Evolution of sedimentary environments of the middle Jiangsu coast, South Yellow Sea since late MIS 3

An evolutionary model of sedimentary environments since late Marine Isotope Stage 3 （late MIS 3, i.e., ca. 39 cal ka BP） along the middle Jiangsu coast is presented based upon a reinterpretation of core 07SR01, new correlations between adjacent published cores, and shallow seismic profiles recovered in the Xiyang tidal channel and adjacent northern sea areas. Geomorphology, sedimentology, radiocarbon dating and seismic and sequence stratigraphy are combined to confirm that environmental changes since late MIS 3 in the study area were controlled primarily by sea-level fluctuations, sediment discharge of paleo-rivers into the South Yellow Sea （SYS）, and minor tectonic subsidence, all of which impacted the progression of regional geomorphic and sedimentary environments （Le., coastal barrier island freshwater lacustrine swamp, river floodplain, coastal marsh, tidal sand ridge, and tidal channel）. This resulted in the formation of a fifth-order sequence stratigraphy, comprised of the parasequence of the late stage of the last interstadial （Para-Sq2）, including the highstand and forced regressive wedge system tracts （HST and FRWST）, and the parasequence of the postglacial period （Para-Sql）, including the transgressive and highstand system tracts （TST and HST）. The tidal sand ridges likely began to develop during the postglacial transgression as sea-level rise covered the middle Jiangsu coast at ca. 9.0 cal ka BP. These initially submerged tidal sand ridges were constantly migrating until the southward migration of the Yellow River mouth to the northern Jiangsu coast during AD 1128 to 1855. The paleo-Xiyang tidal channel that was determined by the paleo-tidal current field and significantly different from the modern one, was in existence during the Holocene transgressive maxima and lasted until AD 1128. Following the capture of the Huaihe River in AD 1128 by the Yellow River, the paleo-Xiyang tidal channel was infilled with a large amount of river-derived sediments from AD 1128 to 1855, causing the emergence of some of the previously submerged tidal sand ridges. From AD 1855 to the present, the infilled paleo-Xiyang tidal channel has undergone scouring, resulting in its modern form. The modern Xiyang tidal channel continues to widen and deepen, due both to strong tidal current scouring and anthropogenic activities.     

Site occupation and electric field gradient in acentric neptunite-measurements and evaluations concerning powder- and single crystal – Mössbauer spectroscopy and x-ray diffractometry

Mössbauer measurements on neptunite (KNa₂Li(Fe,Mn,Mg)₂Ti₂Si₈O₂₄) at 400?K reveal the distribution of Fe-ions on the crystallographic sites in agreement with neutron diffraction results published elsewhere. Even the previously postulated small amount of Fe-ions on the Ti(2) site has been detected, combined with a charge transfer which is in agreement with optical absorption investigations by other authors. A qualitative site occupation model is able to explain the different features of our observations. Single crystal Mössbauer measurements with the k-vector of incident γ-rays parallel to the crystallographic b-axis (space group Cc) of neptunite at different temperatures yield the angle β between the main component of the electric field gradient (EFG), V _zz and b. This angle is in close accordance with a calculated value of β for the Fe(1) position from electron density maps. The latter also reveal an absolute value of V _zz which is in satisfactory agreement with V _zz derived from Mössbauer spectroscopy.     

Seasonal δS variations in two high elevation snow pits measured by S-S double spike thermal ionization mass spectrometry

δ³⁴S and sulfate concentrations were determined in snow pit samples using a thermal ionization mass spectrometric technique capable of 0.2‰ accuracy and requires ≈5 μg (0.16 μmol) natural S. The technique utilizes a ³³S-³⁶S double spike for instrumental mass fractionation correction, and has been applied to snow pit samples collected from the Inilchek Glacier, Kyrgyzstan and from Summit, Greenland. These δ³⁴S determinations provide the first high-resolution seasonal data for these sites, and are used to estimate seasonal sulfate sources. Deuterium (δD) and oxygen (δ¹⁸O) isotope data show that the Inilchek and Summit snow pit samples represent precipitation over ≈20 months.The δ³⁴S values for the Inilchek ranged from +2.6 ± 0.4‰ to +7.6 ± 0.4‰ on sample sizes ranging from 0.3 to 1.8 μmol S. δ³⁴S values for Greenland ranged from +3.6 ± 0.7‰ to +13.3 ± 5‰ for sample sizes ranging from 0.05 to 0.29 μmol S. The concentration ranged from 92.6 ± 0.4 to 1049 ± 4 ng/g for the Inilchek and 18 ± 9 to 93 ± 6 ng/g for the Greenland snow pit. Anthropogenic sulfate dominates throughout the sampled time interval for both sites based on mass balance considerations. Additionally, both sites exhibit a seasonal signature in both δ³⁴S and concentration. The thermal ionization mass spectrometric technique has three advantages compared to gas source isotopic methods: (1) sample size requirements of this technique are 10-fold less permitting access to the higher resolution S isotope record of low concentration snow and ice, (2) the double spike technique permits δ³⁴S and S concentration to be determined simultaneously, and (3) the double spike is an internal standard.     

Product study of the reaction of OH radicals with isoprene in the atmosphere simulation chamber SAPHIR

Atmospheric oxidation of isoprene and its oxidation products methacrolein (MACR) and methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) have an important impact on the photochemical activity in the boundary layer, in particular in forested areas. The oxidation of isoprene by OH radicals was investigated in chamber experiments conducted under tropospheric conditions in the atmosphere simulation chamber SAPHIR at the Research Center Jülich. The aim was to determine the product yield of MVK and MACR in the OH-induced isoprene oxidation and the rate constant of their reaction with OH under real atmospheric conditions. The recently published updated degradation scheme for isoprene from Geiger et al. (2003) was used to determine rate constants and product yields. The fractional yields in the isoprene peroxy radical reaction with NO were found to be 0.41±0.03 for MVK and 0.27±0.03 for MACR. The rate coefficient for MACR with OH was found to be in very good agreement with the recommended value of IUPAC Atkinson (Atkinson et al., 2005). while the rate coefficient for MVK with OH was 27% lower.     

Modeling and Fitting of Three-Dimensional Mineral Microstructures by Multinary Random Fields

Mathematical Geosciences - Modeling a mineral microstructure accurately in three dimensions can render realistic mineralogical patterns which can be used for three-dimensional processing...     

Multivariate statistische Auswertung von Schwermineraldaten der alpinen Gosau und Bezüge zur plattentektonischen Entwicklung der Ostalpen während der Oberkreide

Zusammenfassung Aus Schwermineraldaten verschiedener Oberkreidevorkommen der alpinen Gosau werden mit einer speziellen Variante der Q-Modus Faktorenanalyse lithologische Endglieder zur Rekonstruktion der Liefergebiete modelliert. Dabei zeigt sich, daß zeitlich zwischen der bekannten Chromspinell-Schüttung aus Ophiolithen im Norden und der Zufuhr von Granat aus dem Kristallin der Ostalpen im Süden während des Campan ein kratonisches Hinterland vorhanden ist, das sowohl reifen (Zirkon, Turmalin, Rutil) als auch sauer plutonischen Detritus (Zirkon, Apatit) in die Gosaubecken einbringt.Diese Befunde bestätigen und präzisieren das vonFrisch (1979) vorgelegte plattentektonische Konzept: Als Folge der Subduktion des südpenninischen Piedmont Ozeans und gleichzeitiger Öffnung des nordpenninischen Valais Ozeans kollidiert im Campan die mittelpenninische Briançonnais-Mikroplatte mit dem Austroalpin der adriatischen Platte. Dem entspricht die Abnahme der Chromspinellzufuhr und die Zunahme von Detritus aus einem kratonischen Liefergebiet in den Gosau Sedimenten des Untercampan. Nach der intragosauischen Gebirgsbildungsphase hält die Zufuhr von kratonischem Material aus dem Mittelpenninikum während dessen Überschiebung im Obercampan an. Gleichzeitig beginnt die Freilegung von austroalpinen Kristallinarealen, die generell ab dem Maastricht zur Vorherrschaft eines metamorphen Schwermineralspektrums führt.

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Heavy mineral data from the Late Cretaceous clastic sediments of the Alpine Gosau formation were processed using extended Q-mode factor analysis in order to model in detail end members of lithological associations in search of provenance. The results show clearly a cratonic source area which furnished both mature (zircon, tourmaline, rutile) and acid plutomc (zircon, apatite) detritus into the Gosau basins during Campanian time. Stratigraphically, the mature-plutonic detritus ranges between the well known chromspinel supply from ophiolites in the north and the influx of garnet from metamorphic rocks of the Eastern Alps in the south.This confirms and clarifies the plate tectonic model proposed byFrisch (1979): The Middle Penninic Briançonian microplate collided with the Austroalpine unit of the Adriatic plate as result of both the subduction of the South Penninic Piedmont ocean and the contemporaneous opening of the North Penninic Valais ocean. The sedimentological response was a decrease in chromspinel and an increase in the minerals of cratonic provenance in the Gosau sediments of Early Campanian age. The cratonic detritus continued to dominate in the Late Campanian after the intragosauic orogenic movements as the Briançonian plate was beeing overthrust. At this time the erosion of Austroalpine metamorphic areas started, leading to the predominance of heavy minerals of metamorphic source from the Latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) onwards.

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Résumé Une forme particulière d'analyse factorielle en mode.Q a été appliquée aux minéraux lourdes provenant de divers sites du Crétacé supérieur du Gosau (Alpes orientales), en vue de rechercher l'origine des sédiments. Cette méthode montre clairement l'existence au Campanien d'une source cratonique qui alimenterait le bassin du Gosau à la fois en éléments matures (zircon, tourmaline, rutile) et en éléments plutoniques acides (zircon, apatite). Cet apport se situe stratigraphiquement entre les arrivées de spinelle chromifère provenant des ophiolites au Nord et de grenat provenant des métamorphites des Alpes occidentales au Sud.Ces résultats confiment et précisent le modèle géodynamique proposé par Frisch (1979): à la suite de la subduction de l'océan sud-pennique piémontais et de l'ouverture de l'océan nord-pennique valaisan, une collision se produisit au Campanien entre la microplaque méso-pennique brianonnaise et l-Austro-alpin de la plaque adriatique. La réponse sédimentologique à cet événement a été, dans les sédiments companiens infeérieurs du Gosau, une diminution de l'afflux de spinelles chromifères et un accroissement des minéraux de provenance cratonique. Au Campanien supérieur, après la phase tectonique intro-gosauienne, l'apport des matériaux cratoniques a continué pendant le charriage de la plaque briançonnaise. En même temps commençait l'érosion de l'aire métamorphique austroalpine amenant, à partir du Maastrichtien une prédominance de minéraux lourdes d'órigine métamorphique.

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Dynamics of an active rock glacier (Ötztal Alps, Austria)

The rock glacier Innere Ölgrube, located in a small side valley of the Kauner Valley (Ötztal Alps, Austria), consists of two separate, tongue-shaped rock glaciers lying next to each other. Investigations indicate that both rock glaciers contain a core of massive ice. During winter, the temperature at the base of the snow cover (BTS) is significantly lower at the active rock glacier than on permafrost-free ground adjacent to the rock glacier. Discharge is characterized by strong seasonal and diurnal variations, and is strongly controlled by the local weather conditions. Water temperature of the rock glacier springs remains constantly low, mostly below 1°C during the whole melt season. The morphology of the rock glaciers and the presence of meltwater lakes in their rooting zones as well as the high surface flow velocities of >1 m/yr point to a glacial origin. The northern rock glacier, which is bounded by lateral moraines, evolved from the debris-covered tongue of a small glacier of the Little Ice Age with its last highstand around A.D. 1850. Due to the global warming in the following decades, the upper parts of the steep and debris-free ice glacier melted, whereas the debris-covered glacier tongue transformed into an active rock glacier. Due to this evolution and due to the downslope movement, the northern rock glacier, although still active, at present is cut off from its ice and debris supply. The southern rock glacier has developed approximately during the same period from a debris-covered cirque glacier at the foot of the Wannetspitze massif.     

210Po and 210Pb distributions in ocean water profiles from the Eastern South Pacific

Two ocean profiles from the Peru Basin from regions with different surface productivities were analyzed for total²¹⁰Pb and²⁰¹Po to evaluate the influence of particulates in the water column on their distribution. Comparison with a published²²⁶Ra profile for the region was made. The profile closest to the coast, where upwelling and productivity are high, shows depletion of²¹⁰Pb relative to²²⁶Ra at all depths, with particularly marked excursions from radioactive equilibrium at the surface and in the bottom water.²¹⁰Po appears to be deficient relative to²¹⁰Pb at depth as well. Mean residence times in the deep water, relative to particulate removal from the water column to the sediments, of about 100 years for²¹⁰Pb and about two years for²¹⁰Po are indicated. The profile northwest of the upwelling region shows the²²⁶Ra²¹⁰Pb²¹⁰Po system close to equilibrium at all depths to 1500 m (except for the effect of atmospheric²¹⁰Pb input seen at the surface.     

Hydration shell structures in a LiI solution at elevated temperature and pressure: a molecular dynamics study

Molecular dynamics simulations of a 0.55 molal aqueous LiI solution have been performed at 508 K and 308 K and a density of 1.05 g/cm³. The structural changes resulting from increased temperature and pressure are discussed.