The chemistry of hydrothermal mounds near the Galapagos Rift

Samples dredged from the sediment mounds have a unique chemistry and mineralogy which reveals details of the hydrothermal processes that produce these deposits. The mounds form primarily by deposition of Fe, Mn and Si from hydrothermal fluids which circulate through the basalt crust and the overlying sediments. The Mn, Fe and Si are strongly fractionated in the process; the Fe and Si precipitate within the mounds under slightly reducing conditions as nontronite, while the Mn is deposited as Mn oxyhydroxides at the seawater-sediment interface. The nontronite is exceptionally well crystallized, and contains less than 200 ppm Al. The Mn minerals, todorokite and birnessite, also have exceptional crystallinity and the distribution of trace elements Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, Ca and Ba in these phases agrees with predictions made on the basis of models of their crystal structure. The environment of deposition which produces this suite of minerals — slow percolation of hydrothermal fluids through pelagic sediments — may not be unique to the Galapagos Rift, as the same suite of minerals has been found in similar setting in the Gulf of Aden and on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.     

U/Pb Systematics of zircons during dynamic metamorphism

Eight zircon fractions from the Henderson Gneiss were analyzed from the Brevard mylonites and adjacent Inner Piedmont rocks near Rosman, North Carolina, to determine variations of U/Pb systematics of zircons in a pressure-dominated metamorphism. Substantial uranium gain occurred during zircon recrystallization and size reduction.At Rosman, the Henderson Gneiss zircons probably formed about 600 m.y. ago and now show evidence of being binary mixtures. They experienced mylonitization at about 450 m.y. ago during Taconic deformation and metamorphism in the almandine amphibolite facies. The lower intensity, upper greenschist or greenschist-amphibolite Acadian (360–390 m.y.) metamorphism and mylonitization (recrystallization) had little effect on the zircons but disturbed Rb/Sr systems.The ages of dynamic metamorphism and thrusting (450, 360–390) in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge near and along the Brevard zone at Rosman, North Carolina, agree well with the tectonic interpretations of the Valley and Ridge Taconic (ca. 470-400 m.y.) and Acadian (ca. 375-330 m.y.) clastic wedges. Intermittent thrusting, folding, and uplift rather than continuous secular uplift of the crystalline terrane seems indicated.     

Evaluation of a digital echo sounder system for detection of submersed aquatic vegetation

A technique is presented for rapid detection of submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) using a high-frequency, high-resolution digital echo sounder linked with global positioning system equipment. The acoustic reflectivity of SAV allows for detection and explicit meaqsurement of canopy geometry using a digital signal processing algorithm described here. Comparing output data from this system with physical measurements shows good detection and measurement performance over a wide range of conditions for freshwater tape grass (Vallisneria americana) and seagrasses (Thalassia testudinum, Halodule wrightii, andSyringodium filiforme) in a sandy-bottom, south Florida estuary. The range of environmental conditions for which the system can be used is defined. Based on these measured performance data and a review of existing literature, this system appears to fill a gap in the inventory of established methods for measuring the distribution and abundance of submersed macrophytes.     

Spatial and temporal variability in the stable isotope systematics of modern precipitation in China: implications for paleoclimate reconstructions

The stable isotopic composition of materials such as glacial ice, tree rings, lake sediments, and speleothems from low-to-mid latitudes contains information about past changes in temperature (T) and precipitation amount (P). However, the transfer functions which link δ¹⁸O_p to changes in T or P, dδ¹⁸O_p/dT and dδ¹⁸O_p/dP, can exhibit significant temporal and spatial variability in these regions. In areas affected by the Southeast Asian monsoon, past variations in δ¹⁸O and δD of precipitation have been attributed to variations in monsoon intensity, storm tracks, and/or variations in temperature. Proper interpretation of past δ¹⁸O_p variations here requires an understanding of these complicated stable isotope systematics. Since temperature and precipitation are positively correlated in China and have opposite effects on δ¹⁸O_p, it is necessary to determine which of these effects is dominant for a specific region in order to perform even qualitative paleoclimate reconstructions. Here, we evaluate the value of the transfer functions in modern precipitation to more accurately interpret the paleorecord. The strength of these transfer functions in China is investigated using multiple regression analysis of data from 10 sites within the Global Network for Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP). δ¹⁸O_p is modeled as a function of both temperature and precipitation. The magnitude and signs of the transfer functions at any given site are closely related to the degree of summer monsoon influence. δ¹⁸O_p values at sites with intense summer monsoon precipitation are more dependent on the amount of precipitation than on temperature, and therefore exhibit more negative values in the summer. In contrast, δ¹⁸O_p values at sites that are unaffected by summer monsoon precipitation exhibit strong relationships between δ¹⁸O_p and temperature. The sites that are near the northern limit of the summer monsoon exhibit dependence on both temperature and amount of precipitation. Comparison with simple linear models (δ¹⁸O_p as a function of T or P) and a geographic model (δ¹⁸O_p as a function of latitude and altitude) shows that the multiple regression model is more successful at reproducing δ¹⁸O_p values at sites that are strongly influenced by the summer monsoon. The fact that the transfer function values are highly spatially variable and closely related to the degree of summer monsoon influence suggests that these values may also vary temporally. Since the Southeast Asian monsoon intensity is known to exhibit large variations on a number of timescales (annual to glacial–interglacial), and the magnitude and sign of the transfer functions is related to monsoon intensity, we suggest that as monsoon intensity changes, the magnitude and possibly even the sign of the transfer functions may vary. Therefore, quantitative paleoclimate reconstructions based on δ¹⁸O_p variations may not be valid.     

X-ray absorption studies of CH3Hg-binding sites in humic substances

Methylmercury cation (CH₃Hg⁺) is known to have a strong affinity for organic matter in soil, sedimentary, and aquatic environments. The objective of this study is to determine the dominant ligands binding CH₃Hg⁺ in humic acids by evaluating several CH₃Hg⁺-ligand complexation models, using mercury L_III-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). The model CH₃Hg⁺ binding ligands examined in this study include thiol (-SH), hydrogen polysulfide (-SSH or -SSSH), sulfide (-S-), disulfide (-SS-), carboxyl (-COOH), and amine (-NH₂). Based on the atomic geometry around mercury in each model structure, we distinguished CH₃Hg⁺-binding ligands in two different humic acids (soil and aquatic). We observed CH₃Hg⁺ preferentially binds to thiol ligands. After saturating reactive thiol ligands, the majority of CH₃Hg⁺ binds to carboxyl ligands rather than to amine or other reduced sulfur ligands than thiol. We found no evidence of significant CH₃Hg⁺-sulfide/disulfide or CH₃Hg⁺-hydrogen polysulfide complexes in any samples. When CH₃Hg⁺ binds to a humic ligand, the C-Hg bond in CH₃Hg⁺ remains intact. Some heavy atoms are proximately coordinated around the mercury atom in the sample containing the highest CH₃Hg⁺ levels used in this study.     

The Seismic Project of the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program

In 1997, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the five western States of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington joined in a partnership called the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP) to enhance the quality and quantity of seismic data provided to the NOAA tsunami warning centers in Alaska and Hawaii. The NTHMP funded a seismic project that now provides the warning centers with real-time seismic data over dedicated communication links and the Internet from regional seismic networks monitoring earthquakes in the five western states, the U.S. National Seismic Network in Colorado, and from domestic and global seismic stations operated by other agencies. The goal of the project is to reduce the time needed to issue a tsunami warning by providing the warning centers with high-dynamic range, broadband waveforms in near real time. An additional goal is to reduce the likelihood of issuing false tsunami warnings by rapidly providing to the warning centers parametric information on earthquakes that could indicate their tsunamigenic potential, such as hypocenters, magnitudes, moment tensors, and shake distribution maps. New or upgraded field instrumentation was installed over a 5-year period at 53 seismic stations in the five western states. Data from these instruments has been integrated into the seismic network utilizing Earthworm software. This network has significantly reduced the time needed to respond to teleseismic and regional earthquakes. Notably, the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center responded to the 28 February 2001 Mw 6.8 Nisqually earthquake beneath Olympia, Washington within 2 minutes compared to an average response time of over 10 minutes for the previous 18 years.     

Magnesian calcite stabilities: A reevaluation

Equilibrium constants at stoichiometric saturation with respect to various magnesian calcite compositions were measured using free-drift dissolution rate data and inverse time plots to estimate equilibrium pH. The equilibrium constants determined for two ultrasonically cleaned and annealed biogenic magnesian calcites (12 and 18 mole % MgCO₃) in CaCl₂ + MgCl₂ media at two Mg:Ca molar ratios (1:5 and 5:1) are about three times smaller than those previously reported by Plummer and Mackenzie (1974). These equilibrium constants are not affected by changes in initial pH value, solid:solution ratio, or solution Mg:Ca molar ratio when the ion activity product is expressed in the fractional exponent form. Other models for expression of the equilibrium ion activity product fail to yield consistent values in solutions of different Mg:Ca molar ratios.Experiments performed using crushed samples not ultrasonically cleaned and annealed yield equilibrium constants which vary with solid:solution ratio. Those performed at high solid:solution ratios yield values which approach those previously reported. Submicron size particles and crystal strain induced by crushing the biogenic carbonates may cause more rapid dissolution rates and, hence, overestimation of the solubility of samples not prepared so as to minimize these effects. Thus, the large range in reported solubilities of magnesium calcites may be a result of differences in sample preparation procedure.The results of these measurements shift the thermodynamic equivalence point of aragonite and magnesian calcite from 7.5 mole % MgCO₃ up to 12 mole % MgCO₃ and prompt a reassessment of models for carbonate diagenetic reactions in natural environments.     

Distinctive microbial structures and the pre-phanerozoic fossil record

The live and sedimentary components of the flat laminated microbial mat at Laguna Figueroa have been studied since the late sixties. This paper reports the observation and isolation of a variety of micro-organisms, both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The microbes were taken from the flat laminated mats submerged under at least one meter of water due to the spring rains of 1979 and 1980. Both in situ and enrichment culture observations were made using light and electron microscopic techniques. New strains of the following microbes are reported here: Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus licheniformis, Arthrobacter simplex and Paratetramitus jugosus. Several pseudomonads were isolated, some of which form distinctive subsurface colonial structures. Regular distinctive colony morphologies and desiccation resistant cysts were often observed, several types of which grow to characteristically large sizes and resemble objects found in the pre-Phanerozoic fossil record.Some colonies of manganese oxidizing bacilli and other bacteria are reminiscent of microfossils of the 2 Ga-old Gunflint Iron formation such as Metallogenium, Eosphaera tyleri, Eoastrion and Huronispora. Some manganese oxidizing bacteria form colonial structures that might be mistaken for individual organisms in the tens to hundreds of microns size range. The diversity of microbial structures, including those with preservation potential, must be kept in mind when interpreting the microfossil record.