ORDOVICIAN GRAPTOLITES OF THE CHU-ILIYSKIYE MOUNTAINS

The available information on the graptolite faunas of the Chu-Illyskiye Mountains is synthesized and comparisons made with other faunas of Kazakhstan, Europe, North America, and China. Comparison with Bet-Pak-la, 400 km NW of the Chu-Iliyskiye, shows almost no species common to contemporaneous units, a discrepancy attributed to facies differences. Correlation with the English standard is good although many details of zonal equation are arbitrary. Fifty species, of which 17 are new, are described and illustrated. Twenty-two are typically European, five North American, two Russian, and one Chinese; three are not formally named. Correlation between the graptolite zones of the Chu-Iliyskiye Mountains and the English standard zones is as follows:

ORDOVICIAN GRAPTOLITES OF THE CHU-ILIYSKIYE MOUNTAINS

All authors

B.M. Keller

https://doi.org/10.1080/00206816209474672

Published online:

01 September 2009

Table     

GOTLANDIAN STRATIGRAPHY OF THE OUTER ZONE OF SOUTHWEST JAPAN

Many localities of the Gotlandian rocks have been found in the Outer Zone of Southwest Japan since Kobayashi and Iwaya's discovery of Halysites-bearing limestone at Imose, Kochi Prefecture, Shikoku in 1940. However, little has been done in their stratigraphy and paleontology. Here, the writer describes a tentative division of the Gotlandian strata with reference to the Halysitidae. The bed G₄, which is composed of thick acidic volcanic and clastic materials, is presumed to be the Gotlandio-Devonian passage bed, and is correlated to the Takainari, Ono and the, lower half of the Nakazato series in the Kitakami mountains, Northeast Honshu, because of the predominance of acidic rocks. The so-called Upper Gotlandian Fukuji formation in Gifu Prefecture, Hida plateau is also brought into comparison. The strong acidic volcanic activities in these Gotlandio-Devonian rocks suggest that the “Oboke sandstone schists” in the lower part of the so-called Sambagawa metamorphic complex of the Sakawa orogenic zone are the G₄ equivalent which has been deposited near the axis of the Chichibu geosyncline. The reef-limestone facies was shifted from the Outer to the Inner Zone of West Japan at the beginning of the Devonian period. Simultaneously with the shifting, Minamihiura and other unconformities might have been produced in the lower part of the Sambagawa system. The Kunimiyarna acidic igneous intrusion was probably the forerunner of this movement. These geological events in Japan may be related to the Kwangsi disturbance in South China.

The stratigraphy of the Gotlandio-Devonian rocks in the Outer Zone of Southwest Japan is in descending order as follows:

GOTLANDIAN STRATIGRAPHY OF THE OUTER ZONE OF SOUTHWEST JAPAN

All authors

Takashi Hamada

https://doi.org/10.1080/00206816209473731

Published online:

01 September 2009

Table     

Comparison of two-dimensional flood propagation models: SRH-2D and Hydro_AS-2D

This article presents a comparison between two two-dimensional finite volume flood propagation models: SRH-2D and Hydro_AS-2D. The models are compared using an experimental dam-break test case provided by Soares-Frazão (J Hydraul Res, 2007. doi: 10.1080/00221686.2007.9521829). Four progressively refined meshes are used, and both models react adequately to mesh and time step refinement. Hydro_AS-2D shows some unphysical oscillations with the finest mesh and a certain loss of accuracy. For that test case, Hydro_AS-2D is more accurate for all meshes and generally faster than SRH-2D. Hydro_AS-2D reacts well to automatic calibration with PEST, whereas SRH-2D has some difficulties in retrieving the suggested Manning’s roughness coefficient.     

Ultimate Bearing Capacity Prediction of Eccentrically Inclined Loaded Strip Footings

Extensive laboratory model tests have been carried out on a strip footing resting over dry sand bed subjected to eccentrically inclined load to determine the ultimate bearing capacity (Patra et al. in Int J Geotech Eng 6(3):343–352, 2012a.  https://doi.org/10.3328/IJGE.2012.06.03.343-352, Int J Geotech Eng 6(4):507–514, b.  https://doi.org/10.3328/IJGE.2012.06.04.507-514). Similarly, lower bound calculations based on finite element method were performed to compute the bearing capacity of a strip footing subjected to an eccentric and inclined load lying over a cohesionless soil with varying embedment depth and relative density (Krabbenhoft et al. in Int J Geomech ASCE, 2014.  https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000332). The load may be applied in two ways namely, towards the center line and away from the center line of the footing. Based on the results (both experimental and numerical analyses), a neural network model is developed to predict the reduction factor that will be used in computing the ultimate bearing capacity of an eccentrically inclined loaded strip footing. This reduction factor (RF) is the ratio of the ultimate bearing capacity of the footing subjected to an eccentrically inclined load to the ultimate bearing capacity of the footing subjected to a centric vertical load. A thorough sensitivity analysis is carried out to evaluate the parameters affecting the reduction factor. Based on the weights of the developed neural network model, a neural interpretation diagram is developed to find out whether the input parameters have direct or inverse effect on the output. A prediction model equation is framed with the trained weights of the neural network as the model parameters. The predictions from ANN, and those from other approaches, are compared with the results computed from both experimentation and FEM analyses. The ANN model results are found to be more accurate and well matched with other results.     

Palaeomagnetic results from the Chiapanecan Volcanic Arc,Chiapas, Southern Mexico: geomagnetic and geodynamic significance

This article presents the first palaeomagnetic results from 13 independent cooling units in the Chiapanecan Volcanic Arc (ChVA). Six sites were directly dated by Ar–Ar or K–Ar methods: their dates range from 2.14 to 0.23 Ma. We isolated the characteristic palaeodirections for all 13 lavas. Eleven non-transitional directions yield a mean direction with inclination, I?=?30.7°, declination, D?=?4.1°, and precision parameters k?=?63 and α₉₅ = 5.8°. The corresponding mean palaeopole position is Plat = 83.3°, Plong = 203.8°, K?=?227, A ₉₅ = 5.1°. The mean inclination is in good agreement with the expected value for the last 5 million years, as derived from the synthetic North American polar wander path [Besse and Courtillot 2002 Besse, J. and Courtillot, V. 2002. Apparent and true polar wander and the geometry of the magnetic field in the last 200 million years. Journal of Geophysical Research, 107(B11) doi:10.1029/2000JB000050[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], Apparent and true polar wander and the geometry of the magnetic field in the last 200 million years: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 107, no. B11, p. 2300], but a measured rotation of the palaeodeclination of about 8° with respect to the expected direction suggests the possibility of a clockwise rotation of the studied ChVA units. We have estimated the characteristics of palaeosecular variation through study of the scatter of virtual geomagnetic poles, obtaining a palaeosecular variation parameter S _b = 14.5° with upper limit S _U = 19.6° and lower limit S _L = 11.7°, in reasonable agreement with the fit of model G [McFadden et al., 1988 Quidelleur, X., Carlut, J., Gillot, P.Y. and Soler, V. 2002. Evolution of the geomagnetic field prior to the Matuyama-Brunhes transition: Radiometric dating of a 820 ka excursion at La Palma. Geophysical Journal International, 151: F6–F10. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], Dipole/quadrupole family modeling of paleosecular variation: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 93, no. B10, p. 11583–11588; 1991, Reversals of the Earth's magnetic field and temporal variations of the dynamo families: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 96, no. B3, p. 3923–3933] to the Johnson et al. [2008 Johnson, C.L., Constable, C.G., Tauxe, L., Barendregt, R., Brown, L.L., Coe, R.S., Layer, P., Mejia, V., Opdyke, N.D., Singer, B.S., Staudigel, H. and Stone, D.B. 2008. Recent investigations of the 0–5 Ma geomagnetic field recorded by lava flows. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 9(4) ID Q04032, doi:10.1029/2007GC001696[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], Recent investigations of the 0–5 Ma geomagnetic field recorded by lava flows: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, v. 9, no. 4, ID Q04032, doi:10.1029/2007GC001696] databases for the last 5 million years. In those cases in which age determinations are available, the polarity obtained for the studied flows is consistent with their stratigraphic positions, except for the Huitepec site, which probably reflects the transitional geomagnetic regime prior to the Matuyama–Brunhes geomagnetic reversal.     

Evaluation of the potential for gas leakage along wellbores in the St. Lawrence Lowlands basin,Quebec, Canada

Wellbore attributes (i.e., deviation, casings and plugging characteristics) for 85 wells in the St. Lawrence Lowlands basin of southern Quebec were compiled from drilling reports and abandonment programs to provide an overview of the abandoned well characteristics and to establish a diagnosis on the long-term reliability of the completion and abandonment practices carried out by the companies since the beginning of oil and gas exploration. Using these data, the conventional and unconventional wells were divided into four categories: (1) conventional wells drilled before 1950, (2) conventional wells drilled between 1950 and 1970, (3) conventional wells drilled after 1970 and shale gas wells (all drilled after 2000). Very little information was available for wells drilled before 1950. More information was available for the wells drilled from 1950 to 1970 which is considered a transition period between old and modern technology. Conventional and unconventional wells drilled after 1970 were generally well documented and their attributes corresponded to API standards. A decision tree, inspired from the methodology proposed by Watson and Bachu (SPE Drill Complet 24(1):115–126, 2009.  https://doi.org/10.2118/106817-PA), was then created to assess the potential of leakage of each of the conventional and unconventional wells using the compiled attributes. The factors defining the probability of well leakage were wellbore deviation, height of cement in casing annuli (partially or fully cemented), type of abandonment plugs (cement or mechanical plugs) and drilling date (before or after 1970). Among the 85 wells assessed by this tree, the probability of leakage was higher than 50% for 55 wells (65% of wells). Wellbore deviation and lack of information on the construction and abandonment methods were respectively the primary and secondary causes of high probability of leakage of these wells.     

Geodiversity and the ‘8Gs’: a response to Brocx & Semeniuk (2019)

Abstract

Brocx and Semeniuk’s (2019 Brocx, M., & Semeniuk, V. (2019). The ’8Gs’ – a blueprint for geoheritage, geoconservation, geo-education and geotourism. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 66(6), 803–821. doi:10.1080/08120099.2019.1576767[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) paper is discussed, particularly in relation to the concept of geodiversity and their proposed sequence of ‘8Gs’. Their ideas on these topics are at odds with the majority of published papers and Internet sources on geodiversity. We argue that geodiversity as a concept has real value and that (a) the planet’s geodiversity occurs at all scales from global downwards, (b) it deserves an absolutely central place in any sequence of ‘Gs’ since it is the backbone of international and national geoheritage and geoconservation strategies, and the basis for geoheritage assessments, and (c) that as well as underpinning biodiversity, geodiversity is the source of many other geosystem services, including geotourism. Finally, a revised proposal for the relationship between geology, geodiversity, geoheritage, geoconservation and other ‘Gs’ is presented.     

Geochemical element mobility during alteration/mineralization in the Sungun porphyry copper deposit,Azerbaijan–Iran

The Sungun porphyry copper deposit of northwestern Iran is associated with Miocene diorite/granodiorite to quartz-monzonite intrusive into Eocene volcanic–sedimentary and Cretaceous carbonate rocks. Three main mineralization-related alteration episodes (I, potassic; II, transition; and III, phyllic alterations) were studied in terms of mass transfer during hydrothermal evolution of the Sungun deposit. Isocon plots (Grant, J.A. 1986 Grant, J.A. 1986. The isocon diagram – a simple solution to Gresens’ equation for metasomatic alteration. Economic Geology, 81: 1976–1982. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], The isocon diagram – a simple solution to Gresens’ equation for metasomatic alteration: Economic Geology, v. 81, p. 1976–1982) were employed to illustrate these changes quantitatively. These plots illustrate that Al, Ti, and Ga were relatively immobile during alteration, and that the alteration was essentially mass-conservative. At all stages in the evolution of the hydrothermal system, computed volume changes were close to zero. In the potassic alteration zone, an obvious enrichment of K and depletions of Na, Ca, Mn, and Fe took place. These changes were due to replacement of plagioclase and amphibole by K-feldspar and biotite, respectively. Potassic alteration was associated with significant addition of Cu, as might be expected from the occurrence of disseminated chalcopyrite and bornite in this zone. In the transition alteration zone, Ca was added, Na, Fe, and Mg were relatively unchanged, and K, Ba, and Cu were depleted. The loss of K and Ba relative to Na reflects replacement of K-feldspar by albite. Phyllic alteration was accompanied by the depletion of Na, K, Fe, and Ba and enrichment of Si and Cu. The losses of Na, K, and Fe reflect the sericitization of alkali feldspar and destruction of ferromagnesian minerals. The addition of Si is consistent with the widespread silicification, which is a major feature of phyllic alteration and the addition of Cu with mobilization from the transition zone, which is depleted in this element.     

Information infrastructure for Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System

Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS, imos.org.au) is research infrastructure to establish an enduring observing program for Australian oceanic waters and shelf seas. The observations cover physical, biological, and chemical variables to address themes of multi-decadal ocean change, climate variability and weather extremes, boundary currents and inter-basin flows, continental shelf processes and ecosystem responses.IMOS observations are collected by national facilities based on various platform types and operated by partner institutions around the country. In this paper we describe the infrastructure and workflows developed to manage and distribute the data to the public. We highlight the existing standards and open-source software we have adopted, and the contributions we have made. To demonstrate the value of this infrastructure we provide some illustrations of use and uptake.All IMOS data are freely and openly available to the public via the Ocean Portal (https://imos.aodn.org.au). All IMOS-developed software is open-source and accessible at https://github.com/aodn.     

Micro-mechanical failure analysis of wet granular matter

We employ a novel fluid–particle model to study the shearing behavior of granular soils under different saturation levels, ranging from the dry material via the capillary bridge regime to higher saturation levels with percolating clusters. The full complexity of possible liquid morphologies Scheel et al. (Nat Mater 7(3):189–193, 2008. doi: 10.1038/nmat2117) is taken into account, implying the formation of isolated arbitrary-sized liquid clusters with individual Laplace pressures that evolve by liquid exchange via films on the grain surface Melnikov et al. (Phys Rev E 92(022):206, 2015. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.92.022206). Liquid clusters can grow in size, shrink, merge and split, depending on local conditions, changes of accessible liquid and the pore space morphology determined by the granular phase. This phase is represented by a discrete particle model based on contact dynamics Brendel et al. (Contact dynamics for beginners. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2005. doi: 10.1002/352760362X.ch14), where capillary forces exerted from a liquid phase add to the motion of spherical particles. We study the macroscopic response of the system due to an external compression force at various liquid contents with the help of triaxial shear tests. Additionally, the change in liquid cluster distributions during the compression due to the deformation of the pore space is evaluated close to the critical load.     

Discussion on the article “Paleoseismological analysis of an intraplate extensional structure: the Concud fault (Iberian Chain,Eastern Spain)” by P. Lafuente,L. E. Arlegui,C. L. Liesa,and J. L. Simón (Int J Earth Sci)

This discussion is focused on three aspects of the paper published by Lafuente et al. (Int J Earth Sci, doi: 10.1007/s00531-010-0542-1, 2010) on Concud Fault, constitute the fundamental basis to assess the seismic potential of this capable structure: (1) A slip rate estimated for the Concud Fault based on an erroneous displacement value and a questionable correlation, obviating previously published datings, markedly different to those used by the authors. The wrong displacement value introduces an error of more than 25% in the calculated Quaternary slip rate. (2) A new paleoseismological interpretation of the outcrop of Condud Fault at Los Baños, adding two improperly justified paleoearthquakes to the four events previously inferred. (3) The attribution of faults affecting a young terrace to the most recent recorded earthquake on Concud Fault, ruling out implicitly the likely option of a gravitational origin for them, either landsliding or subsidence due to evaporite dissolution.     

Visualizing flood risk,enabling participation and supporting climate change adaptation using the Geoweb: the case of coastal communities in Nova Scotia,Canada

Impacts of climate change have been observed in natural systems and are expected to intensify in future decades (IPCC in Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPPC, Geneva, 2014). Governments are seeking to establish adaptive measures for minimizing the effects of climate change on vulnerable citizen groups, economic sectors and critical infrastructure (Adger et al. in Global Environ Change 15(2):77–86, 2005. doi: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2004.12.005; Smit and Wandel in Global Environ Change 16(3):282–292, 2006. doi: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2006.03.008). Coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to changing conditions due to rising sea levels and storm event intensification that produce new flood exposures (Richards and Daigle in Government of Prince Edward Island, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2011 http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/ccscenarios.pdf). However, communities oftentimes lack access to locally-relevant climate change information that can support adaptation planning. This research introduces the use of a Geoweb tool for supporting local climate change adaptation efforts in coastal Canadian communities. The Geoweb tool (called “AdaptNS”) is a web-based visualization tool that displays interactive flood exposure maps generated using local climate change projections of sea level rise and storm surge impacts between the years 2000 and 2100. AdaptNS includes participatory features that allow users to identify and share specific locations to protect against present and future coastal flood events. By soliciting feedback from community members, AdaptNS is shown to support local adaptation through the provision of flood exposure visuals, as a platform for identifying adaptation priorities, and as an avenue to communicate local risks to external entities that could facilitate local adaptation initiatives (e.g. upper levels of government). Future Geoweb research directions include improving the visualization of climate change projection uncertainties, the expansion of informational and participation capabilities, and understanding the potential for long-term adoption of Geoweb tools in adaptation decision-making.     

HyLogging unconventional petroleum core from the Cooper Basin,South Australia

The Cooper Basin is currently Australia's premier onshore hydrocarbon-producing province and hosts a range of unconventional gas play types, including the very extensive basin-centred and tight gas accumulations in the Gidgealpa Group, both shallow and deep dry coal seam gas associated with the Patchawarra and Toolachee formations, as well as the shale gas plays in the Murteree and Roseneath shales. Characterisation of mineralogical properties of shales is critical to hydraulic fracture design and development of unconventional hydrocarbon resources. Properties are sensitive to variations in mineralogy, especially clays, and historically, acquisition of a suite of rock mechanics analyses has been on a point-source basis rather than on a continuous sampling approach, which is uncommon. In this paper, a near-continuous 382 m cored section, comprising the lower Permian Daralingie Formation, Roseneath and Murteree shales, the Epsilon Formation and the top portion of the Patchawarra Formation from Holdfast-1 well (DH261958) in the southern Cooper Basin, was measured using robotic core scanning spectroscopy with automated mineral identification. HyLogger 3 incorporates visible, near infrared, shortwave infrared and thermal infrared hyperspectral measurements recorded every 0.8 cm along the core at the rate of approximately 1 m per minute. These data are co-registered with a high-resolution image and a laser profile of the core. X-ray diffraction and thin-section petrology from the Holdfast-1 well-completion report (Beach Energy, 2011 Beach Energy (2011). Holdfast 1 well completion report. South Australian Department of State Development. Open file WCR 2010/000390. Retrieved from: https://sarigbasis.pir.sa.gov.au/WebtopEw/ws/samref/sarig1/image/DDD/HOLDFAST_001.zip [Google Scholar]) provided relative proportions of minerals including quartz, kaolinite, dickite, muscovite, illite, chlorite and siderite that enabled the modelled vs actual mineralogies to be constrained in the thermal infrared with a correlation coefficient of 0.85 for quartz, 0.79 for muscovite and 0.68 for kaolin; illite and siderite were more poorly correlated. HyLogger logging, when integrated with other petrophysical and analytical core data, provides a useful tool to better understand unconventional reservoirs and may assist in identification of zones that are conducive to fracture stimulation.     

The role of eclogite in the mantle heterogeneity at Cape Verde

The Cape Verde hotspot, like many other Ocean Island Basalt provinces, demonstrates isotopic heterogeneity on a 100–200 km scale. The heterogeneity is represented by the appearance of an EM1-like component at several of the southern islands and with a HIMU-like component present throughout the archipelago. Where the EM1-like component is absent, a local DMM-like component replaces the EM1-like component. Various source lithologies, including peridotite, pyroxenite and eclogite have been suggested to contribute to generation of these heterogeneities; however, attempts to quantify such contributions have been limited. We apply the minor elements in olivine approach (Sobolev et al. in Nature 434:590–597, 2005; Science, doi: 10.1126/science.1138113, 2007), to determine and quantify the contributions of peridotite, pyroxenite and eclogite melts to the mantle heterogeneity observed at Cape Verde. Cores of olivine phenocrysts of the Cape Verde volcanics have low Mn/FeO and low Ni*FeO/MgO that deviate from the negative trend of the global array. The global array is defined by mixing between peridotite and pyroxenite, whereas the Cape Verde volcanics indicate contribution of an additional eclogite source. Eclogite melts escape reaction with peridotite either by efficient extraction in an area of poor mantle flow or by reaction of eclogite melts with peridotite, whereby an abundance of eclogite can seal off the melt from further reaction. Temporal trends of decreasing Mn/FeO indicate that the supply of eclogite melts is increasing. Modelling suggests the local DMM-like end-member is formed from a relatively peridotite-rich melt, while the EM1-like end-member has a closer affinity to a mixed peridotite–pyroxenite–eclogite melt. Notably the HIMU-like component ranges from pyroxenite–peridotite-rich melt to one with up to 77 % eclogite melt as a function of time, implying that sealing of melt pathways is becoming more effective.     

Isotope fingerprinting of precipitation associated with western disturbances and Indian summer monsoons across the Himalayas

Precipitation samples were collected across the Himalayas from Kashmir (western Himalaya) to Assam (eastern Himalaya) to understand the variation of the stable isotopic content (\(\updelta ^{18}\)O and \(\updelta \)D) in precipitation associated with two dominant weather systems of the region: western disturbances (WDs) and Indian summer monsoon (ISM). Large spatial and temporal variations in isotopic values were noted with \(\updelta ^{18}\)O and \(\updelta \)D values ranging from \(-30.3\) to Open image in new window and \(-228\) to Open image in new window , respectively. The d-excess values also exhibit a large range of variation from \(-30\) to Open image in new window . In general, heavier isotopic values are observed in most of the samples in Jammu, whereas lighter values are observed in majority of the samples in Uttarakhand. Precipitation at Jammu seems to have undergone intense evaporation while that from Uttarakhand suggest normal Rayleigh fractionation/distillation of the air mass as it moves from the source region to the precipitation site and/or orographic lifting. The d-excess of rainfall in Kashmir has a distinctly higher median value of Open image in new window compared to other precipitation sites with a median of Open image in new window . Using distinct isotopic signatures, the regions receiving precipitation from two different weather systems have been identified.     

A Refined Model for Solid Particle Rock Erosion

A procedure for the estimation of distribution parameters of a Weibull distribution model K₁ = f(K_Ic^12/4/σ_C^23/4) for solid particle erosion, as recently suggested in Rock Mech Rock Eng, doi: 10.1007/s00603-014-0658-x, 2014, is derived. The procedure is based on examinations of elastic–plastically responding rocks (rhyolite, granite) and plastically responding rocks (limestone, schist). The types of response are quantified through SEM inspections of eroded surfaces. Quantitative numbers for the distribution parameter K₁ are calculated for 30 rock materials, which cover a wide range of mechanical properties. The ranking according to the parameter K₁ is related to qualitative rock classification schemes. A modified proposal for the erosion of schist due to solid particle impingement at normal incidence is introduced.     

A method for modelling coastal erosion risk: the example of Scotland

It is thought that 70% of beaches worldwide are experiencing erosion (Bird in Coastline changes: a global review, Wiley, Hoboken, 1985), and as global sea levels are rising and expected to accelerate, the management of coastal erosion is now a shared global issue. This paper aims to demonstrate a method to robustly model both the incidence of the coastal erosion hazard, the vulnerability of the population, and the exposure of coastal assets to determine coastal erosion risk, using Scotland as a case study. In Scotland, the 2017 Climate Change Risk Assessment for Scotland highlights the threat posed by coastal erosion to coastal assets and the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requires an Adaptation Programme to address the risks posed by climate change. Internationally, an understanding and adaption to coastal hazards is imperative to people, infrastructure and economies, with Scotland being no exception. This paper uses a Coastal Erosion Susceptibility Model (CESM) (Fitton et al. in Ocean Coast Manag 132:80–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2016.08.018 , 2016) to establish the exposure to coastal erosion of residential dwellings, roads, and rail track in Scotland. In parallel, the vulnerability of the population to coastal erosion, using a suite of indicators and Experian Mosaic Scotland geodemographic classification, is also presented. The combined exposure and vulnerability data are then used to determine coastal erosion risk in Scotland. This paper identifies that 3310 dwellings (a value of £524 m) are exposed to erosion, and the Coastal Erosion Vulnerability Index (CEVI) identifies 1273 of these are also considered to be highly vulnerable to coastal erosion, i.e. at high risk. Additionally, the CESM classified 179 km (£1.2 bn worth) of road and 13 km of rail track (£93 m to £2 bn worth) to be exposed. Identifying locations and assets that are exposed and at risk from coastal erosion is crucial for effective management and enables proactive, rather that reactive, decisions to be made at the coast. Natural hazards and climate change are set to impact most on the vulnerable in society. It is therefore imperative that we begin to plan, manage, and support both people and the environment in a manner which is socially just and sustainable. We encourage a detailed vulnerability analysis, such as the CEVI demonstrated here for Scotland, to be included within future coastal erosion risk research. This approach would support a more sustainable and long-term approach to coastal management decisions.     

Phase-equilibrium geobarometers for silicic rocks based on rhyolite-MELTS. Part 2: application to Taupo Volcanic Zone rhyolites

Constraining the pressure of crystallisation of large silicic magma bodies gives important insight into the depth and vertical extent of magmatic plumbing systems; however, it is notably difficult to constrain pressure at the level of detail necessary to understand shallow magmatic systems. In this study, we use the recently developed rhyolite-MELTS geobarometer to constrain the crystallisation pressures of rhyolites from the Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ). As sanidine is absent from the studied deposits, we calculate the pressures at which quartz and feldspar are found to be in equilibrium with melt now preserved as glass (the quartz +1 feldspar constraint of Gualda and Ghiorso, Contrib Mineral Petrol 168:1033. doi: 10.1007/s00410-014-1033-3. 2014). We use glass compositions (matrix glass and melt inclusions) from seven eruptive deposits dated between ~320 and 0.7 ka from four distinct calderas in the central TVZ, and we discuss advantages and limitations of the rhyolite-MELTS geobarometer in comparison with other geobarometers applied to the same eruptive deposits. Overall, there is good agreement with other pressure estimates from the literature (amphibole geobarometry and H₂O–CO₂ solubility models). One of the main advantages of this new geobarometer is that it can be applied to both matrix glass and melt inclusions—regardless of volatile saturation. The examples presented also emphasise the utility of this method to filter out spurious glass compositions. Pressure estimates obtained with the new rhyolite-MELTS geobarometer range between ~250 to ~50 MPa, with a large majority at ~100 MPa. These results confirm that the TVZ hosts some of the shallowest rhyolitic magma bodies on the planet, resulting from the extensional tectonic regime and thinning of the crust. Distinct populations with different equilibration pressures are also recognised, which is consistent with the idea that multiple batches of eruptible magma can be present in the crust at the same time and can be tapped simultaneously by large eruptive events.     

Weakly bound water structure,bond valence saturation and water dynamics at the goethite (100) surface/aqueous interface: ab initio dynamical simulations

Background

Many important geochemical and biogeochemical reactions occur in the mineral/formation water interface of the highly abundant mineral, goethite [α-Fe(OOH)]. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations of the goethite α-FeOOH (100) surface and the structure, water bond formation and dynamics of water molecules in the mineral/aqueous interface are presented. Several exchange correlation functionals were employed (PBE96, PBE96 + Grimme, and PBE0) in the simulations of a (3 × 2) goethite surface with 65 absorbed water molecules in a 3D-periodic supercell (a = 30 Å, FeOOH slab ~12 Å thick, solvation layer ~18 Å thick).

Results

The lowest energy goethite (100) surface termination model was determined to have an exposed surface Fe³⁺ that was loosely capped by a water molecule and a shared hydroxide with a neighboring surface Fe³⁺. The water molecules capping surface Fe³⁺ ions were found to be loosely bound at all DFT levels with and without Grimme corrections, indicative that each surface Fe³⁺ was coordinated with only five neighbors. These long bonds were supported by bond valence theory calculations, which showed that the bond valence of the surface Fe³⁺ was saturated and surface has a neutral charge. The polarization of the water layer adjacent to the surface was found to be small and affected only the nearest water. Analysis by density difference plots and localized Boys orbitals identified three types of water molecules: those loosely bound to the surface Fe³⁺, those hydrogen bonded to the surface hydroxyl, and bulk water with tetrahedral coordination. Boys orbital analysis showed that the spin down lone pair orbital of the weakly absorbed water interact more strongly with the spin up Fe³⁺ ion. These weakly bound surface water molecules were found to rapidly exchange with the second water layer (~0.025 exchanges/ps) using a dissociative mechanism.

Conclusions

Water molecules adjacent to the surface were found to only weakly interact with the surface and as a result were readily able to exchange with the bulk water. To account for the large surface Fe–OH₂ distances in the DFT calculations it was proposed that the surface Fe³⁺ atoms, which already have their bond valence fully satisfied with only five neighbors, are under-coordinated with respect to the bulk coordination.

Open image in new window

Graphical abstract All first principle calculations, at all practically achievable levels, for the goethite 100 aqueous interface support a long bond and weak interaction between the exposed surface Fe³⁺ and water molecules capping the surface. This result is supported by bond valence theory calculations and is indicative that each surface Fe³⁺ is coordinated with only 5 neighbors.

     

Miocene echinoids from the Sadat area,south Gebel Ataqa,NW Gulf of Suez,Egypt: systematics,palaeobiogeography

The echinoid fauna from the Miocene sedimentary succession cropping out south Wadi Tweirig, and Wadi Hommath, south Gebel Ataqa, NW Gulf of Suez, has been examined with the aim to known their stratigraphic and paleogeographic distribution. The Miocene succession includes two formations: Sadat Formation, unconformably overlying the middle/upper Eocene rocks at the base and Hommath Formation at the top. Twenty-eight echinoid species (8 regular and 20 irregular) belonging to 18 genera, 13 families, and 7 orders have been identified, systematically described, and illustrated in this work. Eleven species are recorded for the first time from Egypt: ten of these came from the Hommath Formation (Schizechinus cf. serresii Desor (1856), Schizechinus pentagonus Kier 1972, Clypeaster cf. martini des Moulins 1837, Scutella checchiae occidentalis Desio 1934, Scutella melitensis Airaghi 1902, Echinodiscus desori Duncan and Sladen 1883, Echinolampas cf. zeitensis Fourtau 1920, Schizaster lovisatoi Cotteau 1895, Agassizia (Agassizia) powersi Kier 1972, and Hemipatagus ocellatus Defrance (1827)), and one from the Sadat Formation (Clypeaster campanulatus Schlotheim (1820)). The identified fauna shows a strong affinity with the Mediterranean bio-province.