Contamination

contamination [kən‚tam·ə′nā·shən]

(computer science)

Placement of data at incorrect locations in storage, where it generally overlays valid information or a program code and produces bizarre results.

(geology)

A process in which the chemical composition of a magma changes due to the assimilation of country rocks.

(hydrology)

The addition to water of any substance or property that prevents its use without further treatment.

(microbiology)

The process or act of soiling with bacteria.

(nucleonics)

The deposit of radioactive materials, such as fission fragments or radiological warfare agents, on any objective or surface or in the atmosphere.

(psychology)

The fusion of words, resulting in a new word.

(science and technology)

Something that contaminates.

---

contamination

The introduction of sewage, wastes, and/or chemicals (or other material) into a potable water supply that render it unfit for its intended purpose.

---

Contamination 

the process of alteration of rocks of sedimentary, metamorphic, and magmatic origin by magma.

Owing to the interaction of magma with enclosing rock, there occurs a partial dissolution of the latter and formation of hybrid rock having a different petrologic composition as compared to the original magma. The term “contamination” was originally proposed by the English scientist H. Read (1923). He viewed the process as one of contamination of magma with sedimentary and metamorphic rock. Contamination is most clearly seen during the interaction of magma with rocks of contrasting composition (for example, granitic magma with limestone or ultrabasic rock). Contamination takes place at various depths in the earth’s crust. Unlike the process of assimilation, during contamination, inclusions of foreign material preserve relics of the structure of the original rock. Sometimes the boundaries of inclusions are also preserved, making it possible to draw conclusions about their original form.

REFERENCE

Afanas’ev, G. D. Geologiia magmaticheskikh kompleksov Severnogo Kavkaza i osnovnye cherty sviazannoi s nimi mineralizatsii. Moscow, 1958.

M. G. RUB

---

Contamination 

(1) In textual criticism, the blending of the texts of different versions of a single work; a text-critical device used when sources do not yield a satisfactory redaction corresponding to the author’s intent, for example, some works of Old Russian literature. The text of Lermontov’s narrative poem The Demon (Sobr. soch. M. lu. Lermontova, vols. 1–6, published by the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1954–57) is also an example of contamination.

(2) In linguistics, the formation of a new word or set phrase by the blending of two different words or expressions that are similar in sound, structure, or meaning. For example, the modern Russian word svidetel’, meaning “eyewitness,” arose through a combination of the Old Russian word s”vedetel’ meaning “he who knows,” and the verb videti, “to see.” Many incorrect word usages are the result of contamination, for example, igrat znachenie, “to play significance,” from igrat’ rol’ “to play a role,” and imet’znachenie, “to be significant.” Such contaminations are often widely used and even enter the literary language.

---

Contamination 

in mineral extraction, the process during which mineral resources are made impure by unprofitable mineral grades and country rock. This leads to a decrease in the profitable content of the extracted raw material, an increase in expenditures on the extraction and transportation of the mineral resource, and a decrease of the technical and economic work rates of concentration plants. The level of contamination depends on the conditions of the mineral resource deposits, the equipment used, the mining systems, and the organization of mining. Contamination reaches ten percent when ore deposits are worked under favorable rock and geological conditions; it may reach 35–40 percent when the bedding is complex.