Recurrent and persistent brown tide blooms perturb coastal marine ecosystem

Throughout the summers of 1985 and 1986 a small (2–3 μm diameter), previously underscribed chrysophyte bloomed monospecifically (>10⁹ cells 1^?1) in Long Island embayments. The bloom colored the water dark brown, decimated eelgrass beds through decreased light penetration and caused starvation (tissue weight loss) and recruitment failure of commercially important bay scallop populations. These perturbations portend longterm changes in subtidal communities Similar and concurrent blooms in bays of Rhode Island and New Jersey suggest a meteorological component of the environmental conditions promoting bloom formation. Culture experiments with isolates of the microalga suggest the presence of stimulatory growth factors in the bloom seawater. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY040 00002     

Some genetic implications of silica and aluminosilicates in peat and coal

The inorganic content of Okefenokee peat, in the absence of a significant detrital contribution, is a function of sponge spicule, phytolith, and diatom abundance in addition to the degree of organic matter decomposition and the frequency of fires. The detrital component (quartz) dominates ash composition where it is present.No clear correlation has been observed between the inorganic content of coals examined in this study and their maceral composition. Vitrinite-rich coals have a wide range of ash yield. These observations suggest that the minerals have been introduced detritally rather than accumulated as a result of peat degradation. Quartz in the coals appears to be detrital, and the presence of 2m₁ mica indicates that there is also a detrital contribution to the clay minerals present.     

Packrat middens from Canyon de Chelly,northeastern Arizona: Paleoecological and archaeological implications

In western North America, pollen data from highland lakes are often used to reconstruct vegetation on the adjacent lowlands. Plant macrofossils and pollen from packrat middens now provide a means to evaluate such reconstructions. On the basis of pollen diagrams from the Chuska Mountains, H. E. Wright, Jr., A. M. Bent, B. S. Hansen, and L. J. Maher, Jr., ((1973), Geological Society of America Bulletin, 84, 1155–1180) arrived at conservative estimates for late Pleistocene depression of highland conifers. In their interpretation, a proposed slight depression of 500 m for lower tree line precluded expansion of Pinus ponderosa into elevations now in desertscrub. Instead, it was suggested that pinyon pine and Artemisia occupied the lowland plateaus. Packrat midden records on either side of the Chuskas fail to verify this model. Early Holocene middens from Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, and a terminal Pleistocene midden from Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, show that blue spruce, limber pine, Douglas fir, dwarf juniper, and Rocky Mountain juniper expanded at least down to 1770 m elevation Neither Colorado pinyon nor ponderosa pine was found as macrofossils in the middens. Artemisia pollen percentages are high in the terminal Pleistocene midden, as they are in the Chuska Mountain pollen sequence, suggesting regional dominance by sagebrush steppe. Of 38 taxa identified, only 3 are shared by middens dated 11,900 and 3120 yr B.P. from Canyon de Chelly, indicating a nearly complete turnover in the flora between the late Pleistocene and late Holocene. Although corn was previously thought to have been introduced to the Colorado plateaus after 2200 yr B.P., the midden dated 3120 yr B.P. contains pollen of corn and other indicators of incipient agriculture.     

The azimuthal variation of teleseismic P-residuals in southern California: Implications for upper-mantle structure

The azimuthal variation of teleseismic P-delays has been investigated for stations of the USGS-Caltech Southern California Seismographic Network. Normalized residuals show azimuthal variations as large as 1.2 s, and must be explained in terms of upper mantle structure. The observed azimuthal dependence implies the presence of a region of depressed velocity beneath the Imperial Valley, and regions of increased velocity below the Sierra Nevada, southwest Arizona, and much of the Transverse Ranges. The last is a major high velocity ridge-like structure, extending from a depth of ~40 km to over 100 km, which crosses, but is not offset by, the San Andreas Fault. This suggests that the plate boundary at depth may diverge from its surface expression. The horizontal shear resulting from the divergence of crust and mantle plate boundaries may be accommodated by a zone of decoupling associated with the regionally observed 7.8 km/s (P_n) layer.     

The discrete association of water with Na2O and SiO2 in NaAl silicate melts

The solubility of water in several NaAl silicate melts has been determined up to 8 kbars. The results are shown on a (fugacity)^1/2 versus mole percent solubility diagram and data points for any composition can be joined by 2 or more straight lines. It is suggested that each straight line segment represents a different water-solubility mechanism.     

A constraint on impact theories of chondrule formation

The association between agglutinates and chondrule-like spherules, which characterizes the assemblage of impact-derived melt products in lunar regolith samples and some gas-rich achondrites, is not found in primitive chondrites. This observation suggests that impacts into a parent-body regolith are unlikely to have produced the chondrules. We believe that if chondrules were formed from impact melt, it was probably generated by jetting during particle-to-particle collisions, presumably in the nebula.     

Q'gas: a minicomputer-based system to aid in the interpretation of exploration-oriented geochemical data

The past few years have seen an increasing application of computer-based procedures in the processing and interpretation of geochemical data. In many cases this has been carried out by non-geologists using large, general purpose computers remote from the exploration effort. In such situations, appreciation of the geological nature of the problems is often inadequate and in a number of cases misapplication of procedures has resulted. The present paper describes the Q'GAS system which consists of a minicomputer and a series of compatible interactive programs. These programs can be used independently by geologists who have a minimum of experience with computers allowing them the opportunity to carry out personally the processing and interpretation of geochemical data and to ensure that the methodology is based on a firm geological framework. The expense of such a system is relatively low: approximately $25,000 capital costs, and $3500 per year running costs including a maintenance contract. In addition approximately one man-month per year is required for supervision and up-keep.The system has the capability of: (a) selecting subgroups of samples that meet specified criteria (e.g. specific rock type or value ranges); (b) transforming data (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, logarithms, exponentiation and random number generation); (c) making statistical computations; and (d) producing graphical displays (e.g. histograms, X-Y plots, symbol maps etc.). Flexible diskettes are used for data storage and communication with the system is achieved through a video terminal. Hard-copy output is produced on a small printer. The system presently includes programs for data management, univariate statistics with histograms, correlation analysis, X-Y plots, line printer symbol maps, line printer geochemical profiles, multiple linear regression, discriminant analysis, and R-mode factor analysis. Attention is presently being given to developing programs that use a pen plotter for producing better quality maps and diagrams at any scale.Experience has shown that the simpler programs for construction of maps, graphs, and diagrams can provide an immediate improvement in the quality, thoroughness, and speed of data interpretation as well as significantly reducing the tedium associated with manual methods. The multivariate statistical techniques, as always, require a higher level of expertise and many more man hours if they are to be used successfully.     

SrCa and MgCa ratios in polygenetic carbonate allochems from a Michigan marl lake

Rapid accumulation of CaCO₃ is occurring in Littlefield Lake, a marl lake located in central Michigan. The sediment, which is 95% CaCO₃, primarily consists of eight different genetic groups of carbonate allochems. These include calcite muds, sands, algal oncoids and Chara encrustations, as well as the dominant aragonitic gastropods Valvota tricarinota. Gyraulus deflectus and Amnicola integra. and the dominant aragonitic pelecypod Sphaerium partumeium. Samples of each of these groups were analyzed for Ca, Sr and Mg. Molar $\text{Mg}\text{Ca}$ ratios are primarily controlled by allochem mineralogy, with calcitic forms having $\text{Mg}\text{Ca}$ ratios 5–10 times larger than aragonitic (shelled) forms. The $\text{Sr}\text{Ca}$ ratios are primarily controlled by biochemical fractionation, and are significantly lower than $\text{Sr}\text{Ca}$ ratios of inorganically precipitated aragonite from other settings. Partition coefficients were determined for both Sr and Mg for each carbonate allochem group and, based on comparisons with results reported by other workers, the partition coefficients determined here are generally considered ‘typical’ or representative values for biogeneous freshwater carbonates. An analysis of variance of the data indicates that most genera and species of carbonate-secreting organisms in marl lakes have highly characteristic $\text{Sr}\text{Ca}$ and $\text{Mg}\text{Ca}$ ratios. These ratios can potentially serve as geochemical tracers in future investigations of lacustrine carbonate diagenesis. Both Sr and Mg are influenced by grain size and/or surface area, probably due to the presence of these elements in non-lattice-held (exchangeable) positions.