Comparison between the distribution of PGE in black shales from the Bohemian Massif (CSFR) and other black shale occurrences

Selected metal-rich and normal black shales of the Bohemian Massif have been analysed for PGE ^* and the results have been compared with other anoxic sediments of the world. It has been discussed and partly proved that these rocks may represent an important and promising source of platinoids.     

Re–Os geochemistry and geochronology of the Ransko gabbro–peridotite massif, Bohemian Massif

The Ransko gabbro–peridotite massif in Eastern Bohemia is a strongly differentiated intrusive complex, which hosts low-grade Ni–Cu ores mainly developed close to the contact of olivine-rich rocks with gabbros, in troctolites, and to a much lesser extent in both pyroxene and olivine gabbros and plagioclase-rich peridotites. Gabbro, troctolite, peridotite and Ni–Cu ores from the Jezírka Ni–Cu (PGE) deposit, considered to be a typical example of the liquid segregation style of mineralization, were analyzed for Re–Os concentrations and isotopic ratios. Seven barren and mineralized samples from the Jezírka deposit yielded a Re–Os regression of 341.5?±?7.9 Ma (MSWD?=?69). Strongly mineralized peridotite with mantle-like initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratio of 0.125 suggests that Os as well as other PGE present in the Ni–Cu mineralization are predominantly of mantle origin. On the other hand, barren and low-mineralized samples have radiogenic initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratios of 0.14–0.16 suggesting some import of Re and/or radiogenic ¹⁸⁷Os most likely through contamination by continental crust during magma emplacement. The Re–Os age of the Ransko Massif is significantly younger than the previously suggested Lower Cambrian age, but it is similar to and/or younger than the age of metamorphism of the adjacent Kutná Hora crystalline complex and the Moldanubian unit. Therefore, it is likely that the emplacement of the Ransko massif and its Ni–Cu mineralization was closely connected with the late-stage evolution of the Kutná Hora crystalline complex.     

A New Method for Low‐Temperature Decomposition of Chromites and Dichromium Trioxide using Bromic Acid Evaluated by Chromium Isotope Measurements

In recent years, routine application of the stable isotope determination of chromium (Cr) in environmental and health protection research has led to the search for simpler chromite decomposition techniques. As the range of Cr isotope abundance ratios in nature is very narrow, conventional chromite decomposition techniques are no longer suitable, due to the relatively high risk of contamination during laboratory procedures. We have developed a protocol for the decomposition of chromites based on oxidation by bromic acid at room temperature. The procedure takes 15 d and requires two doses of bromic acid during the reaction period (day 1 and 8), due to the limited stability of the reagent. Chromium extracted by alkaline oxidative fusion and by bromic acid decomposition yielded statistically indistinguishable δ⁵³Cr values, measured by multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry following addition of a ⁵⁰Cr‐⁵⁴Cr double‐spike.     

Occurrence of Sn-Bearing colusite in the ore-body “T” of the Bor copper deposit, Serbia

The ore body “T” is the newly discovered massive-pyrite type one which is located in the central part of the Bor copper mine. The main copper minerals are chalcocite-digenite, covellite and enargite. Small amounts of colusite are frequently present in the ore-body. It mostly occurs as the distinct exsolutions in digenite and, associating with enargite and covellite. Composition of the studied colusite shows enriched Sn content, giving an empirical formula from Cu_24.7V_1.8Fe_0.2As_5.1Sb_0.2Sn_0.8S₃₂ to Cu_26.7V_2.0Fe_0.3A_s3.0Sb_0.3Sn_3.5S₃₂. This colusite represents a solid solution between colusite and nekrasovite within a range of 14–54 mol % nekrasovite. Most of the analyses show content of <50 mol % nekrasovite corresponding to the Sn-bearing colusite variety, while one analysis shows content of 54 mol % nekrasovite corresponding to the As-bearing nekrasovite.     

Impacts of land use on the hydrological response of tropical Andean catchments

Changes in land use and land cover are major drivers of hydrological alteration in the tropical Andes. However, quantifying their impacts is fraught with difficulties because of the extreme diversity in meteorological boundary conditions, which contrasts strongly with the lack of knowledge about local hydrological processes. Although local studies have reduced data scarcity in certain regions, the complexity of the tropical Andes poses a big challenge to regional hydrological prediction. This study analyses data generated from a participatory monitoring network of 25 headwater catchments covering three of the major Andean biomes (páramo, jalca and puna) and links their hydrological responses to main types of human interventions (cultivation, afforestation and grazing). A paired catchment setup was implemented to evaluate the impacts of change using a ‘trading space‐for‐time’ approach. Catchments were selected based on regional representativeness and contrasting land use types. Precipitation and discharge have been monitored and analysed at high temporal resolution for a time period between 1 and 5 years. The observed catchment responses clearly reflect the extraordinarily wide spectrum of hydrological processes of the tropical Andes. They range from perennially humid páramos in Ecuador and northern Peru with extremely large specific discharge and baseflows, to highly seasonal, flashy catchments in the drier punas of southern Peru and Bolivia. The impacts of land use are similarly diverse and their magnitudes are a function of catchment properties, original and replacement vegetation and management type. Cultivation and afforestation consistently affect the entire range of discharges, particularly low flows. The impacts of grazing are more variable but have the largest effect on the catchment hydrological regulation. Overall, anthropogenic interventions result in increased streamflow variability and significant reductions in catchment regulation capacity and water yield, irrespective of the hydrological properties of the original biome. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Hydrological Processes. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

1971-2005年西藏主要农区农田蒸散量变化特征及其与环境因子的关系

利用1971—2005年西藏"一江两河"主要农区4个气象站点月平均最高气温、最低气温、降水量、风速、相对湿度、日照时数等资料,应用Penman-Monteith模型计算了农田蒸散量,分析其空间分布、年际和年代际变化特征,并讨论了影响蒸散量变化的气象因子.研究表明:近35a西藏主要农区年蒸散量表现为不同程度的减小趋势,为-16.5～-71.6mm.(10a)-1,以泽当减幅最大;四季蒸散量均呈现为减小趋势,以冬季减幅最明显.土壤水分年亏缺量呈明显的减少趋势,平均每10a减小59.6mm,特别是近25a(1981—2005年)减幅更明显.20世纪70年代至90年代年、季蒸散量均为逐年代减小趋势.90年代与80年代比较,主要农区各季土壤水分亏缺量都有不同程度的减小,尤其是夏季由亏缺转为盈余.日照时数和平均风速的显著下降,以及平均相对湿度的明显增加可能是蒸散量显著下降的主要原因,平均气温日较差的显著减小和降水量的增加在蒸散量减少趋势中也起着重要作用.     

Gravitational effect of distant Earth relief within the territory of former Czechoslovakia

We analyzed the gravitational effect of topography and bathymetry beyond the angular distance of approximately 1.5 degrees (referred to as the distant relief effect or DRE), and its impact on measured gravity values in the region of the former Czechoslovakia. Our work was strongly motivated by the contents of the pioneering contribution of outstanding Czech geophysicists Miloš Pick, Jan Pícha and Vincenc Vyskočil, which appeared at the turn of the 1950’s and 1960’s. Our numerical calculations were based upon the direct evaluation of the gravitational effects of compartments of a spherical layer, while the respective heights and depths were obtained from the 2 × 2 minutes digital elevation model (DEM) ETOPO2, taking into consideration also the influence of distant bathymetry. Our results are in close agreement with, but not identical to, those of the above cited authors. We also analyzed the influence of the grid cell size of the involved DEM upon the calculation results. We introduced an approximation of the analyzed effect, based on a simple linear relationship between the calculation point height, the DRE and its vertical gradient (VGDRE). Since when calculated at zero elevation the involved quantities DRE and VGDRE are smooth functions of latitude and longitude and can be easily interpolated, the approximation gives acceptable results in terms of desired accuracy of several μGal (1 μGal = 10⁻⁸ m/s²). In general, we can state that within the territories of the Czech and Slovak Republics the studied distant relief effect has negligible impact upon local gravity survey data. However, when applied to regional gravity studies, there could be a question of its possible influence in the form of a quasilinear W-E trend ranging approximately from −106.6 to −102.5 mGal within the territory of former Czechoslovakia. If we wanted to correct for this phenomenon, we should subtract this negative quantity from the standard Bouguer anomalies as they have been defined in the recent geophysical literature, thereby considerably increasing their values. But, instead of straightforward correcting the Bouguer anomalies for DRE only, we would rather recommend to wait until after the crustal and even lithospheric effects have been studied more carefully based upon the present day independent knowledge about the deep seated sources of those effects.     

西藏植被净初级生产力对气候变化的响应

根据1971-2005年年平均气温、降水量资料．采用Thornthwaite Memorial模型计算了西藏植被净初级生产力（net primary production,NPP）,分析了NPP的空间分布、年际和年代际变化特征,以及未来气候变化对NPP的影响。结果表明,西藏NPP有自东南向西北递减的分布规律。近35a阿里地区西南部、聂拉木、江孜NPP为减少趋势,减幅为11．9～314．2kg&#183;hm^-2&#183;（10a）^-1,以普兰减幅最大;其他各地呈不同程度的增加趋势,增幅为26．8～459．8kg&#183;hm^-2&#183;（10a）^-1,其中拉萨增幅最明显;林芝地区、昌都地区北部、那曲地区NPP呈明显的逐年代增加趋势,阿里地区西南部、聂拉木NPP表现为逐年代减少趋势。就西藏平均而言,20世纪70年代气候“冷干”,NPP偏低;90年代气候“暖湿”,NPP偏高。从设定的气候变化情景来看,“暖湿型”气候对西藏NPP有利,平均增产6％～13％;“冷干型”气候对西藏NPP不利,平均减产6％-14％。未来西藏以“暖湿型”气候为主,到2050年NPP将增加11％～26％。     

Inflation and compactification from Galaxy redshifts?

The distribution of galaxies in the pencil-beam surveys of Broadhurstet al. which proved periodical across 8–10 consecutive steps in a flat dust model withq ₀=0.5 is found to reveal extended periodicity up to 16–17 phase-coherent steps, covering the total sample, in a flat, moderately inflationary model withq ₀=–0.5 (vacuum/dust ratio 2/1). In the latter model the vacuum component helps to reach the critical density and lengthens the expansion time-scale. It is shown that the explanation of the found periodicity as a consequence of space compactification as suggested by G. Paál twenty years ago in connection with apparent quasar periodicities is still possible.