Emplacement of the Jurassic Mirdita ophiolites (southern Albania): evidence from associated clastic and carbonate sediments

Sedimentology can shed light on the emplacement of oceanic lithosphere (i.e. ophiolites) onto continental crust and post-emplacement settings. An example chosen here is the well-exposed Jurassic Mirdita ophiolite in southern Albania. Successions studied in five different ophiolitic massifs (Voskopoja, Luniku, Shpati, Rehove and Morava) document variable depositional processes and palaeoenvironments in the light of evidence from comparable settings elsewhere (e.g. N Albania; N Greece). Ophiolitic extrusive rocks (pillow basalts and lava breccias) locally retain an intact cover of oceanic radiolarian chert (in the Shpati massif). Elsewhere, ophiolite-derived clastics typically overlie basaltic extrusives or ultramafic rocks directly. The oldest dated sediments are calpionellid- and ammonite-bearing pelagic carbonates of latest (?) Jurassic-Berrasian age. Similar calpionellid limestones elsewhere (N Albania; N Greece) post-date the regional ophiolite emplacement. At one locality in S Albania (Voskopoja), calpionellid limestones are gradationally underlain by thick ophiolite-derived breccias (containing both ultramafic and mafic clasts) that were derived by mass wasting of subaqueous fault scarps during or soon after the latest stages of ophiolite emplacement. An intercalation of serpentinite-rich debris flows at this locality is indicative of mobilisation of hydrated oceanic ultramafic rocks. Some of the ophiolite-derived conglomerates (e.g. Shpati massif) include well-rounded serpentinite and basalt clasts suggestive of a high-energy, shallow-water origin. The Berriasian pelagic limestones (at Voskopoja) experienced reworking and slumping probably related to shallowing and a switch to neritic deposition. Mixed ophiolite-derived clastic and neritic carbonate sediments accumulated later, during the Early Cretaceous (mainly Barremian-Aptian) in variable deltaic, lagoonal and shallow-marine settings. These sediments were influenced by local tectonics or eustatic sea-level change. Terrigenous sediment gradually encroached from neighbouring landmasses as the ophiolite was faulted or eroded. An Aptian transgression was followed by regression, creating a local unconformity (e.g. at Boboshtica). A Turonian marine transgression initiated widespread Upper Cretaceous shelf carbonate deposition. In the regional context, the southern Albania ophiolites appear to have been rapidly emplaced onto a continental margin in a subaqueous setting during the Late Jurassic (Late Oxfordian-Late Tithonian). This was followed by gradual emergence, probably in response to thinning of the ophiolite by erosion and/or exhumation. The sedimentary cover of the south Albanian ophiolites is consistent with rapid, relatively short-distance emplacement of a regional-scale ophiolite over a local Pelagonian-Korabi microcontinent.     

Evolution of the middle crust beneath the western Pannonian Basin: a xenolith study

Felsic to mafic granulite xenoliths from late Neogene basalt pyroclastics in four localities of the western Pannonian Basin (Beistein, Kapfenstein, Szigliget and Káptalantóti (Sabar-hegy) were studied to find out their metamorphic and fluid history. The characteristic mineral assemblage of the granulites consists of Pl + Opx + Qtz ± Cpx ± Bt ± Grt ± Kfs. Based on abundant magmatic relic microstructural domains occurring in these rocks, the potential precursors might have been predominantly felsic igneous or high to ultrahigh temperature rocks. Ternary feldspar thermometry provides a rough estimate of temperatures of about 920–1070 °C. The first fluid invasion event, which is linked with this early high to ultrahigh temperature stage is characterised by primary pure CO₂ inclusions in apatite and zircon. The densest primary CO₂ inclusions indicate 0.52–0.64 GPa pressure at the estimated temperature range of crystallization. According to mineral equilibria and geothermobarometry, the high to ultrahigh temperature rock cooled and crystallized to granulite of predominantly felsic composition at about 750–870 °C and 0.50–0.75 GPa in the middle crust, between 20 and 29 km depths. The second fluid invasion event is recorded by primary CO₂-rich fluid inclusions hosted in the granulitic mineral assemblage (plagioclase, quartz and orthopyroxene). In addition to CO₂, Raman spectroscopy revealed the presence of minor N₂, H₂S, CO and H₂O in these inclusions. Partial melting of biotite-bearing assemblages could be connected to the next fluid invasion shown by secondary CO₂-rich fluids recorded along with healed fractures in plagioclase, clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene. This event could have happened at depths similar to the previous ones. The final step in the granulite evolution was the sampling in the middle crust and transportation to the surface in form of xenoliths by mafic melt. This event generated temperature increase and pressure decrease and thus, limited melting of the xenoliths. The youngest fluid inclusion generation, observed mostly in healed fractures of felsic minerals, could be associated with this event.     

Chromium oxidation by manganese (hydr)oxides in a California aquifer

There are increasing concerns with elevated levels of Cr(VI) in the environment because it is a strong oxidant, corrosive, and carcinogenic. The concerns extend to the presence of Cr(VI) in many aquifers in California and elsewhere, where relatively high levels have been attributed to both industrial pollution and natural processes. The authors have, therefore, determined if natural redox processes contribute to the presence of high Cr(VI) concentrations (6–36 μg L⁻¹) in an aquifer in central California relative to non-detectable concentrations (<0.1 μg L⁻¹) in an adjacent aquifer. Specifically, the distribution and the redox speciation of dissolved (<0.45 μm) Cr have been compared with those of particulate Mn and Fe oxy-hydroxides in sediments, using X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Mn and Fe L-edges. The analyses show a correlation between the presence of dissolved Cr(VI) and Mn (hydr)oxide minerals, which are the only common, naturally occurring minerals known to oxidize Cr(III) in laboratory experiments. This covariance substantiates the results of those experiments and previous field studies that indicate natural oxidation mechanisms might account for the relatively high levels of Cr(VI) in the study site, as well as for elevated concentrations in other aquifers with similar biogeochemical conditions.     

Astronomisches zur Erdgeschichte

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Terrestrische Reptilien der Karroo- und Gondwanafauna

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Short-term environmental changes in the Cretaceous Tethyan Ocean: micropalaeontological evidence from the Early Albian Oceanic Anoxic Event 1b

ABSTRACT To better understand the linkage between climate and ocean circulation under greenhouse conditions we have studied calcareous nannofossils, palynomorphs and benthic foraminifera from the Early Albian Oceanic Anoxic Event 1b black shale (OAE 1b) in the Vocontian Basin (SE France). We propose that monsoonal activity resulting from precessional forcing and modulated by eccentricity-driven temperature changes represents the driving factor of OAE 1b formation in low latitudes. With the onset of OAE 1b, increasingly warm and humid conditions, stronger winds and enhanced terrestrial input led to higher surface water productivity. Therefore, increased productivity is an important factor for OAE 1b formation in the Vocontian Basin. However, monsoonally forced productivity changes are a regional climate signal only. The supraregional occurrence of the OAE 1b is probably due to a reduction of deep water formation in the low latitudes under extremely warm and humid conditions, leading to enhanced preservation of organic matter.     

Petrographic studies of the impact melts from Meteor Crater,Arizona, USA

Abstract— We investigated the ballistically dispersed melts from Meteor Crater, Arizona, USA to determine the stratigraphic extent of its melt zone from the compositional relationship of melts and target rocks. Most melt particles are crystallized, hydrated, and oxidized; pristine glasses are rare. Hydration and oxidation occurred at ambient temperatures long after the impact. The preserved glasses are generally clear and texturally homogeneous, but unlike typical impact melts, they have unusually heterogeneous compositions, both within individual particles and from sample to sample. For example, the average SiO₂ for individual particles ranges from 43 to 65%. The projectile content is unusually high and it is distributed bimodally, with specific samples containing either 5–10% or 20–30% FeO. These compositional heterogeneities most likely reflect the high carbonate content of the target rocks and the release of copious CO₂ that dispersed the melts, thereby terminating melt flow and mixing. The high projectile content and the CO₂ depleted residue of purely sedimentary rocks produced mafic melts that crystallized fine‐grained olivine and pyroxene. The melts fall into three compositional groups reflecting variable proportions of the major target formations, Moenkopi, Kaibab, and Coconino. Least‐square mixing calculations revealed one group to contain 55% Moenkopi, 40% quartz‐rich, upper Kaibab, and 5% meteorite, suggesting a source depth of <30 m from the pre‐impact surface. The other two melt groups have higher contents of meteorite (15–20%) and Kaibab (50–70%) and contain more SiO₂ than average Kaibab. The additional quartz may have been derived from Coconino or the upper Kaibab, implying melt depths >90 m or <30 m, respectively. Additional studies, especially hydrocode calculations, are needed to better understand the source depth of these melts and their exceptionally high projectile content.     

Impact‐related noncoaxial deformation in the Pułtusk H chondrite inferred from petrofabric analysis

Petrofabrics in chondrites have the potential to yield important information on the impact evolution of chondritic parent asteroids, but studies involving chondritic petrofabrics are scarce. We undertook an analysis of the Pu?tusk H chondrite regolith breccia. Measurements of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and quantitative tomographic examination of metal grains are presented here and the results are compared with petrographic observations. The major fabric elements are in Pu?tusk shear fractures cutting the light‐colored chondritic clasts as well as brittly and semibrittly deformed, cataclased fragments in dark matrix of regolith breccia. Cataclasis is accompanied by rotation of silicate grains and frictional melting. Fabric of metal grains in chondrite is well defined and coherently oriented over the breccia, both in the clasts and in the cataclastic matrix. Metal grains have prolate shapes and they are arranged into foliation plane and lineation direction, both of which are spatially related and kinematically compatible to shear‐dominated deformational features. We argue that the fabric of Pu?tusk was formed in response to impact‐related noncoaxial shear strain. Deformation promoted brittle cataclastic processes and shearing of silicates, and, simultaneously, allowed for ductile metal to develop foliation and lineation. We suggest that plastic flow is the most probable mechanism for the deformation of metal grains in the shear‐dominated strain field. The process led also to the formation of large metal nodules and bands in the dark matrix of breccia.     

Plastic Pollution at a Sea Turtle Conservation Area in NE Brazil: Contrasting Developed and Undeveloped Beaches

Sea turtles are highly susceptible to plastic ingestion and entanglement. Beach debris were surveyed along the most important sea turtle nesting beaches in Brazil (Costa dos Coqueiros, Bahia State). No significant differences among developed and undeveloped beaches were observed in terms of total number of items. Local sources (tourism activities) represented 70% of debris on developed beaches, where cigarette butts, straws, paper fragments, soft plastic fragments, and food packaging were the most abundant items. Non-local sources (domestic and fishing activities) accounted for about 70% of debris on undeveloped beaches, where the most abundant items were rigid plastic fragments, ropes, soft plastic fragments, caps, and polystyrene. The projected surface area of beach debris did not vary among developed and undeveloped beaches. Overseas containers accounted for about 25% of regional plastic pollution, implying that international pollution prevention agreements are not being respected off the Brazilian coast.