Burial Metamorphism in the Hamersley Basin, Western Australia

The low-grade metamorphic minerals prehnite, pumpellyite, epidoteand actinolite in rocks of basic and intermediate compositionhave a broad, systematic distribution in the Hamersley Basin.Assemblages of these minerals are wisespread in the FortescueGroup, the lowermost group in the Hamersley Basin. Because ofsunsuitability of rock type no relevant mineral assemblageswere observed in samples from the Hamersley Group. However,metamorphism of this group can be implied from mineral assemblagesin the younger Turee Creek Group, and because the HamersleyGroup conformably overlies the metamorphosed Fortescue Group. Unfolded stratigraphic cross sections show that depth of burialwas the dominant control of increase in metamorphic grade. Fourmetamorphic zones are defined over a relative depth of burialof 9 km. From lowest grade to highest these are: Zone I (ZI)prehnite–pumpellyite zone; ZII, prehnite–pumpellyite–epidotezone; ZIII, prehnite–pumpellyite–epidote–actinolitezone; and ZIV, (prehnite–epidote–actinolite zone.Laumontite, definitive of the zeolite fades is absent but thatpart of the sequence may coincide with rocks of unsuitable composition,or may have been removed by erosion. A large area of prehnite–pumpellyitefades (ZI and ZII) dominates the north side of the basin, whilegreenschist fades (ZIV) dominates the south. Separating thetwo is a curved central strip of pumpellyite-actinolite facies(ZIII). Microprobe data of pumpellyites from the three pumpellyite–bearingzones, ZI, II and III, show two systematic trends: extensivevariation in Al/Fe ratios at any one grade, and a general decreaseof Mg with increasing metamorphism. Consideration of the compositionsof the most abundant pumpellyites in the metabasic rocks showsthat these two trends spread about a more fundamental lineartrend towards AJ-enrichment with increasing metamorphism astotal Fe and Mg decrease. Epidote shows a wide range in Fe content in ZII and ZIII (Ps15to Ps40) crossing the miscibility gap proposed by Raith (1976).In ZIV epidote compositions are more aluminous and restrictedin composition (Ps11 to Ps20). Magnesium has entered the epidotelattice in ZII and ZIII (up to 0–17 ions Mg where £cations = 8) but to only half this in ZIV. Synthesis of the burial model with published experimental workputs constraints on the ancient thermal gradient that existedduring burial metamorphism. For the peak of metamorphic adjustmentfluid pressure appears to have been equal to load pressure.A relatively high gradient of 80 to 100 deg;C/km seems likelyfor the shallow part of the sequence, with a gradient of 40deg;C/km for the deeper part of the sequence, the change beingat about 2–5 km. The prehnite-pumpellyite facies correspondsto a fluid pressure of 0–5 to 1 kilobar and a temperaturerange of about 100 to 300 deg;C. The prehnite-bearing pumpellyite-actinolitefacies is interpreted to have developed at about 1–5 kbover a temperature range of 300 to 360 deg;C. This facies isprobably a low pressure subfacies of the pumpellyite-actinolitefades of Hashimoto (1966).     

Influence of waves and horseshoe crab spawning on beach morphology and sediment grain-size characteristics on a sandy estuarine beach

The effects of wave action and horseshoe crab spawning on the topography and grain-size characteristics on the foreshore of an estuarine sand beach in Delaware Bay, New Jersey, USA were evaluated using data collected over six consecutive high tides. Data were gathered inside and outside a 25 m long exclosure constructed to create a control area free of disturbance by crabs. The density of crabs in the swash zone outside the exclosure was 8·1 organisms m⁻². The maximum depth of sediment activation on the upper foreshore where spawning occurred was 0·103 m during periods characterized by low significant wave heights: < 0·08 m. This depth is greater than the depth of activation by waves alone during moderate significant wave heights of 0·16–0·18 m but less than the maximum depth (0·127 m) recorded when spawning occurred during periods of moderate wave heights. Spawning, combined with moderate wave heights, creates a concave upper foreshore that is similar to the type of profile change that occurs during storms, thus lowering the wave-energy threshold for morphological response. Spawning during low wave heights increases the mean grain size and sorting of surface sediments caused by the addition of gravel to the swash. Sedimentological differences are most pronounced on the upper foreshore, and data from this location may be most useful when using grain-size characteristics to interpret the effect of spawning in the sedimentary record. Depths of sediment reworking by horseshoe crabs can be greater than those by subsequent storm waves, so evidence of spawning can be preserved on non-eroding beaches. Greater depth of activation by horseshoe crab spawning than by waves alone, even during moderate-energy conditions, reveals the importance of crab burrowing in releasing eggs to the water column and making them available for shore birds.     

Sedimentology of proximal to distal volcaniclastics dispersed across an active foldbelt: Ellensburg Formation (late Miocene), central Washington

Late Miocene volcaniclastics of the Ellensburg Formation (Washington, northwestern USA) are exposed in basins within an integrated palaeodrainage over the depositional reach from 15 to 120 km eastward from a Cascade Range source area. Two facies associations are recognized. The first is composed of laterally restricted, well-sorted, polymictic conglomerates representing a gravel-bedload regime during inter-eruption periods. The second comprises laterally extensive sheets, bounded by deeply-developed paleosols, composed of monomictic pebbly, pumiceous dacitic sandstones with intercalated debris-flow and hyperconcentrated flood-flow deposits. These sheets aggraded in response to eruptive events that are sometimes recorded by air-fall tephras at the bases of sequences. Debris-flow and hyperconcentrated flood-flow deposits occur as far as 120 km from source, but are uncommon beyond 50 km. Hyperconcentrated flood-flow deposits initially increase in abundance away from source as debris-flow deposits diminish, suggesting formation of hyperconcentrated flood flows by dilution of debris flows. Sandy facies form broad sheets dominated by scour-fill bedding, in proximal and medial settings, and grade to narrower, trough cross-bedded sheets in distal settings, suggesting moderation of flood discharges with distance. Base-level changes associated with episodic sediment influx caused incision-aggradation cycles in mainstream settings, and episodic impoundment of tributaries to form lakes or rapidly aggrading, poorly drained floodplains. Although volcanism was the primary control on depositional style, concurrent development of the Yakima fold belt produced a structure-consequent drainage pattern that determined sediment dispersal, and basin subsidence permitted preservation of both syn-eruption and inter-eruption facies. Detritus from rising anticlines was generally diluted by the volumetrically superior extrabasinal volcaniclastics, but dominates deposits of small tributary streams flowing toward, rather than from, the Cascades.     

THE TIME-DOMAIN ELECTROMAGNETIC RESPONSE OF POLARIZABLE BODIES: AN APPROXIMATE CONVOLUTION ALGORITHM1

It is now believed that the negative transients observed in coincident-loop transient electromagnetic (TEM) measurements are caused by polarizable bodies (bodies whose conductivity increases as a function of frequency). Ordinarily the TEM response of polarizable bodies is obtained by calculating the frequency-domain response at many frequencies and transforming it to the time domain via Fourier, Laplace or Hankel transforms. This is normally a computationally laborious task. However, for some simple non-polarizable bodies the time-domain response is analytical and can be computed easily. When these simple bodies are weakly polarizable an approximate response can be obtained by convolving the easily-calculated, non-polarizable response with the impulse response of the polarization. The approximate response is found to be very similar to the exact response for the polarizabilities normally seen in geological materials.     

Sedimentation and palaeoenvironments of Late Cretaceous crater-lake deposits in Bushmanland, South Africa

A large diameter borehole core from an epiclastic kimberlite remnant on the farm Stompoor in the Prieska district, Cape Province, contains a continuous 76 m section of fossiliferous sediments interpreted as having accumulated within a crater-lake during the Late Cretaceous. Three distinct facies associations reflect depositional processes that prevailed in offshore areas of the original lake. Facies Association A: matrix-supported pebble conglomerates comprising a chaotic assemblage of pyroclastic, basement and country rocks set in a fine-grained matrix. Flat, non-erosional basal surfaces with ‘frozen’ rip-up clasts, the protrusion of matrix-supported clasts above the upper surfaces and a direct relationship between maximum clast size and bed thickness suggest deposition from debris flows that originated subaerially on pyroclastic talus cones surrounding the crater. Facies Association B: alternating thin beds of matrix-supported granule conglomerate, structureless fine-grained sandstone and parallel laminated mudrock. Small fining-upward sequences within these beds are comparable to turbidite Bouma Tade, Tde. Numerous partings display petrified fish and frog skeletons, as well as bivalve, gastropod and ostracode shells, leaf impressions, insect wings and a possible bird bone. These beds were deposited by thin debris-flows and turbidity underflows interspersed with periods of ‘pelagic’ sedimentation. Facies Association C: microlaminated mudstone beds containing scattered ‘dropstone lapilli’. The lamination is imparted by alternating Ca-rich/Ca-poor layers which may reflect climatic seasonality. They are interpreted as the result of seasonally influenced suspension settling through a thermally stratified water column. Short-term periodicities in conglomerate bed thicknesses are interpreted as the result of successive block caving of a slump scar giving rise to several debris flows from the same source area. Seismic shock from nearby volcanism may have simultaneously triggered slumps on both subaerial and subaqueous slopes. Dropstone lapilli in Type C beds and the preponderance of load casting in Type B beds support this interpretation. An estimate of the time span involved in accumulating 76 m of crater lake sediments based on the possible seasonal imprint of Type C beds gives a figure of some 220,000 yr.     

Fluvial herring-bone cross-stratification in a modern tributary mouth bar, Coonamble, New South Wales, Australia

Herring-bone cross-stratification occurs in tributary mouth bar sediments less than 150 yr old in Warrena Creek near its confluence with the Castlereagh River some 2000 river kilometres from the sea in northern New South Wales. These streams have low gradients, with straight to anastomosing channels which become sinuous and distributive downstream. Channel beds are sand but banks are almost exclusively mud which is burrowed and extensively penetrated by roots. Herring-bone cross-stratification results from flow reversals in Warrena Creek during flood events. Flow direction depends upon discharge and stage in the creek relative to that in the adjacent river. The lithofacies resemble inter-tidal deposits and could easily be misidentified on the basis of herring-bone cross-stratification in an ancient sedimentary sequence. Herringbone cross-stratification should be regarded as diagnostic of depositional environments in which current directions are principally determined by reversals of water surface gradient, rather than by regional slope. Flow reversal phenomena may be a characteristic of very low gradient fluvial systems.     

Recommended Radium-226 Values for Four CCRMP Uranium Reference Materials

The Canadian Certified Reference Materials Project announces recommended values for radium-226 activity in four reference materials previously certified for uranium. Thirteen laboratories participated in the interlaboratory program for DL-la, DH-la, BL-4a and BL-5. Four measurement techniques were applied. Procedural and instrument calibrations were performed with certified radium solutions from the National Bureau of Standards, thereby establishing traceability of the recommended values for radium-226 in DL-la, DH-la, BL-4a and BL-5. These reference ores are also shown to be close to, if not in, radioactive equilibrium.     

NUMERICAL MODELING OF HEAVY METAL POLLUTANT TRANSPORT-TRANSFORMATION IN FLUVIAL RIVERS：A REVIEW

A detailed discussion of existing three kinds of mathematical models of heavy metal pollutant transport-transformation in fluvial rivers is presented, with an emphasis on the mathematical model of heavy metal pollutant transport-transformation dynamics. The imperfection of two kinds of mathematical models, that is, mathematical model of chemical thermodynamic equilibrium and that of chemical reaction kinetics, and the shortcoming of existing mathematical models of heavy metal pollutant transport-transformation dynamics are pointed out. Furthermore, the structure of mathematical model of heavy metal pollutant transport-transformation dynamics in fluvial rivers is suggested. Equations in the mathematical model of heavy metal pollutant transport-transformation dynamics in fluvial rivers will be discussed in the following paper.