Schwertmannite stability in acidified coastal environments

A combination of analytical and field measurements has been used to probe the speciation and cycling of iron in coastal lowland acid sulfate soils. Iron K-edge EXAFS spectroscopy demonstrated that schwertmannite dominated (43-77%) secondary iron mineralization throughout the oxidized and acidified soil profile, while pyrite and illite were the major iron-bearing minerals in the reduced potential acid sulfate soil layers. Analyses of contemporary precipitates from shallow acid sulfate soil groundwaters indicated that 2-line ferrihydrite, in addition to schwertmannite, is presently controlling secondary Fe(III) mineralization. Although aqueous pH values and concentrations of Fe(II) were seasonally high, no evidence was obtained for the Fe(II)-catalyzed crystallization of either mineral to goethite. The results of this study indicate that: (a) schwertmannite is likely to persist in coastal lowland acid sulfate soils on a much longer time-scale than predicted by laboratory experiments; (b) this mineral is less reactive in these types of soils due to surface-site coverage by components such as silicate and possibly, to a lesser extent, natural organic matter and phosphate and; (c) active water table management to promote oxic/anoxic cycles around the Fe(II)-Fe(III) redox couple, or reflooding of these soils, will be ineffective in promoting the Fe(II)-catalyzed transformation of either schwertmannite or 2-line ferrihydrite to crystalline iron oxyhydroxides.     

Multi-stage hydrothermal processes involved in “low-sulfide” Cu(–Ni)–PGE mineralization in the footwall of the Sudbury Igneous Complex (Canada): Amy Lake PGE zone, East Range

The Amy Lake PGE zone is a “low-sulfide-type” Cu-(Ni-)PGE mineralization in the East Range footwall of the 1.85 Ga Sudbury Igneous Complex occurring in a 100-m-wide Sudbury Breccia belt that coincides with an impact-related major fracture zone (Bay Fault zone). Detailed hydrothermal alteration mapping, fluid inclusion, trace element, and stable isotope studies revealed a complex alteration and mineralization history in a multi-source, multi-stage Sudbury-related hydrothermal system. The two major stages of syn-Sudbury hydrothermal activity are characterized by similarly high-salinity, high-temperature fluids that are (1) locally derived from footwall granophyre bodies, and typified with high Ni/Cu and PGE/S ratios and high REE contents (magmatic–hydrothermal stage), and (2) a more voluminous Cu–Ni–PGE-rich fluid flux probably originated from the Sudbury Igneous Complex/footwall contact (hydrothermal stage). The second hydrothermal flux was introduced by brittle fractures in the area and resulted in a complex zonation of alteration assemblages and mineralization governed by local footwall composition. The Sudbury-related hydrothermal event was overprinted by shear-related epidote veining and calcite–chlorite replacement, both regionally present in the Sudbury structure. Based on analogies, the most important factors involved in the formation of hydrothermal low-sulfide mineralization are proposed to be (1) accumulation of PGE-enriched fluids, (2) large-scale brittle structures as conduits to these fluids, and (3) adequate host rock composition as a chemical trap resulting in sulfide and PGM precipitation. In environments meeting these criteria, hydrothermal PGE mineralization is known to have formed not only in the Sudbury footwall but also from mafic–ultramafic intrusions associated with primary magmatic PGE from several locations around the world.     

Base metals and other minor elements in the manganese deposits of west-central Arkansas

Manganese oxides from deposits in west-central Arkansas were analyzed by X-ray diffraction for mineralogy and by atomic absorption spectroscopy for Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Ni, Zn, V, Al, Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba. We report on 42 samples from 25 sites with more than 25 wt.% Mn and less than 7 wt.% Fe. Most samples were mixtures of two or more of the following minerals, many with concentric deposition: cryptomelane, lithiophorite, psilomelane and pyrolusite. In the purer samples of single minerals, lithiophorite contained the higher concentrations of total base metals (Co + Cu + Ni + Zn) than other minerals. In atom % of Mn these concentrations were: 9.51% in lithiophorite; 0.432% in psilomelane; and 0.275% in cryptomelane. The relative concentration of base metals in the pure minerals, proceeding from highest to lowest concentration, were: lithiophorite (Co = Cu > Ni > Zn); psilomelane (Co > Cu > Zn > Ni) and cryptomelane (Zn > Co = Cu > Ni).The concentration of Li correlates with the metals Al, Co, Cu, Ni and Zn, in the mineral samples containing measurable Li. Correlation coefficients (?) for Li with the various metals and sum of the base metals were: Al (? = 0.976); Co (? = 0.44); Ni (? = 0.954); Cu (? = 0.918); Zn (? = 0.875); and (Co + Cu + Ni + Zn) (? = 0.979). Li is believed to be a measure of lithiophorite. Correlation was found between Al content and base metal contents for all samples: Co (? = 0.354); Ni (? = 0.749); Cu (? = 0.808); Zn (? = 0.632); and (Co + Cu + Ni + Zn) (? = 0.884). The Al correlation extended to published values for these and the minerals hollandite and todorokite, except for Zn. Zn correlated with K in published analyses and in the eastern half of the study area where cryptomelane predominated.A mechanism is proposed to explain the enhancement by Al of base metal incorporation into manganese oxide minerals. The mechanism involves the isomorphous substitution of Al³⁺ for Mn⁴⁺ with charge neutralization by bivalent base metal ions.     

Experimental aqueous alteration of the Allende meteorite under oxidizing conditions: Constraints on asteroidal alteration

We have performed an experimental study of the aqueous alteration of the Allende CV3 carbonaceous chondrite under highly oxidizing conditions, in order to examine the alteration behavior of Allende’s anhydrous mineralogy. The experiments were carried out at temperatures of 100, 150, and 200 °C, for time periods between 7 and 180 days, with water/rock ratios ranging from 1:1 to 9:1. Uncrushed cubes of Allende were used so that the spatial relationships between reactant and product phases could be examined in detail. Scanning electron microscope studies show that in all the experiments, even those of short duration (7 days), soluble salts of Ca and Mg (CaSO₄, CaCO₃, and MgSO₄) precipitated on the sample surface, indicating that these elements are rapidly mobilized during alteration. In addition, iron oxides and hydroxides formed on the sample surfaces. The sulfates, carbonates, and the majority of the iron-bearing secondary minerals are randomly distributed over the surface of samples. In some instances the iron oxides and hydroxides are constrained to the boundaries of altering mineral grains. Transmission electron microscope studies show that the FeO-rich olivine in the interior of the samples has altered to form interlayered serpentine/saponite and Fe-oxyhydroxides. The degree of alteration increases significantly with increasing water/rock ratio, and to a lesser extent with increasing duration of heating. The serpentine/saponite forms both by direct replacement of the olivine in crystallographically oriented intergrowths, and by recrystallization of an amorphous Si-rich phase that precipitates in pore space between the olivine grains. The alteration assemblage bears many similarities to those found in altered carbonaceous chondrites, although in detail there are important differences, which we attribute to (a) the relatively high temperatures of our experiments and (b) comparatively short reaction times compared with the natural examples. In terms of mineral assemblage, our experiments most closely resemble alteration in the CI chondrites, although the degree of alteration of our experiments is much lower. CI chondrites contain serpentine/saponite intergrowths and veins of Ca-sulfate and Ca-carbonate as well as the Fe-oxyhydroxide, ferrihydrite. However, the phyllosilicate phases formed in our experiments are somewhat coarser-grained than the finest phyllosilicate fraction present in CI chondrites, suggesting that alteration of the CI chondrites occurred at lower temperatures. In terms of mineral assemblage, our experiments also appear to come close to matching CR chondrites, although we infer that CR alteration probably occurred at temperatures <100 °C, based on the very fine-grained size of phyllosilicates in CR matrices.     

The namurian succession between Tenby and Waterwynch,Pembrokeshire

Namurian cliff sections are described in detail. A minimum thickness of about 76 m is ascribed to Namurian A and 198 m and 104 m respectively to Namurian B and C. Faunal marker bands enable the Chokierian, Marsdenian and Yeadonian Stages to be recognised and the detailed structure to be worked out and this confirms the structural interpretation of Dixon. The succession is correlated and compared with adjacent areas in Pembrokeshire and South Wales. The Marsdenian includes a fauna of highly variable Sanguinolites. S. ovalis Hind is redescribed and a lectotype chosen.     

Characteristics of over-water surface stress during strex

Surface stress values obtained from the NOAA Ship OCEANOGRAPHER during STREX indicate that wind speed and stability dependent bulk derived stress values are two to three times too low in surface pre-frontal, pre-trough and pre-ridge regions of transiting synoptic systems. The measured stress values were based on calculations of turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates using hot film measured velocity variances. Bulk stress values obtained with wind speed (neutral drag coefficient) and stability dependencies in the Large and Pond derivation agreed very well with the measured values in other regions of the synoptic systems. In situ wave information was not adequate to relate differences to coupled vector wind and wave fields. However, analyses and interpretation of wind and stability effects suggest that wind wave interaction was the reason for the observed sub-synoptic (mesoscale) stress enhancements.     

观测序列的不均一性对估算北京和上海的平均温度与极端温度变化趋势的影响

根据北京和上海气象观测站的详细历史资料，修正了两站逐日温度序列的不均一性，并分析这种不均一性对长期气候变化趋势估计的影响。对北京序列，不同时期的主要修正幅度在－０．３３－０．６℃；对上海序列则为－０．３３－０．３℃。从逐日序列计算出年平均温度和年极端温度序列，并把修正之前和修正之后的序列趋势进行比较，修正之后的两站年平均温度序列自２０世纪初起呈现出０．５℃／百年的变暖趋势，自２０世纪６０年代起这一趋势增强为２．０℃／百年。相比之下，上海的未修正资料显示出两倍于此的趋势；北京的未修正资料几乎没有长期趋势，而对近期的变暖趋势则高估了５０％－３０％。北京温度序列在２０世纪４０年代至７０年代呈变冷趋势，极端事件的频率降低；此后又呈变暖趋势，极端事件的频率增加。上海温度极端事件的变化趋势基本呈相反趋。这意味着即使区域性平均温度变化一致，区域性强天气波动的变化趋势也会有所不同。     

A geomorphic analysis of Hale crater, Mars: The effects of impact into ice-rich crust

Hale crater, a 125 × 150 km impact crater located near the intersection of Uzboi Vallis and the northern rim of Argyre basin at 35.7°S, 323.6°E, is surrounded by channels that radiate from, incise, and transport material within Hale’s ejecta. The spatial and temporal relationship between the channels and Hale’s ejecta strongly suggests the impact event created or modified the channels and emplaced fluidized debris flow lobes over an extensive area (>200,000 km²). We estimate ∼10¹⁰ m³ of liquid water was required to form some of Hale’s smaller channels, a volume we propose was supplied by subsurface ice melted and mobilized by the Hale-forming impact. If 10% of the subsurface volume was ice, based on a conservative porosity estimate for the upper martian crust, 10¹² m³ of liquid water could have been present in the ejecta. We determine a crater-retention age of 1 Ga inside the primary cavity, providing a minimum age for Hale and a time at which we propose the subsurface was volatile-rich. Hale crater demonstrates the important role impacts may play in supplying liquid water to the martian surface: they are capable of producing fluvially-modified terrains that may be analogous to some landforms of Noachian Mars.     

New Notodelphyidae (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) from solitary ascidians

Samples of simple ascidians of the genera Asterocarpa, Cnemidocarpa, Corella, and Pyura were collected from Wellington Harbour, New Zealand (41°16'S, 174° 51'E) and three species of the crustacean family Notodelphyidae were recovered, all from the branchial baskets of the ascidians.

Pygodelphys novaeseelandiae (Schellenberg), and two new species of Doropygus, are described and illustrated.     

Enzyme variation in marine and estuarine populations of a mud crab,Macrophthalmus hirtipes (Ocypodidae)

Protein and enzyme variation in 2 populations of the mud crab Macrophthalmus hirtipes (Jacquinot, 1853) (Ocypodidae) from 1 marine and 1 estuarine habitat were investigated by poly‐acrylamide gel electrophoresis. A survey of 24 loci revealed that 22 were common to both populations; 20 were monomorphic and 2 were highly polymorphic. Two alleles were detected for each of the polymorphic loci, esterase‐2 (EST‐2) and ester‐ase‐3 (EST‐3). The frequencies of the EST‐3 alleles were similar in the 2 populations. However, the frequencies of the 2 EST‐2 alleles in the estuarine population were significantly different from those for the marine population. Expression of 1 locus, esterase‐4 (EST‐4) was confined to the estuarine population. Two alkaline phosphatase loci (AKPH‐1 and AKPH‐2) were detected in the estuarine population, but only AKPH‐1 was found in the marine population. EST‐4 and AKPH‐2 were neither sex nor age specific. These interpopulational genetic differences may reflect differences in environmental conditions measured between the 2 habitats.