Grundwasser der Zentralsahara: Fossile Vorräte

Zusammenfassung Aufgrund von¹⁴C-Datierungen, die an mehr als 40 Grundwasserproben aus Südlibyen vorgenommen wurden, wird nachgewiesen, daß die Grundwasservorräte des Murzuk-Beckens weitgehend fossil sind. Sie werden unter den gegenwärtigen klimatischen Bedingungen kaum ergänzt, was sehr wahrscheinlich ebenso auf den Hauptteil der Grundwasservorräte anderer Becken der Sahara zutrifft. Für die frühere Vorstellung, das Grundwasser werde in regenreicheren Gebirgen etwa der südlichen Sahara ausreichend ergänzt und fließe im Unterbau großflächig nach Norden, gibt es keine Hinweise. In Abhängigkeit vom ursprünglichen Ablagerungsmilieu und vom Speichergestein haben die Grundwässer der verschiedenen hydrogeologischen Teilprovinzen des Murzuk-Beckens jeweils spezifische hydrochemische Eigenschaften, und sie sind unterschiedlich alt. Als Ursache hierfür ist anzusehen, daß die Regenerationsmöglichkeiten innerhalb der verschiedenen Einzugsgebiete nicht immer einheitlich waren, außerdem kam es stellenweise zur Vermischung älterer mit jüngeren Grundwässern. Von erklärbaren Ausnahmen abgesehen entstammen die untersuchten Wässer dem letzten Pluvial, einige gehören nachpluvialen Feuchtphasen an. Das¹⁴C-Alter der meisten Wasserproben liegt zwischen 20 000 und 40 000 Jahren.

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¹⁴C-dating of more than 40 samples of groundwater proves, that exploited ground-water in the Murzuk Basin area of southern Libya is mainly between 20 000 and 40 000 years old. This water, as probably most of the large groundwater reserves in other Saharian basins, has to be considered mainly fossil water without noteworthy recharge under present climatical conditions. The supposition, that Saharian groundwaters are recharged at mountainous areas in the south, as was postulated by several authors previously, has to be denied, at least as respects the central Sahara.Waters of all groundwater subprovinces investigated in southern Libya show reservoir specific chemical characteristics. Differences in age are partly depending on differing recharge possibilities at the recharge areas and partly they are the result of mixture between younger and older waters. The water mainly results from precipitations of the last pluvial period of the Sahara, some from rainfalls of later subpluvial periods.

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Résumé Des datations par la méthode¹⁴C, effectuées sur plus de quarante échantillons d'eau provenant des nappes souterraines du Sud de la Libye, prouvent que les réserves des nappes souterraines du Bassin de Mourzouk sont essentiellement fossiles. Dans les conditions climatiques actuelles, elles ne peuvent pratiquement pas être complétées. Cette constatation concerne aussi, très vraisemblablement, la partie principale des réserves des nappes souterraines des autres bassins du Sahara. Aucune indication ne semble capable d'étayer les concepts antérieurs traitant d'une alimentation, encore suffisante aujourd'hui, de la nappe souterraine, coulant vers le Nord sur de grandes surfaces dans le sous-sol du Sahara, par les montagnes riches en pluies à peu près au Sud du Sahara.Les nappes souterraines des différentes parties des provinces hydrogéologiques du Bassin de Mourzouk possèdent, respectivement, des propriétés hydrochimiques spécifiques, dépendant du milieu de dépôt primitif et de la roche réservoir. Leurs distances variables jusqu'à l'ancienne aire d'alimentation et aussi sûrement, par endroit, le mélange imaginable d'eaux plus jeunes et plus vieilles causent, en partie, leurs différences d'âge.Les eaux étudiées, sauf quelques exceptions insignifiantes et faciles à expliquer, proviennent, d'une part des dernières grandes pluies, et d'autre part, pour quelques unes, des phases humides (post-pluviales). Elles ont, en grande partie, 20 000 à 40 000 ans.

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¹⁴ , 40 , Murzuk . - . , . , , . , , Murzuk , . . , . - . , . 20 000 40 000 .

     

Rapport Preliminaire sur un Echantillon Geochimique de Bulgarie: Granite G-B

La préparation et l'étude préliminaire d'un Granite de Bulgarie (G-B), préparé en vue d'utilisation comme un échantillon géochimique de référence sont brièvement présentées. Cet échantillon est disponible en quantité importante (180 kg).     

Migration: Causes and effects —

Drought, desertification and lack of development have been the main causes of migration in the rural areas of Western Sudan. The author tackles the different migration patterns followed in the area of Omodiat Burush and the factors influencing these migrations. It is found that high preference is given to rural-rural migration either on a seasonal basis or a permanent one. The latter is directed towards Burush village which attracts the inhabitants of the surrounding villages by the relative availability of educational, health and marketing services. Seasonal migration, on the other hand, is an important coping strategy against crop failure and famine risks.     

A contribution to the geology of the Bahariya Oasis,Western Desert,Egypt

Detailed petrographic investigations of the Upper Cretaceous-Eocene succession exposed at Bahariya Oasis resulted in the recognition of different litho- and biofacies associations, mostly of the carbonate rock type.The litho- and biofacies characters of the Eocene strata reveal comparatively shallow, quiet marine conditions, interrupted by agitated, high energy intervals.During the Maastrichtian age, deeper quiet marine conditions prevailed. The Upper and Lower members of the Campanian strata were deposited under deep quiet marine conditions, relative to shallower agitated conditions that prevailed during the deposition of the middle member.The Lower Cenomanian sediments were deposited under an alternating high and low energy fresh water environment, interrupted with saline (fluviomarine) periods, relative to the comparatively deeper marine conditions that prevailed during the Upper Cenomanian age.The main diagenetic processes recorded are: cementation, aggrading neomorphism, silicification and dolomitization.     

A contribution to the geology of the Bahariya Oasis,Western Desert,Egypt

Size and mineral analysis of the Upper Cretaceous clastics of the Bahariya Oasis indicate moderately well sorted, coarse skeewed and mesokurtic sediments. These sediments were most probably derived from mixed igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary sources, under conditions of low rainfall and poor drainage interfered by high rainfall periods.The shape of quartz grains and occurrence of stable and less stable minerals prove a short distance, saltation to graded suspension transportation of these sediments.Probably coastal plain, interfered by fresh water conditions had prevailed during the accumulation of these sediments, i.e. fluviomarine environment.     

Mineralogy,parageneses, and phase relations of copper-iron sulfides in the Atlantis II deep,red sea

New investigations are carried out on the mineralogy and mineral chemistry of sulfide assemblages obtained in samples from one core in the hydrothermally active, southwest basin of the Atlantis II deep, Red Sea. The most abundant sulfide phases are the exsolved intermediate solid solution (ISS) and chalcopyrite. Sphalerite, pyrrhotite, marcasite, mackinawite, and presumably wurtzite are also observed. Two distinct groups of paragenesis were encountered: (a) Intermediate solid solution with sphalerite incrustations and intergrowths, and (b) intermediate solid solution barren of sphalerite intergrowths. The first group is confined to the upper part of the Co zone and the SOAN zone (Bäcker and Richter 1973), and the second is present in the entire core 100-3-7. An optically isotropic chalcopyrite is found for the first time as a natural mineral in Atlantis II, Red Sea. Yet its existence as a novel phase needs x-ray confirmation. It exhibits a lower reflectivity than normal chalcopyrite and is isotropic. Chalcopyrite occurs either as a single phase or in association with tetragonal chalcopyrite. Our investigations indicate that the formation of Atlantis II deposits is a result of complex processes. These processes are characterized by compositional changes in the ore-bearing fluids and the change in sulfur fugacity (especially with depth). The presence of exsolved chalcopyrite lamellae in ISS indicates slow cooling below 450°C. However, it is difficult to understand why the cubic chalcopyrite is not converted to the tetragonal form even though the temperature of transformation lies above 450°C (470° – 500°C, Cabri 1973). The Cu/Fe ratio changes in the exsolved chalcopyrite lamellae from core to rim of the composite grains. The ratio is higher in the rims. This suggests that primary inhomogenous ISS grains formed from solutions with a continuous increase in the Cu/Fe ratio. Slow cooling is also required to account for the exsolution of chalcopyrite lamellae in ISS. The low sulfur content in isotropic chalcopyrite is also suggestive of low fs₂. The low S content in the chalcopyrite may be the controlling factor for the sluggish conversion from cubic to tetragonal chalcopyrite. Mackinawite lamellae show the same orientation in ISS and exsolved isotropic chalcopyrite indicating that mackinawite exsolved before the breakdown of ISS. This strongly suggests that mackinawite is stable above 300°C (contrary to experimental results by Zoka et al. 1973). Pyrrhotite was probably formed by the sulfurization of ilvaite. The pyrrhotite grains with several complex successive zones show the sequence of the sulfurization episodes.Metalliferous sediments related to hot brines were discovered in the Red Sea in 1964 (Miller et al. 1966). Since then, several papers have been published on this subject (Degens and Ross 1969, Bäcker and Schoell 1972, Bäcker and Richter 1973, Bignell et al. 1976, Shanks and Bishoff 1977, Weber-Diefenbach 1977, Nöltner 1979, Pottorf 1980, Pottorf and Barnes 1983, Oudin et al. 1984).Complex sulfide phases including intermediate solid solution (ISS), chalcopyrite, and a chalcopyritelike mineral (which exhibits a lower reflectivity than normal chalcopyrite and appears to be isotropic occur in the metalliferous sediments. These phases were found in association with several minerals in different parageneses. In an attempt to understand the origin of the formation of the sulfide-bearing sediments in the Atlantis II deep of the Red Sea, a detailed study of the phase relations of the Cu-Fe sulfide ores of this locality was carried out.     

Analysis of continuous buried pipelines for seismic wave effects

An analysis procedure for seismic wave propagation effects on straight continuous buried pipelines is proposed. It shown that ground strain due to surface waves can be substantially larger than that due to body waves. An elastic model a buried pipeline surrounded by equivalent soil springs indicates that frictional slip between the pipeline and the surrounding soil springs is likely for high ground strains. A method for estimating ground strain due to surface waves, based on data from the 1971 San Fernando earthquake, reviewed. An analysis procedure, which utilizes frictional forces near the soil-pipeline interface, is proposed for surfae wave effects on straight buried continuous pipelines. The proposed procedure is illustrated with an example.     

Ein neuartiger Typ „hydrothermaler” Cu-Ni-Lagerstätten

Zusammenfassung Erze aus zwei Versuchsbauen auf Cu, Ni, Co und Edelmetalle wurden mikroskopisch und mit der Mikrosonde untersucht. Die Schürefe liegen an einer riesigen Bewegungszone im Serpentin in Süd-Cypern. Die höchst ungewöhnliche Paragenese zeigt starke, auf geringste Erstreckung wechselnde Umbildungen. Die Vorkommen selbst sind durch reichlichen bzw. sehr zurücktretenden Anteil an Pyrrhotin verschieden. Träger von Cu ist neben Chalkopyrit Cubanit und sehr reichlich valleriit; von Ni-Pentlandit, Heazlewoodit, Mackinawit, Oregonit; von Co zwei wahrscheinlich neue As-arme Co-Arsenide. Begleiter sind u.a. Pyrrhotin, Chromit, Magnetit, Graphit und Molybdänit, an Gangarten vorwiegend Serpentinmineralien, wenig Carbonate. — Die Lagerstätten geben Gelegenheit, die seltenen Mineralien Mackinawit, Valleriit und Oregonit nebeneinander im Verband und in ihren Beziehungen zu Pentlandit und Chalkopyrit zu untersuchen. Die Mineralisation scheint während der tektonischen Veränderung des Serpentins erfolgt zu sein.

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Ores from two claims tested for Cu, Ni, Co and noble metals were examined microscopically and by using the microprobe. The deposits are connected with an enormous fault in ultrabasic rocks in southern Cyprus. The very exceptional association varies in strong alterations over shortest distances. The deposits differ regarding the high and low content of pyrrhotite. Cu-bearing minerals are cubanite and abundant valleriite; Ni-bearing ones pentlandite, mackinawite, oregonite, heazlewoodite; Co is present in two, very probably new arsenides of Co, low in As. — Further are present: Pyrrhotite, chromite, magnetite, graphite, and molybdenite, and as gangue serpentine-minerals and some carbonate. — The deposits give the opportunity to study the rare minerals mackinawite, valleriite, and oregonite together and in relation to pentlandite and chalcopyrite, The mineralisation appears to have occurred during the tectonic movements of the serpentine.

     

Faulting and fracturing in the Jurassic carbonate ramp folds of southern Rif ridges (Northern Morocco)

In the South Rifian ridges (SRR), the dominated structures correspond to the faulted anticline characteristic of a foreland orogeny context, front of the Rif Alpine belt. These anticlines correspond to thrust propagation folds. Geometric model of these structures shows that the normal faults have controlled the Mesozoic sedimentation during extensive episodes and participated in determining areas of thrusting during Miocene compressional phases. However, the normal fault strike which is relative to the direction of the shortening determined the geometry of diverse folds whether into the frontal ramps, lateral, or oblique. In the meantime, the systematic fracturing study in the Jurassic limestone beds, in different parts of the folds with axes oriented E-W, NW-SE, and NE-SW, permits to propose a relative fracturing chronology and tries investigating the relationship between folding and fracturing. The three main fracture families, oblique, transversal, and axial, appear simultaneously during the amplification of the fold. The simple shear in the limb contributes the latest to the folding reactivation and the density of the intensification of these microfractures. Likewise, given the important downslope fold limb dip of the ramp propagation folds, theoretically the shear intensity is more important, and micro-fractures are more important in the downslope fold limb, thus the uphill one.