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Little is known about the geochemical baseline of Antarctic soils in different environments. We investigated the soil geochemistry of the two main landscape units of Harmony Point (Nelson Island, Maritime Antarctica): the coastal domain and the upper platform. Fourteen soil samples (seven in each landscape unit) were divided according to depth (hA for surface and hC for subsurface horizons) and characterized by their major, trace elements and REE concentrations. The concentration of major elements (SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, MgO, CaO, MnO, and K2O) were determined by X-ray fluorescence, whereas trace elements were quantified by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (Co, Ni, As, Cd, Pb, Ba, Cr, Cu, V, Zn, and Zr) and REE by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results showed geochemical variation with depth, either related to pedological processes (phosphatization, humification, podzolization, and cryoturbation), and parent material constitution (andesitic basalt in upper platform and mixed volcanic sediments in coastal domain). The main chemical aspects distinguishing Harmony Point soils from other Maritime Antarctic soils from the vicinity are: (i) higher CIA index; (ii) P2O5 enrichment due to bird guano and enhanced pedogenesis; (iii) REE retention; (iv) enrichment in Fe2O3 and S concentrations. The REE concentration was influenced by weathering processes combined with allochthonous inputs, such as volcanic ashes and iceberg-transported granitic boulders at the coastal domain. The Harmony Point soils are little subjected to anthropic impacts, so they can be used as a basis for environmental monitoring programs in the Maritime Antarctica region.

A study of the cathodoluminescence (CL) properties of imperial topaz from Ouro Preto region (Minas Gerais state, Brazil) and its relation with trace-element composition was conducted, using scanning electron microscope cathodoluminescence (SEM-CL), optical microscope cathodoluminescence (OM-CL), cathodoluminescence-spectrometry (CL-spectrometry), electron microprobe analysis (EMPA), laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and Raman spectrometry. Each analytical technique allowed characterization of the imperial topaz fingerprint. SEM-CL panchromatic images show different crystal growth and resorption events in imperial topaz crystals. Colour CL images indicate only blue to violet emissions. The CL-spectra indicate a broad emission band with low intensity peak at ∼417 nm and a broad emission band with high intensity and major peaks at 685, 698, 711 and 733 nm. The EMPA indicates high OH content, in which the OH/(OH + F) ratio ranges between 0.35-0.43 (0.72 ≤ OH ≤ 0.86 apfu). High Cu and Zn concentrations (LA-ICP-MS) were measured in the high luminescence areas of SEM-CL images, suggesting both elements as CL-activators in imperial topaz. Raman and CL-spectra indicate high Cr concentrations, corroborated by EMPA and LA-ICP-MS results. The high Cr caused strong luminescence intensities that enabled their superimposition over the OH stretching mode (∼3650 cm-1) of topaz in all Raman spectra. Among trace elements, the concentrations of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ga and Ge provide the fingerprint of imperial topaz.

“Imperial” topaz is a gemstone variety that occurs in the Ouro Preto region (Minas Gerais state, Brazil). Polygonal sectors within the core and rims of topaz crystals, were optically observed but without consensual explanations about them. With the aid of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy-cathodoluminescence (SEM-CL), backscattered electrons (BSE) imaging, electron probe micro-analyser (EPMA) chemical analyses and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) maps, the present study intended to demonstrate the distinct crystallographic orientations within “imperial” topaz and relate the polygonal sectors with the compositional data. Cross-polarised transmitted-light photomicrographs show a well delimited and optically heterogeneous central rhombic area at (21 l) in the cores, and quadrant-like and alternated extinction areas at (200, (010) and (110) in the rims. Scanning electron microscopy-cathodoluminescence images show a central rhombic area heterogeneously luminescent in the core, and dark and homogeneous rims. Grey and completely homogeneous BSE images and EPMA results corroborate constant and homogeneous major composition of “imperial” topaz. Electron backscatter diffraction maps collected in the rim region show different areas and microstructural features instead of a uniform microstructure. The respective pole figures of orthorhombic system yielded multiple (001) poles disoriented in higher than 15° from each other. These results display numerous c-axes, suggesting distinct crystallographic orientations, and no reduction in the orthorhombic symmetry. Therefore, the presumed monocrystal of “imperial” topaz actually is a polycrystal.

Situado no concelho de Macedo de Cavaleiros, o sítio arqueológico da Fraga dos Corvos forneceu um importante conjunto cerâmico muito útil para o estudo da dinâmica das sociedades da Primeira Idade do Bronze do Norte de Portugal, de preferência de Trás-os-Montes Oriental. De modo a conhecer melhor esta dinâmica, colocou-se uma questão: saber as cerâmicas em estudo eram de origem local ou importadas. De modo a obter respostas à dita questão, através de análises de carácter petrográfico e geoquímico, muito utilizadas em Geologia, procurou-se fazer um provável “match” entre os resultados obtidos para as cerâmicas e para as potenciais fontes de matéria-prima (de diferentes naturezas e proveniências). Partindo do princípio que as cerâmicas eram de fabrico local, também se procurou tentar saber com uma maior precisão uma zona mais específica que serviria de fonte de matéria-prima dessas mesmas cerâmicas.