Trace Elements in Soils of the South Texas Uranium District: Concentrations, Origin, and Environmental Significance

UT Librarie

Trace and Potentially Toxic Elements Associated With Uranium Deposits in South Texas

The environmentally sensitive trace elements molybdenum, arsenic, and selenium are concentrated with uranium in ore deposits inSouth Texas. Cattle grazing in some pastures in mining areas have contracted molybdenosis, a cattle disease resulting from an imbalance of molybdenum and copper. To determine natural concentrations of the elements in soils in the South Texas area and to evaluate possible effects of mining on adjacent agricultural land, two sets of soil samples were collected and analyzed for molybdenum, arsenic, selenium, and copper. Two hundred and fifty-six samples were collected in a statistically random design from soils developed on the Whitsett Formation, Catahoula Formation, or Oakville Sandstone, the major uranium hosts of the area, and 182 samples were collected nonrandomly from areas of mining or mineralization to test specific hypotheses concerning the presence and origin of anomalously high concentrations of the elements. Results of the random sampling show that the different geologic formations have different characteristic trace element concentrations. The Whitsett Formation has higher molybdenum (resulting from minor near-surface mineralization) and lower copper concentrations than the other two formations. With the exception of molybdenum in the Whitsett Formation and copper in all three formations, the trace element concentrations are similar to published average concentrations in soils worldwide. Sampling in areas of mining and mineralization indicates that high concentrations of molybdenum, arsenic, or selenium occur dominantly in two situations: (1) in areas of shallow mineralization, resulting from natural processes and (2) in drainages adjacent to older abandoned mines, resulting from runoff from the mines. Moderately high concentrations also occur in a few reclaimed areas. Windblown dust from mining areas has not measurably affected trace element concentrations in adjacent areas. Comparison of molybdenum and copper concentrations in soils and grasses and theoretical considerations of the availability to plants of molybdenum and copper in soils suggest that forage in much of the area studied could have anomalously low copper/molybdenum ratios—low enough to induce molybdenosis in cattle. This report was submitted in fulfillment of Grant No. R804616-01-0 by the Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, under the sponsorship of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This report covers the period April 1977 to April 1979, and work was completed as of August 31, 1978.Bureau of Economic Geolog

The Internal Ultraviolet-to-Optical Color Dispersion: Quantifying the Morphological K-Correction

We present a quantitative measure of the internal color dispersion within galaxies, which quantifies differences in morphology as a function of wavelength. We apply this statistic to a local galaxy sample with archival images at 1500 and 2500 Angstroms from the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope, and ground-based B-band observations to investigate how the color dispersion relates to global galaxy properties. The intenal color dispersion generally correlates with transformations in galaxy morphology as a function of wavelength, i.e., it quantifies the morphological K-correction. Mid-type spiral galaxies exhibit the highest dispersion in their internal colors, which stems from differences in the bulge, disk, and spiral-arm components. Irregulars and late-type spirals show moderate internal color dispersion, which implies that young stars generally dominate the colors. Ellipticals, lenticulars, and early-type spirals generally have low or negligible internal color dispersion, which indicates that the stars contributing to the UV-to-optical emission have a very homogeneous distribution. We discuss the application of the internal color dispersion to high-redshift galaxies in deep, Hubble Space Telescope images. By simulating local galaxies at cosmological distances, many of the galaxies have luminosities that are sufficiently bright at rest--frame optical wavelengths to be detected within the limits of the currently deepest near-infrared surveys even with no evolution. Under assumptions that the luminosity and color evolution of the local galaxies conform with the measured values of high-redshift objects, we show that galaxies' intrinsic internal color dispersion remains measurable out to z ~ 3.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. 41 pages, 13 figures (3 color). Full resolution version (~8 Mb) available at http://mips.as.arizona.edu/~papovich/papovich_astroph.p

Survey of Canada Goose Feces for Presence of \u3cem\u3eGiardia\u3c/em\u3e

As resident Canada goose (Branta canadensis) populations increase throughout North America, so do the health and environmental risks associated with goose feces. Previous studies suggest that goose feces may be a conduit for transmitting Giardia, a protozoan that is parasitic to humans. We surveyed fecal droppings from free-ranging resident Canada geese for Giardia spp. at 9 sites in the Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill) of North Carolina in 2007 and 2008. Samples (n = 234) were tested using the ProSpect® Giardia EZ Microplate Assay, and there were no positives. Our results indicate that risk of zoonotic giardiasis from Canada goose feces in the Triangle area of North Carolina is low

Treatment for Anogenital Molluscum Contagiosum

There is no evidence from comparative trials to suggest a single best treatment method for anogenital molluscum contagiosum. Randomized controlled trials suggest self-administered topical imiquimod or podophyllotoxin cream is effective for resolving lesions. (Strength of Recommendation: B, based on inconsistent or limited quality patient-oriented evidence). There are no comparative trials of other commonly used treatments, such as carbon dioxide laser, cryotherapy, or curettage

Exploring anodes for calcium-ion batteries

Calcium ion batteries have been increasingly explored as an alternative energy storage system as industry begins to manoeuvre towards an age of ‘Beyond lithium-ion’ research and development. However, using calcium metal as the battery's anode presents a multitude of issues, including the inability to strip ions off the metal, and the creation of an inactive passivation layer. Most research conducted around calcium ion batteries focuses on the electrolytic and cathodic study, whereas little focuses on the anode, due in part to the complexity and difficulty in resolving its challenges. Herein, this review will address the issues calcium has, including its lack of reversibility and solid electrolyte interface formation, as well as explore the alternative anode materials that have been utilised, noting their viability and future prospects

Draft Genome Sequence of Rhodococcus sp. Strain ATCC 49988, a Quinoline-Degrading Bacterium.

We report here the 4.9-Mb genome sequence of a quinoline-degrading bacterium, Rhodococcus sp. strain ATCC 49988. The draft genome data will enable the identification of genes and future genetic modification to enhance traits relevant to heteroaromatic compound degradation

The Assembly of Diversity in the Morphologies and Stellar Populations of High-Redshift Galaxies

We have studied the evolution in the morphologies, sizes, stellar-masses, colors, and internal color dispersion (ICD) of galaxies at z=1 and 2.3, using a near-IR, flux-limited catalog for the HDF-N. At z=1 most luminous galaxies have morphologies of early-to-mid Hubble-types, and many show transformations between their rest-frame UV-optical morphologies. Galaxies at z=2.3 have compact and irregular morphologies with no clearly evident Hubble-sequence candidates. The mean galaxy size grows from z=2.3 to 1 by 40%, and the density of galaxies larger than 3 kpc increases by 7 times. At z=1, the size-luminosity distribution is broadly consistent with that of local galaxies, with passive evolution. However, galaxies at z=2.3 are smaller than the large present-day galaxies, and must continue to grow in size and stellar mass. We have measured the galaxies' UV-optical ICD, which quantifies differences in morphology and the relative amount of on-going star-formation. The mean and scatter in galaxies' total colors and ICD increase from z=2.3 to 1. At z=1 many galaxies with large ICD are spirals, with a few irregular systems. Few z=2.3 galaxies have high ICD, and those that do are actively merging. We interpret this as evidence for the presence of older and more diverse stellar populations at z=1 that are not generally present at z>2. We conclude that the star-formation histories of galaxies at z>2 are dominated by discrete, recurrent bursts, which quickly homogenize the galaxies' stellar content, and are possibly associated with mergers. The increase in the stellar-population diversification by z<1.4 implies that merger-induced starbursts occur less frequently than at higher redshifts, and more quiescent star-forming modes dominate. This transition coincides with the emergence of Hubble-sequence galaxies. [Abridged]Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. 20 pages, in emulateapj forma

Mineral Resource Assessment. Big Bend RanchState Natural Area, Presidio and Brewster Counties, Texas - Final Report

The Big Bend Ranch State Natural Area has a diverse geology reflecting nearly 600 million years of geologic evolution. Major geologic events include (1) deposition of elastic sedimentary rocks during the Paleozoic and their deformation (folding and faulting) at the end of the Paleozoic; (2) deposition of limestone and elastic rocks during the Cretaceous and their deformation during the early Tertiary; (3) intense extrusive and intrusive igneous activity during the middle Tertiary; and (4) major normal faulting during the late Tertiary. Almost all mineral potential of the area is associated with mid-Tertiary igneous activity. The only significant mineral production within the Ranch area was from the Fresno Mine in the western part of the Terlingua mercury district, one of the largest mining districts in Texas. This mine produced approximately 3500 flasks of mercury, mostly during World War II. Other production was minor and included some additional mercury from localities near the Fresno Mine, as well as silver-lead ore containing minor gold from a small mine in the Solitario.Bureau of Economic Geolog