Simulation of mineral grades with hard and soft conditioning data: application to a porphyry copper deposit

This work deals with the geostatistical simulation of mineral grades whose distribution exhibits spatial trends within the ore deposit. It is suggested that these trends can be reproduced by using a stationary random field model and by conditioning the realizations to data that incorporate the available information on the local grade distribution. These can be hard data (e.g., assays on samples) or soft data (e.g., rock-type information) that account for expert geological knowledge and supply the lack of hard data in scarcely sampled areas. Two algorithms are proposed, depending on the kind of soft data under consideration: interval constraints or local moment constraints. An application to a porphyry copper deposit is presented, in which it is shown that the incorporation of soft conditioning data associated with the prevailing rock type improves the modeling of the uncertainty in the actual copper grades.     

Paleoenvironmental evolution of the Pliocene Villarroya Lake, northern Spain, from stable isotopes and trace-element geochemistry of ostracods and molluscs

Stable isotopes and trace-element content of calcite ostracod valves and aragonite mollusc shells from the Pliocene lacustrine succession of Villarroya allow depicting the geochemical record of environmental changes and to compare our data to the paleoenvironmental reconstruction obtained from other proxies. The lower sequences (A and B) are characterized by relatively high isotopic and Me/Ca values in the biogenic carbonates. The recorded large variations of δ¹⁸O in these carbonates mainly reflect variations in the δ¹⁸O_w due to precipitation–evaporation processes and, to a lesser extent, variations in temperature of calcification. The δ¹³C data inform about changes in DIC although they are probably biased by the vital effects of the studied taxa. Minor and trace element contents in ostracod (Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca) and mollusc shells (Sr/Ca) are mainly linked to the Me/Ca of the lake water (Me/Ca_w), and to a lesser extent to temperature and to uptake kinetic effects. Several possible mechanisms may make the Me/Ca_w to vary: long periods of Ca-carbonate (calcite, aragonite) deposition after charophyte development, and different inputs for Ca and Mg to the lake due to changes in drainage area configurations through time, including the changes in saline inputs (Na-Cl type) to the lake. The stable isotopes and the calculated Sr/Ca_w and Mg/Ca_w from sequence C display lower values than those from sequences A and B. The isotopic values from biogenic carbonates of unit C indicate isotopically diluted waters in a hydrologically open lacustrine environment. Distinct δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O plots for molluscs from unit C reflect the different biotopes and metabolism type. For several intervals of the Villarroya succession there is no direct relationships among: (i) salinity changes inferred from invertebrate paleoecology, (ii) paleoenvironmental slices based on isotopic signatures and Me/Ca_w calculations (from biogenic carbonate geochemistry) and (iii) climate in the hinterland deduced from pollen data. Lakes where geochemical behaviour is constrained by sporadic saline inputs and/or relative depletion in Ca due to long periods of Ca-carbonate precipitation or biomineralization, like the Pliocene Villarroya lake was, do not show clear correlation patterns between geochemical signals and climate proxies. In these lakes only major environmental trends display unambiguous geochemical signatures, and only some main shifts in the geochemical signature profiles may be correlated with significant global and/or regional environmental changes that have been reported from other paleoenvironmental records. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

First evidence of complex dental practice about 1300 BP in Mesoamerica revealed by absolute geomagnetic intensity

Deliberated dental modifications and mutilations are known since prehistoric times. The Mayas and other ancient cultures in Mesoamerica were considered pioneers of such practice. The evidences of therapeutic intervention, however, are still poorly documented and credible examples are extremely scarce. One of the burials excavated at the locality of La Mina (Michoacan, Mexico) corresponds to a 30-35 year old male individual named Alvaro, who presented a well-marked dental deformation. Moreover, Alvaro had a quite deep and symmetrical perforation in the upper right canine–a treatment similar to the procedure of endodontics or root canal. The archaeological context of Alvaro’s habitat was dated using the archaeomagnetic method applied to pottery samples unambiguously correlated to the burial. The analysis supplied a time interval between 647 and 825 AD suggesting the first evidence of complex dental practice in the Americas.     

Short- and medium-term response of Atriplex halimus L. to repeated seasonal grazing in south-eastern Spain

Atriplex halimus L. is a valuable fodder shrub that has been widely used in arid Mediterranean regions. However, its response to several cumulative years of grazing management remains uncertain. Accordingly, we conducted a three-year experiment in south-eastern Spain to analyze the influence of repeated seasonal (winter-spring) sheep browsing on young A. halimus plants. Shrub growth, fodder and wood production, plant compactness and shoot moisture content were assessed through regular monitoring of the size of shrubs, sampling of summer shoots, and destructive procedures at the end of the experiment. Shrubs were on two closely located sites but where soil quality and water availability were different. At the better location, browsed shrubs grew less and were significantly smaller (P < 0.001) than the non-browsed saltbushes. In contrast, differences between groups were minimal where the growth conditions were poorer. In all cases, shrubs resprouted vigorously and maintained fodder production throughout the experiment. Browsing affected shrub structure, resulting in smaller but more compact plants (2.20 vs. 1.24 g dm⁻³, P < 0.001), but their proportion of fodder remained similar. The spring grazing increased shrub-shoot moisture content in the summer (62.5% vs. 56.0%, P < 0.001). Overall, this species responded very positively to repeated seasonal grazing.     

Primary and diagenetic isotopic signals in fossils and hemipelagic carbonates: the Lower Jurassic of northern Spain

Stable isotope and trace element analyses of 230 Jurassic (Pliensbachian–Toarcian) samples from northern Spain have been performed to test the use of geochemical variations in fossils (belemnites and brachiopods) and whole‐rock hemipelagic carbonates as palaeoceanographic indicators. Although the succession analysed (Reinosa area, westernmost Basque–Cantabrian Basin) has been subject to severe thermal alteration during burial diagenesis, the samples appear to be well preserved. The degree of diagenetic alteration of the samples has been assessed through the application of integrated petrographic, chemical and cathodoluminescence analyses. It is demonstrated that brachiopods and whole‐rock carbonates, although widely used for palaeoceanic studies, do not retain their primary marine geochemical composition after burial diagenesis. In contrast, there is strong evidence that belemnite rostra preserve original isotopic values despite pervasive diagenesis of the host rock. Well‐preserved belemnite shells (non‐luminescent to slightly luminescent) typically show stable isotope values of +4·3‰ to –0·7‰δ¹³C, +0·7‰ to –3·2‰δ¹⁸O, and trace element contents of <32 μg g^–1 Mn, <250 μg g^–1 Fe, >950 μg g^–1 Sr and Sr/Mn ratios >80. This study suggests that the degree to which diagenesis has affected the preservation of an original isotopic composition may differ for different low‐Mg calcite fossil shells and hemipelagic bulk carbonates, behaviour that should be considered when marine isotopic signatures from other ancient carbonate rocks are investigated. Multiple non‐luminescent contemporaneous belemnite samples passed the petrographic and geochemical tests to be considered as palaeoceanic recorders, yet their δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values exhibited moderate scatter. Such variability is likely to be related to the palaeoecological behaviour of belemnites and/or high‐frequency secular variations in sea‐water chemistry superimposed on the long‐term isotopic trend. A pronounced positive carbon‐isotope excursion (up to +4·3‰) is documented in the early Toarcian serpentinus biozone, which correlates with the Toarcian δ¹³C maximum reported in other European and Tethyan regions.     

Geoscientific maps for planning in semi-arid regions: Valencia and Gran Canaria, Spain

Two case studies of the application of geoscientific maps for planning in semi-arid regions are presented, one for the Mediterranean province of Valencia and another for the island of Gran Canaria (Canaries). Both regions are very dynamic from the point of view of population growth and urban-touristic-industrial development, and they suffer from a serious degree of environmental degradation. The provincial/ island governments have undertaken programmes of geoscientific mapping and assessment to serve as a basis for the establishment of guidelines for future planning.

Two map sets have been made (1:200,000 in Valencia and 1:50,000 in Gran Canaria), based on initial maps of homogeneous integrated units. These represent a series of hierarchical land subdivisions, progressively smaller and more detailed (morphodynamic environments, systems, units, elements), defined on the basis of morphostructure, climate, lithology, surficial deposits, landforms, topography, active processes, soils, vegetation and human influence.

Each individual map unit is described by means of a form which includes 114 items, summarising its environmental features.

Morphodynamic units have been evaluated in terms of qualities significant for planning, and a series of derivative maps has been developed (geologic hazards, soil capability, present degree of erosion, potential erodibility, quality for conservation).

A final map shows the most advisable types of uses and the main limitations for human activities, mainly due to engineering geological factors. This is a synthesis document which can be used directly by planners.     

Hydrological thresholds of soil surface properties identified using conditional inference tree analysis

There has been limited success in determining critical thresholds of ground cover or soil characteristics that relate to significant changes in runoff or sediment production at the microscale (<1 m²), particularly in semi‐arid systems where management of ground cover is critical. Despite this lack of quantified thresholds, there is an increasing research focus on the two‐phase mosaic of vegetation patches and inter‐patches in semi‐arid systems. In order to quantify ground cover and soil related thresholds for runoff and sediment production, we used a data mining technique known as conditional inference tree analysis to determine statistically significant values of a range of measured variables that predicted average runoff, peak runoff, sediment concentration and sediment production at the microscale. On Chromic Luvisols across a range of vegetation states in semi‐arid south‐eastern Australia, large changes in runoff and sediment production were related to a hierarchy of different variables and thresholds, but the percentage of bare soil played a primary role in predicting runoff and sediment production in most instances. The identified thresholds match well with previous thresholds found in semi‐arid and temperate regions (including the approximate values of 30%, 50% and 70% total ground cover). The analysis presented here identified the critical role of soil surface roughness, particularly where total ground cover is sparse. The analysis also provided evidence that a two‐phase mosaic of patches and inter‐patches identified via rapid visual assessment could be further delineated into distinct groups of hydrological response, or a multi‐phase rather than a two‐phase system. The approach used here may aid in assessing scale‐dependent responses and address data non‐linearity in studies of semi‐arid hydrology. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.