Aging and growth of larval bay anchovy,Anchoa mitchilli,from the Newport River estuary,North Carolina

Bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) larvae were hatched and reared in the laboratory from eggs collected near Beaufort, North Carolina. The first growth increment formed on otoliths on the fifth day after hatching when larvae were between 3.7 and 4.2 mm standard length. On the average, one otolith growth increment was formed per day thereafter in larvae up to 23 d posthatch. Age of wild larvae from the Newport River estuary in North Carolina was determined from otolith increment counts based on the assumption that increment deposition rates in nature are the same as in the laboratory. From their size and estimated age, it appears that the standard length (SL) of wild larvae in the estuary increases exponentially at about 4% d^?1 during their first 1.6 months, increasing from 0.24 mm d^?1 on day 12 to 1.11 mm d^?1 on day 49. Bay anchovy spawned early in the season (e.g., April–May) could grow to maturity and reach a size (>40 mm SL) that would enable them to spawn during their first summer.     

Validation of daily increment deposition in the otoliths of spot (Leiostomus xanthurus)

The otoliths of 200 postlarval spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) were marked by immersing the fish for 24 hr in a solution of 0.4 g tetracycline HCl l^?1 of salt water (15 ‰). The resulting time-mark could later be identified under ultraviolet (UV) light with an epifluorescence microscope. Spot were held in the laboratory or in the field for up to 30 d. Two validation methods were employed to document daily increment formation. The total number of increments per otolith, or the number of increments formed after the time-mark, were regressed against days held in an experiment. The hypothesis of one increment per day would result in a regression coefficient not significantly different from 1.0. In the field both the total count method (b=1.05) and the time-mark method (b=0.90) supported a one-increment-per-day hypothesis and were not significantly different from each other (p>0.05). In the laboratory the total count method (b=0.56) and the time-mark method (b=0.36) were significantly different from 1.0 (p<0.05), and thus did not support the one-increment-per-day hypothesis. Failure to resolve a one-increment-per-day deposition rate in the laboratory was primarily attributed to food limitation in the experiments.     

A Comparison of Otolith Geochemistry and Stable Isotope Markers to Track Fish Movement: Describing Estuarine Ingress by Larval and Post-larval Halibut

Estuarine recruitment of fishes is a potential bottleneck in the life cycle of many coastal species. We investigated patterns of size-at-ingress for larval and post-larval California halibut entering the Punta Banda Estuary (PBE), Mexico, using both otolith geochemistry and carbon stable isotope ratios (SIR). Juvenile halibut (n?=?126; 38–163 mm standard length [SL]) were collected from inside PBE and the adjacent exposed coast during the fall of 2003, and otoliths (geochemistry) and muscle tissues (SIR) were analyzed to reconstruct the environmental histories of individuals. Based on geochemical analyses, nearly all fish collected from PBE were characterized by a non-estuarine signature (e.g., low Mn and Ba) in the otolith growth bands deposited when fish were <30 mm SL. Although fish collected from the coast retained that signature throughout their lives, fish collected within PBE showed elevated concentrations of Mn and Ba in the otolith growth bands deposited once halibut were 30–70 mm SL, thereby recording ingress. Carbon SIR of juvenile halibut prey also differed between the estuary and coast. Muscle δ ¹³C values of halibut captured along the coast were consistent (ca.?15‰), while those captured in the estuary were variable and generally more enriched in ¹³C (?16‰ to ?11‰). Both natural tagging approaches agreed that most halibut (~75 %) enter PBE long after settlement (>?>?8–12 mm SL), although size-at-ingress estimates were significantly larger (mean difference = 27 mm; p?<?0.001) when derived via carbon SIR than with otolith geochemistry. Potential explanations for the differences in size-at-ingress estimates involve the magnitude of isotopic and trace element gradients at this ocean–estuary boundary, the temporal resolution of environmental tags stored within otoliths and soft tissues, and the size-at-capture or somatic growth rate of juvenile halibut. We conclude by discussing the relative merits of otolith geochemistry and SIR as natural tags, and by considering the implications of secondary dispersal into estuaries by post-larval fish.     

Fluid Inclusion and Stable Isotope Study at the Southeastern Martabe Deposit: Purnama,Barani and Horas Ore Bodies,North Sumatra,Indonesia

The Martabe Au–Ag deposit, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia, is a high sulfidation epithermal deposit, which is hosted by Neogene sandstone, siltstone, volcanic breccia, and andesite to basaltic andesite of Angkola Formation. The deposit consists of six ore bodies that occurred as silicified massive ore (enargite–luzonite–pyrite–tetrahedrite–tellurides), quartz veins (tetrahedrite–galena–sphalerite–chalcopyrite), banded sulfide veins (pyrite–tetrahedrite–sphalerite–galena) and cavity filling. All ore bodies are controlled by N–S and NW–SE trending faults. The Barani and Horas ore bodies are located in the southeast of the Purnama ore body. Fluid inclusion microthermometry, and alunite‐pyrite and barite‐pyrite pairs sulfur isotopic geothermometry show slightly different formation temperatures among the ore bodies. Formation temperature and salinity of fluid inclusions of the Purnama ore body range from 200 to 260 C and from 6 to 8 wt.% NaCl equivalent, respectively. Formation temperature and salinity of fluid inclusions of the Barani ore body range from 200 to 220 °C and from 0 to 2.5 wt.% NaCl equivalent and those of the Horas ore body range from 240 to 275 °C and from 2 to 3 wt.% NaCl equivalent, respectively. The Barani and Horas ore bodies are less silicified and sulfides are less abundant than the Purnama ore body. A relationship between enthalpy and chloride content indicates mixing of hot saline fluids with cooler dilute fluids during the mineralization of each of the ore bodies. The δ¹⁸O values of quartz samples from the southeast ore bodies exhibit a wide range from +4.2 to +12.9‰ with an average value of +7.0‰. The δ¹⁸O values of H₂O estimated from δ¹⁸O values of quartz, barite and calcite confirm the oxygen isotopic shift to near meteoric water trend, which support the incorporation of meteoric water. Salinity of the fluid inclusions decrease from >5 wt.% NaCl equivalent in the Purnama ore body to <3 wt.% NaCl equivalent in the Barani ore body, indicating different fluid systems during mineralization. The δ³⁴S values of sulfide and sulfate in Purnama range from ? 4.2 to +5.5‰ and from +1.2 to +26.7‰, those in the Barani range from ? 4.3 to +26.4‰ and from +3.9 to +18.5‰ and those in the Horas ore body range from ? 11.8 to +3.5‰ and from +1.4 to +25.7‰, respectively. The δ³⁴S of total bulk sulfur in southeastern ore bodies (Σδ³⁴S) was estimated to be approximately +6‰. The estimated sulfur fugacity during formation of the Purnama and Horas ore bodies is relatively high. It was between 10^?4.8 and 10^?10.8 atm at 220 to 260 °C. Tellurium fugacity was between 10^?7.8 and 10^?9.5 atm at 260 °C and between 10^?9 and 10^?10.6 atm at 220 °C in the Purnama ore body. The Barani ore body was formed at lower fS₂, lower than about 10^?14 atm at 200 to 220 °C based on the presence of arsenopyrite and pyrrhotite in the early stage, and between 10^?14 and 10^?12 atm based on the existence of enargite and tennantite in the last stage. © 2016 The Society of Resource Geology     

Spatial and temporal variation in recent growth, overall growth, and mortality of juvenile weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) in Delaware Bay

We examined relative abundance of juvenile weakfish,Cynoscion regalis, collected during 1986 and 1987 and tested for spatial differences in growth and survival within Delaware Bay. Juvenile weakfish recruit to all areas of Delaware Bay, and two cohorts were present during each year of the study. Although catch per unit effort (CPUE) varied among areas within the bay, there was a general trend of higher CPUE at lower salinities; abundance quickly declined near the end of September in all areas of the bay. Estimated growth rates from otolith increment analysis of juvenile weakfish ranged from 0.69 mm d⁻¹ to 0.97 mm d⁻¹. Spatial and temporal patterns in recent growth rate followed a general pattern: highest in the middle bay, lowest in the upper bay, and intermediate in the lower bay. Mortality rates were usually lowest in the low salinity region of the middle and upper bay during both years. There was no difference in mortality between cohorts in the middle bay, while in the upper bay the later-spawned fish had lower mortality and in the lower bay the early-spawned fish had lower mortality. Analysis of spatial and temporal patterns in growth and mortality suggests that there is a seasonal trade-off between habitat usage and resource availability for juvenile weakfish. The function of oligohaline and mesohaline waters as optimal nursery areas (in terms of growth and survival) changes due to the seasonally dynamic physicochemical characteristics in Delaware Bay.     

Using submerged aquatic vegetation to establish minimum and maximum freshwater inflows to the Caloosahatchee estuary, Florida

Species of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) are frequently used in the management of estuarine systems to set restoration goals, nutrient load reduction goals, and water quality targets. As human need for water increases, the amount of freshwater required by estuaries has become an increasingly important issue. While the, science of establishing the freshwater needs of estuaries is not well developed, recent attempts have emphasized the freshwater requirements of fisheries. We evaluate the hypothesis that SAV can be used to establish freshwater inflow needs. Salinity tolerance data from laboratory and field studies of SAV in the Caloosahatchee estuary, Florida, are used to estimate a minimum flow required to maintain the salt-tolerant freshwater species,Vallisneria americana, at the head of the estuary and a maximum flow required to prevent mortality, of the marine speciesHalodule wrightii at its mouth. ForV. americana, laboratory experiments showed that little or no growth occurred between 10‰ and 15‰ In the field, lower shoot densities (<400 shoots m^?2) were associated with salinities greater than 10‰. Results forH. wrightii were more variable than forV. americana. Laboratory experiments indicated that mortality could occur at salinities <6‰, with little growth occurring between 6‰ and 12‰. Field data indicated that higher blade densities (>600 blades m^?2) tend to occur at salinities greater than 12‰ Relationships between salinity in the estuary and discharge from the Caloosahatchee River indicated that flows>8.5 m³ s^?1 would produce tolerable salinity (<10‰) forV. americana and flows<89 m³ s^?1 would avoid lethal salinities (<6‰) forH. wrightii.     

Effect of salinity and temperature on survival and development of young zebra (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga (Dreissena bugensis) mussels

We reared larval zebra mussels,Dreissena polymorpha, and quagga mussels,D. bugensis, through and beyond metamorphosis (settlement) at salinities of 0–8‰. Juvenile zebra mussels gradually acclimated to 8‰ and 10‰ have been reared at these salinities for over 8 mo. Tolerance to both higher temperatures and higher salinities increases with larval age in both species (though zebra mussel embryos and larvae have a greater degree of salinity tolerance than quagga mussel embryos and larvae). Thus, only 6% of 3-day-old zebra mussel veligers survived after exposure to 4‰ for 8 additional days, whereas there was 22% survival of veligers placed in 4‰ at day 13 and grown to settlement 11 d later. Zebra mussel pediveligers, acclimated to increasing salinity in 2‰ increments beginning at day 23, continued to survive and grow in 8‰ after 5-mo exposure, though the growth rates of these juveniles were significantly less than those of juveniles reared in lower salinities. Quagga mussels did not metamorphose and settle as quickly as zebra mussel pediveligers. No quagga mussel pediveligers had settled before exposure to artificial fresh water (AFW), 2‰ 4‰, 6‰, and 8‰ on day 30. Percent settlement of these quagga mussel juveniles (based on 100% survival at the start of experiments on day 30) was 90% in AFW, 67% at 2‰, 69% at 4‰, 46% at 6‰, and 0.1% at 8‰.     

Mechanisms of expansion for an introduced species of cordgrass, Spartina densiflora, in Humboldt Bay, California

The dominant plant in Humboldt Bay salt marshes in Spartina densiflora, a species of cordgrass apparently introduced from South America. At several salt marshes and restoration sites around Humboldt Bay, distribution of this plant has increased significantly. We investigated the relative contributions of vegetative tiller production and seed germination to the establishment and expansion of S. densiflora. Lateral spread of plants surrounded by competitors were compared to areas without competing plant species. Plants growing in areas without competitors had significantly higher rates of vegetative expansion (p<0.0001). Viable seed production, germination rates, seedling survivorship, and growth of adult plants were measured in six salinity treatments. Approximately 1,977±80 viable seeds are produced per plant (0.25–0.5 m²). The number of germinating seeds was inversely related to increases in salinity. Salinity treatments between 19‰ and 35‰ produced significantly lower germination rates than salinities of 0–18‰ (p<0.0001). Seedling survivorship was 50% at ≤4‰ and 8–14% at ≥11‰. Lateral expansion of adult, greenhouse-grown plants occurred in all salinity treatments, with modest decreases in the highest salinity treatments (p<0.05). Our findings indicate that S. densiflora expands primarily by vegetative expansion, and lateral tillers are produced by throughout the year. Spartina densiflora produces prolific amounts of seed, but recruitment in mature salt marshes may be limited by competitors and higher salinities. At restoration sites, planting of native species such as Salicornia virginica, Distichlis spicata, or Jaumea carnosa may prevent monospecific stands of S. densiflora from developing.     

The mass balance of salt and water in intertidal sediments: Results from North Inlet,South Carolina

Salinity can be used as a conservative tracer of porewater turnover in circumstances when evapotranspiration is great enough to concentrate porewater salts in intertidal sediments. At two intertidal sites situated at mean high tide at North Inlet, South Carolina, porewater drainage was estimated by this method to be 9.4 m^?2 d^?1 and 16.6 1 m^?2 d^?1, depending on physical soil properties and assuming that solute losses occur by simple diffusion across the sediment surface, by uptake and excretion by vegetation, and by drainage. Mass balance simulations indicated that sediment physical properties, evapotranspiration, and elevation are important determinants of seasonal salinity extremes. At sites situated mear mean high tide, small differences in elevation significantly affect salinity and drainage rate. As site elevation increases, losses of solutes by drainage and diffusion decrease, and the variability of porewater salinity increases. This is significant because interannual changes in mean sea level, which average ±2.9 cm on the South Carolina coast, can have a great impact on the structure and function of estuaries due to changes in the solute balance of intertidal zone sediments. Mass balance simulations that used reduced evapotranspiration rates typical of colder climates significantly reduced the mean and variability of porewater salinity, which suggests that at lower latitudes salinity becomes a more dominant determinant of biological processes. This should influence a number of processes including primary productivity, strategies of water conservation and osmoregulation, and community structure. This conclusion is consistent with published data that show tropical mangroves to have lower photosynthetic rates, and presumably lower gas exchange rates in general, than mid- and high-latitude salt marsh grasses.     

Silver in San Francisco Bay estuarine waters

Spatial gradients of silver concentrations in the surface waters of San Francisco Bay reveal substantial anthropogenic perturbations of the biogeochemical cycle of the element throughout the estuarine system. The most pronounced perturbations are in the south bay, where dissolved (<0.45 μm) silver concentrations are as high as 250 pM. This is more than one order-of-magnitude above baseline concentrations in the northern reach of the estuary (6 pM) and approximately two orders-of-magnitude above natural concentrations in adjacent coastal waters (3 pM). The excess silver is primarily attributed to wastewater discharges of industrial silver to the estuary on the order of 20 kg d^?1. The contamination is most evident in the south bay, where wastewater discharges of silver are on the order of 10 kg d^?1 and natural freshwater discharges are relatively insignificant. The limited amount of freshwater flushing in the south bay was exacerbated by persistent drought conditions during the study period. This extended the hydraulic residence time in the south bay (≥160 d), and revealed the apparent seasonal benthic fluxes of silver from anthropogenically contaminated sediments. These were conservatively estimated to average ≈16 nmol m^?2 d^?1 in the south bay, which is sufficient to replace all of the dissolved silver in the south bay within 22 d. Benthic fluxes of silver throughout the estuary were estimated to average ≈11 nmol m^?2 d^?1, with an annual input of approximately 540 kg yr^?1 of silver to the system. This dwarfs the annual fluvial input of silver during the study period (12 kg yr^?1) and is equivalent to approximately 10% of the annual anthropogenic input of silver to the estuary (3,700–7,200 kg yr^?1). It is further speculated that benthic fluxes of silver may be greater than or equal to waste water fluxes of silver during periods of intense diagenic remobilization. However, all inputs of dissolved silver to the estuary are efficiently sorbed by suspended particulates, as evidenced by the relatively constant conditional distribution coefficient for silver throughout the estuary (K_d≈10⁵).     

The ichthyofauna and abiotic hydrological environment of the Ria de Aveiro,Portugal

The abiotic hydrological environment and the community dynamics of the fish fauna were investigated in the Ria de Aveiro, an estuarine coastal lagoon system (43 km²), which has both marine and fluvial influences. Abiotic hydrological and fish community parameters were recorded routinely during 12 months at ten stations. Temperature ranged between 9.5°C and 26.0°C, salinity between 0.0‰ and 32.0‰, dissolved oxygen between 0.8 mg 1^?1 and 15.4 mg 1^?1, pH between 6.1 and 9.4, and transparency between 4.4% and 100.0%. No significant differences were observed in temperature and dissolved oxygen among stations, or in seasonal variation in transparency. Nineteen thousand thirty-one fish specimens comprising 55 species were sampled. Abundance, biomass, and species richness were highest in summer and late winter at stations near the lagoon entrance. Sedentary species were most numerous, marine migratory species had the highest biomass, and the category “occasional species” had the highest number of species. Atherinidae, Mugilidae, and Gobiidae were the most important families. Eight species represented about 80% of the total fish abundance and biomass but only six species occurred in all the months and at all the stations. It was concluded that the Ria de Aveiro, with high seasonal and spatial abiotic variation, has a very rich and representative fish community compared with temperate and tropical estuaries and estuarine coastal lagoons around the world.     

Isotopic signatures of otoliths and the stock structure of canary rockfish along the Washington and Oregon coast

Canary rockfish are one of the commercially important rockfish species along the US Pacific coast. Yet little is known about their life history and stock structure. In this study 120 canary rockfish otoliths were collected from waters off the Washington and Oregon coast and subjected to stable O and C isotope (δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C) analyses. One powder sample was taken from the nucleus of each otolith, and the other from the 5th annual ring. Data from otolith nuclei can provide information on the natal sources and spawning stock separations, while data from age-1 to age-5 may indicate changes in fish habitat. Overall the δ¹⁸O values in otoliths of canary rockfish ranged from −0.2‰ to +1.7‰, whereas δ¹³C values of the same samples ranged from −5.4‰ to −1.4‰. The isotopic data and correlation of δ¹⁸O versus δ¹³C did not show clear separation between Washington and Oregon samples, similar to those for a previous study on yelloweye rockfish from the same region. These results suggest that canary rockfish may belong to a single spawning stock or population along the Washington and Oregon coast.     

Enclosure experiments on survival and growth of black drum eggs and larvae in lower Chesapeake Bay

Experiments in 2.2 m³, in situ mesocosm enclosures indicate that black drum, Pogonias cromis, eggs and larvae potentially can survive in the lower Chesapeake Bay at ambient microzooplankton prey levels (≈200 prey 1^?1) in the absence of predators. In growth experiments, larva mean growth rates to 10 d posthatch were similar (0.17 mm d^?1 and 0.18 mm d^?1) when fed at prey levels of 50 prey 1^?1 and 200 prey 1^?1. Individual growth rates, however, were more variable at 50 prey 1^?1. Mortality rates also were comparable in 50 (27% d^?1) and 200 (23% d^?1) prey 1^?1 enclosures. In a second experiment, the predation potentials of the hydromedusa Nemopsis bachei and the lobate ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi were estimated in relation to initial black drum egg prey density, presence of alternative <1 mm zooplankton prey, and estimated daily abundance of the jellyfish on the black drum spawning grounds. Mortality rates per medusa and ctenophore were similar (0.02–0.03 d^?1), were not affected by presence of alternative prey, and were directly related to initial egg density. Results suggest that the gelatinous predators, especially the hydromedusa, could have cleared a high (≈38%) but variable fraction of the water column daily of fish eggs and yolk-sac larvae during the black drum spawning season. We hypothesize that the poor or episodic recruitment success of black drum in Chesapeake Bay results from a short spawning season that often coincides with abundance peaks of gelatinous predators and that predation on eggs and yolk-sac larvae may control recruitment.     

Differential effects of salinity changes on two estuarine fishes,Leiostomus xanthurus andMicropogonias undulatus

Salinity fluctuation has been proposed as an important determinant of estuarine fish distribution. To test this idea, we compared distribution, behavioral preference and physiological sensitivity of two juvenile estuarine fishes, spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) and croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), with respect to salinity change. In field collections, spot: croaker ratios were positively correlated with salinity variation. Subsequent behavioral observations revealed that croaker tend to cross a 10‰ salinity gradient less often than spot. We proposed that energetic costs of salinity adaptation may be higher for croaker, resulting in the observed avoidance behavior. Oxygen consumption rates over rapid salinity fluctuations showed no significant differences in metabolic response between species, although there was some indication that sensitivity changes with fish size. Apparently, juvenile spot and croaker are well-equipped to withstand extreme changes in salinity. We conclude that environmental factors correlated with salinity change may be responsible for distribution differences between these two abundant species.     

Changes in metabolic rates under fluctuating salinity regimes for two subtidal estuarine habitats

The metabolic rate of individual habitats can differ significantly in their contribution to the total system productivity of estuaries. Changing environmental conditions such as those created by tidal exchange can frequently alter these rates. In an effort to quantify these rate responses, metabolic rates were measured for macroalgal and sediment habitats at different salinities. Microcosms representing the two habitats were incubated at three salinity ranges (high: 25 to 31‰; moderate: 12 to 18‰; and low: 0 to 4‰) and production and respiration rates were estimated. The production rates for both habitats were proportional to the salinity of the water in the incubation, with the lowest metabolic rates associated with the lowest salinity. Average macroalgal habitat net production rates were 879 mg O₂ m^?2 h^?1, 609 mg O₂ m^?2 h^?1, and 451 mg O₂ m^?2 h^?1 at high, moderate, and low salinity treatments, respectively, and the dark respiration rates were ?401 mg O₂ m^?2 h^?1, ?341 mg O₂ m^?2 h^?1, and ?333 mg O₂ m^?2 h^?1. Average sediment habitat net production rates were 60 mg O₂ m^?2 h^?1, 13 mg O₂ m^?2 h^?1 and 10 mg O₂ m^?2 h^?1 and the respiration rates were ?114 mg O₂ m^?2 h^?1, ?55 mg O₂ m^?2 h^?1, and ?31 mg O₂ m^?2 h^?1 at high, moderate, and low salinity treatments. The larger contribution of macroalgal habitats to system metabolism may account for observed diurnal changes in water column oxygen levels in some estuaries. Macroalgal production rates explained 83% of the increase in water column oxygen levels during daylight hours and macroalgal respiration rates explained 65% of the decline in oxygen levels during the night. The contribution of macroalgal metabolism to the system can be influenced by even short-term changes in water column salinity. Environmental processes that alter salinity levels on hourly time scales may moderate the effect of macroalgal metabolism on oxygen levels.     

Mineral compositions and fluid evolution of the Tonglushan skarn Cu–Fe deposit,SE Hubei,east-central China

The Tonglushan Cu–Fe deposit (1.12 Mt at 1.61% Cu, 5.68 Mt at 41% Fe) is located in the westernmost district of the Middle–Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt. As a typical polymetal skarn metallogenic region, it consists of 13 skarn orebodies, mainly hosted in the contact zone between the Tonglushan quartz-diorite pluton (140 Ma) and Lower Triassic marine carbonate rocks of the Daye Formation. Four stages of mineralization and alterations can be identified: i.e. prograde skarn formation, retrograde hydrothermal alteration, quartz-sulphide followed by carbonate vein formation. Electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) indicates garnets vary from grossular (Ad_20.2–41.6Gr_49.7–74.1) to pure andradite (Ad_47.4–70.7Gr_23.9–45.9) in composition, and pyroxenes are represented by diopsides. Fluid inclusions identify three major types of fluids involved during formation of the deposit within the H₂O–NaCl system, i.e. liquid-rich inclusions (Type I), halite-bearing inclusions (Type II), and vapour-rich inclusions (Type III). Measurements of fluid inclusions reveal that the prograde skarn minerals formed at high temperatures (>550°C) in equilibrium with high-saline fluids (>66.57 wt.% NaCl equivalent). Oxygen and hydrogen stable isotopes of fluid inclusions from garnets and pyroxenes indicate that ore-formation fluids are mainly of magmatic-hydrothermal origin (δ¹⁸O = 6.68‰ to 9.67‰, δD = –67‰ to –92‰), whereas some meteoric water was incorporated into fluids of the retrograde alteration stage judging from compositions of epidote (δ¹⁸O = 2.26‰ to 3.74‰, δD= –31‰ to –73‰). Continuing depressurization and cooling to 405–567°C may have resulted in both a decrease in salinity (to 48.43–55.36 wt.% NaCl equivalent) and the deposition of abundant magnetite. During the quartz-sulphide stage, boiling produced sulphide assemblage precipitated from primary magmatic-hydrothermal fluids (δ¹⁸O = 4.98‰, δD = –66‰, δ³⁴S values of sulphides: 0.71–3.8‰) with an extensive range of salinities (4.96–50.75 wt.% NaCl equivalent), temperatures (240–350°C), and pressures (11.6–22.2 MPa). Carbonate veins formed at relatively low temperatures (174–284°C) from fluids of low salinity (1.57–4.03 wt.% NaCl equivalent), possibly reflecting the mixing of early magmatic fluids with abundant meteoric water. Boiling and fluid mixing played important roles for Cu precipitation in the Tonglushan deposit.     

Geology,geochemistry and genesis of the Qianfanling quartz-vein Mo deposit in Songxian County,Western Henan Province,China

The Qianfanling Mo deposit, located in Songxian County, western Henan province, China, is one of the newly discovered quartz-vein type Mo deposits in the East Qinling–Dabie orogenic belt. The deposit consists of molybdenite in quartz veins and disseminated molybdenite in the wall rocks. The alteration types of the wall rocks include silicification, K-feldspar alteration, pyritization, carbonatization, sericitization, epidotization and chloritization. On the basis of field evidence and petrographic analysis, three stages of hydrothermal mineralization could be distinguished: (1) pyrite–barite–quartz stage; (2) molybdenite–quartz stage; (3) quartz–calcite stage.Two types of fluid inclusions, including CO₂-bearing fluid inclusions and water-rich fluid inclusions, have been recognized in quartz. Homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions vary from 133 °C to 397 °C. Salinity ranges from 1.57 to 31.61 wt.% NaCl eq. There are a large number of daughter mineral-CO₂-bearing inclusions, which is the result of fluid immiscibility. The ore-forming fluids are medium–high temperature, low to moderate salinity H₂O–NaCl–CO₂ system. The δ³⁴S values of pyrite, molybdenite, and barite range from − 9.3‰ to − 7.3‰, − 9.7‰ to − 7.3‰ and 5.9‰ to 6.8‰, respectively. The δ¹⁸O values of quartz range from 9.8‰ to 11.1‰, with corresponding δ¹⁸O_fluid values of 1.3‰ to 4.3‰, and δ¹⁸D values of fluid inclusions of between − 81‰ and − 64‰. The δ¹³C_V-PDB values of fluid inclusions in quartz and calcite have ranges of − 6.7‰ to − 2.9‰ and − 5.7‰ to − 1.8‰, respectively. Sulfur, hydrogen, oxygen and carbon isotope compositions show that the sulfur and ore-forming fluids derived from a deep-seated igneous source. During the peak collisional period between the North China Craton and the Yangtze Craton, the ore-forming fluids that derived from a deep igneous source extracted base and precious metals and flowed upwards through the channels that formed during tectonism. Fluid immiscibility and volatile exsolution led to the crystallization of molybdenite and other minerals, and the formation of economic orebodies in the Qianfanling Mo deposit.     

Salinity and Temperature Effects on Element Incorporation of Gulf Killifish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fundulus grandis</Emphasis> Otoliths

Many applications of otolith chemistry use the ratios of strontium (Sr) and barium (Ba) to calcium (Ca) as indicators of salinity exposure, because typically, as salinity increases, Sr concentration increases and Ba concentration decreases. However, these relationships are nonlinear, can be confounded by temperature, and investigations of salinity and temperature effects on otolith chemistry produce varied results. To determine the relationships of temperature and salinity on Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca in otoliths, we used free ranging Gulf Killifish (Fundulus grandis) in the northern Gulf of Mexico. This species is ideal because it is euryhaline and exhibits limited movements. Otolith edge Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca ratios were related to the previous 30-day mean salinity and temperature experienced by fish. The best model to describe otolith Sr:Ca was one that included a positive asymptotic relationship for both salinity and temperature. However, the salinity asymptotic maximum was reached at 10 psu and changes in otolith Sr:Ca above 10 psu were indicative of temperature changes. Otolith Ba:Ca exhibited an exponential decreasing relationship with salinity, and an exponential increasing relationship with temperature, and these two models combined best explained otolith Ba:Ca. Above 10 psu, the modeled Ba:Ca ratio continued to decrease demonstrating that this ratio may be indicative of salinity changes beyond this value. Therefore, using both Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca could be beneficial in reconstructing fish environmental histories. Temperature effects on otolith element ratios could confound past salinity reconstructions as well and must be a result of endogenous processes, given that no relationship between temperature and water chemistry existed.     

Fingerprinting groundwater salinity sources in the Gulf Coast Aquifer System,USA

Understanding groundwater salinity sources in the Gulf Coast Aquifer System (GCAS) is a critical issue due to depletion of fresh groundwater and concerns for potential seawater intrusion. The study objective was to assess sources of groundwater salinity in the GCAS using ～1,400 chemical analyses and ～90 isotopic analyses along nine well transects in the Texas Gulf Coast, USA. Salinity increases from northeast (median total dissolved solids (TDS) 340 mg/L) to southwest (median TDS 1,160 mg/L), which inversely correlates with the precipitation distribution pattern (1,370– 600 mm/yr, respectively). Molar Cl/Br ratios (median 540–600), depleted δ²H and δ¹⁸O (?24.7‰, ?4.5‰) relative to seawater (Cl/Br ～655 and δ²H, δ¹⁸O 0‰, 0‰, respectively), and elevated ³⁶Cl/Cl ratios (～100), suggest precipitation enriched with marine aerosols as the dominant salinity source. Mass balance estimates suggest that marine aerosols could adequately explain salt loading over the large expanse of the GCAS. Evapotranspiration enrichment to the southwest is supported by elevated chloride concentrations in soil profiles and higher δ¹⁸O. Secondary salinity sources include dissolution of salt domes or upwelling brines from geopressured zones along growth faults, mainly near the coast in the northeast. The regional extent and large quantities of brackish water have the potential to support moderate-sized desalination plants in this location. These results have important implications for groundwater management, suggesting a current lack of regional seawater intrusion and a suitable source of relatively low TDS water for desalination.     

Fluid Inclusion, Rare-Earth Element and Stable Isotope Study of Carbonate Minerals from the Pongkor Epithermal Gold–Silver Deposit, West Java, Indonesia

The Pongkor gold–silver deposit is the largest low‐sulfidation epithermal precious metal deposit in Indonesia, and is of Pliocene age. The deposit consists of nine major subparallel quartz–adularia–carbonate veins with very low sulfide content. Vein infill records five paragenetic sequences, dominated by calcite in the early stage and quartz in the later stage of the hydrothermal evolution. Fluid inclusions in hydrothermal calcite and quartz of all stages indicate a temperature ranging from 180 to 220°C and a meteoric water origin (very low salinity close to 0 wt% NaCl equivalent). Carbon isotope data on calcite display a narrow range from ?6.5 to ?3.0‰δ¹³C. The oxygen isotope values have a wider range of +4.6 to +10.1‰δ¹⁸O. The broadly positive correlation of the δ¹³C versus δ¹⁸O plot suggests that the carbon species, which equilibrated during the formation of calcite, is dominated by H₂CO₃ not far from equilibrium with HCO₃^?. The abundance of rare earth and yttrium (REY) in carbonate samples is very low (>REY mostly <2 ppm). However, there is always a positive Eu anomaly, which indicates a deeper fluid reservoir at >250°C.