Hydrographic observations in the Irish Sea during the unusually hot summer of 1975

Data on the surface and depth distributions of salinity, temperature and dissolved inorganic nutrients were obtained during a survey of the Irish Sea in late August and early September, 1975. The observations followed one of the warmest summers of the century. Nutrient concentrations in the surface waters were low and their distributions patchy. Significant concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen were present only in deep waters overlaid by strong density gradients.Surface temperature distributions showed large and widespread positive anomalies compared with the seasonal norm. The greatest anomalies occurred in regions of intense stratification. Despite shallow depths and strong tidal streams, the above-average seasonal heat input induced significant stratification in waters off the west coast of the British Isles.     

Hydrogeological Characterisation And Water-Supply Potential Of Basement Aquifers In Tropical Africa

Crystalline basement rocks, with a mantle of weathered alternation products, occur beneath very extensive areas of tropical Africa. Low-productivity aquifers are widely, but rather unpredictably, present in this formation. They yield small water supplies vital to the rural population for domestic purposes and for livestock watering. On a more localised basis, a potential may exist to develop larger supplies that are adequate for small towns or for small-scale irrigation. This paper reviews advances in the understanding of this extensive hydrogeological system, resulting from British research and experience since 1980.     

Unsupported radiogenic Pb in zircon: a cause of anomalously high Pb-Pb,U-Pb and Th-Pb ages

Ion microprobe U-Th-Pb isotopic analyses of zircons from a granodioritic orthogneiss from the Napier Complex, Mount Sones, Enderby Land, Antarctica, have identified an unambiguous example of unsupported radiogenic Pb in a 3,950 Ma-old crystal. At one 40 m spot on the crystal an unusually large heterogeneity in Pb content was found, the concentration of radiogenic Pb ranging from 5 to 50 percent higher than could have been generated in 3,950 Ma by radioactive decay of the co-existing U and Th. This relative excess of radiogenic Pb is attributed to Pb gain rather than to U and Th loss because first, the Pb content varied by more than the U or Th contents and secondly, changes in the Pb/U, Pb/Th and Pb isotopic composition correlated directly with changes in the Pb concentration. The individual ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb apparent ages ranged from 4,000 Ma to 4,145 Ma, all greater than the inferred age of the crystal. A correlation between ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb and Pb/U shows that the Pb excess has not resulted from recent Pb movement. The spot apparently gained radiogenic Pb about 2,500 Ma ago, at the same time as the majority of the other zircons in the rock suffered substantial Pb loss. The Pb movement occurred in response to a discrete geologic event. Reverse discordance is a phenomenon that must be considered when interpreting zircon U-Pb ages, especially ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of single crystals or portions of crystals. Decay constants. Ages in this paper are calculated using the decay constant convention recommended by the Subcommission on Geochronology (Steiger and Jaeger 1977).     

The effects of the 1976 drought and autumn rainfall on stream solute levels

Operation of a previously existing sampling network during the 1976 drought has provided an opportunity to assess the effects of the drought and subsequent autumn rainfall on the water quality characteristics of a small catchment (9·3 km³) in East Devon. The availability of records for past years has enabled these data to be compared with longer-term response characteristics. Analysis indicates that the 1976 drought produced a unique solute response, with levels rising markedly during the autumn flush which resulted from the heavy rainfall following the drought period. Concentrations of several ions increased 3–4 times and NO₃-N levels exhibited even greater increases of up to 50-fold. Some of the factors responsible for these increases and some implications are considered.     

The effect of composition on the ferric-ferrous ratio in basaltic liquids at atmospheric pressure

The effects on the ferric-ferrous ratio of varying individual components in a dry basaltic liquid have been determined at atmospheric pressure and constant oxygen fugacity (fO₂). Experiments were conducted by suspending 100 mg samples from pt loops at 1200°C (fO₂ = 10^?8atm) and 1360°C (fO₂ = 10^?6atm) in an atmosphere controlled by mixtures of CO₂ and H₂. A microanalytical wetchemical technique and the electron microprobe were used to determine the composition of the resulting basaltic glasses. In order of decreasing significance, the addition of oxides of K, Na, Si, Al, or Ca produces an increase in the ferric-ferrous ratio of the melt at 1200°C. The change in the ferric-ferrous ratio produced by component addition is less at 1360°C than at 1200°C.     

The mineralogy of the Golden Sunlight gold-silver telluride deposit, Whitehall, Montana, U.S.A.

Summary The Golden Sunlight gold-silver telluride deposit, hosted primarily within the Mineral Hill breccia pipe (MHBP), is spatially related to a high-level, Late Cretaceous multiple intrusive, alkaline to subalkaline porphyry system. Base metal veins and manganese (rhodochrosite) mineralization occur up to 2km from the MHBP and form part of a regional mineral zonation pattern genetically related to a low-grade porphyry molybdenum system. Proterozoic rocks of the LaHood Formation and the informally named Bull Mountain Group host the MHBP and contain stratabound sulphides/ sulphosalts (up to 50% pyrite with minor to trace amounts of chalcopyrite, tennantite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite, galena, and molybdenite). Four periods of hypogene mineralization occur in the breccia pipe. Stages I and IV constitute ,99% of the mineralization; native gold (4–11 wt.% Ag), calaverite, tetradymite, tellurobismuthite, Se-bearing Bi sulphosalts (aikinite, lindströmite, krupkaite, gladite, bismuthinite, and ?benjaminite), tennantite (Zn, Fe, Te, and Bi varieties), coloradoite, melonite, galena (up to 6.7 wt.% Bi and 6.4 wt.% Se), stannite, chalcocite, and the rare mineral buckhornite are included in stage Ib. Minor amounts of base metals are present in stage II. Gold-silver tellurides (krennerite, petzite, sylvanite, and possibly the rare x-phase) developed in stage III whereas barite, fluorite, dolomite, magnesite, trace kaolinite, and sericite formed during stage IV. Utilizing the mineral assemblages in stage Ib, calculated values of logf Te₂ and logf S₂ range from -10.5 to -9.7, and -12.6 to -5.5, respectively.Ore forming components (e.g., Au, Ag, Te, Cu, Bi, Mo, and much of the S) were likely derived from the Late Cretaceous intrusive system with possible contributions from the Proterozoic host rocks.

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Mineralogie der Golden Sunlight Gold-Silber-Tellurid-Lagerstätte, Whitehall, Montana

Zusammenfassung Die Golden Sunlight Gold-Silber-Tellurid-Lagerstätte, die hauptsächlich im Brekzienschlot von Mineral Hill (Mineral Hill breccia pipe, MHBP) eingelagert ist, steht räumlich mit einem erzreichen, multi-intrusiven, alkalischen bis sub-alkalischen Porphyritsystem aus der Oberkreide in Beziehung. Erzadern und Mn-Mineralisation (Rhodochrosit) finden sich bis zu 2 km vom MHBP entfernt und sind Bestandteil einer regionalen Vererzung die genetisch zu einem erzarmen Mo-hältigen Porphyritsystem in Beziehung steht. Proterozoische Gesteine aus der LaHood-Formation und der inoffiziell benannten Bull Mountain Group umgeben den MHBP und enthalten schichtgebundene Sulfide und Sulfosalze (bis zu 50% Pyrit mit Neben- bis Spurenmengen von Kupferkies, Tennantit, Pyrrhotin, Zinkblende, Bleiglanz und Molybdänit).[Der Brekzienschlot zeigt vier Phasen hypogener Mineralisation. Stufen I und IV enthalten 99% der Mineralisation: gediegen Gold (4–11 Gew.% Ag), Calaverit, Tetradymit, Tellurobismuthit, Se-hältige Bi-Sulfosalze (Aikinit, Lindströmit, Krupkait, Gladit, Bismuthinit und ?Benjaminit) Tennantit (Zn-, Fe-, Te- und Bi-Varietäten), Coloradoit, Melonit, Bleiglanz (mit bis zu 6.7 Gew.% Bi und 6.4 Gew.% Se), Zinnstein, Chalcocit, sowie das seltene Mineral Buckhornit treten in Stufe Ib auf. Geringere Mengen von Buntmetallen kommen in Stufe II vor. Gold-Silber-Telluride (Krennerit, Petzit, Sylvanit und möglicherweise die seltene X-Phase) sind in Stufe III ausgebildet und in Stufe IV wurden Baryt, Flusspat, Dolomit, Magnesit, Spuren von Kaolin und Serizit gebildet. Unter Verwendung der Mineralassoziationen der Stufe Ib lassen sich Werte von logf Te₂ zwischen - 10.5 und - 9.7 und von logf S₂ zwischen - 12.6 und - 5.5 errechnen.[Die erzbildenden Komponenten (z.B. Au, Ag, Te, Cu, Bi, Mo und der Grossteil von S) stammen wahrscheinlich vom Intrusivsystem aus der Oberkreide, möglicherweise mit Beiträgen der proterozoischen Umgebung.[/ p]

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With 10 Figures     

Transition from subduction- to exhumation-related fabrics in glaucophane-bearing eclogites, Oman: evidence from relative fabric chronology and Ar/Ar ages

Controversy over the age of peak metamorphism and therefore the tectonic evolution of the Arabian margin relates to the polydeformed and polymetamorphosed nature of glaucophane-bearing eclogites from the Saih Hatat window beneath the allochthonous Samail ophiolite in NE Oman. These eclogites contain relicts of earlier fabrics, structures and metamorphic assemblages and provide a record of change from subduction to exhumation. The eclogites are part of a mafic layer that was disrupted into boudins up to 0.5 km in length within a lower plate shear zone (As Sifah shear zone). The megaboudins not only preserve the relicts of the highest grade of metamorphism but also an early ENE-trending lineation and sheathlike isoclines enveloped by the flat-lying schistosity. The boudin-bearing layer is isoclinally folded with calc-schist, mafic schist and quartz–mica schist, where the regional folds have axes parallel to the NE-trending stretching lineation (a-type folds). Textural evidence suggests multiple growth events for garnet and clinopyroxene, requiring polymetamorphism of the mafic layers that formed the eclogite megaboudins. The surrounding calc-schist and quartz–mica schist are both intensely deformed with transposition foliation containing an NE-trending lineation in phengite and asymmetric shear indicators such as C′-type shear bands and asymmetric pressure shadows around garnets, that give top-to-the-NE sense of shear. Although consistent ENE-trending lineations in all the boudins suggest that they have largely acted as passive, nonrotating rigid bodies, the presence of NE-vergent asymmetric mesofolds, extensive dynamic recrystallisation, multiple generations of phengites and a range of ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar apparent ages within the megaboudins suggest, however, that they have not acted entirely passively during the later deformation. Phengites isolated from the high-P/low-T fabrics show groupings in ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar apparent ages interpreted as distinct metamorphic/cooling intervals at 140–135, 120–98 and 92–80 Ma. Microstructural relations suggest that age groupings younger than 100 Ma reflect phengite growth during exhumation with the top-to-the-NE shearing. The older ages (120–110 Ma) from fabrics that give top-to-the-S shear sense may reflect growth during the subduction phase. The combination of groupings of apparent argon ages older than the crystallisation age of the Samail Ophiolite, the suggestion of different geothermal gradients, and superposed metamorphism suggest that the eclogites and garnet blueschists formed as a result of underthrusting along a break that was not directly related to the metamorphic sole of the ophiolite. The glaucophane–eclogites are interpreted as having formed at different times under varying pressure–temperature conditions during underthrusting with variations in the rate of underthrusting, allowing thermal equilibration and/or rapid cooling at different crustal levels.     

Waterwells: how can we make legality more attractive?

Hydrogeology Journal - There is a pressing need to improve public administration of groundwater abstraction and use, given the global need to achieve sustainable resource exploitation and to reduce...     

Sub‐Permil Interlaboratory Consistency for Solution‐Based Boron Isotope Analyses on Marine Carbonates

Boron isotopes in marine carbonates are increasingly used to reconstruct seawater pH and atmospheric pCO₂ through Earth’s history. While isotope ratio measurements from individual laboratories are often of high quality, it is important that records generated in different laboratories can equally be compared. Within this Boron Isotope Intercomparison Project (BIIP), we characterised the boron isotopic composition (commonly expressed in δ¹¹B) of two marine carbonates: Geological Survey of Japan carbonate reference materials JCp‐1 (coral Porites) and JCt‐1 (giant clam Tridacna gigas). Our study has three foci: (a) to assess the extent to which oxidative pre‐treatment, aimed at removing organic material from carbonate, can influence the resulting δ¹¹B; (b) to determine to what degree the chosen analytical approach may affect the resultant δ¹¹B; and (c) to provide well‐constrained consensus δ¹¹B values for JCp‐1 and JCt‐1. The resultant robust mean and associated robust standard deviation (s*) for un‐oxidised JCp‐1 is 24.36 ± 0.45‰ (2s*), compared with 24.25 ± 0.22‰ (2s*) for the same oxidised material. For un‐oxidised JCt‐1, respective compositions are 16.39 ± 0.60‰ (2s*; un‐oxidised) and 16.24 ± 0.38‰ (2s*; oxidised). The consistency between laboratories is generally better if carbonate powders were oxidatively cleaned prior to purification and measurement.     

Modeling elasto-visco-bio-plastic mechanical behavior of municipal solid waste in landfills

Acta Geotechnica - This paper presents a mechanical model for the prediction of short-term and long-term settlement of municipal solid waste in landfills. The load-induced volumetric compression,...