Current status,distribution, life cycle and ecology ofRhithrogena germanica Eaton, 1885 in Switzerland: Preliminary results (Ephemeroptera,Heptageniidae)

Rh. germanica is a European species that, due to human impacts, has progressively disappeared from its original territories and is now considered rare. In SwitzerlandRh. germanica has disappeared from the Aare, Broye and Kleine Emme rivers and is actually found in a limited reach of the River Rhine and some of its tributaries (Limmat, Sihl, Thur and Töss rivers).Rh. germanica is a univoltine species, hatching probably in summer. The emergence occurs from February to the beginning of April. It takes place on the water surface. Laboratory observations have shown that the subimaginal stage lasts four days.Rh. germanica occurs on different substrate types, ranging from stones and cobbles to pebbles and gravel. The larvae are more abundant in zones of erosion with coarse and porous sediments than in depositional zones with fine sediments and silts. They are most abundant in riffles with water velocities from 20 to 150 cm/sec. The species tolerates moderately organic-polluted waters.The particular strategy concerning growth and emergence ofRh. germanica is also discussed.     

Paleoseismological Analysis Along the Astara Fault System (Talesh Mountain, North Iran)

The Astara Fault System(AFS) is located in the northwest Alborz, east of Talesh Mountain(TM) and west of the South Caspian Basin(SCB). The AFS is one of the basement rock faults in Iran that is heavily involved in seismotectonic activity of the Talesh region, and to which subsidence of the SCB is attributed. There is little information available concerning previous AFS seismic activities and its properties. In order to elucidate the seismic behavior and activities of the AFS, we conducted a research study on paleoseismology of the fault. Based on paleoseismic evidence, two scenarios could be taken into consideration, one of which has three and another has four seismic events with magnitudes Mw in the range of 6.7 to 7.2. Evidence of these seismic events is within sedimentary succession as they have occurred during the past 3 ka(this age is determined based on the deposition rate of the region). Six carbon samples were taken for C~(14) age determination tests, the results of which clearly demonstrated that the EvIV(scenario A) and EvⅢ(scenario B) had occurred before 27,444 cal BP, while other events occurred in the time period between 27,444 cal BP and 3 ka ago. If we consider the occurrence of three or four seismic events(based on the two scenarios) to be between 27,444 cal BP and 3 ka ago, the average recurrence interval is 7,119 ± 1,017, but evidence for these events has been removed. If we assume EvI to be the youngest event(in both scenarios), the minimum elapsed time is therefore 3 ka.     

Rare earths in barites: distribution and effects on aqueous partitioning

A large variety of barites collected from marine and continental environments was analyzed by neutron activation for the rare-earth elements (REE) La, Ce, Sm, Eu and Dy. Relative to chondrites, all barites show a decrease of the lighter REE from La toward Eu. The abundance and distribution of rare earths in barites show a distinction of barite types. Deep-sea barites have large REE concentrations as do other authigenic deep-sea minerals and display the chondrite normalized Eu minimum, but not the negative Ce anomaly, of sea water. Other barites, mostly on land, some hydrothermal, and others of shallow marine origin, display lower total Ree concentrations. Chondrite normalized positive Eu anomalies are displayed by those varieties of reducing sedimentary and metamorphic origin.Distribution of REE in barite can be attributed both to crystallographic constraints of substitution, and to solution complexing of REE in the precipitating medium. Plots of rare earth partitioning versus effective ion size suggest that the decreasing enrichment toward Eu for all barite types is caused by crystallographic constraints due to contraction of the substituting REE ion sizes relative to the size of the host Ba ion. Solution effects on REE substitution in barite can be evaluated by writing solid solution distribution equations based on mass action of REE and Ba sulfates and the lanthanide (Ln) solution species Ln (CO₃)^?5₄), LnSO⁺₄, LnCl⁺² and LnF⁺². Under normal sea water conditions, solution complexing plays a minor role. However, increased alkalinities of reducing sediments and increased brine chlorinities could cause significant complexing and deplete REE heavier than Eu. Besides Dy in barites, this could be true for aqueous precipitation of REE in general.     

30 and 43 months period cycles found in air temperature time series using the Morlet wavelet method

A wavelet-based methodology is applied to relevant climatic indices and air temperature records and allow to detect the existence of unexpected cycles. The scale spectrum shows the presence of two cycles of about 30 and 43 months, respectively, in the air–temperature time series, in addition to the well-known cycles of 1 day and 1 year. The two cycles do not affect the globe uniformly: some regions seem to be more influenced by the period of 30 months (e.g. Europe), while other areas are affected by the period of 43 months (e.g. North-West of the USA). Similar cycles are found in the indices and the regions influenced by these indices: the NAO index and the Western Europe display a cycle of 30 months, while the cycle of 43 months can be found in the ENSO index and in regions where it is known to have an impact.     

Geochemical and petrological constraints on rear-arc magma genesis processes in Ecuador: The Puyo cones and Mera lavas volcanic formations

The Puyo scoria cones and the Mera lava flows, two newly recognized volcanic formations dated between Late Pliocene to Middle Pleistocene, extend the limits of the Ecuadorian rear-arc volcanic province some 100 km to the south. The Puyo scoria cones have erupted K-rich absarokites containing olivine, diopside and phlogopite, whereas the Mera lava flows display a basic andesite composition, with olivine and minor augite phenocrysts. In addition to high contents in LILE, LREE and HFSE, the Puyo absarokites exhibit many characteristics of primitive melts, namely high Cr (590–310 ppm) and Ni (330–154 ppm) contents, high Mg# (64–70) and they contain forsteritic olivine (Fo_82–89). The composition of the most primary Puyo absarokite was used in petrogenetic models, in order to constrain the genesis of these high-K magmas. Major and trace elements models, as well as isotopic data, indicate that the source of Puyo magmas is a hydrated phlogopite- and garnet-bearing lherzolite. Phlogopite crystallization in the mantle wedge is triggered by the metasomatism by 3–5% of a SiO₂-, H₂O-rich liquid generated by slab melting. Partial melting of the subducted oceanic crust beneath Ecuador is allowed by the subduction of the young and warm Carnegie Ridge, which modifies the thermal regime of the Benioff zone. A low degree (1–4%) of partial melting of the metasomatized mantle wedge, leaving a variable garnet (4–7%) ± phlogopite (0–4%) lherzolitic residual assemblage, leads to the compositions of the entire Puyo absarokite series and is consistent with previous petrogenetic models developed for the Ecuadorian volcanic arc. Indeed, the homogeneity of isotopic data across the arc suggests a similar source for the whole Ecuadorian magmas.     

地震环境噪声成像中的地形影响校正

以传统地震环境噪声面波成像方法研究地壳速度结构时,在一些极端的地形条件下,结果与真实结构会存在较大偏差.我们以地震波场三维正演模拟为基础,提出了一种地形校正方法.我们保留了传统噪声面波成像简单的两步反演法,在面波层析成像和一维速度结构反演的基础上,通过地震波场三维模拟近似估计地形和散射波场的影响,并据此校正瑞利波频散曲线,最终反演得到校正地形影响的S波速度结构.理论测试与在实际观测数据上的应用都证明了校正方法的有效性,同时也显示了地形校正的必要性.

     

Geochemistry, genesis, and health implications of fluoriferous groundwaters in the upper regions of Ghana

 The most appropriate and widely used source of drinking water for the populations of the upper regions of Ghana is groundwater. In general, groundwater quality is acceptable except for some parts of the Bolgatanga and Bongo Districts, where there are occurrences of elevated levels of natural groundwater fluoride. Concentrations of groundwater fluoride in excess of the World Health Organization (WHO) maximum guideline value (1.5 mg/l) in the Bongo area have been known since 1978. However, the effect of fluoride on people ingesting the water did not receive public and medical attention until October 1993, when health personnel were asked to investigate the cause of stained teeth in school children. The investigation established that 62% of the total population of school children in the Bongo area had dental fluorosis. Against this background, a study was initiated to understand the geochemistry, genesis, and distribution of fluoride in relation to the geology of the area. Groundwater fluoride in the upper regions ranges from 0.11 to 4.60 ppm, with the highest concentrations associated with the fluorine-enriched Bongo coarse-grained hornblende granite and syenite suite. The source of groundwater fluoride within the Bongo granitoids is dissolution of the mineral fluorite and dissolution of and anion exchange with micaceous minerals and their clay products. Applying the WHO recommended guideline values for fluoride in drinking water reveals that 49% of wells in the area deliver water below the optimum level of 0.5 mg/l F^–; these populations are thus prone to dental caries. Twenty-eight percent of the wells fall within the optimum interval for good dental health (0.5–1.5 mg/l F^–). Twenty-three percent of the wells have concentrations above the recommended maximum guideline limit of 1.5 mg/l F^–; this population is susceptible to dental and possibly skeletal fluorosis. Climatic conditions of the area suggest that the individual water consumption is in the order of 3 to 4 l which is higher than the WHO estimate of 2 l/adult/day. In addition, dietary intake for the upper region population is probably higher than WHO baseline values (0.2–0.5 mg/day). This implies that a much higher population is susceptible to developing dental and skeletal fluorosis than originally suspected. Geochemical symbol plot maps help geochemists understand factors controlling the distribution and uptake of fluoride in the upper regions, but they are of minimal value to health officials responsible for planning epidemiological studies and dental health education programs in the region. By casting fluoride data into contoured 'geochemical health-risk maps' using intake interval guidelines more closely aligned to regional climatic and dietary conditions, health officals can better judge the impacts (regional and population based) of fluoride on segments of the population, such as various sex and age groups. Received: 11 March 1997 · Accepted: 17 June 1997