This report describes the case of a 44-year-old man with pulmonary nodules whose histological analysis initially suggested tuberculosis. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT) culture was negative and a questionnaire revealed a professional activity of brushing and polishing surgical instruments without any protection for 7 years. A mineralogical analysis by optical and electron microscopy was performed on both a healthy lung tissue biopsy and a lung nodule in a paraffin block. Electron microscopy analysis revealed the presence of metal particles (iron oxide, titanium oxide, aluminum oxide and steel) in both samples. This study suggests that mineralogical analysis combined with a questionnaire on dust exposure could help redirect the diagnosis of a dust-related disease.
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PLoS One
January 2025
Ocean Georesources Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Banded iron formations (BIFs), significant iron ore deposits formed approximately 2.3 billion years ago under low-oxygen conditions, have recently gained attention as potential geological sources for evaluating hydrogen (H₂) production. BIFs are characterized by high concentrations of iron oxide (20 to 40 wt.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Omega
January 2025
Sichuan Geological Environment Survey and Research Center, Chengdu 610081, P. R. China.
In the long and complex process of geological evolution, the rise of the Himalayan movement and the strong Quaternary glacial movement 400,000 years ago have shaped the highly distinctive travertine landform landscape of Huanglong, China. The overflow of karst water in the high travertine layer has formed magnificent waterfalls and wonderful karst caves as well as the world's largest open-air travertine beaches and pools. The unique travertine landscape has entered the public's vision.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Total Environ
February 2025
Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310024, China. Electronic address:
Saltmarshes serve as repositories for various metal species, primarily due to vegetation removal and mineralization processes. However, the significance of potassium (K), one of the three major nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and K) essential for plant growth, has often been overlooked, particularly in the context of saltmarshes where the mechanisms of K transport via porewater exchange remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted field observations and laboratory analysis, and developed a Rn mass balance model to quantify K fluxes via porewater exchange under physical, biological, and anthropogenic drivers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeliyon
January 2025
Laboratorio de Trazas elementales y Especiación, Departamento de Química Analítica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
Quantification of modal mineralogy in drill-core samples is crucial for understanding the geology and metal deportment in a mining operation. This study assesses conventional procedures to quantify modal mineralogy, that includes an initial drill-core logging, followed by petrographic descriptions and SEM-based automated mineralogy analyses performed in selected regions of interest, against a novel approach using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Our proposed methodology aims to quantify the modal mineralogy directly in a drill-core sample, avoiding previous stages of selection and preparation of samples.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMaterials (Basel)
January 2025
College of Hydraulic and Civil Engineering, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Hydraulic structures are frequently subjected to soft-water or acidic environments, necessitating serious consideration of the long-term effects of calcium leaching on the durability of concrete structures. Three types of common Portland cement (ordinary Portland cement, moderate-heat cement, and low-heat cement) paste samples widely applied to hydraulic concrete were immersed in a 6 mol/L NHCl solution to simulate accelerated calcium leaching behavior. The mass loss, porosity, leaching depth, compressive strength, and Ca/Si ratio of the three types of pastes were measured at different immersion stages (0, 14, 28, 56, 91, 140, and 180 days).
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