Sur l'origine des formations conglomératiques de base du géosynclinal ouest-congolien (Gabon,Congo, Zaïre,Angola)

The main argument for assigning a glacial origin to the basal conglomeratic levels of the west-Congolan geosyncline has been the presence of polyhedral striated pebbles.New observations have enabled us to show that this striation was due to the internal structure of the pebbles which resulted from the breaking up of the underlying quartzitic layers of the Mayombian axis (the Moussouva series).These conglomeratic formations are marine deposits laid down in a geosyncline which had unstable margins, especially on the western side where the Mayombian Belt was being uplifted.This again calls into question the existence of a Precambrian ice-sheet in Central Africa.     

Erosion balance in the watersheds of the western Paris Basin by high-frequency monitoring of discharge and suspended sediment in surface water

An accurate quantification of erosion, based on high-frequency monitoring of river discharge and suspended sediment fluxes is proposed for two watersheds in the western Paris Basin, a sensitive area with respect to erosion phenomena. This continuous monitoring makes it possible to include flood events of short duration, but significant erosion potential. The obtained erosion rate (16 and 21 t?km^?2?yr^?1) is among the weakest of the planet (3.5 to 18?000 t?km^?2?yr^?1). However, this annual balance does not reflect the behaviour of these rivers which can be torrential in certain cases. To cite this article: B. Laignel et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).     

On some early attempts to determine the variation of the magnetic force with distance

We describe two experiments made by the 18th-century physicists Francis Hauksbee and Pieter van Musschenbroek, designed to find the dependence of the magnetic force on distance. From the experimental results, given in the form of tables, the authors did not infer any simple law. We calculated the values obtained by assuming that the force varies as the inverse square of the distance and found a good agreement with their results. It therefore appears that these remarkable experiments could have provided an experimental proof of the law.     

The importance of local mean time in remote sensing for mapping megatidal zones

The local mean time is rarely debated in applied remote sensing, although it is a key parameter, especially for the geological mapping of coastal areas with high tidal ranges. French test sites are used to illustrate the role of this parameter. Depending from location and for an average time of acquisition of 11:00 UTC, the exposed tidal flat ranges from 55% (Baie des Veys), 80% (Mont Saint-Michel) to 100% (Cap-Ferret). Eight multisource satellite images were used in the Mont Saint-Michel Bay to draw the limit of the sea and evaluate the corresponding tidal flat's surfaces for various times of acquisition. The relation emphasizes some geometrical properties of the lower part of the intertidal zone. A NW–SE profile allows one to identify a distal part with a slope of 0.2% and a proximal part with a slope of only 0.06%. JERS 1-OPS and ALOS-AVNIR-2 data have been also compared to evaluate the progression of the halophytic vegetation, covering more than 6 km² between 1992 and 2007. From a methodological point of view, the ALOS-AVNIR-2 acquired on October 2007 is the first satellite data covering the Mont Saint-Michel Bay with a water elevation of only 2.56 m, i.e. a tidal flat free of water over 80% of its surface.     

Paleo-fluids characterisation and fluid flow modelling along a regional transect in Northern United Arab Emirates (UAE)

In the Northern Emirates, Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous platform carbonates of the Musandam parautochthonous units are tectonically overlain by siliciclastic units of the Hawasina–Sumeini allochthon, which derive from the former paleo-slope domain and a more distal basinal portion of the Arabian margin of the Tethys, respectively. All these tectonic units display numerous evidences of paleo-fluid circulations, accounting for dolomitisation and recrystallisation of the rock matrix (Musandam Platform units), as well as cementation of fractures. Polymict breccias of Upper Cretaceous Ausaq Formation which underlay the sole thrust of the Hawasina–Sumeini allochthon also record episodes of hydraulic fracturing, whereas fluid inclusion data indicate precipitation at high temperature in relation to paleo-fluid flow. Petrography of thin-sections (conventional and cathodoluminescence microscopic techniques) as well as fluid inclusion and stable isotopes analyses, were combined with micro-tectonic studies. These analytical data document (1) the paragenetic sequence of diagenetic products for the Musandam Platform (which constitutes a carbonate reservoir analogue) and Sumeini units of the Dibba Zone, as well as (2) the nature of the paleo-fluids circulating along fractures and the sole thrust of the Hawasina–Sumeini allochthon. The main results of this petrographic approach are qualitative, evidencing (1) the rapid and vertical transfer of hot fluids in the vicinity of the former slope to platform transition, accounting for episodes of hydrothermal dolomitisation, as well as (2) early (i.e. pre-orogenic) and late (i.e. post-orogenic) episodes of emersion of the carbonate units, accounting for additional interactions with meteoric fluids and karstification. In order to better link these diagenetic events with the overall burial, thermal and kinematic evolution of the Arabian margin, basin modelling with Ceres2D, including fluid flow and pore-fluid pressure modelling, was subsequently performed along a regional transect (D4) located in the vicinity of the samples localities and cross-cutting the Northern Oman Mountains from Dibba in the east up to the Arabian Gulf in the west. New subsurface constraints provided by deep seismic profiles were used to constrain the architecture of the cross-section, and to test various hypotheses on the lateral and vertical connection, timing and hydrodynamic behaviour of the faults. This Ceres basin modelling also provides new quantitative estimates of the paleo-fluid pathways, of the timing and velocities of the fluid transfers and of the evolution of pore-fluid pressures. Ultimately, this integration of petrographic studies on surface samples and coupled kinematic and fluid flow basin modelling provides an updated scenario for the succession of tectonically controlled episodes of fluid rock interactions, namely dolomitisation and karstification recorded in the Mesozoic platform carbonates of the Northern Emirates.     

Auriacusite, Fe3+Cu2+AsO4O, the first M 3+ member of the olivenite group, from the Black Pine mine, Montana, USA

Auriacusite, ideally Fe³⁺Cu²⁺AsO₄O, is a new arsenate mineral (IMA2009–037) and the Fe³⁺ analogue of olivenite, from the Black Pine mine, 14.5 km NW of Philipsburg, Granite Co., Montana, USA. It occurs lining quartz vughs and coating quartz crystals and is associated with segnitite, brochantite, malachite, tetrahedrite and pyrite. Auriacusite forms fibrous crystals up to about 5?µm in width and up to about 100?µm in length, which are intergrown to form fibrous mats. Individual crystals are a brownish golden yellow, whilst the fibrous mats are ochreous yellow. The crystals have a silky lustre and a brownish yellow streak. Mohs hardness is about 3 (estimated). The fracture is irregular and the tenacity is brittle. Auriacusite crystals are biaxial (+), with α?=?1.830(5), β?=?1.865(5) and γ?=?1.910(5), measured using white light, and with 2V _meas.?=?83(3)º and 2V _calc. = 84.6º. Orientation: X?=?a, Y?=?c, Z?=?b. Crystals are nonpleochroic or too weakly so to be observed. The empirical formula (based on 5 O atoms) is (Fe _1.33 ³⁺ Cu_0.85Zn_0.03)_Σ2.21(As_0.51Sb_0.27Si_0.04?S_0.02Te_0.01)_Σ0.85O₅. Auriacusite is orthorhombic, space group Pnnm, a?=?8.6235(7), b?=?8.2757(7), c?=?5.9501(5) Å, V?=?424.63(6) ų, Z?=?4. The five strongest lines in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern are [d _obs in Å / (I) / hkl]: 4.884 / (100) / 101, 001; 2.991 / (92) / 220; 2.476 / (85) / 311; 2.416 / (83) / 022; 2.669 / (74) / 221. The crystal structure was solved from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data utilising synchrotron radiation and refined to R ₁?=?0.1010 on the basis of 951 unique reflections with F _o?>?4σF. Auriacusite is identified as a member of the olivenite group with Fe³⁺ replacing Zn²⁺ or Cu²⁺ in trigonal bipyramidal coordination. Evidence suggests that auriacusite is an intermediate member between olivenite and an as yet undescribed Fe³⁺Fe³⁺-dominant member. The name is derived from the Latin auri (golden yellow) and acus (needle), in reference to its colour and crystal morphology.     

The “Taourirt” magmatic province, a marker of the closing stage of the Pan-African orogeny in the Tuareg Shield: review of available data and Sr–Nd isotope evidence

The Tuareg Shield, located between the Archaean to Palaeoproterozoic Saharan metacraton and the West African craton, is composed of 23 recognized terranes that welded together during the Neoproterozoic Pan-African orogeny (750–520 Ma). Final convergence occurred mainly during the 620–580 Ma period with the emplacement of high-K calc-alkaline batholiths, but continued until 520 Ma with the emplacement of alkali-calcic and alkaline high-level complexes. The last plutons emplaced in central Hoggar at 539–523 Ma are known as the “Taourirt” province. This expression is redefined and three geographical groups are identified: the Silet-, Laouni- and Tamanrasset-Taourirts. The Silet-Taourirts are cross-cutting Pan-African island arc assemblages while the two others intrude the Archaean–Palaeoproterozoic LATEA metacraton. The Taourirts are high-level subcircular often nested alkali-calcic, sometimes alkaline, complexes. They are aligned along mega-shear zones often delimiting terranes. Mainly granitic, they comprise highly differentiated varieties such as alaskite (Silet-Taourirts) and topaz–albite leucogranite (Tamanrasset-Taourirts). Different subgroups were defined on the basis of REE patterns and major and other trace elements. The Taourirt province displays a wide transition from dominant alkali-calcic to minor alkaline granite varieties. Sr isotopes indicate that these complexes were affected by fluid circulation during the Ordovician along shear zones probably contemporaneous to the beginning of the Tassilis sandstone deposition. Nd isotope systematic indicates a major interaction with the upper crust during the emplacement of highly differentiated melts, particularly in samples showing seagull wing-shaped REE patterns. On the other hand, all Taourirt plutons are strongly contaminated by the lower crust: _Nd vary from −2 to −8 and T_DM from 1200 to 1700 Ma. This implies the presence of an old crust at depth, also below the Silet-Taourirts, which are emplaced within Pan-African island arc assemblages. A model is proposed for the genesis of the Taourirt province where reworking of the mega-shear zones, which dissected the LATEA metacraton, provoked a linear delamination of the lithospheric mantle, asthenosphere uprise and partial melting of the lower crust (or strong interaction with), giving rise to a mixed source.     

Impact of oil on the marine environment: Policy of the Paris commission on operational discharges from the offshore industry

Environmental impacts occur at all stages of oil and gas production. They are the result of prospecting activities, of the physical impact due to the installation of rigs, of the operational discharges when production starts and of accidental spills. The input of oil to the North Sea due to the offshore industry has been estimated at 29% of the total input of oil. The operational discharges consist of production water and drilling cuttings. An overview of statistics collected over the last 10 years shows that although the amount of oil discharged via production water is increasing as platforms are getting older, cuttings still account for 75% of the oil entering the sea as a result of normal operations. Spills represent a relatively small source of oil. The effects on the marine environment of discharges of production water and of discarded oily cuttings have been extensively studied, by national authorities as well as by the industry. Although it has not always been possible to reach consensus about the significance of the observed effects, a number of ‘agreed facts’ have led to establishment of regulations in the framework of the Paris Commission. The ‘decisions’ and ‘recommendations’ adopted by the Commission are regularly reviewed in the light of new developments.