The X-Ray Facility of the Physics Department of the Ferrara University

We will report on the equipment and performance of the X-ray facility of the University of Ferrara. Initially developed to test the PDS (Phoswich Detection System) instrument aboard the BeppoSAX satellite and to perform reflectivity measurements of mosaic crystal samples of HOPG (Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite), with time the facility has been improved and its applications extended. Now these applications include test and calibration of hard X-ray (> 10 keV) detectors, reflectivity measurements of hard X-ray mirrors, reflectivity tests of crystals and X-ray transparency measurements. The facility is being further improved in order to determine the optical axis mosaic crystals in Laue configuration within a project devoted to develop a hard X-ray (> 60 keV) focusing optics (Pisa, A. et al.: in press, Feasibility study of a Laue lens for hard X-rays for space astronomy, SPIE Proc., 5536).     

Environmental suitability of ceramic raw materials: a geochemical approach to volatile emissions and leaching potentials

Growing environmental concern is promoting the necessity of additional ceramic tests. The use of unknown materials with potential contamination conditions requires further studies to demonstrate that the piece encapsulates the pollutant and that during its firing it does not produce the emission of harmful volatile elements. The objective of this work was to perform both tests in a ceramic paste made with slip-casting wastes and electro-plating residues. The leaching methods for determining the encapsulation of potential harmful elements were performed following the TCLP, EP-Tox norm. Having precise chemical analysis of both crude and fired brick, the problem of emissions losses during the firing can be solved by the gain/loss techniques used in geological studies. In particular, the Isocon method that permits a quick visualization of the lost elements is useful. Once the volatile elements were determined, their amount was calculated considering a constant element and the chemical concentrations normalized by the loss of ignition, or using the crude/fired brick ratio densities. The leaching tests indicate that the ceramic brick does not produce harmful leachates according to Argentinean specifications. The leachates of B and Ca are high. Ca does not seem to be a problem while the B content is beyond the permitted limits. During the firing, volatilized elements are Ag, Br, Cl, F, Hg, S, Se, and H₂O. The loss of Ag, Br, and Se are negligible. For F and Cl the potential emission rate is very low (100 mg/kg) while in the case of S, the 2,600 mg/kg rate is high. However, extrapolated emission rates at the chimney assuming an air-to-brick ratio of 2.5 N m³/kg, are approximately 1,040 mg/N m³ for S and 40 mg/N m³ for F and Cl, falling inside environmentally acceptable values. The geochemical procedures proved to be useful tools to assess the element mobilization during firing of ceramic wares and in the analyzed case, the results indicate that the paste is environmentally acceptable.     

The western Durkan Complex (Makran Accretionary Prism,SE Iran): A Late Cretaceous tectonically disrupted seamounts chain and its role in controlling deformation style

The Durkan Complex is a key tectonic element of the Makran accretionary prism (SE Iran) and it has been interpreted as representing a continental margin succession. We present here a multidisciplinary study of the western Durkan Complex, which is based on new geological, stratigraphic, biostratigraphic data, as well as geochemical data of the volcanic and meta-volcanic rocks forming this complex. Our data show that this complex consists of distinct tectonic slices showing both non-metamorphic and very low-grade metamorphic deformed successions. Stratigraphic and biostratigraphic data allow us to recognize three types of successions. Type-I is composed by a Coniacian – early Campanian pelagic succession with intercalation of pillow lavas and minor volcaniclastic rocks. Type-II succession includes a volcanic sequence passing to a volcano-sedimentary sequence with Cenomanian pelagic limestones, followed by a hemipelagic sequence. This succession is characterized by abundant mass-transport deposits. Type-III succession includes volcanic and volcano-sedimentary sequences, which are stratigraphically covered by a Cenomanian platform succession. The latter is locally followed by a hemipelagic sequence. The volcanic rocks in the different successions show alkaline geochemical affinity, suggesting an origin from an oceanic within-plate setting. Our new results indicate that the western Durkan Complex represents fragments of seamounts tectonically incorporated in the Makran accretionary wedge during the latest Late Cretaceous–Paleocene. We propose that incorporation of seamounts in the frontal prism caused a shortening of the whole convergent margin and possibly contributed to controlling the deformation style in the Makran Accretionary Wedge during Late Cretaceous–Paleocene times.     

The lattice energy of forsterite. Charge distribution and formation enthalpy of the SiO 4 4− ion

In the lattice energy expression of forsterite, based on a Born-Mayer (electrostatic+repulsive+dispersive) potential, the oxygen charge z _o, the hardness parameter ρ and the repulsive radii r _Mg and r _Si appear as unknown parameters. These were determined by calculating the first and second partial derivatives of the energy with respect to the cell edges, and equalizing them to quantities related to the crystal elastic constants; the overdetermined system of equations was solved numerically, minimizing the root-mean-square deviation. To test the results obtained, the SiO ₄ ^4? ion was assumed to move in the unit-cell, and the least-energy configuration was sought and compared with the experimental one. By combining the two methods, the optimum set of parameters was: z _o=?1.34, ρ=0.27 Å, r _Mg=0.72 Å, r _Si=0.64 Å. The values ?8565.12 and ?8927.28 kJ mol^?1 were obtained, respectively, for the lattice energy E _Land for its ionic component E _L ⁰ ,which accounts for interactions between Mg²⁺ and SiO ₄ ^4? ions only. The charge distribution calculated on the SiO ₄ ^4? ion was discussed and compared with other results. Using appropriate thermochemical cycles, the formation enthalpy and the binding energy of SiO ₄ ^4? were estimated to be: ΔH _f(SiO ₄ ^4? )=2117.6 and E(SiO ₄ ^4? )=708.6 kJ mol^?1, respectively.     

Statistical assessment of trends and oscillations in rainfall dynamics: Analysis of long daily Italian series

Since the 18th century systematic measurements of rainfall have been collected in Italy. The daily rainfall series observed in Milan (1835–2001), Genoa (1833–2000), Bologna (1813–2001) and Palermo (1797–1999) are examples of available long rainfall records. These data series can help analyzing the evolution of precipitation. The present paper deals with long term evolution of: (i) annual rainfall amount; (ii) annual number of rainy events; (iii) intensity of rainfall, (iv) inter-annual rainfall partitioning, i.e. the duration of wet and dry periods, and (v) maximum annual values of daily rainfall amount, duration of wet and dry periods. The evolution is studied analyzing the first two order statistics and the 30-year return period quantiles via moving window analysis. Confidence intervals are introduced to check the statistical significance of the estimated statistics and quantiles. The results are compared with those provided by the traditional Mann-Kendall test. The analysis shows how the annual precipitation exhibits a negative trend in the first half of 20th century, with a subsequent positive trend in northern Italy (Genoa, Milan and Bologna). Conversely, the dataset for Palermo (southern Italy) displays only a negative trend. Because the number of precipitation episodes is found to decrease in the investigated period, the average rain rate is significantly increasing especially in northern Italy. This is also associated with shorter duration of rain episodes with an evident effect on rainfall extremes. Dry periods tend to be longer with increasing variability. The Mann-Kendall test and its progressive form have shown to be well suited for monotonic trend, but the confidence interval analysis, introduced here, is more appropriate if oscillations are significant.