Surface and subsurface sedimentary structures produced by salt crusts

The growth and subsequent dissolution of salts on or within sediment may alter sedimentary structures and textures to such an extent that it is difficult to identify the depositional origin of that sediment and, as a result, the sediment may be misinterpreted. To help to overcome such problems with investigating ancient successions, results are presented from a comprehensive study of the morphology and fabrics of three large areas of modern salt flats in SE Arabia: the Sabkhat Matti inland region and the At Taf coastal region, both in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the Umm as Samim region in Oman. These salt flats are affected by tidal‐marine, alluvial and aeolian depositional processes and include both clastic‐ and carbonate‐dominated surficial sediments. The efflorescent and precipitated salt crusts in these areas can be grouped into two main types: thick crusts, with high relief (>10 cm) and a polygonal or blocky morphology; or thin crusts, with low relief (<10 cm) and a polygonal or blister‐like appearance. The thin crusts may assume the surface morphology of underlying features, such as ripples or biogenic mats. A variety of small‐scale textures were observed: pustular growths, hair‐like spikes and irregular wrinkles. Evolution of these crusts over time results in a variety of distinctive sedimentary fabrics produced by salt‐growth sediment deformation, salt‐solution sediment collapse, sediment aggradation and compound mixtures of these processes. Salt‐crust processes produce features that may be confused with aeolian adhesion structures. An example from the Lower Triassic Ormskirk Sandstone Formation of the Irish Sea Basin demonstrates how this knowledge of modern environments improves the interpretation of the rock record. A distinctive wavy‐laminated facies in this formation had previously been interpreted as the product of fluvial sheetfloods modified by soft‐sediment deformation and bioturbation. Close inspection of laminations seen in core reveals many of the same sedimentary fabrics seen in SE Arabia associated with salt crusts. This facies is the product of salt growth on aeolian sediment and is not of fluvial origin.     

Bo Xian (LL3.9): Oxygen‐isotopic and mineralogical characterisation of separated chondrules

Abstract— We report the results of a mineralogical and O‐isotopic study of 362 chondrules disaggregated from the Bo Xian chondrite. The range of mineral compositions (Fa = 0.8–31.2%, mean = 23.5%, mode = 27–28%) are consistent with a reclassification of this meteorite from LL4 to LL3.9. Chondrule diameters range from 0.20 to 3.40 mm (mean = 0.74 mm) in the disaggregated population. A lower mean diameter (0.64 mm) calculated from thin‐section measurements partly reflects the high proportion of chondrule fragments. The chondrule size distribution, which is approximately log‐normal, is consistent with size‐sorting mechanisms. This sorting could be linked to the fragmentation of many chondrules on the parent body. However, in detail, the variation in diameter of different chondrule types and a hiatus in the size distribution at 0.6 mm indicate that there may have been complex controls perhaps partly being determined by the chondrule formation mechanism. Seven percent of the sectioned chondrules (102) contain chemically fractionated mineral assemblages: cristobalite‐bearing and Al‐rich. This significant degree of chemical heterogeneity probably resulted from both igneous and volatility controls. Oxygen‐isotopic compositions were determined on mineral separates and 16 of the sectioned chondrules. Three separate isotopic exchange events have been identified. The dominant one is a low‐temperature hydrous gas‐solid exchange event between ¹⁶O‐rich solid and ¹⁶O‐poor gas reservoirs that lay along a slope 1.0 line on three‐isotope plots. Partial equilibration with the gas by feldspar and cristobalite, which exchanged more rapidly than olivine or pyroxene, led to formation of a slope 0.77 mixing line for Bo Xian and other LL chondrites. Mineralogy is the dominant control on the extent of this exchange; no relationship between isotopic composition and chondrule texture or size was identified. The feldspar separate and cristobalite‐rich chondrules have the most ¹⁶O‐poor compositions. Subsequently, thermal metamorphism in the parent body led to partial isotopic equilibration between the different mineral phases. A third exchange event, predating the other two events, is probably shown by one of the Al‐rich chondrules. This has an ¹⁶O‐rich composition, lying below the terrestrial fractionation line. Another Al‐rich chondrule has a normal ordinary chondrite isotopic composition. It is not clear whether the isotopic fractionation recorded in some Al‐rich chondrules can be achieved by the dominant gas‐solid exchange. Instead, the precursor O to the mineral phases may have become ¹⁶O‐rich during an earlier phase of mass‐independent fractionation.     

Recent morphological evolution of the Lower Mississippi River

This study documents slope and stream power changes in the Lower Mississippi River during the pre-cutoff (1880s–1930s), and post-cutoff (1943–1992) periods. The study reach extends from New Madrid, MO, to Natchez, MS, a distance of about 900 km. Analyses for six major reaches and 13 sub-reaches for the pre- and post-cutoff periods indicate that the river presently has a much larger slope and stream power than prior to the cutoffs. The largest increases have occurred between Fulton, TN, and Lake Providence, LA, where slope and stream power increases range from about 27% to 36% and 20% to 38%, respectively. Increases in slope and stream power in reaches upstream and downstream have also occurred, but to a lesser degree. Previous investigations have shown that no coarsening of the bed material has occurred since 1932, and that the bed material may actually be somewhat finer overall. As the Lower Mississippi River is not a sediment-starved system, an increase in stream power with no change in D₅₀ would be expected to be offset by an increase in the bed material load as the river adjusts towards equilibrium. Previous investigators have inferred a reduction in the sediment loads on the Mississippi River this century based on analyses of total measured suspended loads. However, these results should be viewed as primarily representing the changes in wash load and should not be taken to imply that bed material loads have also decreased. Therefore, the bed material loads in the study reach should be greater than in the pre-cutoff period. Excess stream power in the sub-reaches directly affected by cutoffs resulted in scour that increased downstream bed material load. These elevated sediment loads play a key role in driving morphological adjustments towards equilibrium in the post-cutoff channel. The stability status of the channel in the study reach currently ranges from dynamic equilibrium in the farthest upstream reaches through severe degradation to dynamic equilibrium in the middle reaches, and aggradation in the lowest reaches. These evolutionary trends cannot be explained by consideration of changes in slope and stream power alone. Changes in the incoming bed material load to each reach generated by upstream channel evolution must also be considered.     

Beyond “Lawn People”: The Role of Emotions in Suburban Yard Management Practices

Many recent studies have applied satellite remote sensing data to large-scale hydrologic and biospheric modeling. It is widely accepted that the thermal infrared observations from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) have the potential to estimate land surface conditions, such as surface temperature, near surface air temperature, and near surface water vapor. In this study, algorithms to estimate all three variables are presented and applied to an area covering the state of Oklahoma for a six day period in August, 1994. The results were validated using ground observations from the 111 station Oklahoma Mesonet. Validation of the remote sensing algorithms with Mesonet observations produced comparable results to previous validation studies. In addition, the validation process revealed inadequacies in thermal modeling that had not been detected in previous validation studies leading to the development of a new approach to estimate atmospheric water vapor.     

Effects of prolonged exposure to 4-tert-octylphenol on toxicity and indices of oestrogenic exposure in the sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus, Pallas)

Alkylphenolic compounds are present in estuarine and marine environments. They are moderately bioaccumulative, and oestrogenic to fish following three week, in vivo, exposures. The effects of prolonged exposure are, as yet, unclear. Sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus) were exposed to measured concentrations of 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) in a 28-day, dose-ranging study, and a six month temporal response study. Following 28-days exposure to measured 31+/-6 or 101+/-47 microg l(-1) OP (mean+/-SD), immature male sand goby showed elevated vitellogenin (VTG) mRNA expression. Plasma alkali-labile phosphate concentrations were elevated in both sexes and were higher in females than males. Although measured OP concentrations were variable, they were significantly different for each treatment and a range of concentration-dependent effects were observed. The LC(50) for chronic OP exposure (8 weeks) was 29+/-6 microg l(-1), and both sexes demonstrated concentration and duration dependent increases in VTG mRNA expression. Exposure to 28+/-20 microg l(-1) OP (median+/-95% CI) for 6 months inhibited development of male nuptial colouration and sperm duct glands. These findings are discussed in relation to environmental concentrations of alkylphenols and ecological concerns.     

Geochemical and Sr–O isotopic constraints on magmatic differentiation at Gede Volcanic Complex, West Java, Indonesia

The Gede Volcanic Complex (GVC) of the Sunda island arc (West Java, Indonesia) consists of multiple volcanic centres and eruptive groups with complex magmatic histories. We present new petrological, mineralogical, whole-rock major and trace element and Sr–O isotopic data to provide constraints on the relative importance of fractional crystallisation and magma mixing in petrogenesis, as well as on the role and nature of the arc crust. Banded juvenile scoria from Young and Old Gede provide unequivocal evidence for the (late-stage) interaction of distinct magmas at Gede volcano. However, the relatively small-degree compositional zoning observed in plagioclase phenocrysts of all eruptive groups (up to ~20 mol% An) may be attributed to physical changes in magma properties (e.g. P, T, and PH₂O) rather than changes in melt composition. Major element and trace element variations within each eruptive series are inconsistent with magmatic evolution through simple mixing processes. Instead, mixing of variably fractionated magma batches is suggested to account for the significant scatter in some element variation diagrams. No correlation is observed between textural complexity and/or mineral disequilibrium and whole-rock geochemistry. REE data and geochemical modelling indicate that fractional crystallisation involving amphibole in the mid- to lower crust, and fractionation of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, Fe–Ti oxide ± olivine ± orthopyroxene provide strong control on the geochemical evolution of GVC rocks. Two-pyroxene geothermobarometry provides pre-eruption crystallisation temperatures of 891–1,046°C and pressures of 3.4–6.5 kbar, equivalent to ~13–24 km depth beneath the volcanoes (mid- to lower crust). Low, mantle-like clinopyroxene δ¹⁸O values of GVC lavas and poor correlation of Sr isotope ratios with indices of differentiation precludes significant assimilation of isotopically distinct crust during magmatic differentiation. Therefore, we suggest that the geochemical character of the moderately thick West Javan arc crust is relatively immature compared to typical continental crust. Trace element ratios and strontium isotopes show that the magmatic source composition of the older geographical units, Gegerbentang and Older Quaternary, is distinct from the other GVC groups.     

Pre‐drill Groundwater Geochemistry in the Karoo Basin,South Africa

Enhanced production of unconventional hydrocarbons in the United States has driven interest in natural gas development globally, but simultaneously raised concerns regarding water quantity and quality impacts associated with hydrocarbon extraction. We conducted a pre‐development assessment of groundwater geochemistry in the critically water‐restricted Karoo Basin, South Africa. Twenty‐two springs and groundwater samples were analyzed for major dissolved ions, trace elements, water stable isotopes, strontium and boron isotopes, hydrocarbons and helium composition. The data revealed three end‐members: a deep, saline groundwater with a sodium‐chloride composition, an old, deep freshwater with a sodium‐bicarbonate‐chloride composition and a shallow, calcium‐bicarbonate freshwater. In a few cases, we identified direct mixing of the deep saline water and shallow groundwater. Stable water isotopes indicate that the shallow groundwater was controlled by evaporation in arid conditions, while the saline waters were diluted by apparently fossil meteoric water originated under wetter climatic conditions. These geochemical and isotopic data, in combination with elevated helium levels, suggest that exogenous fluids are the source of the saline groundwater and originated from remnant seawater prior to dilution by old meteoric water combined with further modification by water‐rock interactions. Samples with elevated methane concentrations (>14 ccSTP/kg) were strongly associated with the sodium‐chloride water located near dolerite intrusions, which likely provide a preferential pathway for vertical migration of deeply sourced hydrocarbon‐rich saline waters to the surface. This pre‐drill evaluation indicates that the natural migration of methane‐ and salt‐rich waters provides a source of geogenic contamination to shallow aquifers prior to shale gas development in the Karoo Basin.     

An experimental study of phase equilibria in the systems H2O–CO2–CaCl2 and H2O–CO2–NaCl at high pressures and temperatures (500–800?°C, 0.5–0.9?GPa): geological and geophysical applications

Phase equilibria in the ternary systems H₂O–CO₂–NaCl and H₂O–CO₂–CaCl₂ have been determined from the study of synthetic fluid inclusions in quartz at 500 and 800 °C, 0.5 and 0.9 GPa. The crystallographic control on rates of quartz overgrowth on synthetic quartz crystals was exploited to prevent trapping of fluid inclusions prior to attainment of run conditions. Two types of fluid inclusion were found with different density or CO₂ homogenisation temperature (T_h(CO₂)): a CO₂-rich phase with low T_h(CO₂), and a brine with relatively high T_h(CO₂). The density of CO₂ was calibrated using inclusions in the binary system H₂O–CO₂. Mass balance calculations constrain tie lines and the miscibility gap between brines and CO₂-rich fluids in the H₂O–CO₂–NaCl and H₂O–CO₂–CaCl₂ systems at 500 and 800 °C, and 0.5 and 0.9 GPa. The miscibility gap in the CaCl₂ system is larger than in the NaCl system, and solubilities of CO₂ are smaller. CaCl₂ demonstrates a larger salting-out effect than NaCl at the same P–T conditions. In ternary systems, homogeneous fluids are H₂O-rich and of extremely low salinity, but at medium to high concentrations of salts and non-polar gases fluids are unlikely to be homogeneous. The two-phase state of crustal fluids should be common. For low fluid-rock ratios the cation compositions of crustal fluids are buffered by major crustal minerals: feldspars and micas in pelites and granitic rocks, calcite (dolomite) in carbonates, and pyroxenes and amphiboles in metabasites. Fluids in pelitic and granitic rocks are Na-K rich, while for carbonate and metabasic rocks fluids are Ca-Mg-Fe rich. On lithological boundaries between silicate and carbonate rocks, or between pelites and metabasites, diffusive cation exchange of the salt components of the fluid will cause the surfaces of immiscibility to intersect, leading to unmixing in the fluid phase. Dispersion of acoustic energy at critical conditions of the fluid may amplify seismic reflections that result from different fluid densities on lithological boundaries.Editorial responsibility: I. Parsons