Pervasive assimilation of carbonate and silicate rocks in the Hortavær igneous complex, north-central Norway

The intrusive complex at Hortavær represents a magma transfer zone in which multiple pulses of gabbroic and dioritic magmas evolved along Fe- and alkali-enrichment trends. Extreme alkali enrichment resulted in nepheline-normative and sparse nepheline-bearing monzodioritic and monzonitic rocks. More evolved monzonitic and syenitic rocks are silica saturated and, in some cases, quartz bearing. Previous and current research recognized an abundance of clinopyroxene and other Ca-rich phases, such as scapolite, grossular-rich garnet, and igneous-textured calcite among the mafic and intermediate rocks. Even the most pyroxene-rich samples contain low Sc concentrations, which suggests early, intense fractionation of clinopyroxene. These features and the alkali enrichment are consistent with assimilation of carbonate-rich host rocks. Carbon isotope ratios of the igneous-textured calcite indicate an origin of the carbon from host rocks rich in calcite, consistent with assimilation. However, low _Nd values (−3.4 to −10.2) and moderate initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values (0.7052 to 0.7099) indicate the need for assimilation of quartzofeldspathic rocks as well. Models of combined assimilation and fractional crystallization indicate that assimilation of simple end members, either carbonate or silicate, cannot explain the entire data set. Instead, variable proportions of carbonate and silicate materials were assimilated, with the most pronounced assimilation effects in the mafic rocks. The reasons for variable degrees of assimilation are, as yet, uncertain. It is possible that assimilation of calc-silicate rocks with variable carbonate/silicate proportions resulted in the range of observed compositions. However, the importance of carbonate assimilation in mafic rocks compared to felsic ones suggests that assimilation of carbonates was predominant at high temperature and/or mafic magma compositions and assimilation of silicates was predominant at lower temperature and/or felsic magma compositions. We suggest that the ability of the mafic magma to dissolve higher proportions of carbonate contaminants is the result of the magma's ability to form clinopyroxene as a product of assimilation. In any case, extensive carbonate assimilation was possible because CO₂ escaped from the system.     

Using Multiple Grids in Markov Mesh Facies Modeling

A multigrid Markov mesh model for geological facies is formulated by defining a hierarchy of nested grids and defining a Markov mesh model for each of these grids. The facies probabilities in the Markov mesh models are formulated as generalized linear models that combine functions of the grid values in a sequential neighborhood. The parameters in the generalized linear model for each grid are estimated from the training image. During simulation, the coarse patterns are first laid out, and by simulating increasingly finer grids we are able to recreate patterns at different scales. The method is applied to several tests cases and results are compared to the training image and the results of a commercially available snesim algorithm. In each test case, simulation results are compared qualitatively by visual inspection, and quantitatively by using volume fractions, and an upscaled permeability tensor. When compared to the training image, the method produces results that only have a few percent deviation from the values of the training image. When compared with the snesim algorithm the results in general have the same quality. The largest computational cost in the multigrid Markov mesh is the estimation of model parameters from the training image. This is of comparable CPU time to that of creating one snesim realization. The simulation of one realization is typically ten times faster than the estimation.     

Degradation of digested sewage sludge residue under anaerobic conditions for mine tailings remediation

Previous studies showed that 85 % of total organic matter (TOM) in digested sewage sludge (biosolids) used as a sealing layer material over sulfide tailings at the Kristineberg Mine, northern Sweden, had been degraded 8 years after application, resulting in a TOM reduction from 78 to 14 %. To achieve a better understanding of the field observations, laboratory studies were performed to evaluate biodegradation rates of the TOM under anaerobic conditions. Results reveal that the original biosolid consisted of ca. 60 % TOM (48.0 % lignin and 11.8 % carbohydrates) that had not been fully degraded. The incubation experiments proved that 27.8 % TOM in the biosolid was further degraded anaerobically at 20–22 °C during the 230 days’ incubation period, and that a plateau to the biodegradation rate was approached. Based on model results, the degradation constant was found to be 0.0125 (day^?1). The calculated theoretical gas formation potential was ca. 50 % higher than the modeled results based on the average degradation rate. Cumulated H₂S equated to 0.65 μmoL g^?1 of biosolid at 230 days. However, the large sulfurous compounds reservoir (1.76 g SO₄ ^2? kg^?1 biosolid) together with anaerobic conditions can generate high concentrations of this gas over a long-term perspective. Due to the rate of biodegradability identified via anaerobic processes, the function of the biosolid to serve as an effective barrier to inhibit oxygen migration to underlying tailings, may decrease over time. However, a lack of readily degradable organic fractions in the biosolid and a large fraction of organic matter that was recalcitrant to degradation suggest a longer degradation duration, which would prolong the biosolid material’s function and integrity.     

Early Holocene history of the Baltic Sea, as reflected in coastal sediments in Blekinge, southeastern Sweden

Integrated palaeoecological studies of two fiord sediment sequences in the province of Blekinge, SE Sweden, covering the time span 11,000–5000 cal BP, reveal the timing and the environment for the Ancylus Lake/Littorina Sea transition 9800–8500 cal BP. The first ingression of saline water into the Baltic Sea through the Danish Straits occurred earlier than formerly assumed. New evidence, particularly mineral magnetic and palaeobotanical analyses, demonstrate that on the general trend of the eustatically caused Littorina transgression several minor fluctuations of the water level can be identified between 8500 and 5000 cal years BP. A distinct regression phase around 8100 cal BP is correlated with the Greenland ice-core cold event dated to 8200 ice-core years BP. This is described as a regional climatic catastrophe for the Baltic Sea region. The coastal stratigraphy is compared with the offshore stratigraphy earlier studied. A tentative shore displacement curve for Early and Middle Holocene is presented.     

Locations of Footpoints of Transequatorial Interconnecting Loops

We discuss footpoints of loops seen by Yohkoh in soft X-rays that connect active regions across the equator (transequatorial interconnecting loops – TILs). While most TILs are rooted in moderately strong fields at peripheries of active regions, there are also cases when these loops are anchored in very weak or very strong fields, ranging from < 30 G to several hundred gauss. Some have their footpoints near sunspot penumbrae, creating `X-ray fountains' in a combination with active region loops. But TILs are never rooted in sunspots. The most likely explanation is that magnetic field lines leave spots almost vertically so that TILs rooted in them extend high into the corona and density in them is below the limit of visibility in X-rays. The fact that in force-free modeling some TILs are rooted in sunspots is most probably due to the difference between field-line connections in `vacuum' and in the highly conductive plasma on the Sun. Some TILs end before they reach active regions which sometimes may indicate the real situation, but mostly this `gap' is probably due to a temperature decrease near the loop footpoints which makes them invisible in X-rays. In that case the fact that these cool lowest parts of TILs are never found in TRACE or SOHO EIT images indicates that plasma density in TILs must be very low. Still, the total absence of any counterparts of X-ray TILs in TRACE and EIT images is puzzling and, therefore, other possible interpretations of the `gap' origin are also briefly mentioned.     

Seismic hazard estimate for a low seismicity region — Example of Bohemia

The contribution reviews basic concepts of earthquake hazard assessment for sites of nuclear power plants. Taking into account the delineation of earthquake source regions, intensity-frequency relations, upper intensity thresholdsI _max and intensity attenuation curves, we determine the seismic hazard for a site in south Bohemia and calculated the quantities defining the seismic hazard, i.e. return period in years, probability of exceedance for different intensities and different periods of interest. The adopted procedure has some limitations due to the poor definition of seismogenic zones (boundaries,N(I),I _max) and lack of strong motion observations in Central Europe.Communication presented at the XVII General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission in Budapest, 21–29 August 1980.     

Glacial Geomorphologic Maps of Llanquihue Drift in the Area of the Southern Lake District, Chile

We present four glacial geomorphic maps of Llanquihue drift in the region of the southern Lake District, Seno Reloncaví, and the eastern half of northern Isla Grande de Chiloé, Chile. These maps form the basis of an interdisciplinary research project to establish a paleoclimate reconstruction of the last glacial cycle in the middle latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore we stressed morphologic rather than lithologic units in our mapping program in order to delineate the glacial geomorphic forms that are surface manifestations of former ice-marginal fluctuations. The resulting maps show the lobate shape and low surface slopes of the former piedmont glaciers that, at the last glacial maximum, spread westward from the Andes into the Valle Centralto fill Lago Puyehue, Lago Rupanco, Lago Llanquihue, Seno Reloncaví, Golfo de Ancud, and northern Gulfo Corcovado. These maps are the framework to tie together in this volume the stratigraphic sections and radiocarbon samples from within the Llanquihue moraine belts as well as the pollen cores from surface mires on the belts.     

Snow research in Svalbard–an overview

This paper summarizes the most significant snow-related research that has been conducted in Svalbard. Most of the research has been performed during the 1990s and includes investigations of snow distribution, snow-melt, snow pack characteristics, remote sensing of snow and biological studies where snow conditions play an important role. For example, studies have shown regional trends with about 50% higher amounts of snow accumulation at the east coast of Spitsbergen compared to the west coast. Further, the accumulation rates are about twice as high in the south compared to the north. On average, the increase in accumulation with elevation is 97 mm water equivalents per 100 m increase in elevation. Several researchers reported melt rates, which are primarily driven by incoming short-wave radiation, in the range of 10-20 mm/day during spring. Maximum melt rates close to 70 mm/day have been measured. In addition to presenting an overview of research activities, we discuss new, unpublished results in areas where considerable progress is being made. These are i) modelling of snow distribution, ii) modelling of snowmelt runoff and iii) monitoring of snow coverage by satellite imagery. We also identify some weaknesses in current research activities. They are lacks of i) integration between various studies, ii) comparative studies with other Arctic regions, iii) applying local field studies in models that can be used to study larger areas of Svalbard and, finally, iv) using satellite remote sensing data for operational monitoring purposes.     

Rapid and rhythmic ice sheet fluctuations in western Scandinavia 15-40 Kya–a review

The onshore record of Middle to Late Weichselian sediments and glacial history in Norway indicates a succession of four major ice advances alternating with rapid, considerable ice recessions and interstadial conditions. During all the glacial advances the ice sheet expanded from onshore/inland positions to the shelf areas. The basis for visualizing these variations in glaciation curves constructed along nine transects from inland to shelf, and for interpretation of the palaeoclimatic history, is the regional Quaternary stratigraphy, more than 300 datings, fossil content and some palaeomagnetic data. The methods applied in recent years for AMS radiocarbon dating of glacial sediments with low organic carbon content have given promising results with respect to accuracy and precision, and the results of such datings were an important tool for our reconstructions and for timing of the ice oscillations. The rapid and rhythmic ice fluctuations, as reconstructed in our new model, have been fairly synchronous in most parts of Norway. Ice advances commenced and culminated at 40, 30-28, 24-21 and 18-15 (¹⁴C) Kya. We describe three intervening interstadials from inland sites: Hattfjelldal I, Hattfjelldal II and Trofors. Our stratigraphical record also includes many indications of high, pre-Holocene, relative sea levels, suggesting a considerable glacioisostatic depression of western Scandinavia during the interstadials. In our glaciation model we suggest that, in addition to precipitation, the mountainous fjord and valley topography, glacial isostasy and relative sea level changes were probably more important for the size of the glacial fluctuations than were air temperature changes.