Petrology,geochemistry, and geochronology of Paleoproterozoic volcanic and granitic rocks (1.89–1.88 Ga) of the Pitinga Province,Amazonian Craton,Brazil

This paper presents geochemical, petrographic, and geochronological data on the Uatumã magmatism in the Pitinga Province, where it is represented by volcanic rocks from the Iricoumé Group and granitic rocks from the Mapuera Suite. The Iricoumé Group (1.89–1.88 Ga) is constituted of the Divisor Formation (intermediate volcanic rocks), Ouro Preto Formation (acid effusive rocks), and Paraiso Formation (acid crystal-rich ignimbrites, surge deposits, and basic rocks). The volcanic sequence is intruded by granitoids from the Mapuera Suite (1.88 Ga), mainly represented by monzogranites and syenogranites. Structural and field relations suggest that caldera complex collapse controlled the emplacement of volcanics and granitoids of the Mapuera Suite. Subsequent structure reactivations allowed the younger Madeira Suite (1.82–1.81 Ga) to be emplaced in the central portion of the caldera complex. The felsic Iricoumé magmatism is mainly composed of rhyolites, trachydacites and latites, with SiO₂ contents between 64 wt% and 80 wt%. The plutonic rocks from the Mapuera Suite present SiO₂ between 65 wt% and 77 wt%. Volcanic and granitic rocks present identical geochemical characteristics and that is attributed to their co-magmatic character. The felsic volcanic rocks and granites are metaluminous to slightly peraluminous and show affinity with silica-saturated alkaline series or with A-type magmas. They have Na₂O + K₂O between 6.6% and 10.4%, FeO^t/(FeO^t + MgO) varying between 0.76 and 0.99, Ga/Al ratios between 1.5 and 4.9, like typical A-type rocks; and plot in the within-plate or post-collisional fields in the (Nb + Y) vs. Rb diagram. The Nb/Y ratios indicate that these rocks are comparable to A2-type granites. This magmatism can be related to the (i) potassic alkaline series, with low Sr content in the felsic rocks explained by plagioclase fractionation at low pressure and high temperature or, alternatively, (ii) a bimodal association where magma had high crustal influence. The similarity of the Iricoumé felsic magmatism with A2-type granitoids and their high ETRL/Nb ratios suggest its relation with mantle sources previously modified by subduction, probably in a post-collision environment. Alternatively, this can be interpreted as bimodal within-plate magmatism with contamination by crustal melts. In this context, the extreme F, Nb and Zr enrichment of Madeira Suite could be explained by the presence of a thin crust which favored the presence and continuity of convective systems in the upper mantle.     

Investigating the transport dynamics and the properties of bedload material with a hydro‐acoustic measuring system

This article deals with the following two questions. Are acoustic measurements in running waters appropriate for a highly resolved investigation of the bedload transport? Which characterizations of the bedload regarding mass and shape are possible via the acoustic signals? The signals were recorded by means of data recorders (Tascam Inc. DAP1 Portable Data Recorder) and hydrophones (International Transducer Corp. ITC‐4001 A). The ITC‐4001 is a shallow water omnidirectional transducer containing a flexural disc transducer utilizing Channelite‐5400 ceramics mounted in a rugged corrosion‐resistant housing. These hydrophones were screwed onto the bottom side of stainless steel plates, serving as a contact surface for the bedload in motion above them. After more than 100 series of tests in the laboratory, which indicated the basic relations between the dimension, shape and weight of the bedload and the resulting signal, field tests of the measuring system were conducted. By artificially produced flood waves in the small brooks Riverisbach, Olewiger Bach and by a winter flood wave in the River Moselle, it is possible to elaborate similar structures of the signal course of the bedload movement. The highest transport rates can be observed at the beginning of the increasing limbs and behind the peaks of the waves. At the beginning of the waves, the increasing transport power of the water and the loose material can be considered as the cause for this result. The high stream velocity behind the wave peaks explains the increase in the bedload transport so that material from the channel beds is unfastened and will be mobilized. The characterization of the bedload regarding the shape and mass is still limited regarding the field measurements and could be solved only for homogeneous grain sizes and single stones under laboratory conditions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pressure Instability of Magnetic Susceptibility of Pyrrhotite Bearing Rocks from the KTB Borehole

Experimental results of pressure-induced changes in mean magnetic susceptibility of rock samples from the main KTB borehole are reported. It was found that susceptibility values of rocks from depths between 5200 and 7000 m show unstable behaviour upon application of pressure, showing an increase in susceptibility of between 20 and 120%. This unstable behaviour was only detected in samples from the above mentioned depth interval, which contain both ferrimagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases of pyrrhotite. On the basis of thermomagnetic analysis, magnetic field treatment, optical microscopy and domain observations of undeformed and deformed samples, reasons for this instability are discussed and interpreted in relation to redistribution of internal stresses within the ferrimagnetic phase, resulting in changes in domain wall mobility.     

A new challenge: Bar formation and secular evolution in lenticular galaxies

To further enhance our understanding on the formation and evolution of bars in lenticular (S0) galaxies, we are undertaking a detailed photometric and spectroscopic study on a sample of 22 objects. Here we report the results of a 2D structural analysis on two barred face-on S0's, which indicate that presently these galaxies do not possess disks. We discuss two possibilities to explain these surprising results, namely strong secular evolution and bar formation without disks. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Magnetic screening of a pollution hotspot in the Lausitz area, Eastern Germany: correlation analysis between magnetic proxies and heavy metal contamination in soils

This investigation was carried out within the scope of EU-FP5 project MAGPROX. In parallel with the work of Kalinski et al. (2004, submitted), in which the magnetic signatures of the same soil profiles were analysed in more detail. The ‘hot spot’ under investigation was situated in the Lausitz area, Eastern Germany, between two major power plants, Schwarze Pumpe and Boxberg. This heavily industrialized region is known as the Black Triangle, named after the large lignite deposits and the old-technology power plants, among other petrochemical plants, refineries, textile manufacturing and glasswork industries. The relationship between magnetic parameters and heavy metal concentrations (Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd, Co and Ni) in soil profiles was determined statistically using linear regression analysis. Strong positive correlation was observed between heavy metal concentrations as viewed preliminarily from the heavy metal and magnetic susceptibility distributions with depth (soil profiles), and from the correlation coefficients obtained.MAGPROX team–FP5 RTD Project No. EVK2-CT-1999-00019     

Potassic and low- and high-Ti mildly alkaline volcanism in the Neoproterozoic Ramada Plateau, southernmost Brazil

Ramada Plateau Neoproterozoic volcanism represents a portion of the shoshonitic and mildly alkaline magmatism related to postcollisional events of the Brasiliano/Pan African cycle of southernmost Brazil. It is constituted by shoshonitic basic-intermediate lavas, followed by a bimodal sequence characterized by pyroclastic deposits, lava flows, and hypabyssal rocks with ages of 549±5 Ma. The shoshonitic magmatism presents greater K₂O than Na₂O₂, K₂O/Na₂O ratios close to 1, and moderate large ion lithophile and high-field strength element contents. The bimodal basic-acid volcanism presents a transitional chemical affinity with features of sodic, silica-saturated alkaline to continental tholeiitic series. Observed basic and acid rocks with contrasting Ti contents are referred to as high- and low-Ti basalt-rhyolites. Another group of acid rocks with higher Nb, Ta, and Rb values was identified as high-Nb rhyolites. The Ramada Plateau magmatism is comparable to associations related to the final stages of orogenic cycles, in which shoshonitic and high- and low-Ti alkaline magmatism reflects the melting of subduction-modified sources, whereas the high-Nb magmas show less influence of subduction-related metasomatism and are closer to magmas produced from anorogenic sources. A model of magma generation in collisional settings involving slab break-off and asthenospheric upwelling is applied to the evolution of magmatism from subduction-related to anorogenic in the Ramada Plateau.     

Expansive bentonite-sand mixtures in cyclic controlled-suction drying and wetting

Expansive clay buffers in radioactive waste disposal designs experience cyclic drying and wetting paths during different stages of their design life. Clayey soils subjected to these processes develop swelling and shrinkage deformations, which give rise to the accumulation of compression or expansion strains during suction cycles. Experimental studies were undertaken using oedometer tests on an artificially prepared bentonite-sand mixture (80% bentonite by dry mass). In order to study these processes and to identify the most important features controlling soil behaviour, several wetting-drying cycles with suctions ranging between 130 and 4 MPa were applied using vapour equilibrium technique and covering a wide range of overconsolidation ratios (OCR). The tested samples showed cumulative shrinkage strains along the successive cycles, which became more significant at increasing vertical net stresses (low OCR values). However, no accumulation of expansion strains was detected at elevated OCR values. Test results were interpreted and predicted within the context of an elastoplastic model proposed by Alonso et al., 1999, [Alonso, E.E., Vaunat, J., Gens, A., (1999). Modelling the mechanical behaviour of expansive clays. Engineering Geology, 54, 173-183.] which takes into account the accumulation of strains. A good correspondence between measured soil response and model predictions was observed. The paper also presents the methodology to derive the constitutive parameters.     

Evaluation of contaminants retention in soils from Viamão District, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

Adsorption is one of the most significant processes in the mobility of soluble pollutants in soils. The aim of this work is to characterize and evaluate the adsorption capacity of soils from Viamão District, Brazil. The studied ions were lead_total, copper_total, sulfate, phosphate, and potassium. The soils were mapped by remote sensing and characterized by granulometrical and mineralogical techniques. The adsorption tests were made by the contact of soil samples with aqueous solutions. The soils adsorption capacity presented the following trend: Pb_total>Cu_total≈PO ₄ ³⁻ >K⁺ ≈SO ₄ ²⁺ . Adsorption in the soils is strongly influenced by clay content. The adsorption of phosphate, copper, and lead was accentuated by the presence of organic matter. Phosphate adsorption was controlled by oxides and organic matter. Both potassium and sulfate showed insignificant adsorption in the studied soils.