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Orientador: Watson Loh / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-11T09:12:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Angarten_RodrigoGiatte_M.pdf: 1395431 bytes, checksum: 0f52b58a143972707ace4bd85a873d30 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: Alquilglicosídeos (AG) são surfatantes não-iônicos totalmente provenientes de fontes naturais e renováveis, além de serem totalmente biodegradáveis e atóxicos. Neste trabalho estudou-se a termodinâmica de micelização desta classe de surfatantes através das técnicas de calorimetria diferencial de varredura (DSC) e titulação calorimétrica isotérmica (ITC), em função do número de átomos de carbono presentes em sua cadeia hidrofóbica e do número de unidades glicosídicas em sua parte polar. Estas propriedades foram determinadas em H2O e em D2O. Para um mesmo AG, o aumento de temperatura implica em uma energia de Gibbs, DmicG, mais favorável à micelização. Com o aumento de temperatura, a variação de entalpia, DmicH, passa de positiva para negativa e o termo entrópico, TDmicS, perde sua contribuição para a micelização. Quando comparados surfatantes de mesmo número de átomos de carbono na cadeia alquílica, mono e di-glicosídeos apresentam estritamente o mesmo comportamento termodinâmico. Heptilglicosídeo apresentou comportamento distinto dos demais surfatantes estudados, indicando que o ambiente químico no interior de sua micela é diferente. Estudos da micelização nos dois solventes mostraram que a maior energia coesiva de D2O, comparada a H2O, implica numa maior contribuição entrópica ao processo de micelização, mas não altera significativamente a energia de Gibbs / Abstract: Alkylglucosides (AG) are non-ionic surfactants obtained from natural raw materials, which are also totally biodegradable and non-toxic. This study investigated the thermodynamics of their micellization using the techniques of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), for a series of homologues varying their alkyl chain lengths and number of glucoside units (one or two). Some studies were conducted in D2O too, and compared with the results in H2O. As temperature increases, the micellization process becomes more favorable, as measured by a more negative DmicG. In parallel, the enthalpic contribution, DmicH, changes from positive to negative and the entropic term, TDmicS, reduces it positive value. These trends agree well with those reported for other families of surfactants. When AGs of the with the same alkyl chain length are compared, mono and diglucosides display the same thermodynamic functions for micellization. Only for the heptyl homologue of the monoglucoside family, results are slightly out of the general trend observed for the other AG, possibly due to different micelle structure being formed by this smaller surfactant. Comparison of results obtained in D2O with H2O confirmed that the greater cohesive energy of the former leads to a larger entropic contribution to micellization, but with no significant change in the Gibbs energy values / Mestrado / Físico-Química / Mestre em Química

Não existe um consenso do efeito da suplementação de glutamina sobre a síntese protéica. No entanto, sugere-se que em animais desnutridos submetidos a trauma orgânico ou não, a glutamina além de seu papel no metabolismo energético, poderia ter efeito sobre a taxa de reciclagem protéica, tornando-se um aminoácido, condicionalmente, essencial. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a incorporação protéica do aminoácido marcado 13C leucina em proteínas do plasma e da mucosa intestinal em ratos portadores de desnutrição protéico-calórica, suplementados ou não com glutamina via oral. Os animais foram pareados pelo peso/idade e subdivididos em 5 grupos: grupo controle nutrido (grupo 1), grupo controle desnutrido (grupo 2), grupo realimentado (grupo 2 A), grupo realimentado e suplementado com proteína e glutamina (grupo 2B) e grupo realimentado e suplementado com glutamina, a suplementação de glutamina por via oral durante 14 dias (0,42g/kg/dia). O estudo não teve por objetivo avaliar a fisiopatologia da desnutrição, mas sim o efeito terapêutico da oferta de glutamina no tratamento de animais desnutridos e em analogia, ao que ocorreria com pacientes desnutridos e internados. O estudo cinético efetuou-se por meio de infusão contínua  620mol/h L-[1-13C]-leucina durante 4 horas. O grupo de animais desnutridos (grupo 2), que recebeu 50% da alimentação recomendada, perdeu peso continuamente durante o experimento. Os grupos que receberam tratamentos dietoterápicos recuperaram o peso corporal, independente do tipo de realimentação e/ou suplementação de glutamina. O nitrogênio urinário teve comportamento similar ao do peso, ratificando o efeito de um tratamento dietético, independente da fonte de suplementação glutâmica. Os resultados de concentração plasmática de aminoácidos não foram uniformes tanto para os aminoácidos essenciais quanto para os aminoácidos considerados não essenciais. Reforçando tanto o ganho de peso, como a excreção de nitrogênio, tiveram comportamento semelhante independente da suplementação de glutamina. Na concentração plasmática de glutamina a diferença foi 64912 vs 17114mol/l, no grupo controle nutrido (grupo 1) e grupo controle desnutrido (grupo 2), respectivamente. Houve diferença significativa de enriquecimento plasmático isotópico de 13C leucina 1,270,5 vs 3,21,2, e enriquecimento de 13C KIC 1,930,6 vs 4,040,9 MPE%, respectivamente nos grupos 1 e 2. O enriquecimento isotópico de 13C leucina na proteína da mucosa intestinal, mostrou-se significativo entre os grupos 1 e 2, respectivamente, 0,00240,0006 vs 0,00200,0001 MPE% e o enriquecimento isotópico de 13C leucina livre apresentou-se semelhante com diferença entre os grupos 1 e 2, respectivamente 0,00190,00030 vs 0,00280,0007 MPE%. A taxa de síntese fracionada (FSR) foi menor no grupo controle desnutrido (grupo 2) 0,00370,0007/h em comparação ao grupo controle nutrido (grupo 1) 0,00440,0005/h e similar nos grupos experimentais. Conclui-se que a oferta de glutamina não estimulou ou alterou a incorporação protéica de aminoácido marcado, sendo que os resultados obtidos nos grupos suplementados com glutamina assemelharam-se aos encontrados no grupo de animais tratados com dieta. Desta maneira, sugere-se que o uso de suplemento de glutamina via oral não seja necessário no tratamento de animais desnutridos. / Nutritional status recovery is thought more effective when there are amino acids, especially, glutamine supplementation. The aim of the study was to verify the effect of glutamine on duodenal mucosa protein synthesis in the nourished or malnourished rats. The experimental groups animals received oral diet glutamine supplementation (0.42g/kg/day) for 14 days while the control group did not. Thereafter, kinetic study with L-[1-13C]-leucine to 4-h and biopsies of duodenal mucosa were done. The malnourished groups showed 25% weight loss with increase urinary nitrogen. Amino acid concentration in the plasma of control group was not significantly different with from that of the experimental groups. The result showed that 13C enrichment in the plasma and biopsy sample of the malnourished group is higher than that of the nourished group, but that of the fractional synthetic rate (FSR) is inverse; FSR of the nourished group is higher 0.00440.0005/h than that of the malnourished group 0.00370.0007/h.We conclude that oral supplementation glutamine does not acutely stimulate duodenal protein incorporation in malnourished rats, regardless the refilling protocol, with or without glutamine.

A área de estudo localiza-se na borda sul do Cráton São Francisco, no Cinturão Mineiro, este é porção integrante da Província Sul Mineira. Neste contexto ocorre um mosaico de terrenos arqueanos e paleoproterozóicos de alto a médio grau metamórfico e associações granitogreenstone. Os corpos plutônicos, estudados neste trabalho, fazem parte do abundante plutonismo paleoproterozóico intrusivo nos greenstone belts Nazareno (Arqueano) e Rio das Mortes (Proterozóico). Dentro deste contexto ocorre a zona de Cisalhamento do Lenheiro (ZCL), que delimita estes greenstones belts: Nazareno (ao sul da falha) e Rio das Mortes (ao norte da falha); assim como plutons paleoproterozóicos. Os plutons escolhidos para este trabalho foram: Gnaisse Granítico Fé, Granito Mama Rosa, Tonalito/Trondhjemito Cassiterita, Granito Ritápolis, Diorito Brumado e Quartzo Monzodiorito Glória, localizados ao norte da ZCL; e: Granitóide do Lajedo, Granitóide Gentio, Quartzo Diorito Dores do Campo, Quartzo Diorito do Brito, Granodiorito Brumado de Baixo e Granodiorito Brumado de Cima, localizados ao sul da ZCL. Os estudos petrográficos indicam as seguintes características para os corpos: Gnaisse Granítico Fé (monzogranito a sienogranito), Granito Mama Rosa (monzogranito), Tonalito/Trondhjemito Cassiterita (tonalito a granodiorito), Granito Ritápolis (tonalito, granodiorito, monzogranito e sienogranito), Diorito Brumado (Diorito, quartzo diorito e tonalito), Quartzo Monzodiorito Glória (quartzo diorito, quartzo monzodiorito e tonalito), Granitóide do Lajedo (granodiorito), Granitóide Gentio (k-feldspato granito), Quartzo Diorito Dores do Campo (quartzo-diorito), Quartzo Diorito do Brito (quartzo-diorito), Granodiorito Brumado de Baixo (granodiorito a monzogranito) e Granodiorito Brumado de Cima (granodiorito a monzogranito). Os plutons Fé, Mama Rosa e Lajedo possuem composição peraluminosa/metaluminosa, o Quartzo Diorito Dores do Campo é metaluminoso e o Granitóide Gentio é peraluminoso. O Gnaisse Granítico Fé, Granito Mama Rosa e Granitóide Gentio variam desde o campo cálcioalcalino até shoshonítico em decorrência dos conteúdos de K2O, já o Granitóide do Lajedo é cálcio-alcalino e o Quartzo Diorito Dores do Campo varia de toleítico e cálcio-alcalino. Foram obtidas idades de cristalização U/Pb (TIMS) em zircão do: Gnaisse Granítico Fé (2191 ± 9 Ma), Granitóide do Lajedo (2208 ± 26 Ma), Granitóide Gentio (2066± 10 Ma - idade mínima) e Quartzo Diorito Dores do Campo (2198 ± 6 Ma). Os resultados dos isótopos de Nd/Sr dos corpos são: Gnaisse Granítico Fé (eNd(2190Ma) = - 3,1; TDM = 2,7 Ga; 87Sr/85Sri = 0,70497); Granito Mama Rosa (eNd(2121Ma) = - 5,3; TDM = 3,0 Ga; 87Sr/85Sri = 0,70497), Tonalito/Trondhjemito Cassiterita (eNd(2162Ma) = - 0,1; TDM = 2,5 Ga; 87Sr/85Sri = 0,73427), Granito Ritápolis (eNd(2121Ma) = - 2,4; TDM = 2,5 Ga; 87Sr/85Sri = 0,73427), Diorito Brumado (eNd(2131Ma) = - 2,6; TDM = 2,71 Ga; 87Sr/85Sri = 0,71362), Quartzo Monzodiorito Glória (eNd(2189Ma) = - 3,4; TDM = 2,7 Ga; 87Sr/85Sri = 0,70510), Granitóide do Lajedo (eNd(2208) = - 1,7; TDM = 2,6 Ga; 87Sr/85Sri = 0,70322), Granitóide Gentio (eNd(2066Ma) = - 10,8; TDM = 3,0 Ga; 87Sr/85Sri = 0,70021), Quartzo Diorito Dores do Campo (eNd(2198Ma) = - 0,1; TDM = 2,6 Ga; 87Sr/85Sri = 0,70445), Quartzo Diorito do Brito (eNd(2221Ma) = - 0,45; TDM = 2,6 Ga; 87Sr/85Sri = 0,70500), Granodiorito Brumado de Baixo (eNd(2218Ma) = - 0,68; TDM = 2,6 Ga; 87Sr/85Sri = 0,72726) e Granodiorito Brumado de Cima (eNd(2187Ma) = - 0,66; TDM = 2,5 Ga; 87Sr/85Sri = 0,73075). A integração dos dados geoquímicos, geocronológicos e isotópicos permitiu diferenciar a existência de dois conjuntos distintos, a norte e ao sul da ZCL. Os plutons: Brito, Brumado de Cima, Nazareno, Itutinga, Brumado de Baixo, Lajedo e Quartzo Diorito Dores do Campo, situados ao sul da zona de cisalhamento do Lenheiro, possuem uma contribuição de magmas paleoproterozóicos com baixa contaminação por materiais de curta vivência crustal. Esses plutons se enquadram na primeira etapa evolutiva do Cinturão, entre 2220 Ma e 2198 Ma. Os plutons Cassiterita, Brumado, Fé e Glória distribuídos ao norte desta ZCL, considerados da \"Fase Arco\" sugerem maior interação de magmas proterozóicos com componentes arqueanos relativamente ao outro conjunto isotópico; e uma cristalização tardia com relação ao grupo anterior. Já os plutons Ritápolis (2121 ± 7 Ma) e Mama Rosa situados neste mesmo bloco tectônico a norte da falha do Lenheiro, indicam uma maior interação de componentes arqueanos com magmas proterozóicos, com relação aos dois grupos anteriores, e no contexto evolutivo do Cinturão esses plutons se enquadram na fase sin- a tardi-colisional. E finalmente, o Granitóide Gentio, situado na porção sul da Zona de Cisalhamento do Lenheiro, possui uma maior interação dos magmas proterozóicos com componentes de crosta arqueana, e um posicionamento na fase final da evolução do Cinturão Mineiro, junto com as intrusões graníticas pós-tectônicas. Isto reforça a hipótese de haver pulsos magmáticos de caráter tectônico distinto, no âmbito da Província Sul Mineira. Adicionalmente, dados comparativos de idade U-Pb e TDM, do Cinturão Mineiro com a porção paleoproterozóica ao norte do Cráton São Francisco, indicam que a Orogênese Transamazônica foi um pouco mais precoce no Cinturão. Os protólitos das rochas plutônicas de ambas as porções tiveram uma gênese a partir de uma mistura de magma paleoproterozóico juvenil com componentes crustais arqueanos em maior ou menor quantidade. / The study area is located in the southern border of the São Francisco Craton, Mineiro Belt. This portion comprises part of the Sul Mineira Province. In this context occurs medium to high metamorfic grade Archean and Paleoproterozoic terrains mosaic and granite-greenstone associations. The plutonic bodies, studied in this work, make part of volumous paleoproterozoic plutonism intrusive in to Nazareno greenstone belt (Archean) and Rio das Mortes greenstone belt (Proterozoic). The Lenheiro shear zone (LSZ delimits these greenstone belts: Nazareno (in the south) and Rio das Mortes (in the north); as well as the Paleoproterozoic plutons. The plutons chose for this work are: Fé Granitic Gneiss, Mama Rosa Granite, Cassiterita Tonalite/Trondhjemite, Ritápolis Granite, Brumado Diorite e Glória Quartz-Monzodiorite, located in the north LSZ; and: Lajedo Granitoid, Gentio Granitoid, Dores do Campo Quartz-Diorite, Brito Quartz-Diorite, Brumado de Baixo Granodiorite and Brumado de Cima Granodiorite, located in the south LSZ. Their petrographic characteristics are was follow: Fé Granitic Gneiss (monzogranite to sienogranite), Mama Rosa Granite (monzogranite), Cassiterita Tonalite/Trondhjemite (tonalite to granodiorite), Ritápolis Granite (tonalite, granodiorite, monzogranite and syenogranite), Brumado Diorite (diorite, quartz-diorite and tonalite), Glória Quartz-Monzodiorite (quartzdiorite, quartz-monzodiorite and tonalite), Lajedo Granitoid (granodiorite), Gentio Granitoid (kfeldspar granite), Dores do Campo Quartz-Diorite (quartz-diorite), Brito Quartz-Diorite (quartzdiorite), Brumado de Baixo Granodiorite (granodiorite to monzogranite) and Brumado de Cima Granodiorite (granodiorite to monzogranite). The Fé, Mama Rosa and Lajedo plutons have peraluminous/metaluminous composition, the Dores do Campo Quartz-Diorite is metaluminous and the Gentio Granitoid is peraluminous. The Fé Granitic Gneiss, Mama Rosa Granite and Gentio Granitoid alternate calc-alcaline trend to shoshonitic trends, in terms of K2O contents. The Lajedo Granitoid is calcic-alkaline and Dores do Campo Quartz-Diorite alternate toleiitic and calcic-alkaline caracteristics. We have obtained U-Pb ages (zircon) for the following rocks: Fé Granitic Gneiss (2191 ± 9 Ma), Lajedo Granitoid (2208 ± 26 Ma), Gentio Granitoid (2066± 10 Ma - minimum age) and Dores do Campo Quartz-Diorite (2198 ± 6 Ma). The geochemistry, geocronology and isotope information consent define the existence of two groups of plutons, in the north and south of LSZ. The plutons: Brito, Brumado de Cima, Nazareno, Itutinga, Brumado de Baixo, Lajedo and Quartzo Diorito Dores do Campo, located in south of LSZ, have Paleoproterozoic magma contribution with reducted contamination of short crustal life materials. These plutons belong to the first evolutive stage of the Mineiro Belt, between 2220 Ma and 2198 Ma. The plutons Cassiterita, Brumado, Fé and Glória located in north of LSZ, considered of the \"Arc Stage\" have significant Paleoproterozoic magma interation with Archean components compared to the other isotopic group; and a late cristalization time, between the north and the south group. The Ritápolis (2121 ± 7 Ma) and Mama Rosa plutons (north of the Lenheiros fault) display strong intersection with Archean components, and are tecnically related to the syn- to late- collision stage of the Mineiro belt evolution. The Gentio pluton shows similar isotopic characteristics, but it belongs to the pos-tectonic stage. Finaly, the U-Pb and ; TDM ages of the Mineiro belt plutons, compared with the Paleoproterozoic plutons that occursin the northen São Francisco craton, reveal that significant time differences took place during the Transamazonian orogeny. In addition, the auxilable isotopic characteristics of these plutons suggest the important role of mixing of Paleoproterozoic magmas and Archean protholits during magma genesis.

Feeding ecology of organisms has a critical influence on ecosystem structure, function, and stability, but how feeding ecology of a single organism varies over multiple spatial and temporal scales in nature is unknown. Here, I characterize the factors driving and the implications of variability in feeding ecology of juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) over multiple spatial and temporal scales using stable isotopes and stomach contents. Significant variation in juvenile Chinook salmon feeding ecology at the individual-level was found to occur off of the west coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI) (British Columbia, Canada). This variation is correlated with a diet shift from feeding on invertebrates to feeding on fish, as the salmon increase in size. I developed a novel Bayesian stable isotope method to model this shift while taking into account the time-lag associated with isotopic turnover. I found that this model was able to replicate patterns seen in a simplified coastal food web, and that resource-use estimates from this stable isotope model somewhat diverged from a compilation of stomach content data. Next, I compared the feeding ecology of Chinook Salmon in one season and year along nearly their entire North American range. I found considerable spatial variation in ontogeny and feeding ecology, with individuals of the same size from different geographic regions having different δ13C, δ15N, and trophic levels. These differences likely corresponded to regional variability in sea surface temperature, ocean entry date and size, and growth rates. Subsequently, I quantified temporal shifts in the feeding ecology of Chinook Salmon from WCVI. I found that feeding ecology over winter was different from feeding ecology in the fall, and that this likely corresponds to shifts in the prey field. Finally, I found that WCVI juvenile Chinook Salmon showed significant interannual variability in feeding ecology, and that the interannual variability in the δ13C value of juvenile salmon (indicative of primary productivity or nutrient source) predicts their smolt survival. In turn, large-scale climate variability determines the δ13C values of salmon—thus mechanistically linking climate to survival through feeding ecology. These results suggest that qualities propagated upwards from the base of the food chain have a cascading influence that is detectable in salmon feeding ecology. I conclude that the feeding ecology of juvenile Chinook Salmon varies on individual, spatial, season and interannual scales, and that this variability has impacts on survival rates. These findings have implications for the understanding of ontogeny in natural systems in general, allowing for modelling of ontogeny in previously intractable ecological systems. Furthermore there may also be implications for Chinook Salmon management, considering that feeding ecology showed utility as a mechanistic leading indicator of survival rates. / Graduate

<p>Cover cropping is an effective management practice for reducing nitrogen (N) losses to the environment from agriculture fields in the Midwest. Cereal rye (CR; <i>Secale cereale L</i>.) and hairy vetch (HV; <i>Vicia villosa Roth</i>) are two of the most common cover crop species grown in the region. However, limited cover crop adoption in the region is partly due to a dearth of knowledge addressing the effect of cover crops on nitrogen cycling and grain production within corn and soybean conservation cropping systems. The following studies were designed to address knowledge gaps in the current literature regarding the rate, quantity, and timing of cover crop residue C and N release; the fate of CR N following termination; and the effects of cover crops specifically on soybean growth, N assimilation, and yield. Data from this study revealed that growers should be aware that cover crop nutrient release may result in a “tug-of-war” between the soil microbiome and cash crops for soil inorganic-N. Additionally, we observed that CR N is used minimally by the subsequent crop; thus, growers should value CR N as a long-term benefit, such as building SOM. Finally, we found that added pressure from CR during early soybean growth may reduce soybean resilience, and in a wet year result in yield loss.</p>

Strontium (Sr) isotope tracers are useful for understanding provenance and mobility in biological materials across multiple disciplines. However, the impact of these techniques is highly dependent on the construction of appropriate comparative baselines (i.e., an isoscape). We present the results of a systematic survey of87Sr/86Sr values from grasses in the North American Midcontinent with a particular emphasis on sedimentary systems. Although87Sr/86Sr values are highly variable across the region, the Sr isoscape shows ­multi-scalar patterns that are dependent on local-to-regional trends in surficial geology. High values are found in bedrock-dominated areas such as the Black Hills (SD) and Ozark Uplift (MO), or formerly glaciated areas where surface deposits are dominated by ice-transported Precambrian clasts. The lowest values are found in river valleys that incorporate eroded Neogene sediments into terrace formation. Intermediate values are found in upland loess and alluvial deposits which blanket much of the study area. We demonstrate trends in large-scale variability of the Midcontinent’s87Sr/86Sr isoscape and suggest that future refinement focus on sub-regional trends in Sr isotope variability.

<P> The Faymar Gold Property, near Timmins Ontario, is cross-cut by two quartz-carbonate veins. Isotopic measurements of carbon species in fluid inclusions in these quartz-carbonate veins, reveal the presence of CO2 and other light carbon species (eg. CH4). The inclusion contents were liberated using thermal decrepitation. The results obtained are found to vary quite significantly with various periods and temperatures of heating. The most useful results were obtained from samples heated for 5 minutes at 550 °C. The short heating period reduces fractionation and reaction effects. Mass spectrometer measurements of the carbon isotopes reveal that the CO2 and total carbon in the inclusions are characterized by a δ13c of -3.O and -4.7 respectively. A magmatic source for the fluids most easily explains these values. Petrographic observations indicate that secondary inclusions dominate. Thus, the isotopic measurements are of fluids which post-date the deposition of the quartz-carbonate or at least represent a late stage of this process. Since the mineralization in the veins also appears to be secondary to the quartz-carbonate (ie. in fractures), it is possible that the carbon species in the inclusions are distinct of the mineralizing fluids. </p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Science (BSc)

<p> This is a study of the groundwaters and their associated rocks and minerals from the Lac du Bonnet batholith at the Underground Research Laboratory (URL), Pinawa, Manitoba, to assess the water-rock interaction in crystalline rocks by using Sr, O and U-series isotopes. Emphasis is also placed on the development of the analytical techniques.</p> <p> A high precision analytical technique of U-series isotopes has been developed in this study by using solid-source mass spectrometry. A precision of better than 1% (2σ) is achieved in determining the 234U/238U and 230Th/234U ratios using 10^-8 g of U and 10^-11 g of 230Th. The potential applications of this method is demonstrated by dating small speleothem samples and the results agree well with those of α-spectrometry. This method also applies well to precise determination of the 234U/238U ratios in groundwaters and igneous rocks and minerals using small quantities of samples. However, precise measurements of 230Th in igneous rocks and minerals are limited by the large 232Th tail in the Th mass spectrum. Even better precision is achievable if pure Th spike is used.</p> <p> An ICP-MS isotope dilution method is also developed for fast and precise determination of Sr concentrations in groundwater samples. A precision of 1% is routinely achieved by taking into account the dead-time effect of the Channel Electron Multiplier (CEM) and the sample-to-spike ratios.</p> <p> The isotope results of both the groundwaters and the host rocks and minerals have revealed the processes of water-rock interaction and water mixing through the history of the batholith. Strontium isotope systematics of the rocks and their constituent minerals have shown that Sr loss occurred on whole-rock scale during both the high-temperature alteration (about 2300 Ma ago) and the low-temperature alteration which lasted at least 450 Ma. The Sr loss is most pronounced in plagioclase of altered samples. Uranium-series results indicate the disequilibrium of both whole-rock samples and minerals, and migration of U on whole-rock scale in, at least, the last million years.</p> <p> The Sr and O isotopic results have shown that the groundwaters from the three sub-horizontal, successively deeper fracture zones (FZ) have distinct isotopic signature: 87Sr/86Sr= 0.715 to 0.719 and 𝛿18O=-13o/oo for FZ-3; 87Sr/86Sr= 0.720 to 0.729 and 𝛿18O=-13 to -20o/oo for FZ-2; 87Sr/86Sr= 0.730 to 0.738 and 𝛿18O=-13 to -17o/oo for FZ-1. Uranium-series results show that all the groundwaters are highly enriched in 234U and the 234U/238U activity ratios range from 2.6 to 7.7. Mixing of three groundwaters is indicated by the Sr and O isotopes and the elemental chemistry. The three end-members are fresh surface water, the deep fresh (possibly glacial melt) groundwater and the deep saline groundwater.</p> <p> Comparison between the rocks and associated groundwaters shows that Sr isotopic equilibrium exists between plagioclase of altered samples and the groundwaters. This similarity indicates the vulnerable mineral phase control, such as plagioclase in this case, of the isotopic signatures, hence, chemistry of the groundwaters.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)