Helium accumulation in groundwater,I: An evaluation of sources and the continental flux of crustal 4He in the Great Artesian Basin,Australia

The rate of accumulation of ⁴He in the groundwaters of the J-aquifer of the Great Artesian Basin, Australia has been determined using ¹⁴C and hydrologic ages. For groundwaters less than 50 Kyr in age, the ⁴He accumulation rate is 4.6 × 10^?12 HeAU (where ) in close agreement with in-situ production rate of ⁴He (3.95 × 10^?12 HeAU) based on U and Th concentrations of 1.7 and 6.1, respectively, of the sandstone. For groundwaters older than 100 Kyr, the rate of ⁴He accumulation is 2.91 × 10^?10 HeAU based on hydrologic ages; or 74 × the rate of in-situ production. The rate of ⁴He “production” due to weathering of the aquifer rock is calculated to be ~10^?16 HeAU, indicating that the weathering input of ⁴He is insignificant. If the groundwater of the GAB can be considered as a trap for the total crustal production of ⁴He, the rate of ⁴He accumulation under a steady-state flux is calculated to be 3.02 × 10^?10 HeAU, in agreement with the measured accumulation rate. It is concluded that over long times the ⁴He accumulation rate in groundwater aquifers may be controlled by the whole crust flux of ⁴He.     

Performance of Sample Preparation for Determination of Gold in Samples of Geological Origin

We investigate the performance of sample preparation of gold ores using vibratory (bowl, ring and puck type) mills in common use in mineral analytical laboratories. The main criteria for effective grinding are using reduced grinding charge masses ≤ ca. 50% of nominal bowl capacity and using a grinding aid to prevent caking. We show that gold particles of millimetre scale can be comminuted to ≤ 100 µm by grinding in silica flour, bauxite, synthetic carborundum, or mixtures of silica and these materials using times of up to 5 min and that 95% < 50 µm is achievable with extended grinding. This suggests that modified grinding techniques can be used to make sample masses ≤ 5 g viable for routine determination of gold in geological samples. We also demonstrate homogenisation of a gold‐bearing copper sulfide mineral flotation concentrate alone and in mixtures with silica by extended grinding at reduced charge masses. To support this work, we develop a convenient new benchmark of gold ore sample preparation performance ‘G’, an apparent maximum gold particle size interpolated from replicate analytical variance in order to overcome the limitations of laborious sieve fraction analysis of gold particle size. We show useful agreement between G and sieve fraction analysis of gold particle size in samples and test the viability of G experimentally and by analysis of literature data.     

The Proterozoic P-T-t Evolution of the Kemp Land Coast, East Antarctica; Constraints from Si-saturated and Si-undersaturated Metapelites

Integrated metamorphic and geochronological data place new constraintson the metamorphic evolution of a Neoproterozoic orogen in eastAntarctica. Granulite-facies rocks from a 150 km stretch ofthe Kemp Land coast reflect peak conditions involving T 870–990°Cat P 7·4–10 kbar, with pressure increasing westwardtowards an Archaean craton. Electron microprobe-derived (Th+ U)–Pb monazite ages from metapelitic assemblages indicatethat the major mineral textures in these rocks developed duringthe c. 940 Ma Rayner Orogeny. Complex compositional zoning inmonazite suggests high-T recrystallization over c. 25 Myr. Diversityin metapelitic reaction textures reflects silica and ferromagnesiancontent: Si-saturated Fe-rich metapelites contain garnet thatis partially pseudomorphed by biotite and sillimanite, whereasSi-saturated Mg-rich metapelites and Si-undersaturated metapeliticpods have reaction microstructures involving cordierite enclosingorthopyroxene, garnet and/or sapphirine, cordierite + sapphirinesymplectites around sillimanite and coarse-grained orthopyroxene+ corundum separated by sapphirine coronae. Interpretationsbased on P–T pseudosections provide integrated bulk-rockconstraints and indicate a clockwise P–T–t pathcharacterized by a post-peak P–T trajectory with dP/dT 15–20 bar/ °C. This moderately sloped decompressive-coolingP–T path is in contrast to near-isothermal decompressionP–T paths commonly cited for this region of the RaynerComplex, with implications for the post-collisional tectonicresponse of the mid- to lower crust within this orogenic belt. KEY WORDS: electron microprobe monazite dating; granulite facies; Rayner Complex; sapphirine; THERMOCALCMinerals abbreviations: q, quartz; g, garnet; sill, sillimanite; ky, kyanite; opx, orthopyroxene; cd, cordierite; ksp, alkali feldspar; pl, plagioclase; bi, biotite; sp, spinel; ilm, ilmenite; mt, magnetite; ru, rutile; sa, sapphirine; cor, corundum; osm, osumilite; liq, silicate melt; mnz, monazite     

Solar activity levels in 2100

Mark A Clilverd, Ellen Clarke, Henry Rishbeth, Toby D G Clark and Thomas Ulich look forward to a little less solar activity in 2100, using direct and proxy records of past solar and geomagnetic activity.     

Efficient testing of earthquake forecasting models

Computationally efficient alternatives are proposed to the likelihood-based tests employed by the Collaboratory for the Study of Earthquake Predictability for assessing the performance of earthquake likelihood models in the earthquake forecast testing centers. For the conditional L-test, which tests the consistency of the earthquake catalogue with a model, an exact test using convolutions of distributions is available when the number of earthquakes in the test period is small, and the central limit theorem provides an approximate test when the number of earthquakes is large. Similar methods are available for the R-test, which compares the likelihoods of two competing models. However, the R-test, like the N-test and L-test, is fundamentally a test of consistency of data with a model. We propose an alternative test, based on the classical paired t-test, to more directly compare the likelihoods of two models. Although approximate and predicated on a normality assumption, this new T-test is not computer-intensive, is easier to interpret than the R-test, and becomes increasingly dependable as the number of earthquakes increases.     

Implications of uncertain future fossil energy resources on bioenergy use and terrestrial carbon emissions

The magnitude and character of the global resource base of fossil fuels is a key determinant of the evolution of the future global energy system and corresponding fossil fuel carbon emissions. What is less well understood is the potential magnitude of impact of the availability of fossil fuels, due to the interaction with biomass energy, on agriculture, land use, ecosystems and therefore carbon emissions from land-use change. This paper explores these links and implications. We show that if oil resources are limited, then the consequently higher price for liquids induces both the use of coal-to-liquids technology deployment, but also enhanced production of bioenergy crops particularly in a business-as-usual scenario. This in turn implies greater pressure to convert unmanaged ecosystems to produce bioenergy, and higher rates of terrestrial carbon emissions from land use.     

Spatial variation of the evolution and structure of the urban boundary layer

The spatial variation of the nocturnal urban boundary-layer structure is described and the time variation of the mixing height, and the nocturnal inversion top and strength after sunrise is presented for urban sites located upwind, downwind, and near the center of the heat island, and at an upwind rural site. Observations were derived from high resolution temperature profiles obtained by a helicopter during 35 intensive morning experiments in St. Louis, Missouri.The nocturnal urban boundary layer increased in depth from the upwind edge of the urban area. Far downwind, in suburban and rural areas, a remnant of the urban boundary layer existed between a stable surface-based layer and an upper inversion that resembled the upwind rural inversion.The mixing height (base of the inversion) evolved in a parabolic manner after sunrise at the urban locations. A rise in the inversion top after sunrise at the urban locations is believed to be due to low-level convergence which caused the entire inversion layer to be lifted. Due to large horizontal temperature gradients associated with the urban heat island, cold air advection tended to counteract the urban-induced lifting effect by inhibiting mixing-height growth at urban locations upwind of the heat-island center. Advection also caused the maximum height and fastest growth rate of the urban mixed layer to be shifted downwind of the urban area with time. However, mean mixing-height growth rates at various urban locations did not differ significantly. The rural mixing-height growth rate was about twice as large as urban values for up to 3 hr after sunrise. Spatial differences in the mixing height became small near the time of inversion dissipation, which appeared to occur at about the same time at all locations.On assignment from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.     

Characterisation of the carbonate content of atmospheric aerosols

A programme of aerosol sampling by dichotomous sampler has been undertaken with analysis of soluble ions plus carbonate. The technique for carbonate involved release of CO₂ by HCl vapour and quantitative measurement of the CO₂ by FTIR spectroscopy. The method is suitable for amounts down to below 10g CO₃ ^2- per filter. The prevailing atmospheric levels in an urban area were found to be below 1g m^-3. Information on the particle size from the dichotomous sampler was supplemented by use of a cascade impactor. Although CaCO₃ is clearly the dominant species initial analyses demonstrated higher carbonate levels than could be accounted for on the basis of the concentrations of calcium and magnesium ions which are the most likely cations in mineral carbonates. Analysis with and without heating to 100°C in a vacuum oven demonstrates the presence of carbonate in volatile form. This could be due to carbon dioxide adsorbed onto particulate matter such as soot.     

Atmospheric nuclei in the remote free-troposphere

During May-June of 1990 an extensive flight series to survey aerosol present in the upper-troposphere was undertaken aboard the NASA DC-8 as part of the CLObal Backscatter Experiment (GLOBE). About 50,000 km were characterized between 8–12 km altitude and between 70°N and 58°S. Aerosol with diameters greater than 3nm were counted and sized with a combination of condensation nuclei counters and optical particle counters. Aerosol number and mass concentrations were separately identified with regard to both refractory and volatile components. Regions of the free-troposphere with the lowest mass concentrations were generally found to have the highest number concentrations and appeared to be effective regions for new particle production. These new particle concentrations appear inversely related to available aerosol surface area and their volatility suggests a sulfuric acid composition. The long lifetime of these new particles aloft can result in their growth to sizes effective as CN and CCN that can be mixed throughout the troposphere.