Weathering regime associated with subsurface circulation on volcanic islands

Volcanic islands, being characterized by highly porous basaltic/andesitic lava flows and pyroclastic deposits, are subject to important chemical weathering by subsurface waters. Moreover, such subsurface weathering is impacted by hydrothermal springs in both active and non-active volcanic areas, thus increasing dissolved load concentrations. Here, we focus on the subsurface water chemistry in the volcanic islands of the Lesser Antilles and Réunion and on the origin of these subsurface flows. We are able, through the use of various isotopic tools (C, Sr, U–Th), to identify hydrothermal influences in river water. For example, Li concentrations show a positive correlation with temperature of hot and cold springs and also a relationship with δ¹³C; from this, we can show that several sources of hydrothermal activity influence the rivers of the Lesser Antilles and that some rivers also reveal an important organic influence. As much as 20% of the subsurface hydrothermal springs go to feed the rivers. The increasing temperatures result in more dissolved elements being mobilized and an increase in chemical weathering rates. In addition, using the (²³⁰Th/²³⁸U) isochron for the well and river dissolved loads in Martinique, Guadeloupe and Réunion, we can evaluate residence times in the river water, i.e. the average residence time in the water along the circulation path to the sampling point. Alteration takes longer when the water circulates through thick soil, for example, 400–5,000 years when circulating under an ash profile and 1,200–15,000 years when circulating through a collapse zone. It would appear that waters circulation is globally three times longer for subsurface water than for surficial water. The weathering regime in tropical volcanic environments seems to be controlled mainly by such subsurface circulation with high chemical concentration from hydrothermal inputs. The origin of these compositions is varied and not controlled by a single hydrothermal spring. Consequently, it is subsurface circulation that determines the weathering regime in tropical volcanic islands with the main controlling parameters being temperature and residence time.     

溶蚀空间形成及中国与世界其它地区碳酸盐岩近期溶蚀量对比分析

碳酸盐岩次生渗透性是成岩作用、构造作用、水动力作用及生物化学作用的综合结果。在这些作用影响下,有的岩溶形态发育相当快,因此,了解溶蚀速度对于更好地理解岩溶水文地质问题是很重要的, 本文在评价当前碳酸敖岩溶蚀速度几种方法的基础上,对近年来从中国和世界几个其它岩溶地区获得的碳酸盐岩溶蚀观测资料进行了对比。结果表明,气候条件对碳酸盐岩溶蚀速度有明显影响。      

Contribution de l'aeromagnetisme a l'etude du golfe de Valence (Mediterranee occidentale)

We present an aeromagnetic survey of the Gulf of Valencia and the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean). A total field anomaly map and a map of the anomalies reduced to the pole have been obtained. From these maps, it is apparent that there are two regions of opposing magnetic style: the Balearic archipelago which is magnetically very smooth, and the north Balearic basin (or Gulf of Valencia) where anomalies are in places very intense. From a comparison of these two domains, we conclude that the Valencian basin was created during an extensional tectonic phase.     

Le mécanisme de la précipitation du Co3 Ca et la Détermination de L'épaisseur du Dépôt annuel de la vase dans le lac de Neuchâtel

Sans résumé     

Variation in lipid relative abundance and composition among different particle size fractions of a forest soil

Most studies of soil organic matter are on humic substances although a substantial contribution of lipids is generally noted for soils. Moreover, soil lipids were shown to have a relatively high resistance to biodegradation. Thus, they could provide information on organic matter sources and diagenetic processes. Soil organic matter is highly heterogeneous and different dynamic pools are in evidenced. However the links between these pools and molecular structure have not yet been established. Soil lipids were investigated in three particle-size fractions of a forest soil. Lipids were shown to be preferentially located in the finest fraction. GC-MS analysis of free lipids has revealed different main sources depending on the particle-size fraction and differential degradation. Furthermore, the results obtained for the free lipids on the one hand, and the saponified lipids on the other hand, have indicated that different preservation mechanisms for lipids occur in this soil.     

Eutrophisation et faune benthique de trois lacs de montagne

Zoobenthic communities were used to indicate the trophic state of three mountain lakes of western Switzerland. In these lakes, the macrobenthos was constituted mainly by oligochaetes and chironomid larvae;Tubifex tubifex was the most abundant worm species. In Lakes Lioson and Hongrin, the abundance of zoobenthos did not change or increased slightly with depth andStylodrilus heringianus was present. In Lake Chavonnes, zoobenthos decreased strongly with depth and it consisted mainly ofTubifex tubifex. These data, compared with those from other oligotrophic lakes, indicated that Lake Chavonnes was eutrophic whereas Lakes Lioson and Hongrin were oligotrophic. However, Lake Hongrin—an artificial lake made in 1968—constituted a special case. Its water comes in part from mountain rivers and in part from Lake Geneva. Consequently, some benthic species of Lake Geneva have colonized Lake Hongrin and its water is warmer than in a typical mountain lake.      

Contribution à l'étude des litages pegmatitiques: l'exemple de la pegmatite de Covide (Nord-Portugal)

Résumé La pegmatite de Covide (Nord-Portugal) fournit un nouvel exemple de litage à quartz-albite-feldspath potassique. Son étude conduit à proposer un modèle de pétrogenèse magmatique faisant intervenir des processus de double diffusion dans un gradient de température. Ces processus provoquent la formation simultanée et périodique de niveaux millimétriques d'albite, en »planchers flottants« horizontaux. Chaque cellule, phénomène-unité du litage compris entre deux niveaux planchers successifs, évolue ensuite en système clos par cristallisation orientée centripète. L'organisation litée est acquise en milieu magmatique liquide.

---

The Covide pegmatite, (Northern Portugal), exhibit a new example of K-feldspar, Albite, quartz layering. The present study leads to propose a magmatic petrogenetit model, with double diffusive processe in temperature gradient allowing the simultaneous growth of millimetric and horizontal »floating layers« of albite. Each cell, unit-phenomenon between two consecutive boundary layers, evolves in closed system with a centripetal, oriented crystallization. The layered organisation is obtaind in the magmatic liquid medium.

---

Zusammenfassung Der Pegmetit aus Covide (Nordportugal) stellt ein neues Beispiel für Quarz-Albitfeldspat Wechsellagerung dar. Seine Untersuchung führt zu einem magmatischen Petrogenesemodell, bei dem Prozesse der Doppeldiffusion in einem Temperaturgefälle intervenieren. Diese Prozesse bewirken die gleichzeitige und periodische Bildung von millimeterdicken Albitflächen in horizontalen »schwimmenden Flächen«. Jede Zelle, die ein Phänomen der Einheit der Anlagerungsfläche zwischen zwei aufeinanderfolgenden Flächenlagen ist, entwickelt sich schlie\lich durch zentripetale Kristallisierung zu einem geschlossenen System. Die schichtweise Anordnung erfolgt im flüssigen magmatischen Milieu.

---

Covide ( ) - . , . . , , -, , .

     

Regional heavy mineral survey in the exploration for gold using regression: Grenville Province, southwestern Quebec

A geochemical reconnaissance heavy mineral survey has been carried out in the area of the Gatineau River Valley, over a part of the Grenville Province of Québec. The majority of samples show gold concentrations below the detection limit of 5 ppb, and anomalies are erratic. To circumvent these problems and to present an accurate image of the gold-bearing potential of the area, a regression analysis has been applied to the samples whose gold concentrations were above the detection limit. The regression of gold on chalcophile pathfinder elements (As, Se and Pb) explains 11% of the gold variance.Bedrock lithologies, overburden cover and physico-chemical characteristics are important factors influencing the chalcophile element dispersion pattern. Principal component analysis was used to characterize the principal inter-element relationships and to identify the factors influencing the dispersion of chalcophile elements. A filtering procedure was used to remove the background effects influencing the pathfinder elements, and to enhance the influence of mineralization. This procedure uses standard formulas for partial reconstruction of the data matrix from results of principal component analysis. The regression model constructed with these corrected data explains 20% of gold variance. It constitutes an improvement over the model which uses non-filtered data.The equation inferred from regression was applied to the whole data set and provided an estimation of gold at each sampling point. Exploration targets are defined from highest gold concentrations estimated by regression. The regression model aided in the definition of some well defined anomalies associated with geological structures favourable to gold mineralization.     

Survey of a coastal karstic aquifer by analysis of the effect of the sea-tide: Example of the Kras of Slovenia,Yugoslavia

A hydrodynamic study of a coastal karstic aquifer is attempted by analyzing the effect of sea-tide on its water table Under certain conditions, this approach, which involves quite easy data processing, may yield the hydrodynamic parameters of the aquifers, diffusivity, in particular. The aquifer involved here is the Kras of Slovenia, Yugoslavia, which is bounded on one side by the Adriatic Sea (Bay of Trst)Kras is the Slovenian word from which the wordkarst originates The Kras aquifer is located in a thick carbonate sequence (Cretaceous) with an anticline structure. This sequence outcrops and is affected by opened vertical fractures. The geological setting could suggest a free groundwater with negligible piezometric variations with respect to the thickness of the carbonate sequence The study was carried out by the identification of observed data (fluctuations of the water table) and computed data under various assumptions (confined, semi-confined, free groundwater). The best fit is obtained when considering a groundwater with semi-confined behavior, which, of course, does not agree with the geological setting of the Kras However, this behavior can be justified by the fact that an important karstification occurred below the existing sea-level during the Quaternary and Tertiary marine recessions, creating diffusive zones in lower parts of the saturated karst it should be noted that similar situations must prevail in all the peri-Mediterranean karsts as they too were affected by the Quaternary and Tertiary recessions     

Effects of fungal infection on lipid extract composition of higher plant remains: comparison of shoots of a Cenomanian conifer, uninfected and infected by extinct fungi

The lipid fraction extracted from uninfected shoots of a fossil conifer, Frenelopsis alata, was analysed by gas-chromatography–mass-spectrometry, and compared with shoots of the same conifer infected by extinct epiphyllous fungi, so as to study the effects of fungal infection on the chemical composition of extracts from higher plant remains. The extracts from the uninfected shoots appeared to be composed of (i) common constituents of higher plant lipids such as n-alkanes and fatty acids, (ii) elemental sulphur, and (iii) substantial amounts of terpenoids characteristic of conifers, such as cadalene, beyerane, dehydroabietane and related compounds. Comparison of this extract with that of fungal-infected shoots revealed, in addition to the aforementioned compounds, the presence of substantial amounts of hydroxysuccinic acid and functionalised benzoic compounds that were interpreted as degradation products of lignin by fungi. This study afforded preliminary indications of the composition of extracts from higher plant remains infected by fungi.