Comparison of accelerator and radiometric radiocarbon measurements obtained from Late Devesian Lateglacial lake sediments from Llyn Gwernan, North Wales, UK

Accelerator mass spectrometry measures of the radiocarbon activity of various chemical fractions prepared from Late Devensian Lateglacial lake sediments from the site of Llyn Gwernan, near Cader Idris, North Wales are presented and assessed. These are compared with radiocarbon measurements obtained by radiometric (decay) counting which were reported earlier from the same site and are considered in the light of pollen-stratigraphic information. The potential advantages of accelerator radiocarbon measurements to the assessment of the chronology and correlation of Lateglacial lake sediments are evaluated.     

Formation of Anorthosite-Gabbro Rhythmic Phase Layering: An Example at North Arm Mountain, Bay of Islands Ophiolite

Rhythmically layered anorthosite and gabbro are exposed in a4–10-m thick interval at the base of the layered gabbrounit on North Arm Mountain, one of four massifs that composethe Bay of Islands ophiolite, Newfoundland. Within the rhythmicallylayered interval, up to 37 anorthosite layers 1–2 cm thickalternate with gabbroic layers 7–10 cm thick. Anorthositesare adcumulates (most contain <6ppm Zr) with 98–99%plagioclase (Plag) and 1–2% intergranular clinopyroxene(Cpx), whereas gabbros are adcumulates to mesocumulates (<6–20ppmZr) with 35–55% Plag, and the balance olivine (Ol) + Cpx? orthopyroxene (Opx). Average mineral compositions are: Olmg-number [100 ?Mg/(Mg + Fe)]=84?9, NiO=0?13wt. % Plag An =87?9; Cpx mg-number = 88?3, TiO₂=0?20 wt %; and Opx mg-number= 85?7. Rare earth element (REE) concentrations in clinopyroxeneand plagioclase are low throughout the rhythmically layeredinterval (<5 times chondrites). The rhythmically layeredinterval is sandwiched between thick layers of adcumulate toorthocumulate uniform gabbro with average modal proportionsof 54% Plag-39% Cpx-3% Ol-4% Opx. Average mineral compositionsare: Ol mg-number = 75?5, NiO = 0?08 wt. %; Plag An=69%6; Cpxmg-number = 81?2, TiO₂ =0?53 wt. %, and Opx mg-number = 77?5.Clinopyroxene and plagioclase REE abundances are systematicallyhigher in the uniform gabbro interval than in the rhythmicallylayered interval. Calculated fractional crystallization pathsand correlated cryptic variation patterns suggest that uniformand rhythmically layered gabbros represent 20–30% in situcrystallization of two distinct magma batches, one more evolvedand the other more primitive. When the more primitive magmaentered the crystallization site of the NA300–301 gabbros,it is estimated to have been 40?C hotter than the resident evolvedmagma, and may have been chilled by contact with a magma chambermargin composed of uniform gabbro. In this model, chilling causedthe liquid to become supercooled with respect to plagioclasenucleation temperatures, resulting in crystallization of gabbrodeficient in plagioclase relative to equilibrium cotectic proportions.Subtraction of a plagioclase-poor melagabbro enriched the liquidin normative plagioclase, which in turn led to crystallizationof an anorthosite layer. Alternating anorthosite and gabbrolayers in the rhythmically layered interval built up by coupledand sustained variations in crystal nucleation and growth rates,and associated variations in liquid compositions at the crystallizationfront. Relatively stagnant magma-flow conditions may be requiredto accumulate substantial thicknesses of rhythmically layeredcumulates by sustained oscillatory crystallization. The rarityof anorthosite-gabbro rhythmic phase layering on North Arm Mountainmay indicate that convective magma currents in the Bay of Islandsmagma chamber were too vigorous for oscillatory crystallizationto commonly occur.     

Deep‐water foreland basin deposits of the Cerro Toro Formation,Magallanes basin,Chile: architectural elements of a sinuous basin axial channel belt

Coarse‐grained deep‐water strata of the Cerro Toro Formation in the Cordillera Manuel Señoret, southern Chile, represent the deposits of a major channel belt (4 to 8 km wide by >100 km long) that occupied the foredeep of the Magallanes basin during the Late Cretaceous. Channel belt deposits comprise a ca 400 m thick conglomeratic interval (informally named the ‘Lago Sofia Member’) encased in bathyal fine‐grained units. Facies of the Lago Sofia Member include sandy matrix conglomerate (that show evidence of traction‐dominated deposition and sedimentation from turbulent gravity flows), muddy matrix conglomerate (graded units interpreted as coarse‐grained slurry‐flow deposits) and massive sandstone beds (high‐density turbidity current deposits). Interbedded sandstone and mudstone intervals are present locally, interpreted as inner levée deposits. The channel belt was characterized by a low sinuousity planform architecture, as inferred from outcrop mapping and extensive palaeocurrent measurements. Laterally adjacent to the Lago Sofia Member are interbedded mudstone and sandstone facies derived from gravity flows that spilled over the channel belt margin. A levée interpretation for these fine‐grained units is based on several observations, which include: (i) palaeocurrent measurements that indicate flows diverged (50° to 100°) once they spilled over the confining channel margin; (ii) sandstone beds progressively thin, away from the channel belt margin; (iii) evidence that the eroded channel base was not very well indurated, including a stepped margin and injection of coarse‐grained channel material into surrounding fine‐grained units; and (iv) the presence of sedimentary features common to levées, including slumped units inferring depositional slopes dipping away from the channel margin, lenticular sandstone beds thinning distally from the channel margin, soft sediment deformation and climbing ripples. The tectonic setting and foredeep architecture influenced deposition in the axial channel belt. A significant downstream constriction of the channel belt is reflected by a transition from more tabular units to an internal architecture dominated by lenticular beds associated with a substantially increased degree of scour. Differential propagation of the fold‐thrust belt from the west is speculated to have had a major control on basin, and subsequently channel, width. The confining influence of the basin slopes that paralleled the channel belt, as well as the likelihood that numerous conduits fed into the basin along the length of the active fold‐thrust belt to the west, suggest that proximal–distal relationships observed from large channels in passive margin settings are not necessarily applicable to axial channels in elongate basins.     

Mid-cycle condensed shellbeds from mid-Pleistocene cyclothems, New Zealand: implications for sequence architecture

Richly fossiliferous and disconformity-bounded facies successions, termed Mid-Cycle Condensed Shellbeds (MCS), occupy a mid-cycle position within depositional sequences in the Castlecliff section (mid-Pleistocene, Wanganui Basin, New Zealand). These shell-rich intervals (0.1–4.5 m thick) comprise the upper of two loci of shell accumulation in Castlecliff sequences. The lower disconformable contacts are sharp and variably burrowed, and are interpreted as submarine transgressive surfaces formed by storm or tidal current erosion at the feather-edge of contemporary transgressive systems tracts. Above (i.e. seaward) of this erosion surface, macrofossil remains (mainly bivalves and gastropods) accumulated, with little reworking, on the inner-shelf under conditions of reduced terrigenous sediment supply. The upper contacts are sharp transitions from shell-rich to relatively shell-poor lithofacies; parautochthonous shell accumulation was ‘quenched’by downlapping highstand systems tract shelf siltstones and muddy fine sandstones. Castlecliff MCS, together with the basal shell-rich part of overlying highstand systems tracts, occupy a stratigraphic position which corresponds to the condensed section that forms at the transgressive/highstand systems tract boundary in the sequence model of Haq et al. (1987). Palaeoenvironmental analysis indicates that Castlecliff MCS are substantially, if not entirely, transgressive deposits. This study therefore shows that the ‘condensation maximum’within a depositional sequence does not necessarily bracket the transgressive systems tract/highstand systems tract boundary.     

Seasonal and global NOx production by lightning estimated from the Optical Transient Detector (OTD)

The Optical Transient Detector (OTD) lightning data for the 12‐month period of 1996 are used to estimate the seasonal and global distributions of lightning‐produced NO _x . The relatively small viewing footprint and the low detection efficiency of the OTD sensor and other difficulties require extrapolations of the OTD data to the actual global flash distributions. Furthermore, available measurements for the ratios of intracloud (IC) to cloud‐to‐ground (CG) flashes have been used to partition lightning counts for IC versus CG flashes from the OTD observations. The resulting lightning distributions are then used to calculate the global and seasonal production of NO _x , assuming a NO production rate of 6.2×10²⁵ molecules for each CG flash and 8.7×10²⁴ molecules for each IC flash. Consequently, we find that CG flashes produce more NO _x than IC flashes despite fewer CG flashes by a factor of 3 or more. NO _x production by lightning varies seasonally in accordance with the global lightning distribution, with the maximum production occurring in the Northern Hemisphere in the local summer. The latitudinal distribution of NO _x production exhibits a strong seasonal variation outside the tropics with the production occurring mainly in the summer hemisphere, whereas in the tropics the production is high throughout the year. The annual contribution to NO _x production by lightning is higher in the Northern Hemisphere than that in the Southern Hemisphere.     

Sedimentary evidence for a major glacial oscillation and proglacial lake formation in the Solway Lowlands (Cumbria,UK) during Late Devensian deglaciation

Livingstone, S. J., Ó Cofaigh, C., Evans, D. J. A. & Palmer, A. 2010: Sedimentary evidence for a major glacial oscillation and proglacial lake formation in the Solway Lowlands (Cumbria, UK) during Late Devensian deglaciation. Boreas, Vol. 39, pp. 505–527. 10.1111/j.1502‐3885.2010.00149.x. ISSN 0300‐9483. This paper is a sedimentological investigation of Late Devensian glacial deposits from the Solway Lowlands, northwest England, in the central sector of the last British–Irish Ice Sheet. In this region, laminated glaciolacustrine sediments occur, sandwiched between diamictons interpreted as subglacial tills. At one location the laminated sediments are interpreted as varves, and indicate the former presence of a proglacial lake. Correlation of these varves with other laminated sediments indicates that the glacial lake was at least 140 km² in area and probably much larger. Extensive beds of sand, silt and gravel throughout the Solway Basin associated with the lake demonstrate ice‐free conditions over a large area. Based on the number of varves, the lake was in existence for at least 261 years. The stratigraphic sequence of varves bracketed by tills implies a major glacial oscillation prior to the Scottish Re‐advance (16.8 cal. ka BP). This oscillation is tentatively correlated with the Gosforth oscillation at c.19.5 cal. ka BP. Subsequent overriding of these glaciolacustrine sediments during a westward‐moving re‐advance demonstrates rapid ice loss and then gain within the Solway Lowlands from ice‐dispersal centres in the Lake District, Pennines and Southern Uplands. It is speculated that the existence of this and other lakes along the northeastern edge of the Irish Sea Basin would have influenced ice‐sheet dynamics.     

Magnesite diagenesis in redbeds: a case study from the Permian of the Northern Calcareous Alps (Tyrol, Austria)

The Upper Permian Gröden Formation of the Northern Calcareous Alps (Austria) is composed of alluvial fan and playa lake sediments that were deposited in intramontane basins. A conspicuous feature of these redbeds is the abundance of magnesite in the form of nodules and discrete layers in mudstones as well as intergranular cement in sandstones. Sedimentological observations indicate that the bulk of these carbonates formed during early diagenesis and were probably syndepositional. Petrographically, most magnesites consist of micrite or, less commonly, microspar. An early non-ferroan magnesite is post-dated by later stage ferroan magnesites. Nodules consisting of recrystallized, sparry magnesite were observed only at one location. The general absence of relics of a non-magnesite precursor mineral and the occurrence of shrinkage features suggest that the fine grained magnesites formed by transformation of a hydrated magnesium carbonate mineral, e.g. hydromagnesite. Carbon, oxygen, sulphur and strontium isotope ratios in conjunction with sedimentological criteria support a model of (hydro)magnesite precipitation in an inland playa lake system, which was fed by run-off from the surrounding hinterland. The scarcity of evaporites and the dominance of magnesite over calcite and dolomite suggest that the playa lake brines were low in sulphate and had high Mg/Ca ratios. The source for the high magnesium concentrations is thought to be the weathering of Devonian dolostones and associated massive magnesite deposits in the catchment area.     

Staurolite Stability in a Part of the System Fe-Al-Si-O-H

The following reactions, believed to be analogous to those whichdefine the maximum extent of staurolite-quartz compatibilityat moderate oxygen fugacity in metamorphic rocks, have beendetermined in terms of hydrous fluid pressure and temperature.The O: H composition ratio of the fluid was controlled withthe quartz-fayalite-magnetite (QFM) buffer assemblage. (I) Fe-staurolitequartz almandine+sillimanite+water. (II) Fe-staurolitequartz Fe-cordierite+sillimanite+water. (III) Fe-chloritoid+sillimanite Fe-staurolite+quartz+water. In addition, two reactions which delineate part of the stabilitylimits of Fe-cordierite have been investigated: (IV) Fe-cordierite almandine+sillimanite+quartz. (V) Fe-cordierite hercynite+sillimanite+quartz. The experimental information has been used to predict boundariesto the PT fields of all quartz and QFM-buffered fluid-bearingassemblages involving Fe-staurolite, Fe-cordierite, Fe-chloritoid,almandine, and sillimanite. Using information from this andother studies, three mineral assemblages are recognized whichare stable at similar temperatures but different fluid pressures.In order of decreasing pressure they are: (a) Above 5 kb: staurolite, quartz, kyanite, fluid; (b) Between 1.5 and 8.5 kb (outer limits; in natural rocks thisfield will have a much narrower pressure range) staurolite,quartz, cordierite, fluid. (c) Below 3.5 kb: Fe-cordierite, andalusite, fluid of oxygenfugacity equivalent to the quartz-fayalite-magnetite assemblage. These phase assemblages may be the equivalents of naturallyoccurring mineral facies, but this must be proven in the field.In addition the absence of cordierite from rocks of appropriatecomposition and temperature of formation betokens total pressuresgreater than 3–5 kb. ¹Present address: Grant Institute of Geology, West Mains Road, Edinburgh 9, Scotland.     

Geochemical and Isotopic Heterogeneities along an Island Arc-Spreading Ridge Intersection: Evidence from the Lewis Hills, Bay of Islands Ophiolite, Newfoundland

This study focuses on the origin of magma heterogeneity andthe genesis of refractory, boninite-type magmas along an arc–ridgeintersection, exposed in the Lewis Hills (Bay of Islands Ophiolite).The Lewis Hills contain the fossil fracture zone contact betweena split island arc and its related marginal oceanic basin. Threetypes of intrusions, which are closely related to this narrowtectonic boundary, have been investigated. Parental melts inequilibrium with the ultramafic cumulates of the PyroxeniteSuite are inferred to have high MgO contents and low Al₂O₃,Na₂O and TiO₂ contents. The trace element signatures of thesePyroxenite Suite parental melts indicate a re-enriched, highlydepleted source with 0·1 x mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)abundances of the heavy rare earth elements (HREE). Initial_Nd values of the Pyroxenite Suite range from -1·5 to+0·6, which overlap those observed for the island arc.Furthermore, the Pyroxenite Suite parental melts bear strongsimilarities to boninite-type equilibrium melts from islandarc-related pyroxenitic dykes and harzburgites. Basaltic dykessplit into two groups. Group I dykes have 0·6 x MORBabundances of the HREE, and initial _Nd values ranging from +5·4to +7·5. Thus, they have a strong geochemical affinitywith basalts derived from the marginal basin spreading ridge.Group II dykes have comparatively lower trace element abundances(0·3 x MORB abundances of HREE), and slightly lower initial_Nd values (+5·4 to +5·9). The geochemical characteristicsof the Group II dykes are transitional between those of GroupI dykes and the Pyroxenite Suite parental melts. Cumulates fromthe Late Intrusion Suite are similarly transitional, with _Ndvalues ranging from +2·9 to +4·6. We suggest thatthe magma heterogeneity observed in the Lewis Hills is due tothe involvement of two compositionally distinct mantle sources,which are the sub-island lithospheric mantle and the asthenosphericmarginal basin mantle. It is likely that the refractory, boninite-typeparental melts of the Pyroxenite Suite result from remeltingof the sub-arc lithospheric mantle at an arc–ridge intersection.Furthermore, it is suggested that the thermal-dynamic conditionsof the transtensional transform fault have provided the prerequisitefor generating magma heterogeneity, as a result of mixing relationshipsbetween arc-related and marginal basin-related magmas. KEY WORDS: Bay of Islands ophiolite; transform (arc)–ridge intersection; boninites; rare earth elements, Nd isotopes