Loss of iron to the Pt-container in melting experiments with basalts and a method to reduce it

The loss of iron from basalts to Pt containers has been investigated as a function of temperature, hydrogen fugacity, run duration, and Fe content of the sample. The loss of iron is very significant even after a short time and increases with increasing temperature and run duration and increasing hydrogen fugacity.The absorbed iron is concentrated in the inner half of the Pt-wall. The iron-containing zone of the Pt broadens only slightly with increasing run duration. Based upon this uneven distribution of Fe in the Pt-wall, a method is developed to reduce iron loss from the sample. By electroplating, a thin film of metallic iron is coated onto the inner surface of the capsule wall in order to get a Fe-Pt alloy in the inner section of the Pt-tube.     

Organic geochemistry and petrography of Tertiary coals and carbonaceous shales from Argentina

A series of eight Tertiary coal and carbonaceous shale samples with vitrinite reflectance values between 0.50 and 0.58% were extracted, fractionated and the saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons analysed for characteristic components by GC and GC-MS. Additionally, a microscopical study was undertaken in order to obtain a more precise picture of the samples under investigation.The saturated hydrocarbon fractions displayed the typical n-alkane distribution for coals of this rank, with CPI values between 2.0 and 3.1. Among the branched/cyclic compounds, pristane and α, β-homohopane were recognised as relevant components pointing to an oxic depositional environment. Detection of benzohopanes (C₃₂–C₃₅) in the aromatic hydrocarbon fractions suggests that bacteriohopanetetrol was a significant constituent of the coal biomass. Taking into consideration the Pr/Ph ratios, ash contents and microscopical characteristics of the samples, aspects of the possible degradation of hopanetetrol to homohopane are discussed. Resin-derived diterpenoids with the phyllocladane and kaurane skeleton were tentatively identified and, although minor compounds, they are interpreted to be a sign of the contribution of Podocarpaceae and Araucareaceae to the coal swamp.Aromatic compounds were dominated by alkylnaphthalene derivatives, presumably formed by C-ring cleavage and aromatisation of higher plant-derived pentacyclic triterpenois, which were main components in the high-boiling range of the fractions investigated. Angiosperms (especially Fagaceae) are postulated as source for these polycyclic compounds and, hence, for some of the polyalkylated aromatic bicyclics detected.     

Behaviour of lead and zinc in calcrete-bearing soils around Bou Grine, Tunisia — its application to geochemical exploration

The behaviour of Pb and Zn was studied in soils containing calcrete to determine the effect of calcrete formation on the surface expression of mineralization. Earlier investigations had shown that: (1) calcrete develops epigenetically within the soil from other minerals present in the horizon that is being encrusted; and (2) this epigenetic replacement is isovolumetric.One consequence of this process for geochemical exploration is that the development of calcrete can be compared to installing a screen that weakens the contrast of the anomaly. Another geochemical consequence is that the metals that were initially associated with various mineralogical phases in the parent rock will associate mainly with HCl (1N) soluble components inthe calcrete horizons. In noncalcreted horizons, and in particular in the surficial layers, the metals are divided between carbonate and oxide phases, the latter being more or less well-crystallized.     

Formation and ascent of granitic magmas

New results obtained by the investigation of liquidus and solidus phase relationships in the haplogranite system Qz-Ab-Or are used to discuss the evolution of magmas during their ascent in the crust. It is assumed that the magmas are formed at 720°C, 820°C, 920°C and at a depth corresponding to a pressure of 8 kbar. The starting composition of the magma is taken as 50% melt plus 50% quartz and feldspars. In case of a closed system (no heat exchange and no transfer of elements) the melt fraction of magmas, the water activity and the viscosity increase with decreasing pressure. The temperature slightly decreases. At 700°C the viscosity is approximatively 2 orders of magnitude lower than at 900°C. This is related to the higher amount of water in the (H₂O-undersaturated) melt at low T. It is also shown that dehydration melting is only realistic at high T (900°C). At lower temperatures water has to be added from outside to obtain an intrusive magma with approximatively 50% melt.

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Zusammenfassung Neue Ergebnisse, erzielt durch Untersuchungen von Liquidus und Solidus Phasenbeziehungen des Granitsystems Qz-Ab-Or, werden benutzt, um die Entwicklung eines granitoiden Magmas während seines Aufstiegs zu diskutieren. Es wird vorausgesetzt, daß die Magmen bei Temperaturen von 720°C, 820°C und 920°C gebildet werden, sowie in einer Tiefe die einem Druck von 8 kbar entspricht. Die anfängliche Zusammensetzung des Magmas wird mit einem Verhältnis von 50% Schmelze sowie 50% Quarz und Feldspäten angenommen. Im Falle eines geschlossenen Systems (kein Austausch von Wärme und Elementen) steigt die Teilschmelzbildung von Magmen, die Aktivität des Wassers und die Viskosität bei abnehmenden Druck; hierbei sinkt die Temperatur leicht. Bei 700°C ist die Viskosität um ca. 2 Größenordnungen geringer als bei 900°C. Dies wird bedingt durch den höheren Gehalt an Wasser in der (H₂O-untersättigten) Schmelze bei tieferen Temperaturen. Es wird außerdem gezeigt, daß Magmenbildung durch Dehydratation nur bei hohen Temperaturen realistisch ist (900°C). Bei tieferen Temperaturen muß Wasser von außen zugeführt werden um ein intrusives Magma zu erhalten, das ungefähr 50% Schmelze besitzt.

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Résumé L'évolution des magmas granitiques au cours de leur ascension dans la croûte est discutée à la lumière de données nouvelles relatives aux relations entre phases liquides et solides dans le système Q-Ab-Or. On suppose que les magmas se forment à des températures de 720°C, 820°C, 920°C et à une profondeur correspondant à une pression de 8 Kb. On admet pour leur composition initiale un mélange de 50% de liquide et 50% de quartz + feldspaths. Dans le cas d'un système fermé (pas d'échange de chaleur ni de matière), la fraction liquide du magma, l'activité de l'eau et la viscosité augmentent quand la pression diminue; en même temps, la température décroît légèrement. A 700°C, la viscosité est d'environ 2 ordres de grandeur plus basse qu'à 900°C. Cette propriété est en relation avec la teneur en eau plus élevée dans le liquide (sous-saturé en eau) à basse température. On peut également montrer qu'une fusion déshydratante n'est vraisemblable qu'à haute température (900°C). Aux températures plus basses, de l'eau doit être apportée de l'extérieur pour l'obtention d'un magma à 50% de liquide.

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Reconstruction of floral changes during deposition of the Miocene Embalut coal from Kutai Basin,Mahakam Delta,East Kalimantan,Indonesia by use of aromatic hydrocarbon composition and stable carbon isotope ratios of organic matter

The distribution of aromatic hydrocarbons and stable carbon isotope ratios of organic matter in a series of nine Miocene Embalut coal samples obtained from nine coal seams of Kutai Basin, East Kalimantan, Indonesia were studied. The rank of the Embalut coals ranged from lignites to low rank sub-bituminous coals (0.36–0.50% Rr), based on measurements of huminite reflectance. The aromatic hydrocarbon fractions of all coal samples were dominated by cadalene in the lower boiling point range and picene derivatives in the higher boiling point range of the gas chromatograms. Cadalene can be attributed to the contribution of Dipterocarpaceae and various hydrated picenes to the contribution of additional angiosperms to the coal forming vegetation. The picenes originate from alpha- and beta-amyrin. However, in some coal samples minor amounts of simonellite and retene were also detected which argues for an additional contribution of gymnosperms (conifers) to coal forming vegetation preferentially in the Middle Miocene and at the beginning of the Late Miocene. The results of stable carbon isotope ratios (δ¹³C) in most of the coal samples are consistent with their origin from angiosperms (δ¹³C between ?27.0‰ and ?28.0‰). During the Miocene the climate of Mahakam Delta was not uniformly moist and cooler than the present day climate. This would have been favourable for the growth of conifers, especially in the montane forests. The contribution of conifers to the Embalut coals might be a result of the cool Middle/Late Miocene climate during peat accumulation in the Kutai Basin.     

Boron-isotope fractionation between tourmaline and fluid: an experimental re-investigation

The fractionation of boron isotopes between synthetic dravitic tourmaline and fluid was determined by hydrothermal experiments between 400 and 700°C at 200 MPa and at 500°C, 500 MPa. Tourmaline was crystallized from an oxide mix in presence of water that contained boron in excess. In one series of experiments, [B]_fluid/[B]_tour was 9 after the run; in another series it was 0.1. All experiments produced tourmaline as the sole boron-bearing solid, along with traces of quartz and talc. Powder XRD and Rietveld refinements revealed no significant amounts of tetrahedrally coordinated boron in tourmaline. ¹¹B always preferentially fractionated into the fluid. For experiments where [B]_fluid/[B]_tour was 9, a consistent temperature-dependent boron isotope fractionation curve resulted, approximated by Δ¹¹B_{(tour–fluid)} = −4.20 · [1,000/T (K)] + 3.52; R ² = 0.77, and valid from 400 to 700°C. No pressure dependence was observed. The fractionation (−2.7 ± 0.5‰ at 400°C; and −0.8 ± 0.5‰ at 700°C) is much lower than that previously presented by Palmer et al. (1992). Experiments where [B]_fluid/[B]_tour was 0.1 showed a significant larger apparent fractionation of up to −4.7‰. In one of these runs, the isotopic composition of handpicked tourmaline crystals of different size varied by 1.3‰. This is interpreted as resulting from fractional crystallization of boron isotopes during tourmaline growth due to the small boron reservoir of the fluid relative to tourmaline, thus indicating larger fractionation than observed at equilibrium. The effect is eliminated or minimized in experiments with very high boron excess in the fluid. We therefore suggest that values given by the above relation represent the true equilibrium fractionations.     

Marine Stone Columns to Prevent Earthquake Induced Soil Liquefaction

With ports and other near shore structures expanding, and regions previously not considered prone to earthquakes being re-classified after recent earthquake events, ground improvement by stone columns is increasingly considered to improve loose or soft in situ soils. The Dry Bottom Feed Stone Column construction technique can be used under water if a double-lock stone delivery system is attached to the vibroprobe. The use of pneumatic stone transport from the barge into the vibroprobe receiver tank makes it possible to reach large water and treatment depths. Digital recording of all relevant operation parameters provides a very high level of quality assurance, including a diameter-over-depth profile for each stone column. An introduction to earthquake-resistant design of stone columns and guidelines for specifying Marine Stone Columns are given.     

How representative are subfossil assemblages of Chironomidae and common benthic invertebrates for the living fauna of Lake De Waay,the Netherlands?

The distribution of benthic invertebrates and their subfossil remains was examined within the basin of De Waay, a dimictic, eutrophic lake in the Netherlands. We focused on Chironomidae, but also report the abundances of 11 invertebrate groups that potentially produce chitinous remains that are preserved in the fossil record, although their remains could only be identified at a coarser taxonomic resolution. Most living invertebrates sampled in different seasons were constrained to the littoral zone, with the exception of a few taxa (Ceratopogonidae, Chaoborus flavicans, and Chironomus) that are adapted to low oxygen conditions in the seasonally anoxic profundal zone. In contrast, assemblages of invertebrate remains in lake surface sediments were similar in the entire lake basin, suggesting that considerable numbers of invertebrate remains are transported and redeposited off-shore in Lake De Waay, due to its steep bathymetry. These results indicate that a single sediment sample obtained from the centre of this lake contains subfossil invertebrate remains originating from the entire lake basin. In Lake De Waay, the majority of taxa found in the living assemblages were identified as remains in lake surface sediments, at least for the Chironomidae that could be identified at a similar taxonomic level in living and subfossil assemblages. Of the total 44 chironomid taxa found in Lake De Waay, 35 taxa occurred in the living assemblages and 34 taxa occurred in the subfossil assemblages. Thirty chironomid taxa occurred both as living and subfossil specimens, and on average these 30 taxa represent 94% of the specimens encountered in a sediment sample. Five rare chironomid taxa present as living larvae were not detected in the subfossil assemblages. Conversely, eight rare and four common chironomid taxa were found in subfossil remains, but not in living assemblages. Our results indicate that subfossil assemblages in surface sediment samples provide spatially integrated and representative samples of the living assemblage. However, a combined approach examining both the living benthic invertebrate fauna and invertebrate remains in lake surface sediments will potentially give a more complete and detailed overview of benthic invertebrates in a lake ecosystem than an approach based exclusively on one of these groups.     

Does global warming favour the occurrence of extreme floods in European Alps? First evidences from a NW Alps proglacial lake sediment record

Flood hazard is expected to increase in the context of global warming. However, long time-series of climate and gauge data at high-elevation are too sparse to assess reliably the rate of recurrence of such events in mountain areas. Here paleolimnological techniques were used to assess the evolution of frequency and magnitude of flash flood events in the North-western European Alps since the Little Ice Age (LIA). The aim was to document a possible effect of the post-19^th century global warming on torrential floods frequency and magnitude. Altogether 56 flood deposits were detected from grain size and geochemical measurements performed on gravity cores taken in the proglacial Lake Blanc (2170?m?a.s.l., Belledonne Massif, NW French Alps). The age model relies on radiometric dating (¹³⁷Cs and ²⁴¹Am), historic lead contamination and the correlation of major flood- and earthquake-triggered deposits, with recognized occurrences in historical written archives. The resulting flood calendar spans the last ca 270?years (AD 1740–AD 2007). The magnitude of flood events was inferred from the accumulated sediment mass per flood event and compared with reconstructed or homogenized datasets of precipitation, temperature and glacier variations. Whereas the decennial flood frequency seems to be independent of seasonal precipitation, a relationship with summer temperature fluctuations can be observed at decadal timescales. Most of the extreme flood events took place since the beginning of the 20^th century with the strongest occurring in 2005. Our record thus suggests climate warming is favouring the occurrence of high magnitude torrential flood events in high-altitude catchments.