Seismic stratigraphy, buried beach ridges and contourite drifts: the Late Quaternary history of the closed Lago Cardiel basin, Argentina (49°S)

The results of a seismic stratigraphic analysis of a closed lake basin, Lago Cardiel, in southernmost South America are reported. Very few high-resolution, continental records spanning the Late Quaternary have been obtained from this region. Seismic sequence stratigraphic analysis allows a reconstruction of lake level variations. Two major hiatuses of unknown age occurred during the early evolution of the basin with the deposition of an alluvial fan in a restricted area in the intervening time period. Following the development of a relatively shallow lake during the late Pleistocene and a short desiccation pulse around 11 220 ¹⁴C yr BP, a transgression of over 135 m occurred at the beginning of the Holocene. The transgression was associated with the formation of beach ridges preserved in the lake stratigraphy on the floor of the modern Lago Cardiel at four different elevations. The preservation of largely unreworked beach ridges indicates a stepwise rise in the lake level. There is no seismic evidence of a major lowering of the lake below modern level during the entire Holocene. Deposition since the mid-Holocene is marked by strong lateral differences in sediment accumulation with a depocentre slightly to the north of the basin midpoint and a pronounced mounded distribution. Seismic reflection geometries, as well as sedimentological characteristics indicate a lacustrine contourite drift covering an area of 80–100 km². As Lago Cardiel is under the influence of westerly winds, these most likely drove lake circulation. The identification of drowned beach ridges and of contourite drifts illustrates that high-resolution seismic stratigraphy is not only a powerful tool in reconstructing past lake level elevations for closed lake basins, but it can also provide information about the rate of lake level changes and the presence and strength of lake currents.     

High-pressure experimental growth of diamond using C–K2CO3–KCl as an analogue for Cl-bearing carbonate fluid

High-pressure, high-temperature diamond growth experiments have been conducted in the system C–K₂CO₃–KCl at 1050–1420 °C, 7.0–7.7 GPa. KCl is of interest because of the strong effect of halogens on the phase relations of carbonate-rich systems [Geophys. Res. Lett. 30 (2003) 1022] and because of the occurrence of KCl coexisting with alkali silicate–carbonate fluids in natural-coated diamond [Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 64 (2000) 717]. We have used system C–K₂CO₃–KCl as an analogue for these mantle fluids in diamond growth experiments. The presence of KCl reduces the potassium carbonate liquidus to ≤1000 °C at 7.7 GPa, allowing it to act as a solvent catalyst for diamond growth at temperatures below the continental geotherm. This is a reduction on the minimum diamond growth temperature reported in the alkali-carbonate–C–O–H system [Lithos 60 (2002) 145]. Diamond growth using carbonate solvent catalysts is characterised by a relatively long induction period. However, the addition of KCl also reduced the period for diamond growth in carbonate to 5 min; no such induction period appears to be necessary. It is suggested that KCl destabilises carbonate, allowing greater solubility and diffusion of carbon.     

Determination of Rare Earth Elements, Sc, Y, Zr, Ba, Hf and Th in Geological Samples by ICP-MS after Tm Addition and Alkaline Fusion

We present a revised method for the determination of concentrations of rare earth (REE) and other trace elements (Y, Sc, Zr, Ba, Hf, Th) in geological samples. Our analytical procedure involves sample digestion using alkaline fusion (NaOH-Na₂O₂) after addition of a Tm spike, co-precipitation on iron hydroxides, and measurement by sector field-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS). The procedure was tested successfully for various rock types (i.e., basalt, ultramafic rock, sediment, soil, granite), including rocks with low trace element abundances (sub ng g⁻¹). Results obtained for a series of nine geological reference materials (BIR-1, BCR-2, UB-N, JP-1, AC-E, MA-N, MAG-1, GSMS-2, GSS-4) are in reasonable agreement with published working values.     

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Hans Benndorf †

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Hans Benndorf

     

Luna 20: mineralogy and petrology of fragments less than 125 μm size

Two milligrams of less than 125 μm size particles from the Luna 20 soil sample (22001,17) have been examined. The results of the mineral identification and analysis verify earlier assumptions that the nature of the lunar highlands is predominantly anorthositic in composition. The presence of highly magnesian clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene and olivine suggests crystallization of Highland rocks in an ultrabasic environment. No fragments were observed that could be unequivocally assigned to mare basalt types.     

Gefüge und Entstehung der Ringdünen in den grauen Tuffen des Laacher Vulkans

The last products of the pleistocene Laach volcano (Eifel, about 40 kms SW of Bonn, Germany) are grey tuffs. Outcrops in the rim show characteristic cross-bedding in these tuffs. It is in discussion whether these structures are produced by wind or by phreato-magmatic outbursts. At all larger outcrops in the rim we measured numerous depositional elements of the tuffs, and analyzed their geometrical structure. So we are able to reconstruct shape, structure and orientation of dunes in the tuffs. They show transport vectors in centrifugal orientation, radially to the vent. The dunes are orientated concentrically to the vent, we intruduce the term “concentrical dune” for this dune type. This points out that the dunes in the Laach tuffs are of volcanic origin. But our geometrical results give no authorization to assume phreato-magmatic processes during the activity of the Laach volcano. We think that the grey Laach tuffs are no base surge deposits, but products of gas-rich eruptions in the phase of decreasing volcanic energy.     

Cumulate gabbros from the Southwest Indian Ridge, 54°S-7° 16′ E: implications for magmatic processes at a slow spreading ridge

A diverse volcanic and plutonic rock suite was recovered from the center of the 80 km long ridge segment of the Southwest Indian Ridge (54°S, 7°16 E) between the Islas Orcadas and Shaka Fracture Zones. The cumulus nature of the gabbroic rocks in the suite is indicated by phase, modal and cryptic layering, igneous lamination, and low incompatible element abundances. We present a mass-balance model for calculating the proportions and compositions of cumulus phases and crystallized intercumulus liquid from bulk-rock major element compositions. The model is based on the ability to define a compositional array of basaltic liquids and on the assumption that cumulus minerals are initially in equilibrium with trapped liquid. Calculated proportions of trapped liquid range from 3%–15%; values that are characteristic of adcumulates to mesocumulates. Models of postcumulus crystallization indicate significant enrichments of incompatible elements and buffering of compatible elements in residual trapped liquids, thus explaining the high TiO₂ contents observed in magnesian clinopyroxenes. Cumulus phase assemblages and compositions suggest solidification in shallow level magma chambers, but disequilibrium plagioclase compositions suggest some crystallization at greater depth. Furthermore, basalt compositions projected onto the olivine-clinopyroxenequartz pseudoternary suggest magma generation over a range of pressures (from less than 10 to greater than 20 kb) as well as polybaric fractional crystallization. We suggest that the Southwest Indian Ridge is characterized by low magma supply with small batches of melt that either ascend directly to the surface having undergone limited polybaric crystallization or are trapped in shallow crustal magma chambers where they evolve and solidify to form cumulate gabbros. The adcumulus nature of the gabbros investigated here suggests slow cooling rates typical of large intrusions implying relatively large, but ephemeral magma chambers below segments of the Southwest Indian Ridge.     

Evaluation of the environmental impacts of extreme floods in the Evros River basin using Contingent Valuation Method

India is among the top ten countries with the highest percentage of landslide fatalities for the past few years. Intense rainfall during the 2009 monsoon in the hilly district of Nilgiris, in the state of Tamilnadu in India, triggered landslides at more than 300 locations which affected road and rail traffic, destroyed buildings, caused the death of more than 40 people and left hundreds homeless. In this paper, three case histories from Nilgiris district are investigated: the slope failure of a railway track at Aravankadu, failure of retaining walls supporting buildings at Coonoor, failure of the slope and retaining wall along national highway (NH67) at Chinnabikatty. Laboratory investigations are carried out on soil samples collected at these sites. Soils at all the three locations have high fine content and low values of coefficient of permeability. Finite element analyses of all the three case histories were carried out using PLAXIS2D software in order to understand the failure mechanism and contributing factors. Slope stability analysis using strength reduction technique is carried out for the slope at Aravankadu to determine the critical slip surface and factor of safety. Results reveal that the increase in pore pressures led to a reduction in shear strength of the soil and consequently resulted in progressive failure of slope at Aravankadu site. Displacement analysis is carried out for Coonoor and Chinnabikatty sites. The results show that combined effect of surcharge load of building and high pore pressure led to intense shearing behind the retaining walls at Coonoor site. Results indicate occurrence of large displacements along the face and at toe of the slope at Chinnabikatty site.     

Determination of the 87Rb decay constant

The decay constant ⁸⁷Rb has been redetermined by measuring the amount of radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr produced over a period of 19 years, in 20 g samples of purified RbClO₄, using isotope dilution techniques. The rubidium sample was spiked with ⁸⁴Sr and the nanogram quantities of strontium separated by coprecipitation with Ba(NO₃)₂. Analyses were carried out on a 25cm, 90° sector mass spectrometer equipped with a Spiraltron electron multiplier. Measurement of three independent ratios permitted continuous monitoring of the ion beam fractionation. The average of nine determinations gives a value for the decay constant of $\text{1.419(±0.012) × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?11}}\text{yr}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{(2σ)}$. [$\text{τ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 4.89(±0.04) × 10}{}^{10}\text{yr}$.]