Geochemical and stable isotopic variability within two rivers rising under the same mountain,but belonging to two distant watersheds

Complementary geochemical and stable isotope investigations of the Gorski Kotar karst aquifer system in western Croatia were obtained for the first time, to answer the question whether both studied rivers drain the same aquifer system or not. The two main rivers, the Kupa and the Rje?ina, rise under the same mountain range, but belong to two different watersheds (Black Sea and Adriatic Sea). The karst aquifer of Gorski Kotar is a potentially important source of drinking water for two neighboring countries, Croatia and Slovenia (Central and South Europe), and is strongly influenced by both Mediterranean and continental weather conditions. It is a part of the Dinaric karst, which is “locus typicus” for karst worldwide and one of the most typical karst areas in the world.     

Experimental constraints on hydrogen diffusion in garnet

The incorporation mechanisms and diffusional loss of hydrogen in garnet have been experimentally investigated. A suite of gem-quality hydrous spessartine- and grossular-rich garnets were analysed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and by ion microprobe (SHRIMP-SI) to determine the calibration coefficients for quantification of FTIR data. The excellent agreement between measured absorption and OH/O indicates that the same molar extinction coefficient can be used for spessartine and grossular. The coefficient of 14400 l mol^??1 cm^??2 proposed by Maldener et al. (Phys Chem Miner 30:337–344, 2003) seems the most appropriate for both minerals. A grossular with 6.4% andradite and 1.6% almandine containing 834 ppm H₂O, and an almost pure spessartine with 282 ppm H₂O, were selected for diffusion experiments. 1.5-mm cubes of garnets were heated between 12 h and 10 days at 1 atm under various temperature (750–1050 °C) and oxygen fugacity (\({f_{{{\text{O}}_2}}}\)) conditions, (ΔQFM +?15.2 to ??3.0). Diffusion profiles were acquired from sections through the cubes using FTIR, with a deconvolution algorithm developed to assess peak-specific behaviour. Different families of peaks have been identified based on their diffusive behaviour, representing hydrogen incorporated in different H-bearing defects. A dominant, fast, strongly \({f_{{{\text{O}}_2}}}\)-dependent oxidation-related diffusion mechanism is proposed \(\left( {\{ {{\text{M}}^{2+}}+{{\text{H}}^+}\} +\frac{1}{4}{{\text{O}}_2}={{\text{M}}^{3+}}+\frac{1}{2}{{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O}}} \right)\) (M=Fe, Mn) with a relatively low activation energy (158?±?19 kJ mol^??1). This diffusion mechanism is likely restricted by availability of ferrous iron in grossular. At low oxygen fugacity, this diffusion mechanism is shut off and the diffusivity decreased by more than three orders of magnitude. A second, slower hydrogen diffusion mechanism has been observed in minor bands, where charge balance might be maintained by diffusion of cation vacancies, with much higher activation energy (≈?200–270 kJ mol^??1). Spessartine shows clear differences in peak retentivity suggesting that up to four different H sites might exist. This opens exciting opportunities to use hydrogen diffusion in garnet as speedometer. However, it is essential to constrain the main diffusion mechanisms and the oxygen fugacity in the rocks investigated to obtain timescales for metamorphic or igneous processes.     

Land subsidence pattern controlled by old alpine basement faults in the Kashmar Valley, northeast Iran: results from InSAR and levelling

Fluid storage systems, such as oil, gas, magma or water reservoirs, are often controlled by the host rock structure and faulted terrain. In sedimentary basins, where no direct information about underlying structure is available, the pattern of ground deformation may allow us to assess the buried fault arrangement. We provide an example in the semi-arid area of Iran, in the Kashmar Valley, a region subject to land subsidence due to water overexploitation. Geodetically determined subsidence rates in the Kashmar Valley exceed 15–30 cm yr⁻¹. The pattern of surface deformation is strongly non-uniform and displays NE–SW elongated bowls of subsidence. The trend resembles old Cretaceous-to-Tertiary faults that evolved during early alpine tectonic deformation. Although these early alpine structures are considered tectonically inactive in the present day, the observed land subsidence pattern indicates significant structural control on the geometry of the aquifer basin and its deformation during reservoir drainage.     

Sedimentologie des Lias der Berchtesgadener Kalkalpen

Zusammenfassung Ausgehend von der herrschenden Vorstellung einer Transgression roter Liaskalke zur Zeit des oberen Unterlias über ein subaerisch verkarstetes Dachsteinkallerelief, untersuchte ich die Liassedimente in den Berchtesgadener Alpen eingehender und unternahm vergleichende Begehungen im östlichen Hagengebirge, im Steinernen Meer und in den Steinbrüchen von Adnet.Die Sedimente des Lias liegen in einer Graukalk- und einer abwechslungsreicheren Rotkalk-Fazies (F.Fabricius 1962) vor. Ammoniten zeigten, daß die Graukalkfazies einen Teil der Rotkalkfazies vertritt (im wesentlichen Sinemur). Auf die Ausbildung der Rotkalke hatten Mangelsedimentation, Subsolution und syngenetische Umlagerungen Einfluß.Normalerweise überlagert der Lias den Dachsteinkalk konkordant. Diskonforme Lagerung läßt sich durch submarine Kalklösung und synsedimentäre Spaltenbildung erklären. Die submarin entstandenen Zugspalten im Dachsteinkalk sind mit Rotkalksedimenten und Dachsteinkalktrümmern gefüllt. Die Bildungsdauer dieser, sich episodisch erweiternden Spalten ließ sich mit Ammoniten einschätzen.Argumente gegen die Annahme einer Transgression werden diskutiert.

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Basing on the prevailing theory of a transgression of red Liassic limestones over a relief of Dachstein limestone affected by subaeric karstification, during late lower Liassic time, the author investigated the Liassic sediments of the Berchtesgaden Alps more in detail, comparing also with the eastern Hagen mountains, the Steinernes Meer and the quarries of Adnet.The Liassic sediments occur in two types of facies: gray limestone and a less uniform red limestone (Fabricius 1962). As ammonites prove, the gray limestone facies represents part of the red limestone facies (essentially Sinemur). The development of the red limestone was influenced by reduced sedimentation, subsolution and syngenetic rearrangement.In general, the Liassic strata are overlying the Dachstein limestone conformably, Disconformities may be explained by submarin limestone solution and synsedimentary formation of joints. The tension joints which developed by submarin action in the Dachstein limestone are filled up with red limestone sediments and debris of Dachstein limestone. It was possible to estimate the period of formation of these joints by ammonites.Arguments against the theory of a transgression are discussed.

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Résumé En suivant la conception d'une transgression de calcaires liassiques rouges vers la fin du liassique inférieur sur un relief de calcaire «Dachstein» karstifié, l'auteur étudiait les dépôts liassiques des Alpes de Berchtesgaden plus en détail, y incluse une comparaison avec la montagne de Hagen orientale, le «Steinernes Meer» et les carrières d'Adnet.Les dépôts liassiques existent en deux faciès: des calcaires gris et des calcaires rouges plus variés (Fabricius 1962). Comme il est prouvé par des ammonites, le faciès de calcaires gris représente une partie du faciès de calcaires rouges (essentiellement Sinemur). Le développement des calcaires rouges était influencé par une sédimentation réduite, par la subsolution et par une réarrangement syngénétique.En général, les couches liassiques surmontent le calcaire «Dachstein» conformément. Discordance de stratification peut être expliquée par solution calcaire sous-marine et formation synsédimentaire de diaclases. Les diaclases d'extension formées en sous-marin dans le calcaire «Dachstein» sont remplies de dépôts de calcaire rouge et de débris du calcaire «Dachstein». La durée de formation de ces diaclases est à estimée par des ammonites.Des arguments contre la théorie d'une transgression sont discutés.

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Soil and plant composition in the Noun river catchment basin,Western Cameroon: a contribution to the development of a biogeochemical baseline

Soils and selected edible plants of the Noun river catchment basin of western Cameroon were sampled to investigate the distribution of trace elements, based on the preliminary idea of unusual anomalies. Analytical techniques for trace elements included ICP-AES, GF-AAS, and ICP-MS. Further soil analyses comprised the mineralogy and contents of the biogenic elements carbon, nitrogen and sulphur (CNS). The trace element concentrations in the soils reflect those of the lithogeochemical background of the pluto-volcanic rocks of the region. This is consistent with the results from the mineralogical analyses and physicochemical parameters such as pH, taken in the field, which also do not suggest any geochemical anomaly. Most trace elements analyzed in the plants showed concentrations that reflect those of the soils (Al, Fe, Ti, and Rb). However, some trace elements were enriched in the plants as compared to the soils, such as Zn, Cu, Cd, Mo (excluding yam), Ni (peanut), Ba (peanut), Sr (peanut, bean), and B. Trace elements such as As, Cr, V, and Se were not bioavailable for all the analyzed plants. Besides, trace elements such as Cu, Zn, Mo, Fe, Al, Ni, B, Ti, Rb, Cs, and Ba were in the range of phytotoxicity and reached or exceeded human food tolerance level (Cu). The plants with seeds showed a higher absorption of trace elements compared to plants with tubercles.     

The Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary at Gorgonilla Island,Colombia, South America

The discovery of a new Cretaceous/Palaeogene (K/Pg) bathyal marine sequence on Gorgonilla Island, SW Colombia, extends the presence of Chicxulub impact spherule deposits to the Pacific region of northern South America and to the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The Gorgonilla spherule layer is approximately 20 mm thick and consists of extraordinarily well‐preserved glass spherules up to 1.1 mm in diameter. About 70–90% of the spherules are vitrified, and their chemical composition is consistent with Haiti (Beloc) impact glass spherules. Normal size‐grading, delicate spherule textures, welded melt components and an absence of bioturbation or traction transport suggest that the Gorgonilla spherule layer represents an almost undisturbed settling deposit.     

Zur Genese der kretazischen Eisenerze von Auerbach (Oberpfalz)

Zusammenfassung Die kretazischen Auèrbacher Eisenerze sind in Erosionsrirmän in Malmkalk bzw. -dolomit überwiegend syngenetisch-sedimentär durch, Ausfällung von Fe⁺⁺-und HCO₃ -Ionen enthaltenden Lösungen als Siderit bzw. — nach Oxydation des Eisens - als Nadeleisenerz zur Ablagerung gelangt. Ein Teil der heute vorliegenden Nadeleisenerze ist auch auf spätere Oxydation von primärem Eisenkarbonat zurückzuführen. Wesentliche Hinweise auf die Genese geben — außerden Lagerungsverhältnissen — vor allem der geringe Aluminiumgehalt der hochprozentigen Erze und der hohe Kohlenstoffgehalt der Weißerze; daneben werden auch andere Elemente, wie Bor, Yttrium, Phosphor, Mangan, Titan usw. zur Dentung herangezogen.Den Herren der Maxhütte möchten wir für die Förderung der Arbeit und die Erlaubnis zur Veröffentlichung und Herrn Prof. Dr. C. W.,Correns für seine vielseitige Unterstützung aufrichtig danken, außerdem auch Herrn Prof. Dr. Tx. ERNST, in dessen Institut ein Teil der abschließenden Arbeiten durchgeführt wurde. Herrn Dr. H.Tilliviann (Bayer. Geol, Landesamts danken wir für zahlreiche, freundliche Hinweise und die Überlassung von Proben.     

Junge Vulkano-Plutone in Südwestafrika

Ohne Zusammenfassung