The genesis of Cu-bearing quartz veins by metamorphic remobilization from stratiform red bed deposits,SW County Cork,Ireland

Summary Polymetallicmajor veins of the West Carbery district (County Cork) are compared with the nearby stratiform-disseminated copper mineralization in metasedimentary rocks, containingminor veins (metamorphic quartz veins and veinlets). These stratiform deposits are hosted by non-marine Devonian sediments (Old Red Sandstone), metamorphosed in the Hercynian orogeny. In sulphides from the stratiform deposits and minor veins, isotopic compositions of sulphur (³⁴S) range from – 21.00 to + 5.14%₀, consistent with the vein sulphide being remobilized stratiform-disseminated sulphide, and the latter being of diagenetic bacteriogenic origin. Sulphate (barite), found in veins separate from the sulphides, has ³⁴S + 12.3 to + 15.7%₀. consistent with groundwater origin. In minor-vein quartz, fluid inclusions have homogenization temperatures consistent with trapping under the estimated peak-metamorphic conditions (300–400°C, 1–3 kbar).In the major veins, sulphide ³⁴S (–15.8 to –4.2 0) suggest remobilization of diagenetic sulphide. Oxygen and hydrogen isotopes suggest deposition from metamorphic fluids (calculated ¹⁸O_H2O approximately + 8 to + l3%₀, measured range of D –52.2 to –27.3%₀). Immiscible C0₂-bearing fluids were trapped in the temperature range 280–350°C with fluid pressure < ca. 600 bar. The inferred pressure-temperature history is attributed to late-metamorphic uplift, with fluid pressures falling below lithostatic. The sulphide-bearing veins are interpreted as a small-scale example of redistribution of mineral deposits by metamorphic fluids.

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Die Genese Cu führender Quarzgdnge durch metamorphe Remobilisation aus stratiformen Rotsedimenten, SW County Cork, Irland

Zusammenfassung Polymetallische Erzgänge (major veins) des westlichen Carbery Distriktes (County Cork) werden mit kleineren Gängchen (minor veins), die in den benachbarten, eine disseminierte stratiforme Cu-Vererzung führenden, Metasedimenten liegen, verglichen. Diese stratiformen Lagerstätten sind an nichtmarine devonische Sedimente (Old Red Sandstone), die während der hercynischen Orogenese metamorphisiert wurden, gebunden. Die Zusammensetzung der Schwefelisotope (³⁴S) der Sulfide in der disseminierten Vererzung und in den kleineren Gängen variiert von –21.00 bis –5.14%₀. Diese Zusammensetzung ist mit der Interpretation, daß der Schwefel in den Gängchen aus den stratiformen disseminierten Sulfiden remobilisiert wurde, die ihrerseits diagenetischbakteriogene Signatur zeigen, konsistent: Die ³⁴5-Werte der Sulfate (Baryt) in den Gängchen variieren von + 12.3 bis + 15.7%₀, was mit einer Herkunft aus Grundwässern übereinstimmt. Die Homogenisierungs-Temperaturen der FlüsBigkeitseinschlüsse in Quarz der Gängchen sind mit einem Einschluß der Fluide während des Höhepunktes der Metamorphose (300–400°C, l-3 kbar) konsistent.In den polymetallischen Erzgängen weisen die ³⁴S-Werte (–15.8 bis –4.2%0) auf die Remobilisation diagenetischen Schwefels, die Sauerstoff und Wasserstoffisotope auf Ausfällung aus metamorphen Wässern hin. Die berechneten ¹⁸O-Werte liegen zwischen ca. +8 bis +13%₀ die gemessenen H-Werte zwischen –52.2 bis –27.3%₀. Nicht mischbare C0₂-führende Fluide wurden im Temperaturbereich von 280–350°C bei Fluid-Drucken < ca. 600 bar eingeschlossen. Der abgeleitete P-T Pfad wird mit spätmetamorpher Hebung, während der der Fluiddruck unter den lithostatischen Druck fiel, erklärt. Die Sulfid-führenden Gänge werden als kleinmaßstäbliche Beispiele für Wiederverteilung von Minerallagerstätten durch metamorphe Fluide gedeutet.

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With 6 Figures     

Small impact craters in the lunar regolith — Their morphologies,relative ages,and rates of formation

Apparently, there are two types of size-frequency distributions of small lunar craters (1–100 m across): (1) crater production distributions for which the cumulative frequency of craters is an inverse function of diameter to power near 2.8, and (2) steady-state distributions for which the cumulative frequency of craters is inversely proportional to the square of their diameters. According to theory, cumulative frequencies of craters in each morphologic category within the steady-state should also be an inverse function of the square of their diameters. Some data on frequency distribution of craters by morphologic types are approximately consistent with theory, whereas other data are inconsistent with theory.A flux of crater producing objects can be inferred from size-frequency distributions of small craters on the flanks and ejecta of craters of known age. Crater frequency distributions and data on the craters Tycho, North Ray, Cone, and South Ray, when compared with the flux of objects measured by the Apollo Passive Seismometer, suggest that the flux of objects has been relatively constant over the last 100 m.y. (within 1/3 to 3 times of the flux estimated for Tycho).Steady-state frequency distributions for craters in several morphologic categories formed the basis for estimating the relative ages of craters and surfaces in a system used during the Apollo landing site mapping program of the U.S. Geological Survey. The relative ages in this system are converted to model absolute ages that have a rather broad range of values. The range of values of the absolute ages are between about 1/3 to 3 times the assigned model absolute age.     

Multi-proxy geoarchaeological study redefines understanding of the paleocoastlines and ancient harbours of Liman Tepe (Iskele, Turkey)

Determining the position of Liman Tepe's (ancient `Clazomenae') archaeological features relative to the coastline is important for understanding their intended function and reconstructing the character of Aegean maritime activities and sea-based trade. Previous attempts at reconstructing harbour locations at Liman Tepe relied on extrapolating paleoenvironments based on modern surface topography. In light of this, samples from a sediment coring survey and terrestrial and underwater archaeological excavations were analysed using multi-proxy geoarchaeological methods to determine paleoenvironmental facies. Micropaleontological (foraminifera), sedimentological (grain-size analysis) and geochemical (δ¹³C/δ¹⁸O) analyses resulted in the reconstruction of the coastal paleogeomorphology, including the presence and absence of ancient harbouring areas. Neither of the previous coastal reconstructions was supported by the new results. Instead, two separate harbouring areas were recognized, one coincident with the Early Bronze Age (4800–3900 years bp) and a second during the archaic and classical periods ( c. 2800–2400 years bp). These results emphasize the necessity for multi-proxy geoarchaeological studies when approaching coastal archaeological sites as a means to reconstruct paleocoastal geomorphology and understand ancient maritime development better .     

Evaluation of heterogeneity and field-scale groundwater flow regime in a leaky till aquitard

Recent work in southern Ontario, Canada, demonstrates anomalously high vertical groundwater flow velocities (>1 m/year) through a thick (as much as 60 m), sandy silt till aquitard (Northern till), previously assumed to be of very low permeability (hydraulic conductivity <10^–10 m/s). Rapid recharge is attributed to the presence of fractures and sedimentary heterogeneities within the till, but the field-scale flow regime is poorly understood. This study identifies the nature of physical groundwater pathways through the till and provides estimates of the associated groundwater fluxes. The aquitard groundwater flow system is characterized by integrating details of the outcrop and subsurface sedimentary characteristics of the till with field-based hydrogeologic investigation and numerical modeling. Outcrop and subsurface data identify a composite internal aquitard stratigraphy consisting of tabular till beds (till elements) separated by laterally continuous sheet-like sands and gravels (interbeds) and boulder pavements. Individual till elements contain sedimentary heterogeneities, including discontinuous sand and gravel lenses, vertical sand dikes, and zones of horizontal and vertical fractures. Hydrogeologic field investigations indicate a three-layer aquitard flow system, consisting of upper and lower zones of more hydraulically active and heterogeneous till separated by a middle unit of relatively lower hydraulic conductivity. Groundwater pathways and fluxes in the till were evaluated using a two-dimensional aquitard/aquifer flow model which indicates a step-wise flow mechanism whereby groundwater moves alternately downward along vertical pathways (fractures, sedimentary dikes) and laterally along horizontal sand interbeds within the till. This model is consistent with observed hydraulic-head and isotope profiles, and the presence of tritiated pore waters at various depths throughout the till. Simulations suggest that a bulk aquitard vertical hydraulic conductivity on the order of 1×10^–9 m/s is required to reproduce observed hydraulic-head and tritium profiles. Electronic Publication     

Evidence for microbial activity in British and Irish Ordovician pillow lavas

Pyrite is consistently found in modern seafloor vesicular basalts and has a sulphur isotopic composition consistent with microbial activity. We present S isotope data from pyrite in Ordovician pillow lavas at localities across the British Isles, which yield a range of δ³⁴S compositions consistent with two components of sulphur: groundmass pyrite (~0 ± 4‰) and ³²S‐enriched pyrite in the vesicles (−8‰ to −27‰). The latter are recorded from vesicular lavas in four different terranes, representing different settings at the margins of the Iapetus Ocean. Whereas a component of magmatic sulphate is recognized in the groundmass values, the isotopically light data in the vesicles are consistent with microbial reduction of seawater sulphate in sub‐seafloor lavas. This is consistent with modern examples and indicates considerable longevity for this sub‐seafloor microbial habitat. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Summer thermal structure of lake Ontario off Toronto: Cooling the big city

Abstract

It has been proposed that large savings in electrical energy are possible if cool, deep water from Lake Ontario is used, as an alternative to electrically operated chillers, to provide the cooling requirements of large buildings in down‐town Toronto. In order to estimate the capital expenditure involved, it is necessary to determine how deep (and how far offshore) the cold water intake must be placed to obtain a reliable supply of cool water throughout the air‐conditioning season. Temperature profile data, collected during ship surveys over the past twenty years in Lake Ontario off Toronto, plus time‐series data from a 21‐level thermistor array installed on the 100‐m contour near the site of the proposed intake during the summer of 1980, have been used to answer this specific question. The two sets are examined to determine the relative importance of thermal variability for inter‐annual, seasonal, and shorter time‐scales. Intake design turns out to be an important consideration for the air‐conditioning scheme. Unless azimuthal swirling velocities are restrained at the intake, drawdown of warmer thermocline water into the intake may occur.