Magnetic properties of high-Ti basaltic rocks from the Krušné hory/Erzgebirge MTS. (Bohemia/Saxony), and their relation to mineral chemistry

This study provides new thermomagnetic and petrographic data on specific basaltic rock association from the broader vicinity of the Lou?ná-Oberwiesenthal volcanic centre, western Bohemia/Saxony. Two types of volcanic rocks were recognized there: (i) high-Ti types (3.5–5.2 wt% TiO₂) represented by (mela)nephelinite s.s., and sporadically present (ii) medium-Ti types (2.5–3.5 wt% TiO₂) of olivine nephelinite, nepheline basanite and phonotephrite compositions. In order to examine the rock-magnetic behaviour, they were studied for their variations in the Curie temperature (T_C) and field-dependent susceptibility, spinel group minerals, chemistry and petrology. Magnetic susceptibility of ulvöspinel-rich titanomagnetite, as a dominant magnetic carrier, depends on the amplitude of measured magnetic field, whereas pure magnetite is field-independent. Field dependence parameter ^kHD of the studied basaltic rocks ranges from 0.8 to 18.7%, TiO₂ contents in titanomagnetite range from 12.7 to 20.1 wt.%. TiO₂ content in titanomagnetite does not correlate with whole-rock TiO₂ content (2.8 to 5.6 wt.%). The content of substituted titanium in the sublattice of magnetite is also sensitively reflected in the Curie temperature, ranging from 200 to 580°C. The spinel group minerals are designated as titanomagnetite with the dominance of ulvöspinel, magnetite and magnesioferrite components, or titanomagnetite with the magnetite, ulvöspinel and magnesioferrite components. Only two samples are characterized by a significant presence of Cr-spinel and magnesiochromite components forming cores of titanomagnetites. The titanomagnetite-bearing rocks in the studied area, likewise the low- to medium-Ti basaltic rocks from the ?eské st?edoho?í Mts., provide similar thermomagnetic curves.     

Climate change in Central Europe and the sensitivity of the hard rock aquifer in the Bohemian Massif to decline of recharge: case study from the Bohemian Massif

Climate change in Central Europe is manifested by periods of drought during the summer months of years when there is a reduction in atmospheric precipitation and temporary accumulation of water in the form of snow during winter period. The shallow sub-surface aquifer in crystalline rocks is very vulnerable to this decline in rainfall. Monitoring and subsequent model simulations revealed that the groundwater level in recharge areas had been lowered by almost 10 m, but the study also showed that levels in discharge areas are significantly more stable. The transmissivity of hard rock aquifers evidently shows changes in both space and time. The temperature rise results in increasing values of evapotranspiration that is manifested by a gentle but long-lasting groundwater-level decline.     

Phyllocladane in brown coal from Handlová, Slovakia: Isolation and structural characterization

Aliphatic diterpenes were isolated from brown coal from Handlová, Slovakia, using microwave assisted extraction of mechanically activated coal powder. The parameters of the extraction procedure were optimized to get the target compounds in high yield. The total extract was separated using adsorption chromatography. GC–MS revealed tetracyclic and tricyclic diterpanes in the aliphatic fraction; they were identified as 16α(H)-phyllocladane (83%), isopimarane (11%), 18-norisopimarane (4%), abietane (2%) and fichtelite (<0.1%). It was found that more than 2 g of the most abundant diterpane, 16α(H)-phyllocladane could be extracted from 1 kg of Handlová coal. Because of the scarcity of relevant analytical data, 16α(H)-phyllocladane was thoroughly characterized by spectroscopic and chromatographic methods. A complete set of ¹H and ¹³C NMR data is given including their comparison with published values and ab initio calculations. EI mass and IR spectra of 16α(H)-phyllocladane are shown and discussed. Kováts retention indices measured on two common GC stationary phases are also given.     

Magma Intrusions and Earthquake Swarm Occurrence in the Western Part of the Bohemian Massif

We are proposing a hypothesis that earthquake swarms in the West Bohemia/Vogtland seismoactive region are generated by magmatic activity currently transported to the upper crustal layers. We assume that the injection of magma and/or related fluids and gases causes hydraulic fracturing which is manifested as an earthquake swarm at the surface. Our statements are supported by three spheres of evidence coming from the western part of the Bohemian Massif: characteristic manifestations of recent geodynamic activity, the information from the neighbouring KTB deep drilling project and from the 9HR seismic reflection profile, and the detailed analysis of local seismological data. (1) Recent manifestations of geodynamic activity include Quaternary volcanism, rich CO ₂ emissions, anomalies of mantle-derived ³ He, mineral springs, moffets, etc. (2) The fluid injection experiment in the neighbouring KTB deep borehole at a depth of 9 km induced hundreds of micro-earthquakes. This indicates that the Earth's crust is near frictional failure in the western part of the Bohemian Massif and an addition of a small amount of energy to the tectonic stress is enough to induce an earthquake. Some pronounced reflections in the closely passing 9HR seismic reflection profile are interpreted as being caused by recent magmatic sills in the crust. (3) The local broadband seismological network WEBNET provides high quality data that enable precise localization of seismic events. The events of the January 1997 earthquake swarm are confined to an extremely narrow volume at depths of about 9 km. Their seismograms display pronounced reflections of P- and S-waves in the upper crust. The analysis of the process of faulting has disclosed a considerable variability of the source mechanism during the swarm. We conclude that the mechanism of intraplate earthquake swarms generated by magma intrusions is similar to that of induced seismicity. As the recent tectonic processes and manifestations of geodynamic activity are similar in European areas with repeated earthquake swarm occurrence (Bohemian Massif, French Massif Central, Rhine Graben), we assume that magma intrusions and related fluid and gas release at depths of about 10 km are the universal cause of intraplate earthquake swarm generation     

High-resolution magnetostratigraphy and micropalaeontology across the J/K boundary strata at Brodno near ilina, western Slovakia: summary of results

This study summarizes the final results of magnetostratigraphic and micropalaeontological investigations of the Tithonian/Berriasian boundary (J/K) limestones at the locality of Brodno near ilina, Western Carpathians, West Slovakia. The aim is to prepare the background for correlation of a Late Tithonian and Early Berriasian biostratigraphic zonation with global magnetoevents (manifested in detailed magnetostratigraphic profiles) between the Tethyan realm and other regions, particularly the Boreal and Pacific realms. Suitable physical properties of the limestones studied, a favourable geological setting and rich microfossil assemblages (calpionellids) at Brodno (magnetozones M21r to M18r) allowed a systematic collection of new data on the original synoptic section, which now has the character of a high-resolution profile across the J/K boundary. Two reverse subzones detected within magnetozones M20n and M19n are named ‘Kysuca Subzone’ and ‘Brodno Subzone’, respectively. Both can be correlated with analogous subzones in the M-sequence of marine anomalies. Their existence can also be confirmed in the Bosso Valley section in Umbria, central Italy. A detailed study of the interval between magnetozones M20n and M17r in the Bosso Valley profile is presently in its final stage. Both magnetostratigraphic profiles, from the Brodno and Bosso Valley localities, were thoroughly investigated in the intervals close to the J/K boundary and are still unique among continent-based profiles in the detection and precise definition of both reverse subzones within M20n and M19n. Samples collected from the boundary strata of the reverse Kysuca Subzone at Brodno indicated a transition from N (R) to R (N) polarity of the Earth's palaeomagnetic field within a time interval of c. ±5 ka. Limestone samples (total number N=368) were subjected to progressive thermal demagnetization in 10–12 thermal fields and to subsequent multi-component analysis of remanence. The C-component, as the carrier of palaeomagnetic directions, was determined in the temperature interval of 300° to 540°, or possibly 580°C. Magnetomineralogical analyses of pilot samples and unblocking temperatures determined for all samples showed that magnetite is the carrier of remanent magnetization. The positions of the individual events of calpionellid stratigraphy relative to the global magnetic polarity timescale are precisely defined. The base of the Calpionella Standard Zone, which is considered a provisional J/K boundary indicator in ammonite-free sections in the Tethyan realm, lies within magnetozone M19n at the level of 35% of its local thickness. None of the boundaries in the calpionellid zonation coincides precisely with any of those in the palaeomagnetic zonation, but the first appearance ofCalpionella grandalpina , indicating the base of the Intermedia Subzone, lies in close proximity to the base of magnetozone M19r.     

Observed spatiotemporal characteristics of drought on various time scales over the Czech Republic

This paper analyses the observed spatiotemporal characteristics of drought in the Czech Republic during the growing season (April to September) as quantified using the Standardised Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) on various time scales. The SPEI was calculated for various lags (1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months) from monthly records of mean temperature and precipitation totals using a dense network of 184 climatological stations for the period 1961–2010. The characteristics of drought were analysed in terms of the temporal evolution of the SPEI, the frequency distribution and duration of drought at the country level, and for three regions delimited by station altitude. The driest and the wettest years during the growing season were identified. The frequency distribution of the SPEI values for seven drought category classes (in per cent) indicates that normal moisture conditions represent approximately 65 % of the total SPEI values for all time scales in all three regions, whereas moderate drought and moderate wet conditions are almost equally distributed around 10.5 %. Differences in extremely dry conditions (5 %) compared with extremely wet conditions (1.5 %) were observed with increasing SPEI time scales. The results of the non-parametric Mann–Kendall trend test applied to the SPEI series indicate prevailing negative trends (drought) at the majority of the stations. The percentage of stations displaying a significant negative trend for the 90, 95, 99, and 99.9 % confidence levels is approximately 40 %. An Empirical Orthogonal Functions (EOF) analysis was used to identify the principal patterns of variability of the SPEI during the growing season that accounted for the highest amount of statistical variance. The variance explained by the leading EOF range 66 to 56 %, whereas for EOF2 and EOF3, the value is between 7 and 11 % and between 4 and 7 %, respectively, for the SPEI is calculated for 1- to 24-month lags.     

Petrology, geochemistry and zircon age for redwitzite at Abertamy, NW Bohemian Massif (Czech Republic): tracing the mantle component in Late Variscan intrusions

A small body of mafic texturally and compositionally varied igneous intrusive rocks corresponding to redwitzites occurs at Abertamy in the Western pluton of the Krušné hory/Erzgebirge granite batholith (Czech Republic). It is enclosed by porphyritic biotite granite of the older intrusive suite in the southern contact zone of the Nejdek-Eibenstock granite massif. We examined the petrology and geochemistry of the rocks and compared the data with those on redwitzites described from NE Bavaria and Western Bohemia.The redwitzites from Abertamy are coarse- to medium-grained rocks with massive textures and abundant up to 2 cm large randomly oriented biotite phenocrysts overgrowing the groundmass. They are high in MgO, Cr and Ni but have lower Rb and Li contents than the redwitzites in NE Bavaria. Compositional linear trends from redwitzites to granites at Abertamy indicate crystal fractionation and magma mixing in a magma chamber as possible mechanisms of magma differentiation. Plots of MgO versus SiO₂, TiO₂, Al₂O₃, FeO, CaO, Na₂O, and K₂O indicate mainly plagioclase and orthopyroxene fractionation as viable mechanisms for in situ differentiation of the redwitzites.The porphyritic biotite monzogranite enclosing the redwitzite is the typical member of the early granitic suite (Older Intrusive Complex, OIC ) with strongly developed transitional I/S-type features. The ages of zircons obtained by the single zircon Pb-evaporation method suggest that the redwitzites and granites at Abertamy originated during the same magmatic period of the Variscan plutonism at about 322 Ma.The granitic melts have been so far mainly interpreted to be formed by heat supply from a thickened crust or decompression melting accompanying exhumation and uplift of overthickened crust in the Krušné hory/Erzgebirge due to a previous collisional event at ca. 340 Ma. The presence of mafic bodies in the Western pluton of the Krušné hory/Erzgebirge batholith confirms a more significant role of mantle-derived mafic magmas in heating of the sources of granitic melts than previously considered.     

Supracrustal suite of the Precambrian crystalline crust in the Ghor Province of Central Afghanistan

The Proterozoic pre-Ediacaran metamorphic basement of the southern Tajik (North Afghanistan) continental block and the adjacent Band-e-Bayan zone is exposed in the Ghor Province of Central Afghanistan. It is predominantly composed of the EW-striking supracrustal succession consisting of interbedded felsic schists and gneisses (metapsammites), amphibolites (metabasalts), calcite and dolomite marbles. The metamorphic facies changes from greenschist in the Band-e-Bayan zone to amphibolite facies in the Tajik block. The supracrustal rocks of the Band-e-Bayan zone and Tajik block possess common features suggesting that the former represents a tectonized part of the latter. The geochemical characteristics of metapsammites indicate derivation of the clastic material from a continental arc and, partly from a passive continental margin, whereas the composition of metabasalts suggests their possible formation in a continental rift basin. The tectonic setting of supracrustal unit could be interpreted as a back-arc type basin. We presume that the Tajik microcontinent split off the Gondwana supercontinent along an ancient rift zone during the late Paleozoic.     

Year‐round estimation of soil moisture content using temporally variable soil hydraulic parameters

Soil moisture plays a key role in the hydrological cycle as it controls the flux of water between soil, vegetation, and atmosphere. This study is focused on a year‐round estimation of soil moisture in a forested mountain area using the bucket model approach. For this purpose, three different soil moisture models are utilised. The procedure is based on splitting the whole year into two complement periods (dormant and vegetation). Model parameters are allowed to vary between the two periods and also from year to year in the calibration procedure. Consequently, two sets of average model parameters corresponding to dormant and vegetation seasons are proposed. The process of splitting is strongly supported by the experimental data, and it enables us to variate saturated hydraulic conductivity and pore‐size characterisation. The use of the two different parameter sets significantly enhances the simulation of two (Teuling and Troch model and soil water balance model‐green–ampt [SWBM‐GA]) out of three models in the 6‐year period from 2009 to 2014. For these two models, the overall Nash‐Sutcliffe coefficient increased from 0.64 to 0.79 and from 0.55 to 0.80. The third model (the Laio approach) proved to be insensitive to parameter changes due to its insufficient drainage prediction. The variability of the warm and cold parameter sets between particular years is more pronounced in the warm periods. The cold periods exhibited approximately similar character during all 6 years.