Mineralogical and geochemical investigation of layered chromitites from the Bracco–Gabbro complex, Ligurian ophiolite, Italy

The Bracco–Gabbro Complex (Internal Liguride ophiolite), that intruded subcontinental mantle peridotite, contains layers of chromitite that are associated with ultramafic differentiates. The chromitites and disseminated chromites in the ultramafics have Al contents similar to the Al-rich podiform chromitites [0.40 < Cr# = Cr/(Cr + Al) < 0.55]. TiO₂ contents of the chromitites are unusually high and range up to 0.82 wt%. The calculated Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ content of the parental melt suggest that the melt was a MORB type. Geothermobarometrical calculations on few preserved silicate inclusions revealed formation temperatures between 970 and 820 °C under a relatively high oxygen fugacity (ΔlogfO₂ at +2.0–2.4). Chromitites were altered during the post-magmatic tectono-metamorphic uplift and the final exposure at the seafloor, as evidenced by the formation of ferrian chromite. The PGE contents of the chromitites and associated ultramafics are unusually low (PGEmax 83 ppb). The chondrite-normalized PGE spidergrams show positive PGE patterns and to some extent similarities with the typical trend of stratiform chromitites. No specific PGM have been found but low concentrations of PPGE (Rh, Pt, and Pd) have been detected in the sulphides that occur interstitially to or enclosed in chromite. Recently, it has been shown that the Internal Liguride gabbroic intrusions have formed by relatively low degrees of partial melting of the asthenospheric mantle. We conclude that the low degree of partial melting might be the main factor to control the unusual low PGE contents and the rather unique PGE distribution in the Bracco chromitites.     

The effect of aluminum and water on the development of deformation fabrics of orthopyroxene

The effect of alumina and water solubility on the development of fabric in orthopyroxene in response to simple shear deformation has been investigated at a pressure of 1.5 GPa and a temperature of 1,100 °C using the D-DIA apparatus. The microstructure observations at these conditions indicate that dislocation glide is the dominant deformation mechanism. In MgSiO₃ enstatite and hydrous aluminous enstatite, partial dislocations bounding the stacking faults in [001] glide parallel to the (100) (or) the (100) [001] slip system. Electron backscattered diffraction analysis of anhydrous aluminous enstatite, however, indicates operation of the (010) [001] slip system, and microstructure analysis indicates dislocation movement involving [001] on both (100) and {210} planes. The strong covalent bonding induced by the occupation of M1 and T2 sites by Al could have restricted the glide on (100), activating slip on {210}. The resulting seismic anisotropies (~2 %) in orthopyroxene are weaker compared to olivine (~9.5 %), and reduced anisotropy can be expected if orthopyroxene coexists with olivine. Weak anisotropy observed in stable cratonic regions can be explained by the relatively high abundance of orthopyroxene in these rocks.     

Short-Term Effects of an Oil Spill on Marsh-Edge Fishes and Decapod Crustaceans

On 19 April 2005, an oil spill occurred in southeastern Louisiana’s Barataria Bay estuary. We used a drop sampler to characterize the marsh-edge nekton community. Thirty-six locations were sampled in pre- and post-spill time frames from March through May 2005. Before–after control–impact (BACI) analyses of the total number of individuals (fishes + decapod crustaceans), total fishes, and sensitive species found significant interactions between the temporal (before/after) and spatial (control/impact) treatments and indicated an effect of the oil spill. Nonparametric analyses detected varied faunal assemblages across temporal treatments, but were similar in species composition among spatial treatments. While the BACI analyses showed event effects, differences were not strongly detected in nonparametric analyses of community structure. Fish are mobile and left the spill area after the disturbance, whereas the less mobile but more numerous benthic decapod crustaceans remained. The overall community structure appears to be robust and quickly recovered from the localized spill event.     

Decolorization of different azo dyes by Phanerochaete chrysosporium RP78 under optimal condition

Detoxification of synthetic dyes is one of the main challenges in clearing textile industry wastes. Biodegradation of azo-dyes using Phanerochaete chrysosporium is one the most environmentally friendly methods available. The main enzymes responsible for mycodecolorization process are lignin and manganese peroxidases. Here, optimization of expression conditions has been carried out with manipulating culture condition and nutrient sources. Therefore, the effects of buffer and temperature as well as nitrogen source on lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase production were investigated at two levels and four levels, respectively. For this purpose, P. chrysosporium RP78 based on Taguchi design of experiment has been applied. Maximum lignin and manganese peroxidase activities of 182 ± 2.5 U/L and 850 ± 41 U/L were obtained under predicted optimum conditions, respectively. Thereby, about 100 % decolorization was achieved after 24 h for two most widely used groups of azo dyes in textile industry consisting reactive and acidic. The physical adsorption of the azo dyes by mycelia was not significant which indicated that the enzymatic degradation of the dyes was occurred. Time profile of these enzymes showed that manganese peroxidase was peaked on 9^th day while lignin peroxidase peaked on 13^th day and remained stable in the culture. The extracellular expression profiles of both were studied by 2 dimensional gel electrophoresis to partially characterize the enzymes.     

Organic matter, putative nannobacteria and the formation of ooids and hardgrounds

Modern ooids from Joulters Cay, when baked at 500 °C, turn various shades of black depending upon the organic content. Mucus-rich laminae occur at quasi-regular intervals of a few micrometres within the cortex. When mucus is still present, it turns black; when it is absent, there is a gap. The cortex consists of two types of aragonite: (1) 'batons' of circular cross-section capped by a single 0·1-μm (100-nm) ball, which can be interpreted as a single nannobacteria cell that precipitated the baton; (2) elongate crystals made of multiple rows of minute balls of about 0·03 μm (30 nm), which may or may not have been small organisms in the size range of viruses. There are also some crystals that show no evidence of organic precipitation. Hardground cementation begins with the formation of a terminal mucus-rich ring on the ooid that bakes black and is crowded with 0·1-μm (100-nm) balls. Some ooids are then joined by a meniscus also made of mucus with aragonite crystals. The final, most abundant hardground cement forms a fur of inorganic aragonite crystals often shaped like plywood sheets, although some 'organic', elongate crystals composed of ≈0·03 μm (≈30 nm) balls are also found in the later cement. For a century, ooids have been known to be closely associated with organic matter; this paper goes further and proposes that the bulk of the ooid may be precipitated by nannobacterial processes. Hardground formation, in the beginning, may also be a microbiological process, but most cementation is accomplished inorganically.     

Heat flow, heat production and fission track data from the Hercynian basement around the Provençal Basin (Western Mediterranean)

In the complex structural framework of the Western Mediterranean. Hercynian areas are expected to be thermally preserved from the recent tectonic evolution. The thermal regime of these areas is studied using heat flow, heat production and fission track data. The surface heat flow is significantly higher in Corsica (76 ± 10 mW m⁻²) than in the Maures and Estérel (58 ± 2 mW m⁻²). Neither heat production nor erosion subsequent to the Alpine orogeny in Corsica can explain such a difference. It is suggested that a deep thermal source related to the asymmetric evolution of the Provençal basin could explain the higher heat flow in Corsica. A model of thermal structure based on the present day thermal regime of the Maures and Estérei is proposed for the stable Hercynian crust in this area. The mantle heat flow is 20–25 mW m⁻² and the temperature at Moho level is 375–500°C, depending on the thermal parameter distribution with depth.     

Origin and distribution of tonsteins in late permian coal seams of Southwestern China

We have surveyed the areal and stratigraphic distribution of tonsteins in Late Permian coalfields of southwestern China over an area of several hundred thousand square kilometers. We studied the relationship between tonstein distribution and sedimentary environment. Based on mineralogical and petrographic data, we have concluded that these tonsteins originated as air-fall volcanic ashes. Following accumulation in the peat swamps, in situ alteration of the vitric and lithic components took place under acidic conditions, leading to the formation of kaolinite.Based on petrologic, mineralogic, and chemical analytical data, we have determined that the application of mineralogic and geochemical criteria for tonsteins may be useful in correlating coal beds, predicting coal qualities and reconstructing related sedimentary paleoenvironmental conditions.     

Fine-grained rocks: Shales or physilites

Fine-grained sediments and rocks containing a high percentage of phyllosilicate minerals have never been satisfactorily classified. Rocks names are poorly defined. The definition of many terms such as clay, clay mineral and shale are logically inconsistent. The major problems are caused by the assumption that there is a fixed relation between grain size and mineralogy and that structure is a basic parameter.Shallow-buried recent and ancient marine sediments with a high content of phyllosilicates commonly contain 60–80% clay and 20–40% silt. Phyllosilicates are present in approximately the same amounts as the clay-size material. Many fine-grained sediments that have been deeply buried commonly contain 30–40% clay; the phyllosilicate mineral content is in the range of 60–80%.In most fine-grained sediments, as deposited, the majority of the material is in the clay size. With burial and diagenesis, much of the clay-sized material grows to silt size. Thus, claystones are converted to siltstones.The term physil, an abbreviated form of phyllosilicate, is proposed to describe all sheet silicate minerals regardless of grain size. Physilites are rocks with a high content of physils. A simple classification is proposed in which size, mineralogy and structure are treated as independent variables.     

Levels of tributyltin in sediments from Tagus estuary nature reserve

Concentrations of tributyltin in sediments from 9 selected stations located in the upper Tagus River estuary nature reserve, Portugal, were determined. Tributyltin (TBT) concentrations in the sediments ranged from 5 to 35 ng g⁻¹ on a dry weight basis. The persistent TBT contamination observed in the sediments from this important European ecosystem is primarily related to shipping activities as well as the naval industrial complexes located downstream. This exploratory survey suggests that both dumping and dredging, or the effects of tidal transport of resuspended sediments, are likely the main sources for the TBT contamination observed in the upper estuary. Although the TBT contents found in the sediments studied are low relative to concentrations reported from other parts of the world, they appear to represent a potential risk for some resident marine populations.