The influence of late Quaternary stagnations on clay sedimentation in the eastern Mediterranean sea

Late Quaternary sapropels of the eastern Mediterranean differ from normal sediments in their clay mineral composition. Clay minerals in the sapropels studied here are only slightly affected, or are not affected at all by diagenetic alteration. This permits the observation of primary differences. During stagnation periods, the contribution of remote or accessory sources was reduced or even absent. Different circulation patterns and, particularly, a general decline in deeper water currents activity might be held responsible for the observed differences in the clay mineral composition of sapropels and normal sediments.

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Zusammenfassung Die quartären Sapropele des östlichen Mittelmeeres unterscheiden sich von den normal marinen Sedimenten in ihrer Tonmineralzusammensetzung. Die hier untersuchten Tone der Sapropele zeigen nur geringe oder gar keine diagenetischen Veränderungen. Diese Tatsache erlaubt, Rückschlüsse auf primäre Unterschiede zu ziehen. Während der Stagnationsperioden war die Zufuhr von Tonen aus entfernten oder weniger wichtigen Liefergebieten stark vermindert. Unterschiedliche Zirkulation, besonders eine geringere Aktivität der Tiefenströmungen, scheinen die Ursache für die beobachteten Unterschiede in der Tonmineralzusammensetzung zwischen Sapropel- und normal-marinen Sedimenten

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Résumé Les sapropels quaternaires de la Méditerranée orientale se distinguent des vases communes par la composition des minéraux argileux. Les argiles des sapropels examinés sont peu affectés par l'altération diagénétique, ce qui permet l'observation de différences primaires.On a conclu, que pendant les périodes de stagnation, la contribution des argiles provenant des sources éloignées ou secondaires, a été réduite ou même interrompue. Différentes conditions de circulation et, avant tout, la réduction d'activité des courants profonds, sont probablement responsables des différences observées dans la composition des minéraux argilezx des sapropels et des vases communes.

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Removal of lead minerals from copper industrial flotation concentrates by xanthate flotation in the presence of dextrin

Potato starch and dextrins resulting from thermolysis of potato starch in the absence of reagents and presence of -amino acids are promising depressants for separation of lead and copper minerals present in the Polish industrial copper concentrates. The polysaccharides were used for differential xanthate flotation of the final industrial concentrates produced by flotation with sulfhydryl collectors in the absence of depressants. The polysaccharides depressed galena and provided froth concentrate rich in chalcocite and other copper minerals as well as cell product containing lead minerals. The best results of separation were obtained in the presence of plain dextrin prepared by a thermal degradation of potato starch. The industrial concentrate containing 18.5% Cu and 5.5% Pb was divided into a froth product containing 38.1% Cu with 77% recovery of copper and a cell product assaying 7.3% Pb with 83% recovery of lead. It was accomplished using 2500 g/t of dextrin, 50g/t of potassium ethyl xanthate, and 50 g/t of frother (α-terpineol). The pH of flotation was 8.0–8.2.     

Fine-grained barite in coal fly ash from the Upper Silesian Industrial Region

Barite nanocrystals are common and abundant in the troposphere over the Upper Silesian Industrial Region, Poland. The presence of barite nanocrystals is the result of burning Ba-enriched coals (up to 4,260 ppm Ba). ATEM, ASEM and EPMA analyses provided evidence of inefficient coal burning for domestic purposes at temperatures of 800-900 °C as the cause of emissions of barite, which survived unmelted. Much higher temperatures of coal burning for industrial purposes resulted in thermal decomposition of barite into BaO, which could react with airborne sulfuric acid to produce nanometre-sized secondary barite. Formation of both the secondary barite and gypsum in the troposphere contributes to the lowering of acidity of rain over Upper Silesia. Barite nanocrystals are often embedded in sheets of hydrocarbon materials with sizes in the range of respirable aerosols; therefore, they may enter the human respiratory system.     

Investigating landslides with space-borne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometry

This paper is addressed to readers without advanced knowledge of remote sensing. It illustrates some current and potential uses of satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar interferometry (InSAR) for landslide assessment. Data acquired by SAR systems can provide 3D terrain models and be used to assist in regional scale investigations, e.g. aimed at evaluation of susceptibility of slopes to failure. Under favourable environmental conditions, the innovative Permanent Scatterers (PS) technique, which overcomes several limitations of conventional SAR differential interferometry (DInSAR) applications in landslide studies, is suitable for monitoring slope deformations with millimetric precision. The PS technique combines the wide-area coverage typical of satellite imagery with the capability of providing displacement data relative to individual image pixels. With the currently available radar satellites, however, only very slow ground surface displacements can be reliably detected and measured. The presented case study of a landslide from the Liechtenstein Alps indicates that the most attractive and reliable contribution provided by this remote sensing technique lies in the possibility of (i.) wide-area qualitative distinction between stable and unstable areas and (ii.) qualitative (relative) hazard zonation of large, slow landslides based on the identification of segments characterised by different movement rates. Since only the radar line of sight projection of the displacements can be detected, a quantitative exploitation of the PS data is possible only where sufficient ground truth is available. In site specific or single landslide investigations the PS data can represent a very useful complementary data source with respect to the information acquired through ground based observations and in situ surveying. However, the difficulties associated with the feasibility assessments of the applicability of SAR data to local scale problems, as well as with the interpretation of PS results, require a close collaboration between landslide experts and specialists in advanced processing of radar satellite data. The interpretation of the exact geotechnical significance of small, radar sensed ground surface deformations is challenging, especially where ground truth is lacking. Although any ground deformation is potentially of interest to an engineering geologist, detection of movements in both vertical and horizontal directions is needed in the case of landslides to evaluate slope failure mechanisms. With their high radar viewing angles, however, the current space-borne systems can detect only a fraction of the horizontal component of movement. It is expected that the upcoming SAR dedicated missions with new sensors and different acquisition geometries, combined with the rapid developments in the field of advanced radar data processing, will allow a full 3D reconstruction of deformation data and help to further reduce the current limitations of the PS and similar DInSAR approaches.     

Variable stars in the globular cluster NGC 6362

We report the results of a CCD search for short-period variables in the field of a southern globular cluster NGC 6362. We identified 19 new candidate variables, five of which are cluster RR Lyraes, four are probable SX Phe-type stars and eight are eclipsing binaries. Of the discovered binaries, three are EA-type systems, two of which are located on the cluster CMD in the turn-off region and the third 1 mag above the turn-off point, in the yellow straggler region. Five other systems are of W UMa type, three of which are foreground objects and two are likely cluster members. The remaining two candidates exhibit a modulation of the brightness level with an amplitude of 0.1–0.2 mag; further observations are needed to reveal the nature of their variability. Phased VI light curves for 20 variables (18 RR Lyrae stars and two blue stragglers) located in the central region of the cluster are presented.     

Evolution of the Upper Rhone River discharge and suspended sediment load during the last 80 years and some implications for Lake Geneva

: During this century, the characteristics of the Upper Rhone River discharge, flowing into Lake Geneva, have been altered in response to the changes which have occurred in its watershed. Principally, numerous hydroelectric dams have been constructed on the course of the Rhone River tributaries. At present the major reservoirs can hold about 122010⁶m³ of water, which represents 1/5 of the total annual Rhone River flow. Flow regime characteristics of the river have been modified by the dam operations. Water is released from reservoirs during winter and stored in summer. Large floods have also been reduced in amplitude and frequency. From the available literature data, sediment rating curves have been calculated and used to estimate the evolution of the sediment load from the Rhone River to Lake Geneva. They show that sediment input has decreased by at least a factor 2. This reduction has impacted the occurrence of underflows along the lake bottom, due to the reduction of sediment-laden floods, which in turn may have considerable negative effects on the reoxygenation of Lake Geneva deep waters.     

Application of one-dimensional model to calculate water velocity distributions over elastic elements simulating Canadian waterweed plants (Elodea Canadensis)

One-dimensional model for vertical profiles of longitudinal velocities in open-channel flows is verified against laboratory data obtained in an open channel with artificial plants. Those plants simulate Canadian waterweed which in nature usually forms dense stands that reach all the way to the water surface. The model works particularly well for densely spaced plants.     

Geology,stratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental evolution of the Stephanorhinus kirchbergensis-bearing Quaternary palaeolake(s) of Gorzów Wielkopolski (NW Poland,Central Europe)

The sedimentary succession exposed in the Gorzów Wielkopolski area includes Eemian Interglacial (MIS 5e) or Early Weichselian (MIS 5d–e) deposits. The sedimentary sequence has been the object of intense interdisciplinary study, which has resulted in the identification of at least two palaeolake horizons. Both yielded fossil remains of large mammals, alongside pollen and plant macrofossils. All these proxies have been used to reconstruct the environmental conditions prevailing at the time of deposition, as well as to define the geological context and the biochronological position of the fauna. Optically stimulated luminescence dating of the glaciofluvial layers of the GS3 succession to 123.6 ± 10.1 (below the lower palaeolake) and 72.0 ± 5.2 ka (above the upper palaeolake) indicate that the site formed during the Middle–Late Pleistocene (MIS 6 – MIS 5). Radiocarbon-dating of the lacustrine organic matter revealed a tight cluster of Middle Pleniglacial Period (MIS 3) ages in the range of ~41–32 ka cal bp (Hengelo – Denekamp Interstadials). Holocene organic layers have also been found, with ¹⁴C ages within a range of 4330–4280 cal bp (Neolithic). Pollen and plant macrofossil records, together with sedimentological and geochemical data, confirm the dating to the Eemian Interglacial.     

Erythemal UV observations at Belsk,Poland, in the period 1976–2008: Data homogenization,climatology, and trends

Measurements of erythemal irradiance have been carried out continuously at Belsk since May 1975. We present a homogenization procedure of the UV time series for the period of 1976–2008. Long-term oscillations discovered in the homogenized data set agree with those extracted from the reconstructed UV data for all-sky and clear-sky conditions. The UV climatology was established and the UV variability was determined. Positive UV trends were found for the period of 1976-2008 in the annual mean (5.6±0.9% per decade), in the seasonal mean for the warm subperiod of the year (April–October, 5.5±1.0% per decade), and in monthly means (∼2–9% per decade). A satisfactory agreement between the trend extracted from the homogenized ground-based data and that found in satellite UV data for Belsk (1979–2008) supports the reliability of satellite trend analyses over wider areas during snowless periods.