西藏冈底斯罗布真铅锌矿床成矿流体特征

西藏罗布真铅锌矿床位于冈底斯西缘,其矿体主要产于古新世林子宗群英安岩及斑状二长花岗岩中,并受断裂控制。成矿过程可分为石英-黄铁矿阶段(Ⅰ)和石英-多金属硫化物阶段(Ⅱ)。Ⅰ阶段石英中分布三种类型的包裹体,即:纯气相包裹体(成分为CO2或CH4)、水溶液包裹体(液相组分主要为H2O,含微量CO2,气相组分主要为H2O和CO2)和含子矿物多相包裹体。Ⅱ阶段石英中的包裹体类型及对应的成分与Ⅰ阶段石英大体相似,但部分水溶液包裹体气液相成分均为H2O;Ⅱ阶段闪锌矿中分布水溶液包裹体和含子矿物多相包裹体,二者液相组分和气相组分主要为H2O,子矿物为方解石。Ⅰ阶段包裹体均一温度集中在200~320℃,盐度集中在8%~16%Na Cleqv,Ⅱ阶段包裹体均一温度集中在180~240℃和280~320℃两个区间,盐度集中在6%~12%Na Cleqv。成矿流体为中温、中低盐度的H2O-Na Cl±CO2体系。成矿流体的δDH2O值为-91‰~-125‰,δ18OH2O值为3.9‰~6.6‰,表明其来源主要为岩浆水。以气液相分离为标志的流体不混溶是矿区硫化物沉淀的重要机制。     

江西岩背锡矿床流体包裹体特征与成矿作用研究

岩背锡矿床位于武夷山南段江西会昌县境内,是一个大型独立斑岩锡矿床.矿床产于花岗斑岩和流纹斑岩的接触带内,矿体以富含原生黄玉为特征.矿石构造以浸染状、细脉浸染状和脉状为主.矿石矿物主要有锡石、黄铁矿、黄铜矿和辉钼矿等;脉石矿物主要有石英、黄玉、萤石、绿泥石、绢云母等.对岩背锡矿各阶段石英流体包裹体进行了岩相学观察、显微测温和激光拉曼探针分析.结果表明,流体包裹体的类型主要为富液相气液两相包裹体,其次为富气相气液两相包裹体、含CO2三相包裹体和含石盐子矿物多相包裹体.成矿前期和成矿后期以富液相气液两相包裹体为主,均一温度分别为228 ～ 433℃、147 ～ 195℃,w(NaCleq)分别为4.34％～17.26％、1.91％～6.3％.成矿期4类包裹体均发育,以富液相气液两相包裹体为主,均一温度为180～349℃,w(NaCleq)为3.87％～15.47％.激光拉曼分析显示,流体包裹体的气相成分主要是H2O、CO2、SO2、HCl和HF.已有的氢、氧同位素研究表明,成矿流体主要来自岩浆水,晚期有大气降水的混入.矿床的初始流体来源于岩浆水,低温度、低盐度大气水的混入,导致流体温度、盐度降低和锡石的沉淀.     

巴里坤小加山钨矿床的成矿流体及矿床成因

小加山钨矿床位于新疆巴里坤地区,属石英脉型钨矿床。矿体赋存于邻近海西晚期花岗岩侵入体附近的中泥盆统大南湖组第一亚组第二段(D2d12)的变晶屑凝灰岩中。黑钨矿石英脉分为灰色含钨石英脉和白色含钨石英脉两种。岩相学观察认为,含矿石英脉中流体包裹体主要为两相水溶液包裹体, EW 走向的灰色石英脉包裹体气液比大, SN 走向的白色石英脉包裹体气液比较小。显微测温结果显示灰色石英脉均一温度(Th)范围为143~354℃,白色石英脉 Th 范围为154~312℃。激光拉曼探针显示小加山钨矿床含黑钨矿石英脉中流体包裹体含有少量 CO2组分。H、O 同位素研究表明：钨矿床成矿流体来源以岩浆水为主。成矿演化过程为：岩浆岩侵入活动→岩浆水运移分离→含钨络合物迁移搬运→冷却富集成矿,成矿晚期流体有大气降水的混合。与赣南钨矿的对比研究表明,小加山钨矿床与赣南钨矿床的成矿流体特征相似;在构造环境上,小加山钨矿床位于东准噶尔造山带和东天山成矿带的交汇复合部位,与位于武夷山和南岭两大成矿带的交汇复合部位的赣南钨矿床成矿环境相似。     

巴里坤小加山鹤矿床的成矿流体及矿床成因

小加山钨矿床位于新疆巴里坤地区,属石英脉型钨矿床。矿体赋存于邻近海西晚期花岗岩侵入体附近的中泥盆统大南湖组第一亚组第二段(D_2d_1~2)的变晶屑凝灰岩中。黑钨矿石英脉分为灰色含钨石英脉和白色含钨石英脉两种。岩相学观察认为,含矿石英脉中流体包裹体主要为两相水溶液包裹体,EW走向的灰色石英脉包裹体气液比大,SN走向的白色石英脉包裹体气液比较小。显微测温结果显示灰色石英脉均一温度(Th)范围为143~354℃,白色石英脉Th范围为154~312℃。激光拉曼探针显示小加山钨矿床含黑钨矿石英脉中流体包裹体含有少量CO_2组分。H、O同位素研究表明:钨矿床成矿流体来源以岩浆水为主。成矿演化过程为:岩浆岩侵入活动→岩浆水运移分离→含钨络合物迁移搬运→冷却富集成矿,成矿晚期流体有大气降水的混合。与赣南钨矿的对比研究表明,小加山钨矿床与赣南钨矿床的成矿流体特征相似;在构造环境上,小加山钨矿床位于东准噶尔造山带和东天山成矿带的交汇复合部位,与位于武夷山和南岭两大成矿带的交汇复合部位的赣南钨矿床成矿环境相似。     

滇西北卓玛Cu--Pb--Zn矿床成矿流体特征

卓玛矿床位于云南香格里拉格咱弧东北部,属斑岩-热液脉型铜多金属矿床。矿体主要赋存于矿区石英二长斑岩内及附近,严格受NW向断裂控制。卓玛矿床的形成经历了黄铁矿-石英(Ⅰ)、黄铁矿±黄铜矿--石英(Ⅱ)、黄铁矿±黄铜矿±方铅矿±闪锌矿-石英(Ⅲ)及贫硫化物-石英-碳酸盐(Ⅳ)四个成矿阶段。通过对各成矿阶段研究样品石英颗粒中的原生流体包裹体进行岩相学、显微测温学及激光拉曼光谱研究,探讨卓玛铜多金属矿床成矿流体特征,结果表明:Ⅰ阶段石英中主要发育富CO_2及气液两相型包裹体;Ⅱ阶段石英中主要发育碳质、富CO_2、含CO_2及气液两相4种类型包裹体;Ⅲ阶段石英中主要发育含CO_2及气液两相型包裹体;Ⅳ阶段石英中主要发育富CO_2、含CO_2及气液两相3种类型包裹体。激光拉曼光谱显示碳质包裹体主要成分为CO_2和CH_4,而CO_2包裹体中除CO_2和CH_4气相成分外,还有部分H_2O。因此,综合研究结果显示卓玛铜多金属矿床成矿流体为中温、低盐度的CO_2--CH_4-Na Cl--H_2O体系热液。成矿过程中,流体温度和盐度数值略有降低趋势,成矿流体的不混溶作用是导致成矿物质大量卸载的关键因素。     

内蒙古柳坝沟金矿床流体包裹体研究

对柳坝沟金矿床的包裹体进行系统的岩相学、显微测温和激光拉曼光谱研究,结果表明:包裹体的主要类型有富液包裹体、富气包裹体、CO2-H2O和含子矿物多相包裹体。流体包裹体液相成分为水,气相成分主要为CO2及H2O,并含有少量或微量的N2、H2S、CH4等挥发份。成矿流体属中高温、中低盐度、中等密度的NaCl-H2O-CO2体系。矿床形成于中深成矿环境。矿床的成矿作用是一个温度退缩和盐度降低的过程,成矿过程中发生过多次流体沸腾作用,流体的沸腾和CO2流体在Au成矿过程中发挥着重要作用。     

内蒙古乌奴格吐山大型铜钼矿床成矿流体来源及演化: 流体包裹体及氢氧同位素地球化学证据

内蒙古乌奴格吐山大型铜钼矿床位于得尔布干成矿带西南段。矿体产于燕山早期二长花岗斑岩、流纹斑岩等构成的火山通道相与外围黑云母花岗岩接触带内外。矿床从中心向外发育典型的热液蚀变分带: 钾化带、绢英岩化带和伊利石—水白云母化带。根据矿物组合不同,将热液成矿期分为早、中、晚3 个阶段,其矿物组合分别为石英+钾长石+黄铁矿±辉钼矿、石英+绢云母+ 黄铜矿± 辉钼矿+黄铁矿、石英+碳酸盐矿物+黄铁矿±闪锌矿。流体包裹体研究表明,乌山斑岩铜钼矿床发育L 型富液相包裹体、V 型富气相包裹体、S 型含子矿物多相包裹体以及PG 型纯气相包裹体。激光拉曼探针分析表明,石英斑晶和早阶段石英内水溶液包裹体除H2O 外,多数含CO2,少数还含有 CH4,C4H6 等,含子矿物多相包裹体中子矿物主要有赤铁矿和黄铜矿; 中阶段石英内只有少量V 型包裹体含CO2,多数只有H2O,S 型包裹体中子矿物有黄铜矿和黄铁矿,不再含有赤铁矿; 而晚阶段石英内包裹体只含H2O。成矿流体由H2O--CO2 --NaCl 体系逐渐演化为H2O--NaCl 体系。成矿早、中、晚3 个阶段均一温度分别集中在340℃ ～ 460℃,240℃ ～ 360℃和120℃ ～ 240℃; 盐度变化范围分别为 5. 32 ～ 53. 26 wt% NaCl. eqv,1. 65 ～ 41. 58 wt% NaCl. eqv 和0. 66 ～ 14. 05 wt% NaCl. eqv。初始流体是直接从浅部结晶冷凝的岩浆熔体中出熔的高温、高盐度和高氧逸度的成矿流体。富气相包裹体、富液相包裹体和含矿物的多相包裹体普遍共生,流体的沸腾可能是早期金属硫化物大量沉淀的重要机制。结合氢、氧同位素研究,认为中--晚阶段天水的混入导致的流体混合及降温作用在成矿过程中也发挥了重要作用。     

宁芜盆地凹山和东山铁矿床流体包裹体和氢氧同位素研究

本文对宁芜地区凹山和东山铁矿床中的磷灰石流体包襄体进行了较为系统的测温研究,并测定了不同时期形成的磁铁矿、阳起石和石英的 H、O 同位素组成。凹山和东山铁矿磷灰石含有丰富的流体包裹体,原生气液包裹体包括早期细长管状、针状包裹体(类型Ⅱ)和晚期不规则状包襄体(类型Ⅰ);早期包裹体又可分为单一液相包裹体(类型Ⅱ-a)、气液两相(富气相)包襄体(类型Ⅱ-b)、气液两相(富液相)包裹体(类型Ⅱ-c)和气相、液相及固相多相包裹体(类型Ⅱ-d)四种亚类。包襄体中至少含有五种不同的子矿物。磷灰石包裹体记录了多个峰值温度,从600℃～800℃到～410℃和～270℃,分别对应于磷灰石(磁铁矿 透辉石)、阳起石和石英的形成。流体的盐度随温度的降低而逐渐减小,从高达～80%NaCl equiv。到<20%NaCl equiv。磷灰石形成时流体处于不均匀的状态,流体包裹体为非均一捕获。H、O 同位素研究显示成矿流体早期为演化的初始岩浆(水),在高温下形成了铁矿石;此后,成矿流体有可能与蒸发盆地卤水或大气降水发生混合;晚期则可能有较显著的大气降水加入。     

赣南茅坪钨矿床黄玉单晶流体包裹体研究

文章以赣南茅坪大型钨矿床成矿早阶段形成的黄玉单晶为研究对象,对其中的流体包裹体开展了岩相学、显微测温以及激光拉曼光谱研究。结果显示,茅坪钨矿床黄玉单晶中的流体包裹体以富液两相包裹体为主,同时发育有单相包裹体、富二氧化碳的三相包裹体以及含子矿物包裹体。其中,含子矿物包裹体发育是本矿床黄玉中包裹体的重要特征,子矿物成分有方解石、石英、石盐等;流体包裹体的均一温度介于200~509℃之间,峰值位于420~500℃之间,盐度w(NaCl_(eq))为4.32%~19.22%,峰值介于17%~19%,较前人获得的石英脉型钨矿床成矿温度和盐度均高出许多,其峰值(420~500℃)在一定程度上衔接了石英脉型黑钨矿高温阶段的演化历史;黄玉单晶中包裹体还具有富含CO_2、CH_4、N_2等挥发分的特征。综上所述,笔者认为石英脉型钨矿的成矿流体在早阶段具有高温、中高盐度、富挥发分、富含多种离子的特征。     

青海东昆仑卡尔却卡多金属矿区斑岩型铜矿的流体包裹体研究

卡尔却卡铜多金属矿床是青海省地质调查院于近几年在东昆仑西段祁漫塔格地区新发现的一个矿床,目前规模已达中型。文章通过对矿区西北部受岩体断裂破碎蚀变带控制的铜矿体中石英流体包裹体岩相学、显微测温和激光拉曼探针成分分析,表明铜矿化石英脉中发育气液两相、富气相、含子矿物三相、纯液相和纯气相5类包裹体;气液两相和含子矿物三相流体包裹体的盐度差异明显,但它们的均一温度比较一致(320~440℃),反映在成矿流体演化过程中发生了强烈的流体不混溶,对成矿起重要作用;流体包裹体气相成分主要为H2O和CO2,其次为CH4、N2、H2、H2S及烃类。综合流体包裹体研究和矿化、蚀变等地质特征,笔者认为矿区西北部矿化应为与高中温岩浆热液作用有关的斑岩型铜矿化,它与区内强烈发育的铜铅锌多金属矽卡岩矿化均为同一构造-岩浆作用的产物。     

Wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometric determination of Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in komatiites

Komatiites are mantle-derived ultramafic volcanic rocks. Komatiites have been discovered in several States of India, notably in Karnataka. Studies on the distribution of trace-elements in the komatiites of India are very few. This paper proposes a simple, accurate, precise, rapid, and non-destructive wavelength-dispersive x-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometric technique for determining Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in komatiites, and discusses the accuracy, precision, limits of detection, x-ray spectral-line interferences, inter-element effects, speed, advantages, and limitations of the technique. The accuracy of the technique is excellent (within 3%) for Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th and very good (within 4%) for Y. The precision is also excellent (within 3%) for Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th. The limits of detection are: 1 ppm for Sc and V; 2 ppm for Cr, Co, and Ni; 3 ppm for Cu, Zn, Rb, and Sr; 4 ppm for Y and Zr; 6 ppm for Nb; 10 ppm for Ba; 13 ppm for Pb; and 14 ppm for Th. The time taken for determining Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb, and Th in a batch of 24 samples of komatiites, for a replication of four analyses per sample, by one operator, using a manual WDXRF spectrometer, is only 60 hours.     

Isotopic systematics of He,Ar, S,Cu, Ni,Re, Os,Pb, U,Sm, Nd,Rb, Sr,Lu, and Hf in the rocks and ores of the Norilsk deposits

This paper reports the first results of a study of 11 isotope systems (³He/⁴He, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar, ³⁴S/³²S, ⁶⁵Cu/⁶³Cu, ⁶²Ni/⁶⁰Ni, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd, ^206–208Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, Hf–Nd, U–Pb, and Re–Os) in the rocks and ores of the Cu–Ni–PGE deposits of the Norilsk ore district. Almost all the results were obtained at the Center of Isotopic Research of the Karpinskii All-Russia Research Institute of Geology. The use of a number of independent genetic isotopic signatures and comprehensive isotopic knowledge provided a methodic basis for the interpretation of approximately 5000 isotopic analyses of various elements. The presence of materials from two sources, crust and mantle, was detected in the composition of the rocks and ores. The contribution of the crustal source is especially significant in the paleofluids (gas–liquid microinclusions) of the ore-forming medium. Crustal solutions were probably a transport medium during ore formation. Air argon is dominant in the ores, which indicates a connection between the paleofluids and the atmosphere. This suggests intense groundwater circulation during the crystallization of ore minerals. The age of the rocks and ores of the Norilsk deposits was determined. The stage of orebody formation is restricted to a narrow age interval of 250 ± 10 Ma. An isotopic criterion was proposed for the ore-bearing potential of mafic intrusions in the Norilsk–Taimyr region. It includes several interrelated isotopic ratios of various elements: He, Ar, S, and others.     

高压微波消解法测定醋酸纤维过滤器采集的微尘粒子中的砷镉钴铬铜铁锰镍铅钒锌

最新的流行病学研究表明,空气中较高浓度的悬浮细颗粒可能对人类的健康有不利的影响。根据该项研究显示,由于心脏病、慢性呼吸问题和肺功能指标恶化而导致死亡率的升高与细尘粒子有关。这些研究结果已经促使欧盟于1999年4月出台了限制空气中二氧化硫、二氧化氮、氧化氮、铅和颗粒物含量的法案(1999/30/EC),对各项指标包括对可吸入PM10颗粒的浓度提出了新的限制性指标。PM10颗粒是指可以通过预分级器分离采集的气体动力学直径小于10μm的细颗粒。目前研究的兴趣重点逐步偏向PM2.5这些更细微颗粒物,PM2.5这种颗粒物对健康有明显的不利影响。在欧盟指令2008/50/EC中,对PM10和PM2.5都提     

硅酸盐中铁、锰、钛、钙、钾、磷、硅、铝、镁、钠、锶、铷、钡的X-射线荧光光谱定量测定

本文介绍样品经四硼酸锂熔融制成玻璃小饼。采用Lachance模式和理论a系数来校正元素间的效应,由3080E型X-射线荧光谱仪和DF-350B数据处理系统完成硅酸盐中十三个项目的测定。     

硅酸盐类样品中硅、铁、铝、钛、锰、钙、镁、钾、钠和磷的x射线荧光光谱测定

本文拟定了一种以熔融法制备样片,用X射线荧光光谱测定硅酸盐类样品中Si、Fe、Al、Tj、Mn、Ca、Mg、K、Na、P等元素的分析方法。在对不同靶材X光管和分光晶体实验对比的基础上,选择了最佳的测量条件。该法具有快速、准确,测量范围广,检测限低,价格便宜等优点。经过近百个各种类型标样或管理样品的分析对比表明,本法不仅适用于硅酸盐类岩石样品的分析,还适用于铁矿、铝土矿、碳酸盐类岩矿样品以及水泥、耐火材料等样品的分析。     

Viscous, cohesive, non-Newtonian, depositing, radial slurry flow

Mining induced subsidence can significantly affect mining costs where major surface facilities and natural environment need to be protected. Overburden grout injection is a technology used to control coal mine subsidence by injecting the mine waste material extracted from the coal back into the inter-burden rock during longwall mining. The flowing slurry is here categorised as a nonlinear viscous cohesive (Bingham plastic) fluid. During longwall mining the grout slurry is pumped into the separated beds of the rock mass through a central vertical borehole, which is drilled deep into the inter-burden rock strata above the coal seam. However, a blockage can occur in the injection system when the slurry velocity falls below a certain critical threshold velocity, indicating a material phase change from cohesive-viscous to cohesive-frictional. In situ field injection tests through boreholes have been simulated at a smaller scale at the CSIRO laboratory in Brisbane by pumping the slurry through a radial disk (gap = 4 mm) from its centre. Laboratory experiments indicate a general, nonlinear, cohesive, viscous, frictional model for shear behaviour of the slurry, in which the material shear parameters are functions of the disk radial distance. Complete dimensional and dimensionless analytical solutions have been developed based on an approach related to Bingham–Herschel–Bulkley fluid mechanics. The derived formulae include relations for minimum pump pressure, local pressure and pressure gradient, wall shear stress, volume rate, velocity and velocity gradient. The theoretical results match the experimental measurements. The experiments covered slurries with maximum particle sizes of 0.5 to 2 mm with about 50% being larger than 100 µm. The viscosities at the various solids concentrations were measured with a standard torsion viscometer. This study differs from the previous research in several distinct aspects, namely, consideration of the variable shear parameters rather than fixed values, inclusion of total nonlinear behaviour, and implementation of a friction function to mimic behaviour of the deposited and consolidating stiff slurry, which can cause a significant pressure rise as a result of the increased shear resistance.     

Regional distribution of Al,B, Ba,Ca, K,La, Mg,Mn, Na,P, Rb,Si, Sr,Th, U and Y in terrestrial moss within a 188,000 km2 area of the central Barents region: influence of geology,seaspray and human activity

Five hundred and ninety-eight samples of terrestrial moss (Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi) collected from a 188,000 km² area of the central Barents region (NE Norway, N Finland, NW Russia) were analysed by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. Analytical results for Al, B, Ba, Ca, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Rb, Si, Sr, Th, U and Y concentrations are reported here. Graphical methods of data analysis, such as geochemical maps, cumulative frequency diagrams, boxplots and scatterplots, are used to interpret the origin of the patterns for these elements. None of the elements reported here are emitted in significant amounts from the smelting industry on the Kola Peninsula. Despite the conventional view that moss chemistry reflects atmospheric element input, the nature of the underlying mineral substrate (regolith or bedrock) is found to have a considerable influence on moss composition for several elements. This influence of the chemistry of the mineral substrate can take place in a variety of ways. (1) It can be completely natural, reflecting the ability of higher plants to take up elements from deep soil horizons and shed them with litterfall onto the surface. (2) It can result from naturally increased soil dust input where vegetation is scarce due to harsh climatic conditions for instance. Alternatively, substrate influence can be enhanced by human activity, such as open-cast mining, creation of ‘technogenic deserts’, or handling, transport and storage of ore and ore products, all of which magnify the natural elemental flux from bedrock to ground vegetation. Seaspray is another natural process affecting moss composition in the area (Mg, Na), and this is most visible in the Norwegian part of the study area. Presence or absence of some plant species, e.g., lichens, seems to influence moss chemistry. This is shown by the low concentrations of B or K in moss on the Finnish and Norwegian side of the (fenced) border with Russia, contrasting with high concentrations on the other side (intensive reindeer husbandry west of the border has selectively depleted the lichen population).     

NEW SET OF LOW CONCENTRATION STANDARDS FOR LA, CE, SM, YB, LU, Y, SC, V, NB AND TA IN SILICATES

We have developed a set of four synthetic standards for the rare earth and high field strength elements designed for use in the determination of those elements in silicates. The base material is a glass nominally at the eutectic of the MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ ternary system. The nominal doping level was 2 wt% of the elements as oxides. To avoid problems associated with peak interference, the elements were doped in four separate glasses.     

Bellechester,Minnesota, USA,lagoon collapses

Bellechester, Minnesota, is a small community of approximately 155 residents located on the county line between Goodhue and Wabasha counties in southeast Minnesota's karst region. Bellechester is served by a 21-year-old wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) consisting of three waste-stabilization ponds. On 28 April 1992 six sinkholes were discovered to have drained cell 2 of the WWTF resulting in the loss of approximately 8.7×10⁶ 1 of partially treated effluent and about 600 m³ of soil into previously undetected subsurface voids of unknown dimensions. In the week following the collapse, approximately 200 water wells located within a 5-km radius of the WWTF were sampled in an after-the-fact, emergency sampling program. Twelve samples with elevated fecal coliform levels, 18 samples with nitrate-nitrogen greater than the 10 mg/1 standard, and no samples with elevated chlorides were found. However, the elevated levels could not be unambiguously attributed to the WWTF collapse. This is the third WWTF to fail by sinkhole collapse in southeast Minnesota since 1974. All three collapsed lagoons have been located in similar geomorphic and stratigraphic settings. However, at least two lagoons have collapsed in the adjacent area in northeast Iowa, and these lagoons are located at different stratigraphic positions. Twenty-two WWTFs constructed in southeast Minnesota's karst region in the last 25 years have been identified as subject to potential sinkhole collapse. An unknown but significant number of manure storage lagoons, flood control structures, etc., have also been constructed in the karst region and are at risk. Public agencies are beginning to develop plans to deal with the risk associated with existing and future waste lagoons in this environment. The critical hydrogeologic parameters that can be used to prioritize the risk of collapse at existing facilities include: (1) the lithology of the first bedrock beneath each lagoon, (2) the thickness of surficial materials between the lagoon and the bedrock surface, (3) the presence and construction of liners (seepage rate), and (4) the proximity to existing sinkholes.