Zircon chemistry and new laser ablation U–Pb ages for uraniferous granitoids in SW Cameroon

The Ekomedion two-mica granite,southwestern Cameroon,has potential for uranium and molybdenum mineralization.Here,we present LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages,Lu-Hf isotope characteristics,trace element concentrations and Ti-geothermometry of zircon from this granite hosting U-Mo mineralization in pegmatitic pods.The majority of zircon are CL-dark though some CL-bright cores were also identified.U-Pb zircon age data range from 121±3 to743±11 Ma with only 5 of 34 ages being near concordant.The concordant mean age of 603±12 Ma is similar to ages of granitic intrusions along the Central African Shear Zone in Cameroon.Apparent ages with mean of261±6 Ma reveal open system behavior with respect to Pb and/or U.Zircon e Hfi values range from-20.3 to-0.3.This implies that U-Mo was remobilized during partial melting of the surrounding gneiss.Zircon Th/U>0.1 as well as an increasing Hf with decreasing Th/U indicates that fractional crystallization was the main factor that controlled U-Mo mineralization in pegmatitic pods.Y and Y/Ho ratios cluster from 29 to 33 close to the chondritic ratio of 28 and indicate fractionation of Y and Ho with low F contents during the earliest stages of crystallization.Late stage accumulation of F-rich magmatic-hydrothermal fluids impacted U-Mo mineralization as a ligand.Zircon contains a prominent negative Eu anomaly pointing to a fractionating system rich in plagioclase.Calculated Ti-in-zircon temperatures span 672℃to1232℃with the temperatures at the high end reflecting interference from mineral inclusions in the zircon grains while the lower temperature values are linked to crystallization.     

Radioactivity dosage evaluation of Brazilian ornamental granitic rocks based on chemical data, with mineralogical and lithological characterization

One hundred samples of granitic rock were collected from granite traders in Belo Horizonte. Autoradiography, optical microscopy, diffractometry, and chemical analysis (X-ray spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence, neutron activation, gravimetry, and electron probe microanalysis) were used to determine the mineral assemblages and lithotypes. Autoradiographic results for several samples showed the presence of monazite, allanite, and zircon. Chemical analysis revealed uranium concentrations ≤30 ppm and thorium ≤130 ppm. Higher concentrations generally correlated with high concentrations of light rare earths in silica-rich rocks of granitic composition. Calculations were made of radioactive doses for samples, of floor tiles in a standard room, with total concentration of uranium and thorium greater than 60 ppm. On the basis of calculations of ²³² Th, ⁴⁰ K, and ²²⁶ Ra from analysis of Th, K, and U, the doses calculated were between 0.11 and 0.34 mSv/year, which are much lower than the acceptable international exposure standard of 1.0 mSv/year.     

Adaptations of microphytobenthos assemblages to sediment type and tidal position

Tagus intertidal microphytobenthos (MPB) assemblages were characterized over a wide range of sediment type and tidal height and the possible effects of these variables on MPB spatial distribution and photo-adaptation mechanisms were investigated. Two transects with six different sediment type and different tidal height sites were sampled once every two months from 2002 to 2004. Upper shore and sandy sites showed higher chlorophyll a (chl a) content, with sandy sediments showing a biomass peak in late winter–early spring, and muddy sites showing no obvious seasonal pattern. Stepwise multiple linear regressions showed that only SiO₂, tidal height and sediment particle size <63 μm were significant variables (p<0.05), explaining 50% of MPB biomass spatial–temporal variability. However, when data were separated by transect, only tidal height remained significant at both transects. Sandier sediments exhibited higher zeaxanthin/chl a and lower fucoxanthin/chl a ratios characteristic of a mixed cyanobacteria/diatom assemblages, showing an alternate seasonality with cyanobacteria increasing in summer and diatoms dominating in spring. Diatom biofilms showed contrasting features depending on the sediment type. Epipsammic diatoms were small with an average length of around 10 μm, while epipelic diatoms showed a wider size range with size distribution peaks at 10–15 μm, 25–35 μm and >60 μm. Epipelic biofilms showed evidence of being low light-acclimated (high fucoxanthin/chl a) and of photo-regulating by vertical migration movements (presence of endogenous vertical rhythms and lower diatoxanthin/diadinoxanthin). Epipsammic biofilms showed higher diatoxanthin/diadinoxanthin ratios and no vertical migration rhythms. Thus, the two diatom biofilm types had distinct strategies to photo-regulate: epipelic diatoms using vertical migration to position themselves at the sediment depth of optimum light conditions, and epipsammic diatoms using the xanthophyll cycle to photo-regulate. Further studies comparing epipsammic and epipelic assemblages are necessary to better understand MPB photo-regulation mechanisms.     

Shaking table testing for masonry infill walls: unreinforced versus reinforced solutions

Several factors influence the behaviour of infilled frames, which have been a subject of research in the past with moderate success. The new generation of European design standards imposes the need to prevent brittle collapse of the infills and makes the structural engineer accountable for this requirement, yet it fails to provide sufficient information for masonry infills design. Therefore, the present work aims at understanding the seismic behaviour of masonry infill walls within reinforced concrete frames, using both unreinforced and reinforced solutions (bed joint reinforcement and reinforced plaster). For this purpose, three reinforced concrete buildings with different infill solutions were constructed at a scale of 1:1.5, all with the same geometry, and were tested on the shaking table of the National Laboratory for Civil Engineering, Portugal. All solutions performed adequately for the design earthquake, with no visible damage. Still, the experimental tests show that the double‐leaf‐unreinforced infill walls underperformed during a large earthquake, collapsing out of plane by rotating as rigid bodies with multiple configurations. Also the reinforced concrete buildings collapsed, because of the adverse interaction with the infill walls. The infill walls with bed joint reinforcement and reinforced plaster did not collapse out of plane, because of their connection to the concrete frame, which is an essential requirement. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112000837

The Venda Nova Pluton(VNP) is a zoned ring structure emplaced in the southern portion of the Neoproterozoic Aracuai Belt,in Espirito Santo.Brazil.It is a slightly westward tilted cylinder-like intrusion,with an almost circular horizontal section.In the center of this structure,an off-centered gabbro-noritic core,surrounded by syeno-monzonitic rocks,intrudes an outer ring of charnockites and norite.These envelop the syeno-monzonitic and gabbro-noritic center,as a narrow discontinuous belt. While,in the core intrusion,mingling and mixing processes are widespread and well documented in the literature,in the outer ring,the norite and charnockite layers show predominantly homogeneous and isotropic internal structures.Nevertheless,smaller interaction zones between charnockites and norite denote a comparatively more restricted mingling process.The norite is a fine-grained rock with hypidiomorphic granular to intergranular texture.The charnockites are medium-grained and made up of: (a) orthopyroxene-tonalite.(b) orthopyroxene-quartz-diorite,and(c) orthopyroxene-granodiorite with hypidiomorphic granular to porphyritic textures.In all lithotypes both ortho- and clinopyroxene are replaced by hornblende and biotite.Two contrasting compositional sequences have been recognized,based on whole rock geochemistry:(1) a basic,with tholeiitic affinities(norite) and,(2) an intermediate. medium-K calc-alkaline,comprising the charnockites.Estimated crystallization temperatures,which have been calculated from micro-probe analysis of pyroxenes,range from 915±25℃to 960±50℃.Re-equilibration temperature(ilmenite-magnetite calibration) is around 600±50℃.This indicates oxygen fugacities four order of magnitude below the FMQ-buffer and a reduced environment. Coeval pressure conditions estimated from the Al-content in hornblende range from 5.5±0.6 kbar.Data obtained for the norite point toward an evolution from the partial melting of an anhydrous tholeiitic mantle magma.The charnockites may correspond to the differentiation of a calc-alkaline parental magma.The later could be the hybrid product from the contamination and mixing between the anhydrous tholeiitic magma with other deeper crustal sources.Further the magmatic system evolved through fractionation of orthopyroxene.clinopyroxene.plagioclase and ilmenite.Our results support the hypothesis for the evolution of the Venda Nova Pluton through a mantle-crust delamination process probably related to the collapse of the Aracuai orogeny.     

Hydrogeochemical and Flow Modeling of Aquitard Percolation in the Cariri Valley-Northeast Brazil

Flow modeling and hydrogeochemical inversion calculations were performed on the aquifer systems of the Crato-Juazeiro Graben in the Araripe Sedimentary Basin of the Cariri Valley, Northeast Brazil, in order to assess aquifer interconnections through an aquitard of the Araripe Plateau. Steady state hydraulic head numeric calculations with the finite difference method used Modflow software with hydrologically based boundary conditions and a piezometric surface as initial condition. Hydrogeochemical inversion with PHREEQC was performed for two water samples representing typical initial and final waters along the flow path. Flow simulation shows that approximately 20% of all recharge water from the superior aquifer system passes through the Santana aquitard reaching the middle aquifer system. Quantification of mineral dissolution/precipitation processes, ion exchange and microbiological redox reactions taking place in the aquifer systems also indicates hydraulic interconnection of the superior and middle aquifer systems through the Santana aquitard.     

Spatio-temporal structure of diatom assemblages in a temperate estuary. A STATICO analysis

This study examines the spatio-temporal structure of diatom assemblages in a temperate estuary (Ria de Aveiro, Western Portugal). Eighteen monthly surveys were conducted, from January 2002 to June 2003, at three sampling sites (at both high and low tide) along the estuarine salinity gradient. The relationship of diatom assemblages and environmental variables was analysed using the STATICO method, which has been designed for the simultaneous analysis of paired ecological tables. This method allowed examination of the stable part of the environment-diatom relationship, and also the variations of this relationship through time. The interstructure factor map showed that the relationship between the 11 environmental variables and the abundance of the 231 diatom species considered was strongest in the months May and September 2002 and January, February and May 2003. The stable part of the species–environment relationships mainly consisted of a combined phosphate, chlorophyll a and salinity gradient linked to a freshwater-marine species gradient. A more pronounced gradient was observed in January, February and May 2003. Diatom assemblages showed clear longitudinal patterns due to the presence of both marine and freshwater components. May and September 2002 had the least structured gradients with marine-estuarine species appearing in the freshwater side of the gradient. The most complete gradient in February 2003 could be considered, in terms of bio-ecological categories, as the most structured period of the year, with a combination of strong marine influence in the lower zone and freshwater influence in the upper. The best-structured gradients were during periods of a diatom bloom. Stable diatom assemblages (with a strong structure and a good fit between the diatoms and environment) are described and characterized. This study shows the efficiency of the STATICO analysis. The inclusion of space-time data analysis tools in ecological studies may therefore improve the knowledge of the dynamics of species–environmental assemblages.     

Short-time scale variation of phytoplankton succession in Lisbon bay (Portugal) as revealed by microscopy cell counts and HPLC pigment analysis

The phytoplankton distribution and composition in Lisbon bay was studied, at a short time scale based on a weekly sampling, during one year (April 2004 – May 2005), using microscopic examination and pigment analysis with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This work is a contribution to the knowledge on species succession and ecology of coastal communities. The frequency of the sampling permitted monitoring peak blooming and decaying, a process which frequently occurred within 1 –2 weeks.     

Numerical study of circulation on the inner Amazon Shelf

We studied the circulation on the coastal domain of the Amazon Shelf by applying the hydrodynamic module of the estuarine and coastal ocean model and sediment transport. The first barotropic experiment aimed to explain the major bathymetric effects on tides and those generated by anisotropy in sediment distribution. We analyzed the continental shelf response of barotropic tides under realistic bottom stress parametrization (C _d ), considering sediment granulometry obtained from a faciologic map, where river mud deposits and reworked sediments areas are well distinguished, among others classes of sediments. Very low C _d values were set in the fluid mud regions off the Amapá coast (1.0 10^???4), in contrast to values around 3.5 10^???3 for coarser sediment regions off the Pará coast. Three-dimensional experiments represented the Amazon River discharge and trade winds, combined to barotropic tide influences and induced vertical mixing. The quasiresonant response of the Amazon Shelf to the M₂ tide acts on the local hydrodynamics by increasing tidal admittance, along with tidal forcing at the shelf break and extensive fluid mud regions. Harmonic analysis of modeled currents agreed well with the analysis of the AMASSEDS observational data set. Tidal-induced vertical shear provided strong homogenization of threshold waters, which are subject to a kind of hydraulic control due to the topographic steepness. Ahead of the hydraulic jump, the low-salinity plume is disconnected from the bottom and acquires negative vorticity, turning southeastward. Tides act as a generator mechanism and topography, via hydraulic control, acts as a maintainer mechanism for the low-salinity frontal zone positioning. Tidally induced southeastward plume fate is overwhelmed by northwestward trade winds so that they, along with background circulation, probably play the most important role on the plume fate and variability over the Amazon Shelf.