
Number
No. 4
Description
Journal Volume
Geology, Geophysics & Environment
Vol. 41 (2015)
Projects
Pages
Articles
Comparative analysis of Helix pomatia L. shells found in soils with varying degrees of contamination (southern Poland)
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2015) Aleksander-Kwaterczak, Urszula; Gołas-Siarzewska, Magdalena
Soil samples and snails – Helix pomatia Linnaeus, 1758 specimens were collected from the region of Małopolska. Research based on soil from this area showed a differentiated degree of environmental contamination, which influenced the composition of elements that build mollusc shells. Concentrations of Pb, Mn, Cd, Fe, Zn and Cu in the snail shells and soil varied between localities. The highest of these concentrations were found in the soil in the city of Cracow. They were higher than those measured in the regions outside the city, 7 times in the case of Cd, and up to 123 times higher for Cu. Positive association between soil pollution and shell contamination can be observed ($r_{s} \approx$ 0.9). A high concentration of metals in the environment and their bioavailability causes long-term accumulation of these elements in Helix pomatia shells.
Diatomaceous rocks of the Jawornik deposit (the Polish Outer Carpathians) - petrophysical and petrographical evaluation
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2015) Figarska-Warchoł, Beata; Stańczak, Grażyna; Rembiś, Marek; Toboła, Tomasz
Diatomites belonging to a list of raw materials used in the EU criticality assessment are essential to many industrial applications due to a unique combination of their physical properties, i.e. porous and permeable structure, high specific surface area and adsorption capacity, low density and thermal conductivity, and chemical inertness. The present study was undertaken to analyse the relationships between the pore network characteristics, petrophysical parameters, and mineralogical variability of the Lower Miocene diatomites from the Jawornik deposit (Skole Unit, the Polish Outer Carpathians, SE Poland). Five varieties of the diatomites, distinguished on the basis of the macroscopic features, i.e., colour and fracturing effects, have been investigated by SEM, chemical and XRD analysis, mercury intrusion porosimetry, helium pycnometry, and the Vickers hardness tests. Significantly differing are two varieties. The light-coloured, massive and block-forming diatomites (variety BL) consist mainly of poorly cemented siliceous skeletal remains of diatoms, and represent the rocks with high total porosity (38–43%), low bulk density (1.28–1.38 g/cm$^{3}$) and low microhardness (10.7 HV$_{0.3}$). The dark-gray silicified diatomites with a platy or prismatic splitting (variety PD) reveal obscured microfossils of diatoms and are the most compact and hard rocks (80.8 HV$_{0.3}$), with poor total porosity (17–24%) and higher bulk density (1.70–1.78 g/cm$^{3}$). The spatial distribution of the field identifiable rock varieties allows selective exploitation of the diatomites with the predictable petrophysical characteristics that define their future use.
A characterisation of the geothermal potential of the Muschelkalk deposits’ location, with the prospective of its utilization in balneology and recreation (southern Poland)
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2015) Gancarz, Marzena
Analysis of the geothermal potential of the Muschelkalk deposits was carried out from the point of view of utilising hot groundwater in balneology and recreation. As a result of a number of analytical studies, the area situated in the southern part of the Polish Lowland was selected as one of the prospective areas for the location of geothermal intakes. This area encompasses the southern part of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline, the southern part of the Łódź Trough and a small section of the Miechowska Trough. The deposits are buried at depths of between 500 m b.s.l and 1500 m b.s.l. Their thickness varys from 100 m to 300 m. The temperature at the top in most cases is about 30-50°C. TDS in most cases does not exceed 60 g/dm$^{3}$ Mineralised water flood tide is from 0.4 m$^{3}$/h to 13.8 m$^{3}$/h Porosity is between 9% and 23%, and permeability is from 25 mD to 340 mD. As a result of the analyses, the most favourable conditions for development of balneotherapy and recreation in the Muschelkalk deposits in the three locations of the selected area were found to be where the boreholes Trzebnica IG-1 (first area), Wierzchlas 3, Rzeki IG-1 (second area) and Trzonów 2 (third area) were located.
An analysis of the chemistry, mineralogy and texture of waste dolomite powder used to identify its potential application in industry
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2015) Gruszecka-Kosowska, Agnieszka; Wdowin, Magdalena; Kosowski, Tomasz; Klimek, Agnieszka
In this work, characterization of dolomite powder was carried out in order to specify possible industrial applications. After the technological use of dolomite aggregates, the remaining fine powder becomes a waste. Raw and calcined powder samples were subject to mineralogical, textural and chemical studies involving leaching tests. The results of the calcination process indicate that the carbonate minerals present in the material sample undergo complete decomposition to form oxides. After the calcination, the material is practically non-porous, and its surface area is more than five times lower than that of the raw material. However, due to the high content of calcia in the calcined sample (CaO > 45% wt.), the material cannot be used as an additive in cement. The leaching tests showed that the concentration of metals released from the dolomite powder is low enough to classify the material as hazardous waste according to the TCLP test. Moreover, the concentration of metals that can get into the environment does not exceed permissible values as set by Polish law. Thus, it is recommended and justified to carry out detailed tests for the purpose of environmental protection, i.e. wet flue gas desulfurization, heavy metals absorption, and $CO_2$ capture.
Lithofacies and depositional environments of the Paleogene/Neogene sediments in the Hoanh Bo Basin (Quang Ninh province, NE Vietnam)
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2015) Tha, Hoang Van; Wysocka, Anna; Pha, Phan Dong; Nguyẽ̂n, Quó̂c Cường; Ziółkowski, Piotr
The Hoanh Bo Basin is a multiple period formed basin which is associated with the tectonic mechanism due to the activity of the Chi Linh-Hon Gai and Trung Luong Faults during the late Paleogene – early Neogene time. The basin is filled with continental sediments, comprising mainly polymictic conglomerates, sandstones, siltstones, claystones and shales. Coarser-grained polymictic deposits predominate along the northern and western margins of the basin, while different types of siltstones, claystones, even sandstones occur in its center, as well as along its southern and eastern parts toward the Ha Long Bay. The source rocks for sedimentary materials are mainly originated from rocks of the Hon Gai and Ha Coi Formations. Based on the dominant grain-size class, texture, stratification, degree of clast rounding and sorting, 17 lithofacies were determined in the Hoanh Bo Basin infill. The basin is filled by gravelly, sandy and fine-grained lithofacies just covers a modest area but it represents a full of succession of 4 depositional systems including alluvial fan, fluvial, deltaic and lacustrine environments. Alluvial fan and fluvial environments are characterized by an assemblage of lithofacies such as sand- and mud-supported disorganized breccias (Gb), clast- to sand-supported conglomerates (Gmm), clast-supported inverse-graded conglomerates (Gig), planar-cross-bedded conglomerates (Gp), trough cross-bedded conglomerates (Gt), horizontally stratified conglomerates (Gh), planar cross-bedded sandstones (Sp), trough cross-bedded sandstones (St), ripple cross-laminated sandstones (Sr), horizontally bedded sandstones (Sh), massive sandstones (Sm), massive mudstones, siltstones (Fsm), laminated siltstones and mudstones (Fl), massive claystones (Fm) and coaly lithofacies (C), the deltaic assemblage is dominated by planar-cross-bedded conglomerates (Gp), horizontally stratified conglomerates (Gh), planar cross-bedded sandstones (Sp), horizontally bedded sandstones (Sh), low-angle cross-bedded sandstones (Sl), while the lacustrine assemblage consists of ripple cross-laminated sandstones (Sr), horizontally bedded sandstones (Sh), normally graded sandstones (Sng), massive mudstones, siltstones (Fsm), laminated siltstones and mudstones (Fl), massive claystones (Fm) and coaly lithofacies (C).