SURFACE ROUGHNESS EVOLUTION OF SOILS CONTAINING ROCK FRAGMENTS

Soil surface roughness is a dynamic property which determines, to a large extent, erosion and infiltration rates. Although soils containing rock fragments are widespread in the Mediterranean region, the effect of the latter on surface roughness evolution is yet poorly understood. Therefore, laboratory experiments were conducted in order to investigate the effect of rock fragment content, rock fragment size and initial moisture content of the fine earth on the evolution of interrill surface roughness during simulated rainfall. Surface elevations of simulated plough layers along transects of 50 cm length were measured before and after simulated rainfall (totalling 192.5 mm, I = 70 mm h⁻¹) with a laser microreliefmeter. The results were used to investigate whether systematic variations in interrill surface roughness along stony hillslopes in southeastern Spain could be attributed to rock fragment cover and rock fragment size. Soil surface elevations were measured along the contour lines (50 cm long transects) with a contact microreliefmeter. Roughness was expressed by two parameters related to the height and frequency of roughness elements, respectively: standard deviation of de-trended surface elevations (random roughness: RR), and correlation length (L) derived from exponential fits of the autocorrelation functions. The frequently used assumption that surface roughness (RR) of cultivated topsoils decreases exponentially with cumulative rain is not valid for soil surfaces covered by rock fragments. The RR of soils containing small rock fragments (1.7–2.7 cm) increased with cumulative rainfall after an initial decrease during the first 17.5 mm of rainfall. For soils containing large rock fragments (7.7 cm), RR increased with rainfall above a threshold rock fragment content by mass of 52 per cent. For a given rainfall application, RR increased non-linearly with rock fragment content. The correlation length for soils containing small rock fragments decreases with rock fragment content and is significantly lower than for soils with large rock fragments. Soils covered with small rock fragments (large RR and small L) are thus well protected against raindrop impact by a water film in the depressions between the rock fragments. On abandoned agricultural fields along hillslopes in southeastern Spain, rock fragments cover increases non-linearly with slope owing to selective erosion of finer particles on steep slopes. The increase of surface cover by large rock fragments (>25 mm) is even more pronounced. The simultaneous increase of rock fragment cover and rock fragment size with slope explains the non-linear increase of RR with slope. These relationships differ for soils covered by platy misaschists and those covered with cubic andesites. The variations in correlation length along the hillslopes are not clear, probably owing to a simultaneous increase in rock fragment cover and rock fragment size. These findings may provide a better prediction of soil surface roughness of interrill areas covered by rock fragments using slope angle and lithology.     

Rapid Temporal Changes in Ocean Island Basalt Composition: Evidence from an 800 m Deep Drill Hole in Eiao Shield (Marquesas)

The Dominique drill hole has penetrated the volcanic shieldof Eiao island (Marquesas) down to a depth of 800 m below thesurface and 691•5 m below sea-level with a percentage ofrecovery close to 100%. All the lavas encountered were emplacedunder subaerial conditions. From the bottom to the top are distinguished:quartz and olivine tholeiites (800–686 m), hawaiites,mugearites and trachyte (686–415 m), picritic basalts,olivine tholeiites and alkali basalts (415–0 m). The coredvolcanic pile was emplaced between 5•560•07 Ma and5•220•06 Ma. Important chemical changes occurred during this rather shorttime span (0•34 0•13 Ma). In particular, the lowerbasalts differ from the upper ones in their lower concentrationsof incompatible trace elements and their Sr, Nd and Pb isotopicsignature being closer to the HIMU end-member, whereas the upperbasalts are EM II enriched. The chemical differences betweenthe two basalt groups are consistent with a time-related decreasein the degree of partial melting of isotopically heterogeneoussources. It seems unlikely that these isotopic differences reflectchanges in plume dynamics occurring in such a short time span,and we tentatively suggest that they result from a decreasingdegree of partial melting of a heterogeneous EM II–HIMUmantle plume. Some of the intermediate magmas (the uppermost hawaiites andmugearites) are likely to be derived from parent magmas similarto the associated upper basalts through simple fractionationprocesses. Hawaiites, mugearites and a trachyte from the middlepart of the volcanic sequence have Sr–Nd isotopic signaturessimilar to those of the lower basalts but they differ from themin their lower ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios, resulting in an increasedDMM signature. Some of the hawaiites-mugearites also displayspecific enrichments in P₂O₅, Sr and REE which are unlikelyto result from simple fractionation processes. The isotopicand incompatible element compositions of the intermediate rocksare consistent with the assimilation of MORB-derived wall rocksduring fractional crystallization. The likely contaminant correspondsto Pacific oceanic crust, locally containing apatite-rich veinsand hydrothermal sulphides. We conclude that a possible explanationfor the DMM signature in ocean island basalts is a chemicalcontribution from the underlying oceanic crust and that studiesof intermediate rocks may be important to document the originof the isotopic features of plume-derived magmas. KEY WORDS: alkali basalt; assimilation; mantle heterogeneity; Marquesas; tholeiile ^*Corresponding author     

Compléments d'Etalonnage pour Des Echantillons-Types non Métalliques de I'IRSID

The values "certified" for Al, Ca and Mg in an iron ore (M04–1) and in a Thomas slag (S01–1) have been reexamined and updated in the light of new data by atomic absorption spectrometry.     

Petrogenesis of Coarse-grained Intrusives from Tahiti Nui and Raiatea (Society Islands, French Polynesia)

This study is based on a set of coarse-grained igneous rockscollected from two zoned plutons located in the central partof Tahiti Nui and Raiatea. The Ahititera pluton (central depressionof Tahiti Nui) comprises a great diversity of rocks, rangingfrom ultrabasic to felsic in composition. It shows a concentriczonation with nepheline-free rocks in its periphery and nepheline-bearingrocks in its central part. The Faaroa pluton (central depressionof Raiatea) is entirely mafic and includes only gabbros andtheralites. The two plutons have variable Nd–Sr isotopicsignatures, especially the Ahititera rocks, which are subdividedinto three groups based on their mineralogy, geochemistry andisotope composition. The isotopic variability probably reflectslocal heterogeneities in the Society mantle plume. Petrographicand isotopic data have been used to define two magmatic suitesin Ahititera, identifiable from their degree of Si undersaturation.The evolution of the mildly Si-undersaturated suite is controlledby simple fractional crystallization, whereas the strongly Si-undersaturatedsuite requires additional H₂O influx. The third isotopic groupincludes only theralites. The rare earth element (REE) compositionsof the mafic rocks from both plutons do not correlate with theirisotopic signature. The REE patterns of the most Si-undersaturatedrocks are systematically characterized by steeper slopes. Suchfeatures are also observed in lavas from seamounts located withinthe present-day hotspot area. It appears that REE concentrationsin Society lavas and intrusives are probably mainly governedby variable degrees of partial melting of a garnet-free mantlesource and are independent of their isotopic signature. KEY WORDS: cumulates; fractional crystallization; partial melting; French Polynesia; plutonic rocks; Society Islands; Tahiti; Raiatea     

INTERPRETATION QUANTITATIVE EN GRAVIMETRIE OU MAGNETISME A PARTIR DE CARTES TRANSFORMEES DE GRADIENT VERTICAL*

A discussion is given of the requirements, the advantages and the methods to be considered in attempting the quantitative interpretation of gravity or magnetic fields from computed maps of the vertically derived field. The transform which is used here is the first vertical derivative (or vertical gradient) with or without downward continuation, but the computed maps are in fact obtained by a controllable Fourier method in which two kinds of operations can be simultaneously performed in complete independance: on one hand the separation of any part of the data by frequency cut-off, and on the other hand the transformation by vertical derivation or continuation of the part which is retained. Taking as raw data either actual surveys or artificially constructed maps, it is first shown how separated and transformed maps of this type can be efficiently obtained under quite flexible conditions, using a special computer program. It is further seen that for correctly controlled filterings the accuracy of the computed maps actually permits to take them as the basis for quantitative interpretation. To effect this, any one of the conventional methods which make use of equivalent model computations may in the first place be adapted to the interpretation of gradients, with the benefits, however, of an enhanced lateral separation of the anomalies and of a large attenuation of the regional effects. Particularly, the delineation of horizontal contours for even fairly complex models can often be made directly in a sufficiently safe way on the anomalies as they show on the vertical gradient maps. This greatly accelerates the process of determining equivalent model bodies. More special methods of interpretation can also be designed by taking into account first the fact that the vertical derivation of the field amounts to an operation of separation on the field's sources themselves, and in addition the availability of the frequency form of the information as a result of using a Fourier method of transform computation. Trial utilisations of various such interpretation processes of either the conventional or the less conventional type, are presented especially in connection with an interpretation study on transformed maps of parts of an offshore aeromagnetic survey (English Channel).     

Dosage de I'Eau Combinée dans les Standards Géochimiques de I'ANRT et du CRPG

Utilisant une méthode rapide et précise, l'eau combinée (H₂O+) a été dosée dans les standrds géochimiques de l'ANRT et du CRPG.     

MONITORING SOIL REDISTRIBUTION PATTERNS USING SEQUENTIAL AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS

Various methods have been used to study soil redistribution in the Loam Belt of Belgium. These methods have had contrasting levels of spatial coverage and time-scale. Ideally, a technique to assess soil redistribution patterns should provide the determination of dense networks of X, Y and Z terrain coordinates (digital elevation models) at different time intervals. Sequential stereoscopic aerial photographs contain this information, which can be extracted with standard photogrammetric techniques. In this study, aerial photographs taken by the National Geographic Institute of Belgium in 1947 and 1991 were used to determine the soil redistribution pattern between these years. This was done by overlaying the two digital elevation models and subtracting the corresponding Z coordinate values (heights). The results indicate that most severe surface lowering occurs on the top of the hillslope and on the hillslope convexities. Important deposition occurs on the lowermost parts of the hillslope, in most hillslope concavities and in the topographically defined concentration line. The observed pattern differs markedly from that expected from water erosion processes, and suggests that the soil redistribution is dominated by tillage operations.     

Euro-Standards of Iron Ores

The chemical composition of six iron ore standards is presented. Twenty selected laboratories in the member countries of the European Coal and Steel have participated in their certification.