Electron microscopic observations of shale diagenesis, offshore Louisiana, USA, Gulf of Mexico

Scanning and transmission electron microscopic analyses of shale samples from offshore Louisiana, USA, Gulf of Mexico, reveal the relationship between mineralogical and microfabric changes during burial diagenesis. The local geopressured zone begins at 2200-m depth. Above that depth the shales are smectite-rich, generally lack particle orientation, and contain appreciable pores. Below the 2200-m depth, the shales become more illite-rich with increasing burial, more crystalline, and less porous. Microfabric changes are mainly caused by compaction during burial diagenesis; mineralogical changes (smectite-to-illite) and crystal growth also play an important role in fabric alteration during deep burial diagenesis.     

MegaZ-LRG: a photometric redshift catalogue of one million SDSS luminous red galaxies

We describe the construction of MegaZ-LRG, a photometric redshift catalogue of over one million luminous red galaxies (LRGs) in the redshift range  0.4 < z < 0.7  with limiting magnitude   i < 20  . The catalogue is selected from the imaging data of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 4. The 2dF-SDSS LRG and Quasar (2SLAQ) spectroscopic redshift catalogue of 13 000 intermediate-redshift LRGs provides a photometric redshift training set, allowing use of ann z, a neural network-based photometric-redshift estimator. The rms photometric redshift accuracy obtained for an evaluation set selected from the 2SLAQ sample is  σ _z = 0.049  averaged over all galaxies, and  σ _z = 0.040  for a brighter subsample  ( i < 19.0)  . The catalogue is expected to contain ∼5 per cent stellar contamination. The ann z code is used to compute a refined star/galaxy probability based on a range of photometric parameters; this allows the contamination fraction to be reduced to 2 per cent with negligible loss of genuine galaxies. The MegaZ-LRG catalogue is publicly available on the World Wide Web from http://www.2slaq.info .     

Epithermal gold mineralisation in the active Aegean Volcanic Arc: the Profitis Ilias deposit, Milos Island, Greece

The Profitis Ilias gold deposit, located on the western part of Milos Island, Greece, is the first epithermal gold deposit discovered in the Pliocene–Pleistocene Aegean volcanic arc. Estimated ore reserves are 5 million tonnes grading 4.4 g/tonne Au and 43 g/tonne Ag. The deposit is closely associated with a horst and graben structure, and occurs in a series of steep interconnected crustiform-banded quartz veins up to 3 m wide, extending to depths of at least 300 m. The mineralisation occurs in three stages and is hosted by 3.5–2.5 Ma old silicified and sericitised rhyolitic lapilli-tuffs and ignimbrites. It consists of pyrite, galena, chalcopyrite, electrum and native gold. Additionally, adularia occurs with quartz mainly in veins. Homogenisation temperatures of primary liquid-rich inclusions vary from 145 to 399 °C for the ore stage, and 112 to 263 °C for the post-ore stage. Salinities range between 0.1 and 11.4 wt% NaCl equiv. and 0.93 to 8.5 wt% NaCl equiv. for the ore stage and the post-ore stage, respectively. Rare vapour-rich inclusions in ore stage quartz homogenise between 368 and 399 °C and estimates of eutectic melting (−25 to −38 °C) indicate the presence of Ca and Mg in the ore fluids. Sample elevation versus fluid inclusion T_h–salinity relationships show (1) a high-salinity trend, where moderate-temperature (300–250 °C) and moderate-salinity brines (∼3 wt% NaCl equiv.) trend to high-salinity (up to 15 wt% NaCl equiv.) fluids with lower (∼25–50 °C) homogenisation temperatures, and (2) a high-T_h trend where moderate-salinity and moderate-temperature brines (200–250 °C; 3 wt% NaCl equiv.) develop into low-salinity (<1 wt% NaCl equiv.), high-temperature (>350 °C) fluids. These trends are best explained by extreme boiling and vapourisation phenomena between 200 and 250 °C. The 430–450 m asl (metres above sea level) level marks the transition between a lower liquid-dominated segment of the system where only the steep high-salinity trend is seen, and an upper vapour-dominated segment where the high-T_h trend or a combination of both are seen. There is a close spatial association between mineable gold grades and the upper segment of the system. Depth-to-boiling curves suggest that the paleo-surface was ∼200 m above the present summit of Profitis Ilias. Comparison of the mineralisation and fluid geochemistry at Profitis Ilias with that of the nearby modern geothermal system indicates that the processes of metal mineralisation have probably been continuous since the Late Pliocene. Received: 24 February 2000 / Accepted: 15 July 2000     

The relationship between indigenous pastoralist resource tenure and state tenure in Somalia

Indigenous resource tenure systems in Africa have evolved to meet the constraints and opportunities of often difficult biophysical environments, while facilitating the operation of complex spatial and temporal land use patterns. Traditional systems provide security of tenure in culturally relevant ways that permit adaptation to new circumstances. On the other hand imposed tenure structures in Africa have often not strengthened individual rights and have often blocked indigenous tenure development and adaption in response to new situations.Pastoralists in Africa have in particular been negatively impacted by the imposition of national tenure systems which in many cases have served to marginalize nomadic populations, with repercussions in land degradation, food security, and instability.In Somalia the transient resource rights and resource use arrangements that are critical to transhumant pastoralism were ignored in the formulation of the national tenure regime which favored crop cultivation. The results were increased land degradation, resource use conflicts, declines in pastoral production, and impacts on Somali clan alliances which in many cases regulate rational resource access and use.Somalia possesses the greatest proportion of pastoralists in Africa. Transhumant pastoralism, as the most widespread agricultural enterprise in the country, will play a critical role in food production for the foreseeable future. However, the relationship between indigenous pastoralist tenure and state imposed tenure has, in many locations decreased the ability of pastoralism to reproduce itself, thereby compromising the rational utilization of very large areas of rangeland interior, which have very few alternative uses.     

Responses of arid and semiarid watersheds to increasing carbon dioxide and climate change as shown by simulation studies

The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide is expected to double in the next century causing increased temperatures and decreasing precipitation in some regions of the U.S. The increase in CO₂ will also directly affect stomatal conductance of plants. At the first-order watershed scale, changes in evaporative demand, transpiration, and runoff will also occur. Previous modeling studies of the effect of increased CO₂ on the water budgets of watersheds have been single-factor exercises where a single parameter representing stomatal conductance was reduced and the results noted. After showing validation results of the hydrology module, we used a comprehensive ecosystem model to examine the consequences of changes in precipitation, temperature, and CO₂-induced plant-function characteristics on small-basin runoff. As a result of the complex interactions and of the compensatory mechanisms simulated by the model, we conclude that for arid and semiarid watersheds of the western United States, there will be little change or an actual decrease in surface runoff because of increased CO₂ and climate change. This is due to the decrease in precipitation imposed on the model simulations. Implementing stomatal closure in the model did not increase runoff from the watersheds when temperatures were increased and precipitation decreased.     

Preliminary study of the redistribution and transformation of HgS from cinnabar mine tailings deposited in Honda Bay, Palawan, Philippines

Mining operations in Palawan, Philippines, resulted in cinnabar (HgS) mine tailings being used to build a 600 m long peninsula in Honda Bay. Samples collected from the peninsula as well as sediments from the surrounding waters had elevated mercury levels as high as 570 ppm. Natural processes are transporting mercury as much as 10 km from the peninsula, mainly in a coastwise direction, and preferentially associated with fine-grained, organic-rich sediments. Depth of penetration into sediments exceeds 10 cm near the source. As the HgS is transported away from the peninsula, it is rapidly altered to more bioavailable forms; 50% conversion occurs within a distance of only 10–40 m.     

Water quality, phosphorus input reductions, analytical methods and lake internal/self-purification measures: A case study of lake Frøylandsvatn, Norway

Lake Frøylandsvatn is a shallow eutrophic lake which has frequent blooms of various species of blue-green algae, often producing toxins. The lake receives heavy nutrient loads, mainly from agriculture, as well as a large internal load from its own sediments. It also shows several signs of being an unbalanced ecosystem. It has been calculated that phosphorus and chlorophyll levels need to be reduced by approximately 50% to improve the water quality enough for swimming. The analysis presented here makes it possible to compare the cost-effectiveness of different measures, including both catchment area and lake-internal methods. In addition to conventional means of reducing phosphorus pollution caused by agricultural activities and sewage, other measures, including biomanipulation and self-purification processes through artificial ponds and wetlands, will be necessary to achieve the ambitious goal that has been set.     

The effect of the seawater cooling system of a nuclear generating station on the growth of mussels in experimental populations

In order to determine the effects of the effluent of a nuclear generating station on the growth of mussels, replicate experimental populations of Mytilus edulis were suspended from buoys located various distances upcoast and downcoast from the outfall of the cooling system and from buoys in a control area 13 km downcoast. Experiments were conducted for periods of one, two, and four months when the plant was pumping heated effluent and for similar periods when the pumps were operating intermittently and the effluent was not heated. Significant positive linear trends of growth with distance from the outfall were observed during all experiments. In contrast, a significant relationship of growth relative to the origin of the array of stations at the control site was observed only once. These results demonstrate that the cooling system caused a decrease in the growth of mussels in the vicinity of the outfall, and that factors other than heat were responsible for this reduced growth.     

Rare-earth element fractionation and petrogenetic modelling in charnockitic rocks,southwest Norway

Quantitative analysis of REE distribution in differentiated, clearly intrusive charnockites from southwest Norway, reveal extreme variation in both absolute abundances and fractionation patterns. The pyroxene-bearing, charnockitic facies show uniform REE patterns with slight enrichment of the light-REE (about 150x chondrites) and positive, neutral or negative Eu-anomalies. Subsequent amphibole-bearing, adamellitic facies show progressive, preferential enrichment of light-REE, reaching La-values higher than 500x chondrites, and increasingly negative Euanomalies. Finally, highly differentiated biotite-granites show a marked depletion of ight-REE, ending with chondrite-normalized La/Lu ratios about 1 and Eu/ Eu^* ratios less than 0.2.Using geochemical model calculation, relating major element variations between three main stages of differentiation in terms of refractory mineral assemblages, stepwise quantitative modelling of the REE distributions reproduces the observed changes, and support an origin of the charnockite series as progressively fractionated residual liquids.Close similarity with the REE patterns of charnockite-rapakivi suites elsewhere implies that these may constitute a series of co-magmatic rocks, derived from related more basic source magmas. The fact that the least differentiated members of the series, the charnockites, generally display remarkably uniform REE-patterns, suggests that they equilibrated with a refractory crystal fraction that produces a uniform, bulk partition coefficient. The present analysis suggests that this would be plagioclase and orthopyroxene in a ratio of about 41 and including minor apatite, which in turn points towards affinity with potentially plagioclase-rich cumulates.     

A detailed paleomagnetic survey of the type location for the Gilsa geomagnetic polarity event

A total of 163 cores have been taken from a maximum of 40 separate lavas in three separate sections of the Jökuldalur, southwest of Egilsstadir, Iceland, and subjected to paleomagnetic analysis and some K-Ar dating. Previous work on the sections by McDougall and Wensink (1966) led to the establishment of the Gilságeomagnetic polarity event, with an age of about 1.60 m.y., during the reversed polarity Matuyama epoch. This earlier study described a possible reversely magnetized lava separating the Gilsáevent from a second normal polarity lava, perhaps representing the Olduvai event. Such a possibility was subsequently a source of speculation from diverse sources concerning the polarity history for the lower Matuyama. The present study indicates clearly that there is no second normal polarity event represented in the sections. Only one normal polarity event is therefore represented in the lower Matuyama of the Jökuldalur, and the age of the lavas involved is confirmed to be approximately 1.58 ± 0.08 m.y. Because of uncertainties in the interpretation of the original K-Ar results from Olduvai Gorge, it is still not possible to be certain that the Olduvai and Gilsáevents are separated in time. An incidental result of the survey is evidence to show that, contrary to recent suggestions by Einarsson (1972), there is no substantial hiatus between the major lower parts of the section and lavas believed to represent extrusions after a regional tilting and peneplanation.