Investigation of the stable isotope fractionation in speleothems with laboratory experiments

Many speleothems show evidence for calcite precipitation under disequilibrium conditions. To improve the understanding of these kinetic processes, several laboratory experiments were performed to study the fractionation of stable oxygen and carbon isotopes during the precipitation of calcite. Carbonate was precipitated under controlled conditions from both a body of standing water (beaker experiments) and a solution flowing along a channel (channel experiments) at a relative humidity of 100%. Slow degassing of CO₂, simulated by the beaker experiments, results in δ¹⁸O values in equilibrium with the solution. In contrast, the δ¹³C values show a significant enrichment, inversely proportional to the height of the solution in the beakers. Fast degassing of CO₂, simulated by the channel experiments, showed an enrichment of both δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O and a slope of Δδ¹³C/Δδ¹⁸O of 1.4±0.6. These results represent experimental evidence for the Hendy effect, which is manifested in (i) a progressive increase in δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C away from the growth axis and (ii) a positive correlation between δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C along a single growth layer of a stalagmite.     

华北克拉通东南缘约1.8 Ga高压麻粒岩相变质作用:岩石学和锆石U-Pb年代学证据

华北克拉通北邻中亚造山带,南接秦岭-大别-苏鲁造山带.它通常被认为是约18亿年固结形成的陆块.其基底的形成与演化,一直受到广泛关注(Zhao et al.,1998,2000,2005;Zhai et al.,2000,2005;Wilde et al.,2002,2005;Guo et al.,2005;Kroner et al.,2005,2006;Lu et al.,2008).大多数研究者都注重于华北克拉通内部、北部和东西陆块结合带(中间带),较少关注东南缘基底的形成与演化研究.     

Simulations of 3D DC borehole resistivity measurements with a goal-oriented <Emphasis Type="Italic">hp</Emphasis> finite-element method. Part II: through-casing resistivity instruments

We simulate direct current (DC) borehole resistivity measurements acquired in steel-cased deviated wells for the assessment of rock formation properties. The assumed data acquisition configuration considers one current (emitter) and three voltage (collector) electrodes that are utilized to measure the second difference of the electric potential along the well trajectory. We assume a homogeneous, 1.27-cm-thick steel casing with resistivity equal to 10^− 5 Ω· m. Simulations are performed with two different numerical methodologies. The first one is based on transferring two-dimensional (2D) axisymmetric optimal grids to a three-dimensional (3D) simulation software. The second one automatically produces optimal 3D grids yielded by a 3D self-adaptive goal-oriented algorithm. Both methodologies utilize high-order finite elements (FE) that are specially well-suited for problems with high-contrast coefficients and rapid spatial variations of the electric field, as it occurs in simulations that involve steel-cased wells. The method based on transferring 2D-optimal grids is efficient in terms of CPU time (few seconds per logging position). Unfortunately, it may produce inaccurate 3D simulations in deviated wells, even though the error remains below 1% for the axisymmetric (vertical) well. The method based on optimal 3D grids, although less efficient in terms of CPU time (few hours per logging position), produces more accurate results that are validated by a built-in a posteriori error estimator. This paper provides the first existing simulations of through-casing resistivity measurements in deviated wells. Simulated resistivity measurements indicate that, for a 30° deviated well, measurements in conductive layers 0.01 Ω· m) are similar to those obtained in vertical wells. However, in resistive layers (10,000 Ω· m), we observe 100% larger readings in the 30° deviated well. This difference becomes 3,000% for the case of a 60° deviated well. For this highly-deviated well, readings corresponding to the conductive formation layer are about 30% smaller in magnitude than those in a vertical well. Shoulder effects significantly vary in deviated wells.     

Hydrogeochemistry and isotope analyses used to determine groundwater recharge and flow in low-gradient catchments of the province of Buenos Aires,Argentina

The region known as Pampa Plain, in Argentina, is a vast area characterized by slopes of less than 0.05%. The surface sediment is silty sand, mainly Aeolian, referred to as Pampean Loess, which is a phreatic aquifer unit of utmost importance for the water supply of the region. On account of the slight gradient, hydrogeological analyses using only hydraulic measurements are difficult to perform, often leading to confusing results. Thus, the study presented relies on hydrochemical modeling and isotopic determinations as well. The study area comprises three catchments in the inter-mountainous area corresponding to El Moro, Tamangueyú and Seco creeks, and covering 2,570 km² in the province of Buenos Aires. Measurements of piezometric levels and samples of groundwater, surface water and rainwater were carried out between January and March 2005. Major ion results were analyzed by means of hydrochemical graphs and hydrogeochemical modelling using NETPATH. The resulting data show that it is possible to identify local changes in recharge, flow direction and stream/groundwater relationship by using hydrochemical and isotopic information, which may become a useful and more precise tool for the study of particularly flat landscapes.     

Field scale heterogeneity of redox conditions in till-upscaling to a catchment nitrate model

Point scale studies in different settings of glacial geology show a large local variation of redox conditions. There is a need to develop an upscaling methodology for catchment scale models. This paper describes a study of field-scale heterogeneity of redox-interfaces in a till aquitard within an area of 600?×?600 m. The results showed significant variation of the depths to the redox-interface and thickness of the aquitard. Nitrate was present above the redox-interface but reduced to non-detectable levels a few metres below the interface. An upscaling approach for an area of 92 km² is proposed. Two models are proposed to predict the depth to the redox-interface in the aquitard and the resulting nitrate recharge concentrations to an underlying aquifer. The first model assumes that the depth to the redox-interface reflects the hydraulic head in the aquitard, and the second model assumes that the depth of the redox-interface is randomly distributed according to a log-normal probability distribution function. The upscaling approach using the random redox model estimated recharge concentrations comparable to the observed concentration in the underlying aquifer. The presented upscaling approach is applicable in distributed catchment models where sub-grid variability cannot be represented by the large grids.     

印度板块和亚洲大陆在何时何地碰撞

印度板块和亚洲大陆的初始碰撞时间是所有相关的喜马拉雅-西藏造山体系演化模式的主控条件,并严重影响到对众多与青藏高原隆升和东亚大陆挤出相关的地质过程速率的解释,以及对新生代全球气候变化的理解。尽管印度板块和亚洲大陆汇聚的速率在55Ma突然减缓被广泛地认为是初始碰撞的标志,但这次碰撞所造成的主要构造效应直到20多个百万年以后才显现出来。对印度板块和亚洲大陆相对位置的重新估算,表明它们在55Ma时并没有达到可以彼此发生碰撞的距离。基于来自西藏新的野外证据和对已有数据的重新评估,认为初始碰撞发生在始新世—渐新世之交（约34Ma）,并对55Ma时发生的地质事件提出了另一种解释     

Automated Image Registration for Hydrologic Change Detection in the Lake-Rich Arctic

Multitemporal remote sensing provides a unique tool to track lake dynamics at the pan-Arctic scale but requires precise registration of thousands of satellite images. This is a challenging task owing to a dearth of stable features to be used as tie points [(TPs), i.e., control points] in the dynamic landscapes. This letter develops an automated method to precisely register images in the lake-rich Arctic. The core premise of the method is that the centers of lakes are generally stable even if their shorelines are not. The proposed procedures first extract lakes in multitemporal satellite images, derive lake centroids and match them between images, and then use the centroids of stable lakes as TPs for image registration. The results show that this approach can achieve subpixel registration accuracy, outcompeting the conventional manual methods in both efficiency and accuracy. The proposed method is fully automated and represents a feasible way to register images for lake change detection at the pan-Arctic scale.      

A geophysical study of the granites and the sedimentary basins of the Xanthi area (N. Greece)

Intrusive features of varying size can be interpreted from the aeromagnetic map of the Xanthi area in N. Greece.The Xanthi pluton, which outcrops north of the city of Xanthi, seems to have the shape of a truncated pyramid. This feature has relatively large areal extent and reaches an approximate depth of 7 km. Another, relatively large magnetic body is buried under the sediments at the estuary of the Nestos River.3-D models of several smaller intrusions were constructed and the produced effect was compared to the observed. Some of these intrusions seem to be detached branches of the large Xanthi pluton.The basement in the outer part of the basin of the Nestos River seems to be buried at about 4 km depth. This figure is obtained by the Multiple Source Werner Deconvolution estimates and it is in agreement with the results of former geophysical studies and deep industrial boreholes.A 3-D model of the Xanthi-Komotini basin suggests that this basin is about 0.4 km deep at its southern part. The depth at its northern boundary is about 1.8 km while the boundary itself is formed by the large Kavala-Xanthi-Komotini fault.The Tertiary basin of the Nestos River and the observed magmatism are consistent with the idea of an older extensional tectonic regime in the area.     

Transition from eclogite to amphibolite-facies metamorphism in the Austroalpine Ulten Zone

Summary The Ulten Zone of the Austroalpine crystalline basement south-west of Meran (Italy) contains metapelitic schists and granoblastic paragneisses, leucocratic orthogneisses, migmatites (in both gneiss-lithologies), metabasites and ultramafic lenses. Metamorphic textures of the metapelitic schists and granoblastic paragneisses indicate two different metamorphic events, characterized by two mineral assemblages, which differ in mineral chemistry: (1) an eclogite facies mineral assemblage (M1) comprising Grt-Ky I-Bt. Ms-Kfs-PI-Qtz-Rt, and (2) an amphibolite facies mineral assemblage (M2) comprising Grt-KyII-Bt-Ms-PI-Qtz-Ilm±St. For the M1 event, pressures of at least 15kbar and temperatures of about 700°±50°C can be estimated. The later amphibolite facies overprint occurred at pressures of 6 to 8kbar and about 600°±50°C. The M1 and M2 assemblages belong to a continuous clockwise metamorphic evolution during the Variscan orogeny. Evidence for Alpine metamorphism can only be detected by sericite rims around kyanite and reset biotite ages. The migmatites, which contribute about 15–30vol.% of all rocks in the investigated area, were formed on the prograde path during the M1 event. Dissolution of H₂O in the melted part of the migmatites resulted in a CO₂dominated fluid, which was trapped in primary kyanite (M1) fluid inclusions. Secondary H₂O-rich fluid inclusions are found in quartz grains and may represent the fluid which enabled a pervasive equilibration during M2.

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Übergang von eklogit-zu amphibolitfazieller Matamorphose in der austroalpinen Ultenzone

Zusammenfassung Die Ulten Zone, ein Teil des ostalpinen kristallinen basements, südwestlich von Meran, wird aus Metapeliten and granoblastischen Paragneisen, leukokraten Orthogneisen, Migmatiten (in beiden Lithologien), Metabasiten and ultramafischen Linsen aufgebaut. Metamorphe Texturen der Metapelite und granoblastischen Paragneise lassen auf zwei verschiedene metamorphe Ereignisse schließen, die durch unterschiedliche Mineral-chemismen und Paragenesen charakterisiert sind: (1) eine eklogitfazielle Paragenese (M1), bestehend aus Grt-KyI-Bt-Ms-Kfs-P1-Qtz-Rt und (2) eine amphibolitfazielle Paragenese (M2), bestehend aus Grt-KyII-Bt-Ms-P1-Qtz-Ilm±St. Für M1 konnten Minimaldrucke von 15kbar und Temperaturen von 700°±50°C abgeleitet werden. Die spätere amphibolitfazielle Überprägung fand bei 6 bis 8kbar und 600°±50°C statt. M1 und M2 gehören einer kontinuierlichen Metamorphoseentwicklung während der variszischen Orogenese an.Die Migmatite, ungefähr 15–30vol.% der Gesteine im untersuchten Gebiet, wurden am prograden Pfad während des M1 Ereignisses gebildet. Aufgrund der höheren Löslichkeit von H₂0 in der Schmelze, blieb ein CO₂, reiches Fluid zurück, das im primären Kyanit (M1) eingeschlossen wurde. Wässrige Flüssigkeitseinschlüsse können in Quarzkörnern gefunden werden. Dieses Fluid ist wahrscheinlich für die Reequilibrierung zu amphibolitfaziellen Bedingungen verantwortlich.

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With 5 Figures     

Calorimetric study of the coesite-stishovite transformation and calculation of the phase boundary

High temperature drop-solution calorimetry in molten 2 PbO · B₂O₃ at 1044 K for coesite and stishovite polymorphs of silica was carried out to determine the enthalpy of the coesite-stishovite transition. These experiments were performed on high-purity, single-phase samples of coesite and stishovite. Our new value for the enthalpy of the coesitestishovite transition (ΔH ₂₉₈ ⁰ ) is 29.85 ± 0.78 kJ/mol, which is about 35% lower than previously reported by Akaogi and Navrotsky (1984) and Holm et al. (1967), but which compares well with new measurements by Akaogi et al. (1994b). Using these new data, we have calculated the equilibrium phase boundary between coesite and stishovite and obtained a slope, dP/dT=0.0031 (2) GPa/K. This calculated slope is in good agreement with that determined [0.0026 (2) GPa/K] from the in-situ X-ray diffraction study of Zhang et al. (1996).