Geochemistry and chronology of the Bunburra Rockhole ungrouped achondrite

Bunburra Rockhole is a unique basaltic achondrite that has many mineralogical and petrographic characteristics in common with the noncumulate eucrites, but differs in its oxygen isotope composition. Here, we report a study of the mineralogy, petrology, geochemistry, and chronology of Bunburra Rockhole to better understand the petrogenesis of this meteorite and compare it to the eucrites. The geochemistry of bulk samples and of pyroxene, plagioclase, and Ca‐phosphate in Bunburra Rockhole is similar to that of typical noncumulate eucrites. Chronological data for Bunburra Rockhole indicate early formation, followed by slow cooling and perhaps multiple subsequent heating events, which is also similar to some noncumulate eucrites. The ²⁶Al‐²⁶Mg extinct radionuclide chronometer was reset in Bunburra Rockhole after the complete decay of ²⁶Al, but a slight excess in the radiogenic ²⁶Mg in a bulk sample allows the determination of a model ²⁶Al‐²⁶Mg age that suggests formation of the parent melt for this meteorite from its source magma within the first ~3 Ma of the beginning of the solar system. The ²⁰⁷Pb‐²⁰⁶Pb absolute chronometer is also disturbed in Bunburra Rockhole minerals, but a whole‐rock isochron provides a re‐equilibration age of ~4.1 Ga, most likely caused by impact heating. The mineralogy, geochemistry, and chronology of Bunburra Rockhole demonstrate the similarities of this achondrite to the eucrites, and suggest that it formed from a parent melt with a composition similar to that for noncumulate eucrites and subsequently experienced a thermal history and evolution comparable to that of eucritic basalts. This implies the formation of multiple differentiated parent bodies in the early solar system that had nearly identical bulk elemental compositions and petrogenetic histories, but different oxygen isotope compositions inherited from the solar nebula.     

Contour current imprints and contourite drifts in the Bahamian archipelago

New data collected along the slopes of Little and Great Bahama Bank and the abyssal plain of the Bahama Escarpment provides new insights about contour current‐related erosive structures and associated deposits. The Bahamian slope shows abundant evidence of bottom current activity such as furrows, comet‐like structures, sediment waves and drifts. At a seismic scale, large erosion surfaces and main periods of drift growth resulted from current acceleration related to plate tectonic processes and progressive opening and closure of gateways and long‐term palaeoclimate evolution. At present‐day, erosion features and contourite drifts are either related to relatively shallow currents (<1000 m water depth) or to deep currents (>2500 m water depth). It appears that the carbonate nature of the drifts does not impact the drift morphology at the resolution addressed in the present study. Classical drift morphologies defined in siliciclastic environments are found, such as mounded, plastered and separated drifts. In core, contourite sequences show a bi‐gradational trend that resembles classical contourite sequences in siliciclastic deposits showing a direct relationship with a change in current velocity at the sea floor. However, in a carbonate system the peak in grain size is associated with increased winnowing rather than increased sediment supply as in siliciclastic environments. In addition, the carbonate contourite sequence is usually thinner than in siliciclastics because of lower sediment supply rates. Little Bahama Bank and Great Bahama Bank contourites contain open‐ocean input and slope‐derived debris from glacial episodes. Inner platform, platform edge and open ocean pelagic input characterize the classical periplatform ooze during interglacials. In all studied examples, the drift composition depends on the sea floor topography surrounding the drift location and the type of sediment supply. Carbonate particles are derived from either the slope or the platform in slope and toe of slope drifts, very deep contourites have distant siliciclastic sources of sediment supply. The recent discovery of the importance of a large downslope gravitary system along Bahamian slopes suggests frequent interactions between downslope and along‐slope (contour currents) processes. The interlayering of mass flow deposits and contourites at a seismic scale or the presence of surface structures associated with both contour currents and mass flow processes shows that both processes act at the same location. Finally, contour currents have an important impact on the repartition of deep‐water coral mounds. Currents can actively interact with mounds as a nutrient and oxygen supplier or have a passive interaction, with mounds solely being obstacles orienting erosion and deposition.     

Water Biogeochemistry of a Mangrove-Dominated Estuary Under a Semi-Arid Climate (New Caledonia)

Mangrove water biogeochemistry has been frequently studied under tropical climates, but less is known regarding mangroves in semi-arid climates. In this study, we examine the carbon and nutrient biogeochemistry in a mangrove tidal creek and in the main branch of a semi-arid estuary in New Caledonia. Porewater seepage represents a source of nutrients (DON, NH₄ ⁺, and DIP), carbon (DOC and CO₂), and alkalinity for the water column, but seawater dilution of the mangrove inputs is observed. Spatial and tidal variations in CO₂ fluxes along the tidal creek suggest that porewater seepage is a driver of CO₂ emission into the atmosphere. Large seasonal and spatial differences in the biogeochemical functioning of the main channel are observed and are mainly related to the seasonal rainfall pattern. During the rainy season, the watershed influences the entire estuary, which exhibits a typical positive circulation. During the dry season, the estuary turns into a salt-plug region with positive and negative circulations in the upper and lower reaches, respectively. In this case, the upper and lower reaches seem to function independently, and the biogeochemical functioning of their water column is not controlled by the same processes. Surprisingly, pCO₂@27 °C values tend to be higher during the dry season, as do the total alkalinity (TAlk) values, while the pH values exhibit an opposite trend. Moreover, the TAlk values are higher in the lower reaches during the wet season and in the upper reaches during the dry season. These results indicate high in situ biogeochemical reactions and high porewater influence during the dry season, likely because of a low flushing rate and high water residence time after salt plug establishment. Although our results suggest that salt plugs may significantly affect the water column’s biogeochemistry and may promote CO₂ emissions of mangrove-derived carbon, further investigations, especially mass balance studies, are required to quantify their role in the biogeochemical functioning of such estuarine systems.     

Time‐lapse electrical resistivity imaging of solute transport in a karst conduit

The use of electrical resistivity surveys to locate karst conduits has shown mixed success. However, time‐lapse electrical resistivity imaging combined with salt injection improves conduit detection and can yield valuable insight into solute transport behaviour. We present a proof of concept above a known karst conduit in the Kentucky Horse Park (Lexington, Kentucky). A salt tracer solution was injected into a karst window over a 45‐min interval, and repeat resistivity surveys were collected every 20 min along a 125‐m transect near a monitoring well approximately 750 m downgradient from the injection site. In situ fluid conductivity measurements in the well peaked at approximately 25% of the initial value about 3 h after salt injection. Time‐lapse electrical resistivity inversions show two broad zones at the approximate conduit depth where resistivity decreased and then recovered in general agreement with in situ measurements. Combined salt injection and electrical resistivity imaging are a promising tool for locating karst conduits. The method is also useful for gaining insight into conduit geometry and could be expanded to include multiple electrical resistivity transects. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismological study of the central Ecuadorian margin: Evidence of upper plate deformation

A seismic study of a segment of the convergent margin of Ecuador is presented. During the SISTEUR campaign a network of 24 Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBS) was deployed on the Carnegie Ridge, one line along the main axes of the ridge and two lines across the strike of the edge of the ridge, during one month. This marine network was complemented with a land network of 20 stations distributed in two lines: one parallel to the margin and the other perpendicular to it.The seismic event recorded by these networks, were located using different crustal models defined from the wide-angle seismic data modeling. Relative location techniques were used to improve earthquake locations. Seismogram waveform modeling allowed us to constrain hypocentral location for events farther than ～50 km from the network. This modeling also provided additional information to constrain the focal mechanisms of these events. The upper limit of the Interplate Seismogenic Zone (ISZ) is estimated to be at a 10 km depth in the region. The background seismic activity of the upper plate provided new insights:1) A seismic cluster that reaches the base of the overriding plate is linked to the Jipijapa-Portoviejo fault. The reactivation of this Quaternary fault is confirmed by focal mechanisms that provide rupture planes parallel to its superficial projection (N10°–N25°).2) The focal mechanisms presented in this study are compatible with a homogeneous regional stress field corresponding to an E–W to ESE–WNW compression and an NNE–SSW extension. The presence of strike-slip deformation, with a reverse component, corresponds to the NNE escape of the North Andean Block. Normal faulting accommodating this movement suggests that this part of the North Andean Block cannot be considered as a rigid block.     

Impact of digenean parasite infection on metallothionein synthesis by the cockle (Cerastoderma edule): a multivariate field monitoring

Metallothioneins (MT) are proteins that play an important role in metabolism of essential metals and detoxification of trace metals from living organisms. Their synthesis is induced by metal pollution but can also be exacerbated by other factors such as reproduction processes. In this context, we monitored MT concentrations in a cockle Cerastoderma edule (marine bivalve) population and highlighted the effect of a castrating digenean parasite, Labratrema minimus. In spent cockles, MT levels were low (ca. 5 nmol sites g(-1), fresh weight) but slightly higher in parasitized individuals. During gametogenesis, MT synthesis increased in all cockles, but concentrations were lower in parasitized individuals (18 against 27 nmol sites g(-1), fw in unparasitized cockles) in relation with gonad damage by parasites. Therefore, it is suggested that parasite infection in cockles can modulate MT synthesis that could consequently interfere with the response of these protective proteins in case of metal contamination.