Benthic biodiversity indices versus salinity gradient in the southern Baltic Sea

The need to assess the environmental status of marine and coastal waters according to the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) encouraged the design of specific biotic indices to evaluate the response of benthic communities to human-induced changes in water quality. In the present study three of these indices, the traditional Shannon Wiener Index (H') and the more recently published AMBI (AZTI' Marine Biotic Index) and BQI (Benthic Quality Index), were tested along a salinity gradient in the southern Baltic Sea. The comparison of the three indices demonstrates that in the southern Baltic Sea the ecological quality (EcoQ) classification based on macrozoobenthic communities as indicator greatly depends on the biotic index chosen. We found a significant positive relation between species number, H', BQI and salinity resulting in EcoQ status of "Bad", "Poor" or "Moderate" in areas with a salinity value below 10 psu. The AMBI was less dependent on salinity but appear to partly overestimate the EcoQ status. Presently none of these biotic indices appear to be adjusted for application in a gradient system as given in the southern Baltic Sea. A potential approach describing how to overcome this limitation is discussed.     

Characteristics of lipid tracer compounds transported to the Arabian Gulf by runoff from rivers and atmospheric dust transport

River runoff and atmospheric fallout (dust and air particulate matter) are major input sources of natural and anthropogenic terrestrial organic and inorganic components to the Arabian seas. In this study, we report on the various lipid tracer compounds that might be transported to the Arabian Gulf by rivers, dust, and air particulate matter. These are based on geochemical analysis of sediment, dust, and particulate samples collected from Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. The samples were extracted with a dichloromethane/methanol mixture and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The extractable organic compounds (lipids) in the samples include n-alkanes, n-alkanoic acids, n-alkanols, methyl n-alkanoates, steroids, triterpenoids, carbohydrates, and petroleum hydrocarbons. The steroids and triterpenoids were major components in river and wetland samples. The major sources of these lipids were from natural vegetation, microbial (plankton and bacteria) residues in the sediments, sand, and soils, with some contribution from anthropogenic sources. Accordingly, these sources could be major inputs to the Arabian seas besides the autochthonous marine products. Future studies of the organic and inorganic biogeochemistry on river, dust, and coastal areas are needed to characterize the various regional sources, transformation, and diagenetic processes of the organic matter en route to the marine environment.     

Cambrian sedimentary dykes in the Proterozoic basement of the Västervik area (southeast Sweden): episodic formation inferred from macro- and microfabrics

Fabrics of Cambrian sedimentary dykes formed in Proterozoic granites of the Västervik area (Southeast Sweden) evidence repeated opening/filling and mineralisation/cementation events under varying conditions. Diagnostic features include (1) wall-parallel boundaries between epiclastic fillings and (2) early formed dyke sediments that appear as lithoclasts in subsequently formed sedimentary fillings. The psammitic components mostly consist of well-rounded quartz grains related to a coastal environment and fragments from the granitic host rock. Platy calcitic fragments embedded in the epiclastic matrix originally formed as microveins within already-lithified dyke sediments and the adjacent host rock. Convex downward-pointing, internal sagging structures, together with the preferred orientation of compositional boundaries and long axes of grains/rock fragments parallel to the dyke walls, are interpreted as the result of suction-controlled flow of unconsolidated fillings during episodes of downward dyke growth. Pressure solution of quartz grains are evidence of extensional phases with dyke propagation that were interrupted by phases of horizontal compression normal to the dyke walls. The N–S and NE–SW striking sedimentary dykes formed by opening of a pre-existing joint set during NW–SE oriented rifting during the Cambrian.     

An integrated geophysical and geological study of the Monturaqui impact crater,Chile

Abstract— –The Monturaqui impact crater (350–370 m in diameter and 0.1 Ma old), located in a remote area in northern Chile, was surveyed in December 2003 with detailed geophysics (gravity and magnetics), topography, petrophysics, and geology. The geology of the Monturaqui area is characterized by a basement of Paleozoic granites overlain by Pliocene ignimbrite units. No impact breccia was found in the area. The granites are the main lithology affected by the impact. Although the granite samples analyzed did not show evidence of shock metamorphism, quartz, and to a lesser extent feldspar and biotite grains from impactite samples exhibit different degrees of shock, ranging from planar microdeformation and cleavage to the development of intense planar deformation features (PDFs) and diaplectic glasses in some grains. The differential GPS survey allowed the creation of a detailed digital elevation model of the crater. Its dimensions are 370 m along the east‐west direction, 350 m along the north‐south direction, and ～～34 m deep. The crater exhibits a circular morphology with a preferred northwest‐southeast elongation that coincides with the steepest slopes (～～35°) on the southeast edge. The newly acquired gravity data shows a negative anomaly of ～～1 mGal at the center and allowed the creation of a 3‐D model with a RMS error of <0.1 mGal, which supports the predictions of a fracturing‐induced low‐density granitic layer on top of the unfractured basement.     

Topographic modeling of Phoebe using Cassini images

High-resolution Cassini stereo images of Saturn's moon Phoebe have been used to derive a regional digital terrain model (DTM) and an orthoimage mosaic of the surface. For DTM-control a network of 130 points measured in 14 images (70-390 m/pixel resolution) was established which was simultaneously used to determine the orientation of the spin-axis. The J2000 spin-axis was found at Dec=78.0°±0.1° and RA=356.6°±0.3°, substantially different from the former Voyager solution. The control points yield a mean figure radius of 107.2 km with RMS residuals of 6.2 km demonstrating the irregular shape of this body. The DTM was computed from densely spaced conjugate image points determined by methods of digital image correlation. It has a horizontal resolution of 1-2 km and vertical accuracies in the range 50-100 m. It is limited in coverage, but higher in resolution than the previously derived global shape model of Phoebe [Porco et al., 2005. Cassini imaging science: initial results on Phoebe and Iapetus. Science 307, 1237-1242] and allows us to study the morphology of the surface in more detail. There is evidence for unconsolidated material from a steep and smooth slope at the rim of a 100 km impact feature. There are several conically shaped craters on Phoebe, which may hint at highly porous and low compaction material on the surface.     

Listvenite–lode association at the Barramiya gold mine,Eastern Desert,Egypt

Several occurrences of gold-bearing quartz veins are situated along the east–northeast-trending Barramiya–Um Salatit ophiolitic belt in the central Eastern Desert of Egypt. In the Barramiya mine, gold mineralization within carbonaceous, listvenized serpentinite and adjacent to post-tectonic granite stocks points toward a significant role of listvenitization in the ore genesis. The mineralization is related to quartz and quartz–carbonate lodes in silicified/carbonatized wallrocks. Ore minerals, disseminated in the quartz veins and adjacent wallrocks are mainly arsenopyrite, pyrite and trace amounts of chalcopyrite, sphalerite, tetrahedrite, pyrrhotite, galena, gersdorffite and gold. Partial to complete replacement of arsenopyrite by pyrite and/or marcasite is common. Other secondary phases include covellite and goethite. Native gold and gold–silver alloy occur as tiny grains along micro-fractures in the quartz veins. However, the bulk mineralization can be attributed to auriferous arsenopyrite and arsenic-bearing pyrite (with hundreds of ppms of refractory Au), as evident by electron microprobe and LA-ICP-MS analyses.The mineralized quartz veins are characterized by abundant carbonic (CO₂ ± CH₄ ± H₂O) and aqueous-carbonic (H₂O–NaCl–CO₂ ± CH₄) inclusions along intragranular trails, whereas aqueous inclusions (H₂O–NaCl ± CO₂) are common in secondary sites. Based on the fluid inclusions data combined with thermometry of the auriferous arsenopyrite, the pressure–temperature conditions of the Barramiya gold mineralization range from 1.3 to 2.4 kbar at 325–370 °C, consistent with mesothermal conditions. Based on the measured δ³⁴S values of pyrite and arsenopyrite intimately associated with gold, the calculated δ³⁴S_Σs values suggest that circulating magmatic, dilute aqueous-carbonic fluids leached gold and isotopically light sulfur from the ophiolitic sequence. As the ore fluids infiltrated into the sheared listvenite rocks, a sharp decrease in the fluid fO₂ via interaction with the carbonaceous wallrocks triggered gold deposition in structurally favorable sites.     

钼及钼同位素地球化学——同位素体系、测试技术及在地质中的应用

多接收电感耦合等离子体质谱(MC-ICP-MS)的广泛应用使过渡金属元素同位素地球化学的研究近年来获得蓬勃发展.利用元素双稀释剂法对钼同位素值进行校正,目前可以获得±0.1‰(2σ)的测试精度.自然界中钼同位素分馏δ98/95Mo可达～3‰,其分馏机制与环境的氧化-还原状态有关.在氧化环境下钼以MoO2/4-的形式与锰...     

Tokapal tuff-facies kimberlite, Bastar craton, Central India: A nickel prospect?

We report the occurrence of garnierite (a general term referring to Ni-Mg bearing hydrous silicates in laterites) from the crater-facies Tokapal kimberlite of the Bastar craton, Central India. Garnierite occurs as discrete ovoid or amoeboid segregations (up to 200 mm) or as veinlets with up to 18.1 wt% NiO and high iron contents (up to 36.2 wt% FeO^T). Chemical composition of the garnierite implies its derivation from a magnesium-rich protolith. Extensive lateritisation of the large crater-facies (～2.5 km diameter) saucer-shaped kimberlite under tropical weathering conditions, aided by suitable topography, drainage and favourable structural set-up, are the factors inferred to be responsible for the formation of garnierite in the Tokapal system. As lateritic nickel ores constitute significant resources for nickel exploration, the perspective of the Tokapal kimberlite as a nickel prospect needs to be investigated.     

Laminated lake sediments in northeast Poland: distribution, preconditions for formation and potential for paleoenvironmental investigation

Glacial landscapes of the Land of Great Masurian Lakes and Suwa?ki Lakelands in northeast Poland are characterized by very high abundance of lakes. These two areas were surveyed for lakes containing laminated sediments. Using bathymetry as a criterion, 60 small, deep lakes, representing preferred conditions for formation and preservation of lacustrine non-glacial varves, were selected for gravity coring. We found laminated sediments in 24 of the lakes, 15 in the Land of Great Masurian Lakes and 9 in the Suwa?ki Lakeland. Seven of these 24 sediment records were laminated in the topmost part only. Analysis of lake morphometric variables showed that the relation between surface area and maximum water depth can be used to identify lakes with laminated sediments. Most of the newly discovered lakes with laminated deposits have surface areas ≤0.3 km² and maximum depths of 15–35 m. Multivariate statistical analysis (Linear Discriminant Analysis) of the lake dataset identified the morphological features of lake basins and their catchments that largely control preservation of laminated sediments. Microscopic and geochemical analyses revealed a biogenic (carbonaceous) type of lamination typical for lakes in northeast Poland. Such lakes are characterized by a spring-summer lamina that is rich in calcium carbonate and an autumn-winter lamina composed of organic and minerogenic detritus. This pattern may be modified by multiple periods of calcite deposition during a single year or substantial contribution of clastic material. Laminations and high sedimentation rates offer the possibility of high-resolution investigation of past climate and environmental changes through application of myriad biological, isotopic and geochemical proxies.