Records of cosmogenic radionuclides Be, Al and Cl in corals: First studies on coral erosion rates and potential of dating very old corals

We present results of measurements of cosmogenic ¹⁰Be, ²⁶Al and ³⁶Cl, and the indigenous (intrinsic) concentrations of the stable elements Be, Al and Cl in 120-200 kyr old corals from Barbados and Puerto Rico. The concentration levels of these radionuclides in the corals lie in the range 10⁴ to 10⁸ atoms/g. A comparison of the measured nuclide concentrations with those expected to be produced in the corals by nuclear interactions of energetic cosmic radiation shows that (i) the radionuclides ²⁶Al and ³⁶Cl are derived from in situ cosmic ray interactions in the corals after their formation, but that (ii) the radionuclide ¹⁰Be owes its provenance in the coralline lattice primarily due to incorporation of dissolved beryllium in seawater in the lattice structure of the corals.     

Geology of the Gahcho Kué kimberlite pipes, NWT, Canada: root to diatreme magmatic transition zones

The Cambrian Gahcho Kué kimberlite cluster includes four main pipes that have been emplaced into the Archaean basement granitoids of the Slave Craton. Each of the steep-sided pipes were formed by the intrusion of several distinct phases of kimberlite in which the textures vary from hypabyssal kimberlite (HK) to diatreme-facies tuffisitic kimberlite breccia (TKB). The TKB displays many diagnostic features including abundant unaltered country rock xenoliths, pelletal lapilli, serpentinised olivines and a matrix composed of microlitic phlogopite and serpentine without carbonate. The HK contains common fresh olivine set in a groundmass composed of monticellite, phlogopite, perovskite, serpentine and carbonate. A number of separate phases of kimberlite display a magmatic textural gradation from TKB to HK, which is characterised by a decrease in the proportion of pelletal lapilli and country rock xenoliths and an increase in groundmass crystallinity, proportion of fresh olivine and the degree of xenolith digestion.

The pipe shapes and infills of the Gahcho Kué kimberlites are similar to those of the classic South African pipes, particularly those of the Kimberley area. Similar intrusive magmatic emplacement processes are proposed in which the diatreme-zone results from the degassing, after breakthrough, of the intruding magma column. The transition zones represent ‘frozen’ degassing fronts. The style of emplacement of the Gahcho Kué kimberlites is very different from that of many other pipes in Canada such as at Lac de Gras, Fort à la Corne or Attawapiskat.     

A Pliocene–Quaternary compressional basin in the Interandean Depression, Central Ecuador

The segment of the Interandean Depression of Ecuador between Ambato and Quito is characterized by an uppermost Pliocene–Quaternary basin, which is located between two N-S trending reverse basement faults: the Victoria Fault to the west, and the Pisayambo Fault to the east. The clear evidence of E-W shortening for the early Pleistocene (between 1.85 and 1.21 Ma) favours a compressional basin interpretation. The morphology (river deviations, landslides, folded and flexure structures) demonstrates continuous shortening during the late Quaternary. The late Pliocene-Quaternary shortening reached 3400 ± 600 m with a rate of 1.4 ± 0.3 mm yr⁻¹. The E-W shortening is kinematically consistent with the current right-lateral reverse motion along the NE-SW trending Pallatanga Fault. The Quito-Ambato zone appears to act as a N-S restraining bend in a system of large right-lateral strike-slip faults. The compressive deformation which affects the Interandean Depression during the Pliocene is apparently coeval to the beginning subduction of very young oceanic lithosphere north of the Gulf of Guayaquil. The relatively buoyant new crust may have significantly increased the mechanical coupling in the subduction zone from Pliocene to Present.     

Groundwater-supported evapotranspiration within glaciated watersheds under conditions of climate change

This paper analyzes the effects of geology and geomorphology on surface-water/-groundwater interactions, evapotranspiration, and recharge under conditions of long-term climatic change. Our analysis uses hydrologic data from the glaciated Crow Wing watershed in central Minnesota, USA, combined with a hydrologic model of transient coupled unsaturated/saturated flow (HYDRAT2D). Analysis of historical water-table (1970–1993) and lake-level (1924–2002) records indicates that larger amplitude and longer period fluctuations occur within the upland portions of watersheds due to the response of the aquifer system to relatively short-term climatic fluctuations. Under drought conditions, lake and water-table levels fell by as much as 2–4 m in the uplands but by 1 m in the lowlands. The same pattern can be seen on millennial time scales. Analysis of Holocene lake-core records indicates that Moody Lake, located near the outlet of the Crow Wing watershed, fell by as much as 4 m between about 4400 and 7000 yr BP. During the same time, water levels in Lake Mina, located near the upland watershed divide, fell by about 15 m. Reconstructed Holocene climate as represented by HYDRAT2D gives somewhat larger drops (6 and 24 m for Moody Lake and Lake Mina, respectively). The discrepancy is probably due to the effect of three-dimensional flow. A sensitivity analysis was also carried out to study how aquifer hydraulic conductivity and land-surface topography can influence water-table fluctuations, wetlands formation, and evapotranspiration. The models were run by recycling a wet year (1985, 87 cm annual precipitation) over a 10-year period followed by 20 years of drier and warmer climate (1976, 38 cm precipitation). Model results indicated that groundwater-supported evapotranspiration accounted for as much as 12% (10 cm) of evapotranspiration. The aquifers of highest hydraulic conductivity had the least amount of groundwater-supported evapotranspiration owing to a deep water table. Recharge was even more sensitive to aquifer hydraulic conductivity, especially in the lowland regions. These findings have important implications for paleoclimatic studies, because the hydrologic response of a surface-water body will vary across the watershed to a given climate signal.     

The origin of a calcareous amphibolite from the Nagssugtoqidian, west Greenland

On the basis of chemical charactiristics (major elements) it is concluded that the investigated amphibolite was formed as a result of high-grade regional metamorphism of a calcareous sediment mixed with basic igneous material, probably in the form of tuff. In view of the many recent publications on the origin of amphibolites it seems justified to propose a new definition of the term ‘para-amphibolite‘.     

Biologische Aufbereitung eines BTEX-belasteten Grundwassers in einem Festbettreaktor

Biological Treatment of a BTEX-contaminated Groundwater in a Fixed-bed Reactor Conditions for the on-site operation of a fixed-bed bioreactor for remediation of contaminated groundwater were simulated and optimized in the laboratory. Two carrier materials, polypropylene rings and porous clay beads were compared. Laboratory experiments revealed that the originally planned aeration rate of 100 m³ h^–1 for the on-site-reactor (working volume 10.6 m³) had to be reduced to less than 0.7 m³ h^–1 to avoid complete stripping of BTEX-compounds and to allow biofilm formation on the carrier material. The high ground water flow rate of 5 m³ per square meter of reactor surface area and hour did not prevent biofilm formation. With a bubble-free aeration system in the fixed-bed reactor with clay beads that contained an active biofilm on the surface, 97% of benzene and 99% of the total BTEX-compounds were eliminated by respiration within one hour residence time. In the reactor with polypropylene rings, only 94% of the benzene and 83% of the total BTEX-compounds were degraded under similar conditions. Thus, for BTEX-elimination clay beads performed better in the fixed-bed reactor than the polypropylene rings.