Hydrothermal and resedimented origins of the precursor sediments to banded iron formation: sedimentological evidence from the Early Palaeoproterozoic Brockman Supersequence of Western Australia

The Early Palaeoproterozoic Brockman Supersequence comprises banded iron formation (BIF), bedded chert, limestone, mudrock, sandstone, breccia, tuffaceous mudstone, ashfall tuff and, in sections not reported here, basalt and rhyolite. Density current rhythms are preserved in sandstones, mudrocks, tuffaceous mudstones and limestones. Relics of similar rhythms in BIF imply that its precursor sediments were also deposited by density currents. Hemipelagic deposits are siliciclastic or mixed siliciclastic–volcaniclastic mudstones. Bedded chert, chert nodules and the chert matrix of BIF preserve evidence for formation by diagenetic replacement. For bedded chert (and chert nodules), silica replacement occurred before compaction close to or at the sediment–water interface, indicating that it is siliceous hardground. The chert matrix of BIF formed during compaction but before burial metamorphism. Original sediments were resedimented from two sources: (1) limestone, mudrock, sandstone, breccia and tuffaceous mudstone from a shelf; and (2) BIF from within the basin realm. Shelf sediments were resedimented to basin-floor fans during third-order lowstands. The precursor sediments to BIF are interpreted to have been granular hydrothermal muds, composed of iron-rich smectite and particles of iron oxyhydroxide and siderite that were deposited on the flanks of submarine volcanoes and resedimented by density currents. Resedimentation occurred by either bottom currents or gravity-driven turbidity currents, and the resulting sediment bodies may have been contourite drifts. The concept that BIF records high-frequency alternating precipitation from ambient sea water of iron minerals and silica is negated by this study. Instead, it is postulated that the precursor sediments to BIF originated in much the same way as modern Red Sea hydrothermal iron oxide deposits, implying that at least the particles of iron oxyhydroxide originated from the oxidation of vent fluids by sea water. Several orders of cyclicity in basin filling establish a relationship between rising to high sea levels, episodic sea-floor hydrothermal activity and BIF that is reminiscent of the link between eustacy and spreading-ridge pulses.     

Water table control on rill initiation and implications for erosional response

On sloping sandy agricultural soil sites near Toronto, Canada, summer storms adequate to generate runoff occur frequently, but rill development occurs mainly in spring when snowmelt or rainfall-induced runoff occurs above frozen subsoil. This suggests that on low and moderate slopes on these soils rill initiation is controlled primarily by hydraulic impedance close to the surface, rather than critical hydraulic conditions in runoff. Laboratory flume experiments were carried out on 10 m slopes at 1.5°, 5° and 9° with loamy sand/clay composite soil sample to test this hypothesis. Runoff with hydraulic conditions adequate for rill initiation occurred rapidly in most tests, but on 1.5° and 5° slopes little knickpoint scour or sediment transport occurred before water table development. This coincided with reduced surface soil strength, knickpoint scour and marked increase in sediment discharge, particularly on 5° slopes where increase was 20- to 30-fold. Further increase in sediment discharge occurred when water tables reached the surface. On 9° slopes runoff occurred more quickly, with higher hydraulic values. Significant rill incision and sediment discharge occurred well before water table development, and ultimately reached much higher values than on lower slopes. Results show that soil erodibility can change dramatically over short time periods during storms due to soil moisture conditions, and that the presence of a hydraulic impedance close to the surface which causes a perched water table to develop can strongly influence rill incision and sediment transport. The influence is unlikely to be marked on soils which are very erodible regardless of moisture conditions, or on extremely resistant soils. It will also be limited on very gentle or steep sites, but can be a significant factor in rill development on intermediate slopes.     

Cyclonic/anticyclonic gyre asymmetries: laboratory and intermediate-model experiments

Laboratory models of rapidly rotating geophysical flows often show significant asymmetries with respect to the sign of the gyre forcing. In this paper we focus on the instability of separated boundary currents and the resulting transition to time-dependent motion in a slightly sliced cylinder driven by a differentially rotating lid. This transition occurs more readily for cyclonic (co-rotating) gyre forcing, when compared with that observed for anticyclonic forcing, even though the system Rossby number is very small. Quasi-geostrophic models are invariant to changes in the sign of the forcing, so a more accurate theoretical framework must be used to capture the observed asymmetries. An intermediate model, which includes a second-order nonlinear Ekman suction relation, is proposed and integrated numerically. The results are in significantly better agreement with the laboratory observations, and simple diagnostics illustrate which of the higher-order physical effects are responsible for the enhanced instability of cyclonically forced gyres.     

Comparison of Late Pleistocene and Modern Glacier Extents in Central Nepal Based on Digital Elevation Data and Satellite Imagery

Late Pleistocene and modern ice extents in central Nepal are compared to estimate equilibrium line altitude (ELA) depressions. New techniques are used for determining the former extent of glaciers based on quantitative, objective geomorphic analyses of a 90-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM). For every link of the drainage network, valley form is classified as glacial or fluvial based on cross-valley shape and slope statistics. Down-valley transitions from glacial to fluvial form indicate the former limits of glaciation in each valley. Landsat Multispectral Scanner imagery for the same region is used to map current glacier extents. For both full-glacial and modern cases, ELAs are computed from the glacier limits using the DEM and a toe-to-headwall altitude ratio of 0.5. Computed ELA depressions range from 100–900 m with a modal value of 650 m and a mean of 500 m, values consistent with previously published estimates for the central Himalaya but markedly smaller than estimates for many other regions. We suggest that this reflects reduced precipitation, rather than a small temperature depression, consistent with other evidence for a weaker monsoon under full-glacial conditions.     

Volcano spacings and lithospheric/crustal thickness in the Archaean

There is a linear relationship between the spacing of Pliocene-Pleistocene volcanoes and the thickness of the lithosphere and attenuated crust in the East African rift valley. Assuming that the physical-chemical properties of the Archaean and Cenozoic lithosphere and crust were broadly similar, we use the spacing of volcanic centres in the Abitibi greenstone belt of southern Canada to determine lithospheric and crustal thickness in the Archaean. The abitibi volcanoes have been deformed and so have elliptical cross-sections. In order to arrive at their original form we have removed the effects of tectonic strain by two alternative mechanisms of pure and simple shear which give comparable results. A mean original volcano spacing of 84–88 km suggests that the lithsophere was 80–90 km thick and that the crust was probably 35–45 km thick in this greenstone belt about 2700 m.y. ago. The crustal values are comparable with those determined by geochemical parameters and are consistent with the suggestion that greenstone belts formed in extensional marginal basins between crustal-thickened continental masses, deep sections of which are now seen in Archaean high-grade regions.     

Mass transport in rotatory tidal currents

Summary A perturbation method is used to calculate steady non-linear effects in rotatory tidal currents. The inclusion of the Coriolis acceleration leads to a uniquely determined second order current system in the tidal stream. This is shown to be absent in high frequency gravity waves. It is found that particle drift, or mass transport, is critically dependent on this mean current, and consequently on the value off/,f being the Coriolis parameter, and the angular frequency of the oscillation.     

Hydrogeological and geotechnical aspects of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway

The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway is in the East Gulf Coastal Plain physiographic province The River and Canal sections were constructed on the floodplain of the Tombigbee River Locks and dams in this section are founded on sediments of Upper Cretaceous age, composed predominantly of sands, clays, and silts of the Eutaw and Gordo formations The 39-mile long Divide Cut was excavated through higher topography which is underlain by these same formations, along with the McShan formation of similar character Bay Springs Lock and Dam, at the south end of the Divide Cut, is founded on shale of the Hartselle formation, which is Mississippian in age Comprehensive studies and tests were made to evaluate and monitor potential impacts of the waterway on the hydrogeologic environment Observations to date show that adverse impacts are very minimal overall, and these are partially offset by beneficial effects Geologic and groundwater conditions were primary factors in the location and design of major features of the waterway During construction, extensive control of groundwater and dewatering effort was required The excavation, utilization, and disposal of over 200 million cubic yards of material, construction of 10 locks and dams, and over 80 miles of canal were accomplished essentially as planned and designed within budget and ahead of schedule