Glacier hydrochemistry, solute provenance, and chemical denudation at a surge-type glacier in Kuannersuit Kuussuat, Disko Island, West Greenland

In 1995–1998, Han 11 km terrestrial surge of Kuannersuit Glacier, an outlet glacier of the largest ice cap on Disko Island, West Greenland, affected the catchment dramatically. In order to estimate solute fluxes and provenances, bulk meltwaters were sampled at the main subglacial outlet during the initial part of the quiescent phase. The hydrochemistry is significantly influenced by a subglacial basaltic weathering regime with absence of carbonate minerals. The results show that marine and aerosol derived solutes have minimal contribution to the total ion content, whereas sequestration of atmospheric CO₂ associated with carbonation of Ca-rich feldspar and reactive volcanic glass is more dominant than previously reported from glacierized catchments. Application of a sampling strategy dividing water samples into four groups to determine the content of dissolved HCO₃⁻ and CO₃²⁻ shows that the cationic equivalent weathering rate range is 683–860 Σmeq⁺ m⁻² a⁻¹ and solute flux ranges between 76 and 98 t km⁻² a⁻¹. The crustal denudation rate is estimated to 26 t km⁻² a⁻¹, and the transient CO₂ drawdown amounts to 8500–13700 kg C km⁻² a⁻¹.     

Study of solute sources and evolution of hydrogeochemical processes of the Chhota Shigri Glacier meltwaters,Himachal Himalaya,India

Abstract

This study was carried out from 2003 to 2007 to understand the hydrogeochemical processes and the solute sources of the meltwaters of the Chhota Shigri Glacier, Himalaya. The meltwater is almost neutral to slightly alkaline in nature: bicarbonate and sulphate are the dominant anions, while calcium and magnesium are the dominant cations. Bicarbonate is found to be derived from carbonate weathering and partly from silicate weathering. Rock weathering followed by precipitation are the main controlling factors that influence the meltwater chemistry of this region. The relatively high values of pCO₂ reflect a higher rate of solubility in comparison to release of excess CO₂ gas to the atmosphere. The presence of active hydrogeochemical processes and sediment–water interaction results in excess solute transport through the meltwater to the Chandra River that feeds the Chenab, one of the great Himalayan river systems, and ultimately flows into the ocean. This study is the first of its kind to understand in detail the hydrogeochemical process and resultant solute load transport in this Himalayan glacier.

Citation Sharma, P., Ramanathan, A.L., and Pottakkal, J., 2013. Study of solute sources and evolution of hydrogeochemical processes of the Chhota Shigri Glacier meltwaters, Himachal Himalaya, India. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (5), 1128–1143.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz     

The evolution of early precambrian crustal rocks at Isua,West Greenland — Geochemical and isotopic evidence

Petrographic and chemical evidence suggests that boulders from a conglomeratic unit in the Isua supracrustal succession were derived by the erosion of an acid volcanogenic sediment. Six samples of the boulders and surrounding matrix yield a Rb-Sr whole rock isochron with a slope corresponding to an age of 3860 ± 240 m.y. (2 sigma error), but consideration of the initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio constrains the possible age of formation of 3710 ± 900 m.y. This is in general agreement with a published Pb/Pb age of 3760 ± 70 m.y. on Isua banded ironstones.Pb isotope compositions as well as highly fractionated, heavy element depleted, rare earth element abundance patterns for the boulders suggest that their igneous precursors were derived from a source region with a similar geochemical history to that of some components of the 3700–3800 m.y. old Ami?tsoq gneisses, involving fractionation of garnet during their evolution.A Pb/Pb whole-rock isochron for Ami?tsoq gneisses from Isua yields an age of 3800 ± 120 m.y. (2σ), in good agreement with previously published Rb-Sr age data on the same rocks. The rock leads are highly unradiogenic and demonstrate substantial U depletion at least 3800 ± 120 m.y. ago. A two-stage model for the U-Pb system yields an average²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb (μ₁) value of 9.3 ± 0.2 for the source region, which is significantly different from the published value of 9.9 ± 0.1 for the Isua iron formation. This indicates the existence of U-Pb heterogeneities between the source regions of plutonic and supracrustal rocks by about 3700–3800 m.y. ago. Attempts to apply U-Pb whole-rock dating to the Ami?tsoq gneisses were unsuccessful because of geologically recent U loss, possibly due to groundwater leaching.A Rb-Sr whole-rock isochron on a suite of Ami?tsoq gneiss samples from a different locality in the Isua region has yielded an age of 3780 ± 130 m.y.In contrast to the Godthaab area, there is no geochronological evidence at Isua for major rock-producing or tectonothermal events after about 3700 m.y. ago. The entire gneiss-supracrustal system developed within the approximate interval 3900–3700 m.y. ago.     

The provenance and crustal residence ages of British sediments in relation to palaeogeographic reconstructions

24 SmNd isotope analyses of fine-grained Phanerozoic and modern clastic sediments from Britain and Quebec are presented. In combination with published data, they have been used to calculate “crustal residence ages” (t_CR) and to assess the provenance of the British sedimentary mass. Sediments now preserved on either side of the suture formed by the closure of the Iapetus Ocean ca. 400 Ma ago were derived from isotopically distinct source regions. Sediments north of the suture are characterised by1.7 < t_CR < 2.8 Ga, whereas those to the south exhibit a smaller range and an average value of 1.6 Ga. The northern and southern source regions were most probably Laurentia and Gondwana respectively. It seems likely that a third source, perhaps Baltica, provided the lower Palaeozoic Southern Uplands succession. Sediments deposited in southern Britain after the closure of Iapetus were derived mainly from the recycling of older sediments. The tectonic rearrangements which occurred during the Phanerozoic are not reflected in the SmNd isotopic structure of the southern British sedimentary mass, suggesting that the Caledonian and Hercynian orogenies, and even the Grenville orogeny, involved minimal accretion of new mantle-derived material into the British and adjacent continental crust. SmNd analyses of fine-grained clastic sediments provide a powerful sedimentological tool for elucidating palaeogeography, clastic source areas, sediment recycling and maturity, and some aspects of sediment transport.     

Contamination of arctic Fjord sediments by Pb-Zn mining at Maarmorilik in central West Greenland

This study focuses on heavy metal contamination of arctic sediments from a small Fjord system adjacent to the Pb-Zn “Black Angel” mine (West Greenland) to investigate the temporal and spatial development of contamination and to provide baseline levels before the mines re-opening in January 2009. For this purpose we collected multi-cores along a transect from Affarlikassaa Fjord, which received high amounts of tailings from 1973 to 1990, to the mouth of Qaumarujuk Fjord. Along with radiochemical dating by ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs, geochemical analyses of heavy metals (e.g. As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Zn) were carried out. Maximum contents were found at 12 cm depth in Affarlikassaa. After 17 years the mine last closed, specific local hydrographic conditions continue to disperse heavy metal enriched material derived from the Affarlikassaa into Qaumarujuk. Total Hg profiles from multi-cores along the transect clearly illustrate this transport and spatial distribution pattern of the contaminated material.     

Threshold response of benthic macrofauna integrity to metal contamination in West Greenland

Sediment metal chemistry and benthic infauna surveys have been conducted over 33 years following a BACI protocol in relation to submarine tailings deposition (STD) from a lead-zinc mine in a western Greenland fjord system. We found clear predictable changes of benthic fauna composition in response to STD both temporally and spatially. Faunal re-colonization 15 years after mine closure, was slow and the impacted areas were still dominated by opportunistic species, although the most opportunistic ones (e.g. Capitella species) had decreased in importance. Concentration-response relations between sediment lead and faunal indices of benthic community integrity (e.g. the AMBI and DKI indices) indicated a threshold of ca. 200mg/kg, above which deterioration of faunal communities occurred. Above this threshold, diversity decreased dramatically and dominance of sensitive and indifferent species was substituted by tolerant or opportunistic species. Disposal of metal contaminated tailings may have long lasting effects on the biological system.     

The Ameralik dykes of West Greenland,the earliest known basaltic rocks intruding stable continental crust

The pre-3100 m.y. old Ameralik dykes from West Greenland show a range in primary composition from primitive low-K, low-Ti tholeiites virtually identical in composition to ridge basalts of modern ocean crust, to more differentiated basaltic rocks similar to some present-day continental tholeiites. Primary variations are distinguished from secondary metasomatism using REE patterns, Ni, Sr, Ti and Zr contents and Mg number as a guide to the stage of differentiation reached by a particular sample and comparing this to the amount of alkalis present. The chemistry of the dykes is compared to that of metabasalts from Archaean greenstone belts and the use of chemistry alone to distinguish the crustal environment under which Archaean basic rocks were formed is questioned.     

The geological significance of Rb-Sr whole-rock isochrons of polymetamorphic Archaean gneisses,Fiskenaesset area,southern West Greenland

Rb-Sr whole-rock isochron ages of gneisses from the Fiskenaesset area are considerably lower (2600–2800 m.y.) than U-Pb zircon ages for the same rocks (2880–2950 m.y.). There is a significant correlation between the isochron ages and the range in Rb/Sr ratios of the samples involved. Higher ages (and lower initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios) are obtained for sample collections with a wide range in Rb/Sr ratios. Lower ages (and higher initial ratios) are obtained for sample collections with a narrow range in Rb/Sr ratios. This relationship is explained by a model of local metamorphic Sr isotope homogenisation in restricted rock volumes. This model implies that the individual isochron ages do not date specific geological events. There is a significant inverse correlation between the isochron ages and the corresponding initial ratios. It is probable that the igneous precursors of the gneisses intruded with initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios well below 0.701.     

The altitude dependence of magnetic remanence in the slowly-cooled Precambrian plutonic terrain of West Greenland

To evaluate the change in magnetic remanence with altitude through a slowly-cooled Precambrian basement terrain three vertical sections have been sampled in West Greenland. The study employs the principle that higher structural levels passed through their blocking temperatures earlier than lower levels and therefore record earlier pole positions, and it utilises dolerites and diorites intruded late in, or after, the tectonic history to minimise anisotropy effects. In the amphibolite facies terrain at Qa´qatoqaq (1400 m) highly-stable magnetite-held remanences move on demagnetisation progressively along small circles interpreted to record younger to older apparent polar wander (a.p.w.) motions during cooling through the blocking temperature ranges. Although the raw data show no systematic variation with altitude, when account is taken of the blocking temperature spectra as defined by thermal demagnetisation there is a systematic change in palaeofield direction in the same sense as that recorded by the demagnetisation trends. Granulite facies terrain at Igdlu´nguit qula?t (600 m) again shows systematic variation with altitude when the sites are divided into those with a remanence dominated by hemo-ilmenite and those dominated by magnetite. A third section at Praestefjeldet (250 m) yields a palaeofield reversal and a high blocking temperature component.The age evidence is evaluated to suggest that the a.p.w. path defined by 5 mean palaeopoles between 318°E, 1°N and 247°E, 38°N represents up to 50 Ma of palaeofield motion recorded by the uplift and cooling of this basement terrain at crustal depths of the order of 10 km. The calculated rate of a.p.w. motion is 1–2°/Ma and the rate of crustal uplift 10–20 m/Ma, these rates are respectively up to an order higher, and at least an order lower, than Phanerozoic rates. The collective data from Greenland agree closely with post-“Hudsonian” poles from the Laurentian Shield and represent part of a very widespread uplift event following this mobile episode. They show that altitude sections can yield a systematic record of the magnitude and direction of Precambrian a.p.w. motions provided that the blocking temperature spectra are taken into account.     

Seasonal variations in the origin of lead in snow at Dye 3, Greenland

The isotopic composition and concentration of lead has been measured in fresh and slightly aged snow collected at Dye 3 in southern Greenland during one full year. The lead concentration displayed large variations ranging from 14–3016 pg/g in April (spring) to 3–6 pg/g in September (summer) while the isotopic ratios changed in regular manner during the year. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios were 1.15 from spring to mid-summer snow, and increased in late summer to early autumn, reaching 1.20 in winter. These isotopic data indicate that the lead in the autumn to winter snow originated in North America, while that in spring to mid-summer snow is from Eurasia.     

Use of oxygen isotope ratios in correlation of tuffs,East Rudolf Basin,northern Kenya

Oxygen isotope determinations were made using CoF₃ to extract oxygen from 27 volcanic glass samples from the East Rudolf Basin, northern Kenya. Results show that the older tuffs are progressively enriched in¹⁸O and that this index can be used in the correlation of volcanic ash units. This method could not distinguish individual samples from the youngest units studied because their ranges of δ¹⁸O overlap. The δ¹⁸O values for the shards in the Tulu Bor Tuff, the KBS Tuff, the Koobi Fora Tuff and the Chari Tuff range from 14.5 to 16.4, from 8.9 to 9.5, from 6.6 to 7.0 and from 7.0 to 7.2, respectively, in decreasing age. Determinations from pumice cobbles are consistently higher than the above values.     

Paleomagnetic record from Academician Ridge, Lake Baikal: a reversal excursion at the base of marine oxygen isotope stage 6

Paleomagnetic and rock-magnetic studies on a hydraulic piston core (Ver98-1, St.6) from Academician Ridge, Lake Baikal showed the occurrence of a reversal excursion at 670-696 cm depth, which is at the base of marine oxygen isotope stage 6. A correlation of X-ray CT values, as a proxy of relative density, to the marine oxygen isotope record provides an age of 177-183 ka for this reversal excursion. It can be correlated with other excursion records from Lake Baikal, found in Core 287-K2 from Academician Ridge [King et al., Russ. Geol. Geophys. 34 (1993) 148-162] and in core BDP93-1 drilled on the Buguldeika saddle [BDP-93, Quat. Int. 37 (1997) 3-17]. We correlate the Lake Baikal reversal excursion with a well documented excursion in the Brunhes Chron, the Iceland Basin event (186-189 ka) from ODP Sites 983 and 984 in the North Atlantic [Channell, J. Geophys. Res. 104 (1999) 22937-22951]. Also the relative paleointensity record agrees well with that from ODP Site 983 [Channell, J. Geophys. Res. 104 (1999) 22937-22951]. The Lake Baikal excursion and the Iceland Basin event correspond to the minimum of relative intensity at 188 ka in Sint-800 [Guyodo and Valet, Nature 399 (1999) 249-252]. We argue that it is distinct from the Jamaica/Pringle Falls excursion, estimated at 205-215 ka [Langereis et al., Geophys. J. Int. 129 (1997) 75-94]. This is supported by the recalibration of the age of another excursion found in Core St.16 in Lake Baikal [Sakai et al., Bull. Nagoya Univ. Furukawa Mus. 13 (1997) 11-22] with an age of ∼223 ka, which is close to the age of the Jamaica/Pringle Falls excursion, as suggested earlier [King et al., Russ. Geol. Geophys. 34 (1993) 148-162]. The VGP path of the reversal excursion (177-183 ka) consists of a southward swing through the North Atlantic, followed by a loop through Africa and the Indian Ocean. The path morphology is similar to that of the Iceland Basin event from the North Atlantic [Channell, J. Geophys. Res. 104 (1999) 22937-22951].     

The formation mechanism of accretionary wedge at Karamay in West Junggar,NW China

Accretionary wedge is the typical product of subduction-zone processes at shallow depths.Determining the location,composition and mechanism of accretionary wedge has important implications for understanding the tectonism of plate subduction.The Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB) is one of the world's largest accretionary orogenic belts,and records the bulk evolution of Paleo-Asian Ocean from opening to closure,with multi-stages and multi-types of crust-mantle interaction in the Paleozoic.West Junggar(western part of Junggar Basin),located in the core area of CAOB,is characterized by a multiple intra-oceanic subduction system during the Paleozoic.In its eastern part crop out Devonian-Carboniferous marine sedimentary rocks,Darbut and Karamay ophiolitic melanges,alkali oceanic island basalts,island arc volcanic rocks and thrusted nappe structure.Such lithotectonic associations indicate the occurrence of accretionary wedge at Karamay.In order to decipher its formation mechanism,this paper presents a synthesis of petrography,structural geology and geochemistry of volcanic rocks.In combination with oceanic subduction channel processes,itis suggested that the accretionary wedge is acomposite melange with multiple stages of formation.The application of oceanic subduction channel model to the Karamay accretionary wedge provides new insights into the accretion and orogenesis of CAOB.     

Geochemistry, strontium isotope data, and potassium-argon ages of the andesite-rhyolite association in the Padang area, West Sumatra

Quaternary volcanoes in the Padang area on the west coast of Sumatra have produced two-pyroxene, calc-alkaline andesite and volumetrically subordinate rhyolitic and andesitic ash-flow tuffs. A sequence of andesite (pre-caldera), rhyolitic tuff and andesitic tuff, in decreasing order of age, is related to Maninjau caldera. Andesite compositions range from 55.0 to 61.2% SiO₂ and from 1.13 to 2.05% K₂O. Six K-Ar whole-rock age determinations on andesites show a range of 0.27 ± 0.12 to 0.83 ± 0.42 m.y.; a single determination on the rhyolitic ashflow tuff gave 0.28 ± 0.12 m.y.Eight ⁵⁷Sr/²⁶Sr ratios on andesites and rhyolite tuff west of the Semangko fault zone are in the range 0.7056 – 0.7066. These ratios are higher than those elsewhere in the Sunda arc but are comparable to the Taupo volcanic zone of New Zealand and calc-alkaline volcanics of continental margins. An ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.7048 on G. Sirabungan east of the Semangko fault is similar to an earlier determination on nearby G. Marapi (0.7047), and agrees with ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in the rest of the Sunda arc. The reason for this distribution of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios is unknown.The high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are tentatively regarded to reflect a crustal source for the andesites, while moderately fractionated REE patterns with pronounced negative Eu anomalies suggest a residue enriched in plagioclase with hornblende and/or pyroxenes. Generation of associated andesite and rhyolite could have been caused by hydrous fractional melting of andesite or volcanogenic sediments under adiabatic decompression.     

1518年6月22日韩国首尔以西海域——南黄海大震

1518年6月22日韩国首尔以西海域——南黄海发生大震。地震波及朝鲜半岛全境,并在韩国首尔等沿海地区造成破坏,首尔的烈度为Ⅷ度,余震持续一个多月。地震还影响到中国东部地区。震级定为M7?级。此次地震可能与朝鲜半岛西缘断裂带（南黄海东缘断裂带）的活动有关。震中定于该断裂带附近（36.5°N,125.2°E）。     

An oxygen isotope study of hydrothermal alteration in the Lake City caldera, San Juan Mountains, Colorado

A 23-m.y.-old, fossil meteoric-hydrothermal system in the Lake City caldera (11 × 14 km) has been mapped out by measuring δ ¹⁸O values of 300 rock and mineral samples. δ ¹⁸O varies systematically throughout the caldera, reaching values as low as −2. Great topographic relief, regional tilting, and variable degrees of erosion within the caldera all combine to give us a very complete section through the hydrothermal system, from the surface down to a depth of more than 2000 m. The initial δ ¹⁸O value of the caldera-fill Sunshine Peak Tuff was very uniform (+7.2 ± 0.1), making it easy to determine the exact amount of ¹⁸O depletion experienced by each sample during hydrothermal alteration. Also, we have excellent stratigraphic control on depths beneath the mid-Tertiary surface, quantitative information on mineralogical alteration products, and accurate data on the shape of the central resurgent intrusion, which was the principal ‘heat engine’ that drove the hydrothermal circulation. Major conclusions are: (1) Although pristine mid-Tertiary meteoric waters in this area had δ ¹⁸O −14, these fluids were ¹⁸O-shifted upward to about δ¹⁸O = −8 to −5 prior to entering the shallow convective system associated with the resurgent intrusive rocks. Although there was undoubtedly radial inflow toward the caldera from all directions, the highly fractured Eureka Graben, southwest of the caldera, was probably the principal source of recharge groundwater for the Lake City system. (2) Fluid flow within the caldera was dominated by three major categories of permeable zones: the porous megabreccia units (which dip outward from the resurgent dome), vertical fractures and faults related to resurgence, and the caldera ring fault itself. All of these zones exhibit marked ¹⁸O depletions, and they are also typically intensely mineralogically altered. (3) The resurgent intrusive stock and its contact metamorphic aureole of hornfels both experienced water/rock ratios lower than the permeable zones; however, they have similarly low δ ¹⁸O values because they were altered at higher temperatures. (4) Throughout the caldera, the δ ¹⁸O of Sunshine Peak Tuff decreases with increasing depth (about 6 per mil/km), indicative of a shallow thermal gradient, typical of a convective hydrothermal system. The near-surface portion of this gradient was controlled by the temperature drop associated with boiling in the uprising fluid. (5) Deeply circulating meteoric water rose along permeable ring fractures 3 to 5 km beneath the mid-Tertiary surface. These fluids were drawn into the shallow convective system through the lower, porous, megabreccia units. Near the resurgent intrusions, fluid flow was again directed upward where resurgence-related, near-vertical fractures intersect the megabreccia units.     

Discovery of Precambrian rocks in New Zealand: Age relations of the Greenland Group and Constant Gneiss,West Coast,South Island

Rb-Sr whole-rock analyses yield a Cambro-Ordovician (495 ± 11 m.y.) sedimentation age for the supposed Precambrian Greenland Group and a late Precambrian age, 680 ± 21 m.y., for parts of the Constant Gneiss, the first confirmation of Precambrian rocks in New Zealand. A Precambrian age for the Greenland Group is thus unlikely and the large area of Upper Cambrian-Lower Ordovician rocks now established can be considered as a lateral equivalent of the fossiliferous Lower Palaeozoic succession of northwest Nelson to the east. The Greenland Group, especially in the Paparoa Range has been affected subsequently by a thermal metamorphic overprint about 360 m.y. ago during the Tuhuan Orogeny. Although the Constant Gneiss must form the local basement to the Greenland Group in north Westland, the former does not appear to be the source of the sediments and the true provenance must lie elsewhere.     

Hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios in the waters of the Ngawha hydrothermal area,North Auckland

The ratios of D/H and O¹⁸/O¹⁶ in natural waters from streams, boreholes, soda springs, hot pools, ponds and larger bodies of water in the Ngawha hydrothermal area were determined. The results are considered in relation to the isotopic changes known to occur in water subjected to evaporation. Where applicable chemical and other work was also considered. It is assumed that stream water isotope composition is the mean value for the isotopic composition of meteoric waters. Measurements on waters taken from boreholes drilled to 65 feet and 350 feet and from the other water sources mentioned, indicate that they were of meteoric origin as judged by stream isotope composition. The waters from the soda springs appeared to be isotopically the same as the stream water, a finding consistent with the absence of evaporative surface. These borehole waters were similar but slightly different in O¹⁸ due probably to exchange between rock and water. Heavy isotope enrichment of the ponds and larger bodies of water appeared to be due to non-equilibrium evaporation at ambient temperature. The hot pools in the Ngawha springs area proper were enriched in the heavier isotopes probably due to non-equilibrium evaporation at the usual hot pool temperature of about 40°C and also to exchange of O¹⁸ between water and rock. The water from a further borehole drilled to approximately 2,000 feet appeared also to be of meteoric origin but was changed in O¹⁸ content to an extent consistent with the assumption that oxygen isotope exchange with rock had taken place at approximately 230°C. The results are used to illustrate possibilities for the use of oxygen and hydrogen isotope measurements in hydrothermal investigations.