Neoproterozoic trace fossils vs. microbial mat structures: Examples from the Tandilia Belt of Argentina

The Tandilia Belt in northeast Argentina includes a Neoproterozoic sequence of sediments (Sierras Bayas Group), in which the Cerro Largo Formation, ca. 750 Ma in age, forms a siliciclastic, shallowing upward succession of subtidal nearshore to tidal flat deposits. Trace fossils Palaeophycus isp. and Didymaulichnus isp. have been described from the upper part of this succession. Specific sedimentary structures consisting of round-crested bulges, arranged in a reticulate pattern, and networks of curved cracks are associated with the trace fossils. These structures are considered to be related to epibenthic microbial mats that once colonized the sediment surface. They reflect stages of mat growth and mat destruction, if compared to analogous structures in modern cyanobacterial mats of peritidal, siliciclastic depositional systems. Also the trace fossils are interpreted as mat-related structures, partly forming components of networks of shrinkage cracks, partly representing the upturned and involute margins of shrinkage cracks or circular openings in desiccating and shrinking, thin microbial mats.

The definition of Didymaulichnus miettensis Young as a Terminal Proterozoic trace fossil is questioned, and it may be considered to interpret the ‘bilobate’ structure as the upturned, opposite margins of microbial shrinkage cracks which have been brought back into contact by compaction after burial.     

An evaporitic facies in Neoproterozoic post-glacial carbonates: The Gifberg Group, South Africa

A geological study of the hitherto poorly described Neoproterozoic Gifberg Group, with emphasis on lithogeochemistry and O, C and Sr isotopic composition of the carbonate-dominated Widouw Formation (Vredendal Outlier, westernmost South Africa) revealed that the entire group is an equivalent of the relatively well constrained Port Nolloth Group in the external, paraautochthonous part of the Pan-African Gariep Belt further north. Thus, the Vredendal Outlier can be regarded as the southern extension of the Port Nolloth Zone. Two diamictite units are recognised in the Vredendal Outlier, which can be correlated respectively with the c. 750 Ma Kaigas Formation diamictite and the 583 Ma, syn-Gaskiers Numees Formation diamictite in the Gariep Belt proper. The dominating carbonate unit in the studied area is post-glacial with respect to the older of the two diamictite units. The combined textural, structural and geochemical evidence suggests that parts of the variably dolomitised limestone succession represent former evaporite beds. Sedimentation in a restricted, very shallow and proximal basin led to a wide range in C isotope ratios (δ¹³C_PDB from − 4.2 to + 4.8‰), very high Sr concentrations (derived from original anhydrite) and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios that are significantly higher (0.70785) than those of coeval seawater. As C and Sr isotopes are commonly used for chemostratigraphic correlation, and high Sr concentrations in Neoproterozic carbonates are often interpreted as evidence of former aragonite, the findings of this study should be used as warning against uncritical use of geochemical and isotopic parameters for describing ancient seawater composition. Thus C and Sr isotope ratios alone in Neoproterozoic carbonates may be less powerful proxies of ancient seawater composition, and high Sr contents are not necessarily indicative of an “aragonite sea”, as previously inferred.     

Mineralogy of morphogenetic types of ferromanganese deposits in the world ocean

The mineralogy and structural features of the main types of ferromanganese deposits—nodules, micronodules, Co-bearing crusts, crustlike nodules, and low-temperature hydrothermal manganese crusts and ferruginous ochers—are considered. The correlation between their mineral composition and structure is shown. The proposed classification of mineral types is based on characteristic assemblages of Fe and Mn minerals.     

Mineral assemblages of titanium-zirconium sands at the Central deposit,the east European platform

The study of mineral assemblages at the Central deposit allowed us to substantially refine the evolutionary model of the deposit and reveal the two main factors that control the variability of its mineralic space: (1) heterogeneity of the ore layer, consisting of a sublittoral bottom placer (the lower part) and a subaerial dune complex partly reworked in the course of a new transgression (the upper part), and (2) postore epigenetic alteration of the ore constituent of sands, which affected the quality of ore concentrates. The results obtained will be used in geological and technological mapping and development of the production program.     

Geochemical types of Volkhovites and possible diamond resource potential of areas occupied by Holocene fluidisites

Volkhovites—tektite-like glasses—have been detected in the Holocene glacial drift along the right bank of the Volkhov River. A cryptomagmatic model of their formation and pre-Holocene age of volkhovite melts, cinder, and frothed glasses has been suggested (Skublov et al., 2007). Four geochemical types of volkhovites are distinguished: (1) manganous (Mn, Fe, Cr, V, Si, Nb, Pb, H), (2) magnesian (Mg, Al, Ti, F, B), (3) potassic (K, Rb, Cs), and (4) calcic (Ca, REEs, Ba, U, Th, Ta, Hf, Y, Sc, Cl). In light of the geochemical data, volkhovites are regarded as natural silicate glasses of kimberlite-carbonatite composition. Their types are called kimberlitic (Mn type), kimberlitic-carbonatitic (Mg type), lamproitic-carbonatitic (K type), and carbonatitic (Ca type). Volkhovites are suggested to be indicators of undiscovered diamond mineralization of kimberlite or carbonatite (Chagatai) types.     

Solar flares associated with singularities in the differential characteristics of magnetic fields

We analyze the flare events of October 28 and May 27, 2003 to examine the possible connection of solar flares with singularities in the differential characteristics of solar magnetic fields. The relation between flares and the behavior of F indicators (which describe structural singularities of the magnetic fields) introduced earlier is analyzed. It is shown that the generation of flares can be associated with self-intersections (or reconnection) of the F = 0 curves, where magnetic reconnection can occur. Consequently, the current sheets generated in such regions can be sources of energy release.     

Temporal variations in the position of the heliospheric equator

It is shown that the centroid of the heliospheric equator undergoes quasi-periodic oscillations. During the minimum of the 11-year cycle, the centroid shifts southwards (the so-called bashful-ballerina effect). The direction of the shift reverses during the solar maximum. The solar quadrupole is responsible for this effect. The shift is compared with the tilt of the heliospheric current sheet.     

Rotational and magnetic corrections to the g-mode frequencies in a one-dimensional MHD model

The central magnetic field and rotation of the solar radiative zone are responsible for corrections to the g-mode frequencies. Magnetogravitational spectra are calculated analytically in a simple one-dimensional MHD model that goes beyond the WKB approximation and avoid any cusp resonances that trap the wave within the radiative zone in the presence of a weak magnetic background. The calculations are compared with spacecraft observations of the 1% frequency shifts for candidate g-modes found in the SOHO GOLF experiment. The magnetic correction is the main contribution for a strong magnetic field satisfying the approximation used. It is shown that a constant magnetic field of 700 kG in the radiative zone provides the required frequency shift for the n = ?10 g-mode. The rotational correction, which is due to the Coriolis force in the one-dimensional model used, is much less than a percent (α_Ω ≤ 0.003).     

Fluid Geochemistry as Indicator of Tectonically-Related,Deep Water Circulations in the Sardinian Rift-Campidano Graben (Italy): New Insights from Environmental Isotopes

The EC funded Geochemical Seismic Zonation program (EEC GSZ Project 1996–1998) chose Sardinia as a low-seismicity site, in which the relationships between fluid geochemistry and seismo-tectonics had to be investigated and results compared with outcomes from other selected high-seismicity sites. A first article, examining the role of fault segmentation and seismic quiescence on the geochemical composition of groundwaters and gases, has already been presented (Angelone et al. 2005). This article deals with environmental isotopes which, together with selected hydrochemical data, give hints on tectonically-related fluid circulations. Four water-dominated hydrothermal systems were considered, all located along regional fault systems and discharging groundwaters belonging to the Na–HCO₃ and Na–Cl facies. In the considered systems, groundwater circulation takes place, principally, in the Palaeozoic Crystalline Basement (PCB), with the exception of the Logudoro system, where hydrological circuits develop in the Mesozoic Carbonate Platform (MCP). The high CO₂ contents, the non-attainment of fluid-rock equilibrium and the large lithological variability prevent the construction of a unique hydrogeological–geochemical conceptual model. In this case, stable isotopes provide a useful tool to describe the origin of fluids and their subterranean movements. Stable isotopes of water, integrated with hydrochemical data, indicate that fluids are derived from three main end members. The dominant component is a relatively recent local meteoric water; the second one is marine water; and the third one is a fossil freshwater, depleted in heavy isotopes with respect to modern rains. The latter end member entered the aquifer system in the past, when climatic conditions were greatly different from today. At least two circulation systems can be recognised, namely a shallow cold system and a deep hydrothermal system, as well as two distinct hydrological processes: (1) gravity-controlled descent of cold water towards greater depths and (2) convection linked to a thermal gradient, causing deep fluids to rise up from the hydrothermal reservoir towards the surface. The highly variable δ¹³C_TDIC values suggest the presence of two distinct CO₂ sources, namely, a biogenic one and a thermogenic one. The relation between the isotopic compositions of CO₂ and He indicates an increased mantle signature in uprising CO₂-rich fluids.     

Dynamic data integration for structural modeling: model screening approach using a distance-based model parameterization

This paper proposes a novel history-matching method where reservoir structure is inverted from dynamic fluid flow response. The proposed workflow consists of searching for models that match production history from a large set of prior structural model realizations. This prior set represents the reservoir structural uncertainty because of interpretation uncertainty on seismic sections. To make such a search effective, we introduce a parameter space defined with a “similarity distance” for accommodating this large set of realizations. The inverse solutions are found using a stochastic search method. Realistic reservoir examples are presented to prove the applicability of the proposed method.