Luminescence evidence for two Middle Pleistocene interglacial events at Tourville, northwestern France

The infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) dating method is applied to alkali feldspar coarse grains from the two distinct Middle Pleistocene interglacial estuarine deposits of Tourville, located along the Seine Valley. The upper deposit (unit D), previously dated at 200 ka by ESR on in situ shells and correlated with a stage 7 high sea-level stand (186–245 ka), yields a measured IRSL age of 176 ± 21 ka. The lower deposit (unit B) assigned to a distinctly older high sea-level event (stage 9: 303–339 ka) yields a measured IRSL age of 273 ± 28 ka. The nearby stage 7 raised beach of Sangatte, in Northwestern France, previously dated by TL on quartz (229 ± 18 ka) yields a measured IRSL age of 186 ± 19 ka. These IRSL age estimates systematically underestimate the expected geological ages. This could be due to the long-term fading or instability of the luminescence signal in alkali feldspars. The correction for long-term fading has been tested on these samples. At Tourville, it yields corrected IRSL ages of 196 ± 23ka and 314 ± 32ka, for the upper and lower units respectively and, at Sangatte, a corrected IRSL age of 206 ± 20 ka. These corrected IRSL age estimates are in better agreement with the expected geological ages. This study demonstrates the potential of the feldspar luminescence dating method to provide chronological information on Middle Pleistocene interglacial estuarine sediments within the North Sea-English Channel Basin.     

Temporal Evolution of Magmatism in the Northern Volcanic Zone of the Andes: The Geology and Petrology of Cayambe Volcanic Complex (Ecuador)

In the Northern Volcanic Zone of the Andes, the Cayambe VolcanicComplex consists of: (1) a basal, mostly effusive volcano, theViejo Cayambe, whose lavas (andesites and subordinate dacitesand rhyolites) are typically calc-alkaline; and (2) a younger,essentially dacitic, composite edifice, the Nevado Cayambe,characterized by lavas with adakitic signatures and explosiveeruptive styles. The construction of Viejo Cayambe began >1·1Myr ago and ended at 1·0 Ma. The young and still activeNevado Cayambe grew after a period of quiescence of about 0·6Myr, from 0·4 Ma to Holocene. Its complex history isdivided into at least three large construction phases (Angurealcone, Main Summit cone and Secondary Summit cone) and compriseslarge pyroclastic events, debris avalanches, as well as periodsof dome activity. Geochemical data indicate that fractionalcrystallization and crustal assimilation processes have a limitedrole in the genesis of each suite. On the contrary, field observations,and mineralogical and geochemical data show the increasing importanceof magma mixing during the evolution of the volcanic complex.The adakitic signature of Nevado Cayambe magmas is related topartial melting of a basaltic source, which could be the lowercrust or the subducted slab. However, reliable geophysical andgeochemical evidence indicates that the source of adakitic componentis the subducted slab. Thus, the Viejo Cayambe magmas are inferredto come from a mantle wedge source metasomatized by slab-derivedmelts (adakites), whereas the Nevado Cayambe magmas indicatea greater involvement of adakitic melts in their petrogenesis.This temporal evolution can be related to the presence of thesubducted Carnegie Ridge, modifying the geothermal gradientalong the Wadati–Benioff zone and favouring slab partialmelting. KEY WORDS: adakites; ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating; Cayambe volcano; Ecuador; mantle metasomatism; Andes     

利用啤酒厂废水污泥培养钝顶螺旋藻和普通小球藻的研究

目前国内外对藻类的生物学特征、收集、藻蛋白的利用等进行了大量的研究＾「１」「２」。存在的问题之一是培养基的费用高,经济效益低＾「３」「４」。而啤酒厂污泥富含营养物质、无毒,是培养藻类的良好基质＾「５」「６」「７」。经试验能５０％替代营养盐培养钝顶螺旋藻而保持其收得率基本不变,能８０％夫代营养盐培养普通小球藻而保持其收得率基本不变。利用啤酒厂污泥既净化环境,又降低藻类养殖成本。这将为大规模推广藻类养     

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.     

Accelerator mass spectrometry measurements and model calculations of iron-60 production rates in meteorites

Abstract— The cosmogenic radionuclide ⁶⁰Fe (T_1/2 = 1.49 Ma) was measured in two iron meteorites as well as in the magnetic fractions of a stony-iron and a stony meteorite by means of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The measured ⁶⁰Fe/Fe ratios range from 1.5 × 10-¹⁴ to 6.3 × 10-¹⁴ and show a significant correlation to the respective concentrations of Ni, which is the main target element. The resulting ⁶⁰Fe specific activities correspond to production rates in meteorites in the order of 1 dpm/kg Ni. In addition, model calculations of depth- and size-dependent ⁶⁰Fe production rates were performed. Although there are no experimental data for the production cross sections, our measurements are in surprisingly good agreement with the theoretical predictions using production cross sections that were determined by computer model calculations.     

Sequential Inductively Coupled Plasma Determination Of Some Rare-Earth Elements in Five French Geostandards

Experimental data for eleven rare-earth elements (REE) obtained by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP) in five French geochemical reference standards (BE-N, BR, DR-N, GS-N and FK-N)are presented. The method is based on acid digestion of the sample and cation-exchange separation from matrix elements.
Together with these new determinations an updated compilation of these reference materials are presented. Good agreement between the present results and previously preferred and published values obtained by various analytical techniques is observed. The values obtained in the present work corroborate the validity of the outlined method.     

FACTOR ANALYSIS OF A SIMULATED DATA MATRIX INVOLVING AQUEOUS COMPLEX EQUILIBRIA

Abstract factor analyses were performed on databases consisting of simulated samples from aqueousequilbria.The program COMPLEX was used to generate equilibrium species in a system of three reactantmetals and five reactant bases.Reactant concentrations and pH were drawn from random-normaldistributions so that sample data vectors comprised a multivariate log-normal distribution of equilibriumconcentrations.In addition,sample groups were created containing different distributions for pH andreactant concentrations.Equilibrium species were shown to contain variance contributed by change in pH among samples aswell as change in reactant concentrations.Factor modelling revealed the qualitative relationships amongthe species and how the relationships change with pH.Factors also revealed those reactants containingvariance in the data matrix.In some cases,reactant variance obscured relationships between pH and theequilibrium species.Since factor modelling of a simulated data matrix revealed the expected chemical equilibriuminteractions,a potentially powerful tool exists for investigating the effects of outliers and error.