Micronutrient effects on cyanobacterial growth and physiology

Trace metals play crucial roles in the carbon and nitrogen metabolism of cyanobacteria. Physiological responses to metal limitation and toxicity in culture have shown that iron is important for photosynthesis and energy distribution in the cell while both iron and molybdenum are biochemically involved in nitrate reduction and nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen fixation is also relatively sensitive to copper toxicity. Consequently, factors that affect the supply rate, chemical speciation, or the recycling of trace metals can alter patterns of primary productivity and nitrogen metabolism. Overall, three trace metal dependent processes may contribute towards dominance: efficient use of limiting light, nitrogen fixation, and production of extracellular iron binding compounds.     

Comparison between magmatic activity and gold mineralization at Conical Seamount and Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea

Summary Grab samples from the submarine Conical Seamount, located about 10km south of the giant Ladolam gold deposit, Lihir Island, reveal the highest gold concentrations yet reported from the modern seafloor. Lavas from Conical Seamount are characterized by high K₂O contents, high K₂O/Na₂O ratios, and high Ce/Yb ratios, which are typical of high-K igneous rocks from oceanic (island) arc-settings. The primitive character of the rocks from Conical Seamount implies a magmatic evolution related to a single eruptive phase, which contrasts with the more evolved rocks forming Lihir Island. Geochemical as well as mineral chemical data suggest that the melts from both Conical Seamount and Lihir Island originate from the same magma source. In common with the samples from Lihir Island, elevated oxygen fugacities of 0.7–2.5log units above the FMQ buffer are recorded from the Conical Seamount lavas.There are distinct differences between the mineralization styles at Conical Seamount and at the Ladolam gold deposit, Lihir Island. While early-stage pyritic stockwork mineralization at Conical Seamount is hosted by clay-silica altered basaltic rocks with local alunite±kaolinite alteration, main-stage Au-mineralization occurs in sericite-alkali feldspar altered polymetallic sulfide-bearing siliceous veins. By contrast, early-stage pyritic stockwork mineralization at Ladolam is restricted to biotite–magnetite ± silica-altered monzodiorite, while the main-stage bulk-tonnage mineralization occurs as auriferous pyrite-bearing hydrothermal breccias which, in places, are cut by quartz–chalcedony–illite–adularia–pyrite±marcasite veins containing isolated bonanza gold grades.     

Source and tectonic implications of tonalite-trondhjemite magmatism in the Klamath Mountains

 In the Klamath Mountains, voluminous tonalite-trondhjemite magmatism was characteristic of a short period of time from about 144 to 136 Ma (Early Cretaceous). It occurred about 5 to 10 m.y. after the ∼165 to 159 Ma Josephine ophiolite was thrust beneath older parts of the province during the Nevadan orogeny (thrusting from ∼155 to 148 Ma). The magmatism also corresponds to a period of slow or no subduction. Most of the plutons crop out in the south-central Klamath Mountains in California, but one occurs in Oregon at the northern end of the province. Compositionally extended members of the suite consist of precursor gabbroic to dioritic rocks followed by later, more voluminous tonalitic and trondhjemitic intrusions. Most plutons consist almost entirely of tonalite and trondhjemite. Poorly-defined concentric zoning is common. Tonalitic rocks are typically of the low-Al type but trondhjemites are generally of the high-Al type, even those that occur in the same pluton as low-Al tonalite. The suite is characterized by low abundances of K₂O, Rb, Zr, and heavy rare earth elements. Sr contents are generally moderate (∼450 ppm) by comparison with Sr-rich arc lavas interpreted to be slab melts (up to 2000 ppm). Initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, δ ¹⁸O, and ɛ _Nd are typical of mantle-derived magmas or of crustally-derived magmas with a metabasic source. Compositional variation within plutons can be modeled by variable degrees of partial melting of a heterogeneous metabasaltic source (transitional mid-ocean ridge to island arc basalt), but not by fractional crystallyzation of a basaltic parent. Melting models require a residual assemblage of clinopyroxene+garnet±plagioclase±amphibole; residual plagioclase suggests a deep crustal origin rather than melting of a subducted slab. Such models are consistent with the metabasic part of the Josephine ophiolite as the source. Because the Josephine ophiolite was at low T during Nevadan thrusting, an external heat source was probably necessary to achieve significant degrees of melting; heat was probably extracted from mantle-derived basaltic melts, which were parental to the mafic precursors of the tonalite-trondhjemite suite. Thus, under appropriate tectonic and thermal conditions, heterogeneous mafic crustal rocks can melt to form both low- and high-Al tonalitic and trondhjemitic magmas; slab melting is not necessary. Received: 1 September 1994 / Accepted: 28 August 1995     

The Sveconorwegian orogenic belt,a case of late-proterozoic plate-collision

A geotetctonic model is proposed for the Sveconorwegian orogeny (1200-850 Ma), based on compilation of lithological and structural evidence. This analysis suggests a N—S trending, asymmetrical orogenic belt with longitudinal zonation. In the western-most core zone, synkinematic intrusions dominate, while the central zone consists primarily of reworked basement with subordinate intrusions and metasediments. In the easternmost marginal zone, series of pre-Sveconorwegian mega-units are separated by thrust zones and finally bordered by the Sveconorwegian frontal thrust towards the east.Graben formation in the Telemark area preserves the deposits of previous epicratonic stages and marks the initiation of Sveconorwegian activities at about 1190 Ma. The subsequent orogenic development, associated with lithospheric subduction, shows tight folding about N—S axes with steep axial planes in the west, and more open NW—SE folding with gentle westward dipping axial planes towards the east. Regional metamorphism of low-P, high-T conditions imply steep geothermal gradients and suggests hercynotype crustal evolution, in agreement with a Cordilleran-type plate collision. In the Bamble district, important structural alignment forms a zone of crustal anisotropy which was repeatedly reactivated and ultimately became the site for Permian rifting forming the Oslo Graben.The lithological and structural characters as well as the crustal evolution for the Sveconorwegian orogeny show strong similarities with the Grenville development in southeastern Canada. Structural vergence and orogenic zonation suggest that the Sveconorwegian front and the Grenville front are equivalent and form different parts of a single orogenic belt, permitting a tentative reconstruction of the Late-Proterozoic, North-Atlantic Shield.

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Zusammenfassung Anhand einer Zusammenstellung lithologischer und struktureller Beweise läßt sich ein Modell aufstellen für die sveconorwegische Orogenese (1200-850 Mio. J.). Aus der Analyse ergibt sich ein nord—südlicher Trend des orogenen Gürtels mit dazu längs verlaufender Zonierung. Die westliche Kernzone wird gekennzeichnet durch synkinematische Intrusionen, die durch sie bewirkte krustale Zunahme leitet über in die zentrale Zone, die im wesentlichen aus umgewandelten Grundgebirgsgneisen besteht mit wenigen Intrusiva und Metasedimenten. Die östliche Randzone umfaßt Serien von — im wesentlichen prä-sveconorwegischen — Haupt-Einheiten, die durch Aufschiebungen voneinander getrennt sind und die gegen Osten von der frontalen, sveconorwegischen Aufschiebung begrenzt werden. Die von Ablagerungen früherer epikratoner Stadien überdauerte Grabenbildung im Telemarkgebiet markiert den Beginn der sveconorwegischen Aktivitäten vor ungefähr 1190 Mio. Jahren. Die folgende orogene, mit lithosphärischer Subduktion verbundene Entwicklung zeigt enge Faltung um N—S-Achsen mit steilstehenden Achsenebenen im Westen und nach Osten zunehmend weitere NW—SE-Faltung mit leicht östlicher Vergenz. Metamorphe Reaktionen lassen auf niedrige Drucke bei gleichzeitig hohen Temperaturen schließen und damit auf eine hohe geothermische Tiefenstufe, d. h. auf eine krustale Entwicklung im variszischen Stil als Ergebnis einer Plattenkollision vom Cordilleren-Typus.Das Bamblegebiet ist eine lineare Anordnung wichtiger Strukturelemente, die schräg zum orogenen Gürtel verlaufen und eine wiederholt aktive Zone krustaler Anisotropie bilden, aus der schließlich das permische Bruchsenkungsgebiet von Oslo hervorgeht.Lithologische und strukturelle Analysen sowie Krustenentwicklung der sveconorwegischen Orogenese zeigen verwandte Züge mit der Grenville-Entwicklung in Südost-Kanada. Strukturelle Vergenz und orogene Zonierung lassen vermuten, daß die sveconorwegische Front und die Grenville-Front zusammengehören und dieselbe Grenze des orogenen Gürtels darstellen und damit eine versuchsweise Rekonstruktion des proterozoischen, nord-atlantischen Schildes ermöglichen.

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Résumé Les auteurs présentent, sur la base d'une argumentation lithologique et structurale, un modèle concernant l'orogenèse svéconorwégienne (1200-850 m.). Cette analyse fait apparaÎtre l'allure N—S de la ceinture orogénique, et, parallèlement une zonation longitudinale. La partie occidentale de la zone centrale est carctérisée par des intrusions syncinématiques qui, du fait de l'accroissement crustal qu'elles provoquent, débordent sur la zone centrale consistant essentiellement dans des gneiss modifiés du socle, avec intrusions et métasédiments en faible quantité. La bordure orientale comprend des séries d'unités majeures, essentiellement présvéconorwégiennes, séparées les unes des autres par des chevauchements, et qui, sont limités à l'est par le chevauchement frontal sveconorwégien. La formation de la fosse, précédée par des dépÔts d'un stade épicratonique antérieur, marque, dans le Telemark, le début des activités svéconorwégiennes vers 1190 m. Le développement orogénique consécutif, lié à une subduction lithosphérique, montre un plissement serré a axes N—S, à plans axiaux redressés dans l'ouest, et vers l'est, un autre plissement NW—SE croissant, avec un léger déversement vers l'est. Finalement viennent des réactions métamorphiques à faible pression et haute température, donc avec un degré géothermique élevé, signifiant un développement crustal de style varisque, résultat d'une collision de plaques du type cordillère.Dans la région de Bamble, une disposition linéaire d'éléments structuraux importants, d'allure oblique à la ceinture orogénique, constitue une zone d'anisotropie crustale, à activité répétée, d'où résulte finalement la région des effondrements permiens d'Oslo.L'analyse lithologique et structurelle, ainsi que le développement crustal de l'orogenèse svéconorwégienne, montrent des traits d'apparentement avec le développement de Grenville dans le SE du Canada. Le déversement de la structure et la zonation orogénique permettent de présumer que le front sveconorwégien et le front de Grenville forment un mÊme ensemble et représentent la mÊme limite de la ceinture orogénique, permettant ainsi un essai de reconstruction du bouclier nord-atlantique au ProtérozoÏque.

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Transport of dissolved organic carbon in streams of differing physiographic characteristics

Transport of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in four river systems in different physiographic regions of the United States was related to link magnitude by a power function, log Y = ?0.84 + 1.24 log X. Multiple linear regression indicated that discharge, watershed area, and link magnitude explained almost all variation in DOC transport. For purposes of ecosystem comparison, link magnitude appeared superior to other classification systems, such as stream order.In two of the river systems, the largest fraction of DOC was transported in the spring. A third has a winter transport maximum; the last had bimodal spring and fall maxima.Streams transporting similar total amounts of DOC may vary widely in DOC concentration (mg. 1^?1). Particulate organic matter concentration was not simply related to that of DOC.Ranges and means of DOC concentration, mean DOC: POC ratios, annual load of transported DOC as well as annual watershed DOC output were tabulated for 45 streams and rivers, representing a broad range of stream systems and physiographic regions. Mean DOC concentration for these 45 waterways ranged from 0.7 to 28 mg. 1^?1. The very low DOC values are found in undisturbed streams; many of the higher values are associated with larger streams influenced by human activities. Most DOC outputs fell within the range 0.21–5.42 metric tons. km^?2.yr^?1; mean DOC:POC ranged between 0.09 and 70.A comparison was made among several biomes of the ratio of experted DOC to watershed gross and net primary production. DOC, while playing a major role in aquatic ecosystem organic budgets, appears to be of little significance in the nutrient balance of watersheds.     

Self-reversal explanation for the Laschamp/Olby geomagnetic field excursion

The reversed natural remanent magnetisation (NRM) of the volcanic features at Laschamp and Olby (Chaîne des Puys, Auvergne, France) is commonly believed to document the youngest excursion of the geomagnetic field during the present Brunhes epoch. Recent radiometric dating determines the age of these lavas to be 35000–45000 y. Continuous thermal demagnetisation indicates that under laboratory conditions the NRM of many Olby samples undergoes complete or partial self-reversal; to a lesser extent this is also true for the Laschamp material. Thus self-reversal may be another possible explanation of the reversed NRM directions. Magnetic, optical and microprobe analyses suggest that the self-reversal mechanism is based upon magnetostatic interaction between differently oxidised titanomagnetite phases.     

Biogeochemistry and bacteriology of ferrous iron oxidation in geothermal habitats

A survey of hot, acid springs in Yellowstone Park has shown that high concentrations of ferrous and ferric iron are often present. Total ionic iron concentrations in different springs ranged from less than 1 ppm to greater than 200 ppm, and up to 50% of the ionic iron was in the ferrous form. Some of these springs also have high concentrations of reduced sulfur species (S^2? and S⁰). Significant populations of the bacterium Sulfolobus, acidocaldarius, an autotrophic organism able to live and oxidize sulfur compounds at low pH and high temperature, were present in most of these springs. The role of this organism in the oxidation of ferrous iron was investigated by incubating natural samples of water and assaying for disappearance of ferrous iron. Controls in which bacterial activity was inhibited by addition of 10% NaCl were also run. Bacterial oxidation of ferrous iron occurred in most but not all of the spring waters. The temperature optimum for oxidation varied from spring to spring, but significant oxidation occurred at temperatures of 80–85°C, but not at 90°C. Thus, 85–90°C is the upper temperature at which bacterial iron oxidation occurs; a similar upper limit has previously been reported for sulfur oxidation in the same kinds of springs. The steady-state concentrations of ferrous and ferric iron are determined by the rate at which these ions move into the spring pools with the ground water (flow rate), by the rate at which ferric iron is reduced to the ferrous state by sulfide, and by the rate of bacterial oxidation. The bacterial oxidation rate is faster than the flow rate, so that the rate of reduction of ferric iron is probably the rate-controlling reaction. In several springs, no decrease in ferrous iron occurred, even though high bacterial populations were present. It was shown that in these springs, ferrous iron oxidation occurred but the ferric iron formed was reduced back to the ferrous state again. These springs were all high in suspended sediment and the reductant was shown to be present in the sediment. X-ray diffraction revealed that the sediment contained three major ingredients, elemental sulfur, natroalunite, and quartz. Chemical analyses showed a small amount of sulfide, too little to reduce the ferric iron. Elemental sulfur itself did not reduce ferric iron but when elemental sulfur was removed from the sediment by CS₂ extraction, the activity of the sediment was abolished. It is hypothesized that the sulfide present in the sediment (possibly bound to natroalunite) reacts with elemental sulfur to form a reductant for ferric iron. The results show that bacteria can have a profound influence on the ferrous/ferric ratios of geothermal systems, but that temperature and mineral composition of the water may significantly influence the overall result.     

The Blosseville Coast basalts of East Greenland: Their occurrence,composition and temporal variations

In the system CaO-MgO-A1₂O₃-SiO₂ the tie lines connecting anorthite with other phases are sequentially broken down with increasing pressure according to the following univariant reactions: anorthite+ enstatite_ss+sillimanite pyrope-grossular_ss+quartz (3), anorthite+enstatite_ss pyrope-grossular_ss+diopside_ss+quartz (2), anorthite+pyrope-grossular_ss+ quartz diopside_ss+kyanite (4) and anorthite+diopside_ss grossular-pyrope_ss +kyanite+quartz (8). At 1,200 ° C these reactions occur at 14.5± 0.5, 15.5±0.5, 19.5±0.5 and 26.4±1 kilobar and have positive slopes (dP/dT) of 1±0.5, 2.8±0.5, 13.3±0.5 and 24±2bars/°C respectively. An invariant point involving kyanite rather than sillimanite, occurs at 850 °C±25 °C and 14.5±0.5kbar at the intersection of reactions (3), (2) and (4). Reaction(4) exhibits significant curvature with an increase in dP/dT from 13.3±0.5 to 18.5± 0.5 bars/°C between 1,050° and 850° C. The pressure at which the complete grossular-pyrope join is stable with quartz is estimated at 41 ± 1 kbar at 1,200 ° C. The pressure at which garnet appears according to reaction (2) is lowered by 5 kbar for a composition with anorthite and orthopyroxene (En_0.5Fs_0.5). Enstatite and plagioclase (An_0.5Ab_0.5) first produce garnet at 2 kbar higher pressure than enstatite and pure anorthite (reaction (2)). The calcium content of garnet in various divariant assemblages is relatively insensitive to temperature but very sensitive to pressure, it is therefore a useful geobarometer. At metamorphic temperatures of 700–850 °C pressures of 8–10 kbar are required for the formation of quartz-bearing garnet granulites containing calcic plagioclase and with (Mg/Mg+Fe) bulk = 0.5.     

The solar hafnium abundance

The solar Hf abundance is determined using nine Hf ii lines in the photospheric spectrum. The transition probabilities were obtained from lifetime measurements performed by the beam-foil technique. The abundance derived from synthetic spectrum calculations is A(Hf) = 0.88 ± 0.08 in the logarithmic A(H) = 12.00 scale.