The role of ejecta in the small crater populations on the mid-sized saturnian satellites

We find evidence, by both observation and analysis, that primary crater ejecta play an important role in the small crater (less than a few km) populations on the saturnian satellites, and more broadly, on cratered surfaces throughout the Solar System. We measure crater populations in Cassini images of Enceladus, Rhea, and Mimas, focusing on image data with scales less than 500 m/pixel. We use recent updates to crater scaling laws and their constants (Housen, K.R., Holsapple, K.A. [2011]. Icarus 211, 856–875) to estimate the amount of mass ejected in three different velocity ranges: (i) greater than escape velocity, (ii) less than escape velocity and faster than the minimum velocity required to make a secondary crater (v_min), and (iii) velocities less than v_min. Although the vast majority of mass on each satellite is ejected at speeds less than v_min, our calculations demonstrate that the differences in mass available in the other two categories should lead to observable differences in the small crater populations; the predictions are borne out by the measurements we have made to date. In particular, Rhea, Tethys, and Dione have sufficient surface gravities to retain ejecta moving fast enough to make secondary crater populations. The smaller satellites, such as Enceladus but especially Mimas, are expected to have little or no traditional secondary populations because their escape velocities are near the threshold velocity necessary to make a secondary crater. Our work clarifies why the Galilean satellites have extensive secondary crater populations relative to the saturnian satellites. The presence, extent, and sizes of sesquinary craters (craters formed by ejecta that escape into temporary orbits around Saturn before re-impacting the surface, see Dobrovolskis, A.R., Lissauer, J.J. [2004]. Icarus 169, 462–473; Alvarellos, J.L., Zahnle, K.J., Dobrovolskis, A.R., Hamill, P. [2005]. Icarus 178, 104–123; Zahnle, K., Alvarellos, J.L., Dobrovolskis, A.R., Hamill, P. [2008]. Icarus 194, 660–674) is not yet well understood. Finally, our work provides further evidence for a “shallow” size–frequency distribution (slope index of ～2 for a differential power-law) for comets a few kilometers diameter and smaller.     

Three-Dimensional Modeling of Shallow Shear-Wave Velocities for Las Vegas, Nevada, Using Sediment Type

A three-dimensional model of near-surface shear-wave velocity in the deep alluvial basin underlying the metropolitan area of Las Vegas, Nevada (USA), is being developed for earthquake site response projections. The velocity dataset, which includes 230 measurements, is interpolated across the model using depth-dependent correlations of velocity with sediment type. The sediment-type database contains more than 1 400 well and borehole logs. Sediment sequences reported in logs are assigned to one of four units. A characteristic shear-wave velocity profile b developed for each unit by analyzing closely spaced pairs of velocity profiles and well or borehole logs. The resulting velocity model exhibits reasonable values and patterns, although it does not explicitly honor the measured shear-wave velocity profiles. Site response investigations that applied a preliminary version of the velocity model support a two-zone ground-shaking hazard model for the valley. Areas in which clay predominates in the upper 30 m are predicted to have stronger ground motions than the rest of the basin.     

Tsunami sediments and their foraminiferal assemblages

Tsunami hazard assessment begins with a compilation of past events that have affected a specific location. Given the inherent limitations of historical archives, the geological record has the potential to provide an independent dataset useful for establishing a richer, chronologically deeper time series of past events. Recent geological studies of tsunami are helping to improve our understanding of the nature and character of tsunami sediments. Wherever possible, geologists should be working to improve the research ‘tool kit’ available to identify past tsunami events. Marine foraminifera (single celled heterotrophic protists) have often been reported as present within tsunami-deposited sediments but in reality, little information about environmental conditions, and by analogy, the tsunami that deposited them, has been reported even though foraminifera have an enormous capacity to provide meaningful palaeo-environmental data. Here, we review what foraminifera are, describe their basic form and significance, summarise where they have been reported in tsunami sediments and identify what can be learnt from them. We review the gaps in our understanding and make recommendations to assist researchers who examine foraminiferal assemblages in order to enhance their use within tsunami geology.     

Timing and thermochemical constraints on multi-element mineralisation at the Nori/RA Cu–Mo–U prospect, Great Bear magmatic zone, Northwest Territories, Canada

The timing of Cu–Mo–U mineralisation at the Nori/RA prospect in the Paleoproterozoic Great Bear magmatic zone has been investigated using Re–Os molybdenite and ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar biotite geochronology. The Re–Os molybdenite ages presented are the first robust sulphide mineralisation ages derived from the Great Bear magmatic zone. Cu–Mo–U mineralisation is hosted in early to syn-deformational hydrothermal veins consisting of quartz and K-feldspar or more commonly tourmaline-biotite-quartz-K-feldspar, with associated wall-rock alteration assemblages being predominantly biotite. Sulphide and oxide minerals consist of chalcopyrite, molybdenite and uraninite with lesser pyrite and magnetite. Elevated light rare earth elements and tungsten concentrations associated with the Cu–Mo–U mineralisation have also been reported at the prospect by previous workers. Molybdenite and uraninite occur intimately in dravitic tourmaline growth zones and at grain margins, attesting to their syngenetic nature (with respect to hydrothermal veining). Two molybdenite separates yield Re–Os model ages of 1,874.4 ± 8.7 (2σ) and 1,872.4 ± 8.8 Ma (2σ) with a weighted average model age of 1,873.4 ± 6.1 Ma (2σ). Laser step heating of biotite from the marginal alteration of the wall-rock adjacent to the veins yields a ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar maximum cooling age of 1,875 ± 8 Ma (MSWD = 3.8; 2σ), indistinguishable from the Re–Os molybdenite model age and a previously dated ‘syn-tectonic’ aplitic dyke in the region. Dravitic tourmaline hosts abundant primary liquid–vapour–solid-bearing fluid inclusions. Analytical results indicate liquid–vapour homogenisation at >260°C constraining the minimum temperature of mineralisation. The solids, which are possibly trapped, did not homogenise with the liquid–vapour by 400°C. Salinities in the inclusions are variable. Raman spectra identify that at least some of the solids are calcite and anhydrite. Raman spectra also confirm the vapour phases contain some CO₂; whereas clathrates or CH₄ was not observed or detected. Quartz grains only host secondary fluid inclusions, which fluoresce under ultraviolet light, indicating trapped hydrocarbons. We speculate that these resulted from Phanerozoic fluid circulation through the Proterozoic basement. The collective interpretation of the age, hydrothermal character and associated metals, high temperature and variable salinity suggests that the Nori/RA Cu–Mo–U mineralisation can be linked with the earliest stages of plutonism in the Great Bear magmatic zone. From a regional perspective, the mineralisation may pre-date the extensive multi-element mineralisation now recognised as part of the iron oxide copper–gold (IOCG) spectrum of deposits. As IOCG provinces generally contain a variety of mineralisation styles, we interpret this as the earliest phase of the extensive mineralising system.     

Understanding ship-grounding impacts on a coral reef: potential effects of anti-foulant paint contamination on coral recruitment

The 184 m cargo ship Bunga Teratai Satu collided with Sudbury Reef, part of the Great Barrier Reef and remained grounded for 12 days. The ship was re-floated only 3 days prior to the November 2000 mass coral spawning. No cargo or fuel was lost but the impact resulted in significant contamination of the reef with anti-foulant paint containing tributyltin (TBT), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). Larvae of the reef-building scleractinian coral Acropora microphthalma were exposed to various concentrations of sediment collected from the grounding site in replicated laboratory experiments. Two experiments were performed, both of which used varying ratios of contaminated and control site sediment in seawater as treatments. In the first experiment, the influence of contaminated sediment on larval competency was examined using metamorphosis bioassays. In the second, the effect of contaminated sediment upon larval recruitment on pre-conditioned terracotta tiles was assessed. In both experiments, sediment containing 8.0 mg kg(-1) TBT, 72 mg kg(-1) Cu and 92 mg kg(-1) Zn significantly inhibited larval settlement and metamorphosis. At this level of contamination larvae survived but contracted to a spherical shape and swimming and searching behaviour ceased. At higher contamination levels, 100% mortality was recorded. These results indicate that the contamination of sediment by anti-fouling paint at Sudbury Reef has the potential to significantly reduce coral recruitment in the immediate vicinity of the site and that this contamination may threaten the recovery of the resident coral community unless the paint is removed.     

Calcite-filled borings in the most recently deposited skeleton in live-collected Porites (Scleractinia): Implications for trace element archives

Skeletons of the scleractinian coral Porites are widely utilized as archives of geochemical proxies for, among other things, sea surface temperature in paleoclimate studies. Here, we document live-collected Porites lobata specimens wherein as much as 60% of the most recently deposited skeletal aragonite, i.e., the part of the skeleton that projects into the layer of living polyps and thus is still in direct contact with living coral tissue, has been bored and replaced by calcite cement. Calcite and aragonite were identified in situ using Raman microspectroscopy. The boring-filling calcite cement has significantly different trace element ratios (Sr/Ca_(mmol/mol) = 6.3 ± 1.4; Mg/Ca_(mmol/mol) = 12.0 ± 5.1) than the host coral skeletal aragonite (Sr/Ca_(mmol/mol) = 9.9 ± 1.3; Mg/Ca_(mmol/mol) = 4.5 ± 2.3). The borings appear to have been excavated by a coccoid cyanobacterium that dissolved aragonite at one end and induced calcite precipitation at the other end as it migrated through the coral skeleton. Boring activity and cement precipitation occurred concomitantly with coral skeleton growth, thus replacing skeletal aragonite that was only days to weeks old in some cases. Although the cement-filled borings were observed in only ∼20% of sampled corals, their occurrence in some of the most recently produced coral skeleton suggests that any corallum could contain such cements, irrespective of the coral’s subsequent diagenetic history. In other words, pristine skeletal aragonite was not preserved in parts of some corals for even a few weeks. Although not well documented in coral skeletons, microbes that concomitantly excavate carbonate while inducing cement precipitation in their borings may be common in the ubiquitous communities that carry out micritization of carbonate grains in shallow carbonate settings. Thus, such phenomena may be widespread, and failure to recognize even very small quantities of early cement-filled borings in corals used for paleoclimate studies could compromise high resolution paleotemperature reconstructions. The inability to predict the occurrence of cement-filled borings in coralla combined with the difficulty in recognizing them on polished blocks highlights the great care that must be taken in vetting samples both for bulk and microanalysis of geochemistry.     

EXPERIENCES WITH ANALYTICAL PLOTTERS

Three authors, representing commercial, educational and governmental photogrammetric organisations, report on their initial uses of analytical plotters.