Clay-mineral and grain-size distributions in surface sediments of the White Sea (Arctic Ocean): indicators of sediment sources and transport processes

In this study, the grain-size and clay-mineral compositions of 73 surface sediment samples collected in a variety of environmental settings in the White Sea are presented to characterize recent sedimentation processes, reconstruct transport pathways, and identify potential source areas of the terrigenous components. Areas >100 m deep are invariably characterized by silty clay, whereas areas <100 m deep exhibit more heterogeneous grain-size compositions plausibly explained by coastal erosion and (re-)distribution mechanisms, particularly tidal currents. The dominance of sand in the estuarine areas of the Onega and Dvina rivers as well as toward the Gorlo Strait connecting the White Sea with the Barents Sea is attributed to increased current speeds. Illite and smectite are the dominant clay minerals in recent sediments of the southwestern and eastern White Sea sectors, respectively. Their distribution patterns largely depend on the geology of the source areas, and mirror surface circulation patterns, especially in Dvina Bay. Smectite is a key clay mineral in White Sea surface sediments, as it reveals the dominating influence of the Northern Dvina’s runoff on sedimentation and water circulation throughout the basin. In comparison to other Eurasian shelf seas, the White Sea is characterized by a greater diversity of clay-mineral assemblages, which range from illite- to smectite-dominated sectors containing variable amounts of chlorite and kaolinite.     

Geochemistry, tectonic setting and geodynamic significance of late orogenic dikes in the Melibocus Massif, Bergsträsser Odenwald

Summary The Melibocus Massif forms a tonalite pluton in the W’ Bergstr?sser Odenwald, which is interpreted as part of a magmatic arc of Devonian to Carboniferous age. Dikes of various compositions intrude frequently this tonalite. Different dike-lithologies are associated with different strike directions. Most dikes show evidence of high-temperature shearing. A probable maximum paleostress direction of ca. 060° can be estimated, i.e. nearly parallel to the known Variscan subduction zone in the Northwest. Due to their ductile deformation under conditions around the Ar-closing temperature of amphibole, intrusion likely occurred during the Carboniferous (Mississippian). The gabbroic to dioritic dikes (malchites) have calc-alkaline composition. Comparison with modern analogues suggests subduction-related arc magmatism. Rare earth element distributions indicate more than 5% partial melting of the mantle source with limited amounts of residual garnet. In contrast to the tonalite pluton the granitoid dikes (alsbachites) are of S-type origin, as indicated by primary muscovite and chemical composition. This requires involvement of continental material in the dike’s source rather than in the tonalite host rock’s source. The trace element chemistry of these dikes indicates magma formation in a convergent plate tectonic situation, i.e. a magmatic arc regime. Therefore, the dikes are probably the late part of the same subduction-related magmatism, which produced the tonalitic and other plutons of the Bergstr?sser Odenwald. In contrast to the large pluton-forming magmas, formation of the dikes during late or post-collisional extension or transtension followed by a phase of compression or transpression is probable.

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Zusammenfassung Geochemie, tektonische Stellung und geodynamische Signifikanz sp?torogener G?nge im Melibocus Massiv, Bergstr?sser Odenwald Der Melibokus Tonalit-Pluton geh?rt zum Bergstr?sser Odenwald, der als Teil eines devonisch-karbonischen magmatischen Bogens interpretiert wird. In diesem Pluton treten sehr h?ufig magmatische G?nge unterschiedlicher Zusammensetzung auf. Die Arbeit zeigt, dass die G?nge unterschiedlicher Zusammensetzung unterschiedliche Streichrichtungen haben. Die meisten der untersuchten G?nge zeigen Hochtemperatur-Schergefüge. Aus der Lage der zerscherten G?nge l?sst sich eine Pal?ostressrichtung mit 060° für Sigma 1 ableiten. Diese Richtung weicht nur unwesentlich von der bekannten variskischen Subduktionszone im Nordwesten ab. Aufgrund ihrer Hochtemperatur-Gefüge, die im Bereich der Schlie?ungstemperatur von Ar in Hornblenden gebildet wurden, ist das Alter der G?nge wahrscheinlich ebenfalls als Karbon (Mississippian) einzustufen. Die gabbroiden bis dioritischen G?nge (Malchite) haben eine kalkalkaline Zusammensetzung. Der Vergleich mit rezenten Magmatiten deutet auf eine Entstehung in einem magmatischen Bogen (Kontinentalrand) hin. Die Seltenerdelementverteilung der G?nge zeigt einen wahrscheinlichen Aufschmelzungsgrad der Mantelquellregion von über 5% bei einem geringen Anteil von residualem Granat an. Im Gegensatz zu den tonalitischen Nebengesteinen zeigen die granitoiden G?nge anhand ihrer modalen (Muskovit) als auch chemischen Zusammensetzung S-Typ-Charakter. Dies bedeutet eine h?here Beteiligung krustaler Komponente in der Magmenquelle als dies für den Tonalit angenommen werden darf. Die Spurenelementchemie der granitoiden G?nge zeigt ebenfalls eine Bildung in einem konvergenten plattentektonischen Regime, d.h. innerhalb eines magmatischen Bogens. Die G?nge stellen somit vermutlich das Produkt eines sp?ten Abschnittes des subduktionsbezogenen Magmatismus, der auch die Tonalite und andere Plutone im zentralen Bergstr?sser Odenwald geschaffen hat, dar. Im Gegensatz zu dem Magmatismus der die Plutone erzeugt hat, sind die G?nge wahrscheinlich gegen Ende der Kollision oder nachfolgend auf diese in eine sich dehnende Kruste intrudiert und in einem nachfolgenden kompressiven Regime deformiert worden.

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Received August 31, 1999; revised version accepted October 9, 2000     

The magnetic effects of brecciation and shock in meteorites: III. The achondrites

We present results of a magnetic survey of achondritic meteorites, representing the aubrites (A), diogenites (D), Irowardites (H), and eucrites (E) groups and relate their magnetic behavior to respective class characteristics and models of origin.Magnetic susceptibility (x) values cluster well within each group and decrease systematically between groups (from 2 to 0.1×10^–3GOe^–1 cm^–3), with the average metal contents, (from 1 to <0.1 wt%) in the above order. The natural remanent magnetization (NRM) values range broadly within each group, but group averages decrease roughly as above. However, the considerable within-sample and intra-group variability in NRM level and its demagnetization characteristics attest to inhomogeneous and localized brecciation effects. Although petrological-chemical studies resolve a primary component of magmatic differentiation on the planetoid of origin, no clear magnetic record of such event has been preserved. The magnetization of achondrites is mainly the product of their complex, multi-stage impact brecciation and metamorphism history, in accord with other lines of evidence.The magnetic behavior of achondrites is remarkably similar to that characteristic of lunar breccias and impact-melt rocks and reinforces their analogous mode of genesis, as brought out by chemical and petrographic analyses.     

Toxicopathic liver lesions in English sole and chemical contaminant exposure in Vancouver Harbour,Canada

The prevalence of toxicopathic liver lesions in English sole (Pleuronectes vetulus) was determined along a presumed gradient of chemical contamination in Vancouver Harbour, Canada. Fish were captured from five sites in or near Vancouver Harbour, British Columbia, Canada. No toxicopathic lesions were observed in fish examined at the reference site (Howe Sound outside Vancouver Harbour), or at the outer harbour site. In contrast, 20-23% of the fish from three sites located in the central harbour, Indian Arm and Port Moody Arm had one or more types of toxicopathic lesions. Likewise, aromatic hydrocarbon (AH) metabolites measured in bile exhibited a gradient in levels from lower concentrations at the reference site to significantly higher levels in fish from Indian Arm and Port Moody Arm harbour sites. The occurrence of toxicopathic liver lesions was statistically associated with concentrations of AHs measured in sediment and AH metabolite levels measured in bile.     

Latest Pleistocene to Holocene changes in glaciomarine sedimentation in Scoresby Sund and along the adjacent East Greenland Continental Margin: Preliminary results

Based on preliminary results of sedimentological and organic geochemical investigations, distinct changes in the composition of siliciclastic and biogenic components occured in sediments from the East Greenland Continental Slope and Shelf and Scoresby Sund during the latest Pleistocene to Holocene times. These changes probably reflect the (? early/) late Weichselian glacial to Holocene interglacial transition, i.e., the decay of continental ice masses and sea-ice cover, causing major changes in supply of terrigenous matter and surface-water productivity. Flux rates of coarse-grained ice-rafted debris (IRD) distinctly decreased on the continental slope/shelf during the deglaciation interval. During the last 10,000 years, major amounts of IRD were trapped in the Scoresby Sund system. In comparison to modern interglacial conditions, surface-water productivity was significantly lower during the last glacial.     

The differential impact of physical disorder and collective efficacy: a geographically weighted regression on violent crime

While much of the research on neighborhood crime considers the neighborhood as a whole, this study utilizes spatial analysis techniques to examine how the presence of disorder and collective efficacy create unique pockets of opportunities for criminal behavior within neighborhoods. This spatial perspective reveals how the effect of disorder and efficacy upon crime patterns itself varies across a neighborhood. Physical disorder is measured through systematic social observations and the level of collective efficacy is evaluated through survey responses of neighborhood residents. The indices of disorder and efficacy are compared to crime data from police call logs using geographically weighted regression. Our findings demonstrate a complex spatial relationship between disorder and efficacy. The effects of disorder and efficacy are not consistent across an entire neighborhood, but rather display local variations in small geographical areas within neighborhoods, including some pockets of the neighborhood where the relationships between disorder, efficacy, and crime were contrary to the expected relationships. Based upon these findings, we conclude opportunity is central to understanding crime, and emphasize the role of informal social control in neighborhoods.     

Gypsum as a monitor of the paleo-limnological–hydrological conditions in Lake Lisan and the Dead Sea

The isotopic composition and mass balances of sources and sinks of sulfur are used to constrain the limnological–hydrological evolution of the last glacial Lake Lisan (70–14 ka BP) and the Holocene Dead Sea. Lake Lisan deposited large amounts of primary gypsum during discrete episodes of lake level decline. This gypsum, which appears in massive or laminated forms, displays δ³⁴S values in the range of 14–28‰. In addition, Lake Lisan’s deposits (the Lisan Formation) contain thinly laminated and disseminated gypsum as well as native sulfur which display significantly lower δ³⁴S values (−26 to 1‰ and −20 to −10‰, respectively). The calculated bulk isotopic compositions of sulfur in the sources and sinks of Lake Lisan lacustrine system are similar (δ³⁴S ≈ 10‰), indicating that freshwater sulfate was the main source of sulfur to the lake. The large range in δ³⁴S found within the Lisan Formation (−26 to +28‰) is the result of bacterial sulfate reduction (BSR) within the anoxic lower water body (the monimolimnion) and bottom sediments of the lake.

Precipitation of primary gypsum from the Ca-chloride solution of Lake Lisan is limited by sulfate concentration, which could not exceed 3000 mg/l. The Upper Gypsum Unit, deposited before ca. 17–15 ka, is the thickest gypsum unit in the section and displays the highest δ³⁴S values (25–28‰). Yet, our calculations indicate that no more than a third of this Unit could have precipitated directly from the water column. This implies that during the lake level decline that instigated the precipitation of the Upper Gypsum Unit, significant amounts of dissolved sulfate had to reach the lake from external sources. We propose a mechanism that operated during cycles of high-low stands of the lakes that occupied the Dead Sea basin during the late Pleistocene. During high-stand intervals (i.e., Marine Isotopic Stages 2 and 4), lake brine underwent BSR and infiltrated the lake’s margins and adjacent strata. As lake level dropped, these brines, carrying ³⁴S-enriched sulfate, were flushed back to the shrinking lake and replenished the water column with sulfate, thereby promoting massive gypsum precipitation.

The Holocene Dead Sea precipitated relatively small amounts of primary gypsum, mainly in the form of thin laminae. δ³⁴S values of these laminae and disseminated gypsum are relatively constant (15 ± 0.7‰) and are close to present-day lake composition. This reflects the lower supply of freshwater to the lake and the limited BSR activity during the arid Holocene time and possibly during former arid interglacials in the Levant.