Fluid evolution,wallrock alteration,and ore mineralization associated with the Rodalquilar epithermal gold-deposit in southeast Spain

At Rodalquilar gold mineralization is found in Late Tertiary volcanic rocks of the Sierra del Cabo de Gata and is related to a caldera collapse. Radial and concentric faults were preferred sites for gold deposition. Hydrothermal activity produced a specific alteration zoning around gold-bearing vein structures, grading from an innermost advanced argillic via an argillic into a more regionally developed propylitic zone. Advanced argillic alteration with silica, pyrophyllite, alunite, and kaolinite extends down to several hundred m indicating a hypogene origin. High-grade gold mineralization in vein structures is confined to the near-surface part of the advanced argillic alteration. Fine-grained gold is associated with hematite, jarosite, limonite, or silica. At a depth of about 120 m, the oxidic ore assemblage grades into sulfide mineralization with pyrite and minor chalcopyrite, covellite, bornite, enargite, and tennantite. Two types of fluids from different sources were involved in the hydrothermal system. Overpressured and hypersaline fluids of presumably magmatic origin initiated the hydrothermal system. Subsequent hydrothermal processes were characterized by the influx of low-salinity solutions of probable marine origin and by interactions between both fluids. Deep-reaching, advanced argillic alteration formed from high-salinity fluids with 20–30 equiv. wt% NaCl at about 225°C. Near-surface gold precipitation and silification are related to fluids with temperatures of about 175°C and 3–4 equiv. wt% NaCl. Gold was transported as Au(HS) ₂ ^– , and precipitation resulted from boiling with a concomitant decrease in temperature, pressure, and pH and an increase in fO₂. All features of the Rodalquilar gold deposit reveal a close relationship to acid-sulfate-type epithermal gold mineralization.     

Uranium in pacific deep-sea sediments and manganese nodules

A total of 1344 manganese nodules and 187 pelagic sediments from 9 areas in the North and the South Pacific were analyzed for U by the delayed-neutron counting technique. A strong positive correlation between U and Fe in nodules and sediments suggests a co-precipitative removal from sea water into the Fe-rich ferromanganese mineral phase δ -MnO₂. Enrichment of U and Fe in nodules from the northwestern slopes of two submarine hills (U between 6 and 9 ppm) in the equatorial nodule belt is thought to be caused by directional bottom water flow creating elevated oxygenized conditions in areas opposed to the flow. Economically important nodule deposits from the nodule belt and the Peru Basin have generally low U contents, between 3 and 5 ppm. Insignificant resources of U of about 4 × 10⁵ in the Pacific manganese nodules are estimated.     

Die Petrographie des Knollenmergel,Mittlerer Keuper,Trias

In Württemberg, the upper part of the Middle Keuper is referred to as “Knollenmergel” (= “nodular marl”, a marly claystone containing carbonate nodules), 24 samples were studied from a test well located near Hechingen. X-ray diffraction was used for the determination of the mineral composition of whole rocks and of the clay fractions. The coarser fractions were studied under the petrographic microscope. The fractions < 2π Ø consist chiefly of an mixed-layer mineral with illite and expandable, montmorillonite-like layers as the components. There are about 30 % of expandable layers. A low-angle reflection near 31 Å is indicative of considerable order among component-layer species approaching that of rectorite. In the lower part of the section, moderate amounts of sudoite are present in addition. Illite as a discrete phase could not be determined with certainty. The microscopic fractions consist partly of monomineralic grains of quarz, dolomite, and calcite. In addition, they contain considerable amounts of polymineralic aggregates, which were not dispersed by the rather mild disintegration method used in the present study. Accordingly, the rocks are claystones characterized by the same degree of lithification as those occurring in other parts of the Keuper in Württemberg. The interstratified mineral is tentatively derived from the erosion of a uniform body of volcanogenic material of Paleozoic age. On the basis of grain-size distribution, the Knollenmergel is a water-laid sediment. Eolian transport as advocated by some geologists can be excluded. The difficulties experienced with the Knollenmergel as a building ground are explained by the high percentage of the expandable interstratified mineral and the dearth of a genuine sand fraction.     

Groundwater study using remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) in the central highlands of Eritrea

Remote sensing, evaluation of digital elevation models (DEM), geographic information systems (GIS) and fieldwork techniques were combined to study the groundwater conditions in Eritrea. Remote sensing data were interpreted to produce lithological and lineament maps. DEM was used for lineament and geomorphologic mapping. Field studies permitted the study of structures and correlated them with lineament interpretations. Hydrogeological setting of springs and wells were investigated in the field, from well logs and pumping test data. All thematic layers were integrated and analysed in a GIS. Results show that groundwater occurrence is controlled by lithology, structures and landforms. Highest yields occur in basaltic rocks and are due to primary and secondary porosities. High yielding wells and springs are often related to large lineaments, lineament intersections and corresponding structural features. In metamorphic and igneous intrusive rocks with rugged landforms, groundwater occurs mainly in drainage channels with valley fill deposits. Zones of very good groundwater potential are characteristic for basaltic layers overlying lateritized crystalline rocks, flat topography with dense lineaments and structurally controlled drainage channels with valley fill deposits. The overall results demonstrate that the use of remote sensing and GIS provide potentially powerful tools to study groundwater resources and design a suitable exploration plan.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Element contents in mountain birch leaves,bark and wood under different anthropogenic and geogenic conditions

Forty samples each of leaves, bark and wood of mountain birch (Betula pubescens EHRH.) were collected along a 120 km long south–north transect running through Norway’s largest city, Oslo. Concentrations of 26 chemical elements (Ag, As, Au, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Sr, Ti and Zn) as well as loss on ignition for the three sample materials are reported. By far the highest concentrations of most elements appear in the leaves. Prominent exceptions are Au and Pb, both of which are enriched in wood, indicating the importance of root-uptake, and As which is enriched in bark. Bedrock lithology, ore occurrences, soil pH and urban contamination all have a visible influence on the element concentrations in mountain birch leaves, bark and wood. It is often impossible to differentiate between all the factors that can influence element concentrations in the three sample materials. Mountain birch bark shows the strongest anthropogenic impact of the city of Oslo for dust-related elements (Fe, La, Ti) and Sb. Even in mountain birch bark the influence of the city on element concentrations is no longer discernible from the background variation at a distance of less than 20 km from Oslo centre. Compared to terrestrial moss, mountain birch appears to be of little value as a biomonitor for urban contamination.     

Geology, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of the Kabwe carbonate-hosted Pb–Zn deposit, Central Zambia

The carbonate-hosted Kabwe Pb–Zn deposit, Central Zambia, has produced at least 2.6 Mt of Zn and Pb metal as well as minor amounts of V, Cd, Ag and Cu. The deposit consists of four main epigenetic, pipe-like orebodies, structurally controlled along NE–SW faults. Sphalerite, galena, pyrite, minor chalcopyrite, and accessory Ge-sulphides of briartite and renierite constitute the primary ore mineral assemblage. Cores of massive sulphide orebodies are surrounded by oxide zones of silicate ore (willemite) and mineralized jasperoid that consists largely of quartz, willemite, cerussite, smithsonite, goethite and hematite, as well as numerous other secondary minerals, including vanadates, phosphates and carbonates of Zn, Pb, V and Cu.Galena, sphalerite and pyrite from the Pb–Zn rich massive orebodies have homogeneous, negative sulphur isotope ratios with mean δ³⁴S_CDT permil (‰) values of − 17.75 ± 0.28 (1σ), − 16.54 ± 0.0.27 and − 15.82 ± 0.25, respectively. The Zn-rich and Pb-poor No. 2 orebody shows slightly heavier ratios of − 11.70 ± 0.5‰ δ³⁴S for sphalerite and of − 11.91 ± 0.71‰ δ³⁴S for pyrite. The negative sulphur isotope ratios are considered to be typical of sedimentary sulphides produced through bacterial reduction of seawater sulphate and suggest a sedimentary source for the sulphur.Carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of the host dolomite have mean δ¹³C_PDB and δ¹⁸O_SMOW values of 2.89‰ and 27.68‰, respectively, which are typical of marine carbonates. The oxygen isotope ratios of dolomite correlate negatively to the SiO₂ content introduced during silicification of the host dolomite. The depletion in ¹⁸O in dolomite indicates high temperature fluid/rock interaction, involving a silica- and ¹⁸O-rich hydrothermal solution.Two types of secondary fluid inclusions in dolomite, both of which are thought to be related to ore deposition, indicate temperatures of ore deposition in the range of 257 to 385 and 98 to 178 °C, respectively. The high temperature fluid inclusions contain liquid + vapour + solid phases and have salinities of 15 to 31 eq. wt.% NaCl, whereas the low temperature inclusions consist of liquid + vapour with a salinity of 11.5 eq. wt.% NaCl.Fluid transport may have been caused by tectonic movements associated with the early stages of the Pan-African Lufilian orogeny, whereas ore deposition within favourable structures occurred due to changes in pressure, temperature and pH in the ore solution during metasomatic replacement of the host dolomite. The termination of the Kabwe orebodies at the Mine Club fault zone and observed deformation textures of the ore sulphides as well as analysis of joint structures in the host dolomite, indicate that ore emplacement occurred prior to the latest deformation phase of the Neoproterozoic Lufilian orogeny.     

Characterization of Mason Gully (H5): The second recovered fall from the Desert Fireball Network

Mason Gully, the second meteorite recovered using the Desert Fireball Network (DFN), is characterized using petrography, mineralogy, oxygen isotopes, bulk chemistry, and physical properties. Geochemical data are consistent with its classification as an H5 ordinary chondrite. Several properties distinguish it from most other H chondrites. Its 10.7% porosity is predominantly macroscopic, present as intergranular void spaces rather than microscopic cracks. Modal mineralogy (determined via PS‐XRD, element mapping via energy dispersive spectroscopy [EDS], and X‐ray tomography [for sulfide, metal, and porosity volume fractions]) consistently gives an unusually low olivine/orthopyroxene ratio (0.67?0.76 for Mason Gully versus ~1.3 for typical H5 ordinary chondrites). Widespread “silicate darkening” is observed. In addition, it contains a bright green crystalline object at the surface of the recovered stone (diameter ≈ 1.5 mm), which has a tridymite core with minor α‐quartz and a rim of both low‐ and high‐Ca pyroxene. The mineralogy allows the calculation of the temperatures and ?(O₂) characterizing thermal metamorphism on the parent body using both the two‐pyroxene and the olivine‐chromite geo‐oxybarometers. These indicate that MG experienced a peak metamorphic temperature of ~900 °C and had a similar ?(O₂) to Kernouvé (H6) that was buffered by the reaction between olivine, metal, and pyroxene. There is no evidence for shock, consistent with the observed porosity structure. Thus, while Mason Gully has some unique properties, its geochemistry indicates a similar thermal evolution to other H chondrites. The presence of tridymite, while rare, is seen in other OCs and likely exogenous; however, the green object itself may result from metamorphism.     

Effect of a synchrotron X‐ray microtomography imaging experiment on the amino acid content of a CM chondrite

X‐ray microcomputed tomography and synchrotron X‐ray microcomputed tomography (μCT) are becoming popular tools for the reconnaissance imaging of chondrites. However, there are occasional concerns that the use of μCT may be detrimental to organic components of a chondrite. Soluble organic compounds represent ~2–10% of the total solvent extractable carbon in CI and CM carbonaceous chondrites and amino acids are among the most abundant compounds in the soluble organic fraction. We irradiated two samples of the Murchison CM2 carbonaceous chondrite under conditions slightly harsher (increased beam exposure time) than those typically used for x‐ray μCT imaging experiments to determine if detectable changes in the amino acid abundance and distribution relative to a nonexposed control sample occurred. After subjecting two meteorite portions to ionizing radiation dosages of 1.1 kiloGray (kGy) and 1.2 kGy with 48.6 and 46.6 keV monochromatic X‐rays, respectively, we analyzed the amino acid content of each sample. Within analytical errors, we found no differences in the amino acid abundances or enantiomeric ratios when comparing the control samples (nonexposed Murchison) and the irradiated samples. We show with calculations that any sample heating due to x‐ray exposure is negligible. We conclude that a monochromatic synchrotron X‐ray μCT experiment at beamline 13‐BM‐D of the Advanced Photon Source, which imparts ~1 kGy doses, has no detectable effect on the amino acid content of a carbonaceous chondrite. These results are important for the initial reconnaissance of returned samples from the OSIRIS‐REx and Hayabusa 2 asteroid sample return missions.     

Locating wind farms by seismic interferometry and migration

We present a case study on the detection and quantification of seismic signals induced by operating wind turbines (WTs). We spatially locate the sources of such signals in data which were recorded at 11 seismic stations in 2011 and 2012 during the TIMO project (Deep Structure of the Central Upper Rhine Graben). During this time period, four wind farms with altogether 12 WTs were in operation near the town of Landau, Southwest Germany. We locate WTs as sources of continuous seismic signals by application of seismic interferometry and migration of the energy found in cross-correlograms. A clear increase of emitted seismic energy with rotor speed confirms that the observed signal is induced by WTs. We can clearly distinguish wind farms consisting of different types of WTs (different hub height and rotor diameter) corresponding to different stable frequency bands (1.3–1.6 Hz, 1.75–1.95 Hz and 2.0–2.2 Hz) which do not depend on wind speed. The peak frequency apparently is controlled by the elastic eigenmodes of the structure rather than the passing of blades at the tower. From this we conclude that vibrations are coupled into the ground at the foundation and propagate as Rayleigh waves (and not as infrasound). The migration velocity of 320 m/s corresponds to their group velocity. The applied migration method can contribute to the assessment of local sources of seismic noise. This topic gets growing attention in the seismological community. In particular, the recent boost of newly installed wind farms is a threat to seismological observatories such as the Black Forest Observatory (BFO) and the Gräfenberg array (GRF) or gravitational wave observatories (e.g. LIGO, VIRGO) in terms of a sensitivity degradation of such observatories.     

On Intercomparison Of Instruments Used Within The Vatnajökull Glacio-Meteorological Experiment

As an important deliverable of a glaciometeorological experiment the participating research institutes produced a common data set that consists of temperature, humidity, wind and radiation data collected by different types of weather station at an elevation of 2 m above the glacier surface. Although all of the instruments had been calibrated in laboratories, intercomparison measurements were carried out under field conditions before and after the Vatnajökull experiment.This note deals with the intercomparison measurements and considers the observed differences in sensor characteristics. In spite of the fact that different types and brands of sensors were used under difficult field circumstances, the estimated accuracy of the common data set obtained is almost as good as suggested by the manufacturers' specifications. The long-term stability of the sensor calibrations also proved to be good. The reliability of the observed values included in the common Vatnajökull dataset is therefore considered to be high.