A Black Hills-Madison Aquifer Origin for Dakota Aquifer Groundwater in Northeastern Nebraska

Previous studies of the Dakota Aquifer in South Dakota attributed elevated groundwater sulfate concentrations to Madison Aquifer recharge in the Black Hills with subsequent chemical evolution prior to upward migration into the Dakota Aquifer. This study examines the plausibility of a Madison Aquifer origin for groundwater in northeastern Nebraska. Dakota Aquifer water samples were collected for major ion chemistry and isotopic analysis (¹⁸O, ²H, ³H, ¹⁴C, ¹³C, ³⁴S, ¹⁸O-SO₄, ⁸⁷Sr, ³⁷Cl). Results show that groundwater beneath the eastern, unconfined portion of the study area is distinctly different from groundwater sampled beneath the western, confined portion. In the east, groundwater is calcium-bicarbonate type, with δ¹⁸O values (−9.6 to −12.4) similar to local, modern precipitation (−7.4 to −10), and tritium values reflecting modern recharge. In the west, groundwater is calcium-sulfate type, having depleted δ¹⁸O values (−16 to −18) relative to local, modern precipitation, and ¹⁴C ages 32,000 to more than 47,000 years before present. Sulfate, δ¹⁸O, δ²H, δ³⁴S, and δ¹⁸O-SO₄ concentrations are similar to those found in Madison Aquifer groundwater in South Dakota. Thus, it is proposed that Madison Aquifer source water is also present within the Dakota Aquifer beneath northeastern Nebraska. A simple Darcy equation estimate of groundwater velocities and travel times using reported physical parameters from the Madison and Dakota Aquifers suggests such a migration is plausible. However, discrepancies between ¹⁴C and Darcy age estimates indicate that ¹⁴C ages may not accurately reflect aquifer residence time, due to mixtures of varying aged water.     

Oil viscosity limitation on dispersibility of crude oil under simulated at-sea conditions in a large wave tank

This study determined the limiting oil viscosity for chemical dispersion of oil spills under simulated sea conditions in the large outdoor wave tank at the US National Oil Spill Response Test Facility in New Jersey. Dispersant effectiveness tests were completed using crude oils with viscosities ranging from 67 to 40,100 cP at test temperature. Tests produced an effectiveness-viscosity curve with three phases when oil was treated with Corexit 9500 at a dispersant-to-oil ratio of 1:20. The oil viscosity that limited chemical dispersion under simulated at-sea conditions was in the range of 18,690 cP to 33,400 cP. Visual observations and measurements of oil concentrations and droplet size distributions in the water under treated and control slicks correlated well with direct measurements of effectiveness. The dispersant effectiveness versus oil viscosity relationship under simulated at sea conditions at Ohmsett was most similar to those from similar tests made using the Institut Francais du Pétrole and Exxon Dispersant Effectiveness (EXDET) test methods.     

A crustal-scale integrated geophysical and tectonic study of the Snake River Plain region,northwestern U.S.A.

The Pacific Northwest region of North America is a site of very complex tectonomagmatic activity. This activity is due to subduction of the Pacific plate, the associated Cascade chain of volcanoes, micro-plate interactions, and mantle plume activity to the east of the plate margin that produced the Yellowstone hotspot track along the Eastern Snake River Plain (ESRP). A number of recent geophysical and geological studies have produced new results that have drawn attention to the complex tectonic setting of the region east of the Cascade Range, and its tectonic evolution is the subject of considerable scientific interest and debate. Numerous seismic studies have specifically focused on the crustal and upper mantle structure of the ESRP and Yellowstone area. However, crustal-scale studies of the Western Snake River Plain (WSRP) are limited. We undertook an integrated analysis of new and existing geophysical data and geologic constraints to study the crustal structure of the WSRP and generated two-dimensional crustal models across it. We observed both differences and similarities in the structural and tectonic evolution of the eastern and western arms of the SRP based on our integrated analysis. From a broader perspective based on recent geological and geophysical studies in the surrounding region, the intersection of the two arms of the SRP emerges as a major element of a complex tectonic intersection that includes the High Lava Plains of eastern Oregon, the Northern Nevada rift, a southwestern extension of the ESRP into northern Nevada, as well as, faulting and volcanism extending north-westward to connect with the Columbia River basalt plateau region. Thus, the goal of this study is to advance our understanding of the tectonomagmatic evolution of the region and to encourage further studies in the region.     

Review: Moisture loading—the hidden information in groundwater observation well records

Changes of total moisture mass above an aquifer such as snow accumulation, soil moisture, and storage at the water table, represent changes of mechanical load acting on the aquifer. The resulting moisture-loading effects occur in all observation well records for confined aquifers. Deep observation wells therefore act as large-scale geological weighing lysimeters, referred to as “geolysimeters”. Barometric pressure effects on groundwater levels are a similar response to surface loading and are familiar to every hydrogeologist dealing with the “barometric efficiency” of observation wells. Moisture-loading effects are small and generally not recognized because they are obscured by hydraulic head fluctuations due to other causes, primarily barometric pressure changes. For semiconfined aquifers, long-term moisture-loading effects may be dissipated and obscured by transient flow through overlying aquitards. Removal of barometric and earth tide effects from observation well records allows identification of moisture loading and comparison with hydrological observations, and also comparison with the results of numerical models that can account for transient groundwater flow.     

Tidal hydrology and habitat utilization by resident nekton in<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pragmites</Emphasis> and Non-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmites</Emphasis> Marshes

We compared nekton densities over a range of measured flooding conditions and locations withinPhragmites australis andSpartina alterniflora (salt marsh cordgrass) at the Charles Wheeler Salt Marsh, located on the lower Housatonic River estuary in southwestern Connecticut. Nekton were sampled on nine spring high tide events from May to October 2000 using bottomless lift nets positioned between 0–5 and 10–20 m from the creek edge. Flooding depth, duration, and frequency were measured from each vegetation type during each sampling month. Benthic macroinvertebrate density was also measured within each vegetation type in May, July, and September. Frequency of flooding was 52% lower and flooding depth and duration were also significantly reduced inP. australis relative toS. alterniflora. A total of 4,197 individuals representing 7 species, mostlyPalaemonetes pugio (dagger-blade grass shrimp) andFundulus heteroclitus (common mummichog), were captured.P. pugio densities were significantly greater inS. alterniflora as were benthic macroinvertebrate density and taxa richness during May, but not during June or October. Total fish density was not significantly different betweenP. australis andS. alterniflora and was independent of location on the marsh. Significantly more juvenileF. heteroclitus were collected withinS. alterniflora relative toP. australis in June and July, suggesting that recruitment of this species may be lower inP. australis habitat. Fish density generally did not vary predictably across the range of flooding depth and duration; there was a positive relationship between flooding depth and fish density inS. alterniflora. The measured reduction in flooding frequency (52%) withinP. australis at the Housatonic site would result in an average total monthly fish use, expressed as density, of 447 ind m⁻² forP. australis and 947 ind m⁻² forS. alterniflora. WhenP. australis expansion results in reduction of flooding frequency and duration, nekton community composition can change, access to the marsh surface is reduced twofold, and nursery habitat function may be impaired.     

A SELF-CONSISTENT COMPILATION OF ELEMENTAL CONCENTRATION DATA FOR 93 GEOCHEMICAL REFERENCE SAMPLES

Concentration data obtained by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) are presented for up to 36 chemical elements in 93 geochemical reference samples, including some for which there are little previous data. Because all data are based on at least three independent analyses, and for many of the data the uncertainty associated with counting is an insignificant source of error, the values presented here are considered of higher precision than generally reported by INAA. Information on subsampling error (sample heterogeneity) is also presented.     

Rare earth and trace element geochemistry of a fragment of jurassic seafloor,Point Sal,California

A suite of rocks from the Point Sal ophiolite, California, were analyzed for rare earth elements (REE), Sc, Co, Na₂O, Cr, Zn and FeO. The lavas all have either flat or slightly light REE (LREE) depleted profiles relative to chondrites. The lavas contain smectite or greenschist facies mineralogy and some have radiogenically enriched ${}^{87}\text{Sr}{}^{86}\text{Sr}$ ratios. This is interpreted as evidence of basaltseawater interaction (Hopsonet al., 1975; Davis and Lass, 1975). The smectite and zeolite bearing lavas that have been exposed to seawater for prolonged periods have anomalous Ce abundances. At higher grades of metamorphism, the lavas show no marked changes in light REE. The plutonic igneous rocks vary from early cumulus dunite to late stage, noncumulus diorite. All the plutonic rocks are light REE depleted with total REE abundance varying by a factor of 100 × between the dunites and diorites. Analyses of clinopyroxene and hornblende separates indicate that these two minerals strongly influence the REE characteristics of the early cumulates and late stage fractionates, respectively.In general, REE contents are: hornblende > clinopyroxene > plagioclase > orthopyroxene > olivine. Estimates of the REE compositions of parental lavas were obtained by calculating the REE contents of liquids in equilibrium with early cumulate clinopyroxenes. This reveals that the parent to the stratiform sequence was more depleted in light REE than the parent to the lava pile.     

Seasonal oxygen depletion in Chesapeake Bay

The spring freshet increases density stratification in Chesapeake Bay and minimizes oxygen transfer from the surface to the deep layer so that waters below 10 m depth experiece oxygen depletion which may lead to anoxia during June to September. Respiration in the water of the deep layer is the major factor contributing to oxygen depletion. Benthic respiration seems secondary. Organic matter from the previous year which has settled into the deep layer during winter provides most of the oxygen demand but some new production in the surface layer may sink and thus supplement the organic matter accumulated in the deep layer.     

Major,minor, and trace element compositions of peridotitic and basaltic komatiites from the precambrian crust of Southern Africa

Major and trace element compositional data are reported for nine mafic and ultramafic rock samples from the Barberton greenstone belt. Rocks from this province are among the oldest fragments of the Earth's crust (3.5 b.y.). The data are consistent with an oceanic crust related origin for these rocks. The high abundances of Ni in these samples make their origin by fractional crystallization of a primitive magma unlikely but are consistent with their generation by partial melting of an upper mantle source. The basaltic samples from the Komati formation can be related by small degrees of partial melting of a primitive upper mantle source to the peridotitic komatiite which probably derived from much more extensive partial melting of a similar source. REE and especially Ni abundances limit the proportion of olivine that is permitted in the residue.