Sources of dissolved REE in mountainous streams draining granitic rocks, Sierras Pampeanas (Córdoba, Argentina)

Stream waters draining granitic terrains from the highest part (850 to 2200 m a.s.l.) of Sierras Pampeanas (Córdoba, Argentina, ∼32°S, ∼65°W) were sampled in order to define sources and distribution of dissolved rare earth elements (REE), and to describe the geochemical processes that govern their mobility. The contribution of the regional granite to the dissolved REE pool in stream water is limited due to the physical conditions predominating in the area (i.e., steep slopes and semiarid climate). Therefore, precipitation is considered a seasonally significant source controlling REE concentration in stream water. Dissolved REE concentrations are inversely correlated with monthly precipitation and rainfall frequency. During the rainy season (i.e., the austral summer) REE concentrations in stream water are lower than during the dry season (i.e., austral winter). Such low concentrations reflect the balance between the REE input from precipitation and their removal by adsorption. In contrast, during the dry season, the longer residence time of water within fractures and colluvium determines an increased REE concentration in the base flow. Lower pH values also contribute to raise REE concentration through desorption from mineral surfaces.     

La ligne du Tonale (Alpes centrales et orientales): sens de décrochement et prolongements

This work discusses the state of knowledge (mainly tectonic and geophysical data) about the Tonale line and other “peri-Adriatic” lines in the Central and Eastern Alps. The chain is here cut into a mosaic of independent blocs, separated by faults with basic injections in some places. The Tonale fault had a dextral movement in Oligo-Miocene times; it is connected with the Austrian “Thermenlinie”, and not to the Pusteria—Gail line. An attempt at chronology is presented.

Résumé

Ce travail fait le point des connassiances, principalement tectoniques et géophysiques, sur la linge du Tonale et les accidents “péri-adriatiques” récents des Alpes centrales et Orientales. Dans cette région, la chaine est découpée en une mosaïque de blocs indépendants, séparés par des accidents injectés ça et là de masses basiques. L'accident du Tonale, Qui a joué en décrochement dextre à l'Oligo-Miocéne, est relié à la Thermenlinie d'Autriche Et non à la linge Pusteria—Gail. Un essai de chronologie est présenté.     

Dominant amphipods of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows display considerable trophic diversity

Gut content examination and trophic markers (fatty acids, stable isotopes of C and N) were combined to delineate the diet of the dominant species of amphipods from Mediterranean Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows and to highlight trophic diversity among this community. Our results indicate that, although all dominant species heavily relied on macroalgal epiphytes, considerable interspecific dietary differences existed. Carbon stable isotope ratios notably showed that some of the amphipod species favored grazing on epiphytes from leaves or litter fragments (Apherusa chiereghinii, Aora spinicornis, Gammarus aequicauda), while others such as Dexamine spiniventris preferred epiphytes from rhizomes. The remaining amphipods (Caprella acanthifera, Ampithoe helleri and Gammarella fucicola) readily consumed both groups. In addition, SIAR modeling suggested that most species had a mixed diet, and relied on several food items. Fatty acid analysis and gut contents revealed that contributions of microepiphytic diatoms and of benthic and suspended particulate organic matter to the diet of amphipods were anecdotal. None of the examined species seemed to graze on their seagrass host [low 18:2(n‐6) and 18:3(n‐3) fatty acids contents], but Gammarus aequicauda partly relied on seagrass leaf detritus, as demonstrated by the lesser ¹³C‐depletion of their tissues. Overall, our findings suggest that amphipods, because of their importance in the transfer of organic matter from primary producers and detritus to higher rank consumers, are key items in P. oceanica‐associated food webs.     

Laser Ablation (U-Th-Sm)/He Dating of Zircons: Analytical Age Bias and its Consequence for Studying Detrital Zircon Populations

The in situ (U-Th-Sm)/He and U/Pb laser-ablation double-dating procedure is a valuable method that can provide a large dataset relatively efficiently in contrast with conventional bulk helium thermochronometry. In this study, we evaluate the potential age error associated with the double ablation procedure and report the in situ (U-Th-Sm)/He double-ablation dating of 249 zircons from the Fish Canyon Tuff locality. With LA-ICP-MS pseudo-depth profiling and 3D numerical modelling, we show that the concentric double-ablation procedure in minerals with U-Th-Sm zoning can generate a significant (U-Th-Sm)/He age error (positive or negative), resulting in over-scattering and/or an offset of the mean age. Pseudo-depth profiling is insufficient to predict the individual age error, partly because of the superimposed ablations. To evaluate the consequence of this inherent bias, we confront a synthetic age distribution to the error expected for U-Th-Sm zoned zircons analysed with double-ablation (U-Th-Sm)/He thermochronometry. As expected, a strong age bias causes the spreading of peak ages, downgrading the original signal. Yet, the throughput of the ablation-based method can allow intra- and inter-sample peak age identification and comparison, and the coupling of (U-Th-Sm)/He and U/Pb ages extends our ability to deconvolute a multimodal age spectrum.     

Surface-water/groundwater exchange in a sand dune lake in the Dry Pampean Plain,Argentina: stable isotopic evidence

Hydrogeology Journal - Understanding the hydrological functioning of the scarce freshwater bodies of semiarid regions is crucial, especially in those areas affected by anthropic activities...     

Study in laboratory of treatment with cement of silty material: improvement of the mechanical properties

The addition of the agent of treatment allows to obtain a better traficability and improves the capacity of the soil to compaction while assuring a correct implementation. Besides, the binder provides to the soil a direct, maintained, or increasing lift at the same time. The choice of the agent of treatment and its dosage is determined by the type of soil, its moisture content at the time of the treatment, and by the aimed characteristics. The technique of treatment of soil in place in the hydraulic binders consists in valuing the natural soil (existing at the site of construction) by mixing them with a hydraulic binder and some water. It allows to avoid the transport and implies their stabilization in very interesting costs before the implementation of the superficial layers. In this context, this paper presents the results of the shear strength parameters of a study in laboratory with the aim of using the fine soil, in particular an Algerian western resulting silt, after a treatment with the cement by dry mixing method. Our goal is to realize pavement structures (base layer and subgrade layer) with this material. This type of treatment requires to know well the material which we wish to treat. A geotechnical complete characterization before treatment is approached on samples compacted in different water content, followed by the study of the influence of the addition of 2, 4, and 6 % cement on the characteristics of portance and of strength to shearing. Shear test was performed after curing the samples for 24 h to evaluate the shear strength parameters. The obtained results highlight a clearly better and marked improvement of the characteristics such as the lift and the strength to shearing.     

The Ebro Deep-Sea Fan system

The Ebro Fan System consists of en echelon channel-levee complexes, 50×20 km in area and 200-m thick. A few strong reflectors in a generally transparent seismic facies identify the sand-rich channel floors and levee crests. Numerous continuous acoustic reflectors characterize overbank turbidites and hemipelagites that blanket abandoned channel-levee complexes. The interlobe areas between channel complexes fill with homogeneous mud and sand from mass flow and overbank deposition; these exhibit a transparent seismic character. The steep continental rise and sediment “drainage” of Valencia Trough at the end of the channel-levee complexes prevent the development of distributary channels and midfan lobe deposits. Margin setting represents fan and/or source area     

Geochemical soil surveys over cambrian and lower devonian formations in the belgian ardennes as a tool for geological mapping

A geochemical soil survey was made over outcropping Cambrian and Lower Devonian formations in the Belgian Ardennes. About 300 soil samples were collected in an area of 2.5 × 1.1 km².Analysis of rock samples from scarce, but stratigraphically well-known outcrops show that the Cambrian rocks are richer in copper than those of the Lower and Upper Gedinnian (Lower Devonian). The Upper Gedinnian rocks are more nickeliferous than the other horizons.In the well-drained soils, copper and lead distributions permit precise location of the boundary between Cambrian and Lower Gedinnian formations. The nickel distribution seems to be a good stratigraphic indicator for distinguishing Upper from Lower Gedinnian. Zinc distribution seems unrelated to underlying bedrock geology.Regression analysis confirms that the content of Cu, Pb and Ni is essentially a function of lithostratigraphy. However, the distribution of these elements is more influenced by pedological factors in the poorly drained soils.     

Ion and neutral sources and sinks within Saturn's inner magnetosphere: Cassini results

Using ion-electron fluid parameters derived from Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) observations within Saturn's inner magnetosphere as presented in Sittler et al. [2006a. Cassini observations of Saturn's inner plasmasphere: Saturn orbit insertion results. Planet. Space Sci., 54, 1197-1210], one can estimate the ion total flux tube content, N_IONL², for protons, H⁺, and water group ions, W⁺, as a function of radial distance or dipole L shell. In Sittler et al. [2005. Preliminary results on Saturn's inner plasmasphere as observed by Cassini: comparison with Voyager. Geophys. Res. Lett. 32(14), L14S04), it was shown that protons and water group ions dominated the plasmasphere composition. Using the ion-electron fluid parameters as boundary condition for each L shell traversed by the Cassini spacecraft, we self-consistently solve for the ambipolar electric field and the ion distribution along each of those field lines. Temperature anisotropies from Voyager plasma observations are used with (T_⊥/T_∥)_W⁺∼5 and (T_⊥/T_∥)_H⁺∼2. The radio and plasma wave science (RPWS) electron density observations from previous publications are used to indirectly confirm usage of the above temperature anisotropies for water group ions and protons. In the case of electrons we assume they are isotropic due to their short scattering time scales. When the above is done, our calculation show N_IONL² for H⁺ and W⁺ peaking near Dione's L shell with values similar to that found from Voyager plasma observations. We are able to show that water molecules are the dominant source of ions within Saturn's inner magnetosphere. We estimate the ion production rate S_ION∼10²⁷ ions/s as function of dipole L using N_H⁺, N_W⁺ and the time scale for ion loss due to radial transport τ_D and ion-electron recombination τ_REC. The ion production shows localized peaks near the L shells of Tethys, Dione and Rhea, but not Enceladus. We then estimate the neutral production rate, S_W, from our ion production rate, S_ION, and the time scale for loss of neutrals by ionization, τ_ION, and charge exchange, τ_CH. The estimated source rate for water molecules shows a pronounced peak near Enceladus’ L shell L∼4, with a value S_W∼2×10²⁸ mol/s.