Organisms are capable of forming a diverse array of minerals, some of which cannot be formed inorganically in the biosphere. The initial precipitates may differ from the form in which they are finally stabilized, or during development of the organism one mineral may substitute for another. Biogenic minerals commonly have attributes which distinguish them from their inorganic counterparts. They ...

Most applications of coal fly ash, such as concrete, structural fill, and waste stabilization, use fresh fly ash received directly from coal fired power generation plants. However, if the current rate of usage continues, the demand for fresh coal fly ash for various applications will increase and utilization of coal fly ash disposed in landfills will have to be considered. This study investigat...

This study investigates the influence of microbes on fluid transport in sedimentary and igneous host rock environments. It particularly focuses on granodiorite rock (Äspö; Sweden) and mudstone (Horonobe; Japan) that were utilised during laboratory-based column experiments. The results showed that biofilms form on both rock types in low nutrient conditions. Cryogenic scanning electron microscopy...

India needs newer group of biopesticides. Biopesticides are part of the insecticide field, their market is increasing. Biopesticides are secondary metabolites include thousands of alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolics and minor secondary chemicals derived from plants, microbes, animals, and certain minerals. Several endophytic microbes are known to have anti-insect properties. Endophytes are microbe...

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) is an effective arsenic (As) scavenger. However, spent nZVI may pose a higher environmental risk than our initial thought in the presence of As-reducing bacteria. Therefore, our motivation was to explore the As redox transformation and release in spent nZVI waste residue in contact with Pantoea sp. IMH, an arsC gene container adopting the As detoxification path...

This study investigated the nutritional ecology of forest elephants in Kibale National Park, Uganda relative to crop-raiding behaviour, and examined nutritional differences between crops and food consumed by wild elephants. An index of dietary nutrient concentration was determined by quantifying the species and parts of plants consumed along feeding trails, collecting food items, and analysing ...

Lithium (Li), the lightest of the alkali elements, has geochemical properties that include high aqueous solubility (Li is the most fluid mobile element) and high relative abundance in basalt-forming minerals (values ranking between 0.2 and 12 ppm). Li isotopes are particularly subject to fractionation because the two stable isotopes of lithium-7Li and 6Li-have a large relative mass difference (...

A detailed investigation of the mineralogy of As in the tailings of the Rabbit Lake uranium ore processing facility was conducted. The milling/ ore extraction process was sampled at three different locations to obtain information about when, where and under what condition secondary As phases form. These samples were compared with four samples of varying As content from the Rabbit Lake in-pit ta...

Fractures are planar discontinuities, i.e. interruption of the rock physical continuity, due to stresses. The geological fractures occur at every scale, so that any large volume of rock has some or many. These discontinuities are related to sudden elastic relaxation of elastic energy stored in the rock. The geological fractures have their economic importance. The loss of continuity in intact ro...

High precision oxygen three-isotope ratios were measured for four mineral phases (olivine, low-Ca and high-Ca pyroxene, and plagioclase) in equilibrated ordinary chondrites (EOC) using a secondary ion mass spectrometer. Eleven EOCs were studied that cover all groups (H, L, LL) and petrologic types (4, 5, 6), including S1-S4 shock stages, as well as unbrecciated and brecciated meteorites. SIMS a...