The deviations of the sea surface from the geoid and their effect on geoid computation

The effects of the deviations of sea surface topography from the geoid are estimated for terrestrial geoid computations as obtained from Stokes' formula. The results are based on an equal-area expansion of Lisitzin's sea surface topography data in a spherical harmonic series. It is realized that those data affect mainly the harmonics of degree n≤10. Consequently, in geoids obtained from combination solutions (where low harmonics are dominated by harmonics as obtained from differential orbit improvement) the sea surface topography effects are relatively small.     

Geodetic high-precision measurements in active tectonic areas; example: The Rhinegraben

Geodetic measurements in the Rhinegraben area are discussed. Repeated levellings, together with horizontal control data, torsion-balance measurements, very dense gravity coverage, tiltmeter observations and a high-precision gravity test net were available in order to test present concepts of the Rhinegraben structure and sources of recent crustal movements. The ambiguities of levelling data are stressed, but investigations of high-precision levelling data clearly indicate subsidence of several centimetres in the graben area, whereas multivariate studies of the data available on the graben shoulders do not indicate any significant movement on the shoulders themselves.     

Mineral phases formed in anoxic sediments by microbial decomposition of organic matter

Microbial decomposition of organic matter in recent sediments of the Landsort Deep—an anoxic basin of the central Baltic Sea—resulted in the formation of a characteristic assemblage of authigenic mineral precipitates of carbonates, sulfides. phosphates and amorphous silica, The dominant crystalline phases are a mixed Mn-carbonate [(Mn_0.85Ca_0.10Mg_0.05)CO₃]. Mn-sulfide [MnS] and Fecarbonate [FeCO₃]. Amorphous Fe-sulfide [FeS]. Mn-phosphate [Mn₃(PO₄)₂] and a mixed Fe-Ca-phosphate [(Fe_0.86Ca_0.14)₃(PO₄)₂] were identified by their chemical compositions only. The variability in composition of these solid phases and their mode of occurrence as a co-existing assemblage constrains the conditions and solution composition from which they precipitated. Estimates of activities for dissolved Fe. Mn. PO₄, CO₃ and S in equilibrium with such an assemblage are close to those found in recent anoxic interstitial water-sediment systems. It is important to have detailed knowledge of the composition and stability conditions of these solid precipitates in order to refine stoichiometric models of interstitial nutrient regeneration in anoxic sediments.     

Carbon isotope geochemistry of the 3.7 × 109-yr-old Isua sediments,West Greenland: implications for the Archaean carbon and oxygen cycles

One hundred and twenty-four carbonate samples from the meta-sedimentary sequence of the 3.7 × 10⁹ yr old Isua supracrustal belt (W-Greenland) have yielded a δ¹³C_carb average of ?2.5 ± 1.7%. vs PDB and a δ¹⁸O_carb average of +13.0 ± 2.5%. vs SMOW. The oxygen mean comes fairly close to the averages of other early Precambrian carbonates. The carbon average, however, is some 2%. more negative than those of younger marine carbonates. In terms of a simple terrestrial ¹³C mass balance, if δ¹³C_carb values are original sedimentary values, this more negative δ¹³C average would imply a considerably smaller $\text{C}{}_{\mathrm{org}}\text{C}{}_{\mathrm{carb}}$ ratio in the sedimentary shell during Isua times, and would thus support the concept of a gradual buildup of a sedimentary reservoir of organic carbon during the early history of the Earth. Since, however, the Isua supracrustal rocks have experienced amphibolite-grade metamorphism, which in other areas has been shown to lower δ¹³C_carb values, it is most likely that the original values of these rocks were approx 0%.. This indicates that C_orx and C_carb were present in the ancient carbon reservoir in about ‘modern’ proportions. Unless this early stabilization of the terrestrial carbon cycle in terms of a constant partitioning of carbon between the reduced and oxidized species is shown to have been caused by some inorganic geochemical process, a considerably earlier start of chemical evolution and spontaneous generation of life must be considered than is presently accepted.     

Comparison of Michigan Basin crude oils

Michigan Basin oils from the Ordovician Trenton, Silurian Niagaran, and Devonian Dundee formations have been geochemically compared by GC, GC-MS, and carbon isotope mass spectrometry. One oil from each formation was selected for detailed analysis which included measurement of individual n-alkane δ¹³C values. The Ordovician and Devonian oils are strikingly similar to one another, yet clearly different from the Silurian oil. This pattern is unexpected because Ordovician and Devonian reservoirs are physically separated by the Silurian strata. From time-temperature considerations, the Devonian oil probably was formed in older strata and has migrated to its present location. Our analyses suggest a common source for the Devonian and Ordovician oils.     

Magmenentwicklung und Dioritbildung im synorogen konsolidierten Grundgebirge des Bergsträßer Odenwaldes

The genesis of synorogeneous, variscian magmatites from the Bergsträsser Odenwald is explained. They are alternating with steep, old metamorphic rocks (schists and schisteous gneisses, partly transformed to plagioclase-blastites). The magmatites are differentiated into an early-orogenic hornblende-basiteseries (gabbro → diorite) and a high-orogenic biotite-flasermagmatite-series (diorite → granite). The hornblende-basite-series is “normally intrusive” with differentiated syntectic members; the biotite-flasermagmatite-series is lithogenic and has been formed by plagioclase-blastesis and anatexis. At the transition to the high-orogenic phase the rocks develop a strong gneissose foliation (due to movements during the emplacement). The structures assimilate, and a protoclastic to primary-gneissic texture is formed. We name the crystalline in this periode of formation briefly “Synorogen”. The diorites from the two series, as well as the dioritoids and aorites (products of “dioritisation”) show converging structures within the Synorogen. The mobile (ultrametamorphic) stage during the dioritisation and granitisation is discussed.     

Record of deformation by secondary magnetic remanences and magnetic anisotropy in the Nar/Phu valley (central Himalaya)

Secondary magnetic remanences residing in pyrrhotite and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) were studied in low-grade metamorphic carbonates of the Tethyan Himalaya in Nar/Phu valley (central Nepal) and used for interpretation of tectonic deformations. The characteristic remanence (ChRM) is likely of thermomagnetic origin related to post-peak metamorphic cooling occurring after the Eohimalayan phase (35–32 Ma). The ChRM postdates small-scale folding (main Himalayan folding F1 and F2) as shown by a negative fold test of site mean directions at 99% confidence level, and has been probably acquired between 32 and 25 Ma. Late-orogenic long-wavelength folding associated with the Chako antiform (CA) is recorded by the spatial dispersion of ChRM directions and the distribution of the main axes of the AMS tensor. The mean tilting of the ChRM direction since remanence acquisition (≈20–30°) approximately coincides with the tilting of the CA (31°) at the study area indicating that the pyrrhotite remanence predates the CA (CA formed at <18 Ma according to preliminary U/Pb dating). However, comparison of tilt angles of remanence directions and AMS tensor axes suggests that remanence acquisition was not completed before the onset of the CA formation. This could imply a younger age (Early Miocene or even younger) of the ChRM. Using the distribution of remanence directions along a small-circle as well as the distribution of AMS tensor axes, a clockwise mean rotation of 16° is obtained for a remanence age of ≈30 Ma. An Early Miocene remanence age would not change this result substantially. Compilation of rotations in the Tethyan Himalaya deduced from secondary pyrrhotite remanences reveals an increasing clockwise rotation from the Hidden valley in the W to the Shiar valley in the E (≈150 km distance), incompatible with an oroclinal bending model.     

Rising methane gas bubbles form massive hydrate layers at the seafloor

Extensive methane hydrate layers are formed in the near-surface sediments of the Cascadia margin. An undissociated section of such a layer was recovered at the base of a gravity core (i.e. at a sediment depth of 120 cm) at the southern summit of Hydrate Ridge. As a result of salt exclusion during methane hydrate formation, the associated pore waters show a highly elevated chloride concentration of 809 mM. In comparison, the average background value is 543 mM.A simple transport-reaction model was developed to reproduce the Cl⁻ observations and quantify processes such as hydrate formation, methane demand, and fluid flow. From this first field observation of a positive Cl⁻ anomaly, high hydrate formation rates (0.15-1.08 mol cm⁻² a⁻¹) were calculated. Our model results also suggest that the fluid flow rate at the Cascadia accretionary margin is constrained to 45-300 cm a⁻¹. The amount of methane needed to build up enough methane hydrate to produce the observed chloride enrichment exceeds the methane solubility in pore water. Thus, most of the gas hydrate was most likely formed from ascending methane gas bubbles rather than solely from CH₄ dissolved in the pore water.