Campanian stage of granite formation in the south of the Sredinnyi Range in Kamchatka: New U-Pb SHRIMP Data

This article gives an account of the results of the U-Pb-SHRIMP study of zircons derived from gneissoid and equigranular granitoids of the Malka Uplift of the Sredynnyi Range in Kamchatka. It was established that intrusion and crystallization of granitoids occurred in the time interval from 76.2 ± 1.5 to 83.1 ± 2.0 Ma. The texture of zircon crystals suggests their magmatic origin. The obtained data reliably confirm that granite formation and emplacement of the recently formed continental crust in Kamchatka took place in the Late Cretaceous (Campanian).     

Relevance of Pentane- and Hexane-Utilizing Bacterial Indicators for Finding Hydrocarbon Microseepage: A Study from Jamnagar Sub-basin, Saurashtra, Gujarat, India

Mesozoic sediments are source rocks for nearly half the world’s hydrocarbon reserves. Hence, there is great interest in the oil industry to know the trap and sub-trappean sediment thickness and their extent in the trap covered regions of Jamnagar study area. The microbial prospecting method is applied in the Jamnagar sub-basin, Gujarat for evaluating the prospects for hydrocarbon exploration by investigating the anomalous abundance of n-pentane- and n-hexane-oxidizing bacteria of this area. A total of 150 near-surface soil samples were collected in Jamnagar sub-basin, Gujarat for the evaluation of hydrocarbon resource potential of the basin. In this study, bacterial counts for n-pentane-utilizing bacteria range between 1.09 × 10² and 9.89 × 10⁵ cfu/g and n-hexane-utilizing bacteria range between 1.09 × 10² and 9.29 × 10⁵ cfu/g. The adsorbed hydrocarbon gases consisting of ethane plus hydrocarbons (ΣC₂₊) of 1–977 ppb and n-pentane (nC₅) of 1–23 ppb. The integrated geomicrobial and adsorbed soil gas studies showed the anomalous hydrocarbon zones nearby Khandera, Haripur, and Laloi areas which could probably aid to assess the true potential of the basin. Integrated geophysical studies have shown that Jamnagar sub-basin of Saurashtra has significant sediment thickness below the Deccan Traps and can be considered for future hydrocarbon exploration.     

Ein Beitrag zur Struktur des Windes über Wien

Zusammenfassung Nach zweijährigen Parallelregistrierungen der Windgeschwindigkeit und Windrichtung in Wien-Hohe Warte am Rande der Stadt Wien und an einer Meßstelle in der Stadtmitte wird gezeigt, daß ein merklicher und jahreszeitlich veränderlicher Umgebungseinfluß gerade am Stadtrand auf die Windgeschwindigkeit einwirkt. Während der Vegetationsperiode ist die Bodenrauhigkeit erhöht, die Windgeschwindigkeit in den unteren Stufenwerten bis etwa 35 km/h wird verringert. Während der vegetationslosen Zeit ist die Bodenrauhigkeit viel geringer, die Häufigkeitsverteilung der Windgeschwindigkeit im Winter daher viel normaler. Es besteht ein scharfer Gegensatz zwischen den Sommer-und Wintermonaten ohne langsame Übergänge. Das Ergebnis dieses zunächst lokalen Vergleiches ist von allgemeiner Bedeutung für Windbeobachtungen in den gemäßigten Breiten mit Vegetationswechsel.

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Summary Based on two year's parallel observations of velocity and direction of wind at two stations, viz. the secular station Wien-Hohe Warte at the periphery and a station in the town-centre, it is shown that there exists a considerable and seasonally variable effect of local influences on the wind velocity, especially at the periphery of the town. During the vegetation period the roughness of the ground is increased and up to about 35 km/h the wind velocity is reduced. Out of the vegetation period the roughness of the ground is much smaller, the frequency distribution of wind velocity during the winter, therefore, shows more the normal features. There is a marked difference between the summer and winter months, and there exists no graduate change. The result of this local comparison seems to be of general interest to the climatology of wind in temperate latitudes with their seasonal change of vegetation.

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Résumé Pendant deux ans on a enregistré les vitesses et les directions des vents dans le cadre d'observations faites simultanément à la périphérie de la ville de Vienne (station météorologique «Hohe Warte») et à une station située au centre de cette ville. Les résultats démontrent que c'est précisément à la périphérie de la ville que l'aspect du sol exerce une influence très nette, la vitesse des vents, qui varie selon les saisons. Pendant la saison de végétation la «rugosité» du terrain étant plus grande, les vents moins forts (jusqu'à 35 km/h) sont affaiblis. En hiver, quand il n'y a pas de végétation, la rugosité du sol est moindre, et par conséquent les fréquences respectives des vents d'intensités diverses offrent un tableau mieux équilibré. Entre les mois d'hiver et les mois d'été, le contraste est très brusque; il n'y a pas de période de lente transition. Le résultat de ces essais, effectués seulement sur un plan local jusqu'à présent, est d'importance générale pour l'étude des vents dans les régions de climat tempéré, avec une végétation changeante.

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Mit 1 Textabbildung

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Herrn Prof. Dr.H. Ficker zum 75. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Alteration processes in the CV chondrite parent body based on analysis of NWA 2086 meteorite

Analysis of the NWA 2086 CV3 chondrite showed a matrix/chondrule ratio of 52%, similar to Bali, Mokoia, and Grosanaja. Nearly twice as many chondrule fragments as intact ones demonstrate that an early fragmentation phase occurred prior to final accretion. After this event, no substantial mechanical change or redeposition is evident. Rims with double‐layered structures were identified around some chondrules, which, in at least one case, is attributed to an accretionary origin. The rim's outer parts with a diffuse appearance were formed by in situ chemical alteration. During this later process, Mg content decreased, Fe content increased, and olivine composition was homogenized, producing a rim composition close to that of the matrix. This alteration occasionally happened along fractures and at confined locations, and was probably produced by fluid interactions. Iron oxides are the best candidate for a small grain‐sized alteration product; however, technical limitations in the available equipment did not allow exact phase identification. These results suggest that NWA 2086 came from a location (possible more deeply buried) in the CV parent body than Mokoia or Bali, and suffered less impact effects—although there is no evidence of sustained thermal alteration. This meteorite may represent a sample of the CV parent asteroid interior and provide a useful basis for comparison with other CV meteorites in the future.     

Space-time interaction amongst clusters of mining induced seismicity

Elementary cluster analysis of induced seismicity in a South African gold mine has shown that there is a clear interaction amongst the clusters; and that the level of the interaction is a function of the distance. The clusering algorithm used is an adaptation of the single-link cluster analysis which considers both three-dimensional space and time. A high level of interaction between the clusters is demonstrated from the cross-correlation analysis of seismic activity rates and radiated energy. A distinct decrease in the value of correlation coefficients was detectable as distance increased. This was somewhat surprising, considering the simplicity of the technique used. Since no attempt is made to study the physical mechanisms of interaction, these results are very preliminary, but interesting from an observational point of view.     

The use of acidimetric titration as a novel approach to study particulate trace metal speciation and mobility: Application to sediments of the Scheldt estuary

The study of trace metal speciation has benefited from a great deal of interest leading to the development and the diversification of sequential extraction schemes (SES), which triggered the need for harmonization by the standard, measurements and testing programme (SM & T). However, some uncertainties still persist in the application of the harmonized 3-step protocol, because of the difficulty in conceptualizing a technique that can be applied to environmental samples irrespective of their nature. The alternative method proposed in this study is based on the solubility of the sample components progressively dissolved during the course of an acidimetric titration by 1 mol L⁻¹ HCl. The major HCl-reactive mineralogical components are identified using mass balance calculation of H⁺ consumed by their dissolution together with the amount of major elements released into solution. The speciation of minor and trace elements is investigated by comparing their titrations to those of the major elements. This approach is much simpler than SES because it uses simple non-selective H⁺ at room temperature instead of a complex experimental design of so-called specific reagents. The different mineral components of the solid are no longer operationally defined and the problem of selectivity is irrelevant to the titration approach. The method was applied to several sediment samples from the Scheldt estuary and the particulate phase was further examined by Scanning Electron Microprobe and X-ray Diffraction techniques. The nearly complete consumption of H⁺ in the suspension is balanced by the total dissolution of carbonates and Fe-oxyhydroxides. In contrast to the speciation inferred from the Tessier SES, the acidimetric titration has demonstrated that the carbonate phase does not significantly contain trace metals with the exceptions of 40% of the Mn and 30% of the Co. In contrast, the Fe-oxyhydroxides seem to play a major role and account for 70% of Pb and 20% of Cr, in addition to 60% of P and additional amounts of 20% Co and 40% Mn. 70% of the Cu also occur in the oxyhydroxide phase, more likely coprecipitated with gibbsite. 90% of the Cd and 85% of Zn can be attributed to the Acid Volatile Sulfide (AVS) phase as evidenced from S titration. The acidimetric titration method not only provides information on the speciation of trace metals but also allows the quantification of their reactivity and mobility, if one considers that the titration roughly mimics pH changes that may occur as a result of chemical disequilibrium in the environment. The results demonstrate the potential of the acidimetric titration as an alternative to SES protocols in geochemical and environmental regulation studies. This method is applicable to a wide variety of environmental materials with little or minor adjustments.