Facies and palaeosol analysis in a progradational distributive fluvial system from the Campanian–Maastrichtian Bauru Group,Brazil

The Upper Cretaceous Bauru Group in south‐east Brazil consists of alluvial strata whose characteristics and distribution indicate a fluvial system developed in a semi‐arid to arid climate. Sections exposed within a 90 000 km² study area in Minas Gerais State (in south‐eastern Brazil) were evaluated using facies and palaeosol analysis to formulate depositional and pedogenic models that may account for geomorphic and climate features. From east to west, the study succession records a gradual decrease in grain size, an increase in the width/thickness ratio in channels, a decrease in the lateral and vertical connectivity of channel deposits, and an increase in overbank deposits. The fluvial architecture indicates a braided channel belt, ephemeral ribbon–channels, and an unconfined fluvial facies from east to west in the study area. The lateral and vertical distribution of facies, stratigraphic architecture and palaeocurrent data suggest proximal, medial and distal portions of a progradational distributive fluvial system. The sedimentary dynamics were marked by the building and abandonment of channels related to processes of aggradation, vegetation growth and palaeosol generation. Macromorphological and micromorphological analyses have identified pedological and mineralogical features that indicate an arid to semi‐arid climate with a provenance from the north‐eastern part of the basin (Alto Paranaiba Uplift). From the proximal to the distal portions of the distributive fluvial system, the palaeosol development is different. In the proximal portion, the palaeosols are absent or poorly developed, allowing a possible general comparison with the present soil order: Inceptisols and Aridisols. In the medial portion of the fluvial system, the palaeosols are well‐developed and characterized by Bt, Btk, C and Ck horizons (Alfisols, Aridisols, Inceptisols and Entisols). Poorly drained to well‐drained palaeosols from the base to the top in the distal plain (Aridisols and Inceptisols) are associated with geomorphic and hydromorphic changes in the fluvial system due to progradational evolution. The genetic relationship between the fluvial architecture and the palaeosols enhances the understanding that the sedimentation and pedogenesis that occurs in different portions of the distributive fluvial system are related to the tectonic and climatic evolution of the basin.     

Characterisation of streamflow regimes in central Spain, based on relevant hydrobiological parameters

The biotic composition, structure, and function of aquatic, wetland, and riparian ecosystem depend largely on the hydrological regime (Poff, N.L., Ward, J.V., 1990. Implications of streamflow variability and predictability for lotic community structure: a regional analysis of streamflow patterns. Can. J. Fisheries Aquat. Sci. 46, 1805–1818; Richter, B.D., Baumgartner, J.V., Wiginton, R., Braun, D.P., 1997 How much water does a river need? Freshwater Biol. 37, 231–249). Available flow data for many rivers in the world can be used to validate these ecological theories. There is a demand for studies that use hydrological indices to establish criteria, which serve to group together regime types at a local level. Once this has been done, these hydrologically similar groups can be used to identify communities of living organisms that are linked to specific aspects of the river's behaviour.

An approach to characterise flow regimes in the river network of the Tagus basin in Spain is presented. The river Tagus (río Tajo) is one of the seven major rivers of the Iberian peninsula. All hydrological data were acquired from the measurements made in the Tagus basin, at 25 gauging stations. Twelve variables were derived for each gauged site to describe variability and predictability of average streamflow conditions, and to describe the frequency, timing and intensity of high flow and low flow extremes.

A hierarchical clustering routine was used to identify similar groups of rivers as defined in terms of similar characteristics of their streamflow regime. The variables were also examined with simple correlations to determine if multicollinearity occurred, in order to reject redundant parameters or to identify similar behaviour trends between pairs of parameters. Some parameters have shown a tendency to increase or decrease along the east–west axis, suggesting that some of the studied characteristics may have a geographical cause.

Cluster analysis, with the values of the 12 parameters, reveals two main groups, each of which splits into two main subdivisions. One of these subgroups contains six rivers with similar characteristics, can be considered to be ‘classic regular rivers’, the stations in this first subgroup are mostly situated geographically close to each other. At the other end, we have found a subgroup, with a high variation of flows over the year and high flood flows; these rivers are highly irregular rivers with great changes. This regular–irregular gradient found between the groups is similar to that observed by others authors (Poff, N.L., Allan J.D., 1995. Functional organization of stream fish assemblages in relation to hydrological variability. Ecology 76, 606–627), and strong associations have been documented with compositions of populations and probably reflect differences in other similar important environmental factors.     

Determination of Horizontal Aquifer Anisotropy with Three Wells

Existing methods for the determination of horizontal aquifer anisotropy by means of pumping tests require a minimum of four wells, one for water withdrawal and three for drawdown observations. This paper shows how the same methods can be used to determine anisotropy with as few as three wells, if at least two of them can be pumped in sequence. A field example is included. A method of analyzing data from more wells than the above minimum, by least squares, is also described.     

Re–Os isotope systematics for the Lince–Estefanía deposit: constraints on the timing and source of copper mineralization in a stratabound copper deposit, Coastal Cordillera of Northern Chile

The Lince–Estefanía stratabound copper deposit in the Michilla district is one of the most important deposits in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile and is one of the most representative of this type of deposit. Chalcocite and bornite characterize the main stage of hypogene copper sulfide mineralization. Rhenium and osmium isotopes are used here to constrain the age of hypogene mineralization and the source of osmium contained in these ore minerals. A Re–Os isochron yielded an age of 160±16 Ma (2σ), with an associated initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratio of 1.06±0.09 (mean square of weighted deviates=1.8). This age is consistent with available geochronological data from volcanic rocks that host the mineralization and associated alteration phases. The high initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratio indicates a lower crustal component for the source of Os and, by inference, the Cu sulfides that contain this Os. Late hematite occurs as an isolated phase or, more commonly, is associated with the chalcocite–bornite and supergene chalcocite–covellite associations. Analyses performed on pure hematite indicate a disturbance of the Re–Os system, and hence, this mineral phase is not useful as a Re–Os geochronometer.     

Tourmaline nodules from Capo Bianco aplite (Elba Island,Italy): an example of diffusion limited aggregation growth in a magmatic system

The morphology of tourmaline nodules occurring in the Capo Bianco aplite (Elba Island, Italy) is studied. Outcrop features indicate that tourmaline nodules are the product of magmatic crystallization, as they are aligned along flow fields developed within the magmatic hosting mass. Mesoscopic observations indicate that nodule morphologies are very variable, from rounded to dendritic. Morphometric analyses show that tourmaline nodules are fractals and that fractal dimension quantifies their degree of irregularity. Numerical simulations of nodule growth are performed by using a Diffusion-Limited Aggregation process. The presence in natural samples of nodules with different morphologies is explained by considering a chaotic magmatic system characterized by a complex interplay between growth rate in different dynamical regions, latent heat of crystallization, and local convection dynamics. It is suggested that higher growth rates correspond to growth of tourmaline nodules in dynamical regions where the transfer of nutrients is very efficient. In such conditions, the latent heat released by the growing nodule is high, inducing strong local convection dynamics, destabilizing the nodule interface, and promoting the formation of dendritic morphologies. On the contrary, the growth of nodules in dynamical regions characterized by weak transfer of nutrients is inhibited leading to weak local convection dynamics and, consequently, to the formation of rounded morphologies.