The periodicity of storm surges in the Bering Sea from 1898 to 1993, based on newspaper accounts

Spectral analysis of 96 yr of Bering Sea storm records reported in the Nome News (1899–1903) and Nome Nugget (1901–1993) newspapers indicate regularities in the 11-, 5–7- and 3-yr periods. Statistical tests on the 11-yr period found no statistically significant correlation with sunspot cyclicity despite a tendency toward maximum storminess during low sunspot periods. The 3- and 5–7-yr cycles may correlate with variability in the El Niño Southern Oscillation and easterly shifts in the mean position of North Pacific low pressure anomalies. Storm surges were infrequent from 1916 to 1928 and 1947 to 1959, while the most frequent and intense storms hit during 1900–1913, 1936–1946, 1974–1976 and in 1992.     

Connections between surface complexation and geometric models of mineral dissolution investigated for rhodochrosite

Mineral dissolution rates have been rationalized in the literature by surface complexation models (SCM) and morphological and geometric models (GM), and reconciliation of these conceptually different yet separately highly successful models is an important goal. In the current work, morphological alterations of the surface are observed in real time at the microscopic level by atomic force microscopy (AFM) while dissolution rates are simultaneously measured at the macroscopic level by utilizing the AFM fluid cell as a classic flow-through reactor. Rhodochrosite dissolution is studied from pH = 2 to 11 at 298 K, and quantitative agreement is found between the dissolution rates determined from microscopic and macroscopic observations. Application of a SCM model for the interpretation of the kinetic data indicates that the surface concentration of >CO₃H regulates dissolution for pH < 7 while the surface concentration of >MnOH₂⁺ regulates dissolution for pH > 7. A GM model explains well the microscopic observations, from which it is apparent that dissolution occurs at steps associated with anisotropic pit expansion. On the basis of the observations, we combine the SCM and GM models to propose a step-site surface complexation model (SSCM), in which the dissolution rates are quantitatively related to the surface chemical speciation of steps. The governing SSCM equation is as follows: R = χ_1/2(k_co + k_ca)[>CO₃H] + χ_1/2(k_mo + k_ma)[>MnOH₂⁺ ], where R is the dissolution rate (mol m⁻² s⁻¹), 2χ_1/2 is the fraction of surface sites located at steps, [>CO₃H] and [>MnOH₂⁺ ] are surface concentrations (mol m⁻²), and k_co, k_ca, k_mo, and k_ma are the respective dissolution rate coefficients (s⁻¹) for the >CO₃H and the >MnOH₂⁺ surface species on obtuse and acute steps. We find k_co = 2.7 s⁻¹, k_ca = 2.1 × 10⁻¹ s⁻¹, k_mo = 4.1 × 10⁻² s⁻¹, k_ma = 3.7 × 10⁻² s⁻¹, and χ_1/2 = 0.015 ± 0.005. The rate coefficients quantify the net result of complex surface step processes, including double-kink initiation and single-kink propagation. We propose that the SSCM model may have general applicability for dissolution far from equilibrium of flat mineral surfaces of ionic crystals, at least those that dissolve by step retreat.     

Geochemical dispersion of gold related to copper-gold mineralization in northeastern Thailand

The nature of gold dispersion in soils and stream sediments associated with a copper-gold-mineralized system in northeastern Thailand has been investigated as a basis for identifying appropriate geochemical exploration techniques for the search for comparable deposits in similar environments.Soils were collected with varying relationships to mineralization as a basis for determining sample representativity, size distribution of gold, variation with soil horizon and possible pathfinder elements. Similarly, stream sediments were collected to estimate sample representativity, size distribution of gold, variation of gold with depth in the stream sediment profile and to compare the relative recoveries of gold in field-panned and laboratory-prepared heavy-mineral concentrates. Samples were analyzed for Au and potential indicator elements by a variety of methods but mostly by instrumental neutron activation analysis.Results indicate the consistent distribution of fine-grained gold in soils which allows Au analysis of relatively small samples from B-horizon soils to be used effectively and reliably to identify the surficial patterns of gold mineralization in the study area. Anomalous patterns of other indicator elements, Co, As, Cu, Sb, W, Pb, Zn, Ag, Fe and Mn, may contribute additional information regarding type of mineralization. This finding indicates the effectiveness of soil surveys in gold exploration, particularly in areas of deep weathering where fresh bedrock exposures are infrequent.Unlike soils, size distributions of gold in stream sediments, as a result of the local flow regime, vary both between sampling sites and at depths within a sampling site. Exploration requires Au analysis of the fine fraction (minus 63 μm) of active stream sediments to reduce the problem of sampling representativity. The presence of coarse-grained gold in the stream channel has drawn attention to the possible benefit of using the conventional field-panning method as a semiquantitative technique for providing immediate results. However, highly erratic distribution of pannable gold on a very local scale together with variable proportions of the total gold recovered in field-panned or heavy-mineral concentrates highlights a potentially serious drawback of the method. Combination of analysis of the minus 63 μm fraction and field panning appears warranted to cover the possible existence of gold of a wide size range in stream sediments.The overall results indicate the utility of geochemical exploration techniques in the search for gold mineralization. However, particular care is necessary in the design and implementation of geochemical techniques to ensure maximum reliability of exploration.     

Authigenic associations between selected rare earth elements and trace metals in lacustrine sediments

Surficial sediment samples were collected at 47 stations in Little Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan, to determine the geochemical associations between certain rare earth elements (REE's) and trace metals. Each sample was analyzed for carbonate carbon, organic carbon, grain size, and the elements Al, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Eu, Fe, Hf, La, and Mn. Two distinct Ce subpopulatins were identified by graphical analysis, and an R-mode factor analysis was applied to data from the “enriched” Ce subpopulation (18 samples). Results show that the REE's and trace metals are primarily enriched in the authigenic phase of these sediments. Partial correlation analyses indicate that the REE's are primarily associated with hydrous Fe oxides relative to organic matter in this phase. The ratio of Ce/La concentrations increased markedly from the bay margins to the central trough of the bay, indicating that Ce, similar to Fe, exhibits a variable oxidation state in the authigenic phase of nearshore fine-grained sediments. The results of the present study suggest that the REE's and trace metals behave coherently in the authigenic phase of recent lacustrine sediments, and the REE's may be useful as geochemical tracers to differentiate between trace metal enrichments in surface sediments as a result of diagenesis and pollution loadings.     

Dynamic transient behaviour of two- and three-dimensional structures including plasticity,large deformation effects and fluid interaction

The finite element method is employed in the prediction of the dynamic transient response of two- and three-dimensional solids exhibiting geometric (large deformations) and material (elasto-plastic) non-linearities. Explicit time marching schemes are adopted for integration of the dynamic equilibrium equation and a diagonal ‘lumped’ mass matrix is employed with a special procedure applicable to parabolic isoparametric elements. A variety of problems are presented including a solid/fluid interaction situation, and the method is shown to be able to solve economically many problems of dynamic or catastrophic nature which can occur in such structures as nuclear reactors, containment vessels, etc.