Geochemical mapping using stream sediments in west-central Nigeria: Implications for environmental studies and mineral exploration in West Africa

This paper provides an overview of regional geochemical mapping using stream sediments from central and south-western Nigeria. A total of 1569 stream sediment samples were collected and 54 major and trace elements determined by ICP-MS and Au, Pd and Pt by fire assay. Multivariate statistical techniques (e.g., correlation analysis and principal factor analysis) were used to explore the data, following appropriate data transformation, to understand the data structure, investigate underlying processes controlling spatial geochemical variability and identify element associations. Major geochemical variations are controlled by source geology and provenance, as well as chemical weathering and winnowing processes, more subtle variations are a result of land use and contamination from anthropogenic activity.     

Constraints on the dynamics of mantle plumes from uplift of the Hawaiian Islands

The ∼0.2 mm/yr uplift of Hawaiian islands Lanai and Molokai and Hawaiian swell topography pose important constraints on the structure and dynamics of mantle plumes. We have formulated 3-D models of mantle convection to investigate the effects of plume-plate interactions on surface vertical motions and swell topography. In our models, the controlling parameters are plume radius, excess plume temperature, and upper mantle viscosity. We have found that swell height and swell width constraints limit the radius of the Hawaiian plume to be smaller than 70 km. The additional constraint from the uplift at Lanai requires excess plume temperature to be greater than 400 K. If excess plume temperature is 400 K, models with plume radius between 50 and 70 km and upper mantle viscosity between 10²⁰ and 3×10²⁰ Pa s satisfy all the constraints. Our results indicate that mantle plume in the upper mantle may be significantly hotter than previously suggested. This has important implications for mantle convection and mantle melting. In addition to constraining plume dynamics, our models also provide a mechanism to produce the observed uplift at Lanai and Molokai that has never been satisfactorily explained before.     

Impacts of Land Degradation on Historical Temperature Records from the Sonoran Desert

Previous research revealed that severe overgrazing and resultant land degradation in the semiarid areas of northern Mexico created significantly higher temperatures in the border area. In this investigation, the temperature and precipitation records from ten homogeneous stations are identified in the arid and hyperarid areas of northwest Sonora and are compared with the records from ten stations in southwestern Arizona. Our data show that the Mexican stations are again consistently warmer than the Arizona stations when statistical controls are applied to correct for the linear or non-linear effects of latitude and/or elevation. The stations in Sonora warm at a statistically significantly faster pace than the stations in Arizona during the study period. Furthermore, and consistent with other dryland areas undergoing land degradation, the stations in Sonora reveal a significant increase in the diurnal temperature range during the summer season. Local precipitation reduces the temperature differential between nations on the time scale of days, but enhances the differential on the time scale of months and seasons. Among other findings, the results show how land degradation in dryland areas appears to influence local historical temperature records.     

A multicomponent,dual-polarity palaeomagnetic regional overprint from the Moine of northwest Scotland

Palaeomagnetic remanence may be reset by orogeny in a manner analogous to isotopic systems. The heavy mineral seams and associated psammite in the deformed and metamorphosed Lower Morar Division of the Moine Assemblage of northwest Scotland have a palaeomagnetic signature that is characteristic over a wide area. The various components of the magnetization are resolved by detailed thermal demagnetization. These components are post-tectonic, as they are not affected by any structural fabric. They may be classified according to blocking temperature and, when statistically distinguishable, show a systematic change of direction from high to lower temperature possibly associated with apparent polar wander. Comparison to the European palaeomagnetic record suggests a late Silurian to early Devonian age of magnetization for the localities south of the Strath Conon Fault. The distribution of remanance directions and blocking temperatures is not consistent with the pattern of potassium-argon ages in this part of the British Caledonides. If the magnetization is purely of thermal origin, the palaeomagnetic record indicates higher temperatures at later time than does the potassium-argon record. This remagnetization event is related to the closing stages of the Caledonian orogeny.     

Subsidence of the Atlantic-type continental margin off New York

The continental margin off New York consists of a thick sequence of at least 4.8 km of mainly shallow-water sediments. Such large thicknesses of shallow-water sediments cannot be produced by the effects of sediment loading alone. We have used biostratigraphic data from the COST B-2 well to examine the origin of the subsidence of this margin. The contribution of sediment loading to the subsidence has been evaluated and removed. Corrections for effects of compaction, water depth and changes of sea-level were also included. The remaining subsidence has been interpreted in terms of a simple thermal model for the cooling lithosphere. Based on this model a thickness of the thermal lithosphere of 113–139 km is estimated. The total subsidence and crustal thinning beneath the COST B-2 well are also estimated and used to place constraints on models for the origin of the margin.     

Stereochemical studies of acyclic isoprenoid compounds—V. Oxidation products of Green River Formation oil shale kerogen

Gas chromatographic analysis of the major isoprenoid carboxylic acids and the major ketone (6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-one), derived from successive chromic acid oxidations of the kerogen of Green River Formation oil shale, indicates that their stereochemistry is compatible with the hypothesis that phytol or a derivative with the same carbon skeleton and stereochemistry was incorporated into the kerogen matrix.     

Pseudo-anticlines and other structures in some calcretes of Botswana and South Africa

Deformation structures, within some Quaternary calcretes of Botswana and South Africa, have been classified into five types. Type 1 folds are small-scale (< 2 m wavelength) anticlines in shale or sheet calcrete, separated by wedges of calcrete, polygonal in plan. The anticlines have resulted from horizontal expansion and buckling caused by the disruptive growth of the calcrete wedges. Type 2(a) folds are medium-scale, strongly convoluted features in sheet calcrete and bedrock and are attributed to the introduction of calcrete along major vertical joint planes. Type 2(b) folds are large wavelength (> 20 m), but low amplitude (< 1 m), anticlines in hardpan calcrete; structural evidence suggests dominantly horizontal compression within the hardpan due either to an overall increase in volume of the calcrete, or to the disruptive formation of calcrete in joints in the synclinal areas. The mineralogy of the calcretes is dominated by low-Mg calcite which may have inverted from a high-Mg form; the deformation in type 1 and 2 folds was probably caused by the disruptive and displacive growth of calcite during calcretization. Type 3 folds are saucer-shaped depressions in hardpan calcrete and may be due to the removal of soluble salts below the folded layer during or after calcretization. Finally, type 4 folds are small, diapiric anticlines resulting from the upward injection of swelling clays into calcrete or calcretized shale.