Structural parageneses in a discrete geological medium

The theoretical bases of the structural-paragenetic method for the reconstruction of geodynamic environments are critically analyzed in view of ideas about nonlinear dynamics and the coarse discrete fractality of the geological medium. The work shows the incorrectness of reconstructions without considering bifurcations of structurization and its strong dependence on differences in initial conditions, the unreliability of recognizing particular parageneses of different ages, types, and ranks, as well as that without immediate observational and experimental examination of the conformity of reconstructions to the real environments of the geological past.     

Satellite remote sensing derived spatial water utilisation index (wui) for benchmarking of irrigation systems

Water Utilisation Index (WUI) defined as area irrigated per unit volume is a measure of water delivery performance and constitutes one of the important spatial performance indicators of an irrigation system. WUI also forms basis for evaluating the adequacy of seasonal irrigation supplies in an irrigation system (inverse of WUI is delta, i.e. depth of water supplied to a given irrigation unit). In the present study WUI and adequacy indicators were used in benchmarking the performance of Nagarjunasagar Left Canal Command (NSLC) in Andhra Pradesh. Optimised temporal satellite data of rabi season during the years 1990–91 and 1998–99 was used in deriving irrigated crop areas adopting hierarchical classification approach. Paddy is the predominant crop grown and cotton, chillies, sugarcane etc. are the other crops grown in the study area. Equivalent wet area (paddy crop area) was estimated using the operationally used project specific conversion factors. WUI was estimated at disaggregated level viz., distributary, irrigation block, irrigation zone level using the canal discharge data. At project level, WUI estimated to be 65 ha/MCM and 92 ha/MCM during rabi season of 1990–91 and 1998–99 years respectively. A comparison of total irrigated area and discharges corresponding to both the years indicate that irrigation service is extensive and sub optimal during 1998–99 and it is intensive and optimal in 1990–91. It was also observed that WUI is lesser in blocks of with higher Culturable Command Area (CCA) compared to the blocks of lower CCA. All the disaggregated units were ranked into various groups of different levels of water distribution performance. The study demonstrates the utility of WUI as spatial performance indicator and thus useful for benchmarking studies of irrigation command areas. The WUI together with satellite data derived spatial irrigation intensity, crop productivity constitutes important benchmarking indices in irrigation command areas.     

Change in the circulation regime in the stratified saline Lake Shira (Siberia,Republic of Khakassia)

The in-situ data on the vertical structure and stability of the vertical stratification of saline Lake Shira over the past decade (2007–2015) are analyzed. Simplified mathematical models have shown that strong wind in the autumn of 2014 together with rather thick ice in the winter of 2015 caused a change in the circulation regime of this water reservoir from meromictic (incomplete mixing) to holomictic (compete mixing). Based on the results obtained, a circulation regime for deep saline lakes located in the continental climate zone, in particular, in the arid zones of Southern Siberia (Khakassia, Transbaikal, and Altai) can be predicted under various climate scenarios of the future.     

Influence of food web structure on the biochemical composition of seston,zooplankton and recently deposited sediment in experimental freshwater mesocosms

The effects of food web structure on the quantity and biochemical composition of seston, zooplankton and recently deposited sediment in experimental freshwater mesocosms were examined. Food web structure was manipulated by addition of zooplanktivorous fish. Biochemical characterisations were carried out using lipid biomarkers (sterols, fatty acids, chlorophyll-derived compounds and long-chain alkanediols). Fish addition decreased zooplankton biomass and increased seston biomass and deposited sediment through a trophic cascade. Fish presence strongly influenced the biochemical characteristics of seston and sediment. In contrast, food web structure had a minor impact on the lipid biomarker composition of zooplankton. Although the relative abundance of sterols in the different compartments did not differ strongly between treatments, sterol profiles in seston and sediment depended on food web structure. The predominance of Δ⁷-sterols in seston and sediment in the fish treatment indicated a major contribution of Chlorophyceae. In contrast, the distribution of sterols in seston and sediment in the fishless treatment, dominated by cholesterol, indicated a major zooplanktonic input. The distribution of fatty acids and the relative abundance of chlorophyll-derived compounds and long-chain alkanediols agreed with the predominant contribution of phytoplankton or zooplankton to seston and sediment in the two treatments. The relative abundance of bacterial biomarkers suggested that the contribution of bacteria was rather low. The high relative abundance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and the absence of stanols in sediments suggested low microbial reworking of organic matter in the recently accumulated sediments. The trophic cascade, generated by the addition of fish, increased the relative abundance of PUFAs in deposited organic matter, thus enhancing sediment quality and potential degradability.     

The influence of volcanological and sedimentological processes on diamond grade distribution in kimberlites: examples from the EKATI Diamond Mine,NWT, Canada

The distribution of diamonds within individual kimberlite pipes is poorly documented in the public domain due to the proprietary nature of the data. The study of the diamond distribution within two pipes, Fox and Koala, from the EKATI Diamond Mine, NWT, Canada, in conjunction with detailed facies models has shown several distinct relationships of deposit type and grade distribution. In both pipes, the lithological facies represent grade units which can be distinguished from each other in terms of relative size and abundance of diamonds. A positive relationship between olivine grain size and abundance with diamond size and abundance is observed, indicating that sorting of fragmental kimberlites influences diamond distribution. Though surface geological processes do not control the diamond potential of the erupting magma, they can be responsible for concentrating diamonds into economically significant proportions. A good understanding of the eruption, transport and depositional processes responsible for the individual lithological units and the diamond distribution within them is important for successful resource estimation. This may lead to recognition of areas suitable for selective mining, making a marginal deposit economic.     

The crystal structure of ilinskite, NaCu5O2(SeO3)2Cl3, and review of mixed-ligand CuOmCln coordination geometries in minerals and inorganic compounds

The crystal structure of ilinskite, NaCu₅O₂(SeO₃)₂Cl₃, a rare copper selenite chloride from volcanic fumaroles of the Great fissure Tolbachik eruption (Kamchatka peninsula, Russia), has been solved by direct methods and refined to R ₁?=?0.044 on the basis of 2720 unique observed reflections. The mineral is orthorhombic, Pnma, a?=?17.769(7), b?=?6.448(3), c?=?10.522(4) Å, V?=?1205.6(8) ų, Z?=?4. The The CuO_mCl_n coordination polyhedra share edges to form tetramers that have 'additional' O1 and O2 atoms as centers. The O1Cu₄ and O2Cu₄ tetrahedra share common Cu atoms to form [O₂Cu₅]⁶⁺ sheets. The SeO₃ groups and Cl atoms are adjacent to the [O₂Cu₅]⁶⁺ sheets to form complex layers parallel to (100). The Na⁺ cations are located in between the layers. A review of mixed-ligand CuO_mCl_n coordination polyhedra in minerals and inorganic compounds is given. There are in total 26 stereochemically different mixed-ligand Cu-O-Cl coordinations.     

Age of the Vastan lignite in context of some oldest cenozoic fossil mammals from India

A highly diverse assemblage of mammal and other continental vertebrate fossils is reported in recent years from Vastan lignite mine (21°25′47″ N; 73°07′30″ E). Its importance in testing palaeobiogeographic hypothesis of mammalian dispersal in to or out of India has necessitated a definite age of the sequence. Nummulites burdigalensis is the only age diagnostic foraminifer in the section. This species is widespread in the Indian sedimentary basins and used to mark Early Eocene strata. In the present study two subspecies of Nummulites burdigalensis, viz., Nummulites burdigalensis burdigalensis and Nummulites burdigalensis kuepperi, are distinguished which led to further biostratigraphic refinement. Their concurrence in the section implies basal Cuisian age and shallow benthic zone SBZ 10 (most likely the lower part). The examination of this species from Kutch indicates the occurrence of evolutionarily advanced subspecies Nummulites burdigalensis cantabricus of middle Cuisian age (SBZ 11). Contrary to some recent reports, the study rules out the occurrence of N. globulus or any other Ilerdian foraminifer from the mine section.     

Quantities and Fluxes of Dissolved and Particulate Black Carbon in the Changjiang and Huanghe Rivers,China

Recent studies have suggested that large rivers play important roles in mobilizing and transporting black carbon (BC) from land to the ocean. However, the influence of the Changjiang and Huanghe, the two largest rivers in China, on the fate of BC has not been determined. In this paper, we present measurements of BC in both the dissolved and particulate phases in the Changjiang and Huanghe Rivers and in the coastal waters of the East China Sea (ECS). Our results show that dissolved black carbon (DBC) accounted for 3.0 ± 0.4 % and 4.8 ± 3.6 % of the total DOC pool in the Changjiang and Huanghe Rivers and 3.4 ± 0.6 % of the DOC pool in the coast of the ECS. In addition, particulate black carbon (PBC) accounted for 13 ± 0.9 % and 22 ± 11 % of the POC pool in the Changjiang and Huanghe Rivers, respectively. We calculate that the Changjiang and Huanghe transported 4.7 × 10¹⁰ gC and 1.7 × 10⁹ gC of DBC, and 2.0 × 10¹¹ gC and 1.2 × 10¹⁰ gC of PBC to the ECS and Bohai Sea in 2015. The large amounts of BC transported by the two rivers represent a major sink of anthropogenically derived organic carbon and could have a significant impact on the ecosystem and carbon cycling in China’s marginal seas.     

Types of engineering-geological structures of Russia

Engineering-geological (geotechnical) structures are distinguished based on a combination of regional and zonal geological factors. Classifications of engineering-geological structures of the Earth and Russia are presented. The main engineering-geological characteristics and spatial distribution patterns of continental subaerial, continental subaquatic, and transitional predominantly subaquatic and oceanic predominantly subaquatic engineering- geological mega- and macrostructures distinguished in Russia are described.