Uranium Isotopes, Metals and Other Elements in Lichens and Tree Barks Collected in Bosnia–Herzegovina

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) performed field surveys at 15 sites in Bosnia–Herzegovina where depleted uranium (DU) ammunition was used by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) during the Balkans conflict (1994–1995). During the field missions, the Italian Environmental Protection Agency (APAT) evaluated airborne contamination due to DU dusts or aerosol particles, generated at the time of the conflict by the impact of DU ammunition on hard targets, using lichens and tree barks as biomonitors. Each sample was analyzed by alpha-spectrometry for DU determination. The ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity concentration ratios were used to distinguish natural from anthropogenic uranium. This paper reports the data obtained by the UNEP investigation, including (non-radioactive) metal and other element concentrations in lichen and tree bark samples measured by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The results indicated: (i) lichens and tree barks are sensitive bio-accumulators of past airborne contamination by depleted uranium dusts; (ii) 8 years after the conflict, environmental DU contamination is still present at some of the target sites; and (iii) the highest concentrations of most non-radioactive elements were found at sites used for ammunition destruction.     

Fe-rich and K-rich mafic spherules from slumped and channelized Chicxulub ejecta deposits in the northern La Sierrita area,NE Mexico

Spherule deposits, commonly interpreted as ejecta from the Chicxulub impact at Yucatán, Mexico, are present in many K-T (Cretaceous-Tertiary) sections. Geological mapping of the northern La Sierrita area, NE Mexico, revealed the presence of (1) multiple spherule deposits embedded in late Maastrichtian marls, which are folded or disaggregated (breccia-like). They are up to 6 m thick, locally present in two outcrop areas, and show limited lateral continuity. These deposits consist of mm-cm sized spherical to drop-shaped vesiculated spherules, angular to filamentous (ejecta-) fragments and abundant carbonate. They are interpreted as primary ejecta fallout deposits that have been affected by subsequent local slumps-slides, liquefaction, and debris flows; welded components suggest an initial ground surge-like ejecta-dispersion mode. (2) A spherule deposit, 10-60 cm thick that constitutes the base of a channelized sand-siltstone deposit at, or close to, the K-T boundary and is characterized by wide lateral continuity. It is of similar petrologic composition to deposit (1), though slightly enriched in terrigeneous detritus, thus reflecting influx from proximal shelf areas. It is interpreted to result from debris flows and turbidite currents, though no size sorting and abrasion of ejecta has been observed. Petrological, mineralogical, and geochemical criteria suggest that ejecta components from both types of spherule deposits are similar and originated from the Chicxulub impact, with multiple deposits produced by subsequent remolding, reworking, and redeposition. Spherules and fragments have an Fe- (25-30 wt%), Al-, Mg-rich and Si-poor (<25 wt% SiO₂) composition, and are altered to chlorite and iron-oxides, though rare K-rich mafic glass (~50 wt% SiO₂; 5-8 wt% K) is also present. They contain Ti-, Fe-, K-rich schlieren, Fe-, Mg-rich globules, and rare µm-sized metallic and sulfidic Ni-, Co-rich inclusions. Carbonate as clasts and within spherules and fragments shows textures indicative of quenching and/or liquid immiscibility. Although potential ejecta fractionation and alteration make accurate evaluation difficult, this composition suggests an ejecta origin mainly from mafic lithologies and carbonaceous sediments, in addition to a contribution from intermediate felsic rocks and the possibility of meteoritic contamination.     

Solar-Blind Diamond Detectors for Lyra, the Solar VUV Radiometer on Board Proba II

Fabrication, packaging and experimental results on the calibration of metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetectors made on diamond are reported. LYRA (Lyman- RAdiometer onboard PROBA-2) will use diamond detectors for the first time in space for a solar physics instrument. A set of measurement campaigns was designed to obtain the XUV-to-VIS responsivity of the devices and other characterizations. The measurements of responsivity in EUV and VUV spectral ranges (40–240 nm) have been carried out by the Physkalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Germany at the electron storage ring BESSY II. The longer wavelength range from 210 to 1127 nm was measured with monochromatic light by using a Xe-lamp at IMO-IMOMEC. The diamond detectors exhibit a photoresponse which lie in the 35–65 mA/W range at 200 nm (corresponding to an external quantum efficiency of 20–40%) and indicate a visible rejection ratio (200–500 nm) higher than four orders of magnitude.     

Special Contribution: BOHEMA 2001-2003: Passive Seismic Experiment to Study Lithosphere-Asthenosphere System in the Western Part of the Bohemian Massif

Studia Geophysica et Geodaetica -     

How are storm time injections different from nonstorm time injections?

One of the key elements of storms and substorms is the injection of energetic particles into the region of near geosynchronous orbit, that is, the sudden flux enhancement in the energy range of tens to hundreds of keV. This paper reports the observational results on how such injection features during storm times are different from those of nonstorm times. We particularly focus on the difference between proton injections and electron injections. Based on a number of storm time injection events that meet our strict selection criteria, we find a notable difference between proton injections and electron injections in the energy-spectral dependence of the flux enhancement averaged over the first 30 min after the injection onset: The average flux enhancement of many protons injections tends to be bigger at higher energy channels than at lower energy channels, but electron injections exhibit the opposite tendency for the energy-spectral dependence of flux enhancement, i.e., average flux enhancement decreasing with increasing energy. We show that this feature is almost unique only for the injection events during the storm main and early recovery phase. It is suggested that any successful scenario intended to model storm time injections should be able to explain this difference between proton injections and electron injections.     

Deep seismic reflection profiling revealing the complex crustal structure of the Tongling ore district

Deep seismic reflection profiling has been the dominant method for probing the deep structure of continental crust since the initiation of the COCORP in 1974[1,2]. Over the past few decades, this tool has been applied to diverse geologic features from the Appalachian area of the United States, to the Rhine-graben area in Western Europe and to the Tibetan Pla-teau[36]. In recent years, the Australian Geodynamic Cooperative Research Center ( AGCRC ) has applied this technique to the stu…     

Quaternary coral-reef terraces from Kish and Qeshm Islands, Persian Gulf: new radiometric ages and tectonic implications

A survey of raised coral reef terraces in locations along the southern coast of Iran was carried out with the aim of assessing regional Late Quaternary tectonic uplift rates influenced by salt doming. Two islands were studied: Kish, where no previous data were available, and Qeshm, where a previous survey had already attributed the lowest step in two sequences of raised marine terraces to the Last Interglacial.Twenty-five ESR and seven Th/U ages were obtained from Kish Island. The results show that this flat, about 32 m high, gently domed island was totally submerged during the last two interglacial periods. Corals ascribed to MIS 5 and MIS 7 have been dated at the same elevations, near the present sea level, and in the uppermost, inner part of the island, giving evidence of a polycyclic origin for the island surface deposits. Following a discussion on the possible position of eustatic peaks during MIS 7, a maximal average uplift rate of 0.20±0.02 mm/yr has been deduced from the above data.Furthermore, the survey obtained some new results from Qeshm, where seven ESR ages confirmed the MIS 5 age of the lowest raised marine terrace (that also corresponds to an uplift rate of about 0.2 mm/yr), failing, however, to date older steps, due to significant coral-sample re-crystallisation. In the western part of Qeshm, five new radiocarbon ages of elevated beach material demonstrated the variability of uplift rates even along short distances around an active salt dome.     

Underplating in the middle-lower Yangtze Valley and model of geodynamic evolution:Constraints from geophysical data

~~Underplating in the middle-lower Yangtze Valley and model of geodynamic evolution:Constraints from geophysical data1)East China petroleum Administration,1988(unpublished data). 1)Measurements of regional rock densities and magnetic parameters of Anhui Province(research report),Annul Geological and Mineral Bureau,1987(unpublished). 1)In this paper South China Block(SCB)includes the Yangtze block and Cathaysian block.In the Neoproterozoic the Yangtze block had been sutured to th…     

Groundwater recharge and evapotranspiration for two natural ecosystems covered with oak and heather

The evapotranspiration and groundwater recharge from two natural areas with high (oak) and low (heath) vegetation were estimated by calibrating a semi-physical numerical soil water and heat model to fit 8 and 7 years of TDR-measurements of water content, respectively. The measurements were made between the surface and 7 m depth. For the oak stand, the estimated annual recharge for the years 1992–1999 is 390 mm, the evaporation from soil and interception is 205 mm, and the transpiration is 285 mm. For the heath area estimation was carried out for the years 1993–1999. However, the heath was struck by a heavy beetle attack in 1994, which strongly affected the vegetation and thus the water balance for the following 3 years. For years not affected, the estimated recharge is 733 mm (about 50% larger than for the oak stand for the same years), the evaporation is 316 mm, and the transpiration is 128 mm. The estimated recharge values compare fairly well to estimates obtained from bromide tracer experiments. However, the recharge estimates obtained from the tracer experiments are very uncertain. The uncertainty is mainly due to spatial heterogeneity making the three replicate samples taken here for each time and depth insufficient.

The analyses of TDR-measurements and tracer data showed that water front movement depends on the antecedent soil water content. Some layers are bypassed, especially at low water contents, and at high soil water contents preferential flow was observed at the heath site.