Island arc elements and arc-related ophiolites

All major structural elements in island arc systems, fore-arc, magmatic arc, back-arc basins and remnant arcs, are potential ophiolite sources, and those features that allegedly characterise ophiolites of ocean-ridge origin, sheeted dyke complexes, mantling pelagic rocks, hydrothermal metamorphism and associated mineralization, can also arise within arc settings. Age relations are critical in the interpretation of arc-related ophiolites. Remnants of oceanic lithosphere, identified by a pre-arc initiation age, are restricted to fore-arc, magmatic arc and remnant arc elements, as are ophiolite masses generated at the inception of underthrusting. The latter, apparently common in ancient fore-arc terrains, form in nascent arc systems in which the rate of role back of the subduction hinge exceeds the rate of convergence. Spreading occurs above a foundering slab resulting in some arc-like compositional features. In simple arc systems later ophiolitic rocks have formed either in the active back-arc basin or the magmatic arc. Only those ophiolites that have resided within or very close behind magmatic arcs should show calcalkaline or arc tholeiite magmatic affinities, or be intruded or overlain by these rocks. Volcanic-derived sediment or pelagic material may mantle ophiolites from all arc settings, but pelagic rocks will generally dominate in stratigraphic sequences above remnant arcs and on back-arc basin floors except adjacent to the magmatic arc. Ophiolites generated at major ocean ridges are unlikely to be immediately overlain by sediment with a significant volcanic component whereas such detritus may lie directly on arc-inception, arc and back-arc ophiolites. Some arc-derived ophiolites are preserved in their original tectonic position, others can be identified from their internal features, their relationship to other tectonic elements, and the nature of associated rocks.     

Evaluation and comparison of spatial interpolators

This study evaluates 15 different estimators to determine their relative merits in estimating block concentrations at contaminant waste sites. The evaluation was based on 54 subsets of data drawn from an exhaustive set of 19,800 data. For each subset, 198 block estimates were made with each estimator. The measurements of estimation quality were a linear loss function and a more standard statistic, the mean square error. The linear loss function showed that seven of the estimators produced scores close enough to be within the same statistical population. Results based on the mean square error were similar. The surprising results of this study were that inverse distance and inverse distance squared both produced better scores than kriging.     

Small angle X-ray scattering mapping and kinetics study of sub-critical CO2 sorption by two Australian coals

Time- and position-resolved synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering data were acquired from samples of two Australian coal seams: Bulli seam (Bulli 4, R_o = 1.42%, Sydney Basin), which naturally contains CO₂ and Baralaba seam (R_o = 0.67%, Bowen Basin), a potential candidate for sequestering CO₂. This experimental approach has provided unique, pore-size-specific insights into the kinetics of CO₂ sorption in the micro- and small mesopores (diameter 5 to 175 Å) and the density of the sorbed CO₂ at reservoir-like conditions of temperature and hydrostatic pressure.For both samples, at pressures above 5 bar, the density of CO₂ confined in pores was found to be uniform, with no densification in near-wall regions. In the Bulli 4 sample, CO₂ first flooded the slit pores between polyaromatic sheets. In the pore-size range analysed, the confined CO₂ density was close to that of the free CO₂. The kinetics data are too noisy for reliable quantitative analysis, but qualitatively indicate faster kinetics in mineral-matter-rich regions.In the Baralaba sample, CO₂ preferentially invaded the smallest micropores and the confined CO₂ density was up to five times that of the free CO₂. Faster CO₂ sorption kinetics was found to be correlated with higher mineral matter content but, the mineral-matter-rich regions had lower-density CO₂ confined in their pores. Remarkably, the kinetics was pore-size dependent, being faster for smaller pores.These results suggest that injection into the permeable section of an interbedded coal-clastic sequence could provide a viable combination of reasonable injectivity and high sorption capacity.     

Three-dimensional bounding surface architecture and lateral facies heterogeneity of a wet aeolian system: Entrada Sandstone,Utah

Aeolian deposits form noteworthy reservoirs (for example, Norphlet Formation and Rotliegend Group) in hydrocarbon extraction and carbon capture and storage contexts, but stratigraphic architecture imparts significant heterogeneity. Bounding surfaces result from autogenic and allogenic controls and can represent important changes in dune-field dynamics. To further evaluate the impacts of facies heterogeneity and flow-inhibiting bounding surfaces on reservoir performance and reconstruct ancient erg evolution, the stratigraphic architecture of aeolian systems must continue to be studied at multiple scales. This study pairs traditional methods (for example, measured stratigraphic sections) with advanced technologies (for example, drone-derived outcrop models) to precisely resolve the metre to kilometre-scale three-dimensional stratigraphic architecture of wet aeolian Middle Jurassic Entrada Sandstone outcrops located at Rone Bailey Mesa near Moab, Utah, USA. Five facies are identified, primarily based on sedimentary fabrics, and are grouped into three associations named dune, sabkha and sand sheet. Statistical analyses of gamma-ray spectrometer and automated mineralogy data indicate a distinct mineralogical difference between dune (quartz-rich) and sabkha (more feldspathic) packages, suggesting that gamma-ray logs may be used to better predict facies distribution in the subsurface. Seven modelled super bounding surfaces are planar to undulatory, with no perceived spatial trends. Five modelled interdune migration surfaces are undulatory but exhibit an average 0.09° angle of climb roughly parallel to the palaeocurrent direction. Two modelled superposition surfaces are linear to sinuous in plan-view. Laterally discontinuous sabkha packages observed are interpreted to be remnants of closed, damp, interdune flats located between ca 8.5 to 17.0 m tall, sinuous, transverse bedforms or patches of such bedforms. Based on stratigraphic architecture interpretations, the Entrada Sandstone preserves signals of allogenic forcing and localized autogenic bedform cannibalization of the substrate. The findings of this study, some of which are not commonly recognized in wet aeolian facies models, enhance the understanding of erg evolution and can parameterize static models of aeolian reservoirs.     

Magmatic changes during the stabilisation of a cordilleran fold belt: the Late Carboniferous–Triassic igneous history of eastern New South Wales, Australia

In a 60 Ma interval between the Late Carboniferous and the Late Permian, the magmatic arc associated with the cordilleran-type New England Fold Belt in northeast New South Wales shifted eastward and changed in trend from north–northwest to north. The eastern margin of the earlier (Devonian–Late Carboniferous) arc is marked by a sequence of calcalkaline lava flows, tuffs and coarse volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks preserved in the west of the Fold Belt. The younger arc (Late Permian–Triassic) is marked by I-type calcalkaline granitoids and comagmatic volcanic rocks emplaced mostly in the earlier forearc, but extending into the southern Sydney Basin, in the former backarc region. The growth of the younger arc was accompanied by widespread compressional deformation that stabilised the New England Fold Belt. During the transitional interval, two suites of S-type granitoids were emplaced, the Hillgrove Suite at about 305 Ma during an episode of compressive deformation and regional metamorphism, and the Bundarra Suite at about 280 Ma, during the later stages of an extensional episode. Isotopic and REE data indicate that both suites resulted from the partial melting of young silicic sedimentary rocks, probably part of the Carboniferous accretionary subduction complex, with heat supplied by the rise of asthenospheric material. Both mafic and silicic volcanic activity were widespread within and behind the Fold Belt from the onset of rifting (ca. 295 Ma) until the reestablishment of the arc. These volcanic rocks range in composition from MORB-like to calcalkaline and alkaline. The termination of the earlier arc, and the subsequent widespread and diverse igneous activity are considered to have resulted from the shallow breakoff of the downgoing plate, which allowed the rise of asthenosphere through a widening lithospheric gap. In this setting, division of the igneous rocks into pre-, syn-, and post-collisional groups is of limited value.     

GSTA is a major glutathione S-transferase gene responsible for 4-hydroxynonenal conjugation in largemouth bass liver

We have previously shown that largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) has a remarkable ability to conjugate 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4HNE), a mutagenic and cytotoxic alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde produced during the peroxidation of lipids. In addition, we have isolated a glutathione S-transferase cDNA (bass GSTA) that encodes a recombinant protein which is highly active in 4HNE conjugation and structurally similar to plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) GSTA. In the present study, HPLC-GST subunit analysis revealed the presence of at least two major GST isoforms in bass liver, with one peak constituting 80% of the total bass liver GST protein. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and electrospray ionization analysis of the major bass GST subunit yielded a molecular weight of 26,396 kDa. Endo-proteinase Lys-C digestion and Edman degradation protein sequencing of this GST peak demonstrated that this protein was encoded by bass GSTA. Analysis of genomic DNA fragments isolated by nested PCR indicated the presence of a GST gene cluster in bass liver that contained GSTA, and was similar to a GST gene cluster characterized by Leaver et al., in plaice. Collectively, our data indicates the presence of a major GST in bass liver involved in the protection against oxidative stress. This GST is part of a gene cluster that may be conserved in certain freshwater and marine fish.