Does lunisolar gravitational tide affect the activity of animals?

Multiyear time series obtained by the continuous instrumental monitoring of the electrical activity (EA) of weakly electric fish Gnathonemus leopoldianus and the motor activity (MA) of the freshwater catfish Hoplosternum thoracatum and the cockroach Blaberus craniifer are compared to the parameters of the lunisolar gravitational tide. These curves are observed to be very similar for a large number of time intervals. However, a more detailed analysis shows this to be only a superficial resemblance caused by the closeness of the periods of diurnal and semidiurnal rhythms of bioindicator activity (the dominant rhythms in EA and MA patterns) and the periods of main gravitational tidal waves. It is concluded that the lunisolar gravitational tide has no significant effect on animal behavior in our experiment.     

Thermodynamics of minerals of variable composition: Andradite-grossularite and pistacite-clinozoisite solid solutions

Exchange-mineral equilibria with Al and Fe³⁺ aqueous chloride solutions (aq.), Andr + AlCl _aq ³ = FeCl _aq ³ + Gros, (1) Psc + AlCl _aq ³ = FeCl _aq ³ + Czo, (2) were studied under the following experimental conditions: 500°;C and 580°;C and 1 and 2 kbar, respectively, with an overall concentration of metals in the aqueous solutions of about 0.5 M and pH 3. The mixing functions of the components in garnet and epidote were calculated from the experimental data. Thermodynamic treatment of experimental evidence for reaction (1) led to the conclusion that, within the accuracy of experiment, garnet in the andradite-grossularite series was an ideal solid solution. However, epidote solid solution markedly departed from the ideal, as was shown by concentration and pressure-temperature (PT) dependencies of Gibbs's molar excess energies and by mixing-volume concentration dependence.     

Comparison of fluid geochemistry and microbiology of multiple organic-rich reservoirs in the Illinois Basin, USA: Evidence for controls on methanogenesis and microbial transport

Microbial methane in sedimentary basins comprises approximately 20% of global natural gas resources, yet little is known about the environmental requirements and metabolic rates of these subsurface microbial communities. The Illinois Basin, located in the midcontinent of the United States, is an ideal location to investigate hydrogeochemical factors controlling methanogenesis as microbial methane accumulations occur: (1) in three organic-rich reservoirs of different geologic ages and organic matter types - Upper Devonian New Albany Shale (up to 900 m depth), Pennsylvanian coals (up to 600 m depth), and Quaternary glacial sediments (shallow aquifers); (2) across steep salinity gradients; and (3) with variable concentrations of . For all three organic-rich reservoirs aqueous geochemical conditions are favorable for microbial methanogenesis, with near neutral pH, concentrations <2 mM, and Cl⁻ concentrations <3 M. Also, carbon isotopic fractionation of CH₄, CO₂, and DIC is consistent with microbial methanogenesis, and increased carbon isotopic fractionation with average reservoir depth corresponds to a decrease of groundwater flushing rates with average depth of reservoir. Plots of stable isotopes of water and Cl⁻ show mixing between a brine endmember and freshwater, suggesting that meteoric groundwater recharge has affected all microbial methanogenic systems. Additionally, similar methanogenic communities are present in all three reservoirs with comparable cell counts (8.69E3-2.58E6 cells/mL). TRFLP results show low numbers of archaea species with only two dominant groups of base pairs in coals, shale, and limestone aquifers. These results compare favorably with other methanogen-containing deep subsurface environments. Individual hydrogeochemical parameters that have a Spearman correlation coefficient greater than 0.3 to variations in methanogenic species include stable isotopes of water (δ¹⁸O and δD), type of substrate (i.e. coals versus shale), pH, and Cl⁻ concentration. The matching of variations between methanogenic TRFLP data and conservative tracers suggests that deep circulation of meteoric waters influenced archaeal communities in the Illinois Basin. In addition, coalification and burial estimates suggest that in the study area, coals and shale reservoirs were previously sterilized (>80 °C in nutrient poor environments), necessitating the re-introduction of microbes into the subsurface via groundwater transport.     

Microtextural investigation (SEM and TEM study) of phyllosilicates in a major thrust fault zone (Monte Perdido, southern Pyrenees): impact on fault reactivation

Thrusting fault zone in foreland basins are characterized by highly foliated zones generally enriched in phyllosilicates which can play a major role on the mechanical behaviour of the fault. In this context, investigations of synkinematic clay minerals permit to determine the origin of the fluid from which they precipitated as well as the mechanisms of deformation. Our study is focused on clay mineral assemblages (illite and chlorite) in a major thrust fault located in the Monte Perdido massif (southern Pyrenees), a shallow thrust that affects upper cretaceous-paleocene platform carbonates and lower Eocene marls and turbidites. It implied 3?km of displacement of the Monte Perdido thrust unit with respect to the underlying Gavarnie unit. In this area the cleavage development by pressure-solution is linked to the Monte Perdido and Gavarnie thrust activity. The core zone of the fault, about 6?m thick, consists of an interval of intensely deformed clay-bearing rocks bounded by major shear surfaces. The deformed sediment is markedly darker than the protolith. Calcite-quartz shear veins along the shear planes are abundant. Detailed SEM and TEM observations of highly deformed fault zone samples indicate that clay mineral enrichment in the core zone of the fault is not only related to passive increase by pressure-solution mechanism but that dissolution?Crecrystallization of phyllosilicates occurs during deformation. A mineral segregation is observed in the highly deformed zone. Newly formed 2M ₁ muscovite is present along the cleavage whereas IIb chlorite crystals fill S_V2 shear veins suggesting syntectonic growth of phyllosilicates in the presence of fluids in low-grade metamorphic conditions. These mineralogical reactions act as weakening processes and would favour Monte Perdido fault creeping.     

Provenance of the Sumian basal schists and age of the Lopian metavolcanic rocks at the Archean-Proterozoic boundary in the Kukasozero structure,North-Karelian zone of the Karelides,Baltic Shield

This paper presents the results of a study of the Paleoproterozoic basal garnet-kyanite-staurolite-two-mica paraschists from the Kukasozero structure of the Karelides of Northern Karelia, Baltic Shield, underlying Neoarchean acid metavolcanic rocks, and schists with quartz, phengite, kyanite, staurolite, garnet, and tschermakite located in the Paleoproterozoic rocks and considered to be metasomatic in origin. It was established that the sedimentary protolith of the Paleoproterozoic paraschists contains detritus of Neoarchean igneous rocks as follows from detrital 2737 ± 11 Ma zircons with oscillatory magmatic zoning. Metavolcanic 2757 ± 13 Ma rocks, close in age and composition, are known directly in the framework of the Kukasozero structure and are considered to be the most likely source of the sedimentary schist protolith. The coincidence of the Nd-model ages of paraschists (t _DM is 2.73–2.76 Ga) with the age of detrital zircons indicates no contribution of older rocks to the protolith composition. The age of magmatic crystallization of metavolcanic rocks directly underlying the Paleoproterozoic paraschists is 2681 ± 18 Ma and coincides with the age of porphyry granites in the western framework of the structure (2680.3 ± 3.6 Ma). No detrital zircons of similar age were found in basal paraschists, but the restricted amount of dated zircons does not allow us to draw a final conclusion about the absence of detritus of the underlying metavolcanic rocks in the paraschist protolith. It was confirmed that phengite-bearing schists are the products of acid metasomatism of the Paleoproterozoic amphibolites and amphibole schists (metavolcanic rocks). The metasomatic features were revealed in garnet-kyanite-staurolite-two-mica paraschists, so the strict identification of their sedimentary protolith is impossible. The paraschists do not represent metamorphosed weathering crust, because acid metasomatism gives a false impression of the greater maturity of the primary sedimentary rocks.     

Strain localization due to structural in-homogeneities in the Central European Basin System

The large-scale crustal deformations observed in the Central European Basin System (CEBS) are the result of the interplay between several controlling factors, among which lateral rheological heterogeneities play a key role. We present a finite-element integral thin sheet model of stress and strain distribution within the CEBS. Unlike many previous models, this study is based on thermo-mechanical data to quantify the impact of lateral contrasts on the tectonic deformation. Elasto-plastic material behaviour is used for both the mantle and the crust, and the effects of the sedimentary fill are also investigated. The consistency of model results is ensured through comparisons with observed data. The results resemble the present-day dynamics and kinematics when: (1) a weak granite-like lower crust below the Elbe Fault System is modelled in contrast to a stronger lower crust in the area extending north of the Elbe Line throughout the Baltic region; and (2) a transition domain in the upper mantle is considered between the shallow mantle of the Variscan domain and the deep mantle beneath the East European Craton (EEC), extending from the Elbe Line in the south till the Tornquist Zone. The strain localizations observed along these structural contrasts strongly enhance the dominant role played by large structural domains in stiffening the propagation of tectonic deformation and in controlling the basin formation and the evolution in the CEBS.     

Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene lake‐level fluctuations in the Lahontan Basin,Nevada: Implications for the distribution of archaeological sites

The Great Basin of the western U.S. contains a rich record of Late Pleistocene and Holocene lake‐level fluctuations as well as an extensive record of human occupation during the same time frame. We compare spatial‐temporal relationships between these records in the Lahontan basin to consider whether lake‐level fluctuations across the Pleistocene‐Holocene transition controlled distribution of archaeological sites. We use the reasonably well‐dated archaeological record from caves and rockshelters as well as results from new pedestrian surveys to investigate this problem. Although lake levels probably reached maximum elevations of about 1230–1235 m in the different subbasins of Lahontan during the Younger Dryas (YD) period, the duration that the lakes occupied the highest levels was brief. Paleoindian and Early Archaic archaeological sites are concentrated on somewhat lower and slightly younger shorelines (_1220–1225 m) that also date from the Younger Dryas period. This study suggests that Paleoindians often concentrated their activities adjacent to large lakes and wetland resources soon after they first entered the Great Basin. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Salt kinematics and regional tectonics across a Permian gas field: a case study from East Frisia, NW Germany

This study presents a reconstruction of the tectonic history of an Upper Rotliegend tight gas field in Northern Germany. Tectonism of the greater study area was influenced by multiple phases of salt movement, which produced a variety of salt-related structural features such as salt walls, salt diapirs as well as salt glaciers (namakiers). A sequential 2D retro-deformation and stratal backstripping methodology was used to differentiate mechanisms inducing salt movement and to discuss their relation to regional tectonics. The quantitative geometric restoration included sedimentary balancing, decompaction, fault-related deformation, salt movement, thermal subsidence, and isostasy to unravel the post-depositional tectonic overprint of the Rotliegend reservoir rock. The results of this study indicate that reactive salt diapirism started during an Early Triassic interval of thin-skinned extensional tectonics, followed by an active diapirism stage with an overburden salt piercement in the Late Triassic, and finally a period of intensive salt surface extrusion and the formation of salt glaciers (namakiers) in Late Triassic and Jurassic times. Since the Early Cretaceous, salt in the study area has been rising by passive diapirism.     

火成岩速度反演及三维速度场建立的关键技术及效果分析

以地震反演为主,结合测井、岩石物理、地震相和正演模拟等技术综合研究火成岩的速度场特征。岩石物理实验是研究火成岩物性参数有效的工具,实验数据的分析能帮助预测火成岩岩性和速度信息,为反演等工作利用地震资料描述火成岩提供依据。原始测井曲线的环境校正和标准化处理是高品质合成记录和反演效果的前提条件。稀疏脉冲反演、基于模型的反演和神经网络反演这三种方法结果的分辨率较原始地震数据有了很大提高,从中可识别出火成岩的空间展布,但基于模型的反演分辨率相对较高。伽马属性反演的分辨率在识别火成岩方面比上述三种方法要高得多,但是单一的属性又很难满足火成岩特征描述的要求,因此多参数融合是一种行之有效的方法。结合地震相的应用,最终得到符合地质特征的火成岩三维速度场,并通过误差分析和正演模拟验证了速度场精度,为变速度成图和低幅构造勘探提供了科学的依据。