An Open,Object-Based Framework for Generating Anisotropy in Sedimentary Subsurface Models

The spatial distribution of hydraulic properties in the subsurface controls groundwater flow and solute transport. However, many approaches to modeling these distributions do not produce geologically realistic results and/or do not model the anisotropy of hydraulic conductivity caused by bedding structures in sedimentary deposits. We have developed a flexible object-based package for simulating hydraulic properties in the subsurface—the Hydrogeological Virtual Realities (HyVR) simulation package. This implements a hierarchical modeling framework that takes into account geological rules about stratigraphic bounding surfaces and the geometry of specific sedimentary structures to generate realistic aquifer models, including full hydraulic-conductivity tensors. The HyVR simulation package can create outputs suitable for standard groundwater modeling tools (e.g., MODFLOW), is written in Python, an open-source programming language, and is openly available at an online repository. This paper presents an overview of the underlying modeling principles and computational methods, as well as an example simulation based on the Macrodispersion Experiment site in Columbus, Mississippi. Our simulation package can currently simulate porous media that mimic geological conceptual models in fluvial depositional environments, and that include fine-scale heterogeneity in distributed hydraulic parameter fields. The simulation results allow qualitative geological conceptual models to be converted into digital subsurface models that can be used in quantitative numerical flow-and-transport simulations, with the aim of improving our understanding of the influence of geological realism on groundwater flow and solute transport.     

Global cooling inferred from dropstones in the Cretaceous: fact or wishful thinking?

Traditionally, the Cretaceous has been considered as a long period of global warmth, a 'greenhouse' world. This view has been challenged in recent years by several lines of evidence; palaeobotany, stable isotopes, and palaeoclimatic modelling in particular. However, although these data demonstrate that cooling is likely, the only first-hand evidence which demonstrates the presence of substantial ice build-up in Cretaceous high palaeolatititudes are dropstones. These outsized or exotic clasts set in a fine-grained sediment are often interpreted as a direct result of ice rafting. The reliability of this dropstone evidence and particularly its validity is questioned in demonstrating ice age interludes within the Cretaceous greenhouse.     

Petrogenesis of the highly potassic 1.42 Ga Barrel Spring pluton,southeastern California,with implications for mid-Proterozoic magma genesis in the southwestern USA

Syenites from the Barrel Spring pluton were emplaced in the Early Proterozoic Mojave crustal provine of southeastern California at 1.42 Ga. All rocks, even the most mafic, are highly enriched in incompatible elements (e.g. K₂O 4–12 wt%, Rb 170–370 ppm, Th 12–120 ppm, La 350–1500xchondrite, La/Yb_n 35–100). Elemental compositions require an incompatible element-rich but mafic (or ultramafic) source. Trace element models establish two plausible sources for Barrel Spring magmas: (1) LREE enriched garnet websterite with accessory apatite±rutile (enriched lithospheric mantle), and (2) garnet amphibolite or garnet-hornblende granulite with enriched alkali basalt composition, also with accessory apatite±rutile (mafic lower crust). Nd and Pb isotopic ratios do not distinguish a crust vs mantle source, but eliminate local Mojave province crust as the principal one, and indicate that generation of the enriched source occurred several hundred million years before emplacement of the Barrel Spring pluton. 1.40–1.44 Ga potassic granites are common in southeastern California, suggesting a genetic link between the Barrel Spring pluton and the granites; however, although the same thermal regime was probably responsible for producing both the granitic and syentic magmas, elemental and isotopic compositions preclude a close relationship. Isotopic similarity of the Barrel Spring pluton to 1.40–1.44 Ga granites emplaced in the Central Arizona crustal province to the east may imply that a common component was present in the lithosphere of these generally distinct regions.     

Nd, Sr and Os isotope systematics in young, fertile spinel peridotite xenoliths from northern Queensland, Australia: A unique view of depleted MORB mantle?

Northeastern Queensland, a part of the Phanerozoic composite Tasman Fold Belt of eastern Australia, has a Paleozoic to Mesozoic history dominated by subduction zone processes. A suite of 13 peridotite xenoliths from the <3 Ma Atherton Tablelands Volcanic Province, predominantly from Mount Quincan, comprise fertile (1.8-3.4 wt.% Al₂O₃ and 38.7-41.9 wt.% MgO) spinel lherzolites free from secondary volatile-bearing phases and with only weak metasomatic enrichment of incompatible trace elements (Sm_N/Yb_N = 0.23-1.1; La_N/Yb_N = 0.11-4.9). The suite is isotopically heterogeneous, with measured Sr (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7027-07047), Nd (¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.51249-0.51362), and to a lesser extent, Os (¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os = 0.1228-0.1292) compositions broadly overlapping MORB source mantle (DMM) and extending to more depleted compositions, reflecting evolution in a time-integrated depleted reservoir. Major and rare earth element systematics are consistent with mantle that is residual after low to moderate degrees of melt extraction predominantly in the spinel facies, but with a few samples requiring partial melting at greater pressures in the garnet field or near the garnet-spinel transition. In contrast to most previously studied suites of continental lithospheric mantle samples, the incompatible trace element contents and Sr and Nd isotopic systematics of these samples suggest only minimal modification of the sampled lithosphere by metasomatic processes.Five of six Mount Quincan xenoliths preserving depleted middle to heavy REE patterns form a whole rock Sm-Nd isochron with an age of ∼275 Ma (ε_Ndi = +9), coincident with widespread granitoid emplacement in the overlying region. This isochron is interpreted to indicate the timing of partial melting of a DMM-like source. Xenoliths from other Atherton localities scatter about the isochron, suggesting that the sampled mantle represents addition of DMM mantle to the lithosphere in the Permian, when the region may have broadly been within a subduction zone setting. A sixth middle to heavy REE-depleted Mount Quincan xenolith has a distinct Nd and Os isotopic composition consistent either with an earlier, possibly Precambrian melt extraction event, or with Permian derivation from a mantle source with a less depleted (time-averaged lower Sm/Nd) Nd isotopic composition, but a more depleted (low Re/Os) Os isotopic composition.The range in measured whole rock Os isotopic compositions cannot solely be the result of time-integrated effects of variable melt extraction, especially considering the coherent Sm-Nd systematics of the suite. The Os heterogeneity more likely reflects either a heterogeneous ∼275 Ma DMM source that would have a present-day Os composition (¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ∼ 0.1265-0.1287) overlapping both abyssal peridotites and chondrites, or significant and variable enrichment within the lithospheric mantle by secondary sulfides carrying radiogenic Os in a cryptic chalcophile enrichment event. Regardless of the origin of the Os isotopic variability, these data highlight the mantle Re-Os isotopic heterogeneity that may be present over small length scales where the lithophile Sm-Nd system may be relatively homogeneous.     

Multi-scale distribution and dynamics of bivalve larvae in a deep atoll lagoon (Ahe, French Polynesia)

Bivalve larvae and hydrographic parameters were sampled over a range of spatio-temporal scales in a deep atoll lagoon. Bivalve larvae abundances were very high throughout the year: 18,550 m(-3) in average. Larvae were (i) concentrated at mid-depth with nocturnal ascent and diurnal descent, (ii) heterogeneously dispersed at the lagoon scale, (iii) subject to day-to-day variation in abundance and (iv) transferred between different parts of the lagoon providing evidence of intra-lagoonal connectivity. The primacy of physical factors was seen on large spatial scale with the diluting effect of water renewal and transfers by hydrodynamics. On smaller spatial scale, the primacy of biological processes was recognised, with larval swimming activity leading to dial vertical migration correlated with food concentration. Variations in larval abundance were driven by bivalve reproductive activity correlated with meteorological conditions (i.e. windy periods). Finally, relationship between bivalve larvae patterns and pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera) settlement structuring is discussed.     

Kinetics of the reactions of hydroxyl radicals with aliphatic ethers studied under simulated atmospheric conditions: Temperature dependences of the rate coefficients

Rate coefficients have been measured for the reactions of hydroxyl radicals with five aliphatic ethers over the temperature range 242–328 K. Competitive studies were carried out in an atmospheric flow reactor in which the hydroxyl radicals were generated by the photolysis of methyl nitrite in the presence of air containing nitric oxide. The reaction of OH with 2,3-dimethyl-butane was used as the reference reaction and the following Arrhenius parameters have been obtained for the reactions: OH+RORproducts:

Integrated geophysical exploration in onshore frontier basins

Faced with the challenge of rapidly screening a huge expanse of frontier exploration acreage, often characterized by sparse vintage data, it is our experience that a combination of appropriate air- and ground-based geophysical techniques contributes positively to the exploration value chain. Airborne gravity gradiometry in conjunction with conventional gravity and magnetic data, as well as geological knowledge, add significant value to the screening process. This combination can subsequently assist in optimizing the location of the more time-consuming and expensive seismic programme. In addition, analysis and inversion of passive seismic data have also proven useful in providing depth to basement estimates, and results derived from all the techniques investigated have been consistent within several study areas. Following initial tests, where the data were independently analysed and cross-checked for consistency (including comparisons with active source seismic data and well data, when available), the company now routinely adopts the integration of these techniques in our frontier exploration acreage to support sedimentary basin delineation and mapping. This allows the optimal positioning and focussing of the higher spend and higher footprint programmes, such as active reflection seismic.     

Sensitivity of Simulated Hyporheic Exchange to River Bathymetry: The Steinlach River Test Site

This study determines the aspects of river bathymetry that have the greatest influence on the predictive biases when simulating hyporheic exchange. To investigate this, we build a highly parameterized HydroGeoSphere model of the Steinlach River Test Site in southwest Germany as a reference. This model is then modified with simpler bathymetries, evaluating the changes to hyporheic exchange fluxes and transit time distributions. Results indicate that simulating hyporheic exchange with a high-resolution detailed bathymetry using a three-dimensional fully coupled model leads to nested multiscale hyporheic exchange systems. A poorly resolved bathymetry will underestimate the small-scale hyporheic exchange, biasing the simulated hyporheic exchange towards larger scales, thus leading to overestimates of hyporheic exchange residence times. This can lead to gross biases in the estimation of a catchment's capacity to attenuate pollutants when extrapolated to account for all meanders along an entire river within a watershed. The detailed river slope alone is not enough to accurately simulate the locations and magnitudes of losing and gaining river reaches. Thus, local bedforms in terms of bathymetric highs and lows within the river are required. Bathymetry surveying campaigns can be more effective by prioritizing bathymetry measurements along the thalweg and gegenweg of a meandering channel. We define the gegenweg as the line that connects the shallowest points in successive cross-sections along a river opposite to the thalweg under average flow conditions. Incorporating local bedforms will likely capture the nested nature of hyporheic exchange, leading to more physically meaningful simulations of hyporheic exchange fluxes and transit times.     

SEDIMENT TRANSPORT PROCESSES IN AGRICULTURAL WATERSHEDS

lINTR0DUCTI0NTheerosion,transportanddep0siti0nofsedimentinawatershedarepallofthenaturalsystemofwatershedprocesses.InanundistUrbedwatershed,s0ilsinuplandareasaregraduallyeroded,transportCdforsomedistanceandeventuallydepositedatlowereIevations.WhenwatershedsaredistUrbedbyhumanactivitiessuchasclearingofvegetation,urbaniZati0n,orotherchangesthataffectthelandscaPe,unstablechannelswithlocallyhighratesoferosion,transport,0rdepositionofsedimentoftenaretheresult.Theimpact0fer0sionisespeciallyhigh…