Moldavites from the Cheb Basin, Czech Republic

Between 1993 and 2007, an estimated 2500-3000 individual moldavite pieces have been found in the Tertiary Cheb Basin, Western Bohemia. This identifies the area as the third most prominent source of Central European tektites, next to the South Bohemian and West Moravian strewn subfields. Basic macroscopic physical properties (weight, shape, color and sculpture) were evaluated for over 350 individual finds of tektites from 4 different localities in the Cheb Basin. All these properties are similar to those observed for the South Bohemian moldavites, particularly with respect of color and weight distribution. In total, 24 tektites from the Cheb Basin have been characterized chemically using electron microprobe. For comparison, a set of 17 moldavites from the South-Bohemian and Moravian strewn subfields was measured as well. Contents of major elements overlap between the two sample sets; the largest variation was observed for iron. The trends observed in the Harker plots, however, seem to differentiate several partial subgroups, some of them characteristic for Cheb tektites only. These results are also substantiated by cluster analysis, which reveals a tight group for most of the tektites from the Cheb Basin, forming two partial clusters. The rest of the Cheb moldavites cluster with the South Bohemian samples. Minor and trace elements were measured with an LA-ICP-MS technique; CI-normalized REE patterns compare well with those for other moldavites. Many tektites, both from Cheb and South Bohemia or Moravia, display considerable heterogeneity: they frequently show schlieren and fluidal fabric. Two samples of this kind from the Cheb Basin showed considerable enrichment in volatile elements (e.g., Zn and Cu), which is typical for Muong Nong-type Australasian tektites. Mössbauer spectroscopy confirmed the highly reducing character of 5 studied moldavites. Discovery of a new moldavite strewn subfield around Cheb substantiates the theory that moldavites were ejected from the Ries impact structure in a fan-shaped jet, although it is not clear yet if it was continuous or composed of individual rays. In addition, the chemistry of the Cheb moldavites indicates significant precursor material heterogeneity.     

The role and conditions of second-stage mantle melting in the generation of low-Ti tholeiites and boninites: the case of the Manihiki Plateau and the Troodos ophiolite

High-Mg, low-Ti volcanic rocks from the Manihiki Plateau in the Western Pacific share many geochemical characteristics with subduction-related boninites such as high-Ca boninites from the Troodos ophiolite on Cyprus, which are believed to originate by hydrous re-melting of previously depleted mantle. In this paper we compare the Manihiki rocks and Troodos boninites using a new dataset on the major and trace element composition of whole rocks and glasses from these locations, and new high-precision, electron microprobe analyses of olivine and Cr-spinel in these rocks. Our results show that both low-Ti Manihiki rocks and Troodos boninites could originate by re-melting of a previously depleted lherzolite mantle source (20–25% of total melting with 8–10% melting during the first stage), as indicated by strong depletion of magmas in more to less incompatible elements (Sm/Yb < 0.8, Zr/Y < 2, Ti/V < 12) and high-Cr-spinel compositions (Cr# > 0.5). In comparison with Troodos boninites, the low-Ti Manihiki magmas had distinctively lower H₂O contents (< 0.2 vs. > 2 wt% in boninites), ~ 100 °C higher liquidus temperatures at a given olivine Fo-number, lower fO₂ (ΔQFM < + 0.2 vs. ΔQFM > + 0.2) and originated from deeper and hotter mantle (1.4–1.7 GPa, ~ 1440 °C vs. 0.8–1.0 GPa, ~ 1300 °C for Troodos boninites). The data provide new evidence that re-melting of residual upper mantle is not only restricted to subduction zones, where it occurs under hydrous conditions, but can also take place due to interaction of previously depleted upper mantle with mantle plumes from the deep and hotter Earth interior.     

Population ecology of the snail Melampus bidentatus in changing salt marsh landscapes

We studied the population ecology of the snail Melampus bidentatus in relation to patch composition and landscape structure across several salt marsh systems in Connecticut, USA. These marshes have changed significantly over the past 40–50 years including loss of total area, increased areas of short Spartina alterniflora, and decreased areas and fragmentation of Spartina patens. These changes are consistent with tidal inundation patterns that indicate frequent flooding of high marsh areas. Melampus bidentatus densities were highly variable, both among different salt marsh systems and locations within specific marshes, but were generally similar among short Sp. alterniflora and Sp. patens patches within locations. Densities were lowest where the marsh was regularly inundated at high tide and only remnant Sp. patens patches remained. Almost no snails were found in bare patches. Areas that had large Sp. patens patches adjacent to short Sp. alterniflora supported the highest M. bidentatus densities. Population size‐structure varied significantly among patch types, with higher proportions of large individuals in short Sp. alterniflora and hummocked Sp. patens patches than in large and remnant Sp. patens patches. This was likely due to size‐selective predation and/or higher snail growth rates due to better food resource conditions in short Sp. alterniflora patches. Egg mass densities and the number of eggs per egg mass were highest in short Sp. alterniflora. Our results indicate that M. bidentatus is resilient to the level and patterns of salt marsh change evident at our study sites. Indeed, snail densities were significantly higher than reported in other field studies, suggesting that increased patch areas of short Sp. alterniflora and associated environmental conditions at our study sites may provide more favorable habitats than previously when marshes were dominated by extensive Sp. patens meadows. However, there may be threshold conditions that could overwhelm the ability of M. bidentatus to maintain itself within salt marsh systems where changes in hydrology, sedimentation and other factors lead to increased numbers of bare patches and ponds and loss of short Sp. alterniflora and Sp. patens. Studies of the responses of resident and transient fauna to salt marsh change are critically needed in order to better understand the implications for salt marsh ecosystem dynamics and services.     

Steered migration in hard rock environments

Hard rock seismic exploration normally has to deal with rather complex geological environments. These types of environments are usually characterized by a large number of local heterogeneity (e.g., faults, fracture zones, and steeply dipping interfaces). The seismic data from such environments often have a poor signal‐to‐noise ratio because of the complexity of hard rock geology. To be able to obtain reliable images of subsurface structures in such geological conditions, processing algorithms that are capable of handling seismic data with a low signal‐to‐noise ratio are required for a reflection seismic exploration. In this paper, we describe a modification of the 3D Kirchhoff post‐stack migration algorithm that utilizes coherency attributes obtained by the diffraction imaging algorithm in 3D to steer the main Kirchhoff summation. The application to a 3D synthetic model shows the stability of the presented steered migration to the presence of high level of the random noise. A test on the 3D seismic volume, acquired on a mine site located in Western Australia, reveals the capability of the approach to image steep and sharp objects such as fracture and fault zones and lateral heterogeneity.     

Great Silk Road on the Territory of Kazakhstan: From Past to Future

The Great Silk Road is a trade route linking the East and West which gave impetus to the development of ancient society, and Kazakhstan is the heart of the trade route. At the initial stage, intensive transaction of goods took place between the West and East through The Great Silk Road. This paper reviewed the history of development of the Silk Road and suggested that today to construct the "New Silk Road", Kazakhstan should face many issues, and take many steps to become a Eurasian hub through taking full of advantages. Above all, developing mechanisms of integration and sustainable development is our urgent need.     

Fumarolic emissions from Mount St. Augustine,Alaska: 1979–1984 degassing trends,volatile sources and their possible role in eruptive style

Gas samples were collected from high-temperature, rooted summit vents at Mount St. Augustine in 1979, 1982, and 1984. All of the gas samples exhibit various degrees of disequilibrium. Thermodynamic restoration of the analyzed gases permits partial or complete removal of these disequilibrium effects and allows inference of equilibrium gas compositions. Long-term (1979–1984) degassing trends within resampled or adjacent vents are characterized by increases (from 97.4 to 99.8 mole%) in the H₂O fraction and major decreases in the residual gases. Over this same period total gas HCl contents decreased by a factor of 3 to 10 while dry gas (H₂O-free recalculated) HCl contents increased by a factor of 1.6 to 3. Dry gas mole proportions at these sites changed from being CO₂-dominated (46% CO₂, 24% H₂ in 1979) to H₂-dominated (49% H₂, 22% CO₂ in 1984). The overall trends in gas chemistry and the stable isotope patterns in gases and condensates from the summit fumaroles can be explained by progressive magmatic outgassing coupled with increasing proportions of seawater in the fumarole emissions.Studies of the gaseous emissions following the 1976 and 1986 Mount St. Augustine eruptions confirmed the Cl- and S-rich nature of the Mount St. Augustine emanations. Seawater, possibly derived from magmatic assimilation or dehydration of near-surface seawater-bearing sediments, could supply a portion of the outgassed Cl and S. Continued seawater influx through subvolcanic fractures or permeable sediments would recharge the seawater-depleted zone and provide a near-surface Cl and S source for the next eruptive cycle,Various lines of evidence support a phreatomagmatic component in the 1976 and 1986 Mount St. Augustine eruptions. We suggest that seawater may interact with magma or volcanic gases during the early explosive phase of Mount St. Augustine eruptions and that it continues to influence high-temperature fumarole emissions as the volcanic system cools.     

Iron ore of the Lahn-Dill type formed by diagenetic seeping of pyroclastic sequences — a case study on the Schalstein section at Gänsberg (Weilburg)

Investigations on the reconstruction of processes and facies relationships from submarine volcanics of Devonian age in the Lahn syncline (Rhenish Mountains, Western Germany) reveal a complex development of secondary alteration. This is well illustrated by a mafic pyroclastic sequence (»Schalstein«) at the Gänsberg near Weilburg where alteration processes are visible by petrographic and geochemical means and can be further classified by cathodoluminescence. Iron ore formation of Lahn-Dill type is recognized as part of this alteration process, resulting from diagenetic seeping. Until recently a direct magmatic source for the Lahn-Dill type iron ore has been the generally accepted model. These bodies have therefore been viewed as a rather unique stratiform deposit, whose occurrence was virtually confined to this type area. However, it is here considered that the formation of the iron ore corresponds well with existing models of alteration processes within recent oceanic environments which are of a more universal occurrence.

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Zusammenfassung Untersuchungen zur Rekonstruktion der Abläufe an und in den submarinen Vulkangebäuden des Devons (Givet/Adorf-Phase) der Lahnmulde (südliches Rheinisches Schiefergebirge) schließen die sekundäre Alteration mit ein und werden an dem ausschließlich aus basischen Pyroklastiten (Schalstein) aufgebauten Profil am Gänsberg bei Weilburg exemplarisch vorgestellt. Diese anhand petrographischer und geochemischer Kriterien erkennbaren sekundären Prozesse zeigen eine mehrphasige Entwicklung auf, die durch Kathodenlumineszenz-Untersuchungen der Karbonatzemente bestätigt und zeitlich geordnet werden kann. Die an die pyroklastische Abfolge gebundene Roteisensteinvererzung vom Lahn-Dill-Typ läßt sich mit der bei diesen Vorgängen erfolgten Wanderung verschiedener Elemente korrelieren. Damit wird die Vererzung zu einem Produkt der diagenetischen Alteration und nicht der magmatischen Differentiation, wodurch sie mit rezent im ozeanischen Raum beobachteten Prozessen vergleichbar ist. Diese Vorstellungen fügen die Lahn-Dill-Erze in aktualistisch begründete Modelle zur Genese von Erzen ein. Damit erscheint die Besonderheit und fast nur auf den rhenoherzynischen Raum beschränkte Verbreitung dieses Typus hinfällig.

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Résumé L'étude de la succession des phénomènes et des relations facielles dans les volcanites sous-marines d'âge dévonien du synclinal de la Lahn (Massif schisteux rhénan) fait apparaître des processus complexes d'altération secondaire. Ceci est particulièrement bien illustré par la séquence pyroclastique («Schalstein») du Gänsberg près de Weilburg: les processus secondaires, identifiables par des critères pétrographiques et géochimiques y présentent un développement polyphasé dont l'histoire peut être reconstituée par application de la cathodo-luminescence au ciment carbonaté. Les minéralisations en fer associées à la série pyroclastique peuvent être corrélées avec les migrations de divers éléments impliqués dans ces processus. Ces minéralisations apparaissent ainsi comme le produit d'une altération diagénétique et ne correspondent donc pas au modèle généralement admis d'une différenciation magmatique. Cette genèse par altération est d'ailleurs conforme à ce qu'on observe dans les domaines océaniques récents de sorte que les gisements de la région Lahn-Dill doiventêtre considérés non pas comme une singularité du massif schisteux rhénan, mais comme l'expression d'un phénomène plus général à caractère actualiste.

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Lightning climatology in Colombia

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - Colombia’s lightning climatology was studied using 16 years of high-resolution data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Lightning Imaging Sensor...     

Walking algorithms for point location in TIN models

Finding which triangle in a planar or 2.5D triangle mesh contains a query point (so-called point location problem) is a frequent task in geosciences, especially when working with triangulated irregular network models. Usually, a large number of point locations has to be performed, and so there is a need for fast algorithms having minimal additional memory requirements and resistant to changes in the triangulation. So-called walking algorithms offer low complexity, easy implementation, and negligible additional memory requirements, which makes them suitable for such applications. In this article, we focus on these algorithms, summarize, and compare them with regard to their use in geosciences. Since such a summary has not been done yet, our article should serve those who are dealing with this problem in their application to decide which algorithm would be the best for their solution. Moreover, the influence of the triangulation type on the number of the visited triangles is discussed.