Isotopic and Elemental Imaging of Geological Materials by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

Laser ablation ICP-MS represents a promising new development for the acquisition of elemental and isotopic images from a variety of different materials. Compared to existing methods for imaging, it offers relatively rapid throughput, very wide dynamic range, a relatively clean mass spectrum, utility at a variety of scales (from μm to cm) and multi-element/isotopic capability. Although developing rapidly in the biological sciences, the method has not yet seen widespread application to geological materials. This contribution documents some preliminary experiments aimed at understanding the fundamental aspects of elemental and isotopic image acquisition using laser ablation ICP-MS. In particular, we note that ablation cell designs must be optimised to promote rapid system response, in contrast to the signal-smoothing that is often preferred for simple spot analyses. Furthermore, experimental parameters must be carefully evaluated on a system-by-system basis to avoid the blurring effects of re-sampling phenomena. With careful attention to these details, and development of appropriate data processing software, laser ablation ICP-MS imaging has much to offer workers in the Earth and environmental sciences.     

Un réseau fluviatile d'âge Burdigalien terminal dans le Sud-Est de la France : remplissage,extension, âge,implications

An integrated study combining facies analysis, multiple group biostratigraphy, identification of depositional sequences and mapping has been conducted on the Miocene Molasse Basin of the external Alps (southeastern France). The filling of the basin is described as resulting from a succession of fluvial incisions subsequently filled during marine transgressions. The major incision is dated as Latest Burdigalian and the major transgression as Langhian. This revised interpretation of the Miocene physiographic evolution of the Molasse Basin implies a re-examination of previous stratigraphic correlations within the basin. To cite this article: D. Besson et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

The Energy Balance Experiment EBEX-2000. Part I: overview and energy balance

An overview of the Energy Balance Experiment (EBEX-2000) is given. This experiment studied the ability of state-of-the-art measurements to close the surface energy balance over a surface (a vegetative canopy with large evapotranspiration) where closure has been difficult to obtain. A flood-irrigated cotton field over uniform terrain was used, though aerial imagery and direct flux measurements showed that the surface still was inhomogeneous. All major terms of the surface energy balance were measured at nine sites to characterize the spatial variability across the field. Included in these observations was an estimate of heat storage in the plant canopy. The resultant imbalance still was 10%, which exceeds the estimated measurement error. We speculate that horizontal advection in the layer between the canopy top and our flux measurement height may cause this imbalance, though our estimates of this term using our measurements resulted in values less than what would be required to balance the budget. The National Center for Atmospheric Research is supported by the National Science Foundation     

Observed Trends in Total Vertical Column Abundances of Atmospheric Gases from IR Solar Spectra Recorded at the Jungfraujoch

Since 1984, about 15000 high quality infrared solar spectra have beenrecorded with state-of-the-art grating and Fourier transform spectrometersat the International Scientific Station of the Jungfraujoch, Switzerland.Nonlinear least squares spectral curve fitting of selected microwindowscontaining isolated and well characterized lines of 20 telluric gases haveallowed to retrieve their total vertical column abundances above thestation, leading to observational data bases essential to derive long- andshort-term changes experienced by these species during the last 12 years. Inthis paper, we focus on atmospheric gases of particular interest within thecontext of the EUROTRAC/TOR (Tropospheric Ozone Research) project; secularevolution as well as seasonal cycles of the minor constituentsCH₄, CO and of the trace gasesC₂H₆, OCS, C₂H₂, HCNand H₂CO are reported and discussed. The long-livedN₂O is included as a tracer of the dynamic activity of theatmosphere.     

Hydrogen incorporation in enstatite in the system MgO–SiO2–H2O–NaCl

The incorporation of hydrogen in enstatite in a hydrous system containing various amounts of NaCl was investigated at 25 kbar. The hydrogen content in enstatite shows a clear negative correlation to the NaCl-concentration in the system. The most favourable explanation is the reduction of water fugacity due to dilution. Other reasons for the limited hydrogen incorporation at high NaCl levels, such as a significant influence of Na⁺ on the defect chemistry or an exchange between OH^- and Cl⁻in enstatite, appear much less important. A partition coefficient D _Na ^En/Fluid = 0.0013 could be determined, demonstrating that Na is less incompatible in enstatite than H. The new results support the idea that dissolved components have to be considered when the total hydrogen storage capacity in nominally anhydrous minerals is estimated, especially in geological settings with high levels of halogens, such as subduction zones.     

P–T–t evolution of the Cycladic Blueschist Unit in Western Anatolia/Turkey: Geodynamic implications for the Aegean region

Eclogite and blueschist facies rocks occurring as a tectonic unit between the underlying Menderes Massif (MM) and the overlying Afyon Zone/Lycian Nappes and the Bornova Flysch Zone in western Anatolia represent the eastward continuation of the Cycladic Blueschist Unit (CBU) in Turkey. This high-P unit is attributed to the closure of the Pindos Ocean and consists of (a) a Triassic to Upper Cretaceous coherent series derived from passive continental margin sediments and (b) the tectonically overlying Upper Cretaceous Selçuk mélange with eclogite blocks embedded in a pelitic epidote-blueschist matrix. The coherent series has experienced epidote-blueschist facies metamorphism (490 ± 25°C/11.5 ± 1.5 kbar; 38 km depth). ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar white mica and ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U monazite dating of quartz metaconglomerate from coherent series yielded middle Eocene ages of 44 ± 0.3 and 40.1 ± 3.1 Ma for epidote-blueschist facies metamorphism, respectively. The epidote-blueschist facies metamorphism of the matrix of the Selçuk mélange culminates at 520 ± 15°C/13 ± 1.5 kbar, 43 km depth, and is dated at 57.5 ± 0.3–54.5 ± 0.1 Ma (⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar phengite). Eclogite facies metamorphism of the blocks (570 ± 30°C/18 ± 2 kbar, 60 km depth) is early Eocene and dated at 56.2 ± 1.5 Ma by ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U zircon. Eclogites experienced a nearly isothermal retrogression (490 ± 40°C/~6 to 7 kbar) during their incorporation into the Selçuk mélange. The retrograde overprints of the coherent series (410 ± 15°C/7 ± 1.5 kbar from Dilek Peninsula and 485 ± 33°C/~6 to 7 kbar from Selçuk–Tire area) and the Selçuk mélange (510 ± 15°C/6 ± 1 kbar) are dated at 35.8 ± 0.5–34.3 ± 0.1 Ma by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar white mica and 31.6 ± 6.6 Ma by ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U allanite dating methods, respectively. Regional geological constrains reveal that the contact between the MM and the CBU originally formed a lithosphere-scale transform fault zone. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar white mica age from the contact indicates that the CBU and the MM were tectonically juxtaposed under greenschist facies conditions during late Eocene, 35.1 ± 0.3 Ma.     

Environmental impacts of household appliances in Europe and scenarios for their impact reduction

Assessing the environmental impact due to consumption of goods and services is a pivotal step towards achieving the sustainable development goal related to responsible production and consumption (i.e. SDG 12). Household appliances plays a crucial role and should be assessed in a systemic manner, namely considering all life cycle stages, technological efficiency, and affluence aspects. The present study assess the impact of such household appliances used in Europe, and tests scenarios of potential impact reduction at various scales. Life cycle assessment is applied to 14 different household appliances (ranging from dishwashers to television devices) selected to build a set of representative products, based on their economic value and diffusion in households in Europe. Related impacts are calculated with the Environmental Footprint method for calculating a Consumer Footprint “appliances” for the baseline year 2010. A number of scenarios encompassing eco-solutions on a technical level, changes in consumption pattern, behavioral changes, as well as the combination of all these aspects are run to estimate the Consumer Footprint related to household appliances for the year 2030, compared against this baseline scenario. The baseline Consumer Footprint is confirming the importance of the use phase in leading the impacts in almost all impact categories. Testing different scenarios concludes that there is a reduction of the impact for most of the categories (with up to 67% for the ozone depletion potential, and still around 35% for the global warming potential), while two of the here examined impact categories (i.e. land-use and mineral resource depletion) show an overall potential that is even negative – i.e. the results of all scenarios are higher than the ones of the 2010 baseline scenario. The increase in purchase and use of such appliances may offset energy efficiency benefits in some of the examined categories. Hence, the assessment of sustainability of appliances consumption should always include several scales, from the efficiency of the products (micro scale), to the improvement of the energy mix (meso scale), up to accounting for socio-economic drivers and patterns of consumption affecting the overall appliances stock (macro scale).     

Microstructure and texture formation in extruded lead sulfide (galena)

Lead sulfide (galena) of different purity and grain size was extruded through a round and rectangular die at temperatures between 773 and 923 K. Global and local lattice preferred orientations (here referred to as textures) were measured by neutron and electron back-scattering diffraction. Tension leads to a <100> <111> double fibre texture. Pure shear deformation yields texture components near the ideal face-centered cubic metal brass, copper, Goss and cube positions. The intensity of the components depends on the purity and/or grain size. The microstructure is partially recrystallized. Electron back-scattering diffraction indicates that in tension the <100> and in pure shear the Goss and cube components are associated with dynamic recrystallization. The deformation texture can be qualitatively explained by the full and relaxed constraints Taylor model using slip on {100}<110>, {110}<110> and {111}<110> systems. The texture formation in lead sulfide compares well with that observed for other ionic crystals with the NaCl-structure as well as for face-centered cubic metals with a high stacking fault energy.