Salinity effect on the liquid limit of soils

Acta Geotechnica - Previous studies stated that, with increasing salinity, the decreased liquid limit for expansive soils was attributed to the shrinkage of diffuse double layer, while the...     

Controls on upper Campanian–Maastrichtian chalk deposition in the eastern Danish Basin

Detailed facies analysis of a 350 m long core of upper Campanian–Maastrichtian chalk at Stevns Peninsula, eastern Denmark, shows that four mudstone and wackestone chalk facies account for close to 95% of the succession, and that bioturbated mudstone chalk alone accounts for nearly 55% of the sediment. Sedimentation took place in deep water, below the photic zone and storm‐wave base, and is characterized by decimetre to metre‐scale variations in facies and trace fossil assemblages indicating repeated shifts in depositional environment. Integration of facies with published data on sea‐surface temperature and accumulation rates suggests that sea‐surface temperature is the most important parameter in controlling stratification of the water column and thereby, indirectly, the observed variations in depositional facies. However, bioturbated mudstone chalk occurs in all stratigraphic levels independent of accumulation rates and sea temperatures and is interpreted to represent a very broad set of deep water environmental conditions with an ample supply of calcareous nannofossil debris and intense bioturbation. Longer term shifts in deposition are best expressed by distribution of clay, flint and bioturbated micro‐wackestone, bioturbated wackestone and laminated mudstone chalk facies, whereas the trace fossil assemblages appear less useful. The data set indicates overall shallowing over time with two distinctive events of clay influx to the basin during the late Campanian–earliest Maastrichtian and late Maastrichtian.     

Rock magnetic,petrographic and dielectric characterization of prehistoric Amerindian potsherds from Venezuela

Rock magnetic, petrographic and dielectric analyses were carried out, in a number of archeological ceramic potsherds, in order to characterize the different manufacturing techniques used by Prehistoric Venezuelan Amerindian potters. Samples were excavated in 7 Venezuelan islands and ascribed to distinct cultural groups on purely stylistic grounds (i.e. Valencioide, Ocumaroide, Dabajuroide and Unknown). Mean coercivity values were determined through a direct signal analyses (DSA) applied to isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) acquisition curves. Logarithmic plots of these mean coercivities are the best quantitative means to classify diverse ceramics. The mean coercivity values seem to group the samples according to the manufacturing development. These values also seem to discriminate the samples provenance, indeed, this plot displays a good grouping of data for samples presumably manufactured by the same culture but excavated at different locations. Thermomagnetic cycles supply helpful information about original ceramic firing conditions. The irreversibility parameter (IP) for thermomagnetic curves (heating and cooling), serves as an indicator of the amount of organic matter burnt during original pottery firing. The IP for a number of pottery samples from Venezuelan islands and mainland, with ages ranging between 300 BC to 1500 AD, might suggest a possible increasing trend in time towards the complete reversibility line of IP = 0. Most samples, independently of age and cultural group, have IP values that suggest that most open fires, used by primitive Venezuelan Amerindian potters, had enough ventilation and oxidizing atmospheres. A scatter plot of maximum current depolarization temperatures versus natural remanent magnetization (NRM) suggests a complex non-linear relationship between these two parameters most likely due to the fact that both, dielectric and rock magnetic data, are linked to pore-related features.     

Macrofaunal communities of threatened subtidal maërl seabeds on Tenerife (Canary Islands, north-east Atlantic Ocean) in summer

This study contributes with the first data on physical and taxonomical structure of macrofaunal assemblages of ma¨erl beds from the Canary Islands. Ma¨erl beds and Cymodocea nodosa meadows of the Canary Islands are considered biodiversity hot-spots in terms of taxonomic and functional biodiversity with a broad geographical and depth ranges. The authors have studied the structure of the macrofaunal assemblages on different habitat types (Cymodocea, Caulerpa, sabellid field, garden eel and ma¨erl beds). Samples were taken at a range of depths between 14 and 46 m. Correlations were performed among abiotic variables (granulometry, organic matter, nitrogen and phosphates) and the most abundant taxa. Similarity analysis was performed to explore the patchiness of seabeds at a local scale. Significant differences were found in macrofaunal assemblages among seabed types, with highest abundances and lowest biodiversity in sabellid fields, where the sabellid Bispira viola dominated. The polychaetes Aponuphis bilineata and Chone filicauda and the mollusc Turritella brochii were the most abundant taxa on ma¨erl beds. The mosaic of granulometric conditions would explain the associated macroinfaunal community structure and contribute to the creation of diversity on these relatively well preserved seabeds at a local scale.     

Trace metal contamination by phosphogypsum discharge in surface and core sediments of the Gabes coast area (SE of Tunisia)

The purpose of the present study is to ascertain the extent of the effect that phosphate fertilizer industrial waste has on the surface and bottom sediments of the Ghannouch-Gabes coast, off the Tunisian Mediterranean Sea. To achieve this, 44 surface sediments and 3 core sediments were studied for mineralogy, trace metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn), F, CaO, and SO₃. For all the analyzed elements, the spatial distribution in surface sediments showed that the area located between the commercial and the fishing port of Gabes is the most polluted zone. The ranking of metal contents was found to be Zn > Cd > Cu > Pb. The vertical distribution of trace metals indicated that the highest levels were found in the uppermost segment of the sediment cores compared to the lower depth subsurface due to a continuous input of phosphogypsum (PG) release and confirmed that the area between the two harbors suffered from several types of pollutants compared to reference core C1, collected from other non-industrialized areas. This spatial and vertical distribution is probably due to the harbor piers which acted as barriers and limited the dispersion of PG discharge. The contamination factor, the geoaccumulation index, and the pollution load index were determined. The results obtained confirm the anthropogenic impact on the levels of metal, on the fluorine, calcium, and sulfate concentrations in the area, located between the commercial harbor of Ghannouch and the fishing harbor of Gabes, whereas the concentrations of elements analyzed tends to decrease on both sides of this sector. Statistical analyses (principal component analysis) showed trace metals, fluoride, sulfate, and a large amount of calcium resulting from the same anthropogenic source.     

Confounding response of macrofauna from a confluence of impacts: brine and sewage pollution

Throughout the shores of the world,a confluence of different sources of pollution is common,e.g.,through outlets releasing brine,industrial,and domestic sewage.In this study,we assessed whether a combined disposal of domestic sewage and brine altered the patterns of abundance and assemblage structure of subtidal macrofauna inhabiting sandy seabeds on the south coast of Gran Canaria(Canary Islands,NE Atlantic Ocean).Samples were collected in two surveys(May 2008 and January 2009)at three distances(0,15,and30 m)away from the discharge point.Macrofaunal abundances showed different patterns with varying proximity from the disposal point in the two surveys.In May 2008,lower abundances were observed at0 m(53.89±46.82 ind.)than at 15 m(120±91.7 ind.)and 30 m(283.89±189.33 ind.)away from the disposal point.In January 2009,however,higher abundances were observed at 0 m(131.33±58.69 ind.)than at 30 m(100±24.44 ind.)and 15 m(84.78±58.39 ind.)away from the disposal point.Significant differences in macrofaunal assemblage structure were found with varying proximity from the discharge point in both surveys.The effect of proximity from the disposal point was confounded by changes in sedimentary composition between surveys,which contributed to explain differences in macrofaunal abundances and assemblage structure with varying proximity from the discharge point.As a result,confounding drivers of macrofaunal assemblage structure,here,changes in sediment composition,accounted for changes in macrofaunal abundances and assemblage structure with varying proximity from a combined disposal point of brine and sewage.