Über den Einfluß der Mikroflora auf die exogene Dynamik (Verwitterung und Krustenbildung)

Zusammenfassung Geomikrobiologische Untersuchungen können zur Klärung vieler ungelöster Fragen des exogenen Kreislaufes der Elemente beitragen. Mikrobiologische Verwitterung und Krustenbildung finden in allen Klimabereichen der Erde statt, wobei der Einfluß der Mikroflora mehr oder weniger groß ist und von Fragen der Mikroenvironments und der beteiligten Arten abhängt. Zum Beispiel können Flechten vorwiegend gesteinsschützend (humides Klima) wirken oder tiefgreifende Zerstörungen (arides Klima) verursachen, je nach den angetroffenen edaphischen Bedingungen. Bei Untersuchungen zur Frage der Verwitterung und Krustenbildung im Negev (Israel) wurde festgestellt, daß das schwankende Gleichgewicht zwischen Oberflächenzerstörung, -konservierung oder -verkrustung in vielen Fällen durch die immer anwesende Mikroflora gesteuert wird. Die speziellen Licht- und Feuchtigkeitsbedingungen in ariden Gebieten begünstigen in besonderem Maße die Entwicklung eines Pionieredaphons aus Flechten, Blaualgen und Pilzen.Die Verwitterung anstehender Kalke und der sogenannten Wüstenpflaster (desert pavements) wird durch biologische Lösungsfronten eingeleitet und gesteuert, an denen Strauchflechten, Krustenflechten, endolithische Flechten, isoliert lebende hypolithische, chasmolithische und endolithische Algen (insbes. Cyanophyceen), Pilze und Bakterien beteiligt sind. In den Bereichen größter Verwitterungsintensität leben gleichzeitig die größten Mikroorganismenpopulationen. Auch die Entstehung von Eisen-Mangan-Krusten (Wüstenlack) im Negev und verschiedenen anderen Bereichen wird auf die Tätigkeit von eisen- und manganfällenden Flechten, Algen, Pilzen und Bakterien zurückgeführt. Da diese Eisen-Mangan-Fällungen weltweit verbreitet und in ihrer Ausbildung nur wenig unterschieden sind, können sie nicht als paläoklimatische Indikatoren verwendet werden.Die Vorgänge von Lösung und Fällung in ariden Gebieten, die bisher durch das Wechselspiel zwischen Erhitzung und Abkühlung sowie Befeuchtung und Evaporisation gedeutet wurden, werden zumindest in großen Teilen der heutigen Wüsten stark durch das mikrobiologische Pionieredaphon beeinflußt. Die heftige mikrobiologische Manganfällung, die im Bereich der meisten untersuchten Eisen-Mangan-Krusten nachgewiesen wurde, erklärt zwanglos die häufigen anormalen Schwankungen im Eisen-Mangan-Verhältnis sowie die Anreicherung dieser Elemente auf Gesteinen, die nahezu eisen- und manganfrei sind.

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Geomicrobiological investigations contribute to the solution of many open problems concerning the cycle of elements (i. e. weathering and deposition of minerals). Microbial weathering and crust development take place in all regions and under all climates of the earth. The part which the microflora takes in the whole process is dependant on microclimate, environment and composition of the rocks concerned. E. g. lichens in humid climates usually protect rocks from weathering while the same organism is one of the most effective deterioration agencies under arid climatic conditions.During some investigations in the Negev (Israel) we found that the instable equilibrium between surface corrosion, surface conservation and crust development is often controlled by microbial activities. The special conditions of light and humidity in desert regions favour especially the development of lichens, blue-green algae and fungi.The weathering of outcropping limestones and of the rocks of desert pavements is initiated and directed by biological solution fronts, which are composed of hypolithic lichens, endolithic lichens, hypolithic, chasmolithic and endolithic algae, fungi and bacteria. Regions of extreme weathering on the stones are simultaneously the places of the largest microbial populations. The development of iron-manganese-crusts (i. e. desert varnish) in the Negev (Israel) and in different regions of all climates is proved to be often connected to microbial activities. Lichens, algae and some special fungi and bacteria which precipitate Manganese and iron have been isolated from 11 samples of iron-manganese-crusts. Since these phenomena are world-wide distributed, they cannot be regarded as paleoclimatic indicators.The processes of solution and precipitation in arid regions, which have been regarded until now as purely physico-chemical (heating and cooling, wetting and evaporisation) have improved to be very often influenced by microbial activities. The intensive precipitation of Mn by microorganisms which live within iron-manganese-crusts explains the abnormal fluctuations of Fe/Mn-ratios in iron-manganese-crusts (desert varnishes) and the enrichment of iron and Manganese on rocks, which are nearly free of these elements.-- . , , . , , , ( ), ( ). () , , . (, ), . (desert pavements) , , , . . , , . , : , . (F + n) , , , . , , , , .

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Résumé Les recherches géomicrobiologiques peuvent résoudre plusieurs questions indécises du cycle éxogène des éléments. L'altération microbiologique et le developpement des croûtes influencé par des microorganismes ont lieu partout dans le monde. L'influence de la microflore dépend du milieu et des éspèces participantes. Les lichens par exemple peuvent être protéctants (climat humide) ou bien détériorants (climat aride) dépendant des conditions concernées.Pendant des recherches sur l'altération et le développement des Croûtes au Négév (Israel) nous avons constaté que l'équilibre instable entre détérioration et conservation des surfaces et le developpement des croûtes est souvant controllé par la microflore exo- et endolithique. Les conditions spéciales de lumière, température et humidité dans les régions désertiques sont souvent extrèmement positives pour lichens, algues bleu-vertes et champignons.L'altération des calcaires en place et sur les hammada (desert pavement) est souvent déclenchée et controllèe par des «zônes de solution biologique» qui pénètrent les pierres. Ces zônes de solution sont composées de lichens de surface, lichens endolithiques, algues hypolithiques, chasmolithiques et endolithiques, par champignons et bactéries. Dans les régions d'altération intensive la microflore est la plus nombreuse. Le développement des croûtes mangano-férrugineuses au Négév (Israel) et ailleurs est produit souvent par des lichens, champignons et bactéries qui précipitent fer et manganèse. En 11 parmi 14 échantillons nous avons isolé des organismes (champignons et bactéries) qui précipitent du manganèse en culture de laboratoire. Parceque ces croûtes de fer et manganèse sont distribuées partout sur le monde entier on ne peut pas les comprendre comme indices de paléoclimatologie.Les processus de solution et précipitation en zones arides, qu'on a compris jusqu'à présent comme résultat d'insolation et d'évaporisation, sont au moins partiellement produits par la microflore abondante. La précipitation intensive de manganèse par la microflore des croûtes mangano-ferrugineuses explique aisément les fluctuations anormales des proportions Fe/Mn dans les croûtes et l'enrichissement de ces élements sur des roches qui ne contiennent pas de fer et manganèse.

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Für freundliche Hilfe bei den Arbeiten in Israel danke ich besonders Prof. Dr. M.Evenari, Prof. Dr. Y. K.Bentor, Prof. Dr. M.Shilo, Prof. Dr. L.Picard, Z.Garfunkel und A.Katz. Für technische Hilfe danke ich U.Grütze und G.Tadday. Für die Reise standen mir Zuschüsse von der DFG zur Verfügung.     

Verteilung von Fe,Mn, Ca und Mg im Karbonspati der Blei-Zink-Erzgänge des Südlichen Rheinischen Schiefergebirges

The statistical study of the chemical composition of the carbonates I in the lead-zinc ore district belonging to the southern ?Rheinisches Schiefergebirge“ represents a suitable method for characterising the ore veins and their types in this district. It allows to find out and to confirm the genetic relationships. In a detailed study (Hannak, 1965) the iron-manganese ratio in the carbonates I of the veins has been investigated and it has been shown that the Fe-Mn quotient can be employed as a typological factor for the types of the ore veins. Supplementary to this, the calcium-magnesium distribution has been followed up and compared with that of iron-manganese. The investigation led to the conclusion that calcium and magnesium also show a distribution which is characteristic of the veins and of different vein types. Investigations concerning the conditions of formation as well as the possibility of solid solutions in the above treated system will be made in some later studies.     

Field measurement of air-sea gas transfer: A methodical search

In order to obtain field data of ocean-atmosphere gas transfer coefficients, it is preferable to measure the interfacial gas flux in the air rather than in the water. This approach has been reported in the literature for CO₂. However, it is shown here that ²²²Rn and methyliodide, CH₃I, may be more suitable gases for air-side flux measurements.     

Shock effects in MgAl2O4-spinel

Shock recovery experiments on synthetic MgAl₂O₄-spinel samples in the pressure range 25.5 to 50.5 GPa have been performed in order to examine the effects of shock waves on this material. The shocked samples were subsequently studied in the transmission electron microscope. All samples showed shock-induced dislocations with the Burgers vector 1/2 〈110〉 and twin lamellae of the twin-law {111}. In addition, samples, which had experienced the higher pressures, showed lamellar areas of a crystalline phase that we have not yet been able fully to characterize. It is probably not ε-MgAl₂O₄.     

The Cretaceous sedimentary history of the Pindos Basin (Greece)

The Cretaceous sedimentary rocks of the Pindos Zone in western Greece document the evolution of a Tethyan deep-water basin. New sedimentological and micropalaeontological studies reveal a complex basin history. Siliceous sediments with abundant radiolaria and organic-rich facies prevailed up to the early Late Cretaceous. Within the sediment-starved pre-Middle Cenomanian, marked black shale levels appear that are probably linked to oceanic anoxic events. At the change from the late Early to the early Middle Cenomanian, the sedimentary regime altered abruptly. The early Late Cretaceous is characterized by major calcareous redepositional events (orbitoline horizons) and often associated siliciclastic turbidite deposition (submarine-fan environments). In the late Late Cretaceous, carbonate supply increased rapidly, resulting in the evolution of a carbonate slope and basin-plain setting. Pelagic and allodapic limestones recorded basinwide blooms in planktonic foraminifera (elevata event) and a polyphase redepositional history that is interpreted to reflect the sensitivity of the basin to the tectonic evolution of Apulia.     

The distribution of inselbergs and their relationship to geomorphological, structural and lithological controls in Southern Zimbabwe

The gneissic-granitic basement of southern Zimbabwe is characterized by a wide variety of inselbergs, preferentially developed on the granitoid rocks. However, there are significant differences in the frequency of inselbergs and most inselbergs occur in the younger granitoid rocks, particularly in rocks with microcline as the dominant K-feldspar, but their distribution is not uniform. Completely isolated inselbergs are rare and most inselbergs are arranged in clusters or are associated with plateaus or they occur as the detached ends of spurs and ridges.Chemical and mineralogical investigations indicate significant differences in the composition of the older and younger granitoid rocks. The latter are characterized by a higher content of alkali feldspars and a lower content of plagioclase and mafic minerals.The influences of texture, fabric and fracture characteristics on the resistance of the rocks vary. In the southern part of the study area the majority of rock domes is associated with porphyritic granites and fine-grained granites, whilst inselbergs of the large batholith complexes in the northern part of the study area show virtually no relationships to the grain-size of the rocks.Thin-sections analysis indicate, that the rocks of the terrains with a higher density of inselbergs are characterized by an intense intergrowth of minerals and a higher number of contacts between quartz and alkali feldspars. Particularly in the case of the porphyritic granites the influence of texture on the frequency of rock domes is linked with two factors. These are a high content of microcline minerals that have filled the interstices of the surrounding mineral framework and enclosed the surrounding minerals. Overgrowths and replacement micro-structures indicate a long lasting crystallization, which appears to be responsible for a lower density of cooling fractures. Enclosure of the more vulnerable minerals in the more resistant microcline megacrysts retards the loosening of the rock constituents.The marked differences in the lithological and structural characteristics of the various granitoid rocks influence the weathering behaviour of the rocks and illustrate that the divergent weathering characteristics of the rocks are strongly dependent on lithological and structural factors.     

New approaches to integrated quality assessment of lakeshores

The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires the ecological assessment of water bodies. Since the littoral zones and the lakeshores are part of lakes as water bodies as defined by the WFD, a new scheme for ecological quality assessment of lakeshores should be established. It is proposed that this scheme should go beyond the formal requirements of the WFD, as it includes aspects of nature conservancy, landscape protection, and regional planning and development. Some of these aspects are subject to other EU legislation (e.g. Habitats Directive) and some are subject to national legislation. Ten general Quality Elements (QEs) are proposed, which can be refined and reified through several levels of detail, depending on the specific aims of a study. A list of eleven topics, which should be discussed in the establishment of the lakeshore quality assessment scheme, is given. The more complex ones are the implementation of other EU legislation, the definition of lakeshore types and reference conditions, the stipulation of best aggregation procedures, and a better understanding of the significance of hydrological and morphological impacts on the biota.     

Late Quaternary glacial and climate history of the Pamir Mountains derived from cosmogenic Be exposure ages

Moraines southwest of Lake Yashilkul, Pamir, Tajikistan, were dated using ¹⁰Be exposure ages of boulder surfaces. We found evidence for (1) an extensive glaciation ∼60,000 yr ago; (2) a less extensive glacial advance, which deposited a characteristic hummocky moraine lobe with exposure ages ranging from ∼11,000 to 47,000 yr, probably deposited at or before 47,000 yr ago; and (3) lateral moraines with exposure ages of ∼40,000 yr, 27,000 yr and 19,000 yr, respectively. Increasing aridity in the Pamir is most likely responsible for the progressively limited extent of the glaciers during the Late Pleistocene.     

Formation of Al-rich titanite (CaTiSiO4O–CaAlSiO4OH) reaction rims on ilmenite in metamorphic rocks as a function of fH2O and fO2

Reaction rims of titanite on ilmenite are described in samples from four terranes of amphibolite-facies metapelites and amphibolites namely the Tamil Nadu area, southern India; the Val Strona area of the Ivrea-Verbano Zone, northern Italy, the Bamble Sector, southern Norway, and the northwestern Austroalpine Ötztal Complex. The titanite rims, and hence the stability of titanite (CaTiSiO₄O) and Al–OH titanite, i.e. vuaganatite (hypothetical end-member CaAlSiO₄OH), are discussed in the light of fH₂O- and fO₂-buffered equilibria involving clinopyroxene, amphibole, biotite, ilmenite, magnetite, and quartz in the systems CaO–FeO/Fe₂O₃–TiO₂–SiO₂–H₂O–O₂ (CFTSH) and CaO–FeO/Fe₂O₃–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O–O₂ (CFASH) present in each of the examples. Textural evidence suggests that titanite reaction rims on ilmenite in rocks from Tamil Nadu, Val Strona, and the Bamble Sector originated most likely due to hydration reactions such as clinopyroxene + ilmenite + quartz + H₂O = amphibole + titanite and oxidation reactions such as amphibole + ilmenite + O₂ = titanite + magnetite + quartz + H₂O during amphibolite-facies metamorphism, or, as in the case of the Ötztal Complex, during a subsequent greenschist-facies overprint. Overstepping of these reactions requires fH₂O and fO₂ to be high for titanite formation, which is also in accordance with equilibria involving Al–OH titanite. This study shows that, in addition to P, T, bulk–rock composition and composition of the coexisting fluid, fO₂ and fH₂O also play an important role in the formation of Al-bearing titanite during amphibolite- and greenschist-facies metamorphism.