Sur la présence de nickel dans un gisement de bauxite près de Mégare

Résumé L'exploitation récente d'un gisement de bauxite près de Mégare (Grèce) a fait apparaître sur les calcaires de base une concentration verte d'oxyde de nickel relativement élevée. La présence dans le gisement d'argiles rouges, renfermant de fortes proportions d'oxyde de fer avec des teneurs relativement faibles en alumine et des traces d'oxyde de nickel, induit à penser qu'il s'agit d'un produit latéritique dérivé d'une roche ultrabasique et transporté ultérieurement sur la région calcaire karstifiée avec ses remplissages bauxitiques. L'étude se termine par une hypothèse sur la genèse de ce gîte singulier.

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The recent mining of a bauxite deposit near Megara (Greece) has shown on the footwall limestone a relatively high concentration of a green nickel oxide. The occurrence in the same deposit of red clays with a rather high percentage of iron oxide and a low content of alumina, together with some traces of nickel, induces to think that this material is composed of a lateritic soil derived from an ultrabasic rock and subsequently transported on karstified limestone with its bauxitic fillings. — The study ends with an hypothesis on the genesis of this unusual deposit.

     

U-Pb SHRIMP and Nd isotopic data from the western Bohemian Massif (Bayerischer Wald,Germany): Implications for Upper Vendian and Lower Ordovician magmatism

U-Pb SHRIMP dating of zircons of metamagmatites from the Bayerischer Wald (Germany) reveals a complex evolution of this section of the Moldanubian Zone exposed in the western Bohemian Massif of the central European Variscan belt. In the south-western part of the Bayerischer Wald Upper Vendian magmatism is constrained by pooled ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U mean ages of 555±12, 549±7 and 549±6 Ma from metarhyolites and a metabasite. Inherited zircon cores were not observed. Zircon overgrowths, yielding pooled ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 316±10 and 319±5 Ma, provide evidence for Variscan metamorphic zircon growth; cathodoluminescence imaging reveals a two-stage metamorphic overprint.In contrast, Lower Ordovician magmatism and anatexis are documented in the north-eastern parts of the Bayerischer Wald by metagranitoids (480±6, 486±7 Ma), an eclogitic metabasite (481±8 Ma) and a leucosome (491 to 457 Ma). Inherited zircon cores are found in Lower Ordovician metagranitoids and the leucosome, indicating a Palaeoproterozoic-Archaean (ca. 2.7, 2.0 Ga) source region, presumably of Gondwana affinity (West African craton), and documenting Cadomian magmatism (ca. 640 Ma). Post-Cadomian metamorphism is inferred from concordant ages of 433±4 and 431±7 Ma.Upper Vendian magmatism is assumed at an active continental margin with ensialic back-arc development (ε_Nd(t) –3.01 to +1.22); the lack of inherited zircon is due to either derivation from juvenile (?volcanic arc) material or complete isotopic resetting of pre-existing zircon. An active continental margin setting, possibly with some lateral variation (accretion/collision) is envisaged for the Lower Ordovician, producing granitoids, rhyolites and leucosomes (ε_Nd(t) -0.5 to -6.27); MORB-type metabasites may be related to ZEV or Mariánské Lázně Complex metabasites. A tentative palaeogeographic reconstruction puts the “Bayerischer Wald” in close relationship with the Habach terrane (proto-Alps), as the “eastern” extension of terranes of the northern Gondwana margin.     

Large-scale dune erosion tests to study the influence of wave periods

Large-scale physical model tests were performed to quantify the effects of the wave period on dune erosion. Attention was focussed on 2D cross-shore effects in a situation with sandy dunes and extreme water levels and wave conditions. Besides profile measurements, detailed measurements in time and space of water pressure, flow velocities and sediment concentrations were performed in the near near-shore area. It was concluded that a longer wave period leads to a larger dune erosion volume and to a larger landward retreat of the dune face. Tests with double-peaked wave spectra showed that the influence of the spectral shape on dune erosion was best represented by the T_m − 1,0 spectral mean wave period, better than the peak wave period, T_p. The effect of the wave period on dune erosion was implemented in a dune erosion prediction method that estimates erosion volumes during normative storm conditions for the Dutch coast. More details of the measurements and additional analyses of physical processes are described in an accompanying paper by Van Thiel de Vries et al. [Van Thiel de Vries, J.S.M., van Gent, M.R.A., Reniers, A.J.H.M. and Walstra, D.J.R., submitted for publication. Analysis of dune erosion processes in large scale flume experiments, In this volume of Coastal Engineering.].     

Developing a building policy for the erosion zone: Solutions to some key (Dutch) questions

In those coastal communities where the most seaward strip of mainland consists of dunes, these dunes often serve as a flexible sea defence. In addition, this strip offers large potential for housing and commercial enterprises. Unfortunately, due to severe storm surges part of this strip (the erosion zone) is subject to erosion, and as a result of which any buildings or infrastructure located here, are destroyed. Therefore, as we will illustrate in this paper, a building policy for this zone should reflect a compromise between two opposite interests: exploitation of the existing potential and, prevention of an unacceptable high risk due to erosion. Accordingly, the authors have developed a framework for such a building policy on the basis of which the desirability of various different types of investments and the location within the erosion zone of such investments can be determined. The examples that are used to illustrate this framework in this paper are limited to experiences in The Netherlands as relevant data and experiences are available and relatively easy accessible here. Nevertheless, the approach as is described is generic and applicable worldwide suggesting that the discovered unused potential for exploitation is not just limited to The Netherlands.     

The Summer Surface Energy Balance of the High Antarctic Plateau

The summertime surface energy balance (SEB) at Kohnen station, situated on the high Antarctic plateau (75°00′ S, 0°04′ E, 2892m above sea level) is presented for the period of 8 January to 9 February 2002. Shortwave and longwave radiation fluxes were measured directly; the former was corrected for problems associated with the cosine response of the instrument. Sensible and latent heat fluxes were calculated using the bulk method, and eddy-correlation measurements and the modified Bowen ratio method were used to verify these calculated fluxes. The calculated sub-surface heat flux was checked by comparing calculated to measured snow temperatures. Uncertainties in the measurements and energy-balance calculations are discussed. The general meteorological conditions were not extraordinary during the period of the experiment, with a mean 2-m air temperature of −27.5°C, specific humidity of 0.52×10⁻³kg kg⁻¹ and wind speed of 4.1ms⁻¹. The experiment covered the transition period from Antarctic summer (positive net radiation) to winter (negative net radiation), and as a result the period mean net radiation, sensible heat, latent heat and sub-surface heat fluxes were small with values of −1.1, 0.0, −1.0 and 0.7 Wm⁻², respectively. Daily mean net radiation peaked on cloudy days (16 Wm⁻²) and was negative on clear-sky days (minimum of −19 W m⁻²). Daily mean sensible heat flux ranged from −8 to +10 Wm⁻², latent heat flux from −4 to 0 Wm⁻² and sub-surface heat flux from −8 to +7 Wm⁻².     

Intraseasonal and submonthly variability over the Eastern Amazon and Northeast Brazil during the autumn rainy season

Summary The precipitation variability over the eastern Amazon (EAM) and northeast Brazil (NEB) during the autumn rainy season (March to May) is diagnosed using raingauge-based weekly data from 1982 to 2001. Since precipitation in this region is remarkably modulated by the combined effects of the Pacific and Atlantic Sea Surface Temperature (SST) anomalies, two extreme and contrasting large-scale climatic scenarios are considered in this study. The unfavorable (UNFAV) scenario, defined by the simultaneous occurrences of the El Niño and northward SST gradient in the intertropical Atlantic and the favorable (FAV) scenario, by the simultaneous occurrence of the La Niña and southward SST gradient in the intertropical Atlantic. UNFAV (FAV) composites with unfiltered data show remarkable changes in both the Walker and the Hadley cells associated with the Atlantic Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) anomalously weakened (enhanced) thus with deficient (abundant) seasonal rainfall in most of the EAM/NEB. Precipitation variability is identified objectively through EOF analyses performed on the (30–70 day) intraseasonal and submonthly (蠄21 day) filtered weekly precipitation anomalies for 18 autumn seasons (1983 to 2000). The principal components (PC) of the first mode of each analysis show strong oscillations. In particular, the oscillations of the PC series during UNFAV and FAV years reveal that events with anomalously deficient and abundant precipitation over the EAM/NEB occur alternately, even under extreme climatic conditions in the tropical Pacific and Atlantic. Composites based on events with anomalously increased precipitation (objectively selected from the PC series) on intraseasonal and submonthly scales are analyzed separately for the UNFAV and FAV years. These analyses show that for both scenarios the more important rainfall-producing atmospheric mechanism over the EAM/NEB on intraseasonal time scales consists of the establishment of deep convective bands trigged by South Atlantic Convergence Zone events or persistent frontal systems over northeast Brazil. Such a regional pattern is embedded in a large-scale dynamic environment related to the propagation of the Madden-Julian Oscillation over tropical South America. On the other hand, the main rainfall-producing atmospheric mechanism over the EAM/NEB on submonthly time scales is the Atlantic ITCZ during FAV years, whilst weakened Atlantic ITCZ activity may be forced by meridionally elongated mid-latitude wave trains in the upper troposphere during UNFAV years.     

安徽铜陵地区蚀变-流体填图方法的探讨

蚀变流体填图是一项区域流体地质调查研究工作 ,也是一项具有战略意义的、综合性的基础地质研究工作。区域大面积的流体填图工作的理论依据、思路方法、填图要素、技术要求和规范等还没有一套成熟的方法体系。在实施中国地质调查局和国土资源部科学技术司的“铜陵地区蚀变流体填图”项目中 ,探讨了流体填图的理论依据、思路方法、研究内容和填图要素 ,对填图单位制定了 3级填图单元等级体制 ,即流体系统流体子系统流体单元。在铜陵地区划分出 4个流体系统 ,7个流体子系统和 18个流体单元。     

Mechanisms of shear failure in artificial fractures of sandstone and their implication for models of hydromechanical coupling

Summary Direct shear tests, in which the behaviour of the rock surfaces during shear could be continuously observed, were used to study the shear failure of a profiled and clean discontinuity artificially prepared from natural sandstone. Displacement transducers were used to measure the normal and shear displacements. A series of strain gauges glued on the sides of the upper block provided information on the change of the stress field occurring close to the discontinuities whilst shear displacement increased, and these changes were then compared with the behaviour of the profiled surface. The results of the laboratory tests, the sequence of photographs taken for most of them, and the results conducted with a sample of similar shape made from the same rock material and tested in a rotary shear machine, allowed several stages and mechanisms of failure to be defined: static friction and mobilization of initial shear stiffness; mobilization of sliding; mobilization of brittle fracture; post-peak failure of the teeth; descent of the teeth; gliding and ploughing; commencement of second cycle of shearing. In many respects these stages are similar to those occurring between sliding surfaces of metal and suggest that the analyses developed in tribology may be relevant to the development of constitutive models for predicting the hydromechanical coupled behaviour of a discontinuity with shear displacement. Such models will have to consider these different stages of shear, because the original discontinuity changes its geometry with displacement and is filled with gouge which changes its grain size with displacement.