Neogene–Quaternary Magmatism in Eastern Balkaria (North Caucasus,Russia): Evidence from the Isotope–Geochronological Data

Doklady Earth Sciences - An isotope-geochronological study for a number of young volcanic localities in the eastern part of Balkaria (North Caucasus, Russia), referred to the...     

Water Column Distribution of Mercury Species in Permanently Stratified Aqueous Environments

Biogeochemical structures of three permanently stratified waterbodies were studied: a sea water basin (the Black Sea), an estuary (Hunnbunn fjord), and a freshwater lake (Nordbytjernet), with focus on the distributions of methylmercury (MeHg) and total mercury (THg). THg concentrations were similar in the sea water basin (0.2–1.8 ng/L) and the freshwater lake (0.8–1.2 ng/L), but significantly higher in the estuary (0.6–9.4 ng/L). An increase in the MeHg concentration and MeHg/THg ratio were found in the redox zone in all three basins, indicating bacterial production of MeHg in the aqueous phase. In the lake and estuary, the maximum MeHg concentration and MeHg/THg ratio were found in samples located closest to the bottom sediments, likely due to the formation of MeHg in surface sediments and subsequent diffusion to the overlying waters.     

Estimating the characteristics of the vertical turbulent viscosity in the upper 200-m layer of the Black Sea

The influence of high vertical velocity gradients in the Black Sea Rim Current on the intensity of the vertical turbulent exchange is demonstrated on the basis of numerical modeling based on CTD data. The vertical turbulent exchange is confirmed by the anomalous distribution of the hydrochemical parameters in the redox layer. A system of equations for the kinetic energy of the turbulence and dissipation rate (k-? model) is used for the calculation of the coefficient of the vertical turbulent viscosity (diffusivity).     

Long-lived center of youngest volcanism in the Borzhomi region of Georgia: Isotopic-geochronological evidence

Doklady Earth Sciences -     

On-line recognition of supernova neutrino bursts in the LVD

In this paper we show the capabilities of the Large Volume Detector (INFN Gran Sasso National Laboratory) to identify a neutrino burst associated with a supernova explosion, in the absence of an “external trigger”, e.g., an optical observation. We describe how the detector trigger and event selection have been optimized for this purpose, and we detail the algorithm used for the on-line burst recognition. The on-line sensitivity of the detector is defined and discussed in terms of supernova distance and intensity at the source.     

Neogene–Quaternary Magmatism of the Çaldıran Plain and its Vicinity (Eastern Turkey): an Example of Post-Collisional Transition from Subduction to Intraplate Type

This paper is aimed at studying the chronological evolution of the Neogene–Quaternary volcanic activity within the Çald?ran plain and its mountainous framing (Eastern Turkey). It is shown that the last pulse of continental-margin magmatism related to the subduction and closure of Neotethys oceanic basin occurred in the Middle Miocene (13.5–12.5 Ma). The post-collision volcanism proceeding simultaneously with large-scale regional tectonic rearrangement and initiation of the long-term Çald?ran fault began in the Late Miocene (7–6 Ma), and reached maximum activity in the Middle Pliocene (4.7–3.6 Ma). The Quaternary period in the region evolution was marked by the abundant within-plate magmatic activity restricted to the regional SW–NE trending zone, and the formation of Eastern Turkey’s largest Tendürek shield volcano (Late Pleistocene–Holocene). Petrological-geochemical data indicate that magmas during the overall evolution of young volcanism of the Çald?ran plain was generated from a single mantle reservoir, whose composition gently one-way evolved with time. Calculations show that melting occurred in the upper part of the asthenosphere (immediately near the boundary with thinned lithospheric mantle), which was metasomatized by pre-existing long-continued subduction. The chemical variations of mantle source with time (from the Middle Miocene to Quaternary) were mainly determined by a decrease of subduction component and the presence of aqueous phases, with a general trend from E-MORB to OIB-type for generated magmas. The composition of Late Quaternary basic lavas of Tendürek Volcano in terms of most petrological-geochemical characteristics corresponds to within-plate alkaline basalts. The main trend of geochemical evolution of mantle source is correlated with a systematic change of the predominant serial affinity of igneous rocks from calcalkaline through moderately alkaline to Na-alkaline varieties. Discrete character of young magmatism within the Çald?ran plain, and its subsequent evolution (sulrasubduction → post-collision → within-plate) were mainly determined by periodical large-scale changes in geotectonic setting within the Eurasian–Arabian collision zone: (1) cessation of subduction, (2) break-up and deepening of oceanic slab with its subsequent break off, (3) inferred emergence of incipient rift setting under conditions of intense submeridional compression.     

About the effect of chemical-biological processes on the diurnal variance of hydrochemical parameters (numerical model)

Data on the diurnal variability of phosphate and oxygen concentrations are analysed using a numerical model, which considers chemical-biological processes and vertical turbulent exchange. We consider how the variation of the photosynthetic rate due to the diurnal course of illumination may affect the variability of these elements. Some modelling experiments were conducted to show the feasibility of assessing primary production from data on the vertical distribution of biogenic elements.Translated by V. Puchkin.