Geochemical Baselines of Nickel and Chromium in Various Surficial Materials in the Barents Region, NW Russia and Finland

The geochemical baselines of nickel and chromium were studied from the data produced by the Barents Ecogeochemistry project, a large international regional geochemical mapping exercise. The project surveyed major and trace element distributions in stream water, organic and mineralogically-modified soil horizons, and terrestrial moss in the northwestern part of Russia and in Finland. Other materials were collected during the pilot phase and later from thirty special sites. The results on respective materials by XRF, ICP-MS and ICP-AES showed that both geological and anthropogenic factors have an influence on the geochemical baseline concentrations of Ni and Cr in organic soil and stream water. The main explanation of the observed distribution patterns in terrestrial moss is human activity, but geological factors can also affect the baselines. The variation of geochemical baselines in the mineral-rich soil horizon depends only on variations in bedrock. The mineralogy of samples mainly controls the leachability properties of soil samples.     

Pyritization processes and greigite formation in the advancing sulfidization front in the upper Pleistocene sediments of the Black Sea

Pyritization in late Pleistocene sediments of the Black Sea is driven by sulfide formed during anaerobic methane oxidation. A sulfidization front is formed by the opposing gradients of sulfide and dissolved iron. The sulfidization processes are controlled by the diffusion flux of sulfide from above and by the solid reactive iron content. Two processes of diffusion-limited pyrite formation were identified. The first process includes pyrite precipitation with the accumulation of iron sulfide precursors with the average chemical composition of FeS_n (n = 1.10-1.29), including greigite. Elemental sulfur and polysulfides, formed from H₂S by a reductive dissolution of Fe(III)-containing minerals, serve as intermediates to convert iron sulfides into pyrite. In the second process, a “direct” pyrite precipitation occurs through prolonged exposure of iron-containing minerals to dissolved sulfide. Methane-driven sulfate reduction at depth causes a progressive formation of pyrite with a δ³⁴S of up to +15.0‰. The S-isotopic composition of FeS₂ evolves due to contributions of different sulfur pools formed at different times. Steady-state model calculations for the advancement of the sulfidization front showed that the process started at the Pleistocene/Holocene transition between 6360 and 11 600 yr BP. Our study highlights the importance of anaerobic methane oxidation in generating and maintaining S-enriched layers in marine sediments and has paleoenvironmental implications.     

Osmium isotope and highly siderophile element systematics of lunar impact melt breccias: Implications for the late accretion history of the Moon and Earth

To characterize the compositions of materials accreted to the Earth-Moon system between about 4.5 and 3.8 Ga, we have determined Os isotopic compositions and some highly siderophile element (HSE: Re, Os, Ir, Ru, Pt, and Pd) abundances in 48 subsamples of six lunar breccias. These are: Apollo 17 poikilitic melt breccias 72395 and 76215; Apollo 17 aphanitic melt breccias 73215 and 73255; Apollo 14 polymict breccia 14321; and lunar meteorite NWA482, a crystallized impact melt. Plots of Ir versus other HSE define excellent linear correlations, indicating that all data sets likely represent dominantly two-component mixtures of a low-HSE target, presumably endogenous component, and a high-HSE, presumably exogenous component. Linear regressions of these trends yield intercepts that are statistically indistinguishable from zero for all HSE, except for Ru and Pd in two samples. The slopes of the linear regressions are insensitive to target rock contributions of Ru and Pd of the magnitude observed; thus, the trendline slopes approximate the elemental ratios present in the impactor components contributed to these rocks. The ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os and regression-derived elemental ratios for the Apollo 17 aphanitic melt breccias and the lunar meteorite indicate that the impactor components in these samples have close affinities to chondritic meteorites. The HSE in the Apollo 17 aphanitic melt breccias, however, might partially or entirely reflect the HSE characteristics of HSE-rich granulitic breccia clasts that were incorporated in the impact melt at the time of its creation. In this case, the HSE characteristics of these rocks may reflect those of an impactor that predated the impact event that led to the creation of the melt breccias. The impactor components in the Apollo 17 poikilitic melt breccias and in the Apollo 14 breccia have higher ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os, Pt/Ir, and Ru/Ir and lower Os/Ir than most chondrites. These compositions suggest that the impactors they represent were chemically distinct from known chondrite types, and possibly represent a type of primitive material not currently delivered to Earth as meteorites.     

Middle to Late Pleistocene environments based on stable organic carbon and nitrogen isotopes of loess-palaeosol sequences from the Carpathian Basin

Stable organic carbon and nitrogen isotopes can be used to interpret past vegetation patterns and ecosystem qualities. Here we present these proxies for two loess-palaeosol sequences from the southern Carpathian Basin to reconstruct the palaeoenvironment during the past 350 ka and establish regional commonalities and differences. Before now, isotopic studies on loess sequences from this region were only conducted on deposits from the last glacial cycle. We conducted methodological tests involving the complete decalcification of the samples prior to stable isotope analyses. Two decalcification methods (fumigation method and wet chemical acidification), different treatment times, and the reproducibility of carbon isotope analyses were tested. Obtained results indicate that the choice of the decalcification method is important for organic carbon stable isotope analyses of loess-palaeosol sequences because ratios vary by more than 10‰ between the wet chemical and fumigation methods, due to incomplete carbonate removal by the latter. Therefore, we suggest avoiding the fumigation method for studies on loess-palaeosol sequences. In addition, our data show that samples with TOC content <0.2% bear increased potential for misinterpretation of their carbon isotope ratios. For our sites, C₃-vegetation is predominant and no palaeoenvironmental shifts leading to a change of the dominant photosynthesis pathway can be detected during the Middle to Late Pleistocene. Furthermore, the importance of further stable nitrogen isotope studies is highlighted, since this proxy seems to reflect past precipitation patterns and reveals favourable conditions in the southern Carpathian Basin, especially during interstadials.     

39Ar−40Ar dating of multiply zoned amphibole generations (Malenco, Italian Alps)

Mafic rocks of a Permian crust to mantle section in Val Malenco (Italy) display a multi-stage evolution: pre-Alpine exhumation to the ocean floor, followed by burial and re-exhumation during Alpine convergence. Four prominent generations of amphiboles were formed during these stages. On the basis of microstructural investigations combined with electron microprobe analyses two amphibole generations can be assigned to the pre-Alpine decompression and two to the Alpine metamorphic P–T evolution. The different amphiboles have distinct Na^M4, Ca, K and Cl contents according to different P–T conditions and fluid chemistry. Analysing these mixed amphiboles by the ³⁹Ar−⁴⁰Ar stepwise heating technique yielded very complex age spectra. However, by correlating amphibole compositions directly obtained from the electron microprobe with the components deduced from the release of Ar isotopes during stepwise heating, obtained ages were consistent with the geological history deduced from field and petrological studies. The two generations of pre-Alpine amphiboles gave distinguishable Triassic to Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous ages (≈225 and 130–140 Ma respectively). High-Na^M4 amphiboles have higher isotopic ages than low-Na^M4 ones, in agreement with their decompressional evolution. The exhumation of the Permian crust to mantle section is represented by the former age. The latter age concerns Cl-dominated amphibole related to an Early Cretaceous oceanic stage. For the early Alpine, pressure-dominated metamorphism we obtained a Late Cretaceous age (83–91 Ma). The later, temperature-dominated overprint is significantly younger, as indicated by ³⁹Ar−⁴⁰Ar ages of 67–73 Ma. These Late Cretaceous ages favour an Adriatic origin for the Malenco unit. Our data show that ³⁹Ar−⁴⁰Ar dating combined with detailed microprobe analysis can exploit the potential to relate conditions of amphibole formation to their respective ages. Received: 1 March 1999 / Accepted: 18 August 2000     

Geometry of the fault zone of the 2003 Ms = 7.5 Chuya earthquake and associated stress fields, Gorny Altai

The co-seismic deformations produced during the September 27, 2003 Chuya earthquake (Ms = 7.5) that affected the Gorny Altai, Russia, are described and discussed along a 30 km long segment. The co-seismic deformations have manifested themselves both in unconsolidated sediments as R- and R′-shears, extension fractures and contraction structures, and in bedrock as the reactivation of preexisting schistosity zones and individual fractures, as well as development of new ruptures and coarse crushing zones. It has been established that the pattern of earthquake ruptures represents a typical fault zone trending NW–SE with a width reaching 4–5 km and a dextral strike–slip kinematics. The initial stress field that produced the whole structural pattern of co-seismic deformations during the Chuya earthquake, is associated with a transcurrent regime with a NNW–SSE, almost N–S, trending of compressional stress axis (σ₁), and a ENE–WSW, almost E–W, trending of tensional stress axis (σ₃). The state of stress in the newly-formed fault zone is relatively uniform. The local stress variations are expressed in insignificant deviation of σ₁ from N–S to NW–SE or NE–SW, in short-term fluctuations of relative stress values in keeping their spatial orientations, or in a local increase of the plunge angle of the σ₁. The geometry of the fault zone associated with the Chuya earthquake has been compared with the mechanical model of fracturing in large continental fault zones with dextral strike–slip kinematics. It is apparent that the observed fracture pattern corresponds to the late disjunctive stage of faulting when the master fault is not fully developed but its segments are already clearly defined. It has been shown that fracturing in widely different rocks follows the common laws of the deformation of solid bodies, even close to the Earth surface, and with high rates of movements.     

Accessory Fe-Ti oxides in the West-Carpathian I-type granitoids: witnesses of the granite mixing and late oxidation processes

Fe-Ti-oxides may reach hundreds ppm in I-type granitoids and close to microgranular mafic enclaves (MME) up to several thousands ppm. Western Carpathian I-type granitoids have magnetic susceptibility above 3?×?10^?4 SI units, whereas S-type granites are lower. Associated MMEs reach up to 160?×?10^?4 SI. The measurement of magnetic susceptibility in field appears a useful tool for regional mapping of I-type granites and searching enclaves. The increased contents of Fe-oxides around MME within host I-type granitoids are interpreted as result of hybridization with mafic magma. The hybridisation is manifested by occurrence of two Fe-Ti-oxide generations: (1) orthomagmatic titanomagnetite from pre-mixing stage, (2) late-magmatic magnetite of post-mixing stage. The titanomagnetites show composite textures with exsolved ilmenite. The oxybarometry (Sauerzapf et al. 2008; Ghiorso Evans 2009) yields temperatures 700?C750°C at fO₂ about NNO, and 650?C700°C below FMQ, respectively. Post-mixing pure magnetites originated from early titanomagnetite, annite and anorthite associated with titanite and apatite. The late oxidation seems to be responsible for high magnetic susceptibility of metaluminous I-type tonalites. Both post- and pre- mixing Fe-Ti oxides are locally converted to hematite.     

Fatal landslides in Europe

Landslides are a major hazard causing human and large economic losses worldwide. However, the quantification of fatalities and casualties is highly underestimated and incomplete, thus, the estimation of landslide risk is rather ambitious. Hence, a spatio-temporal distribution of deadly landslides is presented for 27 European countries over the last 20  years (1995–2014). Catastrophic landslides are widely distributed throughout Europe, however, with a great concentration in mountainous areas. In the studied period, a total of 1370 deaths and 784 injuries were reported resulting from 476 landslides. Turkey showed the highest fatalities with 335. An increasing trend of fatal landslides is observed, with a pronounced number of fatalities in the latest period from 2008 to 2014. The latter are mostly triggered by natural extreme events such as storms (i.e., heavy rainfall), earthquakes, and floods and only minor by human activities, such as mining and excavation works. Average economic loss per year in Europe is approximately 4.7 billion Euros. This study serves as baseline information for further risk mapping by integrating deadly landslide locations, local land use data, and will therefore help countries to protect human lives and property.     

Structure of the Fram Strait branch of the boundary current in the Eurasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean

Recent mooring-based observations at several locations along the continental slope of the Arctic Ocean's Eurasian Basin showed a transformation of the Boundary Current (BC) from a mostly barotropic flow in Fram Strait to a jet-like baroclinic current northeast of Svalbard, and the reemergence of the barotropic structure of the flow in the eastern Eurasian Basin. This transformation is accompanied by a weakening of the flow from ～24 cm/s in Fram Strait to ～5 cm/s at the Lomonosov Ridge. The maximum of the baroclinic component of the BC at an intermediate depth (～200–370 m) is associated with the Atlantic Water core. The depth range of the baroclinic current maximum is controlled by cross-slope density gradients above and below the baroclinic velocity maximum as follows from the geostrophic balance of forces. According to the model simulations, the BC splits into shallow and deep branches in the proximity of Svalbard due to a divergence of isobaths, confirming topographically-controlled BC behavior. The shallow branch is located at a shelf break with a typical bottom depth of ～200 m and current speed of up to ～24 cm/s. The discussed results, which provide insight on some basic aspects of the dynamics of the BC (the major oceanic heat source for the Arctic Ocean), may be of importance for understanding of the ocean's role in shaping the arctic climate system state.     

Shallow velocity–depth model imaging by refraction tomography1

A tomographic imaging technique combined with coherence inversion is proposed for constructing a near-surface model from refraction events. A model obtained from coherence inversion serves as a good background model for the tomographic reconstruction. A simultaneous iterative reconstruction technique (SIRT) algorithm was used for this purpose. This is a simple algorithm and can be easily adapted to irregular acquisition geometry and limited angular aperture. Using synthetic data it was shown that the proposed procedure can be used for determination of local velocity anomalies in a shallow subsurface. The technique was also tested on a real data set.