Aboriginal Memories of Inundation of the Australian Coast Dating from More than 7000 Years Ago

Stories belonging to Australian Aboriginal groups tell of a time when the former coastline of mainland Australia was inundated by rising sea level. Stories are presented from 21 locations from every part of this coastline. In most instances it is plausible to assume that these stories refer to events that occurred more than about 7000 years ago, the approximate time at which the sea level reached its present level around Australia. They therefore provide empirical corroboration of postglacial sea-level rise. For each of the 21 locations, the minimum water depth (below the present sea level) needed for the details of the particular group of local-area stories to be true is calculated. This is then compared with the sea-level envelope for Australia (Lewis et al., Quaternary Science Reviews 74, 2013), and maximum and minimum ages for the most recent time that these details could have been observed are calculated. This method of dating Aboriginal stories shows that they appear to have endured since 7250–13 070 cal years bp (5300–11 120 bc). The implications of this extraordinary longevity of oral traditions are discussed, including those aspects of Aboriginal culture that ensured effective transgenerational communication and the possibility that traditions of comparable antiquity may exist in similar cultures.     

Genèse des magmas du volcanisme plio-quaternaire des Apennins

Zusammenfassung Nach einer kurzen Übersicht des Vulkanismus in der Gegend des heutigen Appeninns im oberen Jura (basischer Vulkanismus im Tiefseegraben) und im Eozän (kalkalkaliner Vulkanismus während der Tektogenese) wird der pliozäne und quartäre, durch anatektische Magmen gespeiste Vulkanismus des unter Dehnung stehenden Orogens ausführlicher behandelt. Dieser Vulkanismus äußerte sich auf der thyrrhenischen Seite des Appennins zwischen dem Arno und dem Tiber im Zusammenhang mit dem Hochdringen mehrerer kleiner Granitstöcke, deren ältester 7 Millionen Jahre alt ist, während das Alter des jüngsten nur 3 1/2 Millionen Jahre beträgt. Der Beweis wird erbracht, daß es sich um anatektische Magmen handelt, und die mutmaßliche Ursache der unvollständigen Anatexis und der Differentiation der durch diese entstandenen Magmen besprochen. Eine Hypothese zur Erklärung der Entstehung von kalireichen, femischen Differentiaten wird vorgeschlagen. Danach wird, unter Berücksichtigung der quantitativen Beziehungen der einzelnen Magmatypen, ein Gesamtbild des aktiven Vulkanismus entworfen, der gesättigte und untersättigte kalireiche Magmen längs einer 300 km langen Zone vom nördlichen Latium bis zum Vesuv förderte. Es folgt eine Diskussion über das Problem des Stammagmas dieses Vulkanismus und der dazu vorgeschlagenen Hypothesen. Geologische, magmatologische und geochemische Tatsachen machen es wahrscheinlich, daß die mediterranen Magmatypen durch eine komplexe Differentation eines tief liegenden, anatektischen Magmas entstanden sind. Zum Schluß wird der Versuch unternommen, die Entstehung und Evolution der Magmen der periappenninischen Vulkane der Insel Capraia (Toskanischer Archipel), der Pontinischen Inseln und des einzigen, östlich vom Appennin liegenden Vulkans des Monte Vulture zu erklären.

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After a short survey of the volcanic activity around the chain of the Apennines during the upper Jurassic (basic and submarine ophiolitic volcanism) and during the Eocene (calc-alkaline volcanism of the early tectonic stages), a more detailed picture of plio-quaternary volcanism derived from anatectic magma during the distensive stage of orogenesis is given. This volcanic activity has taken place on the tyrrhenian side of the Apennines between the Arno and Tiber rivers and is connected with the uplift of some little granitic stocks, ranging between 7 m. y. and 3,5 m. y. Some arguments on the anatectic origin of magma, on its differentiation and on the possible causes of the incomplete anatexis are reported. An hypothesis is proposed to explain the genesis of some highly mafic and alkaline differenciates. A general picture is also given of the volcanic activity derived from saturated or undersaturated alkaline magma, along a zone of 300 km from northern Latium to Vesuvius. The parental magma origin of this volcanism and the several hypotheses regarding this problem are discussed. The geological, magmatological and geochemical data make probable the hypothesis that the mediterranean volcanic rocks were produced by a complex mechanism of differentiation of a deep-seated anatectic magma. Finally, some hypotheses on the origin and the evolution of magmas of the periapenninian volcanoes are given (Capraia and Pontine islands, and M. Vulture, the latter being the only recent volcano localized on the eastern side of the Apennines).

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Résumé Après une vue d'ensemble de l'activité volcanique dans la région de la chaîne des Apennins à la fin du Jurassique (volcanisme basique sousmarin) et au cours de l'Eocène (volcanisme alcali-calcique [calco-alcalin] pendant la tectogénèse), le volcanisme Pliocène et Quaternaire, nourri par des magmas anatectiques pendant le stade distensive de l'orogénèse est traité. Ce volcanisme du côté tyrrhénien de l'Apennin, entre l'Arno et le Tibre, est lié à la mise en place de plusieurs petits stocks granitiques, dont le plus vieux a 7 millions d'années, le plus récent n'en a que 3 1/2 millions.Il est prouvé que ce sont des magmas anatectiques; la raison pour l'anatexie régionale, la différenciation des magmas est traité. Une hypothèse qui pourrait expliquer l'origine des roches fémiques et potassiques est donné.Une vue plus générale du volcanisme actif, produisant des magmas potassiques saturés et sous-saturés le long d'une zone de 300 km du nord du Latium au Vsesuve est donné, bien regardant les relations quantitatives entre les types différents de magma. Le problème du magma primaire de cette activité volcanique et plusieurs hypothèses sont discutés. Des raisons géologiques, magmatologiques et géochimiques font supposer que les types de magma méditerrané sont dérivés par différenciation d'un magma d'anatexie resté en profondeur. Reste enfin à expliquer l'origine et l'évolution des magmas trouvés dans les volcans périapennins de l'île Capraia (Archipel Toscan), des îles Pontiennes et du Monte Vulture, seul volcan du côté oriental de la chaîne des Apennins.

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Combined model state and parameter estimation with an ensemble Kalman filter in a North Sea station 1-D numerical model

The combined estimation of model state and parameters is investigated by using an ensemble Kalman filter in a 1-D numerical study of the temperature profile at a North Sea station located at 55°30??North and 0°55??East. This simplified model implementation allows to test many configurations for the sampling of the model error for the model state as well as for the parameters. Temperature profiles from thermistor data are assimilated. The influence of a vertically or non-vertically correlated model error is examined through the computation of correlation coefficients, root mean square errors, and model bias. As the CS station is located in the North Sea region stratified in summer, vertically non-correlated model error terms have a slight positive impact on the assimilative runs. The benefit of the combined estimation of the model state and parameters is examined by comparison of a simulation where the model parameters are not adjusted to simulations with the combined estimation of the model state either with one parameter or with a set of parameters related to the surface heat exchange. The optical attenuation coefficient, the sensible, and latent heat exchange coefficients are considered. The best results are obtained when a set of parameters are simultaneously adjusted.     

Charriage crustal,anatexie et decrochements ductiles dans les Maures orientales (Var,France) au cours de l'orogenese varisque

The kinematics of the deformational events recorded in the catazonal gneisses within the eastern part of the Maures massif (Variscan basement of Provence, southeastern France) has been established. These events can be correlated with both the metamorphic and the magmatic evolution, and the orogenic history of the eastern Maures then consists of the following stages:

1. -HP-metamorphism preserved only in relict eclogites and quartzites rich in calc-silicates,
2. -Catazonal metamorphism involving anatectic melting, broadly contemporaneous with large-scale horizontal transport towards the NNE. During this event, the lithologic units were disrupted and intensively mylonitized.
3. -Intrusion of a first generation of anatectic granitoids.
4. -A second tectonic event under epi-to mesozonal metamorphism conditions is responsible for the northward displacement of the eastern Maures relative to the western part along a sinistral strike-slip fault 4 km wide (Ramatuelle — Plan de la Tour fault) in which the early anatectic granitoids have been mylonitized. Outside the fault zone, this event is marked by upright to W-vergent open folds trending N-S, i.e. parallel to the transport direction.
5. -A moderate cataclastic reactivation of the Ramatuelle — Plan de la Tour fault with a dextral sense of shear, locally accompanied in the eastern part of the area by minor lowtemperature thrusting towards the south.
6. -Intrusion of a second generation of anatectic granites about 320 Ma ago.

The metamorphic, magmatic and tectonic evolution of the eastern Maures suggests a continuous orogenic history in an area of rapid crustal thickening by large-scale thrusting within the continental crust. This evolution may be related to the development of continental subduction during the continent/continent collision responsible for the Variscan orogeny in southern Europe.     

Direct Fourier transform mass spectral analysis of natural waters with low dissolved organic matter

A major obstacle for characterizing dissolved organic matter (DOM) with ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry has been its low concentrations in natural waters. Many previous mass spectrometric studies of both terrestrial and marine DOM typically have isolated and concentrated the DOM using solid phase C₁₈ extraction disks, ultrafiltration, or XAD resins, all of which are known to discriminate against many different classes of compounds. We have, for the first time, developed an approach to directly analyze natural water samples with less than 6 mg/l DOC (dissolved organic carbon), using electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICR-MS). We demonstrate the sensitivity and ability of sequential selective ion accumulation (SSIA) to detect the thousands of components in a single freshwater DOM sample without any significant pretreatment. By utilizing SSIA, the baseline noise decreases while signal to noise ratios of the peaks increase, allowing for approximately 40% more formulas to be assigned to peaks in the mass spectra.     

Surface studies of feldspar dissolution using surface replication combined with electron microscopic and spectroscopic techniques

The replica of a microcline cleavage surface was examined before and at various stages of interaction with water and acid solutions at 70°C. For up to 14 weeks in demineralized water the surface as a whole underwent very little change, except some micrometre-sized particles were found on parts of the surface after only one week. Similar particles were found on the actual cleavage surface and on the surfaces of other microcline powders similarly leached at 22°C. These particles were made up of aluminum and silicon with little or no potassium. They were likely formed in some preexisting activated feldspar lattice, either by solid transformation or by local supersaturation and precipitation from solution.Further leaching for 48 hours in a 0.01 mol·L^?1 solution of hydrochloric acid caused only minor pitting of the same cleavage surface, probably due to enhanced dissolution, while contact with a 0.01 mol · L^?1 solution of hydrofluoric acid caused extensive formation of dissolution pits and channels along crystal defects leading to the removal of large portions of the surface. Neither acid appeared to dissolve the newly formed aluminum silicate particles appreciably.Hence during the incongruent dissolution of a feldspar, most of the reactions, dissolution and formation of authigenic Al-silicate phases, occur preferentially along crystal defects. Since the authigenic phases occur as discrete particles occupying only a small fraction of the parent surface their presence will not affect the bulk composition or the overall dissolution rate of the surface.     

Heterogeneous seepage at the Nopal I natural analogue site, Chihuahua, Mexico

A study of seepage occurring in an adit at the Nopal I uranium mine in Chihuahua, Mexico, was conducted as part of an integrated natural analogue study to evaluate the effects of infiltration and seepage on the mobilization and transport of radionuclides. An instrumented seepage collection system and local automated weather station permit direct correlation between local precipitation events and seepage. Field observations recorded between April 2005 and December 2006 indicate that seepage is highly heterogeneous with respect to time, location, and quantity. Seepage, precipitation, and fracture data were used to test two hypotheses: (1) that fast flow seepage is triggered by large precipitation events, and (2) that an increased abundance of fractures and/or fracture intersections leads to higher seepage volumes. A few zones in the back adit recorded elevated seepage volumes immediately following large (>20 mm/day) precipitation events, with transit times of less than 4 h through the 8-m thick rock mass. In most locations, there is a 1?C6 month time lag between the onset of the rainy season and seepage, with longer times observed for the front adit. There is a less clear-cut relation between fracture abundance and seepage volume; processes such as evaporation and surface flow along the ceiling may also influence seepage.     

Anisotropie verticale de la perméabilité de l'horizon fissuré des aquifères de socle : concordance avec la structure géologique des profils d'altération

Pumping tests carried out in the fissured layer of a granitic hard-rock aquifer, interpreted at the observation wells by means of the analytical solution of Neuman and at the pumping wells with that of Gringarten show the existence of a strong vertical anisotropy of this layer of the aquifer; the horizontal permeability is clearly and systematically higher than the vertical one. These results agree perfectly with the geological observations, the fissured layer of the weathered granite profile showing the existence of many sub-horizontal fissures. It confirms that, within the fissured layer, the permeability of sub-horizontal fissures due to the weathering process dominates over that of sub-vertical fissures of tectonic origin. To cite this article: J.-C. Maréchal et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).To cite this article: J.-C. Maréchal et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

Neoproterozoic subductions and differential exhumation of western Hoggar (southwest Algeria): new structural, petrological and geochronological evidence

The western terranes exposed east of the Pan-African suture in western Hoggar (southwest Algeria), are reexamined in the light of new structural, petrologic and by the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar laser probe data on metamorphic micas and amphiboles. To the north, the Tassendjanet nappe includes the Paleoproterozoic basement, its Mesoproterozoic cover and mafic rocks representing the roots of a ca. 680 Ma arc overlain by Late Neoproterozoic andesites and volcanic greywackes. The nappe preserved at rather shallow crustal level in the east was emplaced southward (D_1a) to southeastward (D₂). In the south, two metamorphic suites are distinguished. The Tideridjaouine–Tileouine high-pressure metamorphic belt (T=550–600 °C, P=1.4–1.8 GPa) represents a slab of subducted continental material exposed along the western edge of the In Ouzzal granulite unit interpreted as a microcontinent. Differential exhumation of tectonic slices from the high-pressure belt occurred around 615–600 Ma through a system of west-directed recumbent folds (D_1b). The Egatalis high grade belt in the west was intruded by syn-metamorphic gabbro–norite bodies. It includes unretrogressed low-pressure granulite facies rocks (T around 750–800 °C, P0.45 GPa) cooled at a rate of 15°/m.y. between 600 and 580 Ma, and followed by the emplacement of several late-kinematic granitic plutons. Final exhumation of the low-pressure, high-temperature metamorphic rocks, that are not found as pebbles in the molasse, took place in the Late Cambrian. The early and relatively fast cooling of the high-pressure and high-temperature metamorphic rocks of the southern part of the Tassendjanet terrane is at variance with the slow cooling of central Hoggar where repeated magmatic activity as young as Late Cambrian occurred [Lithos 45 (1998) 245].