Accessory minerals of the Cínovec (Zinnwald) granite cupola, Czech Republic: indicators of petrogenetic evolution

Summary A fully cored drillhole was drilled to 1596m by the Czech Geological Survey in 1961–1963 in the central part of the Cínovec (Zinnwald) granite cupola. Two types of granite were intersected: zinnwaldite granite (ZG), observed down to a depth of 730m, and protolithionite granite (PG), occurring to the end of the hole. The core was used to study the distribution and chemistry of: zircon, thorite, xenotime, monazite, bastnäsite, synchysite, REE oxyfluorides and hydroxyfluorides. Zircon occurs throughout the drillcore; it is strongly hydrated and fluorinated with about 18.5wt.% H₂O content in the apical part of the cupola. Its F-content reaches 2.41wt.%. Within the PG, the F concentration in zircon is low. Zircon is poor in Th and U and its HfO₂ contents vary from 1.01 to 5.24wt.%. Thorite is common in the PG, becoming rare in the ZG. It is strongly hydrated (up to 14wt.% H₂O) and fluorinated (up to 2.04wt.% F). Extensive solid solution between ThSiO₄ and YPO₄ was observed. Xenotime is strongly hydrated (up to 16wt.% H₂O), but its F content is low (<0.31wt.%). Two types of monazite were identified: Th-rich (up to 9.3wt.% ThO₂) in the ZG, and Th-poor (<2.5wt.% ThO₂) in the PG. Monazite remained stable during the hydration and fluorination process. Its REE chondrite-normalized distribution patterns show negative anomalies for La and Nd and a pronounced negative anomaly for Eu. Chemical compositions of several REE oxyfluorides and hydroxyfluorides were studied. REE fluorocarbonates are represented by bastnäsite and synchysite. Bastnäsite is abundant in the ZG. Its chondrite-normalized REE patterns are characterized by an important negative Eu anomaly and downward kinks at La and Nd. Synchysite-(Ce) and synchysite-(Y) are particularly well developed in the deeper parts of the cupola, and exhibit REE distribution patterns characterized by a weak negative Eu anomaly (synchysite-(Ce)), or a weak positive Eu anomaly (synchysite-(Y)).The distribution of accessory minerals reveals five major evolution stages: (1) Early magmatic crystallization of albite and orthoclase. (2) A late magmatic stage comprising protolithionite, quartz, accessory zircon, thorite, xenotime and monazite. (3) Interaction of this magmatic association with a fluid phase rich in F, CO₂ and H₂O, leading to the transformation protolithionite zinnwaldite and to the remobilisation of Nb, Ta, Ti, W, Sn. Accessory minerals formed during stage (2) were hydrated and fluorinated, except monazite. (4) The transfer of volatiles into the apical part of the cupola followed by the opening of the magmatic system generated microgranites and hydrolysis-type reactions leading to the appearance of REE oxyfluorides and hydroxyfluorides. (5) A late CO₂- and F-rich fluid phase was responsible for the deposition of REE fluorocarbonates. Monazite and xenotime became unstable in the apical part of the cupola. An influx of fluids with high Ca-activity occurred late during stage (5) and led to the formation of synchysite, and finally to the extensive precipitation of fluorite.     

Colloidal rare earth elements in a boreal river: Changing sources and distributions during the spring flood

Variations in the physico-chemical speciation of the rare earth elements (REE) have been investigated in a subarctic boreal river during an intense spring flood event using prefiltered (<100 μm) samples, cross-flow (ultra)filtration (CFF), flow field-flow fractionation (FlFFF), and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT). This combination of techniques has provided new information regarding the release and transport of the REE in river water. The colloidal material can be described in terms of two fractions dominated by carbon and iron, respectively. These two fractions, termed colloidal carrier phases, showed significant temporal changes in concentration and size distribution. Before the spring flood, colloidal carbon concentrations were low, the colloids being dominated by relatively large iron colloids. Colloidal concentrations increased sharply during the spring flood, with smaller carbon colloids dominating. Following the spring flood, colloidal concentrations decreased again, smaller carbon colloids still dominating. The REE are transported mainly in the particulate and colloidal phases. Before the spring flood, the REE composition of all measured fractions was similar to local till. During the spring flood, the REE concentrations in the colloidal and particulate fractions increased. The increase was most marked for the lighter REE, which therefore showed a strong enrichment when normalized to local till. Following the spring flood, the REE concentrations decreased again and reverted to a distribution similar to local till. These changes in the concentration and distributions of carbon iron and REE are interpreted in terms of changing hydrological flow paths in soil and bedrock which occur during the spring flood.     

Local mobility and the spatial dynamics of measles in a rural area of Kenya

Population mobility at different scales is important in the analysis of contagious diseases. The role of local mobility among young children is related to spatial and temporal patterns of measles in part of rural Kenya. The dynamics of measles are examined over a period of 3 1/2 years, during which there were two epidemics; the path of the second of these epidemics is studied, using a spatial averaging technique (the centroid). Limited local mobility of children under the age of five, related to low levels of susceptibility provides a probable explanation of the slow diffusion of measles epidemics.This paper is reprinted from Rural Africana, Spring 1981, with the kind permission of the Editors.     

Short gravity waves on steady non-uniform currents obtained through up-/downwelling

Small amplitude water waves propagating in a medium with a steady non-uniform current are investigated. The non-uniform current is obtained by up- or downwelling through the horizontal bed. A new locally valid velocity potential correct to the second order is derived describing the combined wave–current motion. From this solution expressions for the local evolution of the wave amplitude and the wave number are extracted. These expressions are compared with the results found using the principle of wave action conservation and the linear dispersion relation, and good agreement is found at small distances compared to the wavelength. Unlike earlier works there is no restriction to deep water. The results valid for deep water are found as a special case of the general solution and agree with the solution found by Longuet-Higgins, M.S. and Stewart, R.W. (1961) The changes in amplitude of short gravity waves on steady non-uniform currents. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 10(4), 529–549. Furthermore, it is shown that the principle of wave action conservation in fact holds for waves propagating in a medium with a steady non-uniform current maintained by up-/downwelling also on finite depth.     

Magnesium isotopes constraints on the origin of Mg-rich olivines from the Allende chondrite: Nebular versus planetary?

High precision Mg isotope measurements by multi-collector ion microprobe show that refractory olivines from the Allende chondrite, either olivines isolated in the matrix (2 samples studied) or olivines in type I chondrules (6 samples studied), have variable δ²⁶Mg* enrichments and deficits (calculated in permil as the ²⁶Mg deviation from the instrumental mass fractionation line) relative to the Earth. Most average δ²⁶Mg* (noted δ²⁶Mg*_av) values (between 10 and 20 analyses per chondrule) are negative but the total range is from ?0.029 (± 0.010) ‰ (2 sigma errors) to + 0.011 (± 0.011) ‰ with an exception of one olivine at + 0.043 (± 0.023) ‰. These variations in δ²⁶Mg*_av reflect the formation of the olivines from reservoirs enriched in various amounts of ²⁶Mg by the decay of short-lived ²⁶Al (T_1/2 = 0.73 Ma). Similarly, 30 analyses of olivines from the Eagle Station pallasite show a δ²⁶Mg*_av value of ?0.033 ± 0.008‰, as negative as some olivines from Allende chondrules and the Solar system initial δ²⁶Mg* value of ?0.038 ± 0.004‰ (defined at the time of formation of type B Ca–Al-rich inclusions – CAIs – when ²⁶Al/²⁷Al = 5.23 × 10^?5, Jacobsen et al., 2008).Because olivines are Al-poor and because their Mg isotopic compositions are not reset during the chondrule forming events, their δ²⁶Mg*_av can be used to calculate model crystallization ages relative to various theoretical Mg isotope growth curves. The two end-member scenarios considered are (i) a “nebular” growth in which the Al/Mg ratio remains chondritic and (ii) a “planetary” growth in which a significant increase of the Al/Mg ratio can be due to, for instance, olivine magmatic fractionation. The low δ²⁶Mg*_av value of olivines from the Eagle Station pallasite demonstrate that metal-silicate differentiation occurred as early as ~ 0. 15_- 0. 23^+ 0. 29 Ma after CAIs in either of the growth scenarios. Similarly the variable δ²⁶Mg*_av values of refractory olivines can be understood if they were formed in planetesimals which started to differentiate as early as the Eagle Station parent body. Accretion of these planetesimals must have been coeval to the formation of CAIs and their disruption could explain why their fragments (Mg-rich olivines) were distributed in the chondrule forming regions of the disk.     

Large-scale oil-in-ice experiment in the Barents Sea: monitoring of oil in water and MetOcean interactions

A large-scale field experiment took place in the marginal ice zone in the Barents Sea in May 2009. Fresh oil (7000 L) was released uncontained between the ice floes to study oil weathering and spreading in ice and surface water. A detailed monitoring of oil-in-water and ice interactions was performed throughout the six-day experiment. In addition, meteorological and oceanographic data were recorded for monitoring of the wind speed and direction, air temperature, currents and ice floe movements. The monitoring showed low concentrations of dissolved hydrocarbons and the predicted acute toxicity indicated that the acute toxicity was low. The ice field drifted nearly 80 km during the experimental period, and although the oil drifted with the ice, it remained contained between the ice floes.     

Fine sediment dynamics in a shallow lake and implication for design of hydraulic works

Lake Markermeer is a large (680?km²), shallow body of water in the middle of the Netherlands, with a mean water depth of 3.6?m. One of the major problems in the lake is its decreasing ecological value which is, among other reasons, caused by a gradual increase of suspended sediment concentration and associated increase of light attenuation in the water column. A thorough understanding of fine sediment dynamics in the lake is a prerequisite for solving this problem. This paper addresses the 3D nature of near-bed sediment dynamics in Lake Markermeer, based on data sampled from a 1-month field experiment in autumn 2007. The campaign involved the collection of 71 bed samples across the lake. At each location, dual-frequency echo soundings were carried out to assess the thickness of the silt layer, and sediment concentration throughout the water column was measured with an Optical Backscatter Sensor (OBS). Moreover, 2-week time series of wave height, water level, current velocities, and near-bed sediment concentration were collected at a single location. The time series of sediment concentration were measured with a regular OBS and an Argus Surface Meter IV (ASM). During the measurement period, flow velocities ranged between 2 and 15?cm/s, wave heights up to 1.2?m were observed and turbidity levels varied between 40?mg/l to more than 300?mg/l. The ASM data generally showed uniform concentration profiles. However, profiles with steep concentration gradients near the bed were found for wave heights above 0.5?m. The field experiments further revealed pronounced 3D structures near the bed during discrete storms. The results are generalized for a wider range of conditions and across the full water depth through application of a 1DV point model, using a two-fraction representation of the grain size distribution. The fine and coarse fractions are found to resuspend rapidly for wind speeds above 5?m/s and 10??2?m/s, respectively, forming a uniform concentration profile if these wind conditions persists. High-concentration (???g/l) layers near the bed, containing the coarse sediment fraction, only occur at the onset and towards the end of a storm, when wind speed changes rapidly. It is under these conditions that horizontal gradients in layer density or thickness can transport considerable fine sediment. This transport provides an additional mechanism for the infill of, for instance, silt traps and navigation channels.     

Sources and distributions of tetraether lipids in surface sediments across a large river-dominated continental margin

Glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT)-based proxies are increasingly used in modern carbon cycling and palaeoenvironmental investigations. It is therefore crucial to examine the robustness (sources, transport and degradation) of all GDGT-based proxies in continental margins, where sedimentation rates and extent of carbon cycling are high. We have analyzed the distributions of GDGTs in surface sediments from the Lower Yangtze River and East China Sea (ECS) shelf. The results revealed multiple sources and complex shelf processes that govern the distributions. The isoprenoid GDGT-inferred sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are robust and reflect the satellite-derived annual mean SSTs on the shallow ECS shelf, confirming an origin from surface water column-dwelling crenarchaeota. The input from methanogen-sourced, isoprenoid GDGTs is significant in the river surface sediments but they are almost absent from the ECS shelf. Branched GDGTs are also abundant in the river sediments, but ca. 95% are degraded in the Yangtze estuary, a much greater extent than observed for other terrigenous organic matter (OM) proxies. There is also evidence for production of branched GDGTs in the oxic ECS shelf water column and the anoxic sediments/waters of the Lower Yangtze River. As a result, branched GDGT-based proxies in the lower river and ECS surface sediments do not reflect the catchment environmental conditions. The effective degradation in the estuary and widespread aquatic contributions of branched GDGTs improves our understanding of how to use branched GDGT-based proxies in marginal seas.