Coastal margin evolution and postulated “basin‐shipyard” area at ancient Locri‐Epizephiri,Calabria, Italy

Environmental settings on the Ionian coastal plain and inner shelf seaward of Locri‐Epizephiri in Calabria, Italy, differed markedly before, during, and following settlement by the Greeks. Sediment core analyses and geophysical surveys in this study support recent archaeological findings and the hypothesis that the margin may once have served as a harbor and/or shipyard. The subsurface Holocene stratigraphy records that (1) the shoreline advanced to a maximum landward position before Greek settlement, then regressed offshore to what is now the inner shelf before once again migrating landward. These marked coastal shifts were triggered primarily by land uplift and probable subsidence offshore along this structurally active Calabrian Arc segment. Associated with this are: (2) a sediment fining‐upward sequence in Greek–Roman time that indicates only partial protection of the coastal area, and (3) possible presence of subsurface structures seaward of the city wall in a sector now positioned ∼200 m offshore. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Compositional classification of “kimberlitic” and “non-kimberlitic” ilmenite

Ilmenite is one of the common kimberlitic indicator minerals recovered during diamond exploration, and its distinction from non-kimberlitic rock types is important. This is particularly true for regions where these minerals are present in relatively low abundance, and they are the dominant kimberlitic indicator mineral recovered. Difficulty in visually differentiating kimberlitic from non-kimberlitic ilmenite in exploration concentrates is also an issue, and distinguishing kimberlitic ilmenite from those derive from other similar rocks, such as ultramafic lamprophyres, is practically impossible. Ilmenite is also the indicator mineral whose compositional variety has the most potential to resolve provenance issues related to mineral dispersions with contributions from multiple kimberlite sources.

Various published data sets from selected kimberlitic (including kimberlites, lamproites, and various ultramafic lamprophyres) and non-kimberlitic rock types have been compiled and evaluated in terms of their major element compositions. Compositional fields and bounding reference lines for ilmenites derived from kimberlites (sensu stricto), ultramafic lamprophyres, and other non-kimberlitic rock types have been defined primarily on MgO–TiO₂ graphs as well as MgO–Cr₂O₃ relationships.     

Sea‐Level Surges in the Northern Adriatic and Their Impact on the “Functional Height” Estimation of Archaeological Markers

Sea‐level surges caused by sirocco wind are frequent in the northern Adriatic. Added to the local spring‐tide amplitude of about 40 cm, they should not be disregarded when estimating the elevation of maritime archaeological structures in relation to their function at the time of their construction. Based on the statistical analysis of the frequency and distribution of hourly sea‐level surges at Trieste, Rovinj, and Venice, realistic estimates of functional heights for sea‐level reconstructions to be applied to archaeological remains of coastal structures, e.g., fish tanks, appear to be approximately 120–130 cm near Trieste and around 95–105 cm in the Rovinj area. These exceed the value of 60 cm recently proposed by a group of archaeologists. Such underestimation tends to lower by about half a meter (in relation to certain previous estimates) sea‐level position in Roman times along the coast of Istria. The sea level during this period should be derived from more accurate sea‐level indicators such as marine biological remains preserved on archaeological structures.     

Low-latitude “dusty events” vs. high-latitude “icy Heinrich events”

It has been proposed that tropical events could have participated in the triggering of the classic, high-latitude, iceberg-discharge Heinrich events (HE). We explore low-latitude Heinrich events equivalents at high resolution, in a piston core recovered from the tropical north-western African margin. They are characterized by an increase of total dust, lacustrine diatoms and fibrous lacustrine clay minerals. Thus, low-latitude events clearly reflect severe aridity events that occurred over Africa at the Saharan latitudes, probably induced by southward shifts of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone. At a first approximation, it seems that there is more likely synchronicity between the high-latitude Heinrich Events (HEs) and low-latitude events (LLE), rather than asynchronous behaviours.     

An Unusual, Three-Dimensionally Preserved, Large Hadrosauriform Pes Track from “Mid”-Cretaceous Jiaguan Formation of Chongqing, China

Three-dimensional tracks provide unique insights into the locomotor mechanics of their track makers. An isolated, large hadrosauriform print attributable to Caririchnium lotus from the “mid”-Cretaceous Lotus track site (Jiaguan Formation) in China permits reconstruction of the footfall, weight-bearing, and kick-off phases of the step cycle. Large-scale modifications of the pes during the step cycle indicate C. lotus trackmakers were capable of locomotory modifications in response to substrate consistency beyond the “expected” shift between bipedal and quadrupedal postures. An unusual curvature to the trace of one of the outer digits indicates substantial transverse mobility. The remaining digits demonstrate lesser degrees of transverse movement accompanied by extension of the digits during footfall. The absence of overprinted scale-scratch marks and toe drags are consistent with a vertical kick-off of the pes and concomitant flexion of the digits. This track suggests that pedal mobility in C. lotus track makers was greater than previously suspected and has implications for reconstructions of hadrosauriform locomotion.     

“Traditional” women, “modern” water: Linking gender and commodification in Rajasthan, India

In this paper, I analyze the connections made between women and water in a Rajasthani drinking water supply project as a significant part of drinking water’s commodification. For development policy makers, water progressing from something free to something valued by price is inevitable when moving economies toward modernity and development. My findings indicate that water is not commodified simply by charging money for it, but through a series of discourses and acts that link it to other “modern” objects and give it value. One of these objects is “women”. I argue that through women’s participation activities that link gender and modernity to new responsibilities and increased mobility for village women involving the clean water supply, a “traditional” Rajasthani woman becomes “modern”. Water, in parallel, becomes “new”, “improved” and worth paying for. Women and water resources are further connected through project staff’s efforts to promote latrines by targeting women as their primary users. The research shows that villagers applied their own meanings to latrines, some of which precluded women using them. This paper fills a gap in feminist political ecology, which often overlooks how gender is created through natural resource interventions, by concerning itself with how new meanings of “water” and “women” are mutually constructed through struggles over water use and its commodification. It contributes to critical development geography literatures by demonstrating that women’s participation approaches to natural resource development act as both constraints and opportunities for village constituents. It examines an under-explored area of gender and water research by tracing village-level struggles over meanings of latrines.     

What is A “Method”?

Using a recently published compilation of analytical data on reference samples SY-2, SY-3 and MRG-1 as an example, a case is presented in favor of more precise terminology in describing analytical methods used in reporting data in collaborative programs. The technique of final measurement in a particular method is often less important than earlier operations, such as sample attack or technique of separation.     

First results of precise gravity measurements on the “A-B-C” profile

Repeated high-precision gravity measurements on a north-south profile between La Paz and Santiago de Chile and east-west profiles between the coastline and the high Cordilleras are conducted in order to determine vertical motion of the ground. Geophysical considerations and results of the first campaign in October 1984 are presented.     

Multidisciplinary investigations at Stalag Luft III allied prisoner‐of‐war camp: The site of the 1944 “great escape,” Zagan,Western Poland

Stalag Luft III, situated in Zagan, Poland (formerly eastern Germany), was the site of a World War II Allied aviator prisoner of war (POW) camp famous for repeat escape attempts—notably the mass escape of 76 POWs in March 1944, shown in the 1963 film “The Great Escape.” The site has had little attention to date because it was within restricted military training grounds until 1992. This paper reports on attempts to locate the undiscovered “Dick” escape tunnel (the “Tom” and “Harry” tunnels from the same escape attempt were discovered and destroyed by camp authorities). Geological and geophysical surveys located hut 122, which contained the “Dick” entrance shaft. Subsequent archaeological investigations included surface artifact collection and inspection of the rubble‐filled, tunnel entrance shaft. Excavations to a depth of 10 m through yellow glacio‐fluvial sand resulted in the discovery of the refilled “Dick” tunnel with intact bed‐board shoring and ventilation system. Our investigation provides valuable insights into POW escape efforts. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Isoprenoid alkanes with irregular “head-to-head” linkages

A lightly biodegraded crude oil from the Tolkinsk field (Upper Jurassic), situated in north-west Siberia, was found to contain a series of C₂₈–C₃₉ isoprenoid alkanes. Most of these components contain a pristane unit linked head-to-head with other isoprenoid units. The structures of these components were elucidated by mass spectral interpretations, comparisons with a synthesised standard and by reference to data published previously in the literature. These results extend the carbon number range, the variety of structural types, and the number of reported occurrences of these compounds in geological samples. These results provide further evidence for a contribution of bacterial cell-wall lipids to crude oils.     

The National Geodetic Survey project “POLARIS”

The National Geodetic Survey (N.G.S.) of the National Ocean Survey has undertaken a new project called POLar-motion Analysis by Radio Interferometric Surveying (POLA-RIS). The premier goal of the project is to establish a fully operational polar motion monitoring network, with a spatial resolution and accuracy of 10 cm and a temporal resolution of 24 hours. The new network will utilize radio interferometric techniques. The fixed POLARIS observatories may also serve as base stations to be used in conjunction with small-aperture, 3–10-m, mobile units for positional surveys for geodetic and geo-dynamic applications. The N.G.S. plans to cooperate fully with other governmental organizations having related responsibilities and interest in polar motion, earth rotation and geodynamics [e.g., National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.), United States Naval Observatory (U.S.N.O.)] as well as academic and private researchers.     

The indigenous origin of Witwatersrand “carbon”

In the Witwatersrand approximately 40% of the gold is intimately associated with so-called “carbon” in “carbon seam reefs”, which occur in over a dozen paleoplacers, many of them concentrated at two stratigraphic levels in the 7000-m-thick succession of Archean siliciclastic sedimentary rocks. This is reduced carbon, present as kerogen admixed in various proportions with derivative (now solid) bitumen(s). Oil generation and migration were active geological processes during Early Earth history. Numerous possible source rocks for oil generation, including the carbon seams themselves, occur within the Witwatersrand basin. In the Witwatersrand ore, oil-bearing fluid inclusions are also present, derived like the bitumen, by thermal maturation of the kerogen. The presence of kerogen and bitumen in the Witwatersrand sedimentary rocks, together with a wealth of observations on the spatial distribution of the carbon seams confirm that the carbon originated in situ from living organisms in microbial mat cover, as opposed to flowing in from elsewhere as liquid hydrocarbons as some researchers have suggested. Paleochannels, which truncated auriferous carbon seams early in the depositional history, are of widespread occurrence, and micro-synsedimentary faults offset carbon seams. The carbon seams are thus indigenous biogenic markers that grew contemporaneously with placer development. The various features highlighting the nature and spatial distribution of Witwatersrand carbon seams provide a classic case where field evidence trumps laboratory data in the reconstruction of geological processes.     

New Technology “Flotation to Form Agglomerates and Magnetic Separation” Allows Great Breakthrough for World Low-Grade Light Rare Earth Ores

<正>Rare earth resources are relatively scarce worldwide,but their global consumption is increasing year-by-year.At present,China has about 36%of the global rare earth reserves,but provides 90%of the world’s supply,which has generally met world demand and promoted the development of the world economy.In order to continuously and stably supply rare earths to international markets,the Chinese Government has financially     

Methane-induced dolomite “chimneys” on the Kuroshima Knoll, Ryukyu islands, Japan

The Kuroshima Knoll is about 26 km south of Ishigaki Island in the southern part of the Ryukyu Arc. The area is considered to be the source area of “The 1771 Yaeyama Earthquake Tsunami”, which was due to the submarine landslide caused by an earthquake. It has been cleared from some investigations using “Dolphin 3K” and “Shinkai 2000” that there are large-scale dead Calyptogena colonies, many gravels of fallen dolomite chimneys and carbonates on the top of the Knoll [Matsumoto, T., Uechi, C., Kimura, M., 1997; Machiyama, H., Matsumoto, T., Matsumoto, R., Hattori, M., Okano, M., Iwase, R., Tomaru, H., 2001b.]. Carbonates of Kuroshima Knoll have various shapes and macroscopic textures. These have been classified into 4 types; shell crust (pavement), chimney, burrow, and nodule. It is clear that all chimney and burrow carbonates are composed of dolomite, while shell curst and nodule are composed of calcite, sometimes both calcite and dolomite. These carbonates are considered to have been formed by cold seep, because they are characterized by the light carbon isotopic ratio (semi-biogenic) and the heavy oxygen isotopic ratio. This suggests that methane hydrate layers develop under this survey area and the water that has the heavy oxygen and the light carbon isotopic ratio is derived from the dissociation of methane hydrate.