The concentrations of sixteen elements and organic carbon were determined in 78 marine sediment samples collected from the Iranian coastal waters of the Persian Gulf. Nine transects perpendicular to the coastline were sampled. Sixteen elements, including As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn (trace metals) and Ca, Fe, Mg, Na, P, S, Si (major metals), were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP MS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES), respectively. In this study, the element concentrations in sediments have not exceeded the sediment quality guidelines and pose no environmental concerns with the exception of Ni, which is over than ERM. The spearman correlation matrix demonstrated that all elements except for arsenic, cadmium, barium and silicon, were significantly (P<0.01) correlated with iron. The Relative Contaminated Factor (RCF) for elements which had ISQG values and Enrichment Factors (EF) using Fe demonstrated that there was no metal enrichment by natural or anthropogenic sources except for Ni. High EF level for Ni demonstrated that nickel level in sediments of the Persian Gulf could have originated from anthropogenic sources.

Background and objectives: Different studies conducted on the sediments of the Persian Gulf, strait of Hormoz and the Sea of Oman show that the amount of nickel as a toxic metal in these water bodies is more than its threshold effect level. In order to determine the risk of nickel for benthic organisms, the sediment samples of these water areas were subjected to sequential extraction and analysis in order to determine the bioavailability of nickel and subsequently the level of biological risks to benthic organisms. Methods: In this study, the surface sediments of 5 stations in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman were analyzed in order to determine the total nickel concentration and determine the bioavailability of nickel during 6 successive extraction stages. Total nickel concentration was measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer (ICPMS) and nickel concentration, which was extracted during 6 stages were analyzed by Atomic Absorption analyzing instrument (Furnace). Findings: The results showed that the concentration of nickel in the monitored stations varied between 96 and 113 mg/kg, which is more than the nickel threshold Effect Level (TEL: 15. 9 mg/kg). The results of consecutive extraction in 6 stages showed that the concentration of stages 1 and 2 (accessible part of metals for benthic life) was lower than the detection limit of the instrument and their concentration can be neglected. Conclusion: The amount of nickel in the third stage of extraction (bonding with oxide or hydroxides of iron and manganese) was much lower than the TEL (15. 9 mg/Kg) and under environmental changes and redox conditions, the bioavailability of nickel will be lower than the TEL. The results showed that although the nickel pollution in the coastal sediments of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman was more than the TEL,but due to the low exchangeable part, the current pollution is not considered a serious risk for the marine life.

Platinum-Group elements (PGE) deposits often found with layered mafic-ultramafic association and PGE enrichments occur in Cu and Ni-rich sulfide mineralization. It has been shown that elements ratio, as well as chondrite-normalized metal patterns can be successfully used for evaluation of PGE enrichment. Faryab ophiolite area is the main resources of chromite in south of Iran that has sulfide mineralization in different lithology. Sulfide phases recognized by Microscopic methods. It indicates that main sulfides are include pyrrhotite, pentlandite, millerite and heazlewoodite. Samples (18 Samples) are analyzed by ICPMS and Results indicate that partial melting has occurred and PGE mineralization has done. Determination of accurate content of PGE in other rocks required more studies.

The Torab clay deposit is located in the Bikheirkhong plain in 70km south of Abarkouh. This plain is located in the north of the Sanandaj-Sirjan metamorphic zone and it is a part of clay-rich province of the south Abarkouh. This plain is in continuation of the well known Shahreza-Abade-Hambast’s clay belt. The stratigraphical age of the clay layers is attributed to Permian (Artinskian). This age is within the time of the global evidence of clay genesis in Permo-Triassic tome. In this study, the Torab clay deposit is chosen as a typical example of the region clay deposits. For mineralogical and geochemical studies, we used XRD, XRF, ICPMS and soil mechanical methods. The sediments of the Torab clay deposits are a kind of highly weathered Paleosols. These sediments have diverse resources which can be the sedimentary reworked cycles or they can be the erosion products of some felsic and mafic rocks. The results of studies on stratigraphy, mineralogy, geochemical properties, sedimentary basin condition and geological and geographic position show a correlation between these clay sediments and the global evidence of clay genesis in Permo-Triassic period. Autogenic transformations had a great effect on improvement of soils industrial properties. This soil has proper range of harmful and useful industrial elements and soitabi mineralogical and mechanical properties to be used in pottery and brick making. This soil is also suitable for pharmacological uses.

MicroPlastics (MPs) are plastic materials of micro-size dimension, often between the ranges of 1μm to 5mm. MPs are potential carriers that can adsorb metal ions in aquatic environments due to their specific surface areas. MPs and their associated contaminants can reach humans in many ways and are found in drinking water sources, foods, and beverages. The metal ions associated with MPs on their surfaces can desorb into the food materials and enter humans. The current research investigates the physicochemical parameters (pH, temperature, time, and type of plastic) affecting the desorption of metal ions from MPs into aqueous solutions using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass-Spectrometry (ICPMS). The MP surface characterization was studied using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. An experiment was conducted on three metal ions Lead, Cadmium, and Chromium on PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PP (polypropylene), PS (polystyrene), and PVC (polyvinyl chloride). In this work, PP showed the highest desorption efficiency, while PVC was the lowest one. Acidic pH 3.0 favored the desorption process and with an increase in temperature and time of contact with metal ions, the desorption efficiency also increased. The Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) characterization of MPs disclosed the presence of wrinkles and pits which encouraged both adsorption and desorption. The BET analysis revealed the role of high specific surface area (10.6±0.3 m2/g) and higher total pore volume (Vtotal) 1.58±0.09 cm3/g in significant adsorption and desorption of metal ions on PP.  The study findings provide a better perception of the desorbing efficiency of metal ions in the surrounding environment and the optimal conditions favoring this process.

Background and Objective: This research tries to analyze the spatial distribution and trend of arsenic level changes in the underground water resources of the Sirjan basin, and also to evaluate and analyze the factors affecting the concentration of this element in these water resources. Materials and Methods: Sampling of underground water sources in the study area was done by systematic-random method and arsenic concentration was done by ICPMS method in the laboratory. Also, to evaluate the factors affecting the concentration of arsenic in the underground water resources of Sirjan bathe sin, the method of land systems analysis was used. Results: The results of the research show that the amount of arsenic in all samples is higher than the Guidelines provided by the World Health Organization so the amount of this element in the underground water sources of the study area varies between 30 and 390 μ, g/L. Samples No. 9, 13, and 16, which are located in the deepest parts of the basin, have the highest amount of arsenic. For this reason, the durability of water in this part of the basin increases. This reduces the intensity of the current. As a result, according to the cumulative effect law, this process can lead to an increase in arsenic concentration. Conclusion: The evaluation of changes in the concentration of arsenic in the underground water resources of the study area indicates that the concentration of this element had a high increasing trend. According to the results, the location of the studied area in the center of hydrothermal and geothermal processes (copper mineralization belt in Iran), the cumulative effect, and the effect of pH on the absorption and desorption of arsenic are among the most important factors affecting the increase of arsenic in the underground water resources of Sirjan Basin.