Spatial distribution of heavy metals in surficial sediments from Guanabara Bay: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Ninety-two surface sediment samples were collected in Guanabara Bay, one of the most prominent urban bays in SE Brazil, to investigate the spatial distribution of anthropogenic pollutants. The concentrations of heavy metals, organic carbon and particle size were examined in all samples. Large spatial variations of heavy metals and particle size were observed. The highest concentrations of heavy metals were found in the muddy sediments from the north western region of the bay near the main outlets of the most polluted rivers, municipal waste drainage systems and one of the major oil refineries. Another anomalous concentration of metals was found adjacent to Rio de Janeiro Harbour. The heavy metal concentrations decrease to the northeast, due to intact rivers and the mangrove systems in this area, and to the south where the sand fraction and open-marine processes dominate. The geochemical normalization of metal data to Li or Al has also demonstrated that the anthropogenic input of heavy metals have altered the natural sediment heavy metal distribution.     

Kinematics of the Inntal shear zone–sub-Tauern ramp fault system and the interpretation of the TRANSALP seismic section, Eastern Alps, Austria

A new interpretation of the Inntal–Tauern sector of the TRANSALP seismic section is presented. One of the most prominent contrasts in reflectivity in the TRANSALP seismic section is the contact between the Bajuvaric unit in the footwall and the overlying Tirolic unit and its basement across a moderately south-dipping interface. We trace this contact from the surface at the southern margin of the Inn valley to a depth of 5 km. There, the contact is deformed or cut by the Tauern Window northern margin. We define the contact between Bajuvaric and Tirolic units as Brixlegg thrust, which is older than Miocene Tauern window exhumation and has a Paleogene age. The sub-Tauern ramp connects with the Inntal fault system at the surface and roots below the Tauern window. Oblique thrust movements across this fault system in the Miocene caused exhumation of the hanging wall, where the fault has a ramp geometry, which is in the area of the TRANSALP cross section and west of it. East of the TRANSALP cross section, the fault system merges with Alpine basal thrust, which is a flat. No Miocene exhumation occurred above the flat.     

Cenozoic intra-plate magmatism in the Darfur volcanic province: mantle source, phonolite-trachyte genesis and relation to other volcanic provinces in NE Africa

Chemical and Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic compositions of Late Cenozoic to Quaternary small-volume phonolite, trachyte and related mafic rocks from the Darfur volcanic province/NW-Sudan have been investigated. Isotope signatures indicate variable but minor crustal contributions. Some phonolitic and trachytic rocks show the same isotopic composition as their primitive mantle-derived parents, and no crustal contributions are visible in the trace element patterns of these samples. The magmatic evolution of the evolved rocks is dominated by crystal fractionation. The Si-undersaturated strongly alkaline phonolite and the Si-saturated mildly alkaline trachyte can be modelled by fractionation of basanite and basalt, respectively. The suite of basanite–basalt–phonolite–trachyte with characteristic isotope signatures from the Darfur volcanic province fits the compositional features of other Cenozoic intra-plate magmatism scattered in North and Central Africa (e.g., Tibesti, Maghreb, Cameroon line), which evolved on a lithosphere that was reworked or formed during the Neoproterozoic.     

Micro-XANES determination of ferric iron and its application in thermobarometry

Micro-X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) analysis was employed to determine the content of ferric iron in minerals formed in ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) eclogites. It is observed that omphacite and phengite contain significant amounts of Fe³⁺/Fe_tot (0.2–0.6), whereas only very low contents are present in garnet (Fe³⁺/Fe_tot=0.0–0.03), the latter being consistent with results from stoichiometric charge-balance calculations. Furthermore, considerable variations in the Fe³⁺/Fe_tot ratios of omphacite and phengite are observed depending on the textural sites and local bulk chemistry (eclogite and calc-silicate matrix) within one thin section. The oxidation state of isofacial minerals is thus likely to depend on the local fluid composition, which, in the studied case, is controlled by calcareous and meta-basic mineral compositions. These first in-situ measurements of ferric iron in an eclogite sample from the Dabie Shan, E China, are used to recalculate geothermobarometric data. Calculations demonstrate that the temperature during UHP metamorphism was as high as 780 °C, about 80–100 °C higher than previously estimated. Temperatures based on charge balance calculations often give erroneous results. Pressure estimates are in good agreement with former results and confirm metamorphism in the stability field of diamond (43.7 kbar at 750 °C). These P–T data result in a geothermal gradient of ca. 6 °C/km during UHP metamorphism in the Dabie Shan. However, accounting for ferric iron contents in geothermobarometry creates new difficulties inasmuch as calibrations of geothermometers may not be correctable for Fe³⁺ and the actual effect on Mg–Fe²⁺ partitioning is unknown. The present study further shows that micro-XANES is a promising technique for the in situ determination of ferric iron contents without destroying the textural context of the sample: a clear advantage compared to bulk methods.     

A tectono-stratigraphic record of an extensional basin: the Lower Jurassic Ab-Haji Formation of east-central Iran

The Lower Jurassic Ab-Haji Formation consists of siliciclastic strata which are widespread and superbly exposed across the Tabas and Lut blocks of east-central Iran. The formation records the geodynamic history of central Iran during the Early Jurassic in the aftermath of the main Cimmerian event (near the Triassic–Jurassic boundary) through its sedimentary facies and stratigraphic architecture and allows palaeogeographic and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. We measured and studied three well-exposed outcrop sections and identified lithofacies and facies associations (fluvial plain, delta plain, delta front, prodelta, and shallow-marine siliciclastic shelf). The integration of all geological, stratigraphic, and sedimentological data shows a west-to-east continental-to-marine gradient within the Ab-Haji Formation. Based on thickness variations, lateral facies changes, palaeocurrent patterns, and changes in the nature of the basal contact of the Ab-Haji Formation on the Tabas and Lut blocks, we locate the fault-bounded Yazd Block in the west and the Shotori Swell at the eastern edge of the Tabas Block as provenance regions. The pattern of thickness variations, rapid east–west facies changes, and provenance is best explained by a tectonic model invoking large tilted fault blocks in an extensional basin. The basal unit shows distinct increase in grain size at the base of the Ab-Haji Formation, similar to the Shemshak Group of the Alborz Mountains (the base of the Alasht Formation) and the non-marine time-equivalent succession of the Binalud Mountains of northeastern Iran. This grain size pattern may have been caused by rapid source area uplift due to slab break-off of the subducted Iran plate in the course of the Cimmerian collision in east-central Iran.     

柴北缘—南祁连地区构造热事件

对柴北缘路乐河剖面新生代沉积物和山前现代河沙中碎屑的锆石U-Pb同位素热年代学研究表明:研究区物源区发育～260、～450、500～600、800～900Ma 4个主要年龄峰值和～1.8、2.5～2.6Ga 2个较小的年龄峰值。结合研究区已有的同位素年龄数据提出:柴北缘—南祁连地区在二叠纪中—晚期遭受了一次较强烈的低温区域构造热事件的改造;柴北缘高压榴辉岩及其相关的地质体隆升到地表的时间晚于上新世;柴北缘—南祁连地区先后主要经历了800～900 Ma的Rodinia超大陆裂解事件,500～600 Ma的泛非区域变质事件和～450Ma的俯冲碰撞变质事件;柴北缘—南祁连地区的主要构造热事件发生在元古代,主要集中在500～600Ma和800～900Ma,表明柴北缘—南祁连地区的前寒武纪基底性质与扬子板块相似,与华北板块完全不同。     

Sediment characteristics and sedimentations rates of a small river in Western Central Brazil

The purpose of this study is to characterise the alluvial sediments and to quantify sedimentation rates of a small river system, the Ribeir?o do Torto in Central Western Brazil. The study area provides an excellent opportunity to examine the effect of land use on sedimentation rates in the region for the first time and thus contributes to understanding sediment transport processes into water reservoirs (silting). ¹³⁷Cs, ²¹⁰Pb and ¹⁴C dating techniques were used to estimate natural sedimentation rates and those associated with land use development. Complementary use of physical and chemical analyses of the sediments and contained anthropogenic materials revealed that sedimentation dynamics had varied over time. Natural sedimentation rates are more than ten times lower than in the period since the mid-1950s for the alluvial system of the Ribeir?o do Torto. The results indicated that human impact had accelerated the sedimentation dynamics, which resulted in higher sediment quantities and sand content and changes of sediment sources. The variation of sedimentation rates may reflect also several other factors, e.g. natural fluctuation in flow energy or geomorphologic changes within the alluvial system. However, the multiple dating techniques and supplementary interpretation employed in this study show the potential use of radionuclides and soil/sediment parameters to identify changes in sedimentation rate, stream energy and sediment characteristics in floodplains.     

松辽盆地西缘边界断裂带中北段尼尔基L型构造岩构造年代学及其构造意义

松辽盆地西缘与大兴安岭东缘的边界断裂带,又称嫩江-八里罕断裂带,位于东北地区中部,中亚造山带东段。断裂带呈NNE走向,沿内蒙古自治区、黑龙江省与吉林省的交界,一直向南延伸至河北省境内与平场-桑园大断裂相接,全长1200km。该断裂带传统认识上被认为是一条NNE向的大型正断层或拆离断层。目前对于断裂带性质的研究主要集中在其北段的嫩江断裂,但侧重区域地球物理方面,通过布格重力异常、航磁异常、深反射剖面研究确定了断裂带的走向、展布位置,及伸展拆离断层或大型低角度正断层的性质;其南段断裂带(红山-八里罕断裂)的研究,主要与喀喇沁隆起的形成时间、性质、演化阶段等方面相联系;然而对断裂带中段的嫩江-八里罕断裂的研究少有报道。近期,我们报导了嫩江-白令海断裂带岭下及白城地区发现的具有左旋走滑性质的韧性剪切带,并同断裂带南段的红山-八里罕断裂带楼子店地区进行系统的对比。通过对岭下地区韧性剪切带详细的野外调查、构造要素测量、显微构造研究、同构造变形岩石的有限应变分析、石英EBSD组构分析以及白云母40Ar/39Ar年代学研究,我们认为岭下韧性剪切带与楼子店韧性剪切带的变形特征一致,证实了红山-八里罕断裂带至少可以向北延伸至中段岭下地区,其性质同为左行走滑韧性剪切带,并具有相同的早期走滑时限(~130Ma)。本次,我们进一步对嫩江-白令海断裂带中北段尼尔基地区韧性剪切带进行研究,通过对带内韧性变形岩石构造要素系统测量和统计、显微构造观察、有限应变测量等方面的研究,表明其岩石类型属L型构造岩,具左行剪切特征。综合分析发现除构造岩的类型(岭下与楼子店地区发育S-L型构造岩),其余与岭下与楼子店地区韧性剪切带性质相同。另外,年代学表明L型花岗质岩石中发育的锆石,1)呈自形具有致密的韵律环带,且Th/U比值介于0.06至1.25之间,显示了岩浆成因特点;2)年龄大体分为两个区间258~403Ma(n=5)和207~174Ma(n=15,加权平均年龄为190.0±6.1Ma);3)较老年龄258~403Ma的锆石普遍具有"核-边"结构,证实了该区域存在多期古生代岩浆事件。207~174Ma的锆石中,两粒锆石呈现~190Ma核部年龄,反映了区域内曾经历了早侏罗世的一次强烈的岩浆侵入事件,此后尼尔基地区韧性剪切带形成于中侏罗世(~170Ma),而并非是前人认为的二叠纪。白云母激光40Ar/39Ar年代学显示了一个稳定的年龄坪为158.99±0.61Ma。通过显微构造的观测发现长石残斑与S-C组构指示了左行韧性剪切特征,其动态重结晶主要为膨凸式特点(BLG)。而石英颗粒边界相嵌现象明显,为亚晶粒旋转(SR)向颗粒边界迁移(GBM)重结晶过渡阶段。综合长石和石英的重结晶特征指示,其变质条件为高绿片岩相,变形温度在500℃左右,显然高于白云母的封闭温度(300~400℃),故此我们认为尼尔基左行韧性剪切带的快速隆升时间应为中晚侏罗世(158.99±0.61Ma)。结合最新发表的东北地区黑龙江蓝片岩(前人称之"黑龙江群")与郯庐断裂带北段两个分支(佳依断裂与敦密断裂)的年代学数据,以及西太平洋板块的俯冲速度和方向的相关证据,我们认为1)嫩江-八里罕断裂可能经历了三期变形演化阶段,包括中-晚侏罗世左行伸展走滑阶段(~160Ma),早白垩世中期左行走滑/斜滑剪切阶段(~130Ma)及早白垩世晚期的伸展阶段;2)两期走滑剪切阶段与郯庐断裂带及其北段两个分支具有相似性,其中早期~160Ma的走滑剪切事件相对于佳木斯地块与松嫩地块的拼合时间(~170Ma)晚近10Myr;3)松辽盆地形成早期受到中-晚侏罗世的左行走滑断裂的控制,该左行走滑断裂的成因应归功于侏罗纪时西太平洋板块向欧亚大陆下快速的斜向俯冲有关。     

Limb brightening on Uranus: The visible spectrum,II

New narrow-band (100 Å) photoelectric area-scanning photometry of the Uranus disk is reported. Observations were concentrated on the two strong CH₄ bands at λ 6190 and 7300 Å. Adjacent continuum regions at λ 6400 and 7500 Å were also measured for comparison. Both slit and pinhole scans were made in orthogonal directions. Disk structure in each waveband is apparent through lack of circular symmetry in the intensity distribution over the Uranus image. Polar brightening is especially prominent in the λ 7500-Å waveband. Coarse quantitative determinations of the true intensity distribution over the Uranus disk were made. For the λ 6190-Å CH₄ band, Uranus exhibits a disk of essentially uniform intensity except for a hint of polar brightening. For the λ 7300-Å CH₄ band, moderate limb brightening is apparent. Specifically, the true intensities at the center and limb of the planetary disk are approximately in the proportion 1:2. Extreme limb brightening, with a corresponding intensity ratio greater than 1:4, is not permitted by the observational data.