Fluid evolution in the W–Cu–Zn–Pb San Cristobal vein, Peru: fluid inclusion and stable isotope evidence

The Zn–Pb±Ag±Cu San Cristobal district is located 100 km east of Lima in the western cordillera of Peru. It is centred around the Chumpe intrusion and is composed of vein and carbonate replacement ore types. The main San Cristobal vein presents a paragenesis that can be divided into three stages: (a) an early wolframite–quartz–pyrite stage, (b) a quartz–base metal stage, and (c) a late quartz–carbonate–barite stage.

Fluid inclusions in quartz from the tungsten stage are biphase (LV) at room temperature and homogenise to the liquid phase between 146 and 257 °C. Their salinities range between 2.1 and 5.1 wt.% NaCl equiv. Rare inclusions contain an additional crystal of halite and have salinities of 46–54 wt.% NaCl equiv. Data of the first two stages show a decrease in homogenisation temperatures concomitant with a salinity decline. Fluid inclusions in quartz from the late stage homogenise at higher temperatures, between 252 and 323 °C, with salinities ranging between 4.6 and 6.7 wt.% NaCl equiv.

Hydrogen and oxygen isotope data indicate a two-stage evolution. Isotopic compositions of the fluid associated with the first two stages define a trend with constant δ¹⁸O values and decreasing δD values (δ¹⁸O=3.2‰ to 5.0‰ V-SMOW and δD=−60‰ to −112‰ V-SMOW), which is interpreted as mixing of a dominantly magmatic component with minor meteoric water that had equilibrated with the host rocks. This interpretation is supported by sulphur and lead isotopic data from previous studies. By contrast, the quartz–carbonate–barite stage bears isotopic characteristics defining a trend with a coupled decrease of δ¹⁸O and δD (δ¹⁸O=−8.1‰ to 2.5‰ V-SMOW and δD=−57‰ to −91‰ V-SMOW) and is explained by addition of meteoric water to the system and subsequent mixing with a less important magmatic component.

Different fluid origins are confirmed by laser ablation ICP-MS analyses of the triphase (LVH) and biphase (LV) primary inclusions. The concentrations of the major ore elements, i.e., W, Cu, Zn and Pb, decrease throughout the paragenesis; W, and to a lesser extent Cu, show significant variations, associated with a steep decrease in their concentration. The decreasing concentrations can be explained by mineral deposition and dilution by the meteoric fluid; differences in the rate of decrease indicate selective precipitation of W. Fluid inclusions of the quartz–carbonate stages show an abrupt increase in Ba and Sr concentrations. This is interpreted to reflect a higher volume of host rock silicate alteration, probably due to the increasing size of the fluid flow cell and is explained by the input of a third fluid of unknown origin. LA-ICP-MS analyses show that the fluids were already depleted in W and Cu before reaching the emplacement of carbonate replacement ore type, whereas Zn and Pb were still present in considerable amounts. This is again due to selective precipitation and is consistent with the interpretation that the economically interesting metals were dominantly introduced by magmatic fluids.     

A generalized least-squares model

Summary A interpolation method is given for the case in which a function consisting of a systematic and a random part is to be estimated from measurements affected by errors. This is a combined problem of parameter estimation, filtering and prediction, which has applications in different fields of geodesy and gravimetry. The solution of the problem is derived from a least-squares principle; it is formally very similar to a general case of least-squares adjustment. Address: Hardenbergstr. 34, 1 Berlin 12.     

Averaging two functions

The paper treats the problem of averaging two independent determinations of the same function (curve, surface, etc.). Starting from the simple arithmetic mean, the problem is successively generalized to scalar and vector functions, arriving at an integral equation of Wiener-Hopf type. Aspects of least-squares collocation are also included. Finally the problem of determining transformation parameters and other systematic deviations is treated, furnishing a simple example of continuous least-squares adjustment.     

Experimental observations of aquifer storage and recovery in brackish aquifers using multiple partially penetrating wells

Hydrogeology Journal - Aquifer storage and recovery systems using multiple partially penetrating wells (MPPW-ASR) can form a viable solution to the problem of freshwater buoyancy when using...     

Radionuclide activities in recent chondrite falls determined by gamma‐ray spectrometry: Implications for terrestrial age estimates

Radionuclide activities were measured in the low‐background gamma‐ray spectrometry facility GeMSE in eight meteorite falls (Lost City, Tamdakht, Huaxi, Boumdeid, Xining, Kamargaon, Degtevo, and Ouidiyat Sbaa) and two finds (SaU 606 and Mürtschenstock) to evaluate the use of radionuclides for terrestrial age estimates. Results indicate that these meteorites were all derived from small‐ (r < 25 cm) to medium‐sized (r < 65 cm) meteoroids. Short‐lived ⁴⁸V (t_1/2 = 16.0 d) and ⁵¹Cr (t_1/2 = 27.7 d) were only detected in Oudiyat Sbaa (EH), while ⁷Be (t_1/2 = 53.1 d) was also detected in Degtevo (H) and Kamargaon (L), in agreement with reported fall dates. The ²²Na/²⁶Al activity ratio in Huaxi agrees with the previously reported short cosmic‐ray exposure age of this meteorite while ²²Na/²⁶Al in Kamargaon likely records a complex exposure history. Bayesian statistical analysis verifies the detection of very low activities of ⁴⁴Ti (t_1/2 = 60 a) in the relatively large H chondrites (>100 g) Degtevo, Huaxi, Tamdakht, Lost City, and SaU 606. Additionally, large samples from Oudiyat Sbaa (EH) and Kamargaon (L) gave positive detections. For H chondrite target compositions, detected ⁴⁴Ti(Fe+Ni)/²⁶Al averaged 0.055 ± 0.013. Activities of ²²Na and ⁵⁴Mn in SaU 606 show that this meteorite fell between July and September 2012, making SaU 606 the second recent fall from Oman identified using gamma‐ray spectrometry. The upper activity limit of ²²Na in the Mürtschenstock meteorite shows that it fell prior to 1999 and is not related to a bolide observation in 2015. Mürtschenstock shows ¹³⁷Cs ~10× higher than previously determined in Oman meteorites, likely due to Chernobyl fallout.     

Topsoil morphology indicates bio-effective redox conditions in Venice salt marshes

Visual traces of iron reduction and oxidation are linked to the redox status of soils and have been used to characterise the quality of agricultural soils. We tested whether this feature could also be used to explain the spatial pattern of the natural vegetation of tidal habitats. If so, an easy assessment of the effect of rising sea level on tidal ecosystems would be possible. Our study was conducted at the salt marshes of the northern lagoon of Venice, which are strongly threatened by erosion and rising sea level and are part of the world heritage “Venice and its lagoon”. We analysed the abundance of plant species at 255 sampling points along a land–sea gradient. In addition, we surveyed the redox morphology (presence/absence of red iron oxide mottles in the greyish topsoil horizons) of the soils and the presence of disturbances. We used indicator species analysis, correlation trees and multivariate regression trees to analyse relations between soil properties and plant species distribution. Plant species with known sensitivity to anaerobic conditions (e.g. Halimione portulacoides) were identified as indicators for oxic soils (showing iron oxide mottles within a greyish soil matrix). Plant species that tolerate a low redox potential (e.g. Spartina maritima) were identified as indicators for anoxic soils (greyish matrix without oxide mottles). Correlation trees and multivariate regression trees indicate the dominant role of the redox morphology of the soils in plant species distribution. In addition, the distance from the mainland and the presence of disturbances were identified as tree-splitting variables. The small-scale variation of oxygen availability plays a key role for the biodiversity of salt marsh ecosystems. Our results suggest that the redox morphology of salt marsh soils indicates the plant availability of oxygen. Thus, the consideration of this indicator may enable an understanding of the heterogeneity of biological processes in oxygen-limited systems and may be a sensitive and easy-to-use tool to assess human impacts on salt marsh ecosystems.     

Finite locally resonant Metafoundations for the seismic protection of fuel storage tanks

This paper introduces a novel seismic isolation system based on metamaterial concepts for the reduction of ground motion-induced vibrations in fuel storage tanks. In recent years, the advance of seismic metamaterials has led to various new concepts for the attenuation of seismic waves. Of particular interest for the present work is the concept of locally resonant materials, which are able to attenuate seismic waves at wavelengths much greater than the dimensions of their unit cells. Based on this concept, we propose a finite locally resonant Metafoundation, the so-called Metafoundation, which is able to shield fuel storage tanks from earthquakes. To crystallize the ideas, the Metafoundation is designed according to the Italian standards with conservatism and optimized under the consideration of its interaction with both superstructure and ground. To accomplish this, we developed two optimization procedures that are able to compute the response of the coupled foundation-tank system subjected to site-specific ground motion spectra. They are carried out in the frequency domain, and both the optimal damping and the frequency parameters of the Metafoundation-embedded resonators are evaluated. As case studies for the superstructure, we consider one slender and one broad tank characterized by different geometries and eigenproperties. Furthermore, the expected site-specific ground motion is taken into account with filtered Gaussian white noise processes modeled with a modified Kanai-Tajimi filter. Both the effectiveness of the optimization procedures and the resulting systems are evaluated through time history analyses with two sets of natural accelerograms corresponding to operating basis and safe shutdown earthquakes, respectively.