Using 87Sr/86Sr, δ18O and δ2H isotopes along with major chemical composition to assess groundwater salinization in lower Shire valley,Malawi

Groundwater resources in some parts of the lower section of Shire River valley, Malawi, are not useable for rural domestic water supply due to high salinity. In this study, a combined assessment of isotopic (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, δ¹⁸O and δ²H) and major ion composition was conducted in order to identify the hydro-geochemical evolution of the groundwater and thereby the causes of salinity. Three major end-members (representing fresh- and saline groundwater, and evaporated recharge) were identified based on major ion and isotopic composition. The saline groundwater is inferred to result from dissolution of evaporitic salts (halite) and the fresh groundwater shows influence of silicate weathering. Conservative mixing models show that brackish groundwater samples result from a three component mixture comprising the identified end-members. Hence their salinity is interpreted to result from mixing of fresh groundwater with evaporated recharge and saline groundwater. On the other hand, the groundwater with low TDS, found at some distance from areas of high salinity, is influenced by mixing of evaporated recharge and fresh groundwater only. Close to the Shire marshes, where there is shallow groundwater, composition of stable isotopes of water indicates that evaporation may also be an important factor.     

Ferromanganese nodules from the devonian of the montagne noire (S. France) and West Germany

Ferromanganese nodules (equivalent to Recent manganese nodules) are described from the Upper Devonian griotte (red pelagic limestone) of the Montagne Noire (S. France) and the Cephalopodenkalk of the Rheinisches Schiefergebirge, West Germany. They occur as encrustations, commonly exhibiting colloform structures, around skeletal material and limestone clasts. The nodules are associated with encrusting foraminifera and a development in the sublittoral environment is envisaged. Chemically, the ferromanganese nodules are depleted in manganese relative to iron, compared with Recent nodules, a loss which is attributed to diagenetic migration of manganese. Electron probe studies show that manganese covaries positively with calcium, but negatively with iron and silicon. Diagenetic enrichment of hematite occurs in the griotte at hardground horizons where two periods of mineralization can be established. The Devonian ferromanganese nodules show that solution of nodules has not occurred on burial.

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Zusammenfassung Es werden Eisenmanganknollen (als Äquivalent zu den rezenten Manganknollen) aus dem oberdevonischen Griotte (rote pelagische Kalke) der Montagne Noir und den Cephalopoden-Kalken des Rheinischen Schiefergebirges beschrieben. Sie treten als Umkrustungen von Skeletten und Kalksteinbruchstückchen auf und zeigen gewöhnlich Kolloform-Strukturen. Die Knollen sind vergesellschaftet mit umkrusteten Foraminiferen, und es wird deshalb sublitorales Bildungsmilieu angenommen. Verglichen mit rezenten sind die oberdevonischen Knollen durch Auslaugung von Mangan relativ Eisen-angereichert, was auf diagenetische Mobilisation zurückzuführen ist. Untersuchungen mit der Mikrosonde haben gezeigt, daß Mangan und Calcium gleichläufig, Mangan und Eisen und Kieselsäure gegenläufig sind. Diagenetische Hämatit-Anreicherungen gibt es im Griotte an hardground-Horizonten; es wurden zwei Mineralisationsphasen festgestellt. Die oberdevonischen Eisenmangan-Knollen zeigen, im Gegensatz zur allgemein verbreiteten Meinung, daß sich die Knollen bei Überlagerung nicht unbedingt auflösen.

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Résumé Les nodules de ferromanganèse (équivalents des nodules de manganèse de la période holocène) décrits ici proviennent de la griotte du Dévonien Supérieur (calcaire pélagique rouge) de la Montagne Noire (Sud de la France) et du calcaire à Céphalopodes du Massif Schisteux Rhénan, (Allemagne de l'Ouest). Ils se présentent comme des incrustations exhibant communément des structures colloformes autour de débris de squelettes et de matériaux clastiques calcaire. Les nodules sont associés à des foraminifères qui s'y incrustent; leur développement est conçu dans un milieu sous-littoral. Chimiquement les nodules de ferromanganèse, comparés aux nodules du manganèse de l'époque récente, sont de faible teneur en manganèse par rapport au fer, perte que l'on attribute à la migration diagénétique du manganèse. Des expériences faites à la sonde électronique montrent que le manganèse réagit positivement avec le calcium, mais négativement avec le fer et le silicium. L'enrichissement diagénétique de l'hématite se produit dans la griotte dans des zones de «hardgrounds», où deux périodes de minéralisation peuvent être constatées. Les nodules de ferromanganèse dévoniens montrent, contrairement à une opinion généralement répandue, que les nodules ne se dissolvent pas nécessairement par l'accumulation des sédiments.

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Variationally adjusted surface winds

This paper describes a one-level variational adjustment process for producing mass-consistent surface winds in the Barrow Strait area, N.W.T. To achieve this result, the continuity equation is employed as a physical constraint. The variational technique adjusts mean winds (vertically averaged through the planetary boundary layer); therefore, a relationship is required between surface and mean winds. Use is made of existing velocity profiles, but interpolation may be used between surface and geostrophic winds. The model was found to be strongly dependent upon specification of boundary-layer height. Channeling effects are not readily seen until topography begins to protrude through the boundary layer. The model might thus be better suited to areas where shallow inversion layers are well defined. By application of the variational adjustment, errors in continuity are reduced by six orders of magnitude. Upon comparison of the variational technique with a diagnostic, one-level, primitive equation model, median errors between computed and observed surface winds were found to be comparable.     

A note on estimating the height of the constant flux layer

A method is presented for estimating the height of the constant flux layer.     

Mesozoic ophiolites,sutures, and arge-scale tectonic movements in Afghanistan

The tectonic history of Afghanistan appears to be the result of successive accretion of fragments of Gondwana to the active margin of Laurasia since the end of the Paleozoic. The margin, in Afghanistan, lies along the present Herat and Panjshir faults, south of Hindu Kush, swings around the central Pamirs and can presumably be traced along the present western Altyn Tagh and Kunlun faults in Tibet. North of this boundary, Paleozoic rocks have been deformed in the Upper Paleozoic, whereas south of it, there is no trace of the Hercynian orogeny. The first collision of Gondwanian fragments with Laurasia probably occurred in the early Mesozoic along the Hindu Kush and Kunlun. To the south, ophiolites along the Panjao and Pangong-Nu Chiang sutures (respectively in central Afghanistan and central Tibet) testify for another suturing event in the Upper Jurassic or Lower Cretaceous. The Indus-Tsangpo suture between India and Tibet corresponds, in eastern Afghanistan, to two ophiolite subbelts, near Kabul and Khost. Both ophiolite complexes have been emplaced between Maestrichtian and Lower Eocene by choking of two northward-dipping subduction zones. After complete contact between the Indian and Asian continents was achieved, presumably in the end of Eocene, the penetration of India into Asia caused large-scale intra-continental shortening. A large part of the shortening was accommodated by strike-slip faulting along Mesozoic and more ancient sutures. Central Afghanistan, in particular, was extruded to the west along the Herat suture by the protrusion of the Pamir wedge. It subsequently collided with the Lut block.     

A model for computing small-scale wind variations over a water surface

Based on the primitive equations, a one-level model is described for computing surface winds under the meso-scale influences of orography, friction and heating. The effects of atmospheric stability and land-water contrasts are examined in detail. Results of testing the model with data collected during the International Field Year for the Great Lakes (IFYGL) in 1972 are given. The model is able to simulate land and lake breezes as well as meso-scale effects due to gradients in surface water temperature. Compared to simple methods of computing surface winds, use of the model reduces the vector error in estimates of surface winds by about 1.25 m s^–1 on the average.     

Stromatolites and sabkha cycles from the Lower Fars Formation (Miocene) of Iraq

Stromatolites and cryptalgal laminites are described from the Lower Fars Formation of Middle Miocene age from northern Iraq. The Lower Fars is comprised of many cycles of the sequence marl, limestone, gypsum. The microstructures of the stromatolites are described and compared with those of Recent algal mats. An intertidal depositional environment is indicated by the features of the cryptalgal limestones and by the presence of calcite pseudomorphs after gypsum. The significance of this interpretation in terms of Lower Fars sedimentation is discussed. It is concluded that the sulphate horizons formed in a supratidal setting and that the cycles resulted from repeated sabkha progradation.

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Zusammenfassung Charakteristisch für die untere Fars-Formation (Mittel-Miozän) im Nord-Irak sind Stromatolithe und kryptoalgische Plättchen. Das untere Fars wird aus zahlreichen Zyklen von Mergel, Kalk und Gips aufgebaut. Die Mikrostrukturen der Stromatolithe werden mit heutigen Algenrasen verglichen. Ein Ablagerungsraum in der intertidalZone ist durch die Merkmale des kryptoalgischen Kalkes und die Kalzit-Pseudomorphosen nach Gips angedeutet. Der Schluß folgt, daß die Sulphat-Horizonte im Supratidal entstanden und daß die Zyklen durch wiederholtes Sabkhawachstum entstanden sind.

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Résumé Sont décrites ici les stromatolites et les laminites cryptalgaires de la formation du Fars Inférieur d'âge Miocène Moyen du nord de l'Irak. Les Fars Inférieur comprend beaucoup de cycles formés de marne, calcaire, gypse. Les microstructures des stromatolites sont décrites et comparées avec celles des mattes algaires récentes. Un milieu de depôt intertidal est indiqué par les caractères des calcaires cryptalgaires et par la présence de pseudomorphoses de gypse en calcite. On discute l'importance de cette interprétation en termes de sédimentation du Fars Inférieur. En conclusion: les horizons sulfatés sont formés dans un emplacement supratidal et les cycles sont le résultat d'une progradation répétée de sabkha.

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Tectonic style of the Appalachian allochthonous zone of southern Quebec: Seismic and gravimetric evidence

An integrated interpretation of seismic reflection and gravity results yields an image of the structural units (nappes, overthrust sheets and underthrust slabs) of the Cambrian-Ordovician metasedimentary and metavolcanic sequences of the Appalachian province of southern Quebec at depth and the relative position of the underlying Precambrian crystalline basement. The tectonics related to crystalline Precambrian basement may be correlated with four interpretations and combinations of these. A décollement of Paleozoic sedimentary and volcanic piles over a rigid crystalline basement is most probable considering the interpretation of gravity and especially seismic data. The tectonic style at depth is rather unresolved from surface geological information. The elaboration of a two-dimensional model is constrained by physical properties of rocks, maximum depth extents of individual bodies and seismic reflectors in addition to surface geology. Finally, a minimum of 1500 km of shortening and Iapetan closing is suggested.