Rocks and Soil

In 1955 it was discovered that mixtures of ammonium nitrate and fine coal dust have satisfactory blasting capabilities in large (9 inch) holes used in open-pit coal mines to remove the rock and soil covering the coal. Polyethylene bags containing this material deform to fit the hole and provide moderate water resistance. ANFO is used in open-pit iron and copper mines and for construction such as road building. The mixture is air blown into 2-inch holes or less m maiiv underground mines. 

Approximate allowable bearing pressures on sedimentary rock and soils may be taken from Table 2-31 [1 and 37]. Where questionable surface and subsurface soil conditions exist allowable bearing pressures can be determined with the aid of field sampling, field tests (both surface and subsurface through borings), and laboratory tests. 

Allowable Bearing Capacities of Sedimentary Rock and Soils [37]... 

Geological surveys require the services of analytical chemists to determine the composition of the numerous rock and soil samples collected in the field. A particular instance of such an exercise is the qualitative and quantitative examination of the samples of moon rock brought back to Earth in 1969 by the first American astronauts to land on the moon. 

Table 7. Comparisons of Trace Element Content in Oregon Soil and Rocks with That in Water Cone in Rocks and Soil /xg g Cone, in Oregon Streams, Mean, mg...

The collection of spectra obtained at Spirit s landing site reveals various miner-alogical signs of weathering. Spectra obtained on the basaltic rocks and soil on the plains show mainly olivine and pyroxene and small amounts of nonstoichio-metric magnetite, and only comparably small amounts of weathering. An example... 

As a manufactured element, americium is not naturally present in rocks and soils. Contamination of the soil can occur either from deposition of americium or precursor plutonium originally discharged into the atmosphere, or from waste products discharged directly into or on the ground. Except for the reentry into... 

Rainwater Groundwater, lakes, rivers, seas, and oceans Carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, dust Sand (silica) and soil particles chlorides, bicarbonates, and sulfates, mainly of calcium, sodium, magnesium, and iron ions organic Air pollutants Rocks and soil, microorganisms, plant and animal... 

Crystalline silica, or quartz, is an abundant mineral found in sand, rock, and soil. Respirable silica dust (particles <5pm) is a known occupational hazard of the dusty trades (e.g., pottery or china manufacturing, work involving sandblasting or abrasive grinding, some construction trades). High level exposure to respirable silica can result in the chronic, progressive lung disease silicosis, characterized by inflammation and fibrosis. 

Petsel, S.A. 2006. Rock and soil sampling survey assessment report on the Shiko Lake property British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Assessment Report 2866, 182 p. 

Chromium occurs in both the Cr(lll) and Cr(VI) valence states. The rock and soil Cr reported in this study is dominantly insoluble and non-toxic Cr(lll), whereas the aqueous Cr reported in ground water is soluble and potentially toxic Cr(VI). We have analyzed core material (up to 30 m depth) from an area of the valley that exhibits elevated Cr(VI) concentrations in... 

A miniaturized MB spectrometer MIMOS II was developed for the robotic exploration of Mars, where it provided fundamental information about mineralogical composition and alteration processes, helped to classify rocks and soils, aided geologic mapping, was instrumental in assessing habitability of past and present environments, and identified potential construction resources for future human explorers. The applicability of the instrument as a process monitor for oxygen production and prospecting tool for lunar ISRU has been demonstrated. The characterization of air pollution sources and the study of mixed-valence materials as a function of depth in soil are examples of terrestrial in situ applications. MIMOS lla with additional XRF capability will open up new applications. 

Ming, D.W. et al. 2008. Geochemical Properties of Rocks and Soils in Gusev crater, Mars Results of the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer from Cumberland Ridge to Home Plate. Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, E12S39,... 

Open vessel digestion (HF HC104) for ceramics, glass, rocks, and soil These acids should completely dissolve most materials. HF removes the silica (as volatile SiF4), which reduces the total dissolved solid content and therefore reduces interferences, and C104 produces perchlorates, which are soluble (but explosive if dried out). The use of hydrofluoric and perchloric acids therefore has considerable safety risks and requires specialized fume hoods, handling equipment, and safety equipment. The hydrofluoric and perchloric acids are removed by a later evaporation stage unless the analytical instmment and safety considerations have been specially adapted. 

Lithium metaborate (LiB02) fusion for glass, rocks, and soils. 

Most of the aeolian input of trace metals is in particulate form as weathered rocks and soil. The deposition patterns on the sea surface tend to follow those of the major winds bands, with deserts being the primary source regions (Figure 11.4a). As shown in Figure 11.4b, this results in high deposition to the surfece waters immediately downwind of the arid regions of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia, Australia, and... 

Sediments (marine sediments, crustal rocks and soils >60 cm deep) Mlnable P ... 

Morris, D.A. and Johnson, A.l. Summary of hydrologic and physical properties of rocks and soil materials as analyzed by the hydrologic laboratory of the U.S. Geological Survey, 1948-1960, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1839-D, 1967, 42 p. 

One of the most impottant oxides is dihydrogen oxide, or rather water (H O). There are numerous oxygen compounds on Earth, many of them with more that two elements. They include the sihcates, which make up rocks and soil, as well as hmestone (calcium carbonate), gypsum (calcium sulfate), bauxite (aluminum oxide), and many iron oxides. 

A preliminary interpretation of both new and historical surface rock and soil geochemical data suggests that Au, As and Sb are the most effective pathfinder elements in the supergene environment and that extensive secondary dispersion haloes can be recognized. Base metals, which are only rarely enriched in wallrocks within primary alteration haloes (Arne et al. 2008), correlate with Fe and Mn in weathered material due to scavenging. 

Figure 2. Cross-section of canopied 13.7 x 7.3 m plastic-lined Agronomy pit with a distribution system (solid bar) embedded in rock (cross-hatched) and five sampling tiles extending through the rock and soil (slanted lines).

Source. Uranium-238 is present in small amounts in most rocks and soil. Uranium has a half-life of 4.5 billion years. It decays to other elements such as radium, which breaks down to radon. Some of the radon moves to the soil surface and enters the air, whereas some remains below the soil surface and enters the groundwater. 

Inorganic polymers are widely employed in the construction and building businesses, as abrasives and cutting materials, as fibers in composites, as coatings and lubricants, and as catalysts. They also serve as the basis of rocks and soils. 

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