Faroe Shelf Water

Faroe Shelf Water (FSW) is the water mass that occupies the shallow parts of the Faroe Shelf, surrounding the Faroe Islands (62°N, 7°W). Intensive tidal mixing induces a high degree of homogeneity and the circulation system allows a partial isolation from surrounding waters. This water mass, therefore, supports a unique ecosystem of great importance for commercial fish stocks and studies have shown a clear dependence of the ecosystem on the physical processes that maintain this system and control the exchange between the FSW and the off-shelf waters. In order to identify and quantify these processes, a large observational dataset has been analysed and related to alternative theories. From this analysis, the extent and properties of the FSW have been quantified and the degree of stratification explained in terms of the Simpson–Hunter theory. The residual clockwise circulation system, which is responsible for the partial isolation from off-shelf waters, is shown to be mainly generated by tidal rectification. The typical exchange rate of water between the FSW and the off-shelf regimes has been determined by the use of simple models based on the heat and the salt budgets but the actual exchange rate is found to vary considerably in time and space. These results support earlier suggestions that this exchange is the main limiting factor for the phytoplankton spring bloom on the Faroe Shelf and that variations in exchange rate are responsible for the large inter-annual variation in spring bloom timing and intensity. The observations indicate that the on-shelf/off-shelf exchange intensity is not symmetrically distributed around the shelf, but rather concentrated around the narrow southern tip of the Faroe Shelf, where off-shelf waters during intensive exchange events may be imported all the way to the shore.     

A sequence stratigraphic model for the Lower Coal Measures (Upper Carboniferous) of the Ruhr district, north-west Germany

Upper Carboniferous Coal Measures strata have been interpreted traditionally in terms of cyclothems bounded by marine flooding surfaces (marine bands) and coal seams. Correlation of such cyclothems in an extensive grid of closely spaced coal exploration boreholes provides a robust stratigraphic framework in which to study the Lower Coal Measures (Namurian C–Westphalian A) of the Ruhr district, north-west Germany. Three distinct types of cyclothem are recognized, based on their bounding surfaces and internal facies architecture. (1) Type 1 cyclothems are bounded by marine bands. Each cyclothem comprises a thick (30–80 m), regionally extensive, coarsening-upward delta front succession of interbedded shales, siltstones and sandstones, which may be deeply incised by a major fluvial sandstone complex. The delta front succession is capped by a thin (<1 m), regionally extensive coal seam and an overlying marine band defining the top of the cyclothem. (2) Type 2 cyclothems are bounded by thick (≈1 m), regionally extensive coal seams with few splits. The basal part of a typical cyclothem comprises a thick (15–50 m), widespread, coarsening-upward delta front or lake infill succession consisting of interbedded shales, siltstones and sandstones. Networks of major (>5 km wide, 20–40 m thick), steep-sided, multistorey fluvial sandstone complexes erode deeply into and, in some cases, through these successions and are overlain by the coal seam defining the cyclothem top. (3) Type 3 cyclothems are bounded by regionally extensive coal seam groups, characterized by numerous seam splits on a local (0·1–10 km) scale. Intervening strata vary in thickness (15–60 m) and are characterized by strong local facies variability. Root-penetrated, aggradational floodplain heteroliths pass laterally into single-storey fluvial channel-fill sandstones and coarsening-upward, shallow lake infill successions of interbedded shales, siltstones and sandstones over distances of several hundred metres to a few kilometres. Narrow (<2 km) but thick (20–50 m) multistorey fluvial sandstone complexes are rare, but occur in a few type 3 cyclothems. Several cyclothems are observed to change character from type 1 to type 2 and from type 2 to type 3 up the regional palaeoslope. Consequently, we envisage a model in which each cyclothem type represents a different palaeogeographic belt within the same, idealized delta system, subject to the same allogenic and autogenic controls on facies architecture. Type 1 cyclothems are dominated by deltaic shorelines deposited during a falling stage and lowstand of sea level. Type 2 cyclothems represent the coeval lower delta plain, which was deeply eroded by incised valleys that fed the falling stage and lowstand deltas. Type 3 cyclothems comprise mainly upper delta plain deposits in which the allogenic sea-level control was secondary to autogenic controls on facies architecture. The marine bands, widespread coals and coal seam groups that bound these three cyclothem types record abandonment of the delta system during periods of rapid sea-level rise. The model suggests that the extant cyclothem paradigm does not adequately describe the detailed facies architecture of Lower Coal Measures strata. Instead, these architectures may be better understood within a high-resolution stratigraphic framework incorporating sequence stratigraphic key surfaces, integrated with depositional models derived from analogous Pleistocene–Holocene fluvio-deltaic strata.     

Mercury speciation in tailings of the Idrija mercury mine

Five hundred years of mercury (Hg) mining activity in Idrija, Slovenia caused widespread Hg contamination. Besides Hg emissions from the ore smelter, tailings have been found to be the major source of river sediment contamination. In the present study, solid phase binding forms and the aqueous mobility of Hg have been investigated in tailings of the Idrija Hg mine by means of a pyrolysis technique and aqueous Hg speciation. Results show that Hg binding forms differ with the age of the tailings due to the processing of different ores with different roasting techniques. In older tailings, the predominant Hg species is cinnabar (HgS), due to incomplete roasting, whereas in tailings of the 20th century the amount of cinnabar in the material decreased due to a higher efficiency of the roasting process and the increasing use of ores bearing native Hg. In younger tailings, metallic Hg (Hg⁰) sorbed to mineral matrix components such as dolomite and Fe-oxyhydroxides became the predominant Hg binding form in addition to unbound Hg⁰ and traces of HgO. Leaching tests show that in younger tailings high amounts of soluble Hg exist in reactive form. In older tailings most of the soluble Hg occurs bound to soluble complexes. It might be assumed that in the long term, matrix-bound Hg⁰ could be bound to humic acids derived from soils covering the tailings. This means that, despite the lower total Hg concentrations found in the younger tailings, the long-term risk potential of its mobile matrix-bound Hg⁰ is higher than that of older tailings bearing mostly immobile cinnabar.     

Transfer of results from reed research into practice as illustrated by reed protection measures in Berlin

There is great interest in solving the question of how far the successful establishment of common reed for shore restoration is influenced by genetically determined characteristics of different reed clones. For this purpose, ten reed clones were planted at six artificial sand banks in 1995, according to a special planting design. The growth and expansion performance of the clones was compared.The reed plants grew without significant stress in the first vegetation period, resulting in newly established reed stands in a very good condition at the end of the season. Despite the same site conditions at the experimental plots, the planted clones differed significantly in their morphology and stand structure. By comparison, reed plants of the same clone exhibited strong similarity on all experimental plots. These results appear to justify the assertion that, at least during the initial phase of establishing a reed stand, the development of stand structure is determined more by genetically controlled programmes than by site conditions. Only long-term investigations will be able to clarify to what extent stable stand structures are formed by genetically controlled programmes after polycormons reach maturity.     

Comprehensive chemical analyses of natural cordierites: implications for exchange mechanisms

Cordierite samples from pegmatites and metamorphic rocks have been analysed for major [electron microprobe analysis (EMPA)] and trace elements [inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), secondary ion mass spectrometry analyses (SIMS)] as well as for H₂O and CO₂ (coulometric titration), and the results evaluated in conjunction with published data in order to determine which exchange mechanisms are significant. Apart from the homovalent substitutions FeMg₋₁ and MnMg₋₁ on the octahedral site, some minor KNa₋₁ on the Ch0 channel site, and Fe³⁺Al₋₁ on the T₁1 tetrahedral site, the three most important substitution mechanisms are those for the incorporation of Li on the octahedral sites (NaLi□₋₁Mg₋₁), and of Be and other divalent cations on the tetrahedral T₁1 site (NaBe□₋₁Al₋₁ and Na(Mg,Fe²⁺)□₋₁Al₋₁). The dominant role of the last vector is clearly demonstrated. We propose a new generalized formula for cordierite: ^Ch(Na,K)_0–1 ^VI(Mg,Fe²⁺,Mn,Li)₂ ^IVSi₅ ^IVAl₃ ^IV(Al, Be, Mg, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺)O₁₈ *x^Ch(H₂O, CO₂…). Our results show that the population of (Mg, Fe²⁺) on the T₁1-site is limited to about 0.08 a.p.f.u. Other exchange mechanisms that were encountered in experiments operate only under P–T conditions or in bulk compositions that are rarely realized in nature. Routine analyses by electron microprobe in which Li and Be are not determined can be plotted as (Mg+Fe+Mn) versus (Si+Al) to assess whether significant amounts of Li and Be could be present. These amounts can be calculated as Li (a.p.f.u.)=Al+Na–4 and Be (a.p.f.u.)=10–2Al–M²⁺–Na.     

Nutrient dynamics in the Sylt-Rømø Bight ecosystem,German Wadden Sea: An ecological network analysis approach

Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus flow networks, consisting of 59 compartments, were constructed for the Sylt-Rømø Bight, a large shallow sea in the German Wadden Sea. These networks were analysed using ecological network analysis. Each network depicts the standing stock of each component in the ecosystem, and the flows between them. The trophic efficiency by which material is utilised in the Bight increase from 3%, to 6% to 17% for C, N and P, respectively. The number of cycles though which these elements pass increase from 1 197 for carbon, to 414?744 and 538?800 for nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively. The Finn Cycling Index, reflecting the amount of material recycled as a fraction of the total system activity, TST, increases from 17% for carbon, to 43% for nitrogen, to 81% for phosphorus. Other system level attributes such as the Average Path Length, the Average Internal Mutual Information, Relative Ascendancy, Relative and Normalized Redundancy, show an increase from the carbon to the nitrogen to the phosphorus networks. Phosphorus is tightly cycled over longer pathways than the other two elements, and also has the longest residence time in the Bight. Postulated differences between the behaviour of energy (or carbon) and biogeochemical networks in coastal ecosystems are evident from the results obtained from ecological network analysis.     

Ice-wedge casts and relict polygonal patterns in Scandinavia

Ice-wedge casts in Scandinavia frequently occur in three regions: (a) southwestern Jutland (outside the limit of the Weichselian glaciation); (b) southwestern Sweden; and (c) northernmost Norway. The latter two areas are both early deglaciated regions. Characteristics of casts in vertical sections are discussed with reference to the host and infilling material. Aerial photographs provide an effective tool for detecting relict ice-wedge polygons (crop marks, micromorphology). Experience from present-day permafrost regions with active ice-wedge formation helps to explain the palaeoclimatic significance of the relict polygons. Attempts to establish the ages of formation are discussed from a methodological point of view.     

Contrasting tonalite genesis in the Lyngen magmatic complex, north Norwegian Caledonides

The Lyngen gabbro (LG), defining the major part of the Lyngen magmatic complex, is characterised by layered gabbros of N-MORB affinity (western suite) and layered gabbronorites, quartz-bearing gabbros and diorites/quartz-diorites of IAT (island-arc tholeiite) to boninitic affinity (eastern suite). The boundary between the eastern and western suites is generally defined by a large-scale ductile shear zone of suboceanic origin, the Rypdalen shear zone (RSZ). Tonalites occur within the RSZ and in the eastern suite of the LG. Variations in field occurrence and chemical composition of the tonalites suggest that they represent two petrologically different groups. Tonalite intrusion (the Vakkas pluton) up to 5 km² large occur in the eastern suite of the LG, and are characterised by high Y contents (average 26 ppm) and high K₂O/Rb ratios (average 0.062) compared to tonalites on the RSZ. The Vakkas pluton has lightly concave REE (rare earth element) patterns with negative Eu-anomalies, and positive _ND-values (+3.7 to +3.9). Geochemical modelling based on the REE and field evidence suggests that these tonalites may have formed by fractional crystallization from a boninitic parental magma. Tonalites related to the RSZ form irregular veins and dikes that net vein the shear zone. They are characterised by low Y contents (average 6 ppm), low K₂O/Rb ratios (average 0.025), and highly variable contents of Na₂O, K₂O, Sr and Ba, compared to the Vakkas pluton. Tonalites related to the RSZ show substantial variation in the content of the LREEs. They possess low abundances of the HREEs, and absence of, or slightly positive Eu-anomalies. The tonalites have highly variable _ND-values (−0.6 to −9.4), probably resulting from enrichment of Nd from an external source. Geochemical modelling suggests that the LREE-rich tonalites formed by H₂O-rich partial melting of differentiated products from the eastern suite of the LG. The presence of B in the fluid phase is suggested by the presence of tourmaline-bearing tonalite pegmatites. Thus, the anatectic tonalites of this group could have been formed by water-excess melting of a variety of gabbroic cumulates of the LG. In the LG, LREE-depleted tonalites (_ND-values +5.1) also occur, and these are best explained in terms of partial melting of gabbroic cumulates from the transition zone between the eastern and the western suites of the LG.     

Late- and post-Variscan cooling and exhumation history of the northern Rhenish massif and the southern Ruhr Basin: new constraints from fission-track analysis

Apatite fission-track analyses were carried out on outcrop and core samples from the Rhenish massif and the Carboniferous Ruhr Basin/Germany in order to study the late- and post-Variscan thermal and exhumation history. Apatite fission-track ages range from 291±15 Ma (lower Permian) to 136±7 Ma (lower Cretaceous) and mean track lengths vary between 11.6 m and 13.9 m, mostly displaying unimodal distributions with narrow standard deviations. All apatite fission-track ages are younger than the corresponding sample stratigraphic age, indicating substantial post-depositional annealing of the apatite fission-tracks. This agrees with results from maturity modelling, which indicates 3500–7000 m eroded Devonian and Carboniferous sedimentary cover. Numerical modelling of apatite fission-track data predicts onset of exhumation and cooling not earlier than 320 Ma in the Rhenish massif and 300 Ma in the Ruhr Basin, generally followed by late Carboniferous–Triassic cooling to below 50–60°C. Rapid late Variscan cooling was followed by moderate Mesozoic cooling rates of 0.1–0.2°C/Ma, converting into denudation rates of <1 mm/a (assuming a stable geothermal gradient of 30°C/km). Modelling results also give evidence for some late Triassic and early Jurassic heating and/or burial, which is supported by sedimentary rocks of the same age preserved at the rim of the lower Rhine Basin and in the subsurface of the Central and Northern Ruhr Basin. Cenozoic exhumation and cooling of the Rhenish massif is interpreted as an isostatic response to former erosion and major base-level fall caused by the subsidence in the lower Rhine Basin.