Slope‐area thresholds of road‐induced gully erosion and consequent hillslope–channel interactions

Pikes Peak Highway is a partially paved road between Cascade, Colorado and the summit of Pikes Peak. Significant gully erosion is occurring on the hillslopes due to the concentration of surface runoff, the rearrangement of drainage pathways along the road surface and adjacent drainage ditches, and the high erodibility of weathered Pikes Peak granite that underlies the area. As a result, large quantities of sediment are transported to surrounding valley networks causing significant damage to water quality and aquatic, wetland, and riparian ecosystems. This study establishes the slope/drainage area threshold for gullying along Pikes Peak Highway and a cesium‐137 based sediment budget highlighting rates of gully erosion and subsequent valley deposition for a small headwater basin. The threshold for gullying along the road is S_cr = 0 · 21A^–0·45 and the road surface reduces the critical slope requirement for gullying compared to natural drainages in the area. Total gully volume for the 20 gullies along the road is estimated at 5974 m³, with an erosion rate of 64 m³ yr^–1 to 101 m³ yr^–1. Net valley deposition is estimated at 162 m³ yr^–1 with 120 m³ yr^–1 unaccounted for by gullying. The hillslope–channel interface is decoupled with minimal downstream sediment transport which results in significant local gully‐derived sedimentation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vulnerability of a public supply well in a karstic aquifer to contamination

To assess the vulnerability of ground water to contamination in the karstic Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA), age-dating tracers and selected anthropogenic and naturally occurring compounds were analyzed in multiple water samples from a public supply well (PSW) near Tampa, Florida. Samples also were collected from 28 monitoring wells in the UFA and the overlying surficial aquifer system (SAS) and intermediate confining unit located within the contributing recharge area to the PSW. Age tracer and geochemical data from the earlier stage of the study (2003 through 2005) were combined with new data (2006) on concentrations of sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), tritium (³H), and helium-3, which were consistent with binary mixtures of water for the PSW dominated by young water (less than 7 years). Water samples from the SAS also indicated mostly young water (less than 7 years); however, most water samples from monitoring wells in the UFA had lower SF₆ and ³H concentrations than the PSW and SAS, indicating mixtures containing high proportions of older water (more than 60 years). Vulnerability of the PSW to contamination was indicated by predominantly young water and elevated nitrate-N and volatile organic compound concentrations that were similar to those in the SAS. Elevated arsenic (As) concentrations (3 to 19 μg/L) and higher As(V)/As(III) ratios in the PSW than in water from UFA monitoring wells indicate that oxic water from the SAS likely mobilizes As from pyrite in the UFA matrix. Young water found in the PSW also was present in UFA monitoring wells that tap a highly transmissive zone (43- to 53-m depth) in the UFA.     

Lithium isotope geochemistry and origin of Canadian shield brines

Hypersaline calcium/chloride shield brines are ubiquitous in Canada and areas of northern Europe. The major questions relating to these fluids are the origin of the solutes and the concentration mechanism that led to their extreme salinity. Many chemical and isotopic tracers are used to solve these questions. For example, lithium isotope systematics have been used recently to support a marine origin for the Yellowknife shield brine (Northwest Territories). While having important chemical similarities to the Yellowknife brine, shield brines from the Sudbury/Elliot Lake (Ontario) and Thompson/Snow Lake (Manitoba) regions, which are the focus of this study, exhibit contrasting lithium behavior. Brine from the Sudbury Victor mine has lithium concentrations that closely follow the sea water lithium-bromine concentration trajectory, as well as delta6Li values of approximately -28/1000. This indicates that the lithium in this brine is predominantly marine in origin with a relatively minor component of crustal lithium leached from the host rocks. In contrast, the Thompson/Snow Lake brine has anomalously low lithium concentrations, indicating that it has largely been removed from solution by alteration minerals. Furthermore, brine and nonbrine mine waters at the Thompson mine have large delta6Li variations of approximately 30/1000, which primarily reflects mixing between deep brine with delta6Li of -35 +/- 2/1000 and near surface mine water that has derived higher delta6Li values through interactions with their host rocks. The contrary behavior of lithium in these two brines shows that, in systems where it has behaved conservatively, lithium isotopes can distinguish brines derived from marine sources.     

Influence of mineral weathering reactions on the chemical composition of soil water,Springs, and ground water,Catoctin Mountains,Maryland

During 1983 and 1984, wet precipitation was primarily a solution of dilute sulphuric acid, whereas calcium and bicarbonate were the major ions in springs and ground water in two small watersheds with a deciduous forest cover in central Maryland. Dominant ions in soil water were calcium, magnesium, and sulphate. The relative importance of mineral weathering reactions on the chemical composition of these subsurface waters was compared to the contribution from wet precipitation, biological processes, and road deicing salts. Mineral reaction models, developed from geochemical mass-balance relationships, involved reactions of primary and secondary minerals in metabasalt and metarhyolite with hydrogen ion. Geochemical weathering reactions account for the majority of total ion equivalents in soil water (46 per cent), springs (51 per cent), and ground water (68 to 77 per cent). The net contribution of total ion equivalents from biological processes was 20 and 16 per cent for soil water and springs, respectively, but less than 10 per cent for ground water. The contribution of total ion equivalents from deicing salts (10 to 20 per cent) was related to proximity to roads. Strong acids in precipitation contributed 44 per cent of the total amount of hydrogen ions involved in mineral-weathering reactions for ground water in contact with metarhyolite compared to 25 per cent for ground water in contact with metabasalt, a less resistant rock type to weathering.     

The tectonics of Precambrian craton—mobile belts: progressive deformation of polygonal miniplates

The Archaean—Proterozoic crust of many Precambrian terrains consists of two contrasting tectonic units: Archaean cratonic blocks made up of granite—greenstone terrains and Archaean—Proterozoic mobile zones, fold belts and orogens which separate and tend to surround and flow around the cratons. The cratons are relatively rigid blocks, but have a history of ductile and brittle deformations. The surrounding mobile belts are either high-strain, high-grade metamorphic belts or folded basins. Thus, the relatively rigid cratons are surrounded by more ductile zones of mobility. It is speculated that the Archaean cratons are originally separate, although neighbouring ensialic, polygonal miniplate blocks of a single continent which have moved relative to one another according to the mantle controls and the prevailing Eulerian poles, and this mutual jostling has progressively deformed their common boundaries. The deformed boundaries are now the sites of the surrounding ductile and higher strain mobile belts, which are persistent crustal defects, while the cratons represent the more rigid and lower strain cores and relicts, which have stabilized after the Archaean. The mega-scale relationships between the cratons and mobile belts (e.g., East Africa) are compared to the smaller scale micro—meso-scale porphyroclast-matrix structures found in augen gneisses and mylonites. These structural relationships are of vastly different magnitudes (10⁸), but as there exists a continuum on all the intermediate scales they may all be related. Their geometric similarities are interpreted as having a common mechanical—rheological origin.     

A note on the stability of one-dimensional self-gravitating isothermal systems

One-dimensional self-gravitating isothermal systems are stable with respect to one-dimensional perturbations.     

Note on the layered anorthosite complex of the Harts Range ruby deposit in the Arunta Block,central Australia

A preliminary study of the host rock at the Harts Range ruby mine in the Arunta Block, central Australia, suggests that it is a layered anorthosite complex in contradiction of the metasedimentary, limestone‐terra rossa hypothesis of McColl & Warren (1979). The mineralogical, textural and structural evidence points to a meta‐igneous origin, and this compares well with other ruby‐bearing, Archaean, layered anorthosite complexes described from Greenland, India and elsewhere. This is the first report of a layered anorthosite in a high‐grade metamorphic terrain in the Australian Precambrian.     

Mixing of shallow and deep groundwater as indicated by the chemistry and age of karstic springs

Large karstic springs in east-central Florida, USA were studied using multi-tracer and geochemical modeling techniques to better understand groundwater flow paths and mixing of shallow and deep groundwater. Spring water types included Ca–HCO₃ (six), Na–Cl (four), and mixed (one). The evolution of water chemistry for Ca–HCO₃ spring waters was modeled by reactions of rainwater with soil organic matter, calcite, and dolomite under oxic conditions. The Na–Cl and mixed-type springs were modeled by reactions of either rainwater or Upper Floridan aquifer water with soil organic matter, calcite, and dolomite under oxic conditions and mixed with varying proportions of saline Lower Floridan aquifer water, which represented 4–53% of the total spring discharge. Multiple-tracer data—chlorofluorocarbon CFC-113, tritium (³H), helium-3 (³He_trit), sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆)—for four Ca–HCO₃ spring waters were consistent with binary mixing curves representing water recharged during 1980 or 1990 mixing with an older (recharged before 1940) tracer-free component. Young-water mixing fractions ranged from 0.3 to 0.7. Tracer concentration data for two Na–Cl spring waters appear to be consistent with binary mixtures of 1990 water with older water recharged in 1965 or 1975. Nitrate-N concentrations are inversely related to apparent ages of spring waters, which indicated that elevated nitrate-N concentrations were likely contributed from recent recharge.The online version of the original article can be found at     

Significant Tectono-Geophysical Features of the African-Arabian Tectonic Region: An Overview

Geotectonics - Satellite gravimetry is recognized now as powerful and reliable tool for regional tectono-geodynamic zonation. The studied region contains intricate geodynamical features (high...     

Graphite deposits of Sri Lanka: a consequence of granulite facies metamorphism

The vein graphite deposits of Sri Lanka are located in a Precambrian high grade metamorphic terrain dominated by granulite facies rocks. The vein graphite has been interpreted as being of solid phase lateral secretion origin, derived by hydrothermal solutions or of biogenic origin. Based on what is known on the composition of the fluids under granulite facies conditions and the role of these fluids in their transport through the crust, the origin of the graphite is proposed to be the direct consequence of granulite facies metamorphism in the presence of a CO₂ rich fluid under low fO₂ conditions. This CO₂ rich fluid could promote hydraulic fracturing and precipitation of vein graphite. Textures and structures of the vein graphite indicate syntectonic deposition by a crack-seal process under granulite facies metamorphic conditions. This model is supported by temperature estimates on graphite based on XRD data and stable carbon isotopes of graphite that suggest a deep-seated crustal origin.