Relationship of manganese-iron oxides and associated heavy metals to grain size in stream sediments

The distribution of ammonium citrate-leachable lead, zinc and cadmium among size fractions in stream sediments is strongly influenced by the presence of hydrous Mn-Fe oxides in the form of coatings on sediment grains. Distribution curves showing leachable metals as a function of particle size are given for eight samples from streams in New York State. These show certain features in common; in particular two concentrations of metals, one in the finest fractions, and a second peak in the coarse sand and gravel fraction. The latter can be explained as a result of the increasing prevalence and thickness of oxide coatings with increasing particle size, with the oxides serving as collectors for the heavy metals. The distribution of Zn and Cd in most of the samples closely parallels that of Mn; the distribution of Pb is less regular and appears to be related to Fe in some samples and Mn in others. The concentration of metals in the coarse fractions due to oxide coatings, combined with the common occurrence of oxide deposition in streams of glaciated regions, raises the possibility of using coarse materials for geochemical surveys and environmental heavy-metal studies.     

Dissolved chromium in the St. Lawrence estuary

A study of dissolved chromium in the St. Lawrence estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence has been carried out. A chromium concentration of 0·7 μg l^?1 was found in the St. Lawrence River. In the turbidity maximum of the upper estuary, chromium is removed from solution onto fine-grained resuspended sediments and internally produced organic-rich floccules. A simple flux calculation shows that these processes remove ～50% of the total dissolved chromium input of the river. At salinities greater than 5‰ dissolved chromium mixes conservatively.     

A Comparative Study of Five Reference Materials and the Lombard Meteorite for the Determination of the Platinum‐Group Elements and Gold by LA‐ICP‐MS

A range of independently characterised reference materials (RMs) for LA‐ICP‐MS, used for the determination of the platinum‐group elements (PGE) and Au in a sulfide matrix, were analysed and compared: 8b, PGE‐A, NiS‐3, Po727‐T1, Po724‐T and the Lombard meteorite. The newly developed RM NiS‐3 was used as the RM for the calibration of all LA‐ICP‐MS analyses and the measured concentrations of the other RMs compared against their published concentrations. This data were also used to assess the consistency of concentrations calibrated against the different RMs. It was found that Po727‐T1 and 8b produced results that were comparable, within uncertainty, for all elements. Po727‐T1 also produced consistent results with NiS‐3 for all elements. All other RMs showed differences for some elements, especially Ru in Po724‐T, and Os, Ir and Au in PGE‐A. The homogeneity of the PGE and Au in each RM was assessed, by comparing the precision of multiple LA‐ICP‐MS spot analyses with the average uncertainty of the signal. Po724‐T, Po727‐T1 and the Lombard meteorite were found to be homogeneous for all elements, but 8b, PGE‐A and NiS‐3 were heterogeneous for some elements. This is the first direct comparison between a range of independently characterised PGE and Au LA‐ICP‐MS RMs.     

Satellite observations of phytoplankton variability during an upwelling event

A sequence of satellite images of near-surface phytoplankton pigment concentrations and sea surface temperature together with concurrent surface measurements are used to study an upwelling event during the Coastal Ocean Dynamics Experiment off northern California. These data sets show a high degree of temporal and spatial variability during this episode. Recurrent patterns in this variability give insight into the dynamics of coastal upwelling and its effects on biological distributions. Simple models of coastal upwelling cannot explain the observed phenomena in the CODE region. Satellite estimates of phytoplankton growth rates were about 0.8 day⁻¹ near persistent upwelling centers.     

New rebbachisaurid (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) material from the Wessex Formation (Barremian, Early Cretaceous), Isle of Wight, United Kingdom

Rebbachisauridae is a poorly understood clade of diplodocoid sauropod dinosaurs, currently known only from the Cretaceous of Africa, Europe and South America. European representatives are particularly rare and fragmentary. Here, we report an anterior caudal vertebra from the Barremian (Early Cretaceous) Wessex Formation of the Isle of Wight, off the southern coast of England. This specimen possesses several features known only in rebbachisaurids and shares two synapomorphies with the Afro-European taxa Demandasaurus darwini and Nigersaurus taqueti, both pertaining to the morphology of the neural spine. These features are the development of triangular lateral processes and the presence of an elliptical fossa on the lateral surface, bounded by the lateral lamina and postspinal rugosity. The Isle of Wight specimen also shares several features solely with Demandasaurus, indicating a close relationship with the Spanish taxon. These include the presence of a hyposphenal ridge, as well as an anteriorly excavated caudal rib that is restricted almost entirely to the neural arch. However, it differs from Demandasaurus in a number of ways, including the lack of excavation on the posterior surface of the caudal rib, the orientation of the neural spine, and the composition and morphology of the lateral lamina. In addition, the Isle of Wight vertebra possesses one potential autapomorphy: bifurcation of the elliptical fossa on the neural spine. However, because of the fragmentary nature of the material, a new name is not erected. Along with Demandasaurus and Histriasaurus boscarollii, this caudal vertebra indicates the presence of at least three European rebbachisaurid taxa and provides new anatomical information on this enigmatic clade of sauropod dinosaurs.     

Effect of rising atmospheric CO2 on sediment and water 15N interactions in experimental riparian wetland

The experiment was conducted to ascertain net production and consumption rates of ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ and ¹⁵NO₃ ^? for water and sediment in a wetland. This was done using ¹⁵N isotope pool dilution methodology under ambient and elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations in experimental riparian wetlands to obtain the gross N transformation rates. The ¹⁵N budget for sediment was also estimated. The results suggested that the differences in high proportion of ¹⁵N concentration in the overlying water body under elevated CO₂ could be attributed to the low production and high consumption rates of ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ in sediment. The elevated CO₂ effect on production and consumption of NH₄ ⁺ decreased by 144 % (P = 0.014) and increased by 153 % (P = 0.009), respectively. Thereby, ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ production rates are negatively related with ¹⁵NO₃ ^? consumption rates and this accounted for the decreases in net ¹⁵NO₃ ^? consumption under CO₂ enrichment in the wetland sediment by 11 % (P = 0.528). Therefore, ¹⁵NO₃ ^? production and consumption rates may strongly depend on NH₄ ⁺ production. Inorganic ¹⁵N and total ¹⁵N exported from sediment to overlying water body by the effect of CO₂ were 41 % (P = 0.071) and 18 % (P = 0.000), respectively. Therefore, low net ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ production and high ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ consumption rates under elevated CO₂ may partly explain the significant reduction of N from the sediment.     

Organic geochemical studies of a recent Inner Great Barrier Reef sediment—I. Assessment of input sources

The concentration of solvent-extractable (SE) and bound hydrocarbons, ketones, alcohols, sterols, monocarboxylic acids, hydroxyacids and α,ω-dicarboxylic acids of a surface sample (0–2.5 cm) from a recent carbonate tropical sediment taken at 60ft (18m) depth north-west of the Low Isles, North Queensland, are reported in detail. n-Alkanes are a minor constituent in the SE and bound hydrocarbon fractions with the major component being unresolved complex hydrocarbon material which is not an anthropogenic input. 6,10,14-Trimethylpentadecan-2-one derived from chlorophyll, as well as phytol, were identified as major components of the ketone and alcohol constituents. No chlorophyll pigments or pigmented degradation products were present, implying degradation before incorporation into the sediment. This conclusion is consistent with evidence for higher-plant input in which all sensitive lipids have been degraded before incorporation. SE and bound fractions have been studied in detail and show considerable differences probably arising from the importance of viable biomass in the SE fraction. Inputs to the sediment are determined as higher plants, algae, bacteria, fungi and meiofauna in descending order of importance.