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Due to the special soil-forming environment and process, grain-size distribution, and mineral composition, loess has some poor engineering properties, such as high compressibility, strong water sensitivity, and severe collapsibility. These poor properties lead to frequent occurrence of geological disasters and engineering problems in loess area, so loess is often strengthened in engineering projects. Compared with the traditional methods, the use of stabilizing agents has the advantages of saving time, reducing cost, and increasing efficiency. Therefore, more and more attention has been paid to the research on soil stabilizing agents. In this review, the non-traditional stabilizing agents which can effectively improve the physical and mechanical properties of loess are summarized, including nanomaterials, industrial waste residues, water-hardening inorganic materials, polymer, ion stabilizing agents, and so on. The composition, mechanism, effect, and application of each stabilizing agent are introduced. The mechanisms of strengthening mainly include filling, cementation, ion exchange, and wrapping. One or several of these mechanisms work together when loess is strengthened with any stabilizing agent. Based on this review, it is recognized that it is still meaningful to find eco-friendly and cost-effective loess stabilizing agents, and the focuses are now still on interpretation of the mechanism of each stabilizing agent, as well as determination of the physical and mechanical properties of strengthened loess. Attention should be paid to the degradation in the mechanical properties of strengthened loess and the technical innovation in application, as well as to solving the problems related to practical application of these stabilizing agents.

Thermal conductivity is an important physical parameter of rock, which requires indirect estimates. The existing rock thermal conductivity prediction model established from the perspective of particles has certain limitations, and the thermal conductivity calculation of sedimentary rock is not paid enough attention. In this paper, the thermal conductivity of 36 sedimentary samples is tested by the optical scanning method at a temperature of 300 K, and the calculated values from eight commonly used thermal conductivity prediction models with values obtained from laboratory tests are compared. A new mathematical model called the thermal conductivity entropy model (TCEM) is proposed to calculate the thermal conductivity of the rock from its mineral composition. The models for sandstone and mudstone by using thermal conductivity of the individual minerals are optimized, and the deviations between the measured and calculated values are compared. The results show that the values calculated by the eight models are all smaller than the test values, while the relative deviation of sandstone and mudstone are about 10% and 15%, respectively. TCEM provides a good coupling relationship (R2 = 0.54) for low-porosity sandstone. Due to the metamorphism of internal minerals, the thermal conductivity entropy is not linearly related to thermal conductivity. Therefore, the thermal conductivity entropy of minerals is used to predict the thermal conductivity of mudstone by multiple linear fitting (R2 = 0.62). TCEM eliminates the deviation caused by the spatial distribution of mineral particles in the rock in the traditional model.

It has been found that the physical and mechanical properties of rockfill materials deteriorate when subjected to wetting–drying cycles. Previous studies have mainly focused on the variations of mechanical properties of rockfill materials with wetting–drying cycles. However, the effects of wetting–drying cycles on the breakage characteristics of rock grains still remain unclear. In this study, we perform extensive single grain crushing tests on slate rock grains that have suffered from different wetting–drying cycles. We then investigate the effects of cyclic wetting–drying on the crushing strength, fracture energy, and fragment size distribution of slate rock grains. The results show that both the crushing strength and fracture energy per volume decrease exponentially with increasing wetting–drying cycles, indicating that the deterioration of the mechanical properties of slate grains gradually slows down. The size of fragments follows a fractal distribution, and the fractal dimension shows a linear relationship with the number of wetting–drying cycles, suggesting more small fragments for highly deteriorated rock grains. SEM scanning indicates that the micropores and cracks expand due to wetting–drying cycles. An X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the mineral composition content of slate grains changes after wetting–drying cycles.

A universal method for quantitative analysis of clay components, in terms of mineral composition, using ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy (in the mid-IR and far-IR regions) combined with partial least squares (PLS) regression technique (ATR-FT-IR-PLS) is reported. For the PLS method development, altogether 222 samples covering natural clay sources and various archaeological/cultural heritage artefacts were used as calibration and validation standards. This is the largest calibration set used for creating an ATR-FT-IR-PLS method for clay minerals. The quantitative compositions of these standards containing combinations of altogether 29 minerals for the PLS method were determined using XRD analysis. The developed ATR-FT-IR with PLS method is quick and easy to use, and enables analysis of very small sample amounts (down to a few mg). This is very important when working with samples from archaeological and cultural heritage objects. The developed ATR-FT-IR-PLS method enables quantifying the contents of 7 main classes of minerals in different clays with a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) ranging from 0.9 to 5.1 g/100g. This means that in some cases, depending also on the content of the mineral in the sample, the accuracy is at a semiquantitative level. This quantitative method was successfully applied to 11 cultural heritage case-study samples.

Dried fruits are an excellent alternative to unhealthy snacks. Twelve commercially available dried fruits were selected: dates, raisins, prunes, Goji berry, chokeberry, rose hip, sea buckthorn, berberis, physalis, haritaki, noni and juniper. The nutritional value in terms of moisture, ash, protein, fat, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, energy value, mineral composition, antioxidant activity and tannins was compared. It is a novelty in the literature in relation to the particular analytes (e.g., minerals, tannins) and/or fruits (e.g., berberis, noni, haritaki). Especially rich in protein were Goji berry (13.3%), sea buckthorn (9.3%), noni (8.9%) and physalis (8.0%); in fat − sea buckthorn (11.2%); in dietary fiber (4.4–53.0%) − most of analyzed products. High antioxidant capacity was noticed for haritaki, berberis, rose hip, Goji berry, and physalis. An important source of minerals was 100 g of: noni (345 mg of Ca; 251 mg of Mg), rose hip (844 mg of Ca; 207 mg of Mg), juniper (564 mg of Ca), sea buckthorn (58 mg of Fe), berberis (24 mg of Fe) and haritaki (14 mg of Fe). The nutritionally attractive dried fruits have the potential for wider application in food formulations.

Aloe vera belonging to the Liliaceae family is an annual, warm, drought-resistant and delectable plant rich in nutrients and minerals. Therefore, it can very well be used as a natural supplement to the everyday diet. The present investigation reports the scope of aloe vera as the nutraceutical component present in ready-to-serve (RTS) fruit beverages. Standardised extraction techniques for aloe vera juice are discussed. Further, the physicochemical properties, proximate and mineral composition of aloe vera juice in the prepared health drink were investigated. The protocol for preparation of an RTS fruit beverage by utilising aloe vera juice as a novel ingredient in the formulation of health drinks is studied by a varying proportion of aloe vera juice. The quality parameters of the processed aloe vera constituting health drink stored under refrigerated at 50 °C and atmospheric (35–36 °C) conditions were established to assess its shelf life.

CO2 enhanced shale gas recovery (CO2-ESGR) has attracted extensive attention as it can improve the shale gas recovery efficiency and sequestrate CO2 simultaneously. In this study, the relationship between mineral composition, pore structure, CH4 and CO2 adsorption behavior as well as selective adsorption coefficient of CO2 over CH4 ( $${\alpha _{{\rm{C}}{{\rm{O}}_2}/{\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_4}}}$$ ) in marine and continental shales at different temperatures was investigated. The results illustrated that shale with higher total organic carbon (TOC), higher clay minerals and lower brittle mineral contents has a larger micropores and mesopores volume and specific surface area. TOC content was positively correlated with fractal dimension Df. Both CH4 and CO2 adsorption capacity in shale have positive correlations with TOC and clay mineral content. CO2 adsorption capacity of the all the tested shale samples were greater than CH4, and the $${\alpha _{{\rm{C}}{{\rm{O}}_2}/{\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_4}}}$$ of shale were larger than 1.00, which indicated that using CO2-ESGR technology to improve the gas recovery is feasible in these shale gas reservoirs. A higher TOC content and in shale corresponding to a lower $${\alpha _{{\rm{C}}{{\rm{O}}_2}/{\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_4}}}$$ due to the organic matters show stronger affinity on CH4 than that on CO2. Shale with a higher brittle mineral content corresponding to a higher $${\alpha _{{\rm{C}}{{\rm{O}}_2}/{\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_4}}}$$ , and no obvious correlation between $${\alpha _{{\rm{C}}{{\rm{O}}_2}/{\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_4}}}$$ and clay mineral content in shale was observed due to the complexity of the clay minerals. The $${\alpha _{{\rm{C}}{{\rm{O}}_2}/{\rm{C}}{{\rm{H}}_4}}}$$ of shale were decreased with increasing temperature for most cases, which indicated that a lower temperature is more favorable for the application of CO2-ESGR technique.

The effect of genetic crossing and nutritional management on weight gain and the concentration of minerals and trace elements in the carcass, blood, leather, and viscera of sheep were evaluated. Several statistical strategies were used to evaluate the different elemental composition characteristics of pure breed animals, i.e., White Dorper (ODO), Ile de France (OIF), Texel (OTX), and Santa Ines (OSI), as well as their crossbreeds 1/2 White Dorper and 1/2 Santa Ines (ODS), 1/2 Ile de France, and 1/2 Santa Ines (OIS), 1/2 Texel × 1/2 Santa Ines (OTS). Three different diets were evaluated AL (ad libitum), R75, and R63 (75 and 63 g of dry matter/kg of the animal metabolic weight, respectively). Levels of Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P, S, and Zn were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). The concentration of inorganic elements in the different body components was not affected by the diet (P > 0.05), and OTX and OTS were the breeds with the highest weight gain. Random forest importance models demonstrated that Zn in the carcass, K, Ca, and Zn in blood, and K in leather are most associated with separating the different evaluated sheep’s breeds. Crossbreeding the native Santa Ines breed with sheep of exotic breeds produces animals well adapted to confinement.

Alkaline solutions have significant effects on the mineral composition and on the microstructure of bentonite; in relevant geoenvironmental engineering applications, therefore, the properties of bentonite buffer materials must be taken into consideration in the presence of alkaline solutions. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of alkaline conditions on the swelling of bentonite mixed with sand. Bentonite-sand mixtures were soaked in a NaOH solution and allowed to react over prescribed periods of 6, 12, and 24 months. Swelling deformation tests were conducted on the alkali-treated bentonite-sand mixtures; the swelling of the mixtures decreased significantly with increased reaction time. The fractal ec-σ relationship (ec is void ratio of bentonite, σ is vertical stress) was employed to express the swelling characteristics of the alkali-treated mixtures, wherein the swelling coefficient decreased as the bentonite content was reduced. Dissolution traces over the clay surfaces degraded the microstructural phase, thereby slightly increasing the fractal dimension. At higher dosages of bentonite, the swelling of bentonite-sand mixtures always followed a similar ec-σ relationship as that found for bentonite alone. On the contrary, in the mixtures with a small bentonite content that surpassed the designated threshold pressure, the void ratio of clay in the mixtures deviated from the ec-σ curve due to the appearance of the sand skeleton. The bentonite content for a particular bentonite-sand mixture at which deviation from the ec-σ curve began was ~50%. This deviation was almost negligible at 50% initial bentonite content in the bentonite-sand mixtures; after treatment with NaOH solution, however, a pronounced deviation in the ec-σ curve was observed which was caused mainly by the decrease in the bentonite percentage. Finally, the vertical pressure threshold was also estimated using the ec-σ relation for bentonite-sand mixtures with small bentonite contents over a range of various alkaline solution reaction times.

Electroosmosis can solve the technical difficulties associated with rapid drainage in environmental protection and geotechnical engineering applications. Electroosmotic efficiency is a crucial indicator for evaluating the economic benefits and technical effects of electroosmosis. The mineral composition and water content of the soil are the index factors affecting electroosmotic efficiency. Through electroosmosis experiments, some useful results are obtained: (1) Electroosmotic efficiency is related to the properties of pore water in soil and the ratio of free water to adsorbed water content. The mechanism reflects the effect of the interaction between minerals and water. (2) When the water content is above or below the liquid limit, the energy dissipation coefficient increases slowly or rapidly as the water content decreases, respectively. (3) The energy dissipation coefficient has a threshold with respect to the water content. When the water content decreases to this threshold, the energy dissipation coefficient increases sharply. (4) Adding non-hydrophilic minerals to clay increases the number of large pores and reduces the proportion of small pores in the soil, which reduces the energy dissipation coefficient.

The influence of wollastonites and marshallites on phase transformations and the processes leading to the formation of the mineral composition and structure of electrotechnical porcelain were determined. A positive dynamics of changes in the amount and ratios of crystalline and glassy phases as well as mullitization in bodies was established. Samples corresponding to the standards were obtained under laboratory conditions. The results will serve as a criterion for adoption in industry.

Shales from the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation of Yangtze Platform have been widely investigated due to its shale gas potential. To better illustrate the pore structure and fractal characteristics of shale, a series of experiments were conducted on outcrop samples from the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation on Yangtze Platform, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption. Frenkel-Halsey-Hill (FHH) model was adopted to calculate the fractal dimensions. Furthermore, the relationships between fractal dimensions and pore structure parameters and mineral composition are discussed. FE-SEM observation results show that interparticle pores are most developed in shale, followed by intraparticle pores. This study identified the fractal dimensions D1 (ranging from 2.558 0 to 2.710 2) and D2 (ranging from 2.541 5 to 2.765 2). The pore structure of the Niutitang Formation shale is primarily controlled by quartz and clay content. Fractal dimensions are able to characterize the pore structure complexity of Niutitang Formation shale because D1 and D2 correlate well with average pore diameter and quartz content.

Neutron activation analysis and data mining techniques were combined for assessing the mineral composition of diets commonly used to feed beef cattle in Brazil. Among twenty chemical elements determined, Br, Ca, Cs, La, Sc, Se, Sr, Th and Zn showed statistically significant differences between the two cattle diets studied. Chi square indicated that Cs, Se and Sc provided better diets discrimination. The highest classification performances using these elements were achieved for multilayer perceptron and sequential minimal optimization with prediction accuracy of 100%.

Cement kiln dust (0%-27%) was used to stabilize collapsible loess. Compaction, compressive, collapsibility, and strength tests of stabilized collapsible loess were conducted. X-ray diffraction and mercury intrusion porosimetry tests were also carried out to study the characteristics of microstructural and mineral composition for loess before and after modification. Results indicate that compression and collapsible coefficients decreased with increase in cement kiln dust (CKD) content. The unconfined compressed strength is also enhanced by CKD, showing an exponential function, and curing time has a significant impact on later strength. The mineral composition of loess is changed by adding CKD, and a better packing and more stable soil structure are formed.

Due to variations in mineral composition and formation history, rock properties are characterized by heterogeneity and spatial variability. In this paper, a random discrete element method was used to model rock heterogeneity. A parallel bond model was used to simulate the connection between particles and the bond strength was spatially varied to account for the rock heterogeneity. The spatial variabilities of uniaxial compression strength (UCS) and failure mechanism of two natural rocks were analyzed using stochastic analysis. The results have indicated that the used method properly reproduces both the UCS uncertainties and the failure mechanism. Compared to deterministic analysis, the stochastic analysis yields a smaller mean UCS and more complex failure patterns. With an increase in the coefficient of variation of the bond strength, the rock becomes more fragmented, causing a mean UCS to decrease with the greater discrepancy, along with failure mechanisms with multiple fracturing. The mean UCS is minimized and macrocracks are the most discrepant when the scale of fluctuation (SOF) is approximately half the sample width. The UCS discrepancy increases with SOF until it is 20 times greater than the sample width; beyond that the SOF effect becomes negligible.

This study explores the key physicochemical factors affecting the hydrophilic characteristics of iron mine blasting dust (BD). The BD is separated into an unwetted part (UWBD, hydrophobic part) and a wetted part (WBD, hydrophilic part). Its particle size, true density (TD), pore parameters, mineral composition, and surface compounds are comprehensively characterized and compared. The results indicate that a smaller particle size and more developed pore parameters are two key factors responsible for the strong hydrophobicity of the BD. The mineral composition of the BD has no direct effect on its wetting properties; however, it indirectly influences the deposition characteristics of the BD in water by affecting its TD. Unlike coal dust, the surface organic composition of the BD does not affect its wettability and the peak area of C-C/C-H hydrophobic groups in the C Is X-ray photoelectron spectrum of the UWBD (45.03%) is smaller than that in the C Is spectrum of the WBD (68.30%). Thus, eleven co-influencing processes of physicochemical properties of the BD on its wettability are summarized. This research sheds light on the key factors affecting the wettability of the BD.

The success of a hydraulic fracturing (HF) operation is strongly dependent on brittleness of the formation. Several models based on mechanical testing, mineral composition, and sonic log data have been proposed to quantify the brittleness of formations known as brittleness index (BI). The limitations of these conventional BI models, in particular, the consistency and applicability at field scale with the complex in situ conditions are poorly understood. We therefore developed a novel BI model based on the hydraulic fracture propagation energy (HFPE) criterion. A set of hydraulic fracturing (HF) experiments was conducted on samples with different mineralogy at true tri-axial stress conditions for model definition, i.e., the scaling law was employed to ensure that hydraulic fracture propagation resembles the field conditions. To assess the performance of the proposed BI model in predicting the rock fracability, the obtained results of the model on different samples were compared with conventional models. It was shown that the predictions of the conventional BI models are predominantly related to the failure characteristics of the rock rather than its fracability. We showed that such BI models cannot assess the hydraulic fracturing feasibility where complex failure mechanisms (i.e., splitting, shear, friction, etc.), geological condition (i.e., in situ stress) and operational factors (i.e., injection rate, fluid viscosity, etc.) are involved. The new proposed BI model, however, successfully predicted the fracability of different rock types.

Southern Mediterranean lagoons are considered among the systems most vulnerable to anthropogenic activities. In its present condition, the Mar Menor lagoon in south-eastern Spain must be considered as degraded as a result of the pressures to which its shoreline is exposed. These include the transport of arsenic from nearby mining areas, linked to soluble or particulate run-off following rainfall events and flooding. This work studies the solubility and bioavailability of arsenic in the soils of watercourses that drain into the Mar Menor, using nine single chemical extractions with different reagents. The values obtained for As, as well as for Fe and Mn, throw light on the interactions of these metals with As and predict future behaviour patterns for different scenarios. The mineral composition is seen to significantly influence the mobility of the studied elements and shows the relation between the soils and materials of mining origin. It has been suggested that the sediments deposited in the in the watercourses or "ramblas" that transport these materials may act as foci of dispersion.

This study reports the simultaneous determination of the total concentrations of Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, and Zn in 17 samples of commercial energy drinks through inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and multivariate methods, such as Pearson correlation and principal component analysis (PCA), in order to conduct a more thorough evaluation of the original data. The samples studied were stored in two types of containers (polyethylene terephthalate bottles and aluminum cans) and purchased in the city of Belém (State of Pará, Brazil). The results showed high Na content in energy drinks, followed by K, Ca, and Mg. The accuracy of the optimized method was evaluated with the certified reference materials to assess trace elements in water (NIST 1643e); the resultant recoveries varied from 83 to 105%. Energy drinks stored in cans presented higher levels of aluminum and magnesium, while those bottled in polyethylene terephthalate bottles had a higher K content. There were significant differences between the observed Na concentrations and the values dictated on the drink package. Furthermore, PCA explained 70.38% of the total variance, allowing for an evaluation of the degree of similarity between the energy drinks studied and showing that the main contributions to the formation of groups are related to Fe, Na, Mg, and Zn contents. These results will be used to better understand the distribution of inorganic elements contained in energy drinks.

This study investigates the paragenesis and ore mineral composition of xenotime [(Y,HREE)PO4] and florencite [LREEAl3(PO4)2(OH)6] from heavy rare earth element (HREE) deposits/prospects of the Tanami and Hall Creek regions of Western Australia. Two stages of xenotime-(Y) formation are recognized: (1) early xenotime-(Y) in breccias (breccia-hosted) and in quartz-xenotime-(Y) veins (vein-type); and (2) late xenotime-(Y) that occurs largely as dipyramidal-shaped overgrowths on the pre-existing early xenotime-(Y). Similarly, florencite-(Ce) formed in two stages including: (1) early florencite-(Ce) that coexists with and is enclosed by early xenotime-(Y) within mineralized veins; and (2) late florencite-(Ce) that replaces early xenotime-(Y), or appears as narrow rims on early florencite-(Ce). All xenotime-(Y) types from a number of examined HREE deposits/prospects are characterized by elevated U contents and marked negative Eu anomalies that we interpret to be inherited from the metasedimentary rocks from which REE and P required for the phosphate ore mineralization, were sourced. Compared to the early xenotime-(Y), the late xenotime-(Y) is richer in HREE and depleted in P, owing to the formation of the coexisting late florencite-(Ce). Moreover, early florencite-(Ce) has a near end-member florencite (s.s.) composition similar to those associated with unconformity-related U deposits, whereas late florencite-(Ce) sits on the florencite-svanbergite compositional spectrum. The high U content of xenotime-(Y) and composition of early florencite-(Ce) potentially support a genetic association between the HREE mineralization and the coeval unconformity-related U deposits of northern Australia. Nevertheless, we also urge for caution in using xenotime-(Y) composition in isolation as an indicator of geological setting.

The purpose of the current study was to determine the contents of macro and micro minerals (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Zn) in the twenty-six common spices and estimate of their daily intake by the consumption of common spices. The mineral dissolution from common spices has been done by using acid digestion method and quantified by flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The accuracy and precision of the acid digestion for plant materials have been verified successfully by using the certified reference materials (BCR-100) of Beech leave and (BCR-189) of wholemeal flour. The mineral concentrations in common spices were within safe limits recommended by WHO for minerals in the medicinal plants. However, the contents of Na, K, Ca and Mg were significantly higher in all the spices (p

The objective of this work was to study the effect of the incorporation of argane by-products (meal and pulp) in ewe’s diet on the production and quality of milk and the performance of lambs in the lactation phase. Twenty ewes were divided into two equal groups. The first one has been fed with argane by-product diet (AD), and the second with a control diet (CD). The results showed an improvement in milk production with an average of 26.3% for AD compared with the CD group. AD group lambs showed a significant difference (p 0.05), the mineral composition of both milks (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, and Fe) was significant (p

A multi-index analysis including grain size, major and trace elements is performed on the surface sediments from the northeastern Beibu Gulf to trace the sources of the sediments and to understand the controlling factors for elements distribution. The mean grain size exhibits a wide variation ranging from 0.09Φ to 8.05Φ with an average value of 5.33Φ. The average contents of major elements descend in an order of c(SiO2)>c(Al2O3)>c(Fe2O3)>c(CaO)>c(MgO)>c(K2O)>c(Na2O)>c(TiO2)>c(P2O5)>c(MnO), while those of trace elements exhibit a descending order of c(Sr)>c(Rb)>c(V)>c(Zn)>c(Cr)>c(Pb)>c(Ni)>c(Cu)>c(As). On the basis of elementary distribution characteristics and statistical analyses, the study area is divided into the four zones: Zone I is located in the northeastern coastal area of the gulf, which receives large amount of fluvial materials from local rivers in Guangxi and Guangdong, China, and the Qiongzhou Strait; Zone II is located in the center of the study area, where surface sediments exhibits a multiple source; Zone III is located in the Qiongzhou Strait, where surface sediments are dominated by materials from the Zhujiang River and Hainan; Zone IV is located in the southwest of the study area, where surface sediments are mainly originated from the Red River and Hainan. The statistical analyses of sediment geochemical characteristics reveal that the grain size, which is mainly influenced by hydrodynamics and mineral composition of terrigenous materials, is the leading factor controlling the elementary distribution. Meanwhile, impacts from anthropogenic activities and marine biogenic process will also be taken into consideration.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ammonium thiosulphate (ATS) and potassium thiosulphate (KTS) on crop load, fruit quality and fruit mineral content of the eight-year-old ‘Redchief’/M26 apple. Seven different treatments were performed in the study as ATS (1%, 2%, 3%), KTS (1%, 2%, 3%) and hand thinning (after June drop) except for unthinned control. Thinning treatments were carried out as single application in full bloom period. Hand thinning and 3% ATS treatments were the best practices to increase fruit quality (diameter, weight). The fruit set ratio among the applications varied between 13.20% (2% ATS) and 23.46% (1% ATS). Yield was lowest in 2% and 3% ATS. Thinning with ATS was found more effective compared to KTS. The lowest Fe, Cu and Zn elements were determined in 2% ATS application, and the difference between the applications in terms of other elements was found to be insignificant. Phytotoxic effect was not observed for any ATS or KTS doses. As a result, flower thinners can be used as an alternative to hand thinning to improve fruit quality in ‘Redchief’ variety.

A systematic investigation was carried out to assess the nutritional composition of 18 different seaweeds belonging to Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta and Phaeophyta collected from Okha coast of Gujarat, India. The results showed that the carbohydrate content ranged from 0.50 ± 0.01 to 34.89 ± 0.02%, protein from 0.429 ± 0.7 to 20.2 ± 0.1%, lipid from 1.0 ± 0.05 to 4.8 ± 0.2% and ash content was in the range of 20 ± 0.2–50 ± 0.5%. Total free amino acid content was fluctuated between 3.36 ± 1.2 and 364.8 ± 8.67 mg/g dry weight basis. In the mineral composition, brown seaweeds contained high calcium and potassium values than the red and green seaweeds. Red seaweeds showed higher concentration of Na and Fe among three groups. Heavy metals were found to be below the detectable levels.

Laboratory swelling deformation tests were carried out on compacted GMZ bentonite and bentonite-sand mixtures with 30% and 50 % sand contents at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 90 °C with infiltration of distilled water. Influence of temperature, initial dry density, and quartz sand content on the swelling deformation characteristic of compacted bentonite specimens was analyzed. Results indicate that the swelling deformation process is accelerated, and the maximum swelling strain increases with the increase in temperature, while the maximum swelling strain tends to be stable with increasing temperature. In the meantime, the temperature effects depend on both of the sand content and the initial dry density of the specimens, the increases of the maximum swelling strain induced by increasing temperature, are enlarged by increasing sand content or initial dry density. Adding of quartz sand to bentonite not only influences the integrality of bentonite specimen, but also increase the microfissuring in area on quartz sand, which are advantageous to the heat transfer, leading to the increase of swelling deformation capacity of the specimen. The increased dry density relatively increases the bentonite content, so the swelling property is enhanced. However, no change on mineral composition of bentonite was observed when temperature was changed from 20 to 90 °C.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the mineral composition of different artisanal and commercial honeys from 7 states in Venezuela, considering a simultaneous analysis of major and trace elements by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and a comparison among sample pre-treatments including calcination, acid digestion, and dilution. Significant differences were found in the element concentrations between honeys depending on sample pretreatment. Acid digestion was the method selected for the analysis of all honey samples, which proved to be effective and reliable for a simultaneous multi-elemental determination using ICP-OES. The order of average concentration founded for elements in artisanal honeys was: K > P > Mg > Ca > Na > B > Fe > Mn > Ba > Zn > Sr, while for commercial honeys was: K > Na > Mg > P > Ca > Fe > B > Mn > Zn > Sr > Ba. Minerals as As, Cd, Pb, and Hg were not detected in honey samples. The method showed good precision (

An acid digestion procedure of the forage palm (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill and Nopalea cochenilifera) employing a closed digestor block applied full 24 factorial design was optimized. The optimal conditions were HNO3 5.0 mol L−1, 2.0 mL of H2O2 30% m m−1, 120 min of digestion, and heating temperature of 180 °C. The certified reference materials of apple leaves (NIST 1515) and tomato leaves (Agro C1003a) were used to evaluate the accuracy of the analytical method. The concentrations of the macroelements were (in % m m−1) Ca (1.32–3.71), K (0.88–5.29), Mg (0.70–1.78), and P (0.03–0.32). For the microelements, the concentrations (in μg g−1) obtained were As (

The present work focuses on the effects of the blending of mining wastes from the Hammam Zriba mine (Northeast Tunisia) with the primary ingredients of Portland clinker properties. The raw mix was composed of limestone, sand, and clay sampled from the Sidi Bouzid area in Central Tunisia. The used mining wastes are composed essentially of barium, sulfur, and strontium and associated with calcium. Results show that it is possible to use these wastes to formulate an ecological clinker with high quality. The reference clinker is composed of C3S (67.8%), C2S (7.9% β-C2S and 7.15% α-C2S), and C3A (10.3%), associated with small quantities of C4AF. The incorporation of 2% of wastes does not lead to any significant change in mineral composition. The addition of 4% of wastes promotes the decomposition of alite into α-C2S (7.1 to 13.7%) and β-C2S (7.9 to 9.6%). In contrast, the clinker melt exhibits a slight drop of ferrite (5.3 to 3.1% C4AF) and a quasi-unchanged level of cubic-C3A. Greater incorporation of wastes tends to establish the mineral distribution as the reference. The amounts of free lime low when the addition of wastes is lower than 4% (

The archaeological evidence from Cova Gran de Santa Linya suggests that during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, the site was used as a livestock enclosure where the accumulated excrements were burned, generating a sequence known by the term fumier. Here we present the results of an integrated study of silica phytoliths, dung spherulites, and mineral composition of sedimentary matrix from the remaining Holocene sequence. The use of fire to sanitize the space had important consequences for the preservation of dung spherulites and the accumulation of phytoliths. Phytolith assemblages indicate that the animals enclosed in the cave were mostly sheep that exploited the pastures nearby the site during the year. In this sense, the results from our modern plant reference collection challenge the assumption that grass inflorescence phytolith can be used as a seasonality indicator.

Neolamarckia cadamba, commonly known as Kadamba, is one of the economically important trees, which is being exploited for paper, pulp and wood industries, however uses of its fruits are not reported. In the present investigation the N. cadamba fruits were analysed for their proximate and mineral content at different stages of maturity, and the ripe fruit was used for nectar preparation. Proximate analysis of the ripe edible fruit showed that it is rich in fat (2.4%) and proteins (2.1%), and has calorific value of 103.7 kcal/100 g. The nectar prepared from the ripe fruits showed mean overall acceptability score of more than 6 indicating its suitability for nectar preparation. The shelf life of nectar was found to be 150 days at ambient conditions (28 ± 3 °C). The nectar was rich in minerals and antioxidants, and can be recommended for consumption by various age groups. However, studies are required to ascertain its physiological effect on consumers.

This study aimed to evaluate the mineral composition in native and non-native Amazonian fruits using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and multivariate methods, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), in order to conduct a more thorough evaluation of the original data. The accuracy was checked by certified reference material analysis (Poplar leaves) and spike experiments. The results of the analysis were in agreement with the certified values, with analytical recoveries for all analytes in an acceptable range from 82 to 113%, and relative standard deviations (RSD) were in the range of 0.2-18%. Furthermore, PCA explained 68% of the total variance, while HCA confirmed the correlations found in the PCA, allowing for the evaluation of the degree of similarity between the fruits studied. These results will be used to better understand the distribution of inorganic constituents within these Amazonian fruits.

The gasification properties of feed coke and tuyere coke were investigated by non-isothermal thermogravimetric method under CO2 atmosphere. The physical and chemical structure features were also systematically tested, as well as the mineral composition. The pore characteristics, graphitization degree of carbon matrix, and ash content were the main factors determining the reactivity of coke. Higher Lc decreases the reactivity of tuyere coke in low temperature, while larger porosity increases the reactivity in high temperature, forming an intersection with the gasification process of the feed coke. The high content of Fe2O3 in 25 to 20 mm tuyere coke made a rapid gasification reaction. The SiC produced in the tuyere area increased the porosity of coke especially the 5 to 1 mm coke at the edge of BF, which promoted the gasification process of coke in the area.

In the present work, dry plant biomass that is commonly used in horses feeding: alfalfa, chopped grass pellets and chopped grass was used as a biosorbent of microelement ions: Cr(III), Zn(II), Cu(II) and Mn(II). Biosorption process was used to potentially enhance supplementation of minerals in horses diet. In order to characterize the biosorption properties of the examined biomass, preliminary experiments (kinetics and equilibrium studies) were conducted with Cr(III) ions. The effect of pH and initial metal ions concentration (C0) on the biosorption capacity (q) was investigated. On this basis, the best experimental conditions were chosen (pH 5, CS 1.0 g/L (biomass content), C0 200 mg/L). For them, biosorption of Mn(II), Zn(II), Cu(II) ions was carried out in a periodic and continuous system (biosorption column). Equilibrium of the biosorption was described using Langmuir equation. The mineral composition of the raw and enriched biomass was also examined using ICP-OES, as well as SEM-EDX technique. In general, the best biosorption properties were observed for alfalfa. The maximum biosorption capacity for Zn(II) was 27.5 mg/g, for Cu(II)—38.5 mg/g, for Mn(II)—13.6 mg/g and for Cr(III)—33.2 mg/g. Therefore, the biomass of enriched alfalfa can be recommended as a feed supplement for horses.

Sulfate-rich belite sulfoaluminate (BSA) cements with varied phase compositions were synthesized in this work. The presence of sulfate in the clinker is in the form of anhydrite in addition to calcium sulfoaluminate. The aim of this paper is to study the effect of mineral composition on cement properties. Experimental results indicate that the improvement of early-age strengths mainly depends on the hydration of ye’elimite. The increase of ferrite content promotes the compressive strength after 7 days of hardening, but has adverse effect on cement strength at early ages. The optimum content of ferrite is between 10 and 20% for BSA cement containing approximately 35% ye’elimite. Different amounts of natural gypsum were added to the synthetic sulfate-rich BSA clinkers and we found that anhydrite formed in BSA clinkers can replace natural gypsum to facilitate the hydration of ye’elimite.

We propose a new procedure for the complex evaluation of thermal properties of rocks based on the data of measurements of the thermal effusivity of samples and the numerical analyses of the volumetric heat capacity according to the mineral composition of the rock. The thermal effusivity is measured under the conditions of periodic heating of the surface of a reference plate operating in contact with the investigated sample. The thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity are computed according to the estimates of the thermal effusivity and heat capacity. The equations for the errors of the thermophysical analysis are also presented.

International audience; Few studies have examined the relative risk of recurrence of different stone types. The object of the present study was to evaluate the tendency for stone recurrence as a function of major mineral composition of the stones and morphological characteristics of the stones. This study was carried out using 38,274 stones for which we had data available to specify if the stone was from the first or a subsequent urinary stone episode. Stones were analyzed for morphology by stereomicroscope and for composition by infrared spectroscopy. Overall, 42.7% of stones were from patients who had had a previous stone event, with these being more frequent in men (44.4%) than in women (38.9%, p < 0.0001). Age of first stone occurrence was lowest for dihydroxyadenine (15.7 ± 16.6 years) and highest for anhydrous uric acid (62.5 ± 14.9 years), with the average age of first stones of calcium oxalate falling in the middle (40.7 ± 14.6 years for calcium oxalate dihydrate, and 48.4 ± 15.1 years for calcium oxalate monohydrate, COM). By composition alone, COM was among the least recurrent of stones, with only 38.0% of COM stones coming from patients who had had a previous episode; however, when the different morphological types of COM were considered, type Ic—which displays a light color, budding surface and unorganized section—had a significantly greater rate of recurrence, at 82.4% (p < 0.0001), than did other morphologies of COM. Similarly, for stones composed of apatite, morphological type IVa2—a unique form with cracks visible beneath a glossy surface—had a higher rate of recurrence than other apatite morphologies (78.8 vs. 39–42%, p < 0.0001). Stone mineral type alone is insufficient for identifying the potential of recurrence of the stones. Instead, the addition of stone morphology may allow the diagnosis of highly recurrent stones, even among common mineral types (e.g., COM) that in general are less recurrent.

Contents of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined in the material collected in sandboxes of seven spa resorts located in S Poland (CCE) and their results used to establish a health risk of children. After sieving out grains > 2 mm, the bulk samples were quantitatively separated into four grain fractions: 2000–1000, 1000–200, 200–63 and

Typical large-deformation phenomena of soft rock occurred frequently during the tunneling process in Huangjiazhai Tunnel, Hubei Province, China, including extrusion at the tunnel wall and severe damage of the primary support and secondary lining. To reveal the mechanisms of these anomalies, comprehensive investigations have been undertaken combining engineering, laboratory, and microscopic analyses. Since the monitoring results show that there might be a close relationship between the large deformation phenomena and water infiltration into the tunnel, the water–rock interaction is the research focus in the investigations. The experimental results reveal that the deforming resistance and strength of shales exposed at the excavation face weaken quickly in the first 20 days after the shales have contact with water. The results obtained by mineral composition detection and microstructure observation illustrate the microscopic reasons for the decreasing strength and deforming resistance of the tunnel surrounding rock after water infiltration. The results from in situ geostress tests indicate that as a result of high tectonic stress and low rock strength, the field of Huangjiazhai Tunnel is an extremely high geostress area. By combining analyses from the mechanical and geological perspectives, there are two main reasons for the large deformations in the Huangjiazhai Tunnel: the plastic flow caused by tunnel excavation under high geostress and low rock strength and a hydrated-mechanical coupling process between the shales and water.

The investigation of the shrinkage–swelling phenomena in argillaceous formations of the Grombalia area (north-eastern Tunisia) has allowed the identification of three classes of clays. The first class contains three argillaceous formations and has a low susceptibility towards shrinkage–swelling phenomena. The second class, represented by four argillaceous formations, has an average susceptibility. The third class, comprises four argillaceous formations that have a high susceptibility. Therefore, in the study region, the hazard susceptibility towards the constructions can be significant for certain zones, because of the extension of constructions which is the result of the development of demography and industry in the recent years. Three indices have been determined to obtain these classes: the lithology indices, the mineral composition indices and the geotechnical indices. A description of the lithology of geological formations and X-ray diffraction results from analysis on bulk samples allow recognising the amount of clays in each formation. However, argillaceous formations composed essentially by clays does not mean that it has a high susceptibility towards shrinkage–swelling phenomena. To improve interpretation, XRD results reveal the volume proportion of minerals that exists in each argillaceous formation. Indeed, formations having high susceptibility towards shrinkage–swelling phenomena show a high volume of smectites and/or interstratified. The additional data provided from geotechnical study on argillaceous formations have allowed an inference about the degree of the shrinkage–swelling susceptibility for all the argillaceous formations in the Grombalia area. In fact, geotechnical results have allowed determining the plasticity index value, the methylene blue value and the linear shrinkage value. Determining the degree of the shrinkage–swelling susceptibility must be inferred from the three indices (lithology, mineralogy and geotechnical), because applying only the results of one feature can lead to a false decision.

Mechanical properties of rock materials are related to textural characteristics. The relationships between mechanical properties and textural characteristics have been extensively investigated for differently types of rocks through experimental tests. Based on the experimental test data, single- and multiple- variant regression analyses are conducted among mechanical properties and textural characteristics. Textural characteristics of rock materials are influenced by the following factors: mineral composition, size, shape, and spatial distribution of mineral grains, porosity, and inherent microcracks. This study focuses on the first two: mineral composition and grain size. This study comprehensively summarizes the regression equations between mechanical properties and mineral content and the regression equations between mechanical properties and grain size. Further research directions are suggested at the end of this study.

This study analyzed the content of 62 elements in 10 Ganoderma species cultivated in China and Poland and wild growing in Polish forests. Thirty elements (25 micro- and 5 macro-elements) were identified in all species, whereas 32 trace elements only in a very limited number of samples. The highest contents of major elements were observed in cultivated G. pfeifferi and G. sinense originated from Poland and China, respectively. Among wild growing species, G. applanatum showed the highest content of In, Mg, and P, G. pfeifferi of Te, both G. pfeifferi and G. resinaceum of K. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that among tested group of mushroom species, fruit bodies of wild growing G. resinaceum and cultivated G. pfeifferi were characterized by a higher level of all elements jointly than the other analyzed Ganoderma species. The greatest similarity was observed for G. atrum, G. capense, G. carnosum and cultivated G. lucidum as regards accumulation of all elements. Significant differences between cultivated and wild growing G. lucidum were observed only for K and In, whereas in G. pfeifferi differences were found for Ba, Cd, Eu, Ge, Ni, Rh, Sr, Te, Zn, Mg, and Na. Significant differences in Ca, P, and Pr contents were determined for both the species.

X-ray phase analysis of the general mineralogical composition of core samples from one of the West Siberian fields was performed. Electronic absorption spectra of the clay core samples with an added indicator were studied. The speed and availability of applying the two methods in petrophysical laboratories during sample preparation for standard and special studies were estimated.

During the exploration and development of shale gas resources, elastic parameters provide crucial geomechanical information for shale gas extraction and hydraulic fracturing projects. Static elastic parameters are usually adopted in rock mechanics analyses and hydraulic fracturing designs and are generally obtained from experimental tests using core samples collected from the subsurface. However, experimental core data could be discontinuous despite the high costs. Dynamic methods, including well logging and seismic survey, are applied in practice. Given the difference between static and dynamic elastic parameters, dynamic elastic parameters gained from those aforementioned dynamic methods need to be converted to static elastic parameters. Currently, static and dynamic elastic parameter test data are often directly used in converting dynamic elastic parameters to static elastic parameters without consideration of the influence of rock mineral composition on the difference between elastic and dynamic elastic properties. Consequently, the conversion results cannot fully reflect reservoir geomechanical conditions. In this research, the rock mineral composition is analyzed, and the effects of various mineral components on static and dynamic elastic parameters of shale are discussed. A new conversion model is established by taking into account the rock mineral composition. The new model is capable of providing improved conversion results and thus can be applied in shale gas extraction and hydraulic fracturing projects at the target reservoir. Therefore, this research has both theoretical and practical impacts.

The shipwreck of Bajo de la Campana (VII–VI century B.C.) was a Phoenician merchant ship accidentally discovered in the 1950s off the coasts of the Murcia region (Spain). Sixty-four elephant tusks were part of the cargo. Some of them were recovered by archaeologists between 2007 and 2011 and are now stored in the restoration laboratory of the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology (ARQVA) of Cartagena. This study investigated the bioerosion traces present on 12 selected tusks in order to hypothesize which marine or terrestrial macroborers could have attacked this substrate. No work has previously looked at the biological degradation of this material. Taking into account the mineral composition of ivory, the hypothesized bioeroders were selected from those reported in the literature as bioeroders of rocks or other hard substrates (bones, corals, shells, etc.). The hypothesized biodeteriogens belongs to several groups of marine invertebrates (echinoids, barnacles, molluscs, sponges, polychaetes, and bryozoans) and terrestrial insects. Unfortunately, the absence of parts of the bioeroders’ body or of skeletal elements inside the studied traces did not allow definitive identification, so the attributions remain hypotheses. However, this study could be considered a starting point for an interesting debate and for future investigations on the bioerosion of this precious material.

There is a resurgence of interest in the study of deer antlers. Recent research advocates their potential for use in bone xenografts. Using this working hypothesis, we can formulate many questions: do antlers really present unique or interesting mechanical properties, and if so, which factors affect these properties? Many other issues, including tissue compatibility, could be discussed; however, this article will focus on the biomechanical features of antlers. This paper reviews some answers found within current published material, and could help determine the optimal selection of some antlers for further experimental studies and clinical trials. Some general elements like anatomy and histology of deer antlers are briefly summarised. This paper will attempt to define the fundamental differences between skeletal bone and antler bone in terms of their organic and mechanical properties. We will then compare the previously published data, which details the mechanical properties of antlers from different species of Cervidae, by reviewing several aspects such as: sex; geographical situation; morphology; hydration state; and mineral composition. Some findings emerge: mechanical properties do not vary with gender or latitude, and the most important determining factor appears to be the species, alongside morphology and use of antlers. The state of hydration and mineral composition also has an influence on the mechanical properties of Cervidae antlers.

The term bone quality refers to factors that define bone mechanical strength and hence its fracture risk, either inclusive or exclusive of the quantity of mineralized tissue present. These factors include: bone size, density, shape (microarchitecture, geometry, remodeling cavity number size and distribution), porosity, mineral and collagen distribution and alignment, amount and distribution of microdamage, mineral composition, collagen cross-linking and other material properties. In this review, we will consider how pharmaceuticals used to treat osteoporosis (anabolic and catabolic agents) and those used for other conditions that affect bone quality and induce “secondary osteoporosis” alter these parameters. Observed effects vary with different methods of drug delivery, length and periodicity of use, other drugs used concomitantly or consecutively, user gender, methods of analysis and, most importantly, the genetic background of the species tested. We suggest that while increases in quantity of mineralized tissue present account for much of the reported reduction in fracture risk, drugs that correct the composition and microarchitecture of the bone, returning it to its preosteoporotic status, may provide additional benefits.

Nephrolithiasis, or stones, is one of the oldest urological diseases, with descriptions and treatment strategies dating back to ancient times. Despite the enormous number of patients affected by stones, a surprising lack of conceptual understanding of many aspects of this disease still exists. This lack of understanding includes mechanisms of stone formation and retention, the clinical relevance of different stone compositions and that of formation patterns and associated pathological features to the overall course of the condition. Fortunately, a number of new tools are available to assist in answering such questions. New renal endoscopes enable kidney visualization in much higher definition than was previously possible, while micro-CT imaging is the optimal technique for assessment of stone microstructure and mineral composition in a nondestructive fashion. Together, these tools have the potential to provide novel insights into the aetiology of stone formation that might unlock new prevention and treatment strategies, and enable more effective management of patients with nephrolithiasis.