The influence of paleoclimatic events on the functioning of an alpine thermal system (France): the contribution of hydrodynamic–thermal modeling

Numerical models of the Aix-les-Bains thermal aquifer (France) were used to investigate the influence of Quaternary paleoclimatic events on the current thermal state of the groundwater. Initial numerical tests were successful in that present-day fluid flows (heads and flow rates) and the resulting velocities were compatible with residence time data. Water flowing through an aquifer cools the rock mass; therefore, the rate of water flow governs the outlets temperature. For the Aix-les-Bains aquifer, applying present-day flow rates to the entire history of the aquifer leads to much more substantial cooling of the rock mass than is indicated by the outlets temperature (i.e. present-day flow rates are 10 times too high). This suggests that the aquifer may have gone through alternating functioning phases, during which the rock mass cooled, and blocked phases, during which the aquifer reheated. Other results indicate that the main parameters affecting thermal behavior during a functioning phase are the total inflow volume, rather than individual inflow rates, and the initial heat field. As phenomena linked to glaciation can lead to the blocking of infiltration zones and aquifer outlets, the findings suggest that the hypothesis of intermittent aquifer functioning related to glaciations is compatible with the current thermal field.     

Potash in salt extruded at Sar Pohl diapir, Southern Iran

Recent progress in the search for potassium salts in Iran is outlined. After reviewing how most potassium ores form by the evaporation of seawater ± hydrothermal brines, we focus on how most ores are deformed within salt diapirs. We summarise the history of the 150 or so diapirs of Hormoz salt emergent in the Zagros Mountains of Iran and then consider in detail the nature of potash at Sar Pohl, 60 km west of Bandar Abbas. These deposits are unique in that they occur in salt that extruded sub-aerially and spread over the surrounding ground surface via gravity-driven collapse. Mapping and drilling of the complex structural geology of Sar Pohl found the potash beds to be dispersed in distal salt but concentrated in piles of recumbent folds with axes circumferential to the mountain over lows in the vent rim.Equivalents of the curtain folds surviving in the stems of German diapirs presumably still exist beneath Sar Pohl and would be safer to mine than the recumbent folds in this soluble mountain. However, it should be possible to continuously pump water onto the exposed salt and guide the resulting brines through evaporation ponds and then a crystallization plant on the adjacent plains. This approach would accelerate natural degradation processes but harvest potash currently draining into the gulf.     

Bimodal distribution of the solid products in a magmatic chamber: Modelling by fractional crystallization and coupling of the chemical exchanges with the differential melt/solid transport

Our aim is to explain the possible bimodality of the compositions of the magmatic rocks of the same province. In order to do so, we present a model for the crystallization of a magmatic chamber, coupling the three phenomena: solidification, sedimentation, chemical reactions between the solid and the liquid. These three phenomena make two independent dimensionless parameters appear: the ratios of the solidification rate to the transport velocity, and of the chemical kinetics to the transport velocity. The model is written for one independent chemical component. It is shown that, for certain values of the dimensionless parameters, the chemical composition of the chamber can present a bimodal distribution, starting from uniform initial conditions. This model shows that the coupling between three elementary phenomena is enough to explain the bimodality, or more generally the appearance of discontinuities of chemical compositions, without making any additional assumption.     

Late Cenozoic geodynamic evolution of eastern Indonesia

This paper presents an internally and globally consistent model of plate evolution in eastern Indonesia from Middle Miocene to Present time. It is centered on the Banda Sea region located in the triple junction area between the Pacific–Philippine, Australia and South–East Asia plates. The geological and geophysical data available from Indonesia were until recently insufficient to define a unique plate tectonic model. In this paper, the new data taken into account clearly restrict the possible interpretations. Owing to a great number of geological, geophysical and geochemical studies, the major plate boundaries (the Sunda–Banda subduction zone to the south, the Tarera–Aiduna Fault zone and the Seram Thrust to the east, and the Sorong Fault zone and Molucca Sea collision zone to the north) are now clearly identified. The age of the major tectonic structures is also better known. Geodetic measurements well constrain the Present time plate kinematics. We also consider the deformation history within eastern Indonesia, where numerous short-lived microplates and their related microcontinents successively accreted to the Asiatic margin. Moreover, magnetic anomalies identification of the North and South Banda Sea basins allows a precise kinematic reconstruction of the back-arc opening. We used the Plates software to test the coherency of our model, presented as a series of 4 plate reconstruction maps from 13 Ma to the present. Finally, the origin of oceanic domains restored by our reconstruction is discussed.     

Evolution of particle size and concentration in the Rhône river mixing zone: : influence of salt flocculation

The salt induced flocculation phenomenon is often proposed as a major mechanism influencing the deposition of the suspended matter near the mouth of major rivers. However, depending on the particular mixing conditions between fresh water and marine water and on suspended solids (SS) reactivity, salt induced aggregation may be a minor factor controlling fast deposition of SS. This work combines field studies and laboratory experiments in order to assess the importance of salt induced flocculation in the case of the saltwedge estuary of the Rhône river. Sampling of the mixing zone has been performed in contrasted hydrodynamic conditions from a low water discharge period (500 m³ s⁻¹) to a small flood event (2400 m³ s⁻¹) for particle counting and salinity measurements. Through laboratory experiments, it is shown that the Rhône river particulate matter has a poor average reactivity regarding salt induced flocculation. Considering the hydrodynamics of the estuary, we show that the evolution of the concentration of larger particles (>5 μm) can be explained by settling and dilution. In contrast, the smallest measured fraction (2–5 μm) shows a more complex behavior and settling processes alone cannot explain the observed particle concentrations during the field studies. Four hypotheses are discussed for explaining the 2–5 μm particle concentration evolutions.     

Hydromorphic dispersion of Cu and Mo over mineralized granodiorite in a high rainfall peaty area in Ireland: geochemical interpretation and case study

Dispersion of Cu and Mo in mainly ombrotrophic-type peat and till on mineralized Galway Granodiorite, Ireland, is controlled by high rainfall (leaching of surface peat), organic content of till, limonite/bog iron, Eh and pH. Sampling surface blanket peat should be avoided in mineral exploration due to downward leaching. Copper accumulates more effectively than Mo in slightly reduced basal peat, organic-rich till, and organic-rich drain and stream beds. Molybdenum, being more mobile, occurs in a much broader range of organic-rich till, and limonite-stained till and lakeshore sediments. Hence, Mo is a useful pathfinder for Cu. Mobility of Cu and Mo is low due to complexation and/or adsorption, hence overburden anomalies make reasonable drill targets.     

Erosion of fixed dunes in the Sahel,Central Niger

During the 1974 rainy season gullies of the order of 150–300 m long were active on the flanks of fixed Pleistocene dunes in the vicinity of Janjari, central Niger. The gullies terminate on small (0.5–1 × 10⁴m²) alluvial fans, where sand deposition had occurred below the intersection point. Gully activity was probably the result of a particularly severe storm. Comparison between fixed dunes subject to differing climatic conditions suggests that gullying and alluvial fan formation may be characteristic of a restricted morphoclimatic zone.     

Holocene changes in tropical wind intensity and rainfall: Evidence from southeast Ghana

Remnants of a fixed aeolian dune ridge occur along the southeast coast of Ghana, just behind the present shoreline. Aeolian sands also cover extensive areas of the Accra Plains. No dunes are present here, the sands mainly occurring as sheets which blanket an early Holocene landscape. The sediments are of mid-Holocene age and were deposited during the interval 4500 B.P.–3800 yr B.P., when the southwesterly winds were stronger than they are at present and much of tropical Africa seems to have been subject to marked aridity. The onset of drier, windier conditions around 4500 yr B.P. brought to an end the more equable climates than had characterized much of West Africa during the earlier Holocene. Aridity, intensified winds, and desert expansion between 4500 and 3800 yr B.P. parallel environmental conditions in tropical continental areas at the height of the Late Pleistocene glaciation.