Palynology and depositional facet of lower Permian (Artinskian) sediments from New Majri opencast mine,Wardha basin,India

Coal samples and the associated sediments from New Majri open cast mine have been analysed palynologically with the following objectives: to date the sediments on the basis of the palyno-assemblage recognised; to carry out an inter-basinal, intra-basinal and Gondwana wide correlation; to interpret the palaeoenvironment and depositional facet of the coal field on the basis of dispersed organic matter analysis and sedimentary facies analysis. Based on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the spore and pollen content one palyno-assemblage-Scheuringipollenites and Faunipollenites has been recognised which is typical of lower Barakar Formation. This has been correlated with known palyno-assemblages from Wardha basin and other basins in India, while with the Gondwana continents the assemblage has been broadly correlated with early Permian Australian, African, South America palynofloras as well as early Permian palynoflora of Antarctica. Consequently, a tentative late Early Permian, Artinskian age is proposed for the sediments from New Majri open cast mine. Palynological studies also revealed that the peat forming vegetation was mainly composed of gymnosperms represented by glossopterids (Scheuringipollenites, Ibisporites, Platysaccus, Cuneatisporites, Primuspollenites and Sahnites), conifers (Faunipollenites, Striatites, Striatopodocarpites, Verticipollenites, Distriatites) and cordaites (Parasaccites, Plicatipollenites, Crucisaccites, Divarisaccus, Densipollenites). Spores were represented mainly by filicopsids (Horriditriletes, Brevitriletes, Callumispora) and sphenopsids (Latosporites). The relative abundance of structured organic matter implies the existence of a fairly dense cover of vegetation in the hinterland. Anaerobic, reducing, water logged peat-forming conditions have been inferred by the presence of biodegraded organic matter and amorphous organic matter. The charcoal fragments recovered from the present study area reflects a possible wildfire in the accumulated swamps or a wildfire in the hinterland after which the sediments were flushed by fluvial systems into the swamps. The coalfield exhibits horizontal bedding pattern which may be due to deposition by suspension settling or horizontal accretion. Further the alternating high and low energy regime is noticed in the sandstone-shale intercalated beds overlying the coarse grained yellow sandstone which forms the roof of the coal seam. Comprehensively the sediments are deposited as overbank / levee deposits.     

The Use of Stable Sulfur, Oxygen and Hydrogen Isotope Ratios as Geochemical Tracers of Sulfates in the Podwiśniówka Acid Drainage Area (South-Central Poland)

The paper presents the results of determinations of stable S and O isotopes of dissolved sulfates and O and H stable isotopes of waters from three ponds, that is, Marczakowe Do?y acid pond, Marczakowe Do?y fish pond and Podwi?niówka acid pit pond, located in the Holy Cross Mountains (south-central Poland). The δ³⁴S_V-CDT and δ¹⁸O_V-SMOW of SO₄ ^2? in waters of three ponds (n = 14) varied from ?16.2 to ?9.5 ‰ (mean of ?13.6 ‰) and from ?8.1 to ?3.2 ‰ (mean of ?4.8 ‰), respectively. The mean δ³⁴S–SO₄ ^2? values were closer to those of pyrite (mean of ?25.4 ‰) and efflorescent sulfate salts (mean of ?25.6 ‰), recorded previously in the Podwi?niówka quarry, than to sulfates derived from other anthropogenic or soil and bedrock sources. The SO₄ ^2? ions formed by bacterially induced pyrite oxidation combined with bacterial (dissimilatory) dissolved sulfate reduction, and presumably with subordinate mineralization of carbon-bonded sulfur compounds, especially in both Marczakowe Do?y ponds. In addition, the comparison of δ¹⁸O–SO₄ ^2? and δ¹⁸O–H₂O values indicated that 75–100 % of sulfate oxygen was derived from water. Due to the largest size, the Podwi?niówka acid pit pond revealed distinct seasonal variations in both δ¹⁸O–H₂O (?9.2 to ?1.6) and δD–H₂O (?29.7 to ?71.3) values. The strong correlation coefficient (r ² = 0.99) was noted between δ¹⁸O–H₂O and δD–H₂O values, which points to atmospheric precipitation as the only source of water. The sediments of both acid ponds display different mineral inventory: the Marczakowe Do?y acid pond sediment consists of schwertmannite and goethite, whereas Podwi?niówka acid pit pond sediment is composed of quartz, illite, chlorite and kaolinite with some admixture of jarosite reflecting a more acidic environment. Geochemical modeling of two acid ponds indicated that the saturation indices of schwertmannite and nanosized ε-Fe₂O₃ (Fe³⁺ oxide polymorph) were closest to thermodynamic equilibrium state with water, varying from ?1.44 to 3.05 and from ?3.42 to 6.04, respectively. This evidence matches well with the obtained mineralogical results.     

Organic and inorganic geochemistry of Ljubija siderite deposits,NW Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Ljubija siderite deposits, hosted by a Carboniferous sedimentary complex within the Inner Dinarides, occur as stratabound replacement-type ore bodies in limestone blocks and as siderite–sulfides veins in shale. Three principal types of ore textures have been recognized including massive dark siderite and ankerite, siderite with zebra texture, and siderite veins. The ore and host rocks have been investigated by a combination of inorganic (major, trace, and rare earth element concentrations), organic (characterization of hydrocarbons including biomarkers), and stable isotope geochemical methods (isotope ratios of carbonates, sulfides, sulfates, kerogen, and individual hydrocarbons). New results indicate a marine origin of the host carbonates and a hydrothermal–metasomatic origin of the Fe mineralization. The differences in ore textures (e.g., massive siderite, zebra siderite) are attributed to physicochemical variations (e.g., changes in acidity, temperature, and/or salinity) of the mineralizing fluids and to the succession and intensity of replacement of host limestone. Vein siderite was formed by precipitation from hydrothermal fluids in the late stage of mineralization. The equilibrium fractionation of stable isotopes reveals higher formation temperatures for zebra siderites (around 245°C) then for siderite vein (around 185°C). Sulfur isotope ratios suggest Permian seawater or Permian evaporites as the main sulfur source. Fluid inclusion composition confirms a contribution of the Permian seawater to the mineralizing fluids and accord with a Permian mineralization age. Organic geochemistry data reflect mixing of hydrocarbons at the ore site and support the hydrothermal–metasomatic origin of the Ljubija iron deposits.     

High Arctic sea ice conditions influence marine birds wintering in Low Arctic regions

Ocean climate change is having profound biological effects in polar regions. Such change can also have far-reaching downstream effects in sub-polar regions. This study documents an environmental relationship between High Arctic sea ice changes and mortality events of marine birds in Low Arctic coastal regions. During April 2007 and March 2009, hundreds of beached seabird carcasses and moribund seabirds were found along the east and northeast coasts of Newfoundland, Canada. These seabird “wrecks” (i.e. dead birds on beaches) coincided with a period of strong, persistent onshore winds and heavily-accumulated sea ice that blocked bays and trapped seabirds near beaches. Ninety-two percent of wreck seabirds were Thick-billed Murres (Uria lomvia). Body condition and demographic patterns of wreck murres were compared to Thick-billed Murres shot in the Newfoundland murre hunt. Average body and pectoral masses of wreck carcasses were 34% and 40% lighter (respectively) than shot murres, indicating that wreck birds had starved. The acute nature of each wreck suggested that starvation and associated hypothermia occurred within 2–3 days. In 2007, first-winter murres (77%) dominated the wreck. In 2009, there were more adults (78%), mostly females (66%). These results suggest that spatial and temporal segregation in ages and sexes can play a role in differential survival when stochastic weather conditions affect discrete areas where these groups aggregate. In wreck years, southward movement of Arctic sea ice to Low Arctic latitudes was later and blocked bays longer than in most other years. These inshore conditions corresponded with recent climate-driven changes in High Arctic ice break-up and ice extent; coupled with local weather conditions, these ice conditions appeared to be the key environmental features that precipitated the ice-associated seabird wrecks in the Low Arctic region.     

Weathering of the black limestone of historical monuments (Ljubljana,Slovenia): Oxygen and sulfur isotope composition of sulfate salts

The black limestone widely used in Slovenian monuments, particularly in the baroque architecture, is deteriorating extensively due to salt crystallization. Samples of soluble salts from two important historical monuments (in Ljubljana, Slovenia) were investigated in terms of their mineral and isotopic (S and O) compositions. Results revealed the presence of gypsum and soluble salts of the MgSO₄·nH₂O series, such as starkeyite (MgSO₄·4H₂O), pentahydrite (MgSO₄·5H₂O) and hexahydrite (MgSO₄·6H₂O). Whereas black crusts and subflorescences consisted of gypsum, efflorescences appeared to be an assemblage of gypsum and MgSO₄ hydrates. Sample δ¹⁸O_sulfate values varied from ?1.9‰ to +5.5‰ vs. V-SMOW and δ³⁴S_sulfate values from ?19.8‰ to +3.2‰ vs. V-CDT. The respective isotopic composition of analysed outdoor and indoor monument samples indicated different sources of contamination.     

Early Triassic palynomorphs from Manuguru area of Godavari graben,Andhra Pradesh

High fluoride content in the groundwater is reported from parts of the Gad River Basin, Sindhudurg district, coastal Maharashtra, India. The fluoride content of up to 5 mg/l has been found in the groundwater in laterite, basalt and the Precambrian basement (gneiss) aquifers in the region. The presence of high fluoride in groundwater well above the permissible levels for consumption poses a serious health threat to the rural populace in the region. The presence of tourmaline bearing pegmatites in the Precambrian basement is considered as a potential fluorine source. Deep circulation of fluoride rich groundwater between the latetritised basalts and the underlying crystalline basement could be responsible for the occurrence of fluoride in both the shallow and deeper aquifers of the region.     

Changes in the Large-Scale Atmospheric Circulation over Romania Between 1961 and 2010 on Seasonal Basis

The aim of this paper is to investigate the trends and shifts of the circulation types over Romania for 50-year period (1961–2010) on seasonal basis. In order to achieve this, two objective catalogues, namely GWT and WLK, from COST733 Action were employed. Daily circulation types were grouped according to the cyclonicity and anticyclonicity and were used to calculate the seasonal occurrence frequency of cyclonic and anticyclonic types. The trend of seasonal time series was investigated by using Mann–Kendall test and the shifts points were determined by using Pettitt test. The results reveal that the occurrence frequency of anti-cyclonic types increases in summer and winter seasons and the occurrence frequency of cyclonic ones decreases for the summer season (for alpha = 0.05).