ABSTRACT: Ultramafic (UM) rocks are defined as igneous rocks that contain more than 90% of mafic minerals. Soils derived from ultramafic rock are generally nutrient-deficient and have concomitant high concentrations of potentially phytotoxic trace elements (Ni, Cr, Co, Mn). Consequently, to assess the dynamics of nutrients and metals in the ultramafic complex of Niquelândia (Brazil), soil solutions have been sampled in soils characterized by high Cr(VI) availability. The metal contents in surficial water have also been analyzed to investigate the metals’ leaching and mobility. Soil solutions featured low nutrient contents, a large Ca:Mg imbalance, and high Ni and Cr concentrations. Chromium was present in its toxic dissolved form (Cr(VI)) in the soil and surficial solutions. Metals concentrations were often above the toxic limit for biota and were therefore able to affect soil functioning. Ni behavior in the topsoil appeared to be primarily controlled by organic matter, while Cr was more likely to be released from Fe-oxides by anionic exchange. This result agreed with the Cr(VI) lability assessed using isotopic exchange kinetics in a companion study. In these serpentinic tropical soils, the highly leached Fe-oxide horizons appear to play a large role in the sequestration and diffuse leaching of labile Cr(VI) and Ni, respectively, in the deeper part of soil profiles and the topsoil. At the catchment scale, surficial solutions results suggest that metals may be exported to surrounding ecosystems that are not adapted to these metals.

Nucleation and growth mechanism of iron oxide nanoparticles on zeolite template and their stability dependence are reported. Hyperfine field resulting from the variation of particle size indicates the effect of zeolite on particles growth; particle size decreases at lower concentration of zeolite. At higher concentration, a fraction of nano Fe3O4 experiences hyperfine field (45 and 49 T) similar to bulk particles. Effect of incubation and digestion time on the particles growth and the binding effect with zeolite are discussed. Annealing treatments show that the binding of nanoparticles with zeolite stabilizes the nanoparticles with regard to agglomeration and structural transformation. Thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) shows that increase in dehydration temperature from 335.1 to 351.7 K results in zeolite content increasing from 0 to 1000 mg. Weight loss of the particles prepared in incubation time of 0.5 min is 9.46% and reaches 13.9% in 240 min. The weight loss remains practically constant at ca. 9% irrespective of the digestion method.

As sequências Proterozoicas, ao Norte no Distrito Federal e na região de Bezerra e Vila Boa (Goiás), são constituídas por calcários e dolomitos, pelitos e arenitos correspondentes aos Grupos Bambuí e Paranoá. No Distrito Federal, tais unidades são sobrepostas tectonicamente por rochas metassedimentares de fácies xisto-verde do Grupo Canastra. Entre os constituintes minerais dos termos pelíticos de todas estas unidades, predominam os filossilicatos, particularmente a illita e a muscovita, identificados por difração de Raios X, com o auxílio de decomposição da reflexão em d(001). O Índice de Kübler (Índice de Cristalinidade da Illita) complementa a interpretação da diagênese local e da possível influência de carga tectônica sobre diagênese/metamorfismo, resultante da sobreposição por falha de empurrão das rochas do Grupo Canastra sobre aquelas dos grupos Paranoá e Bambuí, na região do Distrito Federal. Os resultados indicam condições de epizona para as amostras analisadas do Grupo Canastra e anquizona para aquelas dos Grupos Bambuí e Paranoá, sendo que os valores do Índice de Kübler são menores nas rochas expostas ao norte do Distrito Federal do que na região de Bezerra, em Vila Boa. Além disso, os índices das rochas do Grupo Bambuí são inferiores aos do Paranoá em toda a região estudada, indicando que a influência da carga tectônica ocorre de forma gradativa, partindo do ponto de maior carga.

The Proterozoic sequences in the North of Distrito Federal (Brazil) and in Bezerra and Vila Boa regions (Goiás) comprise carbonates, pelites and sandstones from Bambuí and Paranoá Groups. In Distrito Federal, such units are tectonically overlapped by metasediments of green schist facies of Canastra Group. Among the mineral constituents of the pelitic terms of all these units, phyllosilicates, particularly illite and muscovite, are predominant and are identified using X-ray diffraction with the help of reflection d(001) decomposition. The Kübler Index (Illite Crystallinity Index) complements the interpretation of local diagenesis and the possible bulk tectonic influence on the diagenesis/metamorphism that is a result of the overlap by the thrust fault of Canastra Group on Paranoá and Bambuí groups, in the Distrito Federal region. Results indicate epizone conditions for the samples analyzed from Canastra Group and anchizone for samples from Bambuí and Paranoá Groups. In the rocks at the North of Distrito Federal, the Kübler Index values are lower than in Bezerra - Vila Boa region. Moreover, the contents of Bambuí Group rocks are smaller than Paranoá's in the entire study area; therefore, the influence of tectonic bulk occurs gradually, starting from the highest load point.

This survey determined the physical and chemical properties of the gravel place where urban sludge from Rio Descoberto's Water Treatment Plant is disposed. Physical, chemical and biological analysis of the soil samples (n=54), sludge samples (n=2), chemical coagulant (n=20) and samples from superficial waters (n=9) and water table (n=60) were performed. As results we can emphasize the horizontal distribution of mineral phases like gibbsite, organic material, exchanged Ca, available Mn and P on the soils are originated from the sludge. Some of these mobile elements could stimulate the growing of the vegetation, but they also could contaminate the water table.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi desenvolver uma metodologia para identificação de lateritas manganesíferas por espectroscopia de imageamento. Nesse estudo foi utilizada a imagem do Airborne Visible/InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS). O AVIRIS é um sensor que mede o espectro solar refletido de 400 nm para 2500 nm em intervalos de 10 nm. A área de estudo localiza-se no Estado de Goiás e engloba a mina Fazenda Extrema que apresenta depósitos de manganês desenvolvido nas rochas do Grupo Paranoá. Estudos de espectrometria de laboratório, conjugado com análise mineralógica por difratometria de raios-X, demonstram o caráter opaco do espectro do minério que não apresentam feições de absorção distintas devido à banda de condução do MnO3 que se estende por todo o intervalo espectral. Visando explorar essa característica foi desenvolvida uma metodologia para o processamento digital de imagem contendo três etapas: (a) correção atmosférica pelo método Green, (b) seleção das áreas com comportamento opaco pelo cálculo da integral do espectro, e (c) individualização das áreas com presença de lateritas manganesíferas entre os alvos de baixo albedo utilizando a transformação por Minimum Noise Fraction. O procedimento desenvolvido mostrou ser eficiente na classificação de áreas de mina de manganês abandonadas que consistem em áreas prioritárias para recuperação ambiental.

The aim this paper is to develop a methodology of lateritic manganese identification using imaging spectroscopy. In this study was used the Airborne Visible/InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) image. The AVIRIS is an imaging sensor that measures the solar reflected spectrum from 400 nm to 2500 nm at 10 nm intervals. The study area is located at Goiás State and enclosed the Fazenda Extrema mine that presents lateritic manganese deposits developed on Paranoá Group rocks. Laboratory spectrometry studies conjugated with mineralogical analysis by diffractometry of X-ray demonstrated that the ore spectrum is opaque and spectrally featureless, due to the conduction band of MnO3 extending throughout this spectral range. The digital image processing can be subdivided in the following steps: (a) atmospheric correction using Green method, (b) areas selection with opaque behavior from the integral spectra calculation, and (c) lateritic manganese individualization using the Minimum Noise Fraction transformation. The method is efficient to classify areas of abandoned manganese mine that consist of priority areas for implementation of environmental recovery.