Experimental Na-K distribution between amphiboles and aqueous chloride solutions, and a mixing model along the richterite – K-richterite join

The cation exchange equilibrium has been investigated by hydrothermal experiments at 700 and 800°C at 200 MPa. To avoid equilibration problems of conventional exchange experiments, we synthesized amphiboles with an excess fluid allowing exchange between solid and fluid during the experiment. The exchangeable cations Na and K were provided as excess 1 to 2n chloridic solution. These exchange syntheses can be described by the reaction equation with ^(aq) for hydroxides and chlorides in aqueous solutions and _{( s )} and _{( p )}?=?start and product fluid. The amphiboles grew in presence of the exchange fluid and adjusted their stoichiometry in equilibrium with the fluid phase. The solid products consist of more than 99% amphibole (Na,K-richterite_ss) with traces of diopside and quartz. The amphiboles are up to 1?mm long and often ≈ 40 μm thick. Detailed EMP- and HRTEM-observations show that they are chemically homogeneous and structurally wellordered. The experimental results give consistent phase relations in the reciprocal ternary system Na-richterite–K-richterite–NaCl–KCl. We analysed the product fluid with AAS- and ICP-methods. The Na-K distribution coefficients between fluid and amphiboles of the richterite–K-richterite join are close to unity at 700°C and 800°C at 200 MPa. Small systematic deviations are explained by a symmetric solution model for the A-position of the amphiboles. Using ideal mixing for H₂O-NaCl-KCl fluids, a mixing model for the system richterite–K-richterite is presented. We suggest that the composition of richterite solid solutions can be used as a sensor for NaCl/KCl-ratios in metamorphic fluids.     

Faltung und Klüftung im Nordteil des Rheinischen Schiefergebirges

Zusammenfassung Die Ergebnisse von Untersuchungen der Kleintektonik in Grauwacken und Kalken im Nordteil des Rheinischen Schiefergebirges lassen darauf schließen, daß die Klüfte zu Beginn der Faltung aufrissen und ursprünglich senkrecht auf der Schichtfläche standen.Unter dieser Voraussetzung lassen die Klüfte als Vorzeichnung die Deformation der Bänke während der Faltung erkennen und ermöglichen eine zeitliche Einordnung der Vorgänge bei der Faltung. Es ergibt sich für die Faltung folgendes Bild:Mit der ersten leichten Verbiegung der Schichten bilden sich zwei Kluft-systeme aus, das eine symmetrisch zur Kraft, die die Faltung bewirkte, das zweite symmetrisch zum Biegungsfließen. Beide Systeme konnten sich entwickeln, ohne daß sie sich gegenseitig störten. Man muß also schließen, daß der Kluftabstand erst nach und nach verringert wurde und beide Systeme, im ganzen gesehen, gleichzeitig entstanden. Aus dem frühen Auftreten des Biegungsfließens, dessen Richtung dem heutigen Faltenbild entspricht, geht hervor, daß schon bei Beginn der Faltung das heutige Faltungsbild im großen und ganzen angelegt war und daß Faltung nicht nur Verbiegung der Schichten um die Faltenachse, sondern auch Verbiegung der Faltenachse bedeutet.Solange die Neigung der Schichten 20° bis 30° nicht überschritt, konnten die meisten auftretenden Spannungen durch das Biegungsfließen ausgeglichen werden. Bei der weiteren Faltung übernahm der Faltungsvorschub die Rolle des Biegungsfließens. Die Richtung des Faltungsvorschubes wurde durch Verwerfungen bestimmt, die also älter als der Faltungsvorschub sein müssen. Außerdem ließ sich feststellen, daß der Faltungsvorschub teilweise eine selbständige Bewegung ist, die aus dem Faltenmechanismus allein nicht erklärt werden kann.Das hier Aufgeführte ist das Ergebnis einer Anfangsstudie. Sie war Gegenstand einer Dissertation unter Leitung von Herrn Professor Dr.Hans Cloos. Ihm möchte ich dafür danken, daß er mich zur kleintektonischen Betrachtungsweise angeregt und mir in vielen Stadien der Arbeit geraten und geholfen hat. Den Herren Professor Dr.Bruno Sander, Professor Dr.Georg Knetsch, Dr.Sigismund Kienow, Dr.Gerhard Oertel und Dr.Herbert Karrenberg verdanke ich wertvolle Hinweise. Nicht zuletzt möchte ich an dieser Stelle meine Frau nennen, die sowohl bei den Geländemessungen als auch bei der Fertigstellung des Manuskriptes mich immer unterstützt hat.     

Predator-Prey Interaction between two Competing Sea Star Species of the Genus Astropecten

Abstract. The predator-prey interaction between two sea star species of the genus Astropecten known to be competitors was investigated at Costa Colostrai, Sardinia, Italy by means of SCUBA-Diving. It was estimated that predation of A. aranciacus would eliminate about 1 % of the prey population of A. bispinosus daily. Because densities of A. bispinosus were observed to be unaltered during the summer months, a considerable immigration of A. bispinosus into the area has to be postulated. A. bispinosus represents 40% of the dry organic matter consumed by A. aranciacus , and is one of the most important food items of this species.
A. aranciacus is not more efficient in preying upon A. bispinosus than in preying upon other food items; but efficiency is greater upon buried sea stars than upon walking ones.
Consequences for stability of the local ecosystem are discussed.     

Gravity and S-wave modelling across the Jan Mayen Ridge,North Atlantic; implications for crustal lithology

The horizontal components from fourteen Ocean Bottom Seismometers deployed along four profiles focused along the western margin of the Jan Mayen microcontinent, North Atlantic, have been modelled with regard to S-waves, based on P-wave models obtained earlier. The seismic models have furthermore been constrained by 2D gravity modelling. High V _p/V _s-ratios (2.3–7.9) within the Cenozoic sedimentary section are attributed to significant porosities, whereas V _p/V _s-ratios in the order of 1.9–2.2 for the Mesozoic and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks indicate shale-dominated lithology throughout the area. The eastern side of the Jan Mayen Ridge is interpreted as a passive, volcanic margin, based on relatively high crustal V _p/V _s-ratios (1.9), whereas lower V _p/V _s-ratios (1.75–1.8) suggest the presence of intermediate composition crust and non-volcanic margin on the western side of the ridge. In the westernmost part of the Jan Mayen Basin, slightly increased upper mantle V _p/V _s-ratios may indicate some degree of serpentization of upper mantle peridotites.     

2-D and 3-D modelling of wide-angle seismic data: an example from the Vøring volcanic passive margin

This study presents the modelling of 2-D and 3-D wide-angle seismic data acquired on the complex, volcanic passive margin of the Vøring Plateau, off Norway. Three wide-angle seismic profiles were shot and recorded simultaneously by 21 Ocean Bottom Seismometers, yielding a comprehensive 3-D data set, in addition to the three in-line profiles. Coincident multi-channel seismic profiles are used to better constrain the modelling, but the Mesozoic and deeper structures are poorly imaged due to the presence of flood basalts and sills. Velocity modelling reveals an unexpectedly large 30 km basement high hidden below the flood basalt. When interpreted as a 2-D structure, this basement high produces a modelled gravity anomaly in disagreement with the observed gravity. However, both the gravity and the seismic data suggest that the structure varies in all three directions. The modelling of the entire 3-D set of travel times leads to a coherent velocity structure that confirms the basement high; it also shows that the abrupt transition to the slower Cretaceous basin coincides in position and orientation with the fault system forming the Rån Ridge. The positive gravity anomaly over the Rån Ridge originates from the focussed and coincident elevation of the high velocity lower crust and pre-Cretaceous basement. Although the Moho is not constrained by the seismic data, the gravity modelled from the 3-D velocity model shows a better fit along the profiles. This study illustrates the interest of a 3-D acquisition of wide-angle seismic over complex structures and the benefit of the subsequent integrated interpretation of the seismic and gravity data.     

Marine seismics with a pulsed combustion source and Pseudo Noise codes

There has been a long-standing debate concerning how dangerous seismic surveys are with respect to marine life. Marine seismic work today is dominated by airgun technology, where high energy is generated by a release of compressed air into the water. The objective of the “Time coded impulse seismic technique” project is to examine whether a new low energy acoustic source can be used for seismic purposes. If the method turns out to be successful, the low output energy and continuous operation will make the source suitable in environmental sensitive areas. The Low level Acoustic Combustion Source (LACS) is a petrol driven pulsed underwater acoustic source. It operates at a few meters depth, and each shot can be digitally controlled from the surface by a computer located in the mother vessel. A presentation of the recorded LACS signal characteristics, the modulation, the Pseudo Noise coding/decoding principles and field test results, is given. The importance of using an optimized code with fine resolution and of using the near field recording as a correlator sequence is demonstrated. Clear correlation peaks could then be seen from the bottom and sub bottom reflectors.     

The effect of bedforms (crest and trough systems) on sediment erodibility on a back-barrier tidal flat of the East Frisian Wadden Sea, Germany

The erosion potential over bedforms in a tidal flat of the East Frisian Wadden Sea was studied by conducting erosion and physical and biological sediment property measurements on the crests and troughs of bedforms. Five stations along a cross-shore transect of 1.5 km length from immediately below the salt marsh to the mid tide-level of the tidal flat were visited during two field campaigns in June and September 2002. Measurements of sediment erodibility were made on both crests and troughs using an EROMES erosion device and quantified in terms of critical erosion shear stress and erosion rate. Surface sediment scrape samples (upper 1 mm layer) were taken from crests and troughs to determine various physical and biological properties of the sediment. The results show that crests are generally more stable (i.e. higher critical erosion shear stresses and lower erosion rates) than troughs. In general, crests contained more chlorophyll a, colloidal carbohydrate, and EPS (extracellular polymeric substance) than troughs. Median grain-size, water content and wet bulk density of the crests showed no statistically significant difference from those of the troughs with the exception at the most landward station immediately below the salt marsh margin, where crests had significantly lower water content and higher wet bulk density than troughs.Two different processes were identified for the difference in erodibility between crests and troughs: (1) At stations with emersion times less than 6 h, the higher benthic diatom biomass (measured as chlorophyll a concentration) on the crests increases the amount of EPS, which is likely to stabilize the sediment surface of these features; (2) in a saltmarsh transition area (most landward station), physical processes such as surface drying and compaction seem to enhance in a synergistic way the sediment stability on the crests.     

Precise Positioning of Ocean Bottom Seismometer by Using Acoustic Transponder and CTD

We have obtained precise estimates of the position of Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBS) on the sea bottom. Such estimates are usually uncertain due to their free falling deployment. This uncertainty is small enough, or is correctable, with OBS spacing of more than 10 km usually employed in crustal studies. But, for example, if the spacing is only 200 m for OBS reflection studies, estimates of the position with an accuracy of the order of 10 m or more is required.The determination was carried out with the slant range data, ship position data and a 1D acoustic velocity structure calculated from Conductivity–Temperature–Depth (CTD) data, if they are available. The slant range data were obtained by an acoustic transponder system designed for the sinker releasing of the OBS or travel time data of direct water wave arrivals by airgun shooting. The ship position data was obtained by a single GPS or DGPS. The method of calculation was similar to those used for earthquake hypocenter determination.The results indicate that the accuracy of determined OBS positions is enough for present OBS experiments, which becomes order of 1 m by using the DGPS and of less than 10 m by using the single GPS, if we measure the distance from several positions at the sea surface by using a transponder system which is not designed for the precise ranging. The geometry of calling positions is most important to determine the OBS position, even if we use the data with larger error, such as the direct water wave arrival data. The 1D acoustic velocity structure should be required for the correct depth of the OBS. Although it is rare that we use a CTD, even an empirical velocity structure works well.