Nature of the carbon and sulfur phases and inorganic gases in the Kenna ureilite

Abundances of carbon and sulfur in the Kenna ureilite are 2.219 ± 0.060 wt. % C and 0.179 ± 0.008 wt. % S. Secondary carbonates resulting from terrestrial weathering account for 0.25 ± 0.02 wt. % C. No hydrocarbons were detected during gas release measurements. Most of the carbon is in graphite, diamond, or lonsdaleite. The sample of Kenna contained 0.95 ± 0.05 wt. % H₂O. Total carbon and sulfur measurements were made on three additional ureilites: Haverö, Dingo Pup Donga, and North Haig. Ureilite carbon abundances are similar to those of C-2 chondrites, whereas sulfur abundances are a factor of 10 less than C-2 chondrites and ordinary chondrites. The elemental abundances, ratios, and phases present in the ureilites rule out a direct genetic relationship between the ureilites and the carbonaceous chondrites.     

Toxicity of No. 2 fuel oil to coon stripe shrimp

Bioassay of a No. 2 fuel oil dispersion with shrimp in a continuous flow system using measured waterborne oil as the indicator of oil concentrations reveals a treatment more definable than those previously described in terms of volume ratios and produces lower lethal concentrations. Shrimp 96-h LC₅₀ was 0.8 mg/l in this study as compared to values from 1.5 to 50 mg/l reported for other methods. Mean concentrations in tests do not give significant differences in concentration with respect to day of the test or spatial distribution in the exposure tanks.     

Sea surface stress measurements

Sea-surface stress measurements were made from a rigid tower in shallow water near San Diego, California, by both the direct covariance and inertial dissipation techniques. Stress estimates from the dissipation technique were generally higher than the directly measured values, with average drag coefficients of 0.99 x 10^-3 and 0.77 x 10^-3, respectively, for 8-m wind speeds of 5 to 7 m s^-1. In the inertial subrange, ratios of vertical to streamwise velocity spectra averaged 1.06 ± 0.16, significantly less than the isotropic value of 4/3 observed over land, suggesting that turbulence over water may be altered by the presence of waves.     

In situ U–Pb SIMS (IN-SIMS) micro-baddeleyite dating of mafic rocks: Method with examples

An in situ U–Pb SIMS (IN-SIMS) method to date micro-baddeleyite crystals as small as 3 μm is presented with results from three samples that span a variety of ages and geologic settings. The method complements ID-TIMS geochronology by extending the range of dateable crystals to sizes smaller than can be recovered by physical separation. X-ray mapping and BSE imaging are used to locate target grains in thin section, followed by SIMS analysis on a CAMECA ims 1270, using the field aperture in the transfer column to screen out ions from host phases. Internal age precisions for the method are anticipated to range from 0.1% for Precambrian rocks to 3–7% for Phanerozoic rocks. Results establish a 2689 ± 5 Ma age for mafic dikes in the Wyoming craton, USA, a 1540 ± 30 Ma age for a subaerial lava flow from the Thelon Basin of northern Canada, and a 457 ± 34 Ma age for mafic dikes in the platform sequence of southeastern Siberia. The method is ideal for relatively non-destructive dating of small samples such as extraterrestrial rocks and precious terrestrial samples.     

Management of freshwater lenses on small Pacific islands

The nature of shallow aquifers and the impacts of seawater intrusion in small islands within the Pacific Ocean are reviewed. Many Pacific islands rely on shallow fresh groundwater lenses in highly permeable aquifers, underlain and surrounded by seawater, as their principal freshwater source. It is argued here that, in small islands, the nature of fresh groundwater lenses and their host aquifers coupled with frequent natural and ever-present anthropogenic threats make them some of the most vulnerable aquifer systems in the world. A simple steady-state approximation is used to provide insight into the key climatic, hydrogeological, physiographic, and management factors that influence the quantity of, and saline intrusion into freshwater lenses. Examples of the dynamic nature of freshwater lenses as they respond to these drivers are given. Natural and human-related threats to freshwater lenses are discussed. Long dry periods strongly coupled to sea surface temperatures impact on the quantity and salinity of fresh groundwater. The vulnerability of small island freshwater lenses dictates careful assessment, vigilant monitoring, appropriate development, and astute management. Strategies to aid future groundwater sustainability in small islands are presented and suggested improvements to donor and aid programs in water are also advanced.     

Application of statistical approaches to analyze geological,geotechnical and hydrogeological data at a fractured-rock mine site in Northern Canada

Mine site characterization often results in the acquisition of geological, geotechnical and hydrogeological data sets that are used in the mine design process but are rarely co-evaluated. For a study site in northern Canada, bivariate and multivariate (hierarchical) statistical techniques are used to evaluate empirical hydraulic conductivity estimation methods based on traditional rock mass characterisation schemes, as well as to assess the regional hydrogeological conceptual model. Bivariate techniques demonstrate that standard geotechnical measures of fracturing are poor indicators of the hydraulic potential of a rock mass at the study site. Additionally, rock-mass-permeability schemes which rely on these measures are shown to be poor predictors of hydraulic conductivity in untested areas. Multivariate techniques employing hierarchical cluster analysis of both geotechnical and geological data sets are able to identify general trends in the data. Specifically, the geological cluster analysis demonstrated spatial relationship between intrusive contacts and increased hydraulic conductivity. This suggests promise in the use of clustering methods in identifying new trends during the early stages of hydrogeological characterization.