Une dépression piézométrique naturelle en hausse au Sahel (Sud-Ouest du Niger)A rising piezometric depression in the Sahel (southwestern Niger)

In southwest Niger, the Continental Terminal water table displays a natural hollow shape about 10 m in depth over an area of 4000 km². A 10-year survey of this hollow aquifer has shown that current recharge is above $\text{20 }\text{mm}\text{yr}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$. The water table has risen continuously since the 1950–1960s as a result of land clearance. This shows a disequilibrium in the aquifer balance. The long-term recharge rate is estimated by radioisotopes to be around $\text{1 }\text{mm}\text{yr}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$. This figure fits with the only possible origin of the piezometric depression, i.e. evapotranspiration losses in its centre. To cite this article: G. Favreau et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 395–401.     

Exchange of light rare earths for Ca in apatite

Diffusion experiments were carried out on natural apatite crystals that were immersed in molten light rare earth element (REE) chloride salt at temperatures between 900 and 1150 °C for periods up to 35 days. Electron microprobe analysis of the crystals showed that light REEs replaced Ca according to electronic balance, i.e. $\text{2}\text{REE}{}^{\mathrm{3+}}$ for $\text{3}\text{Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$. These diffusion profiles indicate that a maximum amount of substitution in the structure occurs when two of the ten Ca ions in apatite are replaced by the REE diffusing elements. Anisotropic diffusion is observed between a and c crystallographic directions. Comparison of maximum distance indicates that the larger ions move more easily in the apatite structure. We conclude that the light REEs diffuse within the channel structures of the mineral, and that this diffusion is controlled by the substitution type of elements in the calcium sites. To cite this article: A. Iqdari et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

Erosion of particulate inorganic and organic matter in the Gulf of LionÉrosion de la matière particulaire inorganique et organique dans le golfe du Lion

Critical shear stress of erosion and erosion rate of particulate inorganic and organic matter were measured in a flume at three muddy stations. Critical shear stress ranged between 0.022 and $\text{0.038 }\text{N}\text{m}{}^{\mathrm{?2}}$. At the deepest site, annual erosion of particulate organic nitrogen and phosphorus could exceed net deposition fluxes, showing the importance of erosion processes. Erosion may modify total system mineralisation rates by introducing sedimentary particulate organic matter into the water column and thus this process must be taken into account in studies of biogeochemical cycles. To cite this article: E. Schaaff et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 1071–1077.     

Morphodynamique d'une dune sous-marine du détroit du pas de CalaisMorphodynamics of an undersea sandwave of the Dover Straits

This paper investigates the dynamics of sandwaves in relationship with tidal currents and weather conditions. The studied sandwaves are located in the Dover Straits and are covered by megaripples. These megaripples have migration speeds of $\text{1 }\text{m}\text{h}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ and slopes of 34°, suggesting the potential for avalanches to occur along the flanks of the sandwave. Tidal cycles without reversing currents were observed during stormy weather. Wind-induced currents lead to a unidirectional migration of megaripples and sandwaves. Well-defined areas without megaripples were observed and correlated with an increase in sandwave height. We propose interpretations for understanding sandwave saturation and migration. To cite this article: D. Idier et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 1079–1085.     

Exhumation cénozoı̈que des massifs du Canigou et de Mont-Louis (Pyrénées orientales,France)Cainozoic exhumation of the Canigou and Mont-Louis massifs (eastern Pyrenees,France)

The onset of exhumation of the Canigou massif, related to the reactivation of the Têt Fault during the Gulf of Lion opening, is dated at 26–27 Ma, using apatite fission track method and lasts until the Aquitanian, at a rate of $\text{0.29±0.07 }\text{mm}\text{yr}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$. The subsequent evolution is necessarily followed by a slower rate of exhumation to account for total exhumation. At the hanging-wall of this fault, the granite of Mont-Louis records an older exhumation history, where the crossing of the 110 °C isotherm at 40±4 Ma is related to the Pyrenean thrusting. To cite this article: O. Maurel et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 941–948.     

Effet de la turbidité sur la dégradation des pigments phytoplanctoniques dans l'estuaire de la GirondeEffect of turbidity on phytoplanktonic pigments degradation in the Gironde Estuary

In the Gironde Estuary, most part of phytoplanktonic material carried by the rivers is mineralised in the maximum turbidity zone (MTZ). In order to follow the degradation of the phytoplanktonic material into the MTZ, we developed an in vitro approach based on the monitoring of phytoplanktonic pigments. Algal material from two chlorophytes (Scenedesmus suspicatus Chaudat and Chlamydomonas sp.) was incubated in the dark during 28 days into water samples from the Gironde estuary MTZ, at variable suspended solid concentrations (SPM) as well as in a sterilised turbid sample. First order decay constants of chlorophylls a and b and lutein increased by a factor 3 to 5 between SPM of 0 and $\text{3 }\text{g}\text{l}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$. The production of pheophytin a in the presence of particles and the lack of degradation in the sterilised turbid sample confirmed the effect of attached bacteria on the particles. To cite this article: E. Lemaire et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 251–258.     

Datation U–Pb des deux faciès du granite de Soultz (Fossé rhénan,France)

Deep boreholes drilled in the basement of the Rhine Graben at Soultz-sous-Forêts have shown the presence of an ubiquitous monzogranite. Borehole GPK-2, with a total depth of 5090 m, also intersected a more leucocratic fine-grained two-mica granite, locally present below 4860 m depth and continuously found between 5047 and 5090 m. Thanks to trace elements and in particular to REE (rare-earth elements), it could be shown that the leucocratic rock is a differentiated expression of the potassic magma that was at the origin of the monzogranite pluton. This model agrees with Sr–Nd isotope data, even though a slight contribution from the pre-existing basement should be considered as well. Use of the U–Pb method on monzogranite from EPS-1 – after zircon dissolution – has yielded an emplacement age of 334.0+3.8/?3.5 Ma $\text{(2}\text{σ)}$. Point dates obtained by SHRIMP II on the rare zircons from the fine-grained granite showed that it was emplaced in a basement with very heterogeneous ages, ranging from Early Proterozoic to Silurian. The estimated crystallization age of the last granite is 327±7 Ma $\text{(2}\text{σ)}$, slightly later than, or sub-contemporaneous with, the emplacement of the common monzogranite, in agreement with structural constrains. To cite this article: A. Cocherie et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Absolute paleointensity of the Earth's magnetic field during Jurassic: case study of La Negra Formation (northern Chile)

We carried out a detailed rock-magnetic and paleointensity study of the ～187-Ma volcanic succession from northern Chile. A total of 32 consecutive lava flows (about 280 oriented standard paleomagnetic cores) were collected at the Tocopilla locality. Only 26 samples with apparently preserved primary magnetic mineralogy and without secondary magnetization components were pre-selected for Thellier paleointensity determination. Eleven samples coming from four lava flows yielded reliable paleointensity estimates. The flow-mean virtual dipole moments range from 3.7±0.9 to $\text{7.1±0.5}\text{(10}{}^{22}$ A m²). This corresponds to a mean value of (5.0±1.8)×10²² A m², which is in reasonably good agreement with other comparable quality paleointensity determinations from the Middle Jurassic. Given the large dispersion and the very poor distribution of reliable absolute intensity data, it is hard to draw any firm conclusions regarding the time evolution of the geomagnetic field. To cite this article: J. Morales et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).