Holocene palaeoenvironments at the timberline in the French Alps—a multidisciplinary approach

An attempt is made to reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental Holocene history at the timberline on the basis of the analysis of various palaeoecological proxy indicators available on a marshy area and its surroundings in the Taillefer Massif (Isère. France). The multidisciplinary approach involves analyses of pollen assemblages. plant macrofossils, coleoptera remains. subfossil trunks extracted from lakes or peat-bogs. and charcoals derived from the surrounding soils. This enables definition of the respective roles of five forest taxa ( Pinus uncinata Mill., Pinus cembra L., Larix decidua Mill., Abies alba Mill, and Picea abies L. Karsten) in the evolution of high altitude forests during the Holocene. Pinus uncinata was present on the plateau throughout the Holocene. Larix and Pinus cembra were present only during two periods: 7500-5000 BP and 3500-2000 BP. All trees disappeared from the plateau at about 2000 BP, while, at lower altitude. Abies was replaced by Picea. The action of both climate and early human impact can explain these changes.     

Rheological Transitions During Partial Melting and Crystallization with Application to Felsic Magma Segregation and Transfer

We consider the rheological behaviour of felsic magma in thezone of partial melting and during subsequent crystallization.We also introduce and combine concepts (mushy zone, percolationtheory, granular flow, shear localization) derived from thenon-geological literature and apply them to field observationson migmatites and granites. Segregation and transportation offelsic magmas is commonly observed in association with non-coaxialdeformation, suggesting that gravity forces have limited influenceduring magma segregation. Solid to liquid and liquid to solidtransitions are shown to be rheologically different, which infirmsthe concept of a unique rheological critical melt percentagefor both transitions. Four stages are examined, which dependon the melt fraction present. (1) A minimum of 8% melt by volume must first be produced toovercome the liquid percolation threshold (LPT) above whichmelt pockets can connect, thus allowing local magma displacement.Transport of the liquid phase is amplified by deformation towarddilatant sinks and is restricted to a very local scale. Thiscorresponds to partially molten domains illustrated by incipientmigmatites. (2) When more melt (20–25%) is present, a melt escapethreshold (MET) allows segregation and transport of the meltand part of the residual solid phase, over large distances.This corresponds to segregation and transfer of magma towardsthe upper crust. (3) Segregation of magma also occurs during granite emplacementand crystallization. In a flowing magma containing few particles(20%), particles rotate independently within the flow, defininga fabric. As soon as sufficient crystals are formed, they interactto construct a rigid skeleton. Such a random loose packed frameworkinvolves 55% solids and corresponds to the rigid percolationthreshold (RPT). Above the RPT, clusters of particles can sustainstress, and the liquid fraction can still flow. The only remainingpossibilities for rearranging particles are local shear zones,often within the intrusion rim, which, as a consequence, developsdilatancy. This stage of segregation during crystallizationis totally different from that of magma segregation during incipientmelting. (4) Finally, the system becomes totally locked when random closepacking is reached, at 72–75% solidification; this isthe particle locking threshold (PLT). The introduction of four thresholds must be viewed in the contextof a two-fold division of the cycle that generates igneous rocks,first involving a transition from solid to liquid (i.e. partialmelting) and then a transition from liquid to solid (i.e. crystallization).Neither transition is simply the reverse of the other. In thecase of melting, pockets of melt have to be connected to afforda path to escaping magma. This is a bond-percolation, in thesense of physical percoloation theory. In the case of crystallization,randomly distributed solid particles mechanically interact,and contacts between them can propagate forces. Building a crystalframework is a site-percolation, for which the threshold ishigher than that of bond-percolation. For each transition twothresholds are applicable. The present approach, which basicallydiffers from that based on a unique critical melt fraction,expands and clarifies the idea of a first and a second percolationthreshold. One threshold in each transition (LPT and RPT, respectively)corresponds to a percolation threshold in the sense of physicalpercolation theory. Its value is independent of external forces,but relies on the type and abundance of minerals forming thematrix within which melt connectivity is developing. The exactvalue of the second threshold (MET or PLT) will vary accordingto external forces, such as deformation and the particle shape. KEY WORDS: migmatites; partial melting; granites; magma segregation; magma solidification ^*Corresponding author. Telephone: 33 03 83 44 19 00. Fax: 33 03 83 44 00 29. e-mail: jlv{at}cregu.cnrs-nancy.fr     

Intrusion and Crystallization of a Spinifex-Textured Komatiite Sill in Dundonald Township, Ontario

Although komatiite has been defined as an ultramafic volcanicrock characterized by spinifex texture, there is a growing recognitionthat similar textures can also form in high-level dykes andsills. Here, we report the results of a petrological and geochemicalinvestigation of a 5 m thick komatiite sill in Dundonald Township,Ontario, Canada. This unit forms part of a series of komatiitesand komatiitic basalts, some of which clearly intruded unconsolidatedsediments. The komatiite sill is differentiated into a spinifex-texturedupper part and an olivine cumulate lower part. Features characteristicof the upper sections of lava flows, such as volcanic brecciaand a thick glassy chilled margin, are absent and, instead,the upper margin of the sill is marked by a layer of relativelylarge (1–5 mm) solid, polyhedral olivine grains that gradesdownwards over a distance of only 2 cm into unusually large,centimetre-sized, skeletal hopper olivine grains. This is underlainby a 1 m thick zone of platy spinifex-textured olivine and coarse,complex, dendritic, spinifex-textured olivine. The texture ofthe olivine cumulate zone in the overlying unit is uniform rightdown to the contact and a lower chilled margin, present at thebase of all lava flows, is absent. The textures in the silland the overlying unit are interpreted to indicate that thesill intruded the olivine cumulate zone of the overlying unit.Thermal modelling suggests that soon after intrusion, a narrowinterval of the overlying cumulate partially melted and thatthe liquid in the upper part of the sill became undercooled.The range of olivine morphologies in the spinifex-textured partof the sill was controlled by nucleation and crystallizationof olivine in these variably undercooled liquids. KEY WORDS: komatiite; intrusion; spinifex texture; olivine     

Production rates and proton‐induced production cross sections of 129I from Te and Ba: An attempt to model the 129I production in stony meteoroids and 129I in a Knyahinya sample

Abstract— Proton‐induced production cross sections of ¹²⁹I from Te and Ba are presented. Earlier assumptions that Te is the most important target element in meteoroids are confirmed. Based on this data set and the experimental production rates of ¹²⁹I from thick‐target experiments, the production of ¹²⁹I in stony meteoroids is modeled using a GCR flux density of 4.06 cm^?2 s^?1. The results of this modeling must be considered preliminary because the contribution from neutron capture on ¹²⁸Te needs further investigation. We obtained modeled production rates that agree with experimental results for samples from two medium‐sized meteorites (Abee and Knyahinya). However, we find that this model does not describe ⁴¹Ca in lunar rocks well and seems to overestimate ¹²⁹I production in larger bodies, such as Allende. We present elemental production rates from Te and Ba based on our modeling as well as for a model that describes neutron capture products. For ¹²⁹I analysis of Knyahinya, a novel method to separate Te and analysis using ICP‐MS was used, enabling the use of experimental elemental concentrations obtained from the same meteorite to calculate ¹²⁹I production.     

Allan Hills 88019: An Antarctic H-chondrite with a very long terrestrial age

Abstract— We have measured the concentrations of the cosmogenic radionuclides ¹⁰Be, ²⁶Al and ³⁶Cl (half-lives 1.51 Ma, 716 ka, and 300 ka, respectively) in two different laboratories by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) techniques, as well as concentrations and isotopic compositions of stable He, Ne and Ar in the Antarctic H-chondrite Allan Hills (ALH) 88019. In addition, nuclear track densities were measured. From these results, it is concluded that the meteoroid ALH 88019 had a preatmospheric radius of (20 ± 5) cm and a shielding depth for the analyzed samples of between 4 and 8 cm. Using calculated and experimentally determined production rates of cosmogenic nuclides, an exposure age of ～40 Ma is obtained from cosmogenic ²¹Ne and ³⁸Ar. The extremely low concentrations of radionuclides are explained by a very long terrestrial age for this meteorite of 2 ± 0.4 Ma. A similarly long terrestrial age was found so far only for the Antarctic L-chondrite Lewis Cliff (LEW) 86360. Such long ages establish one boundary condition for the history of meteorites in Antarctica.     

Simulation of the interaction of galactic cosmic ray protons with meteoroids: On the production of 3H and light noble gas isotopes in isotropically irradiated thick gabbro and iron targets

Abstract— Thick spherical targets, one made of gabbro (R = 25 cm) and one made of iron (R = 10 cm), were irradiated isotropically with 1.6 GeV protons at Laboratoire National Saturne (LNS)/Saclay to simulate the interactions of galactic cosmic ray protons with meteoroids in space. At various depths, both artificial meteoroids contained a large number of high‐purity, single‐element target foils and chemical compounds of up to 28 target elements. In these individual target foils, the elemental production rates of radionuclides and noble gas isotopes were measured. Here, we report the results for the light noble gas isotopes ^3,4He, ^20,21,22Ne, and ^36,38,39Ar for the most cosmochemically relevant target elements as well as for some meteoritic material from Jilin, Farmington, and Cape York. From ³He analyses done several years apart, ³H diffusive losses during sample storage have been obtained, and direct as well as cumulative ³He production rates for O, Mg, Al, Si, Fe, Ni, and the meteoritic material are given. Losses by diffusion of tritium from metallic Mg and Fe are found to occur on time scales of months, while metallic Al, Si, and stone meteorites are much more retentive. The production rate ratios P(³H)/P(³He)_d obtained in the simulation experiments are 0.73, 1.28, and 1.16 for O, Al, and Si, respectively. These rates are based on our best knowledge about the ³H and ³He production rates and should, therefore, replace data published earlier (Leya et al. 2000a). The earlier calculations for ⁴He, ^20,21,22Ne, and ^36,38,39Ar remain valid. The new modeled correlation ³He_cum/²¹Ne versus ²²Ne/²¹Ne for chondrites exposed to cosmic rays with an energy spectrum characterized by a modulation parameter of φ = 650 MeV is in fair agreement with the empirical relationship (“Berne plot”). However, for small meteorites and little shielding in larger ones, there are systematic differences that most likely are due to an underestimation of the spallogenic ²²Ne/²¹Ne ratio by ?2%.     

Holocene lake-level fluctuations in Jura and the northern subalpine ranges, France: regional pattern and climatic implications

Holocene lake-level fluctuations in Jurassian and French subalpine lakes are reconstructed using sedimentological analysis, and a regional pattern of palaeohydrological changes is put forward. Major transgressive phases culminated at about 8500 BP, 6500 BP, 4800 BP, 3500–2300 BP and 450 BP. (1) The synchroncity of Holocene lake-level changes demonstrated for a large number of lakes, (2) close correlations attested between certain lakes and (3) the coincidence between rises in lake-levels in Jura and French subalpine ranges, and glacier advances in Swiss and Austrian Alps argue for a climatic control of these Holocene lake-level fluctuations.     

Sedimentary structures of cold-climate coastal dunes, Eastern Hudson Bay, Canada

A study of sedimentary structures of cold-climate coastal dunes along Eastern Hudson Bay, Canada, showed that in areas of very sparsely vegetated surfaces, tractional sedimentary processes are dominant while in partly and well vegetated areas, grainfall deposition is the dominant sedimentary process. Alternating fine and coarse sand strata are characteristic of the vegetated foredune ridge. Coarse strata are interpreted to be mainly related to niveo-aeolian deposition. In poorly vegetated areas deformed strata associated with the melting of snow were preserved. A vaguely stratified strata interpreted as a dimpled surface as well as coarse lenses with irregular basal contact were found. Such distinctive sedimentary structures may represent good indicators of cold-climate conditions and could serve as criteria to identify aeolianites that may have been deposited in similar cold-climate environments in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions.     

Younger Dryas and early Holocene lake-level fluctuations in the Jura mountains, France

Lake-level fluctuations in the Jura mountains (France) during the Younger Dryas and the early Holocene are reconstructed using sedimentological analyses. Major transgressive phases culminated just before the Laacher See tephra deposition, at the beginning of the Younger Dryas, between 9000 and 8000 BP and between 7000 and 6000 BP. The Younger Dryas appears to be characterized by increasing dryness. Other major lowering phases occurred during the middle Allerød and during the Preboreal. A transgressive event developed between c . 9700 and 9500 BP. These palaeohydrological changes can be related to climatic oscillations reconstructed from pollen and isotopic records in Swiss lakes, from glacier movements and timberline variations in the Alps, and from isotopic records in the Greenland ice sheet.