Lattice-preferred orientations of late-Variscan granitoids derived from neutron diffraction data: implications for magma emplacement mechanisms

The lattice-preferred orientation (LPOs) of two late-Variscan granitoids, the Meissen monzonite and the Podlesí dyke granite, were determined from high-resolution time-of-flight neutron diffraction patterns gained at the diffractometer SKAT in Dubna, Russia. The results demonstrate that the method is suitable for the LPO analysis of polyphase, relatively coarse-grained (0.1–6 mm) rocks. The Meissen monzonite has a prominent shape-preferred orientation (SPO) of the non-equidimensional minerals feldspar, mica and amphibole, whereas SPO of the Podlesí granite is unapparent at the hand-specimen scale. The neutron diffraction data revealed distinct LPOs in both granitoids. The LPO of the non-equidimensional minerals feldspar, mica and amphibole developed mainly during magmatic flow. In the case of the Meissen monzonite, the magmatic flow was superimposed by regional shear tectonics, which, however, had no significant effect on the LPOs. In both samples, quartz shows a weak but distinct LPO, which is atypical for plastic deformation and different in the syn-kinematic Meissen monzonite and the post-kinematic Podlesí granite. We suggest that, first of all, the quartz LPO of the Meissen monzonite is the result of oriented growth in an anisotropic stress field. The quartz LPO of the Podlesí granite, which more or less resembles a deformational LPO in the flattening field of the local strain field, developed during magmatic flow, whereby the rhombohedral faces of the quartz crystals adhered to the (010) faces of aligned albite and to the (001) faces of zinnwaldite. Due to shape anisotropy of their attachments, the quartz crystals were passively aligned by magmatic flow. Thus, magmatic flow and oriented crystal growth are the major LPO-forming processes in both granitoids. For the Meissen monzonite, the solid-state flow was too weak to cause significant crystallographic re-orientation of the minerals aligned by magmatic flow. Finally, the significance of our results for the evaluation of the regional tectonic environment during magma emplacement is discussed. The discussion on the regional implications of the more methodologically oriented results provides the basis for future, more regionally aimed studies in view of the fabric characteristics of such plutons and their developing mechanisms.     

Preface: Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Lithographic Limestone and Plattenkalk

Magmatic rocks from the pre-Mesozoic basements of the Sambuco and Maggia nappes have been dated by U–Pb zircon ages with the LA-ICPMS technique. Several magmatic events have been identified in the Sambuco nappe. The mafic banded calc-alkaline suite of Scheggia is dated at 540 Ma, an age comparable to that of mafic rocks in the Austroalpine Silvretta nappe. The Sasso Nero peraluminous augengneiss has an age of 480–470 Ma, like many other “older orthogneisses” in Alpine basement units. It hosts a large proportion of inherited zircons, which were dated around 630 Ma, a Panafrican age indicating the Gondwanan affiliation of the Sambuco basement. The calc-alkaline Matorello pluton yielded ages around 300 Ma, similar to numerous Late Carboniferous intrusions in other basement units of the Lower Penninic (Monte Leone, Antigorio, Verampio) and Helvetic domains (Gotthard and other External Crystalline Massifs). Associated lamprophyric dykes are slightly younger (300–290 Ma), like similar dykes sampled in gneiss blocks included in the sedimentary cover of the underlying Antigorio nappe (290–285 Ma). The Cocco granodiorite and Rüscada leucogranite, both intruding the basement of the neighbouring Maggia nappe, yielded ages of ca. 300–310 Ma, identical within errors to the age of the Matorello pluton. They are significantly older than former age determinations. This age coincidence, coupled with remarkable petrologic similarities between the Cocco and Matorello granodiorites, strongly suggests paleogeographic proximity of the Sambuco and Maggia nappes in Late Carboniferous times. In recent publications these two nappes have been interpreted as belonging to distinct Mesozoic paleogeographic domains: “European” for Sambuco and “Briançonnais” for Maggia, separated by the “Valais” oceanic basin. In this case, the similarity of the Matorello and Cocco intrusions would demonstrate the absence of any significant transcurrent movement between these two continental domains. Alternatively, according to a more traditional view, Sambuco and Maggia might belong to a single large Alpine tectonic unit.     

Radon emanation of heterogeneous basin deposits in Kathmandu Valley,Nepal

Effective radium-226 concentration (EC_Ra) has been measured in soil samples from seven horizontal and vertical profiles of terrace scarps in the northern part of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The samples belong to the Thimi, Gokarna, and Tokha Formations, dated from 50 to 14 ky BP, and represent a diverse fluvio-deltaic sedimentary facies mainly consisting of gravelly to coarse sands, black, orange and brown clays. EC_Ra was measured in the laboratory by radon-222 emanation. The samples (n = 177) are placed in air-tight glass containers, from which, after an accumulation time varying from 3 to 18 days, the concentration of radon-222, radioactive decay product of radium-226 and radioactive gas with a half-life of 3.8 days, is measured using scintillation flasks. The EC_Ra values from the seven different profiles of the terrace deposits vary from 0.4 to 43 Bq kg^?1, with profile averages ranging from 12 ± 1 to 27 ± 2 Bq kg^?1. The values have a remarkable consistency along a particular horizon of sediment layers, clearly demonstrating that these values can be used for long distance correlations of the sediment horizons. Widely separated sediment profiles, representing similar stratigraphic positions, exhibit consistent EC_Ra values in corresponding stratigraphic sediment layers. EC_Ra measurements therefore appear particularly useful for lithologic and stratigraphic discriminations. For comparison, EC_Ra values of soils from different localities having various sources of origin were also obtained: 9.2 ± 0.4 Bq kg^?1 in soils of Syabru–Bensi (Central Nepal), 23 ± 1 Bq kg^?1 in red residual soils of the Bhattar-Trisuli Bazar terrace (North of Kathmandu), 17.1 ± 0.3 Bq kg^?1 in red residual soils of terrace of Kalikasthan (North of Trisuli Bazar) and 10 ± 1 Bq kg^?1 in red residual soils of a site near Nagarkot (East of Kathmandu). The knowledge of EC_Ra values for these various soils is important for modelling radon exhalation at the ground surface, in particular in the vicinity of active faults. Importantly, the study also reveals that, above numerous sediments of Kathmandu Valley, radon concentration in dwellings can potentially exceed the level of 300 Bq m^?3 for residential areas; a fact that should be seriously taken into account by the governmental and non-governmental agencies as well as building authorities.     

The Role of Protistan Microzooplankton in the Upper San Francisco Estuary Planktonic Food Web: Source or Sink?

Decline of native pelagic species in estuarine systems is an increasing problem, especially for native fishes in the San Francisco Estuary and Delta (SFE-D). Addressing these losses depends on understanding trophodynamics in the food web that supports threatened species. We quantified the role of microzooplankton (heterotrophic–mixotrophic protists <200 μm) in the food web of the upper SFE-D. We sampled protist plankton abundance and composition at two sites (Suisun Bay and Grizzly Bay) approximately monthly from February 2004 to August 2005 and conducted dilution experiments during spring and summer of both years in Suisun Bay. Heterotrophs dominated the protist community in Suisun Bay and Grizzly Bay, particularly in the <20 μm size range, and peaks in protistan microzooplankton biomass were associated with high phytoplankton biomass. In both years, microzooplankton grazing rates were high (0.5–0.7 day⁻¹) during the spring and lower (~0.2 day⁻¹) during summer. Phytoplankton growth rates peaked in April 2004 (~0.7 day⁻¹) but were much lower (<0.1 day⁻¹) in spring 2005, despite relatively high abundance. Thus, microzooplankton grazing consumed as much as 73% of phytoplankton standing stock during spring and ~15% of standing stock during summer of both years. Combined with earlier results, we conclude that microzooplankton can be important mediators of carbon and energy flow in the upper SFE-D and may be a “source” to the metazoan food web.     

The fish fauna of the Late Jurassic Solothurn Turtle Limestone (NW Switzerland)

The surroundings of Solothurn (NW Switzerland) have been known for their fossil marine turtles since the beginning of the nineteenth century. In more recent history, access to the fossil bearing layers i.e. the Rätschenbank (Kimmeridgian, Late Jurassic) has not been possible until 1986 when one of the old quarries in the area re-opened. A series of excavations from 1986 to 1989 provided new material and a unique opportunity to re-investigate the fish fauna of the Solothurn Turtle Limestone that has not been dealt with since Agassiz (1833–1844). Examination and classification of the Solothurn specimens, mainly jaw fragments and teeth, furnished 11 species in 6 major groups: chimaeras (Ischyodus), selachians (Hybodus, Paracestracion, Asteracanthus), semionotids (Lepidotes), pycnodontids (Gyrodus, Proscinetes), caturids and oligopleurids (Caturus, Callopterus, Ionoscopus), and aspidorhynchids (Belonostomus).     

A new Jurassic cow shark (Chondrichthyes,Hexanchiformes) with comments on Jurassic hexanchiform systematics

A new taxon, ?Crassodontidanus gen. nov. of Hexanchiformes (cow sharks) from the Jurassic of Germany is described. It is characterized by peculiar teeth combining apomorphic (serrated mesial cutting edge of the main cusp) and plesiomorphic features (deep root with convex mesial and distal margins in labial and lingual views; protruding lingual root bulge). This character combination readily distinguishes members of the new taxon from all other known extant (Heptranchias, Hexanchus, Notorynchus) and extinct (?Gladioserratus, ?Notidanodon, ?Notidanoides, ?Pachyhexanchus, ?Paraheptranchias, ?Weltonia) hexanchiforms. Currently, two species, ?C. serratus (type species; Late Jurassic, Late Kimmeridgian of Nusplingen, South Germany) and ?C. wiedenrothi (Early Jurassic, Early Pliensbachian of Gretenberg (Hanover), North Germany) are assigned to this taxon. ?Crassodontidanus gen. nov. is member of ?Crassonotidae fam. nov. and sister to ?Notidanoides Maisey, 1986 and ?Pachyhexanchus Cappetta, 1990. We consider ?Notidanus amalthei Oppel, 1854 from the Pliensbachian of South Germany, ?Notidanus insignis Seguenza, 1887 from the Oxfordian of Sicily (Italy) and ?Notidanus wagneri Agassiz, 1843 from the Early Tithonian of Solnhofen (South Germany) nomina dubia and nomina nuda, respectively. The family ?Crassonotidae comprises plesiomorphic hexanchiforms ranging from the Sinemurian (Early Jurassic) to the Hauterivian (Early Cretaceous).     

中亚造山带东段铀、钼矿床分布与中间地块的关系

在近年来中亚造山带东段多金属矿床研究取得新进展的基础上,选择铀、钼两类矿床,结合铀、钼元素的地球化学行为探讨成矿物质来源的多样性和成矿的多阶段演化。此外,从构造研究角度,结合中亚造山带东段中大量中间地块存在的构造现象,讨论中间地块与成矿作用的关系:中间地块经历了从大陆边缘的裂解、漂移和板块碰撞造山作用,在漫长而复杂的地质过程中遭受的多次改造,有利成矿物质的反复被萃取和聚集。最后提出印支期华北克拉通北缘和北部造山带的成矿作用与底侵背景下的伸展作用密切相关。     

Attitudes and behaviors of undergraduate students toward environmental issues

The studies carried out throughout the world have indicated that there are differences between environmental attitudes and environmentally responsible behaviors of undergraduate students. In what ways the environmental attitudes and behaviors of the students who will protect and manage the resources of the country in the future have changed is an important issue? This study was aimed at determining the environmental attitudes and environmentally responsible behaviors of the undergraduate students of Abant Ýzzet Baysal University toward environmental issues. In addition, the effects of the faculty in which the students are enrolled, locality and gender on the determined environmental attitudes and environmentally responsible behaviors of the students were investigated. The data were gathered from 507 students in 2005. To explain the environmental attitudes and environmentally responsible behaviors of undergraduate students toward environmental issues, factor analysis was used with Varimax Rotation method. To determine the changes of the environmental attitudes and environmentally responsible behaviors of the students with regard to the faculty, locality and gender, one-way analysis of variance was used. According to the results, students highly support the environmental attitudes and highly participate only in consumerism behaviors. Finally, it was determined if faculty and gender had an effect on the environmental attitudes and behaviors of the students.     

Accumulation of heavy metals in wild commercial fish from the Baotou Urban Section of the Yellow River,China

In this work we studied the accumulation of heavy metals in nine species of fish with different life and feeding habitats which are native and major commercial fish in the Baotou Urban Section of the Yellow River. The results showed that the concentration of heavy metals was significantly dependent on fish species; the pollution index of heavy metals in different species were ranked as Hemiculter leucisclus > Carassius auratus auratus > Hemibarbus maculatus > Megalobrama amblycephala > Abbottina rivularis > Cyprinus carpio > Squaliobarbus curriculus > Perccottus glehni > Saurogobio dabryi. Product–moment correlation coefficients among the metal pairs Pb–Zn, Cu–Cd, Cu–Zn, Cu–Pb, Pb–Cd, and Zn–Cd revealed there was no competitions between metals in each tissue. Correlations between heavy metal concentrations and fish length or weight indicated that accumulation of the heavy metals by the different fish species was related to their surrounding environments and their life and feeding habitats. According to the mean bioconcentration factors (BCFs), the heavy metal concentrations in these nine species were ranked Zn ≫ Cu > Cd ≈ Pb. In this work, the bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) were developed by using the sum of exchangeable and bound-to-carbonate heavy metals as Cs values. It was found that BAFs better reveal the accumulation characteristics of the heavy metals in the fish, which might provide an effective method for assessing bioaccumulation of heavy metals.     

Tectonic implications of transtensional supradetachment basin development in an extension‐parallel transfer zone: the Kocaçay Basin,western Anatolia,Turkey

The Kocaçay Basin (KÇB) is a key area in western Anatolia – a well‐known extended terrane where regional segmentation has received limited attention – for investigating strike‐slip faults kinematically linked to detachment faults. In this paper, we present results of an integrated sedimentologic, stratigraphic, and structural study of Miocene alluvial fan/fan‐delta/lacustrine deposits that accumulated in the KÇB, a NE‐trending basin with connections to the Menderes Metamorphic Core Complex (MCC). We mapped and evaluated most of the key faults in the KÇB, many for the first time, and recognised different deformation events in the study area near the E margin of the MCC. We also present field evidence for kinematic connections between low‐angle normal and strike‐slip faults which were developed in an intermittently active basement‐involved transfer zone in western Anatolia. We find that the KÇB contains a detailed record of Miocene transtensional sedimentation and volcanism that accompanied exhumation of the MCC. Structural data reveal that the basin was initially formed by transtension (D1 phase) and subsequently uplifted and deformed, probably as a result of early Pliocene wrench‐ to extension‐dominated deformation (D2 phase) overprinted by Plio‐Quaternary extensional tectonics (D3 phase). These results are consistent with progressive deformation wherein the axis of maximum extension remained in the horizontal plane but the intermediate and maximum shortening axes switched position in the vertical plane. Combining our results with published studies, we propose a new working hypothesis that the KÇB was a transtensional supradetachment basin during the Miocene. The hypothesis could provide new insights into intermittently active extension‐parallel zone of weakness in western Anatolia.These results also suggest that the termination of low‐angle normal fault systems within an extension parallel transfer zone may have resulted in a transtensional depressions which are different from classical supradetachment basins with respect to the sedimentation and deformational pattern of the basin infills.