Use of Stable Nitrogen Isotope Signatures of Anthropogenic Organic Matter in the Coastal Environment: The Case Study of the Kosirina Bay (Murter Island, Croatia)

In this study stable nitrogen isotope ratios of particulate matter POM, zooplankton and selected biota such as Mytilus galloprovincialis were used to assess the impact of anthropogenically derived organic matter from the untreated domestic sewage, municipal and industrial effluents on the coastal ecosystem of the Kosirina Bay (Murter Island). The differences in δ15N values observed in POM and organisms collected in Kosirina Bay as compared to POM and biota sampled at unaffected sites from the southern part of the Kornati Island and highly impacted Pirovac Bay revealed only a very minor effects of anthropogenic inputs of nutrients and organic matter which is most probably derived from a sewage outfall south of the Tužbina Island

Geochemical characterization and environmental status of Makirina Bay sediments (northern Dalmatia, Republic of Croatia)

This research focuses on determination of the mineralogical composition, geochemical characteristics and evaluationof pollution status of the Makirina Bay sediments. Calculated enrichment factor (EF) values show no enrichment ( Cd > Pb > Ni > Zn > Cu > As. Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis confirmed the PTE distribution depends mainly on thegeogenic mineral components and anthropogenic activities in the areas surrounding the bay. Calculated transfer factor(TF) values from sediment to seagrass Cymodocea nodosa (C. nodosa) were < 1, showing that despite the results of thesequential extraction procedure, PTE transfer from sediment to roots was not effective.</p

Heavy Metal Signature and Environmental Assessment of Nearshore Sediments: Port of Koper (Northern Adriatic Sea)

Heavy metal abundance and potential environmental risks are reported for surface sediments (n = 21) from the Port of Koper area, Republic of Slovenia. The enrichment factor (EF) indicates minor enrichment in arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), and zinc (Zn), moderately to severely enriched with nickel (Ni). The trace metal chemistries, in the context of sediment quality guidelines (SQG), imply adverse threshold effect concentrations (TEC) and probable effect concentrations (PEC), for Ni only. Sediment sequential leaching experiments demonstrated that the majority of heavy metals were of natural lithogenic origin and low bioavailability. The heavy metals&rsquo; potential for &ldquo;Risk Assessment Code&rdquo; values exhibited no or low anthropogenic environmental burden, with the exception of Mo

Contribution to the widening and confirmation of the mineral association in the Borov Dol ore deposit, based on SEM analysis

The latest mineralogical study of the Borov Dor copper porphyry deposit have selected a total of 6 representative samples from 4 exploration drill holes and treated in laboratory conditions with a study under optical polarization microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Six representative pairs of monomineral and poly-mineral parageneses were identified and their chemical compositions with their associated minerals were determined, too. Quartz-chalcopyrite-sulfide paragenesis stands out as dominant and mainly chalcopyrites are very close their the-oretical compositions. Within simple sulphide paragenesis come quartz-pyrite-chalcopyrite in which pyrite is dominant with compositions that are also close to theoretical. Chalcopyrite-bornite paragenesis stands out as transformation oneduring the decay of the solid solution, where the lattice structure of the bornite in the corroded chalcopyrite predomi-nates. The compositions show a tendency of transition in both chalcopyrite and bornite directions and defectivness is observed. In a similar constellation are the solid solutiondecays in the chalcopyrite-cubanite pair where the composi-tions of both interaction minerals have undergone modification, but clearly indicate the transformation phase. Even more characteristic is the transformation phase in chalcopyrite-bornite-idaite where the transitions are gradual and the mixed phases defective to allowable level. This sequence of transformations ended with the tetrahedra-tenantite phases with multiple variants. Of particular note is the quartz-molybdenite phase with pure molybdeniterod-like forms as a representative of higher temperature mineral paragenesis

Contribution to Understanding of Ore Fluids in the Zletovo Mine Based on Fluid Inclusion Data

The Zletovo is lead–zinc (Pb–Zn) deposit, adjacent to the Plavica volcanic centre (R. Macedonia) with high-sulphidation and porphyry mineralisation. The analysis of fluid inclusions showed homogenisation temperatures in the range 335–145°C, which reflects phases of pulsation of hydrothermal solutions and defined into four groups from the lowest to the highest temperatures. The frequency of the homogenisation temperatures ranged from 265 to 125°C and with the most dominant from 245 to 225°C, from 225 to 205°C and from 145 to 125°C. Also, it was confirmed that hydrothermal ore-bearing solutions were defined as Na-Cl-type with range from 4.4 to 8.6 wt% NaCl equivalent. The latest stage salinities ranged from 3 to 12 wt% NaCl equivalent, where those from 10 to 12 wt% and from 6 to 8 wt% NaCl equivalent, prevailed. This suggests that hydrothermal solutions within analysed quartz grains were at final mineralizing phase. Density of fluid inclusions ranged from 0.7 to 0.95 g/cm3. Calculated pressures and paleo-depths of mineralisation ranged from 14 to 130 bar and from 0.6 to 0.8 km

Geochemical characteristics of rare earth elements (REEs) in the paddy soil and rice (Oryza sativa L.) system of Kočani Field, Republic of Macedonia

In the Republic ofMacedonia, information about rare earth elements (REEs) distribution patterns, transportation and speciation characteristics (from soil to plants) is very rare. Therefore, the concentrations of REEs in Kočani paddy soils and rice samples from the Republic of Macedonia were measured and evaluated. The elevated concentrations of REEs in paddy soils can be explained by contributions fromacidic and intermediate igneous rocks, which are one of the main source materials for Kočani paddy soils. Low percentages of REEs were bound to the water-soluble and exchangeable fractions, revealing low mobility of REEs in the investigated paddy soils. Furthermore, small amounts of REEs were detected in rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain samples. The calculated transfer values (TF) for REEs in rice samples were also very low, confirming a small accumulation of REEs (La, Ce, Pr, Nd and Sm) by the studied crops and in the Kočani soil–plant system

Impact of Pb-Zn mining activity on surficial sediments of Lake Kalimanci (FYR Macedonia)

The activities of the Sasa mine have led to industrial discharge being released into Lake Kalimanci since the beginning of mining activity in 1954. For this reason, an ecological risk assessment is urgently required. In the present study, surficial lake sediments were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), with all geochemistry data processed using Statistica 8. In order to assess the environmental pollution status, 2 environmental factors were established, while for the determination of chemical fractionation of toxic metals a sequential extraction procedure was carried out. Concentrations of As, Mo, Zn, Ni, Co, Pb, Cd, and Cu in surficial Lake Kalimanci sediments were in the ranges of 58.6–77.2, 2.30–4.60, 7056–20,900, 47.4–79.3, 18.8–25.3, 4863–16,300, 46.8– 136, and 328–1162 mg/kg, respectively. Based on values of the enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index, the surficial sediment of Lake Kalimanci is strongly polluted in terms of most of the examined metals. The results of the sequential extraction procedure revealed the majority of the investigated toxic metals (Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Cd) to be strongly bonded to the exchangeable fraction and the rest (As and Mo) to the oxidizable fraction. The geochemistry, environmental factor values, and toxic metal extraction characteristics of Lake Kalimanci sediments represent a serious environmental risk for an extensive area

An evaluation of trace metal distribution and environmental risk in sediments from the Lake Kalimanci (FYR Macedonia)

Pollution from mining activities is a significant problem in several parts of the Republic of Macedonia. A geochemical study of the surficial sediments of Lake Kalimanci in the eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia was carried out to determine their elemental compositions and to evaluate the pollution status of lake sediments by employing an enrichment factor (EF). The major and trace element contamination in surficial lake sediments was studied to assess the effects of metalliferous mining activities. The mean concentrations of major elements (wt%) Si 23.5, Al 7.9, Fe 6.6, Mg 1.3, Ca 3.8, Na 1.1, K 2.3, Ti 0.4, P 0.2, Mn 0.6 and trace elements ranged within Mo 1.0–4.6 mg/kg, Cu 144.4–1,162 mg/kg, Pb 1,874–16,300 mg/kg, Zn 2,944–20,900 mg/kg, Ni 21.7–79.3 mg/kg, Cd 16.5–136 mg/kg, Sb 0.6–3.6 mg/kg, Bi 3.0–24,3 mg/kg and Ag 1.4–17.3 mg/kg. The EF ranged within 0.12–590.3. Among which, Cd, Pb, Zn and As have extremely severe enrichment. The data indicate that trace elements had extremely high concentrations in Lake Kalimanci surficial sediments owing to the anthropogenic addition of contaminants