Hydrochemistry and isotope geochemistry as tools for groundwater hydrodynamic investigation in multilayer aquifers: a case study from Lomellina, Po plain, South-Western Lombardy, Italy

A multicriteria approach in studying hydrodynamics of a multilayer aquifer system has been used in the Lomellina region (Northern Italy). It involves the reconstruction of the hydrogeological framework coupled to the definition of the hydrochemical and isotopic features of the aquifers. A shallow phreatic aquifer, reaching depths of about 60–80 m from the surface, and deeper aquifers containing confined groundwater, were distinguished. Groundwater generally shows mineralisation decreasing with depth; dissolved ions depict calcium-bicarbonate hydrochemical facies and stable isotopes define the recharge mechanisms, the origin of groundwater, and the hydraulic confinement of deep aquifers. The phreatic aquifer is fed by local infiltration and by streams and irrigation channels. Tritium and Carbon-14 groundwater dating indicate long residence times (on the order of thousands of years) for confined aquifers. The confined aquifers show essentially passive hydrodynamic conditions and maintain a higher piezometric level than the phreatic aquifer. This inhibits the possibility of recent water penetrating far below the surface. The hydrogeological setting of the Lomellina region displays features which are common to other sectors of the Po plain. As a consequence, the results of this study, although conducted on a restricted area, are highly illustrative of groundwater hydrodynamics in large sedimentary aquifers.     

Melt/biotite B/B isotopic fractionation and the boron local environment in the structure of volcanic glasses

This paper is focused on the role of boron coordination in determining the ¹¹B/¹⁰B isotopic fractionation between melt/glass and biotite at magmatic temperatures. For this purpose, three evolved volcanic rocks from Roccastrada, Mt. Amiata, and Mt. Cimini belonging to the Neogene-Quaternary magmatism of central Italy were studied. In these samples, the measured boron biotite-glass partition coefficient ranges between 0.004 and 0.011, indicating that boron behaves as an incompatible element during biotite crystallization. The ¹¹B magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra reveal the presence of trigonal BO_3/2 units, tetrahedral BO_4/2⁻ sites, and three-coordinated BO_2/2O⁻ species containing one nonbridging oxygen. The relative contributions of these different boron sites were estimated by spectral deconvolution, and it was observed that the fraction of trigonally coordinated boron decreases with increasing K₂O concentration in the glass. The ¹¹B/¹⁰B isotopic fractionation between biotite and melt/glass was observed to be large even at magmatic temperatures and was found to be 1.0066 (Roccastrada sample), 1.00535 (Mt. Amiata sample), and 1.00279 (Mt. Cimini sample). Fractionation is mostly related to the relative amount of trigonal and tetrahedral boron sites in the glass network rather than to other processes, including the speciation of hydrous species in the glass structure. The measured α values are significantly higher than the calculated ones obtained using the reduced partition function ratios (RPFRs) for B(OH)₃ and B(OH)₄⁻ as reported by Kakihana et al. (1977) and the abundance of trigonal and tetrahedral boron obtained by ¹¹B NMR spectra. Furthermore, a nonlinear relationship is observed between the percentage of BO₄ in the glass structure and the measured 1000lnα, suggesting that the approximation of monomeric B(OH)₃ and B(OH)₄⁻ species contributions through ideal mixing in calculating the RPFRs in polyanions (Oi et al., 1989) probably does not apply to silicate glasses.The large B isotopic fractionation measured between glass and biotite and its dependence on the boron coordination in the glass are a limitation to the use of δ¹¹B in the mineral to characterize magmas. Nonetheless, the high incompatible behavior of boron in the most common magmatic minerals rules out that fractional crystallization significantly modified the B isotopic composition of the melt.     

Pressure-Dependence of Rare Earth Element Distribution in Amphibolite- and Granulite- Grade Garnets. A LA-ICP-MS Study

Using an excimer (KrF) laser ablation ICP-MS system, we studied the distribution of REE in garnets from metapelites and metabasites from Ivrea-Verbano (Western Alps, Italy) and from the Peña Negra Anatectic Complex (Central Iberia), finding systematic variations that correlate well with the metamorphic grade. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns of garnets from amphibolite-grade metapelites have lower-than-chondrite levels from La to Sm, a very small or no Eu anomaly, and a steep rise in the abundance of heavy REE as the atomic number increases. Metapelitic garnets from the amphibolite-granulite transition have a marked Eu negative anomaly and are enriched in MREE such that Sm is 10-15 times chondrite and the pattern is almost flat from Dy to Yb-Lu. In garnets from granulite-grade metapelites, the intensity of the Eu anomaly and the relative concentration of Nd, Sm, Gd and Tb increase, with almost flat chondrite-normalized patterns from Sm to Lu. Garnets from mafic granulites are remarkably similar to those of metapelitic garnets equilibrated at the same pressure, except for the Eu anomaly. The apparent paradox of enhanced uptake of larger REE ions with increasing pressure is attributed to the 3M²⁺ 2REE³⁺+ vacancy substitution, which produces a net decrease in the dimensions of the unit-cell of garnet. Variations in REE patterns depend essentially on the pressure and have little dependence on either temperature, bulk-composition of garnet, or REE whole-rock composition, so they could represent a new approach for geobarometric studies. The best numerical parameter to express pressure-related variations of REE distribution in garnets is the Gd/Dy ratio which does not seem perceptibly affected by disequilibrium partitioning. The regression equation between GASP pressure and the average Gd/Dy^garnet is P = 3.6 + 5.6 Gd/Dy. This equation seems to be reliable for garnets: (1)equilibrated within a pressure range of 4-9 kbar, (2) coexisting with modal monazite; and (3) with unit-cell dimensions under 11.46 Å.     

Crustal and mantle strengths in continental lithosphere: is the jelly sandwich model obsolete?

The relative importance of the contribution of the lower crust and of the lithospheric mantle to the total strength of the continental lithosphere is assessed systematically for realistic ranges of layer thickness, composition, and temperature. Results are presented as relative strength maps, giving the ratio of the lower crust to upper mantle contribution in terms of crustal thickness and surface heat flow. The lithosphere shows a “jelly sandwich” rheological layering for low surface heat flow, thin to average crustal thickness, and felsic or wet mafic lower crustal compositions. On the other hand, most of the total strength resides in the seismogenic crust in regions of high surface heat flow, crust of any thickness, and dry mafic lower crustal composition.     

Gentrification as space domestication. The High Line Art case

In this paper, we critically examine the role of artistic locational choices and practices in the context of gentrification processes in urban renewal contexts. We characterize gentrification as a form of domestication of space, and explore the extent to which artistic choices and practices relate to such process with reference to the deontological dilemma of legitimization within the art system vs. responsible empowerment of vulnerable local constituencies. We illustrate our argument with an analysis of the High Line Art project, and show how this can be considered as a textbook example of art-driven space domestication leading to brutal forms of gentrification. We comment on the threat that this provides to the social credibility of artistic practices as an agency of responsible social change.     

Reproductive biology of Parazoanthus axinellae (Schmidt, 1862) and Savalia savaglia (Bertoloni, 1819) (Cnidaria,Zoantharia) from the NW Mediterranean coast

Despite the wide distribution of zoanthids, little is known about their pattern of reproduction. Here we investigate the reproductive biology of two Mediterranean species, the common Parazoanthus axinellae (Schmidt) and the rare Savalia savaglia (Bertoloni). For both species, samples were collected during an annual cycle, from January to December 2005, in the Western Mediterranean (Ligurian Sea, Italy). Both species are gonochoric. In P. axinellae the sex‐ratio (n colonies = 30) showed a slight predominance of male colonies (M/F = 1.35), whereas in the population of S. savaglia (n colonies = 15) a predominance of females was found (M/F = 0.3). In P. axinellae the first gametocytes were visible in March, whereas in S. savaglia they became visible in May. Both species reproduce at the end of autumn when seawater temperature begins to decrease. Parazoanthus axinellae (10 m depth) spawns eggs and sperms in November, whereas S. savaglia (67 m depth) spawns in December. In P. axinellae sexes were segregated on a rocky wall, with males occurring deeper, whereas male and female colonies of S. savaglia were irregularly dispersed in the population. The maximum number of oocytes differed between the species, being higher in P. axinellae than in S. savaglia.     

Prototype measurements and small-scale model tests of wave overtopping at shallow rubble-mound breakwaters: the Ostia-Rome yacht harbour case

The paper presents the comparison between the results of small-scale model tests and prototype measurements of wave overtopping at a rubble-mound breakwater. The specific structure investigated is the west breakwater of the yacht harbour of Rome at Ostia (Italy) and is characterized by a gentle seaward slope (1/4) and by a long, shallow foreshore. The laboratory tests firstly aimed at carefully reproducing two measured storms in which overtopping occurred and was measured. The tests have been carried out in two independent laboratories, in a wave flume and in a wave basin, hence using a two-dimensional (2-D) and a three-dimensional (3-D) setup. In the 2-D laboratory tests no overtopping occurred during the storm reproductions; in the 3-D case discharges five to ten times smaller than those observed in prototype have been measured. This indicates the existence of model and scale effects. These effects have been discussed on the basis of the results of several parametric tests, which have been carried out in both laboratories, in addition to the storm reproductions, varying wave and water level characteristics. Final comparison of all the performed tests with 86 prototype measurements still suggests the existence of scale and model effects that induce strong underestimation of overtopping discharge at small scale. The scale reproduction of wave breaking on the foreshore, together with the 3-D features of the prototype conditions and the absence of wind stress in the laboratory measurements, have been individuated as the main sources of scale and model effects. The paper also provides a comparison between the data and a largely used formula for wave overtopping discharges in the presence of structures similar to the one at hand. The suitable value of a roughness factor that appears in that formula is investigated and good agreement is found with other recent researches on rubble-mound breakwaters.     

Tectonic role of oceanic fracture zones

A critical analysis of the geometric properties of oceanic fracture zones leads to the conclusion that their identification with ridge—ridge transform faults is an oversimplification. Models are presented, and examples are given, of processes (asymmetric spreading and differential spreading) which can alter the ridge-fracture zone pattern and extend active shear within lithospheric plates. These processes have a number of interesting tectonic consequences and could offer an explanation for, among other things, belts of intra-plate seismic activity and reversal of slip directions along a strike-slip fault.     

Cell parameters of thermally treated anorthite. Al,Si configurations in the average structures of the high temperature calcic plagioclases

Thermal treatments of anorthite carried out at up to 1,547° C show that the unit cell parameter changes as a function of the treatment temperature. The best fit curve found by non-linear least squares analysis is: =91.419-(0.327·10^-6)T ²+(0.199·10^-12)T ⁴-(0.391·10)T ⁶. The results obtained support significant Al,Si disorder (Al0.10, where Al=t ₁(0)-1/3 [t ₁(m)+t ₂(0)+t ₂(m)], Ribbe 1975), in anorthite equilibrated near the melting point and confirm a high temperature series differentiated from the low temperature series for calcic plagioclases in the An₈₅–An₁₀₀ range also. In the plot vs. An-content the high and low temperature curves intersect at An₈₅ composition and progressively diverge in the An₈₅–An₁₀₀ range. The trends of the high and low temperature curves in this range are interpretable on the basis of the degree of Al, Si order in the average structures of calcic plagioclases.