Early Triassic potassic volcanism in the Afyon Zone of the Anatolides/Turkey: implications for the rifting of the Neo-Tethys

Afyon Zone, which was derived from the Anatolide–Tauride platform during closure of the Neo-Tethys, is made up of pre-Mesozoic basement and unconformably overlying Triassic–Early Tertiary cover series. The Afyon Zone contains widespread metavolcanic rocks, which are dominated by rhyolite, dacite, and trachyandesite. They form a distinct volcanic succession, which is separated from the underlying Silurian–Lower Carboniferous metacarbonates and meta-siliciclastics by a regional unconformity. Trachyandesitic metavolcanics are made up of massive lava flows, pyroclastics and epiclastics, less frequently, domes and dikes, which were developed on a deeply eroded subaerial landmass. U/Pb and Pb/Pb zircon geochronology yielded Lower Triassic (~250 Ma) ages, which are interpreted as extrusion age of trachyandesitic volcanics. Based on the stratigraphic, geochronological, and geochemical data, we suggest that these Lower Triassic magmatic rocks represent an extensional tectonic setting on the northern active margin of the Gondwana, which led to the development of the northern branch of the Neo-Tethys.     

Facies partitioning and sequence stratigraphy of cool-water, mixed carbonate-siliciclastic sediments (Upper Miocene Guadalquivir Domain, southern Spain)

During the late Miocene, the Guadalquivir Basin and its satellite basin, the Ronda Basin, were under Atlantic cool-water influence. The aim of our study is to develop a sequence stratigraphic subdivision of the Ronda Basin fill and to provide models for the cool-water carbonates. The Upper Miocene of the Ronda Basin can be divided into three depositional sequences. Sequence 1 is early Tortonian, Sequence 2 late Tortonian to earliest Messinian, and Sequence 3 Messinian in age. The sediments were deposited in a ramp depositional system. Sequence 1 is dominated by conglomerates and marls. In Sequence 2 and Sequence 3, carbonate deposits dominate in the inner ramp whereas siliciclastics preferentially occur in the middle and outer ramp. Bryomol carbonate sediments occur in all sequences whereas rhodalgal carbonates are restricted to Sequence 3. In bays protected from siliciclastic influx, rhodalgal deposits formed under transgressive conditions. A bryomol factory occurs in zones of continuous siliciclastic supply. This distribution results from facies partitioning during the flooding of the Ronda Basin, which has a rugged and irregular relief. Embayments were protected from siliciclastic influx and provided regions with less hydraulic energy.     

A dynamic deterministic model of hydrocarbon generation in the Midgard Field drainage area offshore Mid-Norway

The Midgard Field offshore mid-Norway is a gas-condensate accumulation with a thin oil leg reservoired in Early and Middle Jurassic sandstones. There are two potential source rocks in the area; the Late Jurassic Spekk Formation is a marine shale with type II kerogen and a rich potential for oil, and the Åre Formation of Early Jurassic age which is a thick coal-bearing sequence with type III kerogen and potential mainly for gas. Geochemical analyses indicate that both the condensate and the oil leg are sourced mainly from the coal-bearing Åre Formation. Any contribution from the Spekk Formation appears to be of minor importance. Computer simulation of hydrocarbon generation in the drainage area for the Midgard Field indicates that huge volumes are formed, and confirms that hydrocarbon generation from the Åre Formation is volumetrically far more important than from the Spekk Formation. The simulation results also exclude any contribution to the reservoired gas from the Spekk Formation.

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Zusammenfassung Das Midgard Feld vor der Küste Mittelnorwegens ist eine Gas-Kondensat-Akkumulation mit einem nur geringen Ölanteil innerhalb unter- und mitteljurassischer Sandsteine. In diesem Gebiet gibt es zwei mögliche Muttergesteine: Einmal die oberjurassische Spekk-Formation, bei der es sich um einen marinen Schiefer mit Typ II Kerogen handelt und die ein hohes Ölpotential darstellt. Zum anderen gibt es die unterjurassische Åre-Formation, eine mächtige Kohle-führende Folge mit Typ III Kerogen und ein möglicher Gaslieferant. Geochemische Analysen deuten darauf hin, daß sowohl das Gas-Kondensat als auch das Öl des Midgard Feldes auf diese Kohle-führende Åre-Formation zurückzuführen sind. Jede Zufuhr aus der Spekk-Formation scheint von geringer Bedeutung zu sein. Eine durch Computersimulation rekonstruierte Kohlenwasserstofferzeugung im Einzugsgebiet des Midgard Feldes spricht für eine hohe Bildungsrate und bestätigt die Annahme, daß die Kohlenwasserstoff-produktion der Spekk-Formation gegenüber der Åre-Formation zu vernachlässigen ist. Die Simulation ergab ferner, daß keinerlei Gas von der Spekk-Formation dem Reservoir zugeführt wurde.

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Résumé Le champ off-shore de Midgard (Norvège moyenne) est une accumulation de gaz condensé accompagnée d'un mince corps d'huile, accumulation renfermée dans des grès d'âge jurassique inférieur et moyen. Il existe dans le secteur deux sources possibles: la formation de Spekk (shale marins du Jurassique tardif, à kérogène de type II, possédant un riche potentiel en huile) et la formation d'Åre (série épaisse jurassique inférieure, à couches de charbon, à kérogène de type III et potentiel essentiellement en gaz). Les analyses géochimiques montrent que le gaz condensé et l'huile ont tous deux comme origine la formation charbonneuse de Åre. La formation de Spekk ne semble être intervenue que de manière subordonnée. Une simulation par ordinateur de la genèse de l'hydrocarbure dans l'aire d'alimentation du champ de Midgard fait apparaître que des volumes importants ont été formés et confirme la large prépondérance de la formation de Åre parmi les roches-mères. De plus, cette simulation exclut toute expèce de contribution de la formation de Spekk dans la genèse du gaz.

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Midgard / / . : Spekk — , 2, , Are , 3 . . . , Are. Spekk, , . Midgard , Are . , , Spekk .

     

The geochronology of Iqna Granite (wadi Kid pluton), Southern Sinai

The wadi Kid pluton of Iqna Granite, Southern Sinai, which was intruded during the last Precambrian magmatic phase, yields a Rb-Sr total rock isocrhon age of 580±23 m.y., and an initial ⁸⁷Sr/ ⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.7028±0.0028. The magma of the Iqna Granite was derived from a low Rb/Sr source shortly before its crystallization. Partial resetting of biotite ages is detected by both Rb-Sr and K-Ar methods. Mineral isochrons yield higher initial values (0.7045–0.7065) as a result of Sr isotopic redistribution within a closed total rock system. The Rb-Sr resetting of the biotites is expressed by radiogenic Sr loss accompanied by a proportional enrichment of common Sr. The Rb content was unaffected by this process. Oxidation of the iron within the biotite indicates the opening of the biotite interlayer space, thus making the Sr exchange possible. These effects are attributed to a thermal event some 510–540 m.y. ago.     

Is area affected by flood or stagnant water independently associated with poorer health outcomes in urban slums of Dhaka and adjacent rural areas?

This study investigated the association of flood/stagnant water (FSW) with various health outcomes among respondents living in urban slums of Dhaka and adjacent rural areas. We also assessed the differences of individual-, household- and area-level characteristics between the FSW-affected and non-affected areas. Bangladesh as a whole and slums in the megacity of Dhaka in particular are severely affected by the FSW. Data were collected from 3,207 subjects (aged 10+ years) through baseline surveys conducted in March 2008 and 2009. Twelve big slums in Dhaka and three adjacent villages were selected as study areas. Face-to-face interviews using a multidimensional pre-tested questionnaire were conducted by the trained university graduates. We performed various types of analyses ranging from the simple frequency analysis to the multivariable-adjusted logistic regression modelling. Our empirical findings suggest that slums were more affected by the FSW as compared to the rural areas. People living in the FSW-affected areas were more vulnerable in terms of individual-, household- and area-level characteristics than non-affected people. Age was also significantly associated with various health outcomes. According to multivariable analyses controlled for various factors, the FSW-affected people reported significantly higher likelihoods of health symptoms (namely fever, cold/cough, weakness), communicable diseases (namely diarrhoea and gastric disease) and poor mental well-being as compared to the non-affected people. Only the burden of non-communicable diseases was lower in the FSW-affected areas than the non-affected areas. Our findings lead us to conclude that the FSW-affected area is an independent risk factor for various physical and mental health problems. Urban slums are more affected than rural areas by the FSW. Therefore, we underscore the necessities of well-designed and comprehensive public health interventions focusing on individual, community and higher levels of interventions to reduce the FSW-related health and other consequences among the people living in the FSW-affected areas and urban slums in the rapidly growing city of Dhaka, Bangladesh.