Granitoid rocks of Naxos,Greece: regional geology and petrology

Granitic gneiss in a Miocene extensional core complex on Naxos locally preserves primary igneous textures. On an outcrop scale, these include mafic enclaves; in thin section, feldspar phenocrysts contain unoriented accessory mineral inclusions. The gneiss is interpreted as having a Hercynian granite protolith. Contrary to previous accounts, migmatites are rare in the gneiss. The granite is geochemically similar to post-collisional extension-related granites and differs from the predominant granodiorites found in the Hercynian basement of northwestern Greece. An I-type hornblende–biotite granite pluton was emplaced during Miocene extension in western Naxos. It is a typical subduction-related pluton emplaced under conditions of back-arc extension. The pluton is cut by later leucogranite that geochemically resembles the granite dykes that cut the migmatites. In northern Naxos, minor leucogranite intrusions are of two geochemical types. One is everywhere deformed and geochemically resembles the leucogranite that cuts the Western pluton. The other is variably deformed and new geochronology shows that it has an age of 10 Ma. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Method of Analysing Stream Channel Response to Environmental Change: Gauge data for the Tully River

Gauging data are available from numerous streams throughout Australia, and these data provide a basis for historical analysis of geomorphic change in stream channels in response to both natural phenomena and human activities. We present a simple method for analysis of these data, and a brief case study of an application to channel change in the Tully River, in the humid tropics of north Queensland. The analysis suggests that this channel has narrowed and deepened, rather than aggraded: channel aggradation was expected, given the intensification of land use in the catchment, upstream of the gauging station. Limitations of the method relate to the time periods over which stream gauging occurred; the spatial patterns of stream gauging sites; the quality and consistency of data collection; and the availability of concurrent land-use histories on which to base the interpretation of the channel changes.     

STORM TIDES OF THE FUNDY

ABSTRACT. Historically, storm tides wreaked havoc in the Bay of Fundy. With the tidal system resonating at close to the 12-hour, 25-minute dominant lunar tide of the Atlantic Ocean, variations in normal Fundy tides are in the main caused by astronomical factors. The strongest Fundy tides occur when the three elements—anomalistic, synodical, and tropical monthly cycles—peak simultaneously. The closest match occurs at intervals of 18.03 years, a time known as the Saros. Problems arise when storms coincide with these intervals. A strong Saros has coincided with several major historical storm tides in the Bay of Fundy, including the 1976 Groundhog Day storm, the 1869 Saxby Tide, and the 1759 storm tide. With continuing global sea-level rise and regional crustal subsidence, the possible recurrence of destructive storm tides has grave implications for property owners and settlements in the Fundy coastal zone.     

安徽庐江—枞阳地区A型花岗岩的LA-ICP-MS定年及其地质意义

本文对安徽庐江-枞阳地区产出的A型花岗岩体(碱性侵入岩体)进行了锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb同位素年代学研究.结果表明,城山岩体、花山岩体、黄梅尖岩体和枞阳岩体的形成年龄分别为126.5±2.1Ma、126.2 ±0.8Ma、125.4±1.7Ma和124.8±2.2Ma,均形成于早白垩世126～124Ma之间.这些岩体的硅含量和全碱含量均较高,准铝质;稀土含量中等,强Eu亏损,呈略右倾的海鸥型稀土配分模式,均为A1型花岗岩.结合长江中下游地区高碱钙碱性侵入岩和盆地内火山岩的研究成果,本文认为126～124Ma是长江中下游地区地壳伸展最强烈的阶段,这一研究成果时探讨长江中下游地区早白垩世早期的动力学背景具有重要的意义.     

Ice nuclei characteristics from M-PACE and their relation to ice formation in clouds

This paper presents airborne measurements of ice nuclei (IN) number concentration and elemental composition from the mixed-phase Arctic cloud experiment (M-PACE) in northern Alaska during October 2004. Although the project average IN concentration was low, less than 1 L⁻¹ STP, there was significant spatial and temporal variability, with local maximum concentrations of nearly 60 L⁻¹ STP. Immersion and/or condensation freezing appear to be the dominant freezing mechanisms, whereas mechanisms that occur below water saturation played a smaller role. The dominant particle types identified as IN were metal oxides/dust (39%), carbonaceous particles (35%) and mixtures of metal oxides/dust with either carbonaceous components or salts/sulphates (25%), although there was significant variability in elemental composition. Trajectory analysis suggests both local and remote sources, including biomass burning and volcanic ash. Seasonal variability of IN number concentrations based on this study and data from SHEBA/FIRE-ACE indicates that fall concentrations are depleted relative to spring by about a factor of five. Average IN number concentrations from both studies compare favorably with cloud ice number concentrations of cloud particles larger than 125 μm, for temperatures less than −10 °C. Cloud ice number concentrations also were enhanced in spring, by a factor of ∼2, but only over a limited temperature range.     

The Role of Laser Ranging for Calibrating Jason-1: The Corsica Tracking Campaign

The French Transportable Laser Ranging System (FTLRS), a highly transportable Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) instrument, was set up in Corsica (from January to September 2002) for participating to the JASON-1 altimeter verification phase. In addition to the tracking of oceanographic satellite missions and in order to perform an accurate positioning, the FTLRS also acquired laser ranging data on geodetic satellites, STARLETTE and STELLA essentially.

The paper describes the analysis strategy mainly based on the use of a short-arc orbit technique to compute accurate 1 cm local orbits, and then the geocentric positioning (2–3 mm relative to GPS). Finally, we established the JASON-1 absolute calibration value, based on 9 SLR short-arcs (between cycles 1 and 26), at 108.2 ± 8.7 mm; the 10-day repeatability is of 26.1 mm showing that a great accuracy has been reached.     

Unique authigenic mineral assemblages reveal different diagenetic histories in two neighbouring cold‐water coral mounds on Pen Duick Escarpment,Gulf of Cadiz

Alpha Mound and Beta Mound are two cold‐water coral mounds, located on the Pen Duick Escarpment in the Gulf of Cadiz amidst the El Arraiche mud volcano field where focused fluid seepage occurs. Despite the proximity of Alpha Mound and Beta Mound, both mounds differ in their assemblage of authigenic minerals. Alpha Mound features dolomite, framboidal pyrite and gypsum, whereas Beta Mound contains a barite layer and predominantly euhedral pyrite. The diagenetic alteration of the sedimentary record of both mounds is strongly influenced by biogeochemical processes occurring at shallow sulphate methane transition zones. The combined sedimentological, petrographic and isotopic analyses of early diagenetic features in gravity cores from Alpha Mound and Beta Mound indicate that the contrast in mineral assemblages between these mounds is caused by differences in fluid and methane fluxes. Alpha Mound appears to be affected by strong fluctuations in the fluid flow, causing shifts in redox boundaries, whereas Beta Mound seems to be a less dynamic system. To a large extent, the diagenetic regimes within cold‐water coral mounds on the Pen Duick Escarpment appear to be controlled by fluid and methane fluxes deriving from layers underlying the mounds and forcings like pressure gradients caused by bottom current. However, it also becomes evident that authigenic mineral assemblages are not only very sensitive recorders of the diagenetic history of specific cold‐water coral mounds, but also affect diagenetic processes in turn. Dissolution of aragonite, lithification by precipitation of authigenic minerals and subsequent brecciation of these lithified layers may also exert a control on the advective and diffusive fluid flow within these mounds, providing a feedback mechanism on subsequent diagenetic processes.     

Hyperspectral image analysis of different carbonate lithologies (limestone,karst and hydrothermal dolomites): the Pozalagua Quarry case study (Cantabria,North‐west Spain)

Ground‐based hyperspectral imaging combined with terrestrial lidar scanning is a novel technique for outcrop analysis, which has been applied to Early and Late Albian carbonates of the Pozalagua Quarry (Cantabrian Mountains, Spain). An image processing workflow has been developed for differentiating limestone from dolomite, providing additional sedimentary and diagenetic information, and the possibility to quantitatively delineate diagenetic phases in an accurate way. Spectral absorption signatures can be linked to specific sedimentary or diagenetic products, such as recent and palaeokarst, hydrothermal karst, (solution enlarged) fractures and different dolomite types. Some of the spectral signatures are related to iron, manganese, organic matter, clay and/or water content. Ground‐truthing accessible parts of the quarry showed that the classification based on hyperspectral image interpretation was very accurate. This technique opens the possibility for quantitative data evaluation on sedimentary and diagenetic features in inaccessible outcrops. This study demonstrates the potential of ground‐based imaging spectroscopy to provide information about the chemical–mineralogical distribution in outcrops, which could otherwise not be established using conventional field methods.     

Multiple dolomitization events along the Pozalagua Fault (Pozalagua Quarry,Basque–Cantabrian Basin,Northern Spain)

The Pozalagua Quarry in the Basque–Cantabrian Basin of northern Spain exposes a unique set of fault‐associated dolomites that can be studied on a decametre scale. The dolomites developed along the Pozalagua Fault system in slope‐deposited limestones of Albian age. Following marine phreatic diagenesis, the limestones were subject to meteoric karst formation. The resulting cavities were filled either by angular limestone fragments in a black clay‐rich matrix, or by cave floor/pond (now dolomitized) sediments. The subsequent diagenetic history reflects repeated periods of fracturing, fluid expulsion, dissolution and cementation. Contrasting fluid pulses resulted in the formation of a network of hydrothermal karst and the subsequent development of coarse‐crystalline calcite cement, zebra dolomite, recrystallized coarse‐crystalline dolomite, elongated blue–grey coarse‐crystalline dolomite cement in the open fault and, finally, coarse‐crystalline saddle dolomite. Decimetre‐size reworked host‐rock fragments present in the latter two dolomite phases probably reflect roof collapse fragments of a cave system that developed along the Pozalagua Fault system. However, there are also metre‐scale host‐rock fragments that apparently ‘float’ in the coarse‐crystalline saddle dolomites, implying that either fragment assimilation was a widespread process or violent expulsion of fluids occurred along the Pozalagua Fault system. The presence of pre‐dolomite and post‐dolomite stylolites, parallel to bedding, supports a linkage between the diagenetic events and the Late Albian tectonism that affected the region.     

Geological investigation and optical dating of Quaternary siliciclastic sediments near Apalachicola,North‐west Florida,USA

Ground penetrating radar and single‐aliquot regenerative‐dose optically stimulated luminescence were used to determine the depositional environments and age of unconsolidated siliciclastic sediments near Apalachicola, Florida. Five direct‐push cores, five vibracores and 28 optically stimulated luminescence samples were collected, as well as 7 km of ground penetrating radar data. A new model of cosmic dose rate calculation, which removes the effect of a much younger aeolian cap, was utilized to calculate more representative optically stimulated luminescence ages. Five radar facies were identified based on reflector amplitude and orientation. The resulting data indicate that the Tertiary/Quaternary Shelly Sediments were deposited before marine isotope stage 6, the Quaternary Alluvium was deposited during marine isotope stage 6 and the Quaternary Beach Ridge and Dune was deposited during the marine isotope stage 5e sea‐level highstand, which peaked at approximately 2·5 m above present sea‐level in this area.