The distribution of neodymium isotopes in Arctic Ocean basins

Nd concentration and isotope data have been obtained for the Canada, Amundsen, and Makarov Basins of the Arctic Ocean. A pattern of high Nd concentrations (up to 58 pM) at shallow depths is seen throughout the Arctic, and is distinct from that generally seen in other oceans where surface waters are relatively depleted. A range of isotopic variations across the Arctic and within individual depth profiles reflects the different sources of waters. The dominant source of water, and so Nd, is the Atlantic Ocean, with lesser contributions from the Pacific and Arctic Rivers. Radiogenic isotope Nd signatures (up to ε_Nd = −6.5) can be traced in Pacific water flowing into the Canada Basin. Waters from rivers draining older terrains provide very unradiogenic Nd (down to ε_Nd = −14.2) that can be traced in surface waters across much of the Eurasian Basin. A distinct feature of the Arctic is the general influence of the shelves on the Nd concentrations of waters flowing into the basins, either from the Pacific across the Chukchi Sea, or from across the extensive Siberian shelves. Water-shelf interaction results in an increase in Nd concentration without significant changes in salinity in essentially all waters in the Arctic, through processes that are not yet well understood. In estuarine regions other processes modify the Nd signal of freshwater components supplied into the Arctic Basin, and possibly also contribute to sedimentary Nd that may be subsequently involved in sediment-water interactions. Mixing relationships indicate that in estuaries, Nd is removed from major river waters to different degrees. Deep waters in the Arctic are higher in Nd than the inflowing Atlantic waters, apparently through enrichments of waters on the shelves that are involved in ventilating the deep basins. These enrichments generally have not resulted in major shifts in the isotopic compositions of the deep waters in the Makarov Basin (ε_Nd ∼ −10.5), but have created distinctive Nd isotope signatures that were found near the margin of the Canada Basin (with ε_Nd ∼ −9.0). The deep waters of the Amundsen Basin are also distinct from the Atlantic waters (with ε_Nd = −12.3), indicating that there has been limited inflow from the adjacent Makarov Basin through the Lomonosov Ridge.     

Surface metal enrichment and partitioning of metals in a dated sediment core from a Norwegian fjord

A 24-cm long sediment core from an oxic fjord basin in Ranafjord, Northern Norway, was sliced in 2 cm sections and analysed for As, Co, Cu, Ni, Hg, Pb, Zn, Mn, Fe, ignition loss and Pb-210. Partitioning of metals between silicate, non-silicate and non-detrital phases was assessed by leaching experiments, in an attempt to understand the mechanisms of surface metal enrichment in sediments. Relative to metal concentrations in sediments deposited in the 19th century, metals in near surface sediments were enriched in the following order: Pb > Mn > Hg > Zn > Cu > As > Fe. Cobalt and Ni showed no enrichment. The non-detrital fraction of Cu, Pb, Mn and Zn was significantly higher in the upper 10 cm than at greater depth in the core. This corresponds to sediments deposited since 1900, when mining activities started in the area. The enrichment of Cu, Pb and Zn is assumed to be mainly a result of mining, while Mn is apparently enriched in the surface due to migration of dissolved Mn and precipitation in the oxic surface layer. Elevated concentrations of As and Fe in the upper 4 cm are presumably due to discharges from a coke plant and an iron works respectively. The excess Hg present in the near surface sediments is tightly bound, either in coal particles or ore dust introduced by local industry, or via long distance transport of atmospheric particles. Calculations of metal flux to the sediments indicate an anthropogenic flux of Zn equal to its natural flux, while the flux of Pb shows a threefold increase above natural input.     

Coastal and near-shore changes correlated with die-back in eel-grass (Zostera Marina,L.)

The die-back of eel-grass (Zostera marina, L.) is found to have played an important role with regard to near-shore sedimentation and coastal changes.In a natural harbour at Kyholm, Denmark a hiatus is found between silty sediments that date from about 4000 BC and overlying modern sandy sediments. It is suggested that this is a consequence of the die-back of eel-grass in the nineteen-thirties, resulting in mobilisation and disturbance of nearshore sediments and the shoreward movement of mobilised sandy material into the harbour. The coastal morphology of Kyholm was relatively stable from 1802 to 1933, but between 1933 and 1978 there have been two periods of drastic progradation correlated with die-back of eel-grass.     

Natural gradient experiment on transport of jet fuel derived hydrocarbons in an unconfined sandy aquifer

This paper deals with a field experiment, combining the push–pull and tracer tests, conducted under natural gradient conditions at the international Oslo airport. The studied aquifer, showing very complex hydrogeological settings, has been contaminated by a jet fuel spill. The tracer solutes—bromide, toluene, o-xylene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene and naphthalene, have been injected into the plume. Their migration and changes in concentration of the electron acceptors and metabolic by-products have been monitored. Fast removal of both the non-reactive tracer as well as the aromatic organics has been observed. The tracer pulse could only be detected 2 m downgradient from the injection points. At this point, toluene and o-xylene have been completely removed, however, trimethylbenzenes and naphthalene have been detected. Their depletion, based on calculations of available electron acceptors, can, to a large extent, be accounted for intrinsic biodegradation, with Fe(III) and sulphate reductions as the major controlling processes.     

Use of mode-converted waves in marine seismic data to investigate the lithology of the sub-bottom sediments in Isfjorden,Svalbard

The compression wavefield is efficiently converted to shear-wave energy at post-critical angles in areas of high impedance contrast at the sea floor. We have analysed mode-converted shear waves in a data set acquired with a hybrid marine/land geometry in Isfjorden, Svalbard. Through a kinematic 2D ray-tracing modellingV _p/V_s ratios for part of the uppermost 5km of the crust are obtained. Low values (V _p /V _s =1.65) are tentatively associated with the section of Devonian sandstones which appears to attain a minimum thickness of 1.5km below 3 km depth about 10km west of Kapp Thorden.     

Isotopic datings of reddish granitoids in southern Värmland,southwestern Sweden

Three reddish granites from the Gneiss Complex of south-western Sweden have been dated with the U-Pb and one of them also with the Rb-Sr method. The Gneiss Complex consists of two mega-units separated by a tectonic discontinuity. The two granites from the western mega-unit (»the Western Gneiss Segment«) yield zircon upper-intercept ages of 1552 _–36 ⁺³⁸ and 1499 _–36 ⁺³⁶ Ma (2). These ages are minimum estimates of the intrusion ages, but the difference between the obtained and the true age is probably small. This assumption is based on studies of the morphology and internal structures of the zircons and also on air abrasion experiments.The third granite is located in the eastern mega-unit (the »Eastern Gneiss Segment«) and forms a number of small massifs, 50 m in diameter. The U-Pb and Rb-Sr ages agree within the limits of the errors — 1140 _–52 ⁺⁵⁴ Ma (upper intercept) and 1104 ± 100 Ma, respectively — but the obtained age is nevertheless dubious. Thin-section studies reveal that the zircons are heterogeneous with different types of material making up the inner and outer parts. Electron-microscopic studies as well as air abrasion and leaching experiments were performed to establish possible differences in age and chemistry between the inner and outer parts. The central parts are made up of almost pure ZrSiO₄ whereas the outer parts are layered with alternating pure ZrSiO₄ layers and layers rich in trace elements. The leaching and air abrasion data do not indicate any age difference between the inner and outer parts. This supports the validity of the upper-intercept age as an intrusion age.The Rb-Sr age is questionable since the obtained initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio is as low as 0.7027. This cannot possibly be true for a felsic, late Proterozoic granite. A plausible explanation could be a rotation of the isochron due to migration of Rb and Sr during a low-grade event. This event is also responsible for the alteration of the biotites and plagioclases.These data provide additional evidence for extensive ensialic magmatism in the period succeeding the lithosphere-forming event.

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Zusammenfassung Drei rötliche Granite aus dem Südwestschwedischen Gneiskomplex sind mit der U-Pb Methode und einer davon zusätzlich mit der Rb-Sr Methode datiert worden. Der Gneiskomplex besteht aus zwei Haupteinheiten, die tektonisch voneinander getrennt sind. Zwei Granite aus der westlichen Haupteinheit (dem sogenannten »Western Gneiss Segment«) ergeben obere Schnittpunktsalter der Zirkone von 1552 _–36 ⁺³⁸ bzw. 1499 _–36 ⁺³⁶ Ma (2). Diese Alter stellen Minimumalter für die Instrusionen dar, die nur geringfügig jünger sind als die wahren Instrusionsaltern. Diese Vermutung stützt sich auf Untersuchungen der Morphologie und der internen Struktur der Zirkone sowie auf Experimente mit Hilfe der Luftabriebstechnik (air abrasion technique).Der dritte Granit stammt aus der östlichen Haupteinheit (dem sogenannten »Eastern Gneiss Segment«), in der er kleine Körper von etwa 50 m Durchmesser bildet. Die U-Pb und Rb-Sr Alter von 1140 _–52 ⁺⁵⁴ Ma (oberer Schnittpunkt), bzw. 1104 ± 100 Ma stimmen innerhalb des Fehlers überein. Trotzdem ist dieses Alter fragwürdig. Dünnschliffuntersuchungen zeigen, da\ die Zirkone heterogen sind, und da\ Rand und Kern unterschiedlich zusammengesetzt sind. Um Unterschiede in Alter und Chemismus zwischen Rand und Kern festzustellen, wurden Untersuchungen mit dem Elektronenmikroskop, Luftabriebsexperimente und Anätzexperimente durchgeführt. Die Kerne bestehen fast aus reinem ZrSiO₄, wogegen die äu\eren Ränder aus Wechsellagerungen von reinem ZrSiO₄ und Lagen mit hohem Spurenelementgehalt bestehen.Die Anätzversuche und die Luftabriebsexperimente brachten keinen Altersunterschied zwischen Rand und Kern. Diese Tatsachen sprechen dafür, da\ das obere Schnittpunktsalter dem Instrusionsalter entspricht.Das Rb-Sr Alter ist fragwürdig, zumal das⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr-Initialverhältnis einen sehr niedrigen Wert von 0,7027 aufweist, der für einen spätproterozoischen Granit viel zu niedrig ist. Eine mögliche Erklärung ist die Rotation der Isochrone wegen einer Migration von Rb und Sr während eines Ereignisses bei niedriger Temperatur, ein Ereignis, das auch für die Umwandlung von Biotit und Plagioklas verantwortlich zu sein scheint. Die oben aufgeführten Daten geben zusätzliche Hinweise für einen sialischen Magmatismus im Zeitraum des fortschreitenden Ereignisses der Bildung der Lithosphäre.

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Résumé Trois granites rougeâtres provenant du complexe gneissique du sud-ouest de la Suède ont été datés par la méthode U-Pb et, pour l'un d'entre eux, également par la méthode Rb-Sr. Le complexe gneissique consiste en deux grandes unités séparées par une discontinuité tectonique. Les zircons de deux granites provenant de l'unité occidentale (»Western Gneiss Segment«) fournissent des âges (intersection supérieure) de 1552 _–36 ⁺³⁸ et 1499 _–36 ⁺³⁶ Ma (2). Ces âges constituent des estimations minimales des âges d'intrusion, la différence entre l'âge mesuré et l'âge véritable étant probablement minime. Cette supposition se base sur l'étude de la morphologie et des structures internes des zircons, ainsi que sur des expériences d'abrasion à l'air.Le troisième granite est situé dans l'unité orientale (»Eastern Gneiss Segment«) et se présente en plusieurs massifs d'une cinquantaine de mètres de diamètre. Les âges U-Pb et Rb-Sr coÏncident dans les limites des erreurs (1140 _–52 ⁺⁵⁴ (point d'intersection supérieur) et 1104±100 Ma) l'âge obtenu étant néanmoins incertain. L'étude en coupes minces montre que les zircons sont hétérogènes, leurs parties centrales et périphériques présentant des constitutions différentes. Des examens au microscope électronique, ainsi que des essais d'abrasion à l'air et de corrosion à l'acide ont eté effectués afin de mettre en évidence des différences éventuelles d'âge et de composition chimique entre les parties contrales et périphériques. Tandis que les parties centrales consistent en ZrSiO₄ pratiquement pur, les parties extérieures se composent de couches de ZrSiO₄ pur alternant avec des couches contenant de multiples éléments en traces. Les données obtenues sur les grains corrodés à l'acide ou soumis à une abrasion à l'air n'indiquent cependant pas de différence d'âge entre les parties centrales et périphériques. Ceci confirme la validité de l'âge obtenu (point d'intersection supérieur) comme âge d'intrusion.L'âge Rb-Sr est douteux, étant donné que le rapport initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr n'est que de 0,7027, valeur improbable pour un granite felsique du ProtérozoÏque supérieur. Il paraÎt raisonnable de supposer une rotation de l'isochrone, due à une migration de Rb et Sr durant un événement à basse température. Cet événement serait également responsable de l'altération des biotites et des plagioclases. Ces données fournissent un argument supplémentaire en faveur d'un magmatisme ensialique pendant la période qui suit la formation de la lithosphère.

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