The origin of garnet and clinopyroxene in “depleted” Kaapvaal peridotites

A detailed petrographic, major and trace element and isotope (Re–Os) study is presented on 18 xenoliths from Northern Lesotho kimberlites. The samples represent typical coarse, low-temperature garnet and spinel peridotites and span a P–T range from 60 to 150 km depth. With the exception of one sample (that belongs to the ilmenite–rutile–phlogopite–sulphide suite (IRPS) suite first described by [B. Harte, P.A. Winterburn, J.J. Gurney, Metasomatic and enrichment phenomena in garnet peridotite facies mantle xenoliths from the Matsoku kimberlite pipe, Lesotho. In: Menzies, M. (Ed.), Mantle metsasomatism. Academic Press, London 1987, 145–220.]), all samples considered here have high Mg# and show strong depletion in CaO and Al₂O₃. They have bulk rock Re depletion ages (T_RD) >2.5 Ga and are therefore interpreted as residua from large volume melting in the Archaean. A characteristic of Kaapvaal xenoliths, however, is their high SiO₂ concentrations, and hence, modal orthopyroxene contents that are inconsistent with a simple residual origin of these samples. Moreover, trace element signatures show strong overall incompatible element enrichment and REE disequilibrium between garnet and clinopyroxene. Textural and subtle major element disequilibria were also observed. We therefore conclude that garnet and clinopyroxene are not co-genetic and suggest that (most) clinopyroxene in the Archaean Kaapvaal peridotite xenoliths is of metasomatic origin and crystallized relatively recently, possibly from a melt precursory to the kimberlite.

Possible explanations for the origin of garnet are exsolution from a high-temperature, Al- and Ca-rich orthopyroxene (indicating primary melt extraction at shallow levels) or a majorite phase (primary melting at >6 GPa). Mass balance calculations, however, show that not all garnet observed in the samples today is of a simple exsolution origin. The extreme LREE enrichment (sigmoidal REE pattern in all garnet cores) is also inconsistent with exsolution from a residual orthopyroxene. Therefore, extensive metasomatism and probably re-crystallization of the lithosphere after melt-depletion and garnet exsolution is required to obtain the present textural and compositional features of the xenoliths. The metasomatic agent that modified or perhaps even precipitated garnet was a highly fractionated melt or fluid that might have been derived from the asthenosphere or from recycled oceanic crust. Since, to date, partitioning of trace elements between orthopyroxene and garnet/clinopyroxene is poorly constrained, it was impossible to assess if orthopyroxene is in chemical equilibrium with garnet or clinopyroxene. Therefore, further trace element and isotopic studies are required to constrain the timing of garnet introduction/modification and its possible link with the SiO₂ enrichment of the Kaapvaal lithosphere.     

Integrated “plume winter” scenario for the double-phased extinction during the Paleozoic–Mesozoic transition: The G-LB and P-TB events from a Panthalassan perspective

The event across the Paleozoic–Mesozoic transition involved the greatest mass extinction in history together with other unique geologic phenomena of global context, such as the onset of Pangean rifting and the development of superanoxia. The detailed stratigraphic analyses on the Permo-Triassic sedimentary rocks documented a two-stepped nature both of the extinction and relevant global environmental changes at the Guadalupian–Lopingian (Middle and Upper Permian) boundary (G-LB, ca. 260 Ma) and at the Permo-Triassic boundary (P-TB, ca. 252 Ma), suggesting two independent triggers for the global catastrophe. Despite the entire loss of the Permian–Triassic ocean floors by successive subduction, some fragments of mid-oceanic rocks were accreted to and preserved along active continental margins. These provide particularly important dataset for deciphering the Permo-Triassic paleo-environments of the extensive superocean Panthalassa that occupied nearly two thirds of the Earth’s surface. The accreted deep-sea pelagic cherts recorded the double-phased remarkable faunal reorganization in radiolarians (major marine plankton in the Paleozoic) both across the G-LB and the P-TB, and the prolonged deep-sea anoxia (superanoxia) from the Late Permian to early Middle Triassic with a peak around the P-TB. In contrast, the accreted mid-oceanic paleo-atoll carbonates deposited on seamounts recorded clear double-phased changes of fusuline (representative Late Paleozoic shallow marine benthos) diversity and of negative shift of stable carbon isotope ratio at the G-LB and the P-TB, in addition to the Paleozoic minimum in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope ratio in the Capitanian (Late Guadalupian) and the paleomagnetic Illawarra Reversal in the late Guadalupian. These bio-, chemo-, and magneto-stratigraphical signatures are concordant with those reported from the coeval shallow marine shelf sequences around Pangea. The mid-oceanic, deep- and shallow-water Permian records indicate that significant changes have appeared twice in the second half of the Permian in a global extent. It is emphasized here that everything geologically unusual started in the Late Guadalupian; i.e., (1) the first mass extinction, (2) onset of the superanoxia, (3) sea-level drop down to the Phanerozoic minimum, (4) onset of volatile fluctuation in carbon isotope ratio, 5) ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of the Paleozoic minimum, (6) extensive felsic alkaline volcanism, and (7) Illawarra Reversal.The felsic alkaline volcanism and the concurrent formation of several large igneous provinces (LIPs) in the eastern Pangea suggest that the Permian biosphere was involved in severe volcanic hazards twice at the G-LB and the P-TB. This episodic magmatism was likely related to the activity of a mantle superplume that initially rifted Pangea. The supercontinent-dividing superplume branched into several secondary plumes in the mantle transition zone (410–660 km deep) beneath Pangea. These secondary plumes induced the decompressional melting of mantle peridotite and pre-existing Pangean crust to form several LIPs that likely caused a “plume winter” with global cooling by dust/aerosol screens in the stratosphere, gas poisoning, acid rain damage to surface vegetation etc. After the main eruption of plume-derived flood basalt, global warming (plume summer) took over cooling, delayed the recovery of biodiversity, and intensified the ocean stratification. It was repeated twice at the G-LB and P-TB.A unique geomagnetic episode called the Illawarra Reversal around the Wordian–Capitanian boundary (ca. 265 Ma) recorded the appearance of a large instability in the geomagnetic dipole in the Earth’s outer core. This rapid change was triggered likely by the episodic fall-down of a cold megalith (subducted oceanic slabs) from the upper mantle to the D″ layer above the 2900 km-deep core-mantle boundary, in tight association with the launching of a mantle superplume. The initial changes in the surface environment in the Capitanian, i.e., the Kamura cooling event and the first biodiversity decline, were probably led by the weakened geomagnetic intensity due to unstable dipole of geodynamo. Under the low geomagnetic intensity, the flux of galactic cosmic radiation increased to cause extensive cloud coverage over the planet. The resultant high albedo likely drove the Kamura cooling event that also triggered the unusually high productivity in the superocean and also the expansion of O₂ minimum zone to start the superanoxia.The “plume winter” scenario is integrated here to explain the “triple-double” during the Paleozoic–Mesozoic transition interval, i.e., double-phased cause, process, and consequence of the greatest global catastrophe in the Phanerozoic, in terms of mantle superplume activity that involved the whole Earth from the core to the surface biosphere.     

Double-sided onshore–offshore seismic imaging of a plate boundary: “super-gathers” across South Island, New Zealand

Onshore–offshore seismic refraction profiling allows for the determination of crustal and mantle structures in the transition between continental and oceanic environments. Islands and narrow landmasses have the unique geometry of allowing for double-sided onshore–offshore experiments that favor the construction of composite “super-gathers” using the acquisition of onshore–offshore and ocean-bottom seismometer receiver gathers, land explosion shot gathers, and near-vertical incidence multichannel seismic (MCS) profiling. A number of sites at plate boundaries are amenable to the application of double-sided onshore–offshore imaging, including the Indo-Australian/Pacific transform boundary on South Island, New Zealand. By comparing the ratio of island width to mantle refraction (Pn) “maximum” crossover distance, using nondimensional distances, we provide an indicator of raypath “coverage” for crustal illumination. Islands or narrow land masses whose widths are less than twice their maximum crossover distance are candidates for double-sided onshore–offshore experiments. The SIGHT (South Island GeopHysical invesTigation) experiment in New Zealand is located where the width of South Island is sufficiently narrow with respect to its crustal thickness that a double-sided onshore–offshore experiment allows for complete crustal imaging of the associated plate boundary.     

The indigenous origin of Witwatersrand “carbon”

In the Witwatersrand approximately 40% of the gold is intimately associated with so-called “carbon” in “carbon seam reefs”, which occur in over a dozen paleoplacers, many of them concentrated at two stratigraphic levels in the 7000-m-thick succession of Archean siliciclastic sedimentary rocks. This is reduced carbon, present as kerogen admixed in various proportions with derivative (now solid) bitumen(s). Oil generation and migration were active geological processes during Early Earth history. Numerous possible source rocks for oil generation, including the carbon seams themselves, occur within the Witwatersrand basin. In the Witwatersrand ore, oil-bearing fluid inclusions are also present, derived like the bitumen, by thermal maturation of the kerogen. The presence of kerogen and bitumen in the Witwatersrand sedimentary rocks, together with a wealth of observations on the spatial distribution of the carbon seams confirm that the carbon originated in situ from living organisms in microbial mat cover, as opposed to flowing in from elsewhere as liquid hydrocarbons as some researchers have suggested. Paleochannels, which truncated auriferous carbon seams early in the depositional history, are of widespread occurrence, and micro-synsedimentary faults offset carbon seams. The carbon seams are thus indigenous biogenic markers that grew contemporaneously with placer development. The various features highlighting the nature and spatial distribution of Witwatersrand carbon seams provide a classic case where field evidence trumps laboratory data in the reconstruction of geological processes.     

Radiocaesium dispersion and fixation in the lagoon systems of “Ria de Aveiro”, Portugal

Radiocaesium (¹³⁷Cs) dispersion and Cs⁺ fixation were studied in the sediments collected from the lagoon systems of “Ria de Aveiro”. The Cs⁺ sorption was tested for the fine mica grains and for the < 2 μm clay fractions extracted from silty clays. The Cs⁺ exchange is found strongly onto mica-rich fractions than smectite-rich fractions. The distribution coefficient increases if the silty material is constituted by rich-mica clay fractions or if the non-clay minerals are removed from the silty-clay material. The samples studied behave as multisite ion exchange, where Cs⁺ engages in ion-exchange reactions with hydrated cations on planar sites on expansible layer silicates. Higher concentrations of the ¹³⁷Cs were found associated with mica-rich silty clays. The ¹³⁷Cs ranges from 3.2 to 3.9 Bq kg^− 1 in the < 38 μm fractions and from 2.9 to 3.3 Bq kg^− 1 in the < 64 μm fractions.     

Petrologic and geochemical characteristics of “barkinite” from the Dahe mine, Guizhou Province, China

Although “barkinite” has long been studied by many geologists, its geochemical characteristics and environment of deposition are still not known in detail. In order to study the petrography and geochemical characteristics of “barkinite”, coal samples from two Permian coal seams were taken from the Dahe mine, Guizhou Province. The samples were separated into maceral fractions, and then analyzed by microscopical, isotopic, Rock-Eval, and geochemical methods. The microscopical results indicate that “barkinite” occurs as four main types. According to their relationship to other maceral groups, “barkinite” is ostensibly formed under variably dry–wet or oxidizing–reducing conditions. The extract yield, isotope data and Rock-Eval values of “barkinite” are different from other macerals. Microscopical and geochemical results indicate that “barkinite” forms part of the liptinite group.     

Close linkage of copper (and uranium) transport to diagenetic reddening of “upstream” basin sediments for sediment-hosted stratiform copper (and roll-type uranium) mineralization

Copper and uranium may be closely associated metals in sedimentary basins in which “upstream” sediments have been diagenetically reddened (e.g., sediment-hosted stratiform copper (SSC) deposits and roll-type uranium deposits) and the immediate hosts of mineralization are adjacent reduced sediments. The timing of leaching is closely linked to the process and timing of reddening, with descending meteoric water providing the oxygen needed for the reddening process. To leach and transport copper, the low-temperature pore solution must evolve to a brine, and importantly, its Eh must decrease to moderately positive levels (0.1 ± 0.1 V). For uranium, a simple oxidized solution is sufficient. Given the parallel Eh paths for copper and uranium and their close associations with diagenetic reddening, the dominant metal in sediment-hosted stratiform copper or roll-type uranium deposits is probably related closely to the source mineral and/or rock constituents of the reddened sediments.     

The political-economy of Blair’s “New Regional Policy”

The “region” and “regional change” have been elusive ideas within political and economic geography, and in essence require a greater understanding of their dynamic characteristics. Trailing in the backwaters of the devolution to the Celtic nations of Britain, the contemporary era of New Labour’s political-economic ideology, manifest through “third-way” governance in England places the region and its functional capacity into the heart of geographical inquiry. Drawing upon a new regionalist epistemology, this paper seeks to recover a sense of (regional) political economy through a critical investigation of the development and formulation of Blair’s “New Regional Policy” (NRP). I address how New Labour has attempted to marry economic regionalisation on the one hand, and democratic regionalism on the other. This paper specifically questions the wisdom of such a marriage of politically distinct ideologies through a critical investigation of the underlying contradictions of their strategy from both a theoretical and empirical standpoint. Demonstrated both in the North East “no” vote in 2004, and in the post-mortem undertaken by the ODPM Select Committee in 2005, the paper illustrates how a loss of political drive gradually undermined the capacity of devolution to deliver in England. Finally, I argue that through the lens of the NRP we can speculate on some of the wider issues and implications for the study of regional governance.     

“Transgenic treadmill”: Responses to the emergence and spread of glyphosate-resistant johnsongrass in Argentina

The broad-spectrum herbicide glyphosate has become the largest-selling crop-protection product worldwide. The increased use of glyphosate is associated with the appearance of a growing number of tolerant or resistant weeds, with socio-environmental consequences apart from the loss of productivity. In 2002, a glyphosate-resistant biotype of johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense (L.)) appeared in Argentina and now covers at least 10,000 ha. This paper analyzes the driving forces behind the emergence and spread of this weed and also examines management responses and their implications.Preventive strategies against glyphosate-resistant johnsongrass fail because of the institutional setting. Reactive measures, however, transfer the risks to the society and the environment through the introduction of novel genetically modified crops that allow the use of yet more herbicide. This in turn reinforces the emergence of herbicide-resistant weeds, constituting a new phenomenon of intensification, the “transgenic treadmill”.     

The development of surface steps during mining subsidence: “Not due to fault reactivation”

In spite of the voluminous literature which has been collated over the past ca. 150 years regarding the occurrence, prediction and control of the various phenomena associated with mining subsidence, the behaviour of geological faults during such subsidence is still poorly understood. It is generally appreciated that the reactivation of faults during mining events, and the consequent formation of a step in the surface topography, is complex and variable, and can result in extensive and spectacular structural damage. Within the past ca. two yearsevidence from the British and Ukrainian coalfields has been correlated which suggests that the surface steps formed and effected in the topography may be centred over contrasting lithological contacts such as bedding planes, joints, unconformities and the outcrop of fold axes.     

“Cretaceous black flysch” in the Pieniny Klippen Belt, West Carpathians: a case of geological misinterpretation

This is a critical assessment of the paper by Oszczypko et al. (2004: Cretaceous Research 25, 89–113), in which they tried to prove a mid-Cretaceous age for the Szlachtowa (“black flysch”) and Opaleniec Formations, in the Pieniny Klippen Belt, West Carpathians, both of which had previously been shown to be of Jurassic age. We argue that the mid-Cretaceous age assignment is a misinterpretation, primarily resulting from their field samples having been collected from some Cretaceous lithostratigraphic units, tectonically associated with the Jurassic formations, and/or from tectonic contact-breccias involving Jurassic and Cretaceous strata. In addition, we suggest that they have overlooked a number of significant palaeontological papers, published since 1962, which record the presence of in situ ammonites, aptychi, belemnites, thin-shelled bivalves (Bositra), gryphaeids, foraminifera, and ostracod assemblages, all indicating a Jurassic (mainly Aalenian), and not a Cretaceous, age for the Szlachtowa Formation, and also the in situ Jurassic (Bajocian) ammonites and thin-shelled bivalves (Bositra), Bositra-microfacies, and age-diagnostic foraminiferal assemblages of the Opaleniec Formation.Our presentation here of recently published dinocyst data from well-preserved assemblages further supports the Jurassic ages for the Szlachtowa (“black flysch”) and Opaleniec Formations.     

The use of “loam” concentrates in geochemical exploration in deeply weathered arid terrains

This paper reviews some aspects of the use of “loam” (soil) concentrates in geochemical surveys in arid, deeply weathered environments.An orientation survey at a small Ni-Cu-Co prospect in Western Australia has shown that discrimination between mineralized and unmineralized samples could be achieved using Ni, Cu, Co, Cr, Zn, As, Sn, Sc, Ti, Yb and Y in the coarse fraction of heavy concentrates. However, at the same prospect the best contrast for Ni, Cu and Co in surface samples was provided by analysis of the same fraction following a cold ammonium citrate/hydroxylamine hydrochloride digestion.At a nearby, larger prospect, some 54 km² in area, concentrates were separated, by jigging, from bulk soil samples, themselves composites of representative subsamples. Sampling at a density of 4 samples per km² revealed 1–2 km² size anomalies of Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, As and Au which could be related, variously, to known Ni-Cu and Au mineralization.In Botswana, analysis of concentrates, separated by tabling from samples collected at a density of 1 sample per 7.5 km² over an area of 5400 km², identified distinctive geochemical districts. Enhanced values of Au and of Cu-Ni in the concentrates were relatable to known mineralization and the results suggested that there were also Sn-W-Mo-Bi (granitoid) and Au-Pb-Zn-Bi-Sn (volcanogenic) associations which could lead to new prospecting targets. Anomalies of certain elements (for example, Cu in an ultramafic environment) may be more readily detected in surface material by “enrichment indexing” the concentrate data.     

Digging into Google Earth: An analysis of “Crisis in Darfur”

Google publicists have suggested the Crisis in Darfur is an example of the Google Earth software’s “success at tangibly impacting what is happening on the ground.” Yet whether or not Google Earth’s interface, along with a medley of other media representations of the conflict, have impacted events on the ground or led to coherent policies of humanitarian intervention remains open to debate. This article draws upon critical approaches from media studies—namely discourse analysis—to analyze several aspects of the Google Earth/USHMM Crisis in Darfur project. While this project was no doubt developed with the noble intention of generating international awareness about widespread violence that has recently occurred in the Darfur region, it is important to evaluate how representations of global conflicts are changing with uses of new information technologies and whether such representations can actually achieve their desired impacts or effects. The article begins with a discussion of the Crisis in Darfur project’s history, proceeds to analyze some of the press coverage of the project and then moves to a critique of the layer using four categories of analysis: (1) the shifting role of satellite image; (2) the temporality of the interface; (3) the practice of conflict branding; and (4) the practice of “information intervention.” Throughout the article, I explore how the presentation of Darfur-related materials through Google Earth reproduces problematic Western tropes of African tragedy and misses an opportunity to generate public literacy around satellite images. I also consider how humanitarianism is intertwined with digital and disaster capitalism, and suggest that this instance of “information intervention” makes patently clear that high visual capital alone cannot resolve global conflicts.