Analysis of housing price by means of STAR models with neighbourhood effects: a Bayesian approach

In this paper, we extend the Bayesian methodology introduced by Beamonte et al. (Stat Modelling 8:285–311, 2008) for the estimation and comparison of spatio-temporal autoregressive models (STAR) with neighbourhood effects, providing a more general treatment that uses larger and denser nets for the number of spatial and temporal influential neighbours and continuous distributions for their smoothing weights. This new treatment also reduces the computational time and the RAM necessities of the estimation algorithm in Beamonte et al. (Stat Modelling 8:285–311, 2008). The procedure is illustrated by an application to the Zaragoza (Spain) real estate market, improving the goodness of fit and the outsampling behaviour of the model thanks to a more flexible estimation of the neighbourhood parameters.     

Horizontal and vertical variability of soil properties in a trace element contaminated area

The spatial distribution of some soil chemical properties and trace element contents of a plot affected by the Aznalcóllar mine spill were investigated using statistical and geostatistical methods to assess the extent of soil contamination. Total and EDTA-extractable soil trace element concentrations and total S content showed great variability and high coefficients of variation in the three examined depths. Soil in the plot was found to be significantly contaminated by As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn within a wide range of pH. Total trace element concentrations at all depths (0–60 cm) were much higher than background values of non-affected soil, indicating that despite the clean-up operations, the concentration of trace elements in the experimental plot was still high. The spatial distribution of the different variables was estimated by kriging to design contour maps. These maps allowed the identification of specific zones with high metal concentrations and low pH values corresponding to spots of residual sludge. Moreover, kriged maps showed distinct spatial distribution and hence different behaviour for the elements considered. This information may be applied to optimise remediation strategies in highly and moderately contaminated areas.     

On the waterfront: Quaternary environments and the formative occupation of Southwestern Ecuador

The occurrence of tectonic uplift in coastal South American prehistory is discussed and evidence of emerged shoreline features is presented for the area of the Santa Elena Peninsula in Ecuador. It is hypothesized that this activity, once thought to be exclusively Pleistocene in timing, continued on into the Holocene. Given this perspective and field data, the role of the Early Formative Period Valdivia phase (3500-1500 B.C.) site of Real Alto is examined, as is the economic structure of Real Alto society. the pattern of site distribution and data from geological units indicate a long period of tectonic activity that restructured the Ecuadorian coastline and affected northern Andean prehistory. the implications for the origins of Valdivia and New World pottery are reconsidered in light of new information on the Quaternary environments of Ecuador.     

Paired nakhlites MIL 090030, 090032, 090136, and 03346: Insights into the Miller Range parent meteorite

Abstract– Miller Range (MIL) 03346 is the most oxidized and least equilibrated nakhlite known and displays the highest amount of intercumulus phase. The discovery of three new nakhlites, MIL 090030, MIL 090032, and MIL 090136, in the Miller Range, Antarctica, geographically close to the location of MIL 03346, suggests that they may come from the same parent meteorite. In this study, we investigate the mineralogy and texture of cumulus and intercumulus phases, in situ major and trace element compositions for the cumulus phases, as well as pyroxene crystal size distribution patterns and spatial distribution patterns of MIL 090030, 090032, and 090136. Using these combined results, we conclude that the three nakhlites studied here are paired with MIL 03346. However, modal mineral abundances of MIL 090030, 090032, 090136, and 03346 exhibit variations indicating that a single sample of a Miller Range nakhlite is not modally representative of the parent meteorite and that analyses of multiple samples for a single nakhlite may be necessary to obtain representative modal data for placement in the cumulate pile. Our calculated parental melt composition based on all the paired samples confirms a previous study suggesting that the nakhlite parent melt crystallized as a closed system.     

Linking Palaeozoic palaeogeography of the Betic Cordillera to the Variscan Iberian Massif: new insight through the first conodonts of the Nevado-Filábride Complex

International Journal of Earth Sciences - Graphite-rich metamorphic limestones included within low-grade black schists of the lowest Nevado-Filábride tectonic unit in the Sierra de Baza...     

Arabia Terra,Mars: Tectonic and Palaeoclimatic Evolution of a Remarkable Sector of Martian Lithosphere

A regional geologic study of Arabia Terra, a densely cratered area of Mars northern hemisphere, has revealed the individuality of this province. This is best expressed by an equatorial belt with a crater age distinctly younger as compared to the northern part of Arabia Terra and to Noachis Terra to the south. We interpret this as an incipient back-arc system provoked by the subduction of Mars lowlands under Arabia Terra during Noachian times. The regional fracture patterns are also best explained in this manner, making it unnecessary to appeal to a rotational instability of the planet, which is not supported by the palaeoclimatic indicators in the area. This model could be the first regional-scale confirmation of Sleep's (1994) hypothesis of a limited plate consumption as an explanation of the martian dichotomy. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.