Mineral chemistry of gersdorffite – A powerful tool in the differentiation of hydrothermal systems

Gersdorffite from two mineralization types (post-Variscan vein deposits, strata-bound mineralization) was investigated in the Niederberg area Rhenish Massif. In the ternary Ni–Co–Fe space gersdorffite from post-Variscan vein deposits displays a tight cluster with the highest Ni-contents ranging from 0.825 to 0.962 atoms per formula unit (a.p.f.u.). As/S ratios comprise a narrow range from 0.875 to 1.012. In contrast gersdorffite from the strata-bound mineralization displays a substitutional trend. Co and Fe substitute for Ni in a ± fixed ratio. Ni ranges between 0.494 and 0.836 a.p.f.u. As/S ratios (1.025–1.211) display a wider range and indicate higher As-contents relative to gersdorffite from post-Variscan vein deposits. Based on these results, two different hydrothermal fluid systems can be identified in the Niederberg area forming gersdorffite in both mineralization types. The hydrothermal fluids circulating in the post-Variscan vein deposits were homogeneous (high Ni-activities, lower As fugacities) and mixing occurred far away from the site of deposition whereas the fluids of the strata-bound mineralization were more heterogeneous (decreasing Ni-activities) with moderate elevated As fugacities. With respect to the post-Variscan vein deposits in the Niederberg area the results are compatible with earlier findings.Comparison with available gersdorffite analyses from adjacent areas (borehole Viersen, Ramsbeck deposit) reveal that gersdorffite compositions provide a reliable tool in distinguishing between different hydrothermal systems on a regional scale in the northern Rhenish Massif. However, gersdorffite compositions cannot be used to discriminate between Variscan and post-Variscan deposits with confidence.The country rocks in the Niederberg area are possible sources for Ni, Co and Fe during gersdorffite formation of the strata-bound mineralization. However, due to the remarkable homogeneity of gersdorffite compositions of the post-Variscan vein deposits irrespective of age and composition of the immediate adjacent host-rocks it is assumed that these host-rocks are not the source of the metals. Reduced Zechstein sulfate is assumed to be the source of sulfur. The As source remains unknown.Due to conflicting experimental data concerning the gersdorffite solid solution field it is not possible to derive reliable formation temperatures for the strata-bound mineralization. However, gersdorffite compositions of the post-Variscan vein deposits are compatible with low formation temperatures (<300 °C) in accordance with earlier findings.     

Atmospheric Circulation Changes in Response to an Observed Stratospheric Zonal Ozone Anomaly

Abstract

In a sensitivity study, the influence of an observed stratospheric zonal ozone anomaly on the atmospheric circulation was investigated using the Fifth Generation European Centre Hamburg Model (ECHAM5) which is a general circulation model. The model was run from 1960 to 1999 (40 years) with a mean seasonal cycle of zonally symmetric ozone. In order to isolate the induced dynamical influence of the observed zonally asymmetric part of the three-dimensional stratospheric ozone, a second run was performed for the boreal extratropics using prescribed monthly means from the 40-year reanalysis dataset from the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ERA-40). The main findings are the interdecadal westward shift of the polar vortex at about 65°N and a significant increase in the number of stratospheric sudden warmings during the 1980–99 period. Under the action of zonally asymmetric ozone a decrease in the Arctic Oscillation was identified between the mid-1980s and the mid-1990s. The lag correlation between the mean Arctic Oscillation at the surface and the daily stratospheric northern annular mode increased in mid-winter. Furthermore, we examined the influence of the stratospheric zonal ozone anomaly on Rossby wave breaking in the upper troposphere and found a significant westward shift of poleward Rossby wave breaking events over western Europe in the winter. By this we show that the stratospheric zonal ozone anomaly has a strong influence on the tropospheric circulation as a result of enhanced dynamical coupling processes.     

Die Bedeutung des Austausches für die Entwicklung des Phytoplanktons in den Ostalpenseen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Cadmium,lead, copper,and zinc in Elminius modestus Darwin (Crustacea,Cirripedia) from Waitemata and Manukau Harbours,Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract

Concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) were measured in adult barnacles (Elminius modestus Darwin) from Waitemata and Manukau Harbours in the Auckland area, New Zealand. As in studies on sediments reported in the literature, it was possible to identify areas of likely anthropogenic influence, e.g., around the Auckland Harbour Bridge for Pb, Cu, and Zn. Groups of individuals with highest concentrations for these metals showed 19.8–23.8 mg Pb kg^?1, 198–266 mg Cu kg^?1, and 4460–6530 mg Zn kg^?1 (95% confidence limits, dry weight basis). Cd concentrations found for all barnacles from the Auckland area ranged from 0.8 to 3.1 mg kg^?1. Two samples from Omaha Beach, 60 km north of Auckland, were used as a reference. Accordingly, groups of individuals with lowest concentrations for Pb, Cu, and Zn could be allocated to this site using the Student‐Newman‐Keuls Multiple Range Test (0.5–1.3 mg Pb kg^?1, 8–10 mg Cu kg^?1, and 144–214 mg Zn kg^?1 ; 95% confidence limits). Only Cd concentrations were highest at Omaha Beach (8.6–12.1 mg Cd kg^?1 ). This result may have arisen from “naturally” increased bio‐availabilities of certain metals in mangrove systems which are reported in the literature. Generally, metal concentrations in barnacles from the Auckland Harbour area and from Omaha Beach were within the wider range for E. modestus as well as other barnacle species reported in the international literature.     

A Basic Water Quality Model for the River Neckar: Part 2 – model‐based analysis of the oxygen budget and scenarios

In this paper the Basic Water Quality Model (BWQM) for the central part of River Neckar is used to analyse the oxygen budget and to assess the potentials of various measures to prevent or mitigate critical dissolved oxygen (DO) declines. It is shown that the oxygen budget is mainly governed by phytoplankton dynamics. The excessive growth of algae and the sudden break down of the resulting algal blooms may cause episodic DO depressions. Therefore, to stabilise the oxygen budget in a sustainable way, eutrophication has to be controlled within the central part of River Neckar and the upstream regions. The only feasible way to reach this goal appears to be a further drastic reduction of phosphorus emissions. In addition, it is indispensable to hold the very high standards of biochemical oxygen demand and ammonium retention at the wastewater treatment plants. A worse performance of the treatment plants would dramatically aggravate critical DO declines which may be caused by algae dynamics. As long as the oxygen budget is not completely stabilised, weir and turbine aeration can be used to mitigate DO depressions. It could be shown that the potentials of these measures suffice to keep DO at a tolerable level. However, due to the long travel times in River Neckar, it is important to start aeration up to several days before the DO minimum is reached.     

Global Martian surface structure and planetary evolution

A model is outlined shortly that explains the Martian surface asymmetry on the basis of interior processes.     

Thermal neutron capture effects in radioactive and stable nuclide systems

Neutron capture effects in meteorites and lunar surface samples have been successfully used in the past to study exposure histories and shielding conditions. In recent years, however, it turned out that neutron capture effects produce a nuisance for some of the short‐lived radionuclide systems. The most prominent example is the ¹⁸²Hf‐¹⁸²W system in iron meteorites, for which neutron capture effects lower the ¹⁸²W/¹⁸⁴W ratio, thereby producing too old apparent ages. Here, we present a thorough study of neutron capture effects in iron meteorites, ordinary chondrites, and carbonaceous chondrites, whereas the focus is on iron meteorites. We study in detail the effects responsible for neutron production, neutron transport, and neutron slowing down and find that neutron capture in all studied meteorite types is not, as usually expected, exclusively via thermal neutrons. In contrast, most of the neutron capture in iron meteorites is in the epithermal energy range and there is a significant contribution from epithermal neutron capture even in stony meteorites. Using sophisticated particle spectra and evaluated cross section data files for neutron capture reactions we calculate the neutron capture effects for Sm, Gd, Cd, Pd, Pt, and Os isotopes, which all can serve as neutron‐dose proxies, either in stony or in iron meteorites. In addition, we model neutron capture effects in W and Ag isotopes. For W isotopes, the GCR‐induced shifts perfectly correlate with Os and Pt isotope shifts, which therefore can be used as neutron‐dose proxies and permit a reliable correction. We also found that GCR‐induced effects for the ¹⁰⁷Pd‐¹⁰⁷Ag system can be significant and need to be corrected, a result that is in contrast to earlier studies.