Contact coal transformation under the influence of dolerite dike (Kaierkan deposit, Noril'sk district)

The influence of 6.75 m thick dolerite dike on the sheet coal of the Kaierkan deposit (northwestern Siberian Platform) was studied by organogeochemical methods. It is shown that initial bituminous coal was transformed into anthracite in the immediate vicinity of the dike. Chemical kinetic modeling of the dike-induced cracking of coal's organic matter was performed, and the maximum paleotemperatures were estimated.     

Some Advantages of the Duckweed Test to Assess the Toxicity of Environmental Samples

In Germany, wastewater legislation requires all municipal and industrial leachate to be subjected to toxicity tests. However, no phytotoxicity tests using higher plants are currently included among the standard tests. Freshwater microalgae have been used in most phytotoxicity tests and have often been considered as surrogates for higher plants. However, microalgae often do not show the same sensitivity as higher plants and have major disadvantages for the testing of unmodified environmental samples. In the following study, we evaluated the suitability of the giant duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza for assessing the toxicity of a municipal landfill leachate and two leachates of copper mining residue. Duckweed static toxicity tests were performed, and frond number was the endpoint used to calculate EC₅₀ values. Symptoms of stress (chlorosis, necrosis, root destruction, and colony breakup) were also recorded. The landfill leachate was toxic with EC_50;96h values ranging from 1.3 to 2.7% leachate (v/v). Toxicity of the copper slag leachate was largely determined by the elution method used. Leachate obtained using conventional German leaching methods (S4-eluate) was not toxic to duckweed, whereas EC₅₀ values for the pH_stat4-eluate ranged from 3.2 to 4.2% leachate (v/v). The results demonstrate the suitability of S. polyrhiza for the testing of unmodified wastewater samples and provide further evidence for the addition of a duckweed toxicity test to the standard tests conducted in Germany.     

New monoaromatic steroids in organic matter of the apocatagenesis zone

According to the materials of geochemical study in the core of the ultradeep hole SV-27 of aromatic fractions of bitumoids of the Vilyui syneclise (East Siberia) by the method of chromatography–mass spectrometry, starting from the depth of >5000 m, four diastereomers of previously unknown hydrocarbons, which become predominant in the fraction at a depth of ～6500 m, were distinguished. Similar hydrocarbons were found in organic matter of Upper Paleozoic rocks of the Kharaulakh anticlinorium in the Verkhoyansk folded area. According to the intense molecular ion m/z 366 and the character of the basic fragmental ions (m/z 238, 309, and 323), the major structure of the compounds studied was determined as 17-desmethyl-23-methylmonoaromatic steroid C₂₇. The absence of such steroids in oil of the Vilyui syneclise shows that deep micro-oils did not participate in the formation of oil fringes of gas condensate deposits of the region.     

Effect of the baroclinic tide on impurity diffusion in the ocean

The paper studies the effect of the baroclinic tidal wave on the diffusion of a patch of impurities in a continuously stratified fluid. The turbulent diffusion equation is solved numerically, with wave currents being considered. The diffusion characteristics depend upon the parameters of a baroclinic wave and upon the location of the patch. Translated by Vladimir A. Puchkin.     

Interaction between surface gravitational waves and local rise of sea-bed in the uniform ocean

Diffraction of a plane progressive wave on a localized rise of arbitrary height of the sea-bed is studied within the framework of general linear theory of eddy-free waves. The solution is selected using finite-difference method. It is shown that the wave velocity field over the bank displays a character of localized disturbances attenuating as distance. Increase in depth intensifies centres of disturbances over the mountain peak. Vertical velocity amplitude in the area of the sea-bed rise may be an order of magnitude larger compared to its background value.UDK 551.466.8     

On the effects of the interaction of relativistic jets with interstellar gas

We investigated the observed effects of the interaction of a fast-growing spiral bunch of quantum, jet-composing vortices with interstellar gas of varying density. The problem was studied within the framework of the earlier-developed quantum-vortex model of relativistic jets in quasars, radiogalaxies, and active galactic nuclei. The formula describing the gas density effect on the jet growth delay was derived.     

Spatiotemporal dynamics of the Urals’ climate in the second half of the 20th century

Dynamics of the surface air temperature and amount of precipitation in the Polar, Northern, and Southern Urals in the 20th century is analyzed. Charts of the temperature distribution in the Urals for the period from 1961 to 2000, taking into account the relief, are plotted in the geographical informational system on the basis of data of instrumental measurements at meteorological stations with the use of the multiple regression analysis and raster modeling. The northeastern direction of the warming gradient and increase of falling precipitations in the period under review is established. Time series of anomalies of the average annual air temperature and amount of precipitation in the 20th century at three meteorological stations, situated in the Polar, Northern, and Southern Urals, are analyzed. The tendency of the growth of anomalies of the average annual temperature and total amount of precipitation is revealed.     

Lessons from a joint interpretation of vibroseis wide-angle and near-vertical reflection data in the northeastern Yilgarn, Western Australia

A wide-angle reflection seismic experiment was carried out in the Eastern Goldfields granite–greenstone terrane of the Archaean Yilgarn Craton during 2001. This was the first time in Australia that wide-angle data were collected using a vibrator source and with a high density of observations. Unlike other wide-angle surveys carried out in other parts of the world, our survey used both a smaller number of sweeps, and shorter sweeps. We recorded three sweeps (each with its own frequency range) at each vibration point. The experiment demonstrated that the sum of three 12 s sweeps using 3 large vibrators provides enough energy to record signal at offsets up to up to 60–70 km. A comparison of individual shot gathers from near-vertical data and receiver gathers from wide-angle data demonstrated higher reflectivity in near-vertical data. This may be due to differences in the frequency bands of the recording equipment. The after stack section obtained from dense wide-angle data is different from that obtained from conventional near-vertical reflection data. The conventional reflection section provides higher quality image of the crust compared to the wide-angle section. This could be explained by the low-fold in wide-angle data and differences in the acquisition and processing methodology. The wide-angle survey, which was coincident with a regional vibroseis seismic reflection transect, was focused on the Leonora–Laverton region. The survey was designed to supplement the deep seismic reflection studies with velocity information. This also created an opportunity to compare velocity model derived from wide-angle reflection seismic data with a structural image obtained from the deep common mid-point seismic reflection data, and thus refine our geological understanding of the area. A high velocity body reaching a maximum thickness of 2 km was identified exclusively from the seismic velocity model derived from wide-angle study. This body is interpreted as mafic rocks within the Archaean Granite–Greenstone Belt. The joint interpretation also shows that structural boundaries do not always follow lithological boundaries in our study area. The combination of wide-angle reflection and near-vertical reflection data has facilitated a more complete geological interpretation of the seismic data.