Shallow subsurface diagenesis of Pleistocene periplatform ooze: northern Bahamas

Previous studies on early submarine diagenesis of periplatform carbonates have implied that these originally polymineralic (aragonite, magnesian calcite, calcite) sediments are susceptible to early diagenesis only in current-swept open seaways or where surficially exposed by erosion on the seafloor. It has also been proposed that while in the shallow subsurface, periplatform oozes retain their original mineralogy for at least 200,000–400,000 yr and remain unlithified for tens of millions of years. Evidence is reported here for extensive calcitization and selective lithification of periplatform oozes of late Pleistocene age in two piston cores collected from water depths of ～ 1,000 m north of Little Bahama Bank. It is shown that shallow (<30 m) subsurface diagenesis can significantly alter the original mineralogy of periplatform oozes to predominantly calcite in less than 440,000 yr, and that cementation by calcite can produce chalk-ooze sequences within the same time-frame. Periplatform oozes that originally contain a high percentage of bank-derived magnesian calcite appear to have a higher diagenetic potential than those originally low in magnesian calcite. Shallow subsurface calcitization and fithification greatly reduce the diagenetic potential of periplatform carbonates, and chalk-ooze sequences apparently can persist for tens of millions of years and to burial depths of at least 300 m. Shallow subsurface diagenesis, at water depths > 1,000 m, proceeds via dissolution of magnesian calcite and aragonite and reprecipitation of calcite as allochem fillings, exterior overgrowths and cement. It is speculated that density-driven ‘Kohout convection‘, where seawaters under-saturated with respect to magnesian calcite and aragonite and saturated/supersaturated with respect to calcite flow through the margins of carbonate platforms, is the primary driving mechanism for shallow subsurface diagenesis. Removal of Mg during early stages of deep seafloor and shallow subsurface diagenesis should increase the Mg content of interstitial waters which is likely to increase the ‘dolomitizing potential’ of Kohout convection fluid flow.     

The Generation and Compaction of Partially Molten Rock

The equations governing the movement of the melt and the matrixof a partially molten material are obtained from the conservationof mass, momentum, and energy using expressions from the theoryof mixtures. The equations define a length scale _c called thecompaction length, which depends only on the material propertiesof the melt and matrix. A number of simple solutions to theequations show that, if the porosity is initially constant,matrix compaction only occurs within a distance _c of an impermeableboundary. Elsewhere the gravitational forces are supported bythe viscous stresses resulting from the movement of melt, andno compaction occurs. The velocity necessary to prevent compactionis known as the minimum fluidization velocity. In all casesthe compaction rate is controlled by the properties of the matrix.These results can only be applied to geological problems ifthe values of the permeability, bulk and shear viscosity ofthe matrix can be estimated. All three depend on the microscopicgeometry of the melt, which is in turn controlled by the dihedralangle. The likely equilibrium network provides some guidancein estimating the order of magnitude of these constants, butis no substitute for good measurements, which are yet to becarried out. Partial melting by release of pressure at constantentropy is then examined as a means of produced melt withinthe earth. The principal results of geological interest are that a meanmantle temperature of 1350?C is capable of producing the oceaniccrustal thickness by partial melting. Local hot jets with temperaturesof 1550?C can produce aseismic ridges with crustal thicknessesof about 20 km on ridge axes, and can generate enough melt toproduce the Hawaiian Ridge. Higher mantle temperatures in theArchaean can produce komatiites if these are the result of modestamounts of melting at depths of greater than 100 km, and notshallow melting of most of the rock. The compaction rate ofthe partially molten rock is likely to be rapid, and melt-saturatedporosities in excess of perhaps 3 per cent are unlikely to persistanywhere over geological times. The movement of melt througha matrix does not transport major and trace elements with themean velocity of the melt, but with a slower velocity whosemagnitude depends on the distribution coefficient. This effectis particularly important when the melt fraction is small, andmay both explain some geochemical observations and provide ameans of investigating the compaction process within the earth.     

Données isotopiques (8786/Sr) et changements hydrologiques depuis 15 000 ans sur l'Altiplano andin

Abstract

In catchments characterized by spatially varying hydrological processes and responses, the optimal parameter values or regions of attraction in parameter space may differ with location-specific characteristics and dominating processes. This paper evaluates the value of semi-distributed calibration parameters for large-scale streamflow simulation using the spatially distributed LISFLOOD model. We employ the Shuffled Complex Evolution Metropolis (SCEM-UA) global optimization algorithm to infer the calibration parameters using daily discharge observations. The resulting posterior parameter distribution reflects the uncertainty about the model parameters and forms the basis for making probabilistic flow predictions. We assess the value of semi-distributing the calibration parameters by comparing three different calibration strategies. In the first calibration strategy uniform values over the entire area of interest are adopted for the unknown parameters, which are calibrated against discharge observations at the downstream outlet of the catchment. In the second calibration strategy the parameters are also uniformly distributed, but they are calibrated against observed discharges at the catchment outlet and at internal stations. In the third strategy a semi-distributed approach is adopted. Starting from upstream, parameters in each subcatchment are calibrated against the observed discharges at the outlet of the subcatchment. In order not to propagate upstream errors in the calibration process, observed discharges at upstream catchment outlets are used as inflow when calibrating downstream subcatchments. As an illustrative example, we demonstrate the methodology for a part of the Morava catchment, covering an area of approximately 10 000 km². The calibration results reveal that the additional value of the internal discharge stations is limited when applying a lumped parameter approach. Moving from a lumped to a semi-distributed parameter approach: (i) improves the accuracy of the flow predictions, especially in the upstream subcatchments; and (ii) results in a more correct representation of flow prediction uncertainty. The results show the clear need to distribute the calibration parameters, especially in large catchments characterized by spatially varying hydrological processes and responses.     

Soil-landscape modelling and spatial prediction of soil attributes

Abstract

Explicit and quantitative models for the spatial prediction of soil and landscape attributes are required for environmental modelling and management. In this study, advances in the spatial representation of hydrological and geomorphological processes using terrain analysis techniques are integrated with the development of a field sampling and soil-landscape model building strategy. Statistical models are developed using relationships between terrain attributes (plan curvature, compound topographic index, upslope mean plan curvature) and soil attributes (A horizon depth, Solum depth, E horizon presence/absence) in an area with uniform geology and geomorphic history. These techniques seem to provide appropriate methodologies for spatial prediction and understanding soil landscape processes.