Electrokinetic retention, migration and remediation of nitrates in silty loam soil under hydraulic gradients

Contamination of groundwater by nitrates leaching from intensive agricultural and livestock operations have become a major concern for surrounding communities that use groundwater as their water supply. High levels of nitrate in drinking water poses a significant risk to human health, i.e., methaemoglobinaemia (“blue baby” syndrome).

The traditional pump-and-treat method is ineffective in medium to fine-textured agricultural soils due to the low hydraulic conductivity. This paper presents the results of a laboratory experiment investigating the feasibility of using electrokinetic treatment in retaining, accumulating, moving and remediating nitrates in a silty loam soil under hydraulic gradients.

A hydraulic gradient of 1.25 was applied to the horizontal soil columns to simulate a groundwater movement system. The study was performed in two stages. During the first stage of the experiment, the anode located at the inflow end of the columns was able to retard the movement of nitrates even under a hydraulic gradient of 1.25. After 15 days of flow, the effluent nitrate concentration in the control column rose to 90 mg l⁻¹ while no nitrates were detected in the effluent from columns subjected to the electrokinetic treatment.

After 15 days, the polarity of the electrodes was switched and this second stage lasted another 20 days. The cathode near the inflow end promoted the conversion of nitrates entering the column to other forms. The anode near the outflow end promoted the migration and accumulation of negatively charged nitrate ions towards the outflow end. By the 12th day, the nitrate concentrations in the electrokinetically treated columns were brought down to <5 mg NO₃-N l⁻¹. Electrokinetic treatment retarded nitrate movement against a hydraulic gradient of 1.25 and effectively restored a medium-textured soil contaminated with NO₃-N.

The NO₂-N level remained below 1 mg l⁻¹ throughout the experiment. The hydraulic conductivity varied between 1.0E–7 and 3.6E–7 m s⁻¹. The current requirement varied between 3 and 6 mA.     

Frost heave of unsaturated loamy soil under field conditions

A study on the heaving properties of morainal loamy soil was carried out under field conditions on two grounds. The loamy soils with broken structures were situated in the form of embankments of different density on the first ground.

On the second ground the heave of the morainal loamy soil with unbroken structure was investigated. On this ground concrete foundations were laid 1 × 1 m in size and with pressures at the foot of 0.005 MPa, 0.025 MPa, 0.05 MPa and 0.1 MPa. Besides, some foundations were placed on the surface, and the foot of the others was 0.5 m below the surface of the ground.

The intensity of the heave of the morainal loamy soils is determined by the value of volumetrical moisture. Migration of moisture took place from thawed layers situated below to the boundary of freezing during the whole period of freezing.

The increase of the external pressure upon the foundation (up to 0.1 MPa) did not result in a decrease of displacements of the most loaded foundations. The deformations of the foundation during its freezing and thawing in the limits of the foot of one foundation were relatively un-uniform. The relative deformation foundation value at maximal freezing ranged from 0.0014 to 0.014. During the thawing of the freezing loamy soil the relative deformation of the foot of experimental foundations ranged from 0.002 to 0.048. During the thawing the largest un-uniformity of the sediment corresponded to the most loaded foundations.

The distribution of the loamy soil heave value in the limits of the experimental ground may be considered subjected to the normal law of distribution.     

Case history of one of the few successful Superfund remediation sites: A site at Salinas, California, USA

In 1985, a former tire manufacturing plant surrounded by agricultural fields in the Salinas Valley was designated a Superfund Site by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The plant had been operating for seventeen years, from 1963 until 1980. When dismantling of the plant was started, it was determined that toxic hydrocarbon solvents and oils from the plant had contaminated soil and groundwater in alluvial deposits alongside the plant. It was determined later that the groundwater contamination also lay beneath the agricultural fields in a narrow groundwater plume that extends about 4.3 km downgradient from the plant. Because of the complex architecture of the aquifer system, the gradient, and extensive pumping of agricultural wells, the contaminants migrated northwestward and downward to deeper levels away from the plant.

The agricultural fields are underlain by an unconfined shallow aquifer and by a system of confined aquifers that extend to more than 180 m below surface. Aquifers are discontinuous beds of channel sand and gravel; confining beds are overbank clay and silt, and estuarine clay.

Geophysical data, logs of existing agricultural and other wells, and careful consideration of the stratigraphic architecture of the depositional environment provided the basis for a conceptual hydrogeologic model and for locating characterization wells for detailed visual and geophysical logging and hydrologic testing. Successive refinements of the characterization by sequential installation of wells indicated optimal locations for installation of extraction and monitoring wells. Validity of the concept of the hydrogeologic regime was verified by close match of predictions made by modeling with the later results of pumping from the extraction wells in a pump-and-treat system.

Successful remediation was accomplished by analyzing data from 110 agricultural wells, the few domestic water wells, nearly 200 sequentially installed stratigraphic-characterization and monitoring wells, 25 extraction wells, and by close cooperation among federal, state and local agencies, and the ranchers and growers.

Total contaminants recovered from activated-charcoal strippers of the treatment system totalled < 230 kg. Large quantities were harmlessly volatilized and dispersed into the atmosphere by air strippers and by agricultural sprinkling systems spraying water onto the fields. Crop testing showed no contamination of food crops. The activity has taken seven years and has cost more than US$22 million.     

Brine substitute liquids for soil freezing at very low temperatures

The strength of a frozen soil increases with decreasing temperature. Furthermore, the speed it takes to form a frozen wall increases on lowering the temperature of the freezing liquid.

With the traditional freezing systems using brine it is difficult to work with temperatures below −30°C. To go lower than this limit, it is necessary to substitute the brine by using freezing liquids that maintain good hydraulic and thermal characteristics at much lower temperatures.

Different organic liquids have been tested and good results have been obtained with some aromatic hydrocarbon mixes from the terpene family.

As a result of the research, for practical purposes a by-product ofa distilling citrus fruit skins has been selected. This liquid solidifies at −100°C approx. and maintains a low viscosity rate below −30°C.

The present paper describes the thermal and hydraulic properties of this product as a function of the temperature concerned and compares them to the same properties of classic brines of CaCl₂.     

Ancient sand-rich submarine fans: depositional systems, models, identification, and analysis

Sand-rich submarine fans are radial or curved in plan view depending on the slope of the basin floor. They occur isolated or in coalescing systems. The fans' average lateral extent measures close to 25 km and their thickness usually less than 300 m. The thickness of outer fan sequences averages around 120 m and that of middle fan successions around 160 m. Rarely reported inner fan sequences have a maximum thickness of 80 m.

The formation of sand-rich fans is closely related to tectonic activity. Their sediment is coarse-grained and compositionally immature as indicated by significant feldspar content due to close provenance and rapid transport by short rivers with a steep gradient controlled by tectonism. Tectonic activity also provides for narrow shelves making the fans relatively insensitive to sealevel changes. Formation of sand-rich fans typically occurs in restricted continental basins. The tectonic settings are highly variable. Sand-rich fans typically receive their sediment through submarine canyons which intercept sand from longshore drift and/or are fed more or less directly by regional rivers.

The type of ancient fan system (radial, curved, isolated, coalescing) may be identified through paleocurrent map plots, facies map sketches, recognition of lateral thickness variations and sediment influx centers, as well as lateral bed correlations defining the minimum fan extent.

Important in distinguishing different environments of ancient fans are detailed measured sections, their comparison and correlation. Channelized inner fan and middle fan deposits may be distinguished from the unchannelized outer fan successions through bed correlation tests which reflect their different stratigraphic architectures and bedding patterns. Bedding in outer fan deposits (lobes) is relatively simple, parallel, and regular. The lateral bed continuity is relatively high. Channel fills, especially those of middle fan distributary channels, display a complicated bedding pattern with vertical and lateral random distribution of channel fills, axial erosion, and bed convergence towards the channel margins. Channel fills exhibit only linear bed continuity. Thus, the probability in carrying out local to regional scale lateral bed correlations is almost exclusively limited to outer fan deposits.

The measured sections will help further distinguish fan environments by revealing: (1) different facies associations in outer fan sequences (mainly B, C and D) and middle fan successions (mainly A, B, C, D, and channel margin facies); (2) greater average bed and layer thicknesses in middle fan as opposed to outer fan successions (“bed” and “layer” as used herein); (3) more frequent amalgamation surfaces in channel fills than in unchannelized outer fan deposits; (4) more frequent tabular amalgamation surfaces in outer fan sections; (5) more frequent nontabular amalgamation surfaces in channel fills; and (6) more frequent dish structures in middle fan than outer fan successions.

Rarely exposed fan valley fills may be identified by coarse conglomerates. Moreover, in proximity to fan valley fills, relatively mud-rich sediments may be observed that derive from the depositional system of the basin slope.     

The geology of the Caribbean crust, I: Beata Ridge

Igneous and sedimentary rocks recently dredged and cored from the steep western slope of the Beata Ridge provide important data on the composition, age and details of crustal evolution of the rock-types responsible for recorded compressional wave velocities. The sedimentary rock samples also provide new data concerning the age and depositional environment of overlying sedimentary reflectors.

The deepest (4,100 m) dredge haul contains deeply weathered coarsegrained igneous rocks. Nine other hauls, distributed between 4,000–2,300 m, contain holocrystalline basalts and diabases. The compressional wave velocity of air-dried samples of two holocrystalline basalts and a diabase at atmospheric pressure ranges from 5.0–5.6 km/sec. Sampling in depths less than 2,300 m shows that the crest of the Beata Ridge is capped by Quaternary deposits underlain by consolidated carbonate sediment of at least Middle Eocene age. The faunal assemblages of the Mid-Eocene samples are the product of normal accumulation in a shallow shelf environment.

The dredging results coupled with previously published seismic reflection and refraction data, suggest that the 5.4–5.7 km/sec crust is composed of a layer of basalt and diabase which outcrops below 2,300 m, on a fault-generated escarpment that was produced in the Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary. The shallow shelf samples of Eocene age indicate that the Beata Ridge was higher in the Early Tertiary and has subsided subsequently to its present depth.     

Geophysical, geotechnical and hydrological investigations of a small landslide in the French Alps

Geophysical, geotechnical and hydrological surveys were conducted in the French Alps on a small landslide in black marl material to assess the stability. The geophysical survey, consisting of electromagnetic, geo-electric and relative differences in water content.

The data on the basal slip surface, together with geotechnical parameters (cohesion and angle of internal friction), were used to make a stability analysis. This analysis revealed that a groundwater level of 4 m below the ground surface is the critical threshold for reactivating the landslide.

The hydrological investigation, which entailed measurements of saturated permeability and pressure heads, indicated that instability depended on long-term wet conditions with little evapotranspiration.     

Paragenesis of “box-work geodes”, Tampa Bay, Florida

An unusual suite of silicified rocks was excavated during a recent harbour-deepening project in Tampa Bay, Florida. These rocks, which we have termed “box-work geodes”, are composed of convoluted, intersecting silica walls enclosing cavities which are either voids or filled with relatively pure monoclinic palygorskite. The “box-work geodes” are interpreted as having formed in shallow lagoonal environments, similar to the Coorong Lagoon of South Australia. Synaeresis of syngenetic palygorskite was followed by opal deposition and case hardening of the material. Subsequent chemical deposition of chalcedony, megacrystalline quartz, barite, and calcite on the void facing walls indicates an open chemical system.

The existence of opal saturated lagoons, as inferred from the “box-work geodes”, suggests that much of the replacement chert, porcelanite, and silicified fossils in the Tertiary deposits of peninsular Florida formed in the shallow subsurface. Subsequent weathering of carbonates and clays not encapsulated in the box works has resulted in formation of a green montmorillonite residual clay bed.     

地下水与地表水水量交换识别及交换量计算——以新汴河宿州段为例

为提高地下水与地表水交换量计算结果的准确性,本文利用水力联系、水头差、水温、氡-222、氢氧稳定同位素构建综合识别方法(HHTRO),对新汴河宿州段地下水与地表水水量交换进行识别,并计算交换量。计算结果表明：研究河段单位河长地表水补给地下水的水量变化范围为8.69～366.82 m³/(d·m),地下水补给地表水的水量变化范围为0.72～120.90 m³/(d·m);研究河段左岸为地下水补给地表水,单位河长净补给量为45.26 m³/(d·m);河段右岸为地表水补给地下水,单位河长净补给量为214.33 m³/(d·m);研究河段地下水与地表水水量交换以地表水补给地下水为主,地表水补给地下水的比例为55.14%。本研究可推动地下水与地表水交换量计算方法的发展,为流域或区域水资源评价提供必要的理论方法。     

The uranium ore from Mina Fe (Salamanca, Spain) as a natural analogue of processes in a spent fuel repository

In the frame of the ENRESA natural analogue programme, the uranium ore from the “Mina Fe” (Salamanca, Spain) has been studied as a natural analogue of radioactive spent fuel behaviour. This uranium mine is hosted in highly fractured schistose rocks, a geological setting that has not been envisaged in the Spanish options for radioactive waste burial. However, some analogies with the processes that might be involved in the evolution of these geological repositories suggested this investigation.

The pitchblende–pyrite–carbonate paragenesis has been studied “in situ” as natural analogue of the nuclear spent fuel behaviour under extremely oxidative dissolution conditions. Similarly, secondary Fe oxyhydroxides and clay minerals have also been considered as relevant analogue materials for the retention of uranium and other analogous trace metals. A multidisciplinary characterisation of the site has been performed in order to study these processes.

Though the intense mining activities in the site hindered precise determination of the original hydrogeological and hydrochemical features of the investigated zone (Boa fault zone), the mineralogy and geochemistry of fracture fillings, mineralisation and associated clayey materials have allowed the geochemical evolution of the system to be established. Three geochemical zones have been clearly differentiated: (i) the oxidised zone, from the surface to approximately 20 m depth, (ii) the redox transition zone, from 20 to 50 m depth, and (iii) the reduced zone, located below the transition zone.

The oxidised zone is characterised by the presence of the typical mineral association resulting from the strong acid conditions caused by the total oxidation of pyrite and other sulphides. The total oxidation, dissolution and leaching of U(IV), as uranyl–sulphate aqueous complexes, prevailed in this oxidised zone. The redox transition zone is characterised by the coexistence of the primary uranium paragenesis, oxidised minerals, as well as numerous secondary solid phases as a result of the physico-chemical changes in the environment. The optimal physico-chemical conditions for the coffinitisation of pitchblende and the co-precipitation of Fe(III)–U(VI) took place in this zone. In the reduced zone, where the primary uranium paragenesis is present, we currently find the necessary physico-chemical conditions to stabilise pitchblende, pyrite and carbonates.

The physico-chemical conditions of the oxidised zone are not relevant to disposal conditions. In the transition zone, two main geochemical processes take place: (i) the coffinitisation of pitchblende, which may be an important process for the stability of spent fuel in reducing conditions, and (ii) the co-precipitation of the Fe(III) and U(VI) as oxyhydroxides, another relevant mechanism for the retention of uranium. The physico-chemical conditions that prevail below 50 m depth should be sufficient to stabilise a spent nuclear fuel repository, in the same way as they have been able to preserve the 34-Ma-old uranium deposit of the Mina Fe.     

The prediction of borate mineral equilibria in natural waters: Application to Searles Lake, California

The chemical equilibrium model of et al. (1984) has been extended to include borate species. The model is based upon the semi-empirical equations of (1973) and coworkers and is valid to high ionic strength (≈14 m) and high borate concentration. Excellent agreement with the existing emf, isopiestic and solubility data in the system (Na-K-Ca-Mg-H-Cl-SO₄-CO₂-B(OH)₄-H₂O) is obtained. Calculated mineral solubilities are in general within 10% of their experimental values, even at high ionic strengths.

The model was applied to the multicomponent, high ionic strength (I ˜ 10) and high borate concentration (B_T ˜ 0.5 m) Searles Lake evaporite deposit. Utilizing the chemical composition of the interstitial brine, the model predicts equilibrium between the brine and only those minerals which are known to be in contact with the brine. These calculations clearly demonstrate the applicability of the model to high ionic strength, high borate concentration natural waters.

The model was also utilized to calculate the mineral sequences which should result from evaporation of the major source of water for Searles Lake, the Owens River. The geochemical conditions necessary for the formation of the most recent mud and saline units are examined. The final results indicate that the mineral sequences found in the most recent saline unit in Searles Lake can be produced by evaporation of a water close in composition to present Owens River water, provided primary dolomite formation is delayed and back reaction between the Parting Mud and the Upper Salt is inhibited.     

Breccia-hosted manganese-rich minerals of Alpi Apuane, Italy: A marine, redox-generated deposit

Mn-rich beds occur within the “Brecce di Seravezza” Formation (BSFm) intercalated between Norian metadolostone-Megalodontic marble and Hettangian marble in the Alpi Apuane, (Italy). The BSFm is a rockfall talus deposit that accumulates at the base of the footwall scarp of normal faults bordering extensional marine coastal basins. The type sequence of metabreccia ends with a bed of chloritoid schist interpreted as the metamorphic equivalent of lateritic soils. The four main types of Mn mineral assemblages are: (1) braunite, piemontite, and rare hausmannite; (2) piemontite, braunite, hollandite and minor rhodochrosite and kutnahorite; (3) braunite, hollandite and rare piemontite. The other minerals are: quartz, calcite, muscovite, phlogopite, baryte and minor hematite, rutile and apatite. During the Alpine orogeny pressures of 4–6 kb and temperatures of 350 °–380 °C were attained; Mn assemblages with hematite and phlogopite indicate ƒO₂ > 10⁻⁸ for T= 350 °C and ƒO₂ ≥ 10⁻⁶ when braunite appears.

On the Mn-rich rocks Ti, Fe, Nb, Sn, Ta, Hf, Th, Ga, Rb, Pr, K, Na, Nd were identified as detrital in origin and are positively correlated with Al. U is positively correlated with Co, Pb, Bi, Mo. The rare earth element patterns normalized to seawater show a negative slope towards the heavy rare earth elements, with positive Ce anomalies in some samples, positive Ce and Eu anomalies in other samples and negative Ce and positive Eu anomalies in a third group. The Eu concentrations are nearly constant and the Eu anomalies reflect differences in the concentration of other rare earth elements; for Ce, a positive correlation with Al₂O₃ + SiO₂ indicate that a detrital signature prevails on that produced by duration of seawater exposure.

But a significant good correlation of La, Tm, Lu with Mg could indicate, at least for these elements a seawater signature. Only in some samples, Ba, Eu, Sr show anomalously high concentrations, likely of hydrothermal origin.

However, generally in all the chemical variation diagrams the BSFm samples fall outside the field of hydrothermal and hydrogenous deposits as defined in the literature for other Mn deposits.

In addition, metabasites and metavolcaniclastic beds are absent from the BSFm sequence and BSFm coastal basins were for the most part separated from the open ocean and related streams, that must be excluded as possible Mn-sources.

Owing to the arid climate of Late Triassic the runoff was negligible and the groundwater, oxidizing and alkaline, were unable to mobilize Mn.

The BSFm basins are then the most suitable depositional environment for Mn. The water column was stagnant and stratified. Only where bottom of the basin was deeper than the oxic-anoxic boundary, reducing marine bottom waters percolated within the fractured basement and leached Mn from disseminated minerals of metamorphic rocks and, then, rising along fault and fractures, supplied Mn to the bottom waters. Afterwards, when tectonic uplift and sealevel drop brought the bottom into the oxic field, Mn precipitated and formed the Mn-rich matrix of the BSFm deposits.     

Jointing of two tunnel shields using artificial underground freezing

Freezing was used in the jointing section of two shields (diameter 3.14 m) which ran across at right angles and at 25-m depth under the crossing of main roads for the construction of a 2.4-m diameter sewer tunnel. The object of freezing was to create a frozen barrier to prevent the inflow of water and fine sand into the area to be excavated.

Thirty-five freeze pipes (length about 7 m) were placed from one shield conically in the direction of the flank of another shield with freeze pipes attached to its inside wall. The cooling unit was placed on unoccupied land at about 60 m distant from the jointing section and the freeze pipes were connected with the cooling unit by supply and return pipelines.

The cooling unit had a cooling capacity of 79,000 kcal/h at an evaporation temperature of −27°C and a condensation temperature of +40°C. Freezing was continued for 180 days and the CaCl₂ brine temperature was −25 to −30°C. These works were accomplished without the sinking of shaft and the use of injection, in complete safety with no traffic restriction on the road surface.     

The Anarak, Jandaq and Posht-e-Badam metamorphic complexes in central Iran: New geological data, relationships and tectonic implications

The Anarak, Jandaq and Posht-e-Badam metamorphic complexes occupy the NW part of the Central-East Iranian Microcontinent and are juxtaposed with the Great Kavir block and Sanandaj-Sirjan zone. Our recent findings redefine the origin of these complexes, so far attributed to the Precambrian–Early Paleozoic orogenic episodes, and now directly related to the tectonic evolution of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. This tectonic evolution was initiated by Late Ordovician–Early Devonian rifting events and terminated in the Triassic by the Eocimmerian collision event due to the docking of the Cimmerian blocks with the Asiatic Turan block.

The “Variscan accretionary complex” is a new name we proposed for the most widely distributed metamorphic rocks connected to the Anarak and Jandaq complexes. This accretionary complex exposed from SW of Jandaq to the Anarak and Kabudan areas is a thick and fine grain siliciclastic sequence accompanied by marginal-sea ophiolitic remnants, including gabbro-basalts with a supra-subduction-geochemical signature. New ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages are obtained as 333–320 Ma for the metamorphism of this sequence under greenschist to amphibolite facies. Moreover, the limy intercalations in the volcano-sedimentary part of this complex in Godar-e-Siah yielded Upper Devonian–Tournaisian conodonts. The northeastern part of this complex in the Jandaq area was intruded by 215 ± 15 Ma arc to collisional granite and pegmatites dated by ID-TIMS and its metamorphic rocks are characterized by some ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar radiometric ages of 163–156 Ma.

The “Variscan” accretionary complex was northwardly accreted to the Airekan granitic terrane dated at 549 ± 15 Ma. Later, from the Late Carboniferous to Triassic, huge amounts of oceanic material were accreted to its southern side and penetrated by several seamounts such as the Anarak and Kabudan. This new period of accretion is supported by the 280–230 Ma ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages for the Anarak mild high-pressure metamorphic rocks and a 262 Ma U–Pb age for the trondhjemite–rhyolite association of that area. The Triassic Bayazeh flysch filled the foreland basin during the final closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean and was partly deposited and/or thrusted onto the Cimmerian Yazd block.

The Paleo-Tethys magmatic arc products have been well-preserved in the Late Devonian–Carboniferous Godar-e-Siah intra-arc deposits and the Triassic Nakhlak fore-arc succession. On the passive margin of the Cimmerian block, in the Yazd region, the nearly continuous Upper Paleozoic platform-type deposition was totally interrupted during the Middle to Late Triassic. Local erosion, down to Lower Paleozoic levels, may be related to flexural bulge erosion. The platform was finally unconformably covered by Liassic continental molassic deposits of the Shemshak.

One of the extensional periods related to Neo-Tethyan back-arc rifting in Late Cretaceous time finally separated parts of the Eocimmerian collisional domain from the Eurasian Turan domain. The opening and closing of this new ocean, characterized by the Nain and Sabzevar ophiolitic mélanges, finally transported the Anarak–Jandaq composite terrane to Central Iran, accompanied by large scale rotation of the Central-East Iranian Microcontinent (CEIM). Due to many similarities between the Posht-e-Badam metamorphic complex and the Anarak–Jandaq composite terrane, the former could be part of the latter, if it was transported further south during Tertiary time.     

Holocene carbonate sedimentation on the west Eucla Shelf, Great Australian Bight: a shaved shelf

The southern continental margin of Australia is a cool-water carbonate sedimentary province located in a high-energy, swell-dominated oceanographic setting. A vibrocore transect of ¹⁴C-dated sediments across the centre of the Eucla Shelf is the first record of Holocene shelf deposition in the Great Australian Bight. Much of the seafloor shallower than 70 m water depth, the base of wave abrasion, is bare Cenozoic limestone, in some places encrusted by (?) Late Pleistocene, coral-rich, limestone that is cemented by high-magnesium calcite (12 mole% MgCO₃). The areally extensive, 100 km-wide, hard, bored substrate supports an epibiota of coralline algae, minor bryozoans and soft algae or is covered by patches of Holocene sediment up to 1.5 m thick; generally a basal bivalve lag (< 3 ka) overlain by quartzose-bioclastic palimpsest sand. This pattern of active carbonate production but little accretion on the wave-swept mid- to inner-shelf is similar to that on other parts of the southern Australian continental margin. The term shaved shelf is proposed for this style of carbonate platform, formed by alternating periods of sediment accretion, cementation and erosion.

The palimpsest sand is typically rich in bivalves, coralline algae and locally, detrital dolomite. Outer shelf Holocene sediment, below the base of wave abrasion but inboard of the shelf edge, is a metre-thick unit of fine, microbioclastic muddy sand with minor delicate bryozoans overlying a 9–13 ka rhodolith gravel. Some of this outer shelf sediment appears to have been resedimented. The shelf edge is a sandy and rocky seafloor with active bryozoan growth and sediment production.

The Holocene sediments are enriched in coralline algal particles and conspicuous large foraminifers (cf. Marginopora) and depleted in bryozoans, as compared to coeval deposits on the Lacepede and Otway shelves off southeastern Australia. These differences are interpreted to reflect warmer waters of the Leeuwin Current and prevalent downwelling in this area as opposed to the general upwelling and colder waters in the east.     

Structure of the earth''s crust on the territory of the U.S.S.R.

The compilation of statistical data for 269 seismic crustal sections (total length: 81,000 km) which are available in the U.S.S.R. has shown that the preliminary conclusions drawn on relations between the elevation of the surface relief and Bouguer anomalies on one hand and crustal thickness (depth to the M-discontinuity) on the other hand are not fulfilled for the continental part of the U.S.S.R. The level of isostatic compensation has been found to be much deeper than the base of the earth's crust due to density inhomogeneities of the crust and upper mantle down to a depth of 150 km.

The results of seismic investigations have revealed a great diversity of relations between shallow geological and deep crustal structures:

Changes in the relief of the M-discontinuity have been found within the ancient platforms which are conformable with the Precambrian structures and which can exceed 20 km. In the North Caspian syneclise, extended areas devoid of the “granitic” layer have been discovered for the first time in continents. The crust was found to be thicker in the syneclises and anteclises of the Turanian EpiHercynian plate. In the West Siberian platforms these relations are reversed to a great extent.

Substantial differences in crustal structure and thickness were found in the crust of the Palaeo zoides and Mesozoides. Regions of substantial neotectonic activity in the Tien-Shan Palaeozoides do not greatly differ in crustal thickness if compared to the Kazakhstan Palaeozoides which were little active in Cenozoic time. The same is true for the South Siberian Palaeozoides.

The Alpides of the southern areas in the U.S.S.R. display a sharply differing surface relief and a strongly varying crustal structure. Mountains with roots (Greater Caucasus, Crimea) and without roots (Kopet-Dagh, Lesser Caucasus) were found there.

The Cenozoides of the Far East are characterized by a rugged topography of the M-discontinuity, a thinner crust and a less-pronounced “granitic” layer. A relatively small thickness of the crust was discovered in the Baikal rift zone.

The effective thickness of the magnetized domains of the crust as well as other calculations show that the temperature at the depth of the M-discontinuity (i.e., at depths of 40–50 km) is not higher than 300–400° C for most parts of the U.S.S.R.     

Einübertragungsnetz zur kluftstatistik

This paper describes the application and characteristics of a new net for crack statistics. The net, here called transmission net or “u-net” (“Übertragungsnetz”, “Ü-Netz”) is used in combination with a transmission table or “u-table” (“Übertragungstabelle”, “Ü-Tabelle”). Its purpose is to obtain a sphere of crack locations from a series of cracks, having been measured according to strike and inclination.

The “u-net” is composed of a grid subdivided into degrees or degree-grid (“Gradnetz”) and an equal-area-grid (“flächengleiches Netz”). Having replaced the direction σ of strike by its normal δ, the cracks are registered into the meshes of the degree-grid and are there counted. Then they are transmitted into the equal-area-grid according to the percent values of the u-table. From the pattern of frequency numbers (“Häufigkeitszahlen”) in the equal-area-grid the sphere of crack locations is obtained.

Particular specifications regulate the procedure for special measure values, i.e., those of the integral multiples of 5°, especially the angles of inclination τ = 0° and τ = 90° (see 1.4). With greater inaccuracies in measurements, one changes, by means of a given table (see Table V), to a degree-grid of 10°. With very small inaccuracies, on the other hand, the procedure may be simplified, the degree-grid becoming unnecessary (see 1.5). The meshes near the centre, being too long, may be avoided by an additional circle (“Zusatzkreis”—see 1.3).

The “u-net” was constructed in such a way that the spheres of crack locations report the real frequency distribution at all times, free from systematic errors. This is achieved by the method that all calculations follow the principle of area equality or area proportionality on the hemisphere (see 2.1). The procedure using the “u-net” can be adapted to differential accuracies of measuring. It is especially suitable for large numbers of cracks; it is simple in calculation and may easily be programmed for digital computers. Thus the “u-net” is advantageous for all applications in which a large number of cracks has to be dealt with. Such applications are very frequent in rock mechanics, in engineering geology for the purpose of foundation of large hydraulic buildings (dams, caverns), in petrography, tectonics and in geophysical investigations such as the determination of crack structures with a view to explaining micromagnetic occurrences, for instance. Furthermore, the “u-net” is applicable not only to crack statistics but also to other similar statistical methods, e.g., to the statistics of cristal axes or to geographic frequency analyses.     

Oxygen and carbon isotope composition of cold-water Berriedale Limestone (Lower Permian), Tasmania, Australia

The Berriedale Limestone formed at about 80°S paleolatitude and contains many glacial dropstones. It formed during a period of major Gondwana deglaciation.

The Berriedale Limestone contains mostly bryozoans, brachiopods and bivalves, with some intraclasts and rare pellets. The faunal diversity is low and the fauna are similar to the modern cold-water foramol faunal assemblage. Micrite, microspar and spar occur as equant to well developed rhombs of calcite. The coarse spar cements are bored and are ruptured by dropstones, indicating submarine origin of low-Mg calcite at water-temperatures of around 3°C. The mixing zone cementation was preceded by erosion of early formed crystals. The eroded crystals occur as inclusions in mixing zone cements.

The fauna are characterized by heavy δ¹³C and light δ¹⁸O. The whole-rock field of δ¹⁸O-δ¹³C falls at the edge of “Normal Marine Limestone” and deviates to lighter δ¹⁸O values (down to −16.7‰ PDB). Lightest δ¹⁸O values ( −22‰ PDB) of fresh-water sparry calcite cement are similar to those in the Early Permian continental tillites, suggesting that the Permian sea was diluted by isotopically light melt waters. Micrite δ¹⁸O values (−9.2 to −12.6‰ PDB) are within the range of whole-rock values. The δ¹⁸O values of calcite in shales are lighter than limestone values.

The δ¹⁸O values of the fauna give an unrealistic range of sea-water temperatures because the fauna have equilibrated with variable amounts of melt waters. However, calculated original δ¹⁸O values of the fauna indicate temperatures < 4°C. The heaviest δ¹⁸O of fauna gives cold temperatures of 9°C (with δ_w −2.8‰) and −3°C (with δ_w −6‰). The lightest values of sparry calcite cements (−22‰ PDB) indicate that the limestone reacted with cold melt waters.

The δ¹⁸O of Permian sea is estimated to be about +1.2‰ and was diluted by melt waters as light as −27‰ SMOW.     

Geological and geotechnical characteristics of some loess and loessic soils from China and Britain: A comparison

Derbyshire, E. and Mellors, T.W., 1988. Geological and geotechnical characteristics of some loess and loessic soils from China and Britain: a comparison. Eng. Geol., 25: 135–175.

Loess and loessic deposits cover some 630,000 km² of the surface of mainland China, the Loess Plateau of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia being the type region of this formation. Loess thickness generally exceeds 100 m over large areas of the Loess Plateau, the maximum recorded thickness being 335 m in eastern Gansu Province near the city of Lanzhou.

In Britain loess and loessic deposits form part of a group of materials collectively known as “brickearth”. They occur predominantly as sporadic accumulations in the southeast of England and rarely attain a thickness of more than four metres.

Despite their geographical separation, the deposits from China and Britain have a remarkable similarity in some of their physical and geotechnical characteristics. Samples from both locations have been examined and tested in the laboratory and the results are presented. The scope of the testing programme involved mineralogical analyses, soil microfabric studies using a scanning electron microscope, index testing including plasticity, grading and density measurements and the investigation of the compressibility characteristics of the soils with particular reference to their susceptibility to collapse.

A soil structure model based on scanning electron microscope studies is presented and discussed in relation to the perceived mode of formation of the soils and their postdepositional history.     

Amalgamation surfaces, bed thicknesses, and dish structures in sand-rich submarine fans: numeric differences in channelized and unchannelized deposits and their diagnostic value

Hydraulic differences between channelized and unchannelized flows in sand-rich submarine fans result in different distributions of amalgamation surfaces, bed thicknesses, and dish structures in successions of these two different environments. Distribution trends of these fabrics were quantified for the sand-rich fans of the Reiselsberger Sandstein (Cenomanian–Turonian). These trends can be used as criteria to distinguish channelized from unchannelized paleoenvironments of sand-rich submarine fans.

Amalgamation surfaces in the studied fans' channelized regions are considerably more abundant than in the unchannelized fan areas. In unchannelized deposits, tabular amalgamation surfaces outnumber nontabular ones, whereas the opposite occurs in channelized successions. These results indicate a higher degree of erosive power of gravity-driven sediment flows in channels as a result of a greater flow thickness, higher flow velocity, and turbulence.

The average turbidite layer thickness in channelized successions is markedly greater than in unchannelized deposits (“layer” as defined herein). This is mainly attributed to the combined effects of differences in sediment fall-out rate and the inefficiency of sand-rich suspensions to transport sand. In the proximal and channelized fan areas, more sediment is deposited from a flow in the form of a layer than in distal unchannelized fan regions despite a higher degree of erosion in channels. The greater average bed thickness in channel fills is a function of layer thickness and more frequent amalgamations (“bed” as defined herein).

Dish structures seem to be considerably more common in midfan than in outer-fan successions. This may indicate a higher sedimentation rate from individual suspension currents in midfan areas.