Hydrogeochemistry and weathering on the Yilgarn Block,Western Australia—ferrolysis and heavy metals in continental brines

Groundwater samples collected from salt lakes over the Archean Yilgarn Block of Western Australia, show the influence of climate on geochemical weathering patterns. Major element compositions in salt lake groundwaters, show little systematic trend, but there are marked differences in pH and Fe, Cu, and Pb, concentrations in the alkaline carbonated systems of the arid northeastern part, compared to concentrations of the same elements in groundwater systems of the Mediterranean-type climatic region of the “wheatbelt” in the southwestern part of the block. In this latter region, in addition to higher rainfall input, the groundwater systems have steeper hydraulic gradients, weathering bedrock is closer to the surface, and oxidation and hydrolysis of iron (ferrolysis) is evident in weathering profiles. A combination of vertical diffusion and horizontal groundwater flow is thought to be responsible for the development of ferrolysis and acidity in groundwaters in this region. Anomalously high concentrations of heavy metals, particularly lead, are observed in some of the acid-saline groundwaters. The formation of laterite, which is a ubiquitous feature of the Yilgam Block landscape, is a process probably closely linked to ferrolysis.     

Characterization of sediments in an abandoned mining area; a case study of Mansfeld region,Germany

The distribution of selected heavy metals, including some radionuclides, metalloids and non-metals was determined in stream sediments in a region influenced by abandoned copper mining and ore processing activities. A considerable amount of the ore processing waste with a very complex composition and highly elevated concentrations of zinc, sulfur, lead, copper, arsenic, and a lot of other elements in the range between 100 and 1,000 mg/kg (Sb, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cd, Hg, and Ag) was piled up on mine dumps. The dispersion of the pollutants originating from this source and their environmental impact were investigated. Both, sediments and original waste material were studied to indicate the pathways and the mobilization behavior of different pollutants. For this purpose, the process of the elution of pollutants by application of different fractionation schemes was studied. The capabilities of different analytical techniques are shown for the analysis of solid samples (X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, Gamma-spectrometry) and liquid ones (ICP-atomic emission spectrometry, ICP-mass spectrometry and different techniques of atomic absorption). Additionally, the coupling of ion chromatography and ICP-MS detection was used to study the distribution of arsenic species in the sediment cores of a lake which acts as a natural sink for the region.     

Oxygen isotope fractionation during synthesis of CaMg-carbonate and implications for sedimentary dolomite formation

Hydrous CaMg-carbonate was synthesized at temperatures of 40°, 60° and 80°C in the laboratory. This material has very similar mineralogical characteristics to natural disordered dolomite from the Coorong region in South Australia. Besides the dolomite variable amounts of amorphous carbonate are present in all samples. The oxygen isotope compositions of synthesized bulk carbonate samples (e.g., amorphous carbonate plus dolomite) plot significantly lower than the Northrop and Clayton (1966) dolomite-water equilibrium. Fractionated degassing of the samples, however, revealed relatively low oxygen isotope values for fast-reacting (using 100% H₃PO₄) amorphous carbonate. In contrast, slow-reacting dolomite has more positive oxygen isotope values, and calculated carbonate-water oxygen isotope fractionation values are close to strongest known dolomite-water oxygen isotope fractionation published earlier on. Variations of reaction/stabilization temperatures during synthesis gave evidence for dolomite formation from hypersaline solutions by a dissolution/reprecipitation process. It is likely that amorphous carbonate has been a problem in defining the dolomite-water fractionation in the past. Moreover, dolomite-associated amorphous carbonate contents probably led to incorrect speculations about lower oxygen isotope fractionation in a so-called protodolomite-water system.     

New geological framework for Western Amazonia (Brazil) and implications for biogeography and evolution

Although many of the current hypotheses to explain the origin and distribution of the Amazon biodiversity has been based directly or indirectly on geological data, the reconstruction of the geological history of the Amazon region is still inadequate to analyze its relationship with the biodiversity. This work has the main goal to characterize the sedimentary successions formed in the Brazilian Amazon in the Neogene-Quaternary discussing the evolution of the depositional systems through time and analyzing their main controlling mechanisms in order to fill up this gap. Radar image interpretation, sedimentological studies, and radiocarbon dating allowed the mapping of Plio-Pleistocene to Holocene units along the Solimões-Amazonas River, Brazil. This integrated work led to the characterization of five sedimentary successions overlying Miocene deposits of the Solimões/Pebas Formation, which include the following: Içá Formation (Plio-Pleistocene), deposits Q1 (37,400-43,700 ¹⁴C yr B.P.), deposits Q2 (27,200 ¹⁴C yr B.P.), deposits Q3 (6730-2480 ¹⁴C yr B.P.), and deposits Q4 (280-130 ¹⁴C yr B.P.). These deposits occur mostly to the west of Manaus, forming NW-SE elongated belts that are progressively younger from SW to NE, indicating a subsiding basin with a depocenter that migrated to the NE. The reconstruction of the depositional history is consistent with significant changes in the landscapes. Hence, the closure of a large lake system at the end of the Miocene gave rise to the development of a Plio-Pleistocene fluvial system. This was yet very distinct from the modern drainage, with shallow, energetic, highly migrating, braided to anastomosed channels having an overall northeast outlet. This fluvial system formed probably under climatic conditions relatively drier than today's. During the early Pleistocene, there was pronounced erosion, followed by a renewed depositional phase ca. 40,000 ¹⁴C yr B.P., with the development of prograding lobes and/or crevasse splays associated with a lake system (i.e., fan-delta) and/or fluvial flood plain areas. After a period of erosion, a fluvial system with eastward draining channels started to develop at around 27,000 ¹⁴C yr B.P. The fluvial channels were overflooded in mid-Holocene time. This flooding is attributed to an increased period of humidity, with a peak between 5000 and 2500 ¹⁴C yr B.P. The data presented herein support that, rather than being a monotonous area, the Amazonia was a place with frequent changes in landscape throughout the Neogene-Quaternary, probably as a result of climatic and tectonic factors. We hypothesize that these changes in the physical environment stressed the biota, resulting in speciation and thus had a great impact on modern biodiversity.     

Long-term patterns of solar irradiance forcing in model experiments and proxy based surface temperature reconstructions

Comparisons are made of long-term empirical and model-estimated patterns of solar irradiance forcing during a 200-year period (1650-1850), which precedes any apparent anthropogenic influence on climate. This interval encompasses a considerable range (approximately 4 W/m²) of estimated variation in solar output, including the "Maunder" and "Dalton" Minima of solar irradiance, and an intervening interval of relatively high values of irradiance, but does not encroach into the industrial era wherein it is difficult to separate solar and anthropogenic influences. Particular emphasis is placed on comparing empirical and modeled patterns of forced surface temperature variation. The empirical patterns bear a greater similarity to the pattern of forced response of a coupled ocean-atmosphere general circulation model (AOGCM) than with an independent model simulation result using an ocean with specified heat transport, both in terms of the spatial pattern of response and implied global mean sensitivity to forcing. Heightened sensitivity in the western Pacific warm pool apparent in the empirical response pattern, is not observed in the forced response of the coupled model. It is possible that this pattern is the result of feedback processes not currently reproduced in course-resolution coupled models. The greatest empirical response is found at the multidecadal-to-century (> 40 year period) time scale, for which the forcing is dominated by the roughly 90-year Gleissberg Cycle of irradiance. This indicates a global-mean sensitivity (approximately 0.3 K/W/m²), which is close to the coupled model result (approximately 0.4 K/W/m²). At decadal time scales (8-25 year period), for which the forcing is dominated by the 11-year and 22-year period solar cycles), the temperature sensitivity is moderately reduced, and its spatial pattern of response is dominated by an apparent resonance with known decadal modes of climate variability.     

High Energetic Electrons Accelerated by a Coronal Shock Wave

Combined SOHO (Solar and Helisopheric Observatory) and ground based radio observations show evidently signatures of electrons accelerated by a shock wave during the event on July 9, 1996. A solar type II radio burst has been received as a signature of a coronal shock wave at 300 MHz on 9:10:54 UT. It was accompanied with electron beams appearing as type III radio bursts below 80 MHz. Simultaneously, the COSTEP (Comprehensive Suprathermal and Energetic Particle Analyzer) instrument aboard SOHO has measured enhanced electron fluxes in the range 30 keV – 3 MeV. This indicates that a coronal shock wave was able to produce high energetic electrons. A mechanism of electron acceleration up to relativistic velocities is presented and compared with the observations. The electron acceleration takes place at substructures of quasi-parallel collisionless shocks. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Relation between source rock properties and wireline log parameters: An example from Lower Jurassic Posidonia Shale, NW-Germany

The relationships between source rock quality and wireline log parameters were established for the Lower Jurassic Posidonia Shale, the most prolific petroleum source rock of Central Europe. Wireline logs used are the gamma ray spectrometry, density, sonic and various resistivity logs. The organic geochemical parameters considered include the organic carbon content, hydrogen index, and the hydrocarbon potential expressed by pyrolysis yield. The case history presented is based on a continuous core through the entire Posidonia Shale interval from a location where this source rock is immature. Care was taken to detect and to avoid samples and log values influenced by bore hole roughness and fractures. Fair correlations were observed only between uranium content from gamma ray spectrometry log and organic carbon content. No correlation was recognized between uranium content and kerogen type as defined by hydrogen indices. For various reasons density, sonic, and resistivity logs did not provide useful data in this study.Three rock units with irregular, high and low uranium contents could be differentiated. Possible causes for this tripartition are different environments during deposition and postdepositional redistribution of uranium during early diagenesis and in association with fractures.