Dinosaur- and mammal-bearing aeolian and associated deposits of the Upper Cretaceous in the Gobi Desert (Mongolia)

The Barun Goyot Formation (? Campanian-Maastrichtian) consists of continental red-bed type sandstones. The formation was interpreted in terms of intertonguing and/or alternating dune deposits and sediments of intermittent lakes and streams. The mega cross-stratified sandstone units which show considerable lateral continuity and little variation of foresets dip were described as buried transverse dunes. They are rather poor in animal fossils. Most dinosaurs and mammals occur in water-deposited interdune sediments. This is due to ecological differences between bare dunes and the interdune depression which had a vegetation cover.     

Degradation of Isoprene in the Presence of Sulphoxy Radical Anions

Autoxidation of S(IV) initiated by manganese sulphate or potassium peroxydisulphate in alkaline aqueous solutions was significantly slowed down by dissolved isoprene, which decayed in the process. The laboratory experiments were carried out in a batch, perfectly mixed reactor, which had no gas space. The concentration–time profiles of oxygen were measured with a Clark-type electrode. The profiles of sulphite species and of isoprene were evaluated from the UV spectra of solutions. The kinetic analysis indicated that isoprene reacted directly with sulphate radical anions produced during the S(IV) autoxidation. A relative second-order rate constant of (2.12 ± 0.37) × 10⁹ M^–1 s^–1 was determined for this reaction at 25 °C, pH (8.0–8.5) and ionic strength of (1.7–4.9) × 10^–3 M (the reference rate constant of the reaction of sulphate radical anions with sulphite ions equalled 3.4 × 10⁸ M^–1 s^–1). A tentative mechanism of isoprene oxidation during S(IV) autoxidation, which included formation of isoprene – SO^– ₄ adduct, was based on the analogy to the gas-phase reactions of isoprene and to the liquid-phase reactions of sulphate radical anions with other compounds. Atmospheric significance of the aqueous-phase reaction of isoprene with sulphate radicals was discussed. Approximate analysis showed the reaction is a potential sink for isoprene in the aqueous phase and in the gas–liquid systems of high liquid water content (LWC > 10^–5 m³ m^–3). The aqueous-phase oxidation of isoprene can produce secondary pollutants, and influence transformation and the long-range transport of SO₂ in the atmosphere.     

Chemistry of waters from selected caves in Slovakia—a reconnaissance study

The chemical composition of water samples was studied from different caves in Slovakia. The water samples were collected from caves of two karst regions: (1) the Demänovský Cave System (DCS), situated in the Low Tatra Mountains (Northern Slovakia), which is mainly formed of limestone and dolomites; and (2) the Slovakian Karst to the Southeast is formed of limestone. A considerable difference between water from the two regions was shown. The waters from the DCS, that were controlled by vadose water percolating through different types of host rocks, contained more Mg ions than those from the Slovakian Karst caves whereas, the concentration of SO₄ was controlled by the dissolution of displacive gypsum and/or oxidation of pyrite. The distribution of NO₃ in the studied samples was random, hence nitrates probably derived from few pollution sources. The total mineralization of the water was covariant with calcite and aragonite saturation indices. In general, both parameters are higher in the Slovakian Karst caves than in the DCS. It is controlled probably by differences in climatic conditions, soil and plant covers between these two regions. The main goal of this article is to characterize the major-ion water chemistry within the studied caves as well as some microelements. The results have confirmed the dominant role of the bedrock petrography in forming the general chemistry of cave waters.     

Subaerial terminoglacial fans I: a semi-quantitative sedimentological analysis of the proximal environment

Fans formed under subaerial terminoglacial (previously called ice-contact) conditions have several characteristics that differ from those formed under other conditions. Twenty-five such fans in NE Poland were investigated to model the dominant genetic processes involved. These fans show, as do other types, a proximal, a middle and a distal environment. The present study deals with the proximal environment. The fans date from the last, i.e. Weichselian or Vistulian, glacial. The proximal terminoglacial fan comprises abundant gravelly sediments, resembling the glacial deposits from which they were derived. Three facies, each subdivided into two subfacies, can be distinguished; these are dominated by mass flows, unchannelised flows, and stream (= channelised) flows, respectively. The characteristics of the facies are described and illustrated. It is concluded that the irregular supply of water by the nearby ice masses dominates the sedimentary processes.     

Nonlinear Stability of the Lagrangian Libration Points in the Chermnykh Problem

In this paper we consider the problem of motion of an infinitesimal point mass in the gravity field of an uniformly rotating dumb-bell. The aim of our study is to investigate Liapunov stability of Lagrangian libration points of this problem. We analyze the stability of libration points in the whole range of parameters ω, μ of the problem. In particular, we consider all resonance cases when the order of resonance is not greater than five. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Design criteria for roadway supports to resist dynamic loads

Summary Conditions under which dynamic loads occur in mines are briefly described and the special vulnerability of roadways in coal mines to fail under dynamic load is considered. A method for assessment of shock load energy anticipated is proposed, based on the volume of rock and the velocity of rock particles induced by rapid rock failure and/or seismic tremors. Case examples from Upper Silesian coal mines are given and the safety factor of steel supports against the shock energy from rockbursts is discussed. The shock energy damping ability of various parts of steel supports and support systems is calculated as a basis for rational support design. Results of six mine experiments where various types of roadway support were installed and then loaded dynamically by blasting within surrounding rocks are discussed.     

A Lower Palaeozoic shallow water sequence in the eastern European Variscides (SW Poland): provenance and depositional history

The Gackowa Formation of inferred Cambrian —Ordovician age is part of the metamorphosed pre-Variscan basement of the southern Kaczawa Mountains of the Sudetes region, south-west Poland. Previously variously interpreted as lavas, tuffs and sandstones, it is shown to consist of about 200 m of originally well-sorted siliclastic sedimentary rocks within a sequence of predominantly mafic volcanic rocks. Four facies have been distinguished based on relict sedimentary structures and textures and these suggest that deposition took place on a storm-dominated shelf, mostly above the wave base. The petrography, detrital zircon morphologies and geochemistry suggest affinity with, and derivation in large part from, acid volcanic rocks at a comparable stratigraphic position in a separate tectonostratigraphic unit to the south. The Gackowa Formation and its acid volcanic source rocks have a clear continental geochemical signature, in contrast with the mantle-derived basic/bimodal volcanic rocks below and above; it is suggested that the parent acid magma originated by crustal melting during the ascent of these mantle-derived magmas. A continental crust setting is inferred for the deposition of the Gackowa Formation sandstones, thus suggesting a continental setting for the associated within-plate basalts. The entire volcanic/sedimentary succession resembles elements of the Lower Palaeozoic of Germany, and all may have formed in an initial rift setting during Late Precambrian to Ordovician times.