The Juiz De Fora Granulite Complex of the Central Ribeira Belt, SE Brazil: A Paleoproterozoic Crustal Segment Thrust During the Pan-African Orogeny

The granulites of the Juiz de Fora complex occur within thick basement thrust slices associated with the Pan-African shortening process in the central segment of the Ribeira belt. Five lithological units of the Intermediate tectonic domain of the belt can be identified on the basis of detailed geological mapping: a) orthogranulites, b) orthogneisses; c) kinzigite; d) intrusive garnet charnockite and e) amphibolite facies metasediments of probable Meso to Neoproterozoic age, correlated to the cover of the belt. Petrological data indicate high temperatures and intermediate to low lithostatic pressure conditions for the Paleoproterozoic granulite facies metamorphism. Textures and CO₂-rich fluid inclusions are probably related to an IBC path. Geochemical data do not show relevant compositional change as a result of the granulite metamorphism. Two calc-alkaline suites and tholeiitic to alkaline basic rocks can be related to compressional and extensional settings, respectively. The overall composition of the granulites, the lack of substantial LILE depletion as well as the composition of the fluid inclusion points to granulitization process driven by CO₂-rich fluids. Orthogranulites gave rise to banded gneisses as a result of the Pan-African retrograde metamorphism and intense deformation. The U and Th depletion detected in few rocks is possibly related with the hydrated conditions of the retrograde reactions.     

Competitive policies for commercial sea ports in the EU

The globalisation of the economy and the need for sustainable growth are having a strong influence on international sea freight transport and its infrastructures. Commercial sea ports, faced with the loss in ‘loyalty’ of their traffic and the appearance of ‘new rules in the game’, are developing new strategies in order to achieve the loyalty of their clients. The present paper is a reflection on the findings generated in recent years in the area of competitive port policies. The main focus is on the formulation of commercial and technological strategies, the new legislative framework and its consequences for the European Union in the context of the future ‘Common Ports Policy’.     

Simulation of stratospheric ozone in global forecast model using linear photochemistry parameterization

The two types of ozone, the simulation with interactive (prognostic) ozone using linear photochemistry parameterization (LPP) (INTR) and the simulation with non-interactive ozone using ozone climatology (CLIM), were used in the global forecast model. These two types of ozone were compared with ozone observations from the Aura Microwave Lim Sounder (MLS) and ozonesondes from 16-30 September 2008. The INTR is sensitive to LPP schemes while less sensitive to the time average of initial ozone data. Among three LPP schemes, CARIOLLE, COPCAT, and LINOZ, the COPCAT produces ozone profiles with least differences from MLS and ozonesondes. CLIM overestimates MLS at 200-20 hPa while INTR with COPCAT scheme underestimates MLS ozone above 5 hPa. Over the Antarctic in the lower stratosphere CLIM overestimates MLS and ozonesondes whereas INTR underestimates MLS but overestimates the ozonesonde data. Thus, COPCAT agrees better with ozonesonde data than any other LPP schemes and CLIM. Changing the ozone distribution from CLIM to INTR affects temperature profiles mainly through the modification of differential radiative fluxes. The correlations between ozone, differential radiative fluxes, and temperature are distinguished by altitude (or pressure levels). The correlations are strong or moderate between 3-1000 hPa (lower atmosphere) and weak above 3 hPa (upper atmosphere). This study demonstrates that the simulation of ozone using an appropriate LPP scheme is excellent in overcoming the drawbacks of using climatological ozone profiles that poorly agree with observations in extreme ozone hole events.     

Managing coastal zone fisheries: A Mediterranean case study

Coastal fisheries are complex ecological and social systems, evolving in time with a shift from commercial towards recreational effort. We describe the coastal fisheries of Mallorca (W Mediterranean) and the management policies implemented to show the challenges faced at regional level to handle the different management tools used to conserve biodiversity and the social fabric in the coastal zone. Our example provides evidence of the complexity of fishing rights and how they can be adapted into practical fisheries management by combining fishing rights, open access recreational fishery, community-based management and biodiversity conservation.     

Geochemical modelling of the tonalitic and trondhjemitic granulites from the Itabuna-Salvador-Curaçá Block,Bahia, Brazil

The studied tonalitic and trondhjemitic granulites are located in the SSE granulitic domain of the São Francisco craton, Bahia, Brazil, where they represent most of the southern part of the Archean and Paleoproterozoic Itabuna-Salvador-Curaçá Block (ISCB). Chemically, the tonalitic and trondhjemitic granulites belong to a low-K calc-alkaline suite; their REE patterns are steep with strong LREE/HREE fractionation and no significant Eu anomaly. Garnet-bearing mafic granulites that occur as enclaves in the tonalitic and trondhjemitic granulites were derived from basalts and/or gabbros of tholeiitic affinity. Geochemical modelling showed that the tonalitic and trondhjemitic granulites were produced by moderate fractional crystallization of an assemblage of hornblende and plagioclase, with subordinate amounts of magnetite, apatite, allanite and zircon. The garnet-bearing mafic granulites would be the source of the magmas that generated these rocks. Partial melting left a residue made up of plagioclase, garnet, orthopyroxene and hornblende.     

Lower Cretaceous ammonites from the Neuquén Basin, Argentina: The Hauterivian genus Spitidiscus

Spitidiscus is a widely-distributed Hauterivian genus that briefly invaded the Neuquén Basin, Argentina, in mid Hauterivian times, well after it first evolved in the west Tethyan area. Its appearance in Argentina is linked with a globally-significant mid Hauterivian sea-level rise. This is marked in the basin by a sharp facies change in the Agrio Formation, from non-marine sandstones of the Avilé Member to marine sediments, often laminated black shales, with Spitidiscus at the base of the overlying Agua de la Mula Member. Our extensive field work has shown that Spitidiscus occurs across the whole basin, where it is represented by two species, Spitidiscus riccardii Leanza and Wiedmann and Spitidiscus kilapiae sp. nov. For most of its vertical range Spitidiscus occurs alone, characterising the S. riccardii Zone. But at the top of its range it is joined by the first crioceratitid ammonites, their appearance marking the base of the Crioceratites schlagintweiti Zone.