Neogene magnetic polarity stratigraphy of some fluviatile Siwalik sections, Nepal

The magnetostratigraphy of five new sections through the Neogene Siwalik Group of Nepal is presented. Rock magnetic experiments and detailed thermal demagnetization experiments prove that haematite is the carrier of a primary DRM or a PDRM. After stepwise thermal demagnetization of specimens from all sections, directions of characteristic remanent magnetization were obtained. The results show a positive reversal test and exhibit inclination errors of about 20. Due to gaps in exposures and extremely variable demagnetization behaviour of the haematite-bearing sediments, the resulting polarity sequences are poorly defined for some parts of the sections. However, double-sampled parts of some sections yield similar results. A correlation with the Surai Khola section (Appel, Rösler & Corvinus 1991) is proposed, based on rock magnetic parameters. AMS results from three of the sections prove the existence of primary sedimentary magnetic fabrics in these sections with systematic orientations of minimum and maximum susceptibility axes. Correlation with a standard polarity timescale indicates that the ages of all new sections lie within the age limits of the Surai Khola section.     

Morphologically based sampling designs for zoned orthopyroxenes

Compositional data of orthopyroxene crystals obtained by the electron microprobe may be biased unless zoning morphologies are taken into account in the sampling design. Statistical models (predictive or interpretative) based on such data are open to question because the input data, such as correlations, are spurious. In an attempt to propose sampling designs two established crystal zoning morphologies are considered which are (a) the concentric shell-type and (b) sectoral zonations. These zonational types lend themselves well to statistical population modeling and graphical interpretation provided assumptions of chemical invariance hold or are approximated by a stratified sampling design. The statistical designs may be regarded as limiting cases in the sense that relaxations of certain assumptions lead to other population models. Hypersthene crystals from a central portion of the mafic norite formation at the Strathcona Mine, Sudbury irruptive, are examined for zonation. It appears that the trace elements have a different zoning morphology than the major elements of hypersthene.     

Effects of Local Shoreline and Subestuary Watershed Condition on Waterbird Community Integrity: Influences of Geospatial Scale and Season in the Chesapeake Bay

In many coastal regions throughout the world, there is increasing pressure to harden shorelines to protect human infrastructures against sea level rise, storm surge, and erosion. This study examines waterbird community integrity in relation to shoreline hardening and land use characteristics at three geospatial scales: (1) the shoreline scale characterized by seven shoreline types: bulkhead, riprap, developed, natural marsh, Phragmites-dominated marsh, sandy beach, and forest; (2) the local subestuary landscape scale including land up to 500 m inland of the shoreline; and (3) the watershed scale >500 m from the shoreline. From 2010 to 2014, we conducted waterbird surveys along the shoreline and open water within 21 subestuaries throughout the Chesapeake Bay during two seasons to encompass post-breeding shorebirds and colonial waterbirds in late summer and migrating and wintering waterfowl in late fall. We employed an Index of Waterbird Community Integrity (IWCI) derived from mean abundance of individual waterbird species and scores of six key species attributes describing each species’ sensitivity to human disturbance, and then used this index to characterize communities in each subestuary and season. IWCI scores ranged from 14.3 to 19.7. Multivariate regression model selection showed that the local shoreline scale had the strongest influence on IWCI scores. At this scale, percent coverage of bulkhead and Phragmites along shorelines were the strongest predictors of IWCI, both with negative relationships. Recursive partitioning revealed that when subestuary shoreline coverage exceeded thresholds of approximately 5% Phragmites or 8% bulkhead, IWCI scores decreased. Our results indicate that development at the shoreline scale has an important effect on waterbird community integrity, and that shoreline hardening and invasive Phragmites each have a negative effect on waterbirds using subestuarine systems.     

Differential developmental toxicity of naphthoic acid isomers in medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryos

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread persistent pollutants that readily undergo biotic and abiotic conversion to numerous transformation products in rivers, lakes and estuarine sediments. Here we characterize the developmental toxicity of four PAH transformation products each structural isomers of hydroxynaphthoic acid: 1H2NA, 2H1NA, 2H3NA, and 6H2NA. Medaka fish (Oryzias latipes) embryos and eleutheroembryos were used to determine toxicity. A 96-well micro-plate format was used to establish a robust, statistically significant platform for assessment of early life stages. Individual naphthoic acid isomers demonstrated a rank order of toxicity with 1H2NA>2H1NA>2H3NA>6H2NA being more toxic. Abnormalities of circulatory system were most pronounced including pericardial edema and tube heart. To determine if HNA isomers were AhR ligands, spatial-temporal expression and activity of CYP1A was measured via in vivo EROD assessments. qPCR measurement of CYP1A induction proved different between isomers dosed at respective concentrations affecting 50% of exposed individuals (EC50s). In vitro, all ANH isomers transactivated mouse AhR using a medaka CYP1A promoter specific reporter assay. Circulatory abnormalities followed P450 induction and response was consistent with PAH toxicity. A 96-well micro-plates proved suitable as exposure chambers and provided statistically sound evaluations as well as efficient toxicity screens. Our results demonstrate the use of medaka embryos for toxicity analysis thereby achieving REACH objectives for the reduction of adult animal testing in toxicity evaluations.     

Bed morphology and generation of step–pool channels

Flume experiments have been carried out to study the formation processes and the bed morphology of step–pool channels. From the experiments different step types and step configurations could be distinguished depending on the stream power. These step types can be seen as an image of the generation mechanisms of step–pool systems. These results suggest that the bed roughness geometry develops towards a condition that provides the maximum possible bed stability for a given grain size distribution. In contrast to a variety of other studies, antidunes did not contribute to the generation of the step structures. However, the data of the presented study fits well into the region of antidune formation proposed by Kennedy for sand‐bed rivers. This observation points out that step–pool field‐data located in the Kennedy region do not inevitably prove that antidunes played a role in step development. It is rather proposed that in Kennedy's region of antidune formation there exist hydraulic conditions where the flow resistance is maximized. It is suggested that such maximum flow resistance is associated with an optimal distance between the bedforms and their height, independently of whether these are antidunes in sand‐ and gravel‐bed rivers or step–pool units in boulder‐bed streams. The considerations of the Kennedy region of antidune formation and the analysis of planform step types depending on stream power both suggest that steep channels have a potential for self‐stabilization by modifying the step–pool structure towards a geometry that provides maximum flow resistance and maximum bed stability. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Use of normalized metal concentrations in the Mn oxides/hydrous oxides extraction phase of stream sediments to enhance the difference between a landfill emission plume and background

Normalized concentrations of Fe, Zn, Ba and Co bound to the Mn phase were determined using a ratio of metal concentration to Mn concentration. Metal concentrations were taken from a previous study which found elevated concentrations of heavy metals in the stream sediments in the vicinity of 2 landfills using a HN0₃ extraction of the whole sediment sample and geochemical phases. Results from the normalized metal concentrations for Zn, Fe and Ba showed a clearer distinction between background and emission plume regions along the stream compared to the same for the HN0₃ and Mn phase extractions. Lack of elevated concentrations and normalized concentrations for Co indicated the concentrations represented the background. The small distance used in the study could explain the lack of a decreasing trend of metal concentrations and normalized metal concentrations downstream in the emission plume of the sediments. Although Mn⁺² 2concentrations are known to be incorporated into the natural state of the Mn phase, these concentrations were thought to be small enough not to influence the results from the normalized concentrations. Non-selectivity of extractants and metal redistribution among chemical phases during extraction procedures are thought to be small and did not invalidate the results.     

Acoustic wave propagation in saturated porous media: reformulation of the Biot/Squirt flow theory

A model of wave propagation in fluid-saturated porous media is developed where the principal fluid/solid interaction mode affecting the propagation of the acoustic wave results from the conjunction of the Biot and the Squirt flow mechanism. The difference between the original Biot/Squirt (BISQ) flow theory and the new theory, which we call the reformulated BISQ, is that the average fluid pressure term appearing in the dynamic equation for a two component solid/fluid continuum is independent of squirt flow length. P-velocity and attenuation relate to measurable rock physical parameters: the Biot's poroelastic constants, porosity, permeability, pore fluid compressibility and viscosity. Modelling shows that velocity and attenuation dispersion obtained using the reformulated BISQ theory are of the same order of magnitude as those obtained using the original BISQ theory. Investigation on permeability effect on velocity and attenuation dispersion indicate that the transition zone in velocity and attenuation peak, occurring both at the relaxation frequency, shifts toward high frequency when permeability decreases. This behaviour agrees with Biot's theory prediction.     

国际矿物学协会新矿物及矿物命名委员会关于矿物命名的程序和原则(1997年)

１　引　言国际矿物学协会新矿物及矿物命名委员会（简称ＣＮＭＭＮ）是由各有关国家矿物学团体指定的代表组成的,目的在于控制新矿物的引入和矿物命名的合理性,自１９５９年成立以来,其工作得到了国际矿物学界广泛的支持。ＣＮＭＭＮ不希望将一套严格的规则强加于矿物学界,而是提供一套具有连续性的原则,以便于为新矿物的确认和矿物命名法的应用提供一个合理的、一致性的方法。现在所提出的原则可能会十分合理地应用于绝大多数情况,但是,总会不可避免地出现一些例外,如文中多次强调的,每项建议必须根据其具体情况进行判断。２　新…     

Downstream effects of impounding a natural lake: the Snake River downstream from Jackson Lake Dam,Wyoming, USA

A sediment mass balance constructed for a 16‐km reach of the Snake River downstream from Jackson Lake Dam (JLD) indicates that river regulation has reduced the magnitude of sediment mass balance deficit that would naturally exist in the absence of the dam. The sediment budget was constructed from calibrated bed load transport relations, which were used to model sediment flux into and through the study reach. Calibration of the transport relations was based on bed load transport data collected over a wide range of flows on the Snake River and its two major tributaries within the study area in 2006 and 2007. Comparison of actual flows with unregulated flows for the period since 1957 shows that operations of JLD have reduced annual peak flows and increased late summer flows. Painted tracer stones placed at five locations during the 2005 spring flood demonstrate that despite the reduction in flood magnitudes, common floods are capable of mobilizing the bed material. The sediment mass balance demonstrates that more sediment exits the study reach than is being supplied by tributaries. However, the volume of sediment exported using estimated unregulated hydrology indicates that the magnitude of the deficit would be greater in the absence of JLD. Calculations suggest that the Snake River was not in equilibrium before construction of JLD, but was naturally in sediment deficit. The conclusion that impoundment lessened a natural sediment deficit condition rather than causing sediment surplus could not have been predicted in the absence of sediment transport data, and highlights the value of transport data and calculation of sediment mass balance in informing dam operations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.