Eclogitic metasediments from the Tso Morari area (Ladakh, Himalaya): evidence for continental subduction during India-Asia convergence

Metasediments in the Tso Morari area (Ladakh, Himalaya) provide new insights into the Higher Himalayan metamorphism in the northwestern part of the Himalayan belt. Whole-rock analyses and petrologic observations show that the metasediments correspond to Fe-rich metapelites, Mg-rich metapelites, intermediate metapelites and metagreywackes of the Indian continental margin. Jadeite + chloritoid + paragonite + garnet in the Fe-rich metapelites indicate pressures of 20 ±2 kbar at temperatures of 550 ±50 °C according to major element partitioning thermobarometry, stability fields of minerals and Thermocalc P-T estimates. These results are consistent with P-T estimates on other metasediments and with the occurrence of eclogites. Subsequent retrogression at the eclogite-blueschist facies transition (from 18 to 13 kbar and 540 ±50 °C) was followed by an increase in temperature to 630 ±30 °C at amphibolite facies conditions. The metamorphic evolution is related to subduction of the Indian continental margin beneath the southern Asian margin at the onset of the Indian-Eurasian collision. Received: 17 April 1996 / Accepted: 19 February 1997     

Mobility of rare-earth elements and copper during shear-zone-related retrograde metamorphism

In Mid Proterozoic crystalline rocks of the Mount Isa Inlier, around Cloncurry, Australia, 2000 km² of alteration and brecciation are the product of high-temperature (> 450 °C) concentrated saline solution activity. During retrogression, this fluid was locally responsible for mobility of V, Y, Nb and light rare-earth elements (15 × enrichment). Copper and S were leached during alteration and this may have been a significant source of components in nearby Cu-Au deposits. Similar rare-earth-element behaviour has been observed in the hematite breccias which host Cu-sulfides at the giant Olympic Dam Cu-Au deposit.     

Sesquiterpenoids in sediments of a hypersaline lagoon: A possible algal origin

Core samples were collected in Lagoa Vermelha, a hypersaline lagoon located about 100 km east of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The sediment composition is predominantly carbonate in amounts up to 93%. Analysis of δ¹³C of the total organic matter in the sediments showed that marine organic matter predominates throughout the core (δ¹³C ranges from −15.84 to −22.64‰ vs. PDB). Organic carbon contents (TOC) ranged from 0.81 to 13.28%. A series of cadinane-type sesquiterpenoids can be recognized in the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data. Essentially the same components are present in all the samples, with variations only in their relative abundances. The most abundant compounds are α- and β-cubebene, α- and β-cedrene, cadinenes (different isomers), α-curcumene and calamenene, with minor amounts of calarene, humulene, calacorene and cadalene. Since this lagoon is surrounded by dunes with only minor vegetation typical of this environment (grasses, small non-resinous shrubs and no forest) with no potential source for sesquiterpenoids, a terrestrial origin for these compounds is excluded and an algal origin is more consistent with the locale and the recognition of sesquiterpenoids (including cadinol) in microbial mats from the lagoon. Only the natural product precursor sesquiterpenoids are present in the microbial mats with no detectable diagenetic derivatives (e.g. calamenene and cadalene). This indicates that the compounds in the mats are from recent input and those found in the sediments are most likely derived from former algal biomass in this lagoon, a fact confirmed by the recognition of a series of diagenetic aromatic components in the sediments. Surface sediments contain n-alkanes with no even-to-odd predominance indicating that microbial activity is higher in shallower sediments. Moreover, mass fragmentograms (m/z 191) of biomarkers revealed the presence of 17α(H),21β(H)-hopanes, the mature isomers, together with their ββ precursors and low amounts of the intermediates with the βα configuration (moretanes). This indicates a contribution of mature organic matter to these immature sediments.     

Water-level changes in the Hammock River marsh palaeovalley, Connecticut between 13,000 and 6000 (C) yrs B.P.

Detailed analysis of basal organic deposits underlying Hammock River marsh, Connecticut allowed documentation of water-level changes that occurred between 13,000 and 6000 yrs B.P. Four main periods of groundwater- and lake-level movements and related environmental changes can be identified.

1. (1) 12,500-10,200 yrs B.P. (lake stage): very rapid rise of the groundwater table of about 2 to 3 m, resulting in a shallow lake, followed by a more gradual rise of about 2.5 to 1.5 m.

2. (2) 10,200-7000 yrs B.P. (freshwater marsh, stage 1): slow overall rise of the water table interrupted by a drop of at least 1 m between about 9500 and 9000 yrs B.P. and of at least 0.8 m between about 8000 and 7500 yrs B.P., each event leading to oxidation and maceration of organic material.

3. (3) 7000-6400 yrs B.P. (complete desiccation of the swamp): rapid fall of the water table of at least 3.9 m. causing large-scale down-wasting of the accumulated peat.

4. (4) After 6400 yrs B.P. (freshwater marsh, stage 2): rapid rise of the water table.

The water-table rise of period 1 and the lowering of period 3 are attributed to predominantly local causes, while the groundwater fluctuations during period 2 are probably climate-related. The final water-level increase reflects the influence of Holocene relative sea-level rise.     

Design-based versus model-based sampling strategies: Comment on R. J. Barnes' “bounding the required sample size for geologic site characterization”

Two fundamentally different sources of randomness exist on which design and inference in spatial sampling can be based: (a) variation that would occur on resampling the same spatial population with other sampling configurations generated by the same design, and (b) variation occurring on sampling other populations, hypothetically generated by the same spatial model, using the same sampling configuration. The former leads to the design-based approach, which uses classical sampling theory; the latter leads to the model-based approach and uses geostatistical theory. Failure to recognize these two sources of randomness causes misunderstanding about dependence of variables and the role of randomization in sampling, unwarranted narrowing down the choice of sampling strategies to those that are model-based, and abuse in simulation experiments. This is exemplified in Barnes' publication on the required sample size for geologic site characterization by nonparametric tolerance intervals. A basic design-based strategy like Simple Random Sampling is shown to require smaller sample sizes than the model-based strategy advocated by Barnes. In addition, Simple Random Sampling is completely robust against model errors and less complicated.     

Lipid biogeochemistry of Phormidium and Microcoleus mats

A study on the predominant sources of organic matter and the main diagenetic processes in two different cyanobacterial mats from evaporite-controlled environments was performed. Fatty acids, hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones and aldehydes were anlyzed in selected millimetre and submillimetre core sections. The changes in lipid composition were evaluated by comparison with the vertical distributions of the populations observed by optic microscopy and with the lipid patterns of enrichment cultures of species such as cyanobacteria, diatoms, purple bacteria, sulphate-reducers and methanogens obtained from the mats.The cyanobacteria Phormidium valderianum and Microcoleus chthonoplastes are the predominant primary producers, and occur almost as monocultures in the respective top layers. However, these mat-forming organisms only leave minor features in the solvent-extractable lipid sedimentary record. The predominant fatty acid distributions parallel the composition observed in the enrichment cultures of purple bacteria and appear mixed with acids characteristic of heterotrophic eubacteria such as sulphate-reducers. The concentrations of these lipids are, however, 5–10 times lower than the cyanobacterial acids from the top layer. De novo heterotrophic eubacterial synthesis is also observed in cases such as the highly branched isoprenoid eicosenes, the major hydrocarbon in the deep layers (>2 mm) of the Phormidium mat. Other major diagenetic changes involve dehydration and hydrogenation. These two processes take place concurrently under anoxic conditions and have been observed among the sterols and the isoprenoid alcohols. Significant amounts of 5ß(H)-stanols were observed in the more reducing sections where molecular indicators of methanogenic bacteria were also found.     

Summertime diurnal variations of atmospheric peroxides and formaldehyde in Sweden

Atmospheric peroxides and formaldehyde were measured at two sites in Sweden; inside a Scots pine stand (Jädraås) and on top of Mt. Åreskutan (1250 msl). Peroxide levels at Jädraås were highest during the day and lowest during the night. Mid-day concentrations of H₂O₂ varied between 0.05 and 2 ppbv. Isentropic trajectories together with local O₃ measurements indicated the importance of long range transport on surface H₂O₂ lévels. Large diurnal variations and vertical profiles showed the importance of turbulent mixing processes and dry deposition. A comparison of H₂O₂ and O₃ diurnal variations indicated a more rapid dry deposition of H₂O₂ to the forest. It would appear that terpenes emitted from the forest play a minor role in controlling the H₂O₂ levels. Formaldehyde at Jädraås had a different diurnal variation than peroxides; highest levels were observed in the early evening indicating chemical production of CH₂O. Diurnal variations of peroxides on Mt Åreskutan were opposite to those at Jädraås, highest concentrations were observed during the night. This result is to be expected if during the day air from inside the valley, with lower peroxide levels relative to the free troposphere, rises to the mountain top. In the evening, subsidence brings free tropospheric air with higher peroxides levels to the mountain.     

Calibration of the climatic signal in a new pollen sequence from La Grande Pile

A new core, GPXX, from La Grande Pile (Vosges, France) has enabled a more precise evaluation of pollen data concerning the last climatic cycle at this site and has enabled reconstruction of the monthly temperature and precipitation. This paper shows that the various components of the reconstructed climatic signal are clearly separated and that they are coherent with the vegetation dynamics. The Eemian interglacial was influenced first by an oceanic climate and second by a more continental one. The two interstadials, St-Germain I and II, were mainly continental. These three temperate periods ended with a cool and humid transition period dominated by boreal forests, which may have been favourable to ice accretion. The Dansgaard-Oeschger oscillations from 55 to 25 Kyr BP are not significantly recorded in La Grande Pile.Contribution to Clima Locarno — Past and Present Climate Dynamics; Conference September 1990, Swiss Academy of Sciences — National Climate Program