Elemental and Isotopic Analysis

Sedimentological and geochemical records are presented for an upper Paleocene to middle Eocene deep-water pelagic succession of the Pabdeh Formation in the Paryab section, Zagros Mountains, NW, Iran. In this study, grain-size statistical parameters, cumulative curves, and bivariate analysis on twenty-five sediment samples were used to decipher depositional processes and paleoenvironments. XRD analysis of the fine-grained silt to clay sediments indicates that quartz, calcite, ankerite/dolomite, and clay minerals such as illite, chlorite, and kaolinite constitute the main minerals within these sediments. Elemental and isotopic chemostratigraphies are used to infer depositional conditions and sea level trends through time. TOC-CaCO3 trends of the samples are used to interpret the type of deposition and sediment accumulation rates, rhythmic bedding, and identification of regressional and transgressional phases. In the studied section, the manganese contents exhibit a declining trend alo...

Rationale: Helium (He) and energy shortages have caused price increases and reduced their availability. Using three combustion reactions per acquisition of carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios saves 50% He and energy during the elemental analysis/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA/IRMS). This approach needs to be tested for sulfur isotope (δ34S) analyses.
Methods: A new method to measure δ34S in three sequential combustion reactions within one EA/IRMS acquisition was developed. The same material or blank samples could be used in the three reactions. After SO2 was used, a N2 purging method was employed to prolong the lifetime of the valves in the EA/IRMS interface. The 3 EA/IRMS was applied to measure δ34S in precious samples, such as Ag2S from acid-volatile
and chromium-reducible sulfur extracted with a multiple-port setup.
Results: The 3 EA/IRMS-δ34S method was validated with replicate analyses of international reference materials and laboratory standards with a wide range of mineralogical compositions and δ34S values. The method provided a strategic advantage for the δ34S measurements of small precious samples (measured between blanks). The accuracy and precision of the 3 EA/IRMS values effectively matched those obtained using conventional EA/IRMS, with good agreement between the mean ± SD values and the recommended values with their uncertainties.
Conclusions: Compared with the conventional EA/IRMS, the proposed method provides accurate and precise δ34S measurements of the sulfate and sulfide samples while saving approximately 50% of He, energy, SO2 reference gas, O2, analysis time, and cost. Notably, 3 EA/IRMS can provide up to three δ34S values unaffected by memory effects.

Increased anthropogenic activity, especially in thriving industries and mining activity, has led to the accumulation of inorganic elements in the soil. This study applied neutron activation analysis for the determination of inorganic element concentrations in paddy soils and quantified the nutrient value of paddy rice cultivated on various agricultural sites throughout Thailand. The determination accuracy of the elements U, As, Sb, W, Mn, K, La, Cr, Hf, Cs, Sc, Fe, Co, Cd and Zn was assessed using National Institute of Standards and Technology standard reference materials; the results were satisfactory, showing low relative error. High analytical precision was also observed. Cadmium was selected to check the linearity of the calibration curve against a Cd standard. For a calibration curve in the range 1-9 µg, a correlation coefficient of 0.997 was found. Trace amounts of U, As, Sb, W, Mn, K, La, Cr, Hf, Cs, Sc, Fe, Co, Zn and Cd were also found in the soil samples. However, the Co, Cd, and Zn concentrations were especially high in agricultural sites in Tak province. The elemental concentrations in rice followed the order K > Zn > Mn. The data obtained are of potential benefit for the development of trace element supplementation in food.

REVISED 06/04/25 Supporting docs available in project folder - 60+ validation tests, 350+ predictions - FAQ doc for reviewers.

We present a unified, field-based explanation for the formation, alignment, and expansion behavior of cosmic filaments and voids. Building upon the Resonance-Suppression (RS) framework, we propose that large-scale cosmic structure emerges from coherent harmonic scaffolding modulated by suppression fields-quantum-scale filters that regulate energy distribution, wave reinforcement, and spacetime connectivity. Unlike standard ΛCDM models, which depend on dark matter particles and inflationary perturbation seeds, the RS model derives filament and void geometry directly from wave interference principles, requiring no exotic matter. This approach provides a falsifiable alternative that predicts quantized filament spacing, void boundary coherence, and harmonic clustering, with strong alignment to observational datasets. Through a combination of field derivations and observational tests, we show that filament thickness, void asymmetry, and AGN clustering patterns all emerge naturally from resonance envelopes without fine-tuning. Filaments represent stabilized resonance nodes, while voids arise from off-resonance suppression basins. Our model outperforms classical alternatives in both predictive power and falsifiability, and aligns closely with recent filament alignment studies, CMB-lensing cross-correlations, and gravitational wave echo predictions. This paper follows a structured approach: we first derive the RS field's gravitational role, define its mathematical formalism, and then validate it across key cosmological observables. Finally, we offer a falsifiable predictions list and a full parameter formulation for future testing. Our findings suggest that the cosmic web may be less a chaotic by-product and more a harmonic expression of a deeply ordered spacetime field.

This study addresses longstanding questions concerning the ore sources used in the first series of coins of ancient Athens known as the Wappenmϋnzen (c.540-c.500 BCE) by combining comprehensive numismatic data on 22 coins (16 new and 6 legacy analyses) with lead isotope and surface elemental measurements (MC-ICP-MS and XRF). It finds usage of ores from Spain to Romania and Türkiye and frequent mixing. This upends current thinking based on a (mis)interpretation of historical sources which argues that the tyrant Peisistratos and his sons, who ruled Athens during the period, sourced most silver from the districts of Mt Pangaion and Strymon River in northern Greece and that silver did not flow from the western Mediterranean into their coinage. The data suggest that domestic 'Lavrion' mines of Athens did not contribute to the ore stock of the Wappenmϋnzen until the subsequent production of the 'owl' series when it was also used in some Wappenmϋnzen fractions and show that there is no correlation between coin types and ore sources. Elemental compositions nuance our understanding of the coins, but do not shed light on provenance. Together, these new findings force a reappraisal of numismatic and historical perceptions of the period of the Athenian tyranny in the lead up to democracy, not least because the multiple silver sources point to trading relationships with a greater variety of regions than previously contemplated.

Sedimentological and geochemical records are presented for an upper Paleocene to middle Eocene deep-water pelagic succession of the Pabdeh Formation in the Paryab section, Zagros Mountains, NW, Iran. In this study, grain-size statistical parameters, cumulative curves, and bivariate analysis on twenty-five sediment samples were used to decipher depositional processes and paleoenvironments. XRD analysis of the fine-grained silt to clay sediments indicates that quartz, calcite, ankerite/dolomite, and clay minerals such as illite, chlorite, and kaolinite constitute the main minerals within these sediments. Elemental and isotopic chemostratigraphies are used to infer depositional conditions and sea level trends through time. TOC-CaCO3 trends of the samples are used to interpret the type of deposition and sediment accumulation rates, rhythmic bedding, and identification of regressional and transgressional phases. In the studied section, the manganese contents exhibit a declining trend alo...

The Paleocene–Eocene geologic record suggest a complex interplay between rising temperatures, sea-level fluctuations, plankton taxa extinction and diversification, and changes in the trophic resource regime for the PETM (Paleoecene–Eocene Thermal Maximum) interval. To investigate changing conditions during the PETM interval in a deepwater marine paleoenvironment of the Zagros Basin (W-Iran), a total of 394 samples has been taken from the predominantly 171 m thick shaly lower part of the Pabdeh Formation in a section at the village of Paryab. The cyclic limestone-marl successions of the Paleocene– lower Eocene Pabdeh Formation were deposited in a deeper-water marine environment in the (closing) oceanic area of the Neo-Tethys, and consist of deep-water pelagic to hemipelagic shale, marl(stone) and limestone. This project aims to identify and evaluate facies changes in this offshore environment, in particular around the Paleocene/Eocene boundary and the PETM interval.

Sedimentological and geochemical records are presented for an upper Paleocene to middle Eocene deep-water pelagic succession of the Pabdeh Formation in the Paryab section, Zagros Mountains, NW, Iran. In this study, grain-size statistical parameters, cumulative curves, and bivariate analysis on twenty-five sediment samples were used to decipher depositional processes and paleoenvironments. XRD analysis of the fine-grained silt to clay sediments indicates that quartz, calcite, ankerite/dolomite, and clay minerals such as illite, chlorite, and kaolinite constitute the main minerals within these sediments. Elemental and isotopic chemostratigraphies are used to infer depositional conditions and sea level trends through time. TOC-CaCO3 trends of the samples are used to interpret the type of deposition and sediment accumulation rates, rhythmic bedding, and identification of regressional and transgressional phases. In the studied section, the manganese contents exhibit a declining trend alo...

A study is carried out on the concentrations of constituent (major, minor, and trace) elements present in ceramic insulators and their effects on its insulative properties. In carrying out the analysis, the best and most convenient method being the Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) otherwise known as Non-Destructive Neutron Activation Analysis (NDNAA) was adopted.

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Cold Fusion might, if claims are to be believed, be looking at the wrong nuclear phenomenon that isn’t fusion and sporadic claims of excess energy production might be due to a wholly different process, perhaps the Wigner Energy of the Lattice, unlinked to claims of fusion, thus confusing the issue and holding the field back. We also have reasonable questions to the authors regarding their experiment.

In this work concentrations of minor graphite impurities in virgin graphite of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (Ignalina NPP) measured by high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are presented and applicability of the method for the evaluation of minor graphite impurities is discussed. It is shown that ICP-MS is a promising technique for determination of graphite impurities in 10 ppm-10 ppt concentration range as a rapid and relatively cheap method. The most important nuclides for evaluation of short-and long-lived activation products in the Ignalina NPP graphite were measured with the accuracy sufficient for the radioactive waste classification. These results could be used for planning of dismantling and disposal of the Ignalina NPP graphite.

We used in this study Compton suppression method and epithermal neutron activation analysis to determine the concentration of nutrients and heavy metals in Nigerian food and beverages. The work was performed at the University of Texas TRIGA Reactor by short, medium, and long irradiation protocols, using thermal flux of 1.4 Â 10 12 n cm À 2 s À 1 and epithermal flux of 1.4 Â 10 11 n cm À 2 s À 1. Application of Compton suppression method has reduced interferences from Compton scattered photons thereby allowing easy evaluation of Na, Cl, Ca, Cu, Mn, Mg, Co, Cr, Rb, Fe, and Se. The epithermal NAA method has enabled determination of Cd, As, Ba, Sr, Br, I, and V with little turnaround time. Quality Control and Quality Assurance of the method was tested by analyzing four Standard Reference Materials (non-fat powdered milk, apple leaves, citrus leaves, and peach leaves) obtained from National Institute for Standards and Technology. Our results show that sorghum, millet, and maize have high values of Zn, Mn, Fe, low values of Cd, As, and Se. Powdered milks, rice, beans, and soybeans were found to have moderate amounts of all the elements. Tobacco recorded high content of Cd, Mn, and As, whereas tea, tsobo leaves, Baobab leaves, and okro seed have more As values than others. However, biscuits, macaroni, spaghetti, and noodles show lower concentrations of all the elements. The distribution of these nutrients and heavy metals in these food and beverages shows the need to fortify biscuits and pastas with micro and macro-nutrients and reduce the use of tobacco, tea, tsobo leaves, Baobab leaves, and Okro seed to avoid intake of heavy elements.

We used in this study Compton suppression method and epithermal neutron activation analysis to determine the concentration of nutrients and heavy metals in Nigerian food and beverages. The work was performed at the University of Texas TRIGA Reactor by short, medium, and long irradiation protocols, using thermal flux of 1.4 Â 10 12 n cm À 2 s À 1 and epithermal flux of 1.4 Â 10 11 n cm À 2 s À 1. Application of Compton suppression method has reduced interferences from Compton scattered photons thereby allowing easy evaluation of Na, Cl, Ca, Cu, Mn, Mg, Co, Cr, Rb, Fe, and Se. The epithermal NAA method has enabled determination of Cd, As, Ba, Sr, Br, I, and V with little turnaround time. Quality Control and Quality Assurance of the method was tested by analyzing four Standard Reference Materials (non-fat powdered milk, apple leaves, citrus leaves, and peach leaves) obtained from National Institute for Standards and Technology. Our results show that sorghum, millet, and maize have high values of Zn, Mn, Fe, low values of Cd, As, and Se. Powdered milks, rice, beans, and soybeans were found to have moderate amounts of all the elements. Tobacco recorded high content of Cd, Mn, and As, whereas tea, tsobo leaves, Baobab leaves, and okro seed have more As values than others. However, biscuits, macaroni, spaghetti, and noodles show lower concentrations of all the elements. The distribution of these nutrients and heavy metals in these food and beverages shows the need to fortify biscuits and pastas with micro and macro-nutrients and reduce the use of tobacco, tea, tsobo leaves, Baobab leaves, and Okro seed to avoid intake of heavy elements.

Sedimentological and geochemical records are presented for an upper Paleocene to middle Eocene deep-water pelagic succession of the Pabdeh Formation in the Paryab section, Zagros Mountains, NW, Iran. In this study, grain-size statistical parameters, cumulative curves, and bivariate analysis on twenty-five sediment samples were used to decipher depositional processes and paleoenvironments. XRD analysis of the fine-grained silt to clay sediments indicates that quartz, calcite, ankerite/dolomite, and clay minerals such as illite, chlorite, and kaolinite constitute the main minerals within these sediments. Elemental and isotopic chemostratigraphies are used to infer depositional conditions and sea level trends through time. TOC-CaCO3 trends of the samples are used to interpret the type of deposition and sediment accumulation rates, rhythmic bedding, and identification of regressional and transgressional phases. In the studied section, the manganese contents exhibit a declining trend alo...

The measurement of isotopic abundances and ratio variations of plutonium can provide important information about the sources and behaviours of radiogenic isotopes in the environment. The detection of ultra-trace isotopes of plutonium is increasing interest in the scientific literature for the determination of soil erosion rates due to their long retention times in the environment. The characteristics of plutonium within the environment make it an ideal tracer for the determination of soil redistribution rates and its robustness presents the opportunity to replace more commonly used radioisotopes such as 137Cesium and 210Lead. However, ultra-trace analysis of plutonium (fg g−1) presents analytical challenges which must be overcome in a variety of soil types. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry has proven valuable for detection of plutonium in a range of environmental samples. However, severe polyatomic interferences from uranium isotopes significantly limits its application....

The measurement of isotopic abundances and ratio variations of plutonium can provide important information about the sources and behaviours of radiogenic isotopes in the environment. The detection of ultra-trace isotopes of plutonium is increasing interest in the scientific literature for the determination of soil erosion rates due to their long retention times in the environment. The characteristics of plutonium within the environment make it an ideal tracer for the determination of soil redistribution rates and its robustness presents the opportunity to replace more commonly used radioisotopes such as 137Cesium and 210Lead. However, ultra-trace analysis of plutonium (fg g−1) presents analytical challenges which must be overcome in a variety of soil types. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry has proven valuable for detection of plutonium in a range of environmental samples. However, severe polyatomic interferences from uranium isotopes significantly limits its application....

Collision cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (CC-ICP-MS) was investigated as a possible alternative to nuclear analytical techniques for the determination of 210 Pb. The formation of isobaric and polyatomic interferences was studied. Following the acid digestion, extraction chromatography was tested to assess their usefulness in reducing its interferences. A 210 Pb pre-concentration of 4300fold and recoveries of 63-73% were obtained using a combined extraction chromatography and preconcentration by evaporation protocol. Improvement in sensitivity of 210 Pb was found by optimization of the collision cell parameters using krypton as a collision gas. The detection limit was improved by a factor of 300 for 210 Pb. A detection limit of 0.214 ppt (0.698 Bq/mL) was obtained. The method was applied to determine 210 Pb in samples of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM).

The measurement of isotopic abundances and ratio variations of plutonium can provide important information about the sources and behaviours of radiogenic isotopes in the environment. The detection of ultra-trace isotopes of plutonium is increasing interest in the scientific literature for the determination of soil erosion rates due to their long retention times in the environment. The characteristics of plutonium within the environment make it an ideal tracer for the determination of soil redistribution rates and its robustness presents the opportunity to replace more commonly used radioisotopes such as 137Cesium and 210Lead. However, ultra-trace analysis of plutonium (fg g−1) presents analytical challenges which must be overcome in a variety of soil types. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry has proven valuable for detection of plutonium in a range of environmental samples. However, severe polyatomic interferences from uranium isotopes significantly limits its application....

This work was carried out to determine the proximate and elemental composition of Salvia plebeia. It showed high nutritive potential. Shoot of S. plebeias sowed that it contained moisture (17.6%), Ash (14.5%), Organic matter (85%), Crude protein (6.16%), Crude fibers (5.75%), Crude fats (15.15%) and carbohydrates (44.69%). Similarly root sample of Salvia contained Ash (10.34%), Organic matter (89.67%), Crude protein (1.81%), Crude fibers (17.45%), Crude fats (7.68%), Carbohydrates (42.5%) and moisture content (15.6%); while seeds contained Ash (14.9%), Organic matter (85.11%), Crude protein (10.17%), Crude fibers (8.35%), Crude fats (12.37%), Carbohydrates (41%) and moisture content (10.30%). All parts of Salvia were rich in mineral and contained Calcium 37-64mg/L. Calcium is important for growth and maintance of bones and teeth. The concentration of microelements in the shoot of Salvia in mg/L were in the order of Ca>Mg>Na.Zn>Pb>Mn>Cr>Ni>Cd. Concentration in roots were in the following order Ca>Mg>Na>Zn>Mn>Ni>Pb>Cr>Ni>Cd while in seeds Ca>Mg>Na>Zn>Mn>Pb>Ni>Cr>Cd. In conclusion the shoot, root and seeds of Salvia contain nutrients and mineral elements of high nutritional value and can be used as a food source.

This paper aims to discuss the origin and significance of the so-called spoked-wheel amulets from the late Iron Age (3 rd to 1 st century BC). The type with eight spokes, which most resembles a real chariot wheel, was discovered to be made of a specific alloy containing a large amount of lead and a significant amount of antimony, plus traces of silver and arsenic. This combination of elements signifies the use of a copper known as fahlore (tetrahedrite). Its use in Bohemia after the early Bronze Age is rarely observed, if at all. These amulets are therefore a conspicuous exception. Research in Bavaria has revealed other objects made from fahlore copper. Another connection to Bavaria may be indicated by coin hoards accompanied by bronze closure rings of a similar alloy design. Other cases may suggest that antimony was added as a separate component. Here we discuss the composition and provenance of these objects from the perspective of compositional and lead isotope analysis.

Collision cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (CC-ICP-MS) was investigated as a possible alternative to nuclear analytical techniques for the determination of 210 Pb. The formation of isobaric and polyatomic interferences was studied. Following the acid digestion, extraction chromatography was tested to assess their usefulness in reducing its interferences. A 210 Pb pre-concentration of 4300fold and recoveries of 63-73% were obtained using a combined extraction chromatography and preconcentration by evaporation protocol. Improvement in sensitivity of 210 Pb was found by optimization of the collision cell parameters using krypton as a collision gas. The detection limit was improved by a factor of 300 for 210 Pb. A detection limit of 0.214 ppt (0.698 Bq/mL) was obtained. The method was applied to determine 210 Pb in samples of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM).

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Introduction and overview____________________________________________3 2 Decommissioning strategies and costs ________________________________8 2.1 Current and past decommissioning activities _____________________________8 2.1.1 Decommissioning strategy _____________________________________8 2.1.2 Decommissioning cost estimates _______________________________10 2.2 Future decommissioning strategies ___________________________________12 3 Funds and fund management ________________________________________14 3.1 Setting aside funds ________________________________________________14 3.1.1 Sources for decommissioning funding ___________________________14 3.1.2 Accumulated funds __________________________________________15 3.2 Management of funds ______________________________________________18 3.3 Special cases: Fall-back option and transfer of ownership _________________20 4 Transparency of the funding schemes to the public _____________________25 5 Stakeholder analysis _______________________________________________26 6 Conclusions and recommendations __________________________________29 7 References _______________________________________________________31

This study uses stable and radiogenic isotopes to explore the dynamics between subsistence, mobility, and social organization on the Great Hungarian Plain during the Late Neolithic-Early Copper Age transition (ca. 4500 BC). Archaeological evidence indicates that many aspects of society changed from the Neolithic to the Copper Age in eastern Hungary, including what types of settlements people occupied, who they traded with, and where they buried their dead. In this book, chemical signatures (δ 13 C, δ 15 N and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr isotopes) recorded in teeth and bones from human burials are used to evaluate whether diet and residency patterns changed during this transformative time, particularly whether the observed changes in material culture were associated with increased mobility and an increased reliance on animal husbandry consistent with agropastoralism.

The URTeC Technical Program Committee accepted this presentation on the basis of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). The contents of this paper have not been reviewed by URTeC and URTeC does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information herein. All information is the responsibility of, and, is subject to corrections by the author(s). Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this paper does so at their own risk. The information herein does not necessarily reflect any position of URTeC. Any reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper without the written consent of URTeC is prohibited.

A new method that allows rapid preconcentration and separation of plutonium and neptunium in water samples was developed for the measurement of 237 Np and Pu isotopes by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and alpha spectrometry; a hybrid approach. 238 U can interfere with 239 Pu measurement by ICP-MS as 238 UH + mass overlap and 237 Np via peak tailing. The method provide enhanced removal of uranium by separating Pu and Np initially on TEVA Resin, then moving Pu to DGA resin for additional removal of uranium. The decontamination factor for uranium from Pu is almost 100,000 and the decontamination factor for U from Np is greater than 10,000. This method uses stacked extraction chromatography cartridges and vacuum box technology to facilitate rapid separations. Preconcentration is performed using a streamlined calcium phosphate precipitation method. Purified solutions are split between ICP-MS and alpha spectrometry so that long and short-lived Pu isotopes can be measured successfully. The method allows for simultaneous extraction of 20 samples (including QC samples) in 4 to 6 hours, and can also be used for emergency response.

This paper aims to discuss the origin and significance of the so-called spoked-wheel amulets from the late Iron Age (3 rd to 1 st century BC). The type with eight spokes, which most resembles a real chariot wheel, was discovered to be made of a specific alloy containing a large amount of lead and a significant amount of antimony, plus traces of silver and arsenic. This combination of elements signifies the use of a copper known as fahlore (tetrahedrite). Its use in Bohemia after the early Bronze Age is rarely observed, if at all. These amulets are therefore a conspicuous exception. Research in Bavaria has revealed other objects made from fahlore copper. Another connection to Bavaria may be indicated by coin hoards accompanied by bronze closure rings of a similar alloy design. Other cases may suggest that antimony was added as a separate component. Here we discuss the composition and provenance of these objects from the perspective of compositional and lead isotope analysis.

The upper lower Cenomanian through middle Santonian (Upper Cretaceous) of the Boquillas Formation in the Big Bend Region of Trans-Pecos Texas consists of a marine carbonate succession deposited at the southern end of the Western Interior Seaway. The Boquillas Formation, subdivided into the lower, c. 78 m thick limestone-shale Ernst Member, and the upper, c. 132 m thick limestone/chalk/marl San Vicente Member, was deposited in a shallow shelf open marine environment at the junction between the Western Interior Seaway and the western margins of the Tethys Basin. Biogeographically, the area was closely tied with the southern Western Interior Seaway. The richly fossiliferous upper Turonian, Coniacian and lower Santonian parts of the Boquillas Formation are particularly promising for multistratigraphic studies.

Archaeological shell and fish middens are rich sources of paleoenvironmental proxy data. Patelloid limpet shells are common constituents in archaeological middens found along European, African, and South American coastlines. Paleotemperature reconstructions using oxygen isotope ratios of limpet shells depend on the ability to constrain the oxygen isotope ratio of seawater; therefore, alternative proxies are necessary for coastal localities where this is not possible. The study evaluates whether Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Li/Ca, Li/Mg, and Sr/Li ratios are reliable proxies of sea surface temperature (SST) in the calcite layer of shells of the patelloid limpets, Patella vulgata and Nacella deaurata. We compare Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Li/Ca, Li/Mg, and Sr/Li ratios to the seasonal variations in contemporaneous δ 18 O shell values, which primarily record seasonal changes in SST. Elemental ratios (Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Li/Ca, Li/Mg, and Sr/Li) show no significant correlations with reconstructed SST in P. vulgata and N. deaurata shells, nor do they show sinusoidal cycles expected from a SST proxy. In addition, shell δ 13 C values show no significant ontogenetic trends, suggesting that these limpets exhibit little change in metabolic carbon incorporation into the shell with increasing ontogenetic age. Although shell growth rate exhibits a logarithmic decrease with age based on calculated linear extension rates, growth rate does not correlate with elemental profiles in these limpets. Overall, elemental ratios are not reliable recorders of paleotemperature in patelloid limpets.

Archaeological shell and fish middens are rich sources of paleoenvironmental proxy data. Patelloid limpet shells are common constituents in archaeological middens found along European, African, and South American coastlines. Paleotemperature reconstructions using oxygen isotope ratios of limpet shells depend on the ability to constrain the oxygen isotope ratio of seawater; therefore, alternative proxies are necessary for coastal localities where this is not possible. The study evaluates whether Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Li/Ca, Li/Mg, and Sr/Li ratios are reliable proxies of sea surface temperature (SST) in the calcite layer of shells of the patelloid limpets, Patella vulgata and Nacella deaurata. We compare Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Li/Ca, Li/Mg, and Sr/Li ratios to the seasonal variations in contemporaneous δ 18 O shell values, which primarily record seasonal changes in SST. Elemental ratios (Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Li/Ca, Li/Mg, and Sr/Li) show no significant correlations with reconstructed SST in P. vulgata and N. deaurata shells, nor do they show sinusoidal cycles expected from a SST proxy. In addition, shell δ 13 C values show no significant ontogenetic trends, suggesting that these limpets exhibit little change in metabolic carbon incorporation into the shell with increasing ontogenetic age. Although shell growth rate exhibits a logarithmic decrease with age based on calculated linear extension rates, growth rate does not correlate with elemental profiles in these limpets. Overall, elemental ratios are not reliable recorders of paleotemperature in patelloid limpets.

Archaeological shell and fish middens are rich sources of paleoenvironmental proxy data. Patelloid limpet shells are common constituents in archaeological middens found along European, African, and South American coastlines. Paleotemperature reconstructions using oxygen isotope ratios of limpet shells depend on the ability to constrain the oxygen isotope ratio of seawater; therefore, alternative proxies are necessary for coastal localities where this is not possible. The study evaluates whether Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Li/Ca, Li/Mg, and Sr/Li ratios are reliable proxies of sea surface temperature (SST) in the calcite layer of shells of the patelloid limpets, Patella vulgata and Nacella deaurata. We compare Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Li/Ca, Li/Mg, and Sr/Li ratios to the seasonal variations in contemporaneous δ 18 O shell values, which primarily record seasonal changes in SST. Elemental ratios (Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Li/Ca, Li/Mg, and Sr/Li) show no significant correlations with reconstructed SST in P. vulgata and N. deaurata shells, nor do they show sinusoidal cycles expected from a SST proxy. In addition, shell δ 13 C values show no significant ontogenetic trends, suggesting that these limpets exhibit little change in metabolic carbon incorporation into the shell with increasing ontogenetic age. Although shell growth rate exhibits a logarithmic decrease with age based on calculated linear extension rates, growth rate does not correlate with elemental profiles in these limpets. Overall, elemental ratios are not reliable recorders of paleotemperature in patelloid limpets.

ABSTRACTSamples of graphite from a RBMK-1500 reactor at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant from different construction elements (stack, sleeve, and bushing) were analyzed by the instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) method (LVR-15 experimental reactor of the Research Centre Řež, Ltd.) using the prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA) method (Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum) and with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) (CPST, Lithuania). These measurements were performed with the aim of obtaining the missing information on the impurity distribution in the RBMK-type nuclear graphite constructions as well as for intercomparison purposes, with the results measured in the graphite sleeve samples previously obtained by INAA & GDMS (Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry) at CEA Saclay, France, and ICP-MS (CPST, Lithuania) methods. Validation of the ICP-MS method for the nuclear graphite impurity concentration determination was proven. The experimentally obtained RBMK-1...

In this work concentrations of minor graphite impurities in virgin graphite of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (Ignalina NPP) measured by high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are presented and applicability of the method for the evaluation of minor graphite impurities is discussed. It is shown that ICP-MS is a promising technique for determination of graphite impurities in 10 ppm -10 ppt concentration range as a rapid and relatively cheap method. The most important nuclides for evaluation of short-and long-lived activation products in the Ignalina NPP graphite were measured with the accuracy sufficient for the radioactive waste classification. These results could be used for planning of dismantling and disposal of the Ignalina NPP graphite.

This paper aims to discuss the origin and significance of the so-called spoked-wheel amulets from the late Iron Age (3 rd to 1 st century BC). The type with eight spokes, which most resembles a real chariot wheel, was discovered to be made of a specific alloy containing a large amount of lead and a significant amount of antimony, plus traces of silver and arsenic. This combination of elements signifies the use of a copper known as fahlore (tetrahedrite). Its use in Bohemia after the early Bronze Age is rarely observed, if at all. These amulets are therefore a conspicuous exception. Research in Bavaria has revealed other objects made from fahlore copper. Another connection to Bavaria may be indicated by coin hoards accompanied by bronze closure rings of a similar alloy design. Other cases may suggest that antimony was added as a separate component. Here we discuss the composition and provenance of these objects from the perspective of compositional and lead isotope analysis.

C is one of the limiting radionuclides used in the categorization of radioactive graphite waste; this categorization is crucial in selecting the appropriate graphite treatment/disposal method. We propose a rapid analysis method for 14 C specific activity determination in small graphite samples in the 1-100 μg range. The method applies an oxidation procedure to the sample, which extracts 14 C from the different carbonaceous matrices in a controlled manner. Because this method enables fast online measurement and 14 C specific activity evaluation, it can be especially useful for characterizing 14 C in irradiated graphite when dismantling graphite moderator and reflector parts, or when sorting radioactive graphite waste from decommissioned nuclear power plants. The proposed rapid method is based on graphite combustion and the subsequent measurement of both CO 2 and 14 C, using a commercial elemental analyser and the semiconductor detector, respectively. The method was verified using the liquid scintillation counting (LSC) technique. The uncertainty of this rapid method is within the acceptable range for radioactive waste characterization purposes. The 14 C specific activity determination procedure proposed in this study takes approximately ten minutes, comparing favorably to the more complicated and time consuming LSC method. This method can be potentially used to radiologically characterize radioactive waste or used in biomedical applications when dealing with the specific activity determination of 14 C in the sample.

Organic geochemical evaluation of source rock within a petroleum system is important considering its role as the source of hydrocarbon. Subsurface samples at depth of 2361m (outer shelf) and 2613m (lower slope) from Pologbene-1 Well located within the northern delta depobelt were analysed using Rock-Eval pyrolysis analytical technique. This technique involves the temperature programmed heating of samples in an inert environment. Inference was drawn from Rock-Eval geochemical parameters, which include S1, S2, TOC, and Tmax. Others are Hydrogen Index (HI), Oxygen Index (OI) and Production Index (PI). The results were compared with the inner shelf (1716m) and the upper slope (2595m) of the same well. Two geochemical models were established: HI/OI and HI/Tmax, for the outer shelf and upper slope source rock of Pologbene-1 Well. The two models were derived from HI values of 502 and 548, OI value of 14 and 15 and Tmas value of 429 o C and 419 o C (outer and upper slope respectively). The model indicate that the samples are oil and gas prone, are type II source rock containing type II kerogen. S1, S2 and TOC values of 7.96mg/g, 328mg/g and 65.36wtpercentage for outer shelf and 7.51mg/g, 325mg/g, 59.37 percentage for upper slope respectively indicate good to excellent source capacity and high petroleum potential for Pologbene-1 Well.

An analytical method for determining 239 Pu and 240 Pu in marine sediment samples, which uses quadrupole ICP-MS, was developed in this work. A simple anion-exchange chromatography system was employed for the separation and purification of Pu from the sample matrix. A sufficient decontamination factor of 1.4•10 4 for U, which interferes with the determination of 239 Pu, was achieved. High sensitivity Pu determination was obtained, which led to an extremely low concentration detection limit of $8 fg/ml (0.019 mBq/ml for 239 Pu; 0.071 mBq/ml for 240 Pu) in a sample solution, or an absolute detection limit of 42 fg in a 5 ml sample solution, by using the shield torch technique. Analytical results for the determination of the 239+240 Pu and the 240 Pu/ 239 Pu ratio in IAEA 368 (ocean sediment) reference material indicated that the accuracy of the method was satisfactory. The method developed was successfully applied to a study of Pu behavior in the sediments from Sagami Bay, Japan. The observed high 240 Pu/ 239 Pu ratio in the sediment core indicated that there was additional Pu input derived from close-in fallout in addition to the global fallout.

This paper aims to discuss the origin and significance of the so-called spoked-wheel amulets from the late Iron Age (3rd to 1st century BC). The type with eight spokes, which most resembles a real chariot wheel, was discovered to be made of a specific alloy containing a large amount of lead and a significant amount of antimony, plus traces of silver and arsenic. This combination of elements signifies the use of a copper known as fahlore (tetrahedrite). Its use in Bohemia after the early Bronze Age is rarely observed, if at all. These amulets are therefore a conspicuous exception. Research in Bavaria has revealed other objects made from fahlore copper. Another connection to Bavaria may be indicated by coin hoards accompanied by bronze closure rings of a similar alloy design. Other cases may suggest that antimony was added as a separate component. Here we discuss the composition and provenance of these objects from the perspective of compositional and lead isotope analysis.

The objective of the study was to characterize the root of the Pachira aquatic Aubl, collected from the gardens of the Universidad del Atlántico. For years, roots have represented an alternative for solving food security problems due to their nutritional value, especially for indigenous communities; however, being carriers of secondary metabolites, beneficial for health, their consumption has decreased and their potential in the agroindustry and the pharmaceutical industry wasted. Pachira aquatic Aubl is a plant species abundantly distributed in the Colombian Caribbean region, resistant to wide ranges of temperature, humidity and salinity, develops roots that have not studied; the infusion of that of its bark considered with hypoglycemic effects. The characteristics of humidity, ash, crude fiber, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates were determined; minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron, as well as the amino acid Lysine; The proximal analysis performed by AOAC methods, minerals by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and Lysine analysis by ultrafast liquid chromatography. The mean, standard deviation, variance and confidence intervals obtained from the results of the analyzes. The study reported an average composition of the root of the Pachira aquatic Aubl of: carbohydrates (72.25%), humidity (13.53%), ashes (4.64%), proteins (4.53%), crude fiber (4.39%), fat (0.64%), calcium (188.202 mg/100 g), iron (0.211 mg/100 g), zinc (0.060 mg/100 g), magnesium (0.060 mg/100 g) and lysine 0.032 mg/100 g. The nutrients found in a greater proportion were carbohydrates and calcium, also highlighting the presence of the amino acid Lysine.

Introduction and overview____________________________________________3 2 Decommissioning strategies and costs ________________________________8 2.1 Current and past decommissioning activities _____________________________8 2.1.1 Decommissioning strategy _____________________________________8 2.1.2 Decommissioning cost estimates _______________________________10 2.2 Future decommissioning strategies ___________________________________12 3 Funds and fund management ________________________________________14 3.1 Setting aside funds ________________________________________________14 3.1.1 Sources for decommissioning funding ___________________________14 3.1.2 Accumulated funds __________________________________________15 3.2 Management of funds ______________________________________________18 3.3 Special cases: Fall-back option and transfer of ownership _________________20 4 Transparency of the funding schemes to the public _____________________25 5 Stakeholder analysis _______________________________________________26 6 Conclusions and recommendations __________________________________29 7 References _______________________________________________________31

The aim of this work is twofold: to optimize the radiochemical separation of Plutonium (Pu) from soil samples, and to measure the Pu concentration. Soil samples were prepared using acid digestion assisted by microwaves; then, Pu purification was carried out with Pu AG1X8 resin. Pu isotopes were measured using Mass Spectrometry with Magnetic Sector with Inductively Coupled Plasma source (ICP-SFMS). In order to reduce the interference due to the presence of 238 UH + in the samples a desolvation system (Apex) was used. The limit of detection (LOD) of Pu was determined. The efficiency of Pu recovery from soil samples varies from 70 to 93%.

A study is carried out on the concentrations of constituent (major, minor, and trace) elements present in ceramic insulators and their effects on its insulative properties. In carrying out the analysis, the best and most convenient method being the Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) otherwise known as NonDestructive Neutron Activation Analysis (NDNAA) was adopted. Ceramic insulators were obtained, crushed to powdery form and samples prepared for INAA. A typical soil sample was also obtained for comparison between the raw product- clay and the finished/processed products ceramics. 250mg of the samples were fed in to the nuclear reactor by means of pneumatic transfer with the aid of rabbit capsules. The irradiated samples have been analyzed and the following elements identified: Al, Ti, Ca, Mg, K, Na, V, Mn, Dy, Sc, Zn, La, Sm, Co, Ta, Th, Rb, Ce, Hf, Fe, Yb, Cs, Sb, As and U. The elements which enhance the insulative properties of the ceramic insulator have been highligh...

The venerid Tawera gayi could be a suitable Holocene bioarchive for Southern South-America given that it is found in a wide distribution range from the Beagle Channel (54o 50´ S) to 33o S along the Pacific coast, and to the North Patagonia (36°S) in the South Atlantic. In the Beagle Channel, both extant T. gayi populations and shell beds of mid-Holocene origin can be found. On the other hand there is reliable life history information in modern populations (Lomovasky et al. 2005 J. Appl. Ichthyol. 21, 64-69), i.e. shell growth patterns and the confirmation of the annual periodicity of the translucent bands. Finally, the shells provide geochemical proxies, e.g., d18O for temperature reconstruction. In order to investigate climate variability in the Beagle Channel, the individual age, growth increments and isotopes analyses of modern and fossil shells of T. gayi were used. The shell cuts of T. gayi showed a pattern of alternating broad opaque and narrow translucent bands, which were co...

Sedimentological and geochemical records are presented for an upper Paleocene to middle Eocene deep-water pelagic succession of the Pabdeh Formation in the Paryab section, Zagros Mountains, NW, Iran. In this study, grain-size statistical parameters, cumulative curves, and bivariate analysis on twenty-five sediment samples were used to decipher depositional processes and paleoenvironments. XRD analysis of the fine-grained silt to clay sediments indicates that quartz, calcite, ankerite/dolomite, and clay minerals such as illite, chlorite, and kaolinite constitute the main minerals within these sediments. Elemental and isotopic chemostratigraphies are used to infer depositional conditions and sea level trends through time. TOC-CaCO3 trends of the samples are used to interpret the type of deposition and sediment accumulation rates, rhythmic bedding, and identification of regressional and transgressional phases. In the studied section, the manganese contents exhibit a declining trend alo...

Sedimentological and geochemical records are presented for an upper Paleocene to middle Eocene deep-water pelagic succession of the Pabdeh Formation in the Paryab section, Zagros Mountains, NW, Iran. In this study, grain-size statistical parameters, cumulative curves, and bivariate analysis on twenty-five sediment samples were used to decipher depositional processes and paleoenvironments. XRD analysis of the fine-grained silt to clay sediments indicates that quartz, calcite, ankerite/dolomite, and clay minerals such as illite, chlorite, and kaolinite constitute the main minerals within these sediments. Elemental and isotopic chemostratigraphies are used to infer depositional conditions and sea level trends through time. TOC-CaCO 3 trends of the samples are used to interpret the type of deposition and sediment accumulation rates, rhythmic bedding, and identification of regressional and transgressional phases. In the studied section, the manganese contents exhibit a declining trend al...

P r oceedi ng s o f t h e Sy m p o siu m o n Syn chr otr on Cr y st all ogr ap hy, Kr y n ica, Po l an d 200 1 St u d y of Si-I m p l ant ed an d T h erm ally An n eale d L ay er s of Sili con by Us in g X-ra y G ra zin g In cid en ce Me th od s D. K l in g er a ; Ê , M. Le f el d-So sn ows k a b , J. B. Pe ¤ka a , W. Paszkowi cz a , P. Gi er¤ ow sk i a and P. Pan kowsk i a a In st it ut e of P hysi cs, Po l i sh Ac ademy of Sciences al. Lo tni k §w 32/ 46, 02-668 W arsaw, Po l and