Growth, Production, and a Partial Energy Budget for the Amphipod, Talorchestia capensis (Crustacea; Talitridae) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Abstract. .A population of Talorchestia capensis was sampled in dune slacks over the period of one year. Two hatching periods, one in March and one in September, were observed. Growth was rapid, the amphipods reaching a size of 8.4 mm standard length in 18 months. Maximum growth occurred in spring and minimum growth in winter. Annual mortality rates for summer- and winter-hatched individuals were low, 0.22-y“¹ and 0.16-y”¹. Average production for the summer classes was 7.2g-y?‘ (dry mass) and for the winter classes 2.9-y“¹, with a P/B ratio of 2.25-y”’. Production values peaked during autumn and summer. Abundance and biomass estimates showed maxima during summer and minima in early spring. Reproductive output was low, 0.1 kJ ? m^-2 y“¹, indicating that 7 % of the total production is used for reproduction and 93 % for somatic production. The assimilated energy flow through the population was estimated to be 16.3 kJ m?² y?‘ and consumption about 81.6 kJ m^-2 y^_’.     

The effects of climate variability on discharge as dependent on catchment characteristics in the Upper Loire basin,France

Abstract

The effects of climatically deviating periods of at least four years on discharge were investigated employing flow duration curves in the Upper Loire basin, France. The periods were determined using the standardized cumulative yearly deviation from the mean precipitation for ten climate stations. Flow duration curves from 27 catchments were determined and parameterized for each period. Results show that the effect of precipitation on discharge is more pronounced than the effect of temperature. They also show that the parameter values that determine the flow duration curve differ significantly between dry and wet periods. Furthermore the effect of drought on discharge is larger than the effect of wetness. Catchments with a high variability of discharge are more sensitive to changes of precipitation than catchments with a low variability of discharge.     

Using estimated thermodynamic properties to model accessory phases: the case of tourmaline

Accessory phases and minor components in minerals are commonly ignored in thermodynamic modelling. Such an approach seems unwarranted, as accessory phases can represent a significant element reservoir and minor components can substantially change their host mineral's stability field. However, a lack of thermodynamic data prohibits assessment of these effects. In this contribution, the polyhedron method is used to estimate the thermodynamic properties of tourmaline, a common and widespread accessory phase, stable over a range of P–T–X conditions. The polyhedron method allows Δ H , S , V , C _P and V _m ( T , P ) properties to be estimated from a linear stoichiometric summation over the fractional properties of its polyhedron constituents. To allow for estimates of tourmaline, fractional thermodynamic properties for B^III and B^IV polyhedra were derived. Mixing contributions to molar volume were evaluated and symmetrical mixing parameters derived for Al-Mg, Al-Fe and Al-Li interaction on tourmaline's Y-site and T-site Al-Si interaction. Evaluation of the estimated properties using experimental and natural equilibria between tourmaline and melts, minerals and hydrothermal fluids, shows that reliable semi-quantitative results are obtained. The boron contents in fluids coexisting with tourmaline are calculated to within an order of magnitude of measured content, and where anchor-points are available, agreement improves to within a factor of 2. Including tourmaline in petrogenetic modelling of metamorphic rocks indicates that its presence leads to disappearance of staurolite and garnet, among others, and modifies the X _Mg of coexisting phases, in line with observations on natural rocks.     

Relict Majoritic Garnet Microstructures from Ultra-Deep Orogenic Peridotites in Western Norway

Protogranular, porphyroclastic and equigranular (or equant-polygonal)garnet microstructures from Mg–Cr type orogenic garnetperidotites, Otrøy, Western Gneiss Region, Norway, havebeen studied using naked eye, light-optical, electron-opticaland confocal laser (fluorescence) microscopy techniques. Protogranularand porphyroclastic garnets contain microstructural evidencefor the former existence of majoritic (or super-silicic) garnet.The microstructural evidence consists of exsolution texturesinvolving pyroxene. Two types of exsolution microstructuresoccur—needles parallel to <111>_grt and interstitialgrains. The maximum volume percentage for intra-crystallinepyroxene exsolution is 2·7, and 3·6 for inter-crystallinepyroxene exsolution. The maximum pyroxene total volume percentagemeasured in one single protogranular or porphyroclastic garnetis 4·0. This value, at 1200°C, corresponds to minimumpressures of 6·4 GPa (     

Rapid Temporal Changes in Ocean Island Basalt Composition: Evidence from an 800 m Deep Drill Hole in Eiao Shield (Marquesas)

The Dominique drill hole has penetrated the volcanic shieldof Eiao island (Marquesas) down to a depth of 800 m below thesurface and 691•5 m below sea-level with a percentage ofrecovery close to 100%. All the lavas encountered were emplacedunder subaerial conditions. From the bottom to the top are distinguished:quartz and olivine tholeiites (800–686 m), hawaiites,mugearites and trachyte (686–415 m), picritic basalts,olivine tholeiites and alkali basalts (415–0 m). The coredvolcanic pile was emplaced between 5•560•07 Ma and5•220•06 Ma. Important chemical changes occurred during this rather shorttime span (0•34 0•13 Ma). In particular, the lowerbasalts differ from the upper ones in their lower concentrationsof incompatible trace elements and their Sr, Nd and Pb isotopicsignature being closer to the HIMU end-member, whereas the upperbasalts are EM II enriched. The chemical differences betweenthe two basalt groups are consistent with a time-related decreasein the degree of partial melting of isotopically heterogeneoussources. It seems unlikely that these isotopic differences reflectchanges in plume dynamics occurring in such a short time span,and we tentatively suggest that they result from a decreasingdegree of partial melting of a heterogeneous EM II–HIMUmantle plume. Some of the intermediate magmas (the uppermost hawaiites andmugearites) are likely to be derived from parent magmas similarto the associated upper basalts through simple fractionationprocesses. Hawaiites, mugearites and a trachyte from the middlepart of the volcanic sequence have Sr–Nd isotopic signaturessimilar to those of the lower basalts but they differ from themin their lower ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios, resulting in an increasedDMM signature. Some of the hawaiites-mugearites also displayspecific enrichments in P₂O₅, Sr and REE which are unlikelyto result from simple fractionation processes. The isotopicand incompatible element compositions of the intermediate rocksare consistent with the assimilation of MORB-derived wall rocksduring fractional crystallization. The likely contaminant correspondsto Pacific oceanic crust, locally containing apatite-rich veinsand hydrothermal sulphides. We conclude that a possible explanationfor the DMM signature in ocean island basalts is a chemicalcontribution from the underlying oceanic crust and that studiesof intermediate rocks may be important to document the originof the isotopic features of plume-derived magmas. KEY WORDS: alkali basalt; assimilation; mantle heterogeneity; Marquesas; tholeiile ^*Corresponding author     

Mineralogy, Petrology, and Geochemistry of an Ultrapotassic Basaltic Suite, Central Sierra Nevada, California, U.S.A.

Ultrapotassic basaltic lavas erupted 3.4–3.6 m.y. ago(K/Ar) in the central Sierra Nevada and originated by partialmelting of a phlogopite-enriched, garnet-bearing upper mantlesource. Ultrapotassic basanites (K₂O: 5–9 per cent), whichare spatially related to contemporaneous potassic olivine basalts(K₂O: 3–5 per cent) and alkali olivine basalts (K₂O: 1–3per cent), contain the K₂O-bearing minerals phlogopite, sanidine,and leucite as well as olivine, diopside, apatite, magnetite,and pseudobrookite. The presence and modal abundance of theK₂O-bearing minerals closely reflects the east to west increasein K₂O throughout the basaltic suite. Many lines of evidence support the derivation of the ultrapotassicbasanites and the related basalts from an upper mantle source:TiO₂ in phlogopite phenocrysts and groundmass crystals, 2–3and 7–9 per cent respectively, support phlogopite phenocrystcrystallization at high pressure, whole rock Mg values (100Mg/Mg + 0.85 Fe) range from 66–78, phlogopite-rich pyroxeniticand periodotitic nodules are included in some flows, and geobarometriccalculations indicate depths of generation at 100–125km. Also, model calculations show that the major, rare earth,and trace elements, except for Ba, Rb, and Sr, can be accuratelygenerated by 1.0–2.5 per cent melting of a phiogopite-and garnet-bearing clinopyroxene-rich upper mantle source. Partialmelting occurred after a general upper mantle enrichment beneaththe Sierra Nevada, the phlogopite- and clinopyroxene-rich sourceof the ultrapotassic lavas being the extreme result of the enrichmentprocess. Clinopyroxene enrichment of the upper mantle probablyoccurred by introduction of a partial melting fraction intothe upper mantle source areas. Enrichment of the upper mantlein the alkali and alkali-earth elements was not accomplishedby a partial melt, but resulted from influx of a fluid phaserich in Ba, K, Rb, Sr, and, probably, H₂O The continuous rangein K₂O of the erupted lavas implies that the upper mantle enrichmentis a cumulative process. The inverse relationship in the SierraNevada between uplift and the K₂O content of the erupted basaltsimplies that a critical relationship may exist between upliftand upper mantle enrichment.     

A modern oceanic hardground on the Carnegie Ridge in the eastern Equatorial Pacific

Fossil surfaces of erosion and non-deposition are common in limestone sequences from the Mesozoic in western Europe and in the Tethys and have been described under the name ‘hardgrounds’. They are of shallow water as well as of oceanic origin. A modern example in the Pacific is described in this paper. The Carnegie Ridge, an east-west trending shallow ridge between South America and the Galapagos Islands, has a central, deeper saddle where erosion has removed most of the sediment cover down to a hard chalk and chert bed (acoustic basement), and has cut intricate channel patterns on the south flank and two deep canyons on the north. The erosion has produced a karst-like relief of steep-walled channels, cliffs, and corroded chalk remnants. The floors of the channels are covered with ferromanganese oxide crusts or crust fragments over which loose sediment is being transported. In the two canyons on the north flank, this sediment consists of foraminiferal sand travelling downslope in the form of barchan dunes. All sediment down to acoustic basement has been stripped from the Carnegie Ridge crest except where it is protected behind basement ridges and pinnacles. Surface features of the eroded chalk are strongly reminiscent of features observed in Mesozoic hardgrounds. Current measurements over several days indicate a net northward movement, slow but possibly adequate to keep the sea floor free of fresh deposits. The rates, however, seem inadequate to explain the formation of the deep channels, and there is no evidence for the southward flow which is implied by the southern channel system. A process of combined carbonate dissolution and removal by the current of fresh sediment and dissolution residues can account for the required erosion in about two million years. Regional unconformities identifiable in seismic reflection profiles and dated in cores are of middle to late Pliocene age, suggesting that the formation of the erosion surface began 2-3 million years ago. Buried Miocene unconformities of local extent show that the present erosion period had minor precursors possibly related to short-lived increases in current action and carbonate dissolution.     

ELECTRONIC ACCELERATION-SENSITIVE GEOPHONE FOR SEISMIC PROSPECTING***

Previously ignored characteristics of the seismic recording instrument are presently experienced as limitations as more sophisticated interpretive methods using wider frequency ranges are developed to extract stratigraphic information from seismic land data for hydrocarbon and mineral exploration. Most of these limitations arise from inadequate characteristics of the first element of the seismic instrument: the geophone. A geophone does not faithfully follow the motion of the earth for higher frequencies due to poor geophone-earth coupling. This filtering effect brings about time shifts that are dependent on the frequency and the soil type. A geophone can also produce spurious outputs, brought about by the motion of the suspended part of the geophone, with a magnitude comparable to that of the desired output. The suspension is made very compliant to obtain the required sensitivity. A compliant suspension, however, gives a large sag. The geophone can therefore only be used in one position, tolerating little tilt. A compliant suspension also widens the traveling range of the movable part. Minor sensitivity changes with travel are then noticeable as nonlinearity, since the surface wave is large with respect to the reflected wave. A compliant suspension is usually realized in the form of thin, spirally shaped spring-spiders. Such suspensions exhibit transverse or rotational resonances that are in or close to the seismic frequency band. Excited by ground roll, they can produce considerable undesirable output. The novel geophone we describe is a light-weight (17 g) acceleration-sensitive transducer which gives good ground coupling and partial correction for the increasing damping in the earth with increasing frequencies. It employs internal hybrid electronics for a magnetodynamic velocity-nulling feedback system. Velocity nulling makes the movable part of the geophone virtually rigid with respect to the housing. This makes the geophone characteristics independent of the suspension. The springs used are stiff in a transverse and rotational direction so that the suspension resonances are well outside the useful frequency band. This suspension also allows the geophone to be used in any orientation while being only sensitive to the vibration component along the main axis. The feedback system makes the sensitivity flat within 1 dB from 2 Hz to 500 Hz, with a phase tolerance smaller than 5°. The geophone is robust, has no moving internal wires, employs a current output [sensitivity 1 mA/(m s^?2)] and internal gain so that the signal-to-cable-noise ratio is improved. This type of output allows parallel connection without any interaction between the geophones.