Quaternary evolution of Cedar Creek alluvial fan, montana

Cedar Creek alluvial fan is a textbook example of an alluvial fan because of its fan shape with smooth, concentric contours and excellent symmetry. Similar planimetric shapes have been used to infer uniform fan deposition; however, Cedar Creek alluvial fan is composed of four fan deposits of Quaternary age, Qf1 (oldest) to Qf4 (youngest), indicating that fan deposition was nonuniform in both time and space. Field studies indicate that deposition of Cedar Creek alluvial fan is related to glaciofluvial outwash activity during the Pleistocene and upper-fan entrenchment and lower-fan deposition during the Holocene.Qf1 and Qf2 deposits are sub-horizontally bedded, clast-supported sandy gravels uniformly imbricated upfan. Comparison of soil profiles developed in these deposits to radiogenically-dated chronosequences within the region indicates that Qf1 and Qf2 are correlative with Bull Lake and Pinedale-age deposits, respectively. These relationships are substantiated by physical correlation of Qf1 and Qf2 with Bull Lake and Pinedale moraines, respectively, in the Cedar Creek drainage basin. The sedimentology and timing of Qf1 and Qf2 indicate deposition in high-energy, proglacial, braided streams. Furthermore, the present morphology of Cedar Creek alluvial fan was established largely during aggradation of Qf1 and Qf2 when sediment supply to the fan was sufficient to activate 60% to greater than 90% of the total fan area. During Bull Lake glaciation, the apex of Qf1 deposition formed the apex of Cedar Creek alluvial fan as Qf1 covered more than 90% of the present fan area. During Pinedale glaciation, Qf2 deposition shifted downfan; Qf2 is inset into Qf1 above the intersection point, but below the intersection point it eroded and/or buried Qf1 as it activated as much as 60% of the fan area.Qf3 and Qf4, comprising 21% of the fan area, are inset into Qf2 in the lower fan area. Soil development in Qf3 and Qf4 deposits indicate episodic deposition and entrenchment beginning in early Holocene and continuing to present. A post-glacial decrease in sediment supply to Cedar Creek alluvial fan is indicated by sediment storage within the Cedar Creek drainage basin. Decreased sediment supply to the fan resulted in upper-fan entrenchment of Qf2 and deposition of Qf3 and Qf4 in the lower-fan area.     

Reflectance anisotropy and syn-deformational coalification of the Jewel seam in the Cadomin area, Alberta, Canada

The Jewel seam of the Cadomin area is complexly folded and cut by several thrust faults. Vitrinite reflectance anisotropy was determined from twenty oriented coal blocks, collected from various structural positions. Five of the blocks have uniaxial anisotropies, five have biaxial positive anisotropies, the remaining ten are biaxial negative. The biaxial coals display maximum reflectance axes parallel to nearby fold axes, which suggests a relationship between vitrinite anisotropy and deformation. The biaxial vitrinite reflectance ellipsoids result from superposition of tectonic strains on a primary, sedimentary burial related, uniaxial anisotropy. A tectonic stress field was probably present during the later stages of sedimentary burial and subsequent deformation.Coalification resulted largely from pre-deformational, sedimentary burial, but the final coalification stage was syn-deformational, as illustrated by the intersection of isorank surfaces and the Jewel seam and the biaxial vitrinite reflectance anisotropy.     

How does landfill leachate affect the chemical processes in a lake system downgradient from a landfill site?

A field study on the geochemical properties of a chemically-stressed limnic environment was performed in Lake Silbersee, which receives leachate water of high inorganic loading from an upgradient landfill site. The highly concentrated sulfate ion in groundwater, when entering the pore water system of the lake, gives rise to an intensive microbial sulfate reduction. A diagenetic approach was used to explain the existence of a marine-like aqueous system within a geologically slightly acidic aquifer, consisting of a well-buffered lake water and an alkalinity producing, excess sulphide containing sediment pore water system.     

Deposition of trace substances via cloud interception on a coniferous forest at Kleiner Feldberg

A resistance model to calculate the deposition of cloud droplets on a coniferous forest and some improved parameterizations of the indispensable input parameters are described. The deposition model is adapted to the coniferous forest at the Kleiner Feldberg site and verified by the data of a drip water monitoring station below the forest canopy. The measurements of liqud water content, wind speed and trace substance compounds in cloud water of the Ground-based Cloud Experiment (GCE) at Kleiner Feldberg in 1990 are used to calculate the cloud water deposition fluxes and the deposition of trace substances via cloud water interception. The calculated deposition of trace substances via cloud water interceptions is three to six times higher than via rain during the experiment. On a long term data basis the yearly amount of cloud water deposition is 180 mm year^–1 at Kleiner Feldberg site (840 m a.s.l.) while the precipitation amount is 1030 mm year^–1. Due to higher trace substance concentrations in cloud water compared to rain the ionic deposition via cloud water interception and via precipitation were assessed to be of comparable magnitude.     

Loss of metals from pelites during regional metamorphism

In aluminous metapelites the ratio H₂O⁺/K₂O decreases with increasing metamorphic grade and degree of reaction. This ratio is a very practical indicator for the progress of the mineral reconstitution during progressive metamorphism. With decreasing values of the ratio H₂O⁺/ K₂O the Cu concentration and the following element ratios also decrease either continuously or in stepwise fashion: Tl/K₂O, Ba/K₂O, Pb/K₂O, Bi/K₂O, Hg/K₂O, Sr/Na₂O, Zn/(Fe²⁺+Mg), Cd/(Fe²⁺+Mg); Rb/K₂O remains approximately constant. In the aluminous metapelites of the Damara Orogen in Namibia the following losses occur between the biotite isograd and anatexis: 61% Cu, 20% Tl, 34% Ba, 59% Pb, 86% Bi, 46% Hg, 30% Sr, 25% Zn, 31% Cd. Thus the potential of regional metamorphism to form hydrothermal deposits in the low grade environment should not be neglected.     

Neue Ergebnisse zur Tektonik der Allgäuer und Vilser Alpen

Zusammenfassung Eine Neuuntersuchung der Tektonik in den Vilser Alpen und im Hochvogelgebiet, wo die Frage seit langer Zeit diskutiert wird, ob dort die Allgäu- und Lechtal-Decke getrennte Einheiten bilden, oder stratigraphisch untrennbar zusammenhängen, erbrachte eine eindeutige Entscheidung für den Deckenbau. Der Verlauf der Deckengrenze konnte zwischen Hochvogel und Hohenschwangauer Alpen präzisiert werden. Der interne Falten- und Schuppenbau der Lechtal-Decke hat nirgends zur Bildung von tektonisch tieferen Teildekken geführt, die internen Verschuppungen besitzen nur ein geringes Ausmaß.

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A new investigation of the tectonics in the Vilser Alps and in the Mt. Hochvogel area where since a long time a discussion was going on if the thrust sheets of Allgäu and Lechtal-Decke are separate units or connected by stratigraphic sequences, a definite decision could be made in favour of the nappe structure in this part of the Northern Calcareous Alps. The internal structure of the Lechtal-Decke thrust sheet is characterized by local imbricate structure which originate from sheared folds.

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Résumé On a dicuté depuis longtemps dans les Vilser Alpen et dans la région du Mont Hochvogel le problème, si les nappes de Allgäu et Lechtal-Decke sont des unités separées ou qu'ils forment une partie inséparable par des séquences stratigraphiques. Une nouvelle examen de la tectonique a affirmé la structure de nappes dans cette région des Alpes Calcaires du Nord. La structure intérieure de la nappe de Lechtal-Decke est caracterisée par une structure écaillée locale, qui se developpe de plis cisaillés.

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