Nitrate loss and transformation in 2 vegetated headwater streams

The processes of nitrate removal from the stream waters of 2 headwater catchments were studied. In study stretches where the stream channels were vegetated with thick mats of grass (Gly‐ceria fluitans), nitrate removal processes were particularly active. In such grassed stream channels, c. 75% of the nitrate removal was attributable to plant uptake and the remainder to denitrifica‐tion. Both of these nitrate removal processes were linearly dependent on nitrate concentration, resulting in an exponential decline of nitrate level from the springs along the stream's length. Regeneration of nitrogen, by plant decay within the stream channel, results in export of dissolved organic nitrogen and paniculate nitrogen from the catchments. The overall impact of vegetated stream channels in modifying nitrogen exports from catchments is discussed.     

Potassium‐argon ages on micas from the Precambrian region of North‐Western Queensland

Potassium‐argon measurements have been carried out on the separated micas of 27 samples, principally granites, from the Mount Isa‐Cloncurry region of north‐western Queensland. There is evidence for at least two tectonic periods within the “Lower Proterozoic” of the area. The first is represented only in the north‐western portion, with ages greater than 1,770 m.y. on the Ewen Granite, and on the granites of the Nicholson River area to the far north‐west. The second at 1,400–1,450 m.y. is manifested only to the south and east of the Kalkadoon‐Leichhardt complex, and including the Sybella Granite. The results may be further interpreted as lending support to the concept of a possible “metamorphic discontinuity” along the western flank of the Kalkadoon‐Leichhardt complex, postulated by Carter, Brooks and Walker; as suggesting possible contemporaneity of the Cliffdale Volcanics and the Argylla Formation; and as giving further evidence for the antiquity of stromatolites. Comparison with earlier work suggests that some deposits in this region may be contemporaneous with some of the Agicondian sediments of the Katherine‐Darwin area, and that the second tectonic period corresponds with the K‐Ar ages obtained on the Davenportian granites of Central Australia.     

Dating of glauconite from the Ngalia Basin,Northern Territory,Australia∗

Rb‐Sr and K‐Ar measurements have been made on five glauconite samples from the near basal Treuer Member of the Vaughan Springs Quartzite of the Ngalia Basin, Northern Territory, Australia. Comparison of results between and within the two groups of data demonstrates that variable losses of radiogenic strontium and argon have occurred, but allows a minimum age of 1280 m.y. to be calculated for the member. Sedimentation began in the Ngalia Basin shortly before the time of deposition of this member.

Regional correlations suggest that this minimum age applies to the adjacent Amadeus Basin as well.

Measurements were also made on glauconite from a single sample of the Lower Palaeozoic Djagamara Formation which is in the same sequence. It yields a mid‐Ordovician K‐Ar age which generally agrees with the broad range of post‐Lower Cambrian to pre‐Carboniferous age determined from fossil evidence in bounding formations. A low Rb/Sr ratio prevented calculation of a Rb‐Sr age, but the combination of K‐Ar age and Rb‐Sr measurements allowed an accurate initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of .739 to be determined. This is much greater than ocean water values, and it appears that such information on young samples and/or those of low Rb/Sr ratio could help define the source material for glauconite formation.     

On the age of uranium mineralisation at Nabarlek,northern territory,Australia

Discordant uranium‐lead isotope measurements are reported for a sample of Nabarlek pitchblende. These are compared with earlier measurements on uranium minerals from the South Alligator River area. New interpretations suggest that regional uranium mineralisation took place either 710 or 815 m.y. ago; the lower of these calculations is based on the assumption of modern episodic lead loss, and the higher assumes lead loss by continuous diffusion.     

The Bajool earthquake sequence of 1991, and implications for the seismicity of central Queensland

The township of Bajool, situated 30 km south of Rockhampton, Queensland, experienced two minor earthquakes, each of Richter magnitude 2.9 on 10 June 1991. The foci were located 7 km north of Bajool, at a depth of less than 10 km. The felt intensity in Bajool was generally IV‐V, with minor damage occurring to several houses. There were several foreshocks and four aftershocks. The events may represent reactivation of a thrust fault, close to its junction with an inferred transform fault, the Fitzroy River Fault. These events demonstrate that the quiescence of central Queensland is apparent only, and that the recently installed University of Central Queensland Regional Network will provide a useful contribution to the understanding of earthquakes occurring along a passive continental margin.     

An initial formal model for spatial data infrastructures

The Commission on Spatial Data Standards of the International Cartographic Association is working to define formal models and technical characteristics of Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI). To date, this work has been restricted to the Enterprise and Information Viewpoints from the ISO Reference Model for Open Distributed Processing standard. The Commission has developed models for these two viewpoints. These models describe how the different parts of an SDI fit together in the viewpoints in question. These models should be seen as a contribution towards the overall model of the SDI and its technical characteristics. During the model development process, the roles of the different Actors in an SDI in the Enterprise and Information Viewpoints have also been identified in Use Case diagrams of an SDI. All the models have been developed using the Unified Modeling Language.     

Isotopic dating and structural relationships of granitoids and greenstones in the East Pilbara,Western Australia

A structural RbSr isotopic study has been made on two small areas in the eastern Pilbara block, Western Australia. The sites were chosen because they showed good interrelationships of granitoid and greenstone units. At Warrery Gap, on the western side of the Corunna granitic dome, the acid volcanics of the Duffer Formation (at the top of the lower Talga-Talga Subgroup of the Warrawoona Group) show some updating, but a good 3506 ± 62 Ma isochron, with initial ratio (IR) of 0.7006 ± 0.0011, was recognized, consistent with the 3452 ± 16 Ma zircon measurement of Pidgeon (1978b).Both a penetrative D₁ deformation, and the doming of D₂ preceded intrusion of late tectonic granitoids, dated at 3270 ± 22 Ma (IR = 0.7015 ± 0.0003), into both the Duffer Formation and the overlying pillow lavas of the Salgash Subgroup. Thus, the Salgash Subgroup is much older than suggested by Glikson (1979) and the stratigraphic succession cannot contain a hiatus between the apparently conformable Talga-Talga and Salgash Subgroups of the magnitude he proposed.The granitic domes clearly owe their form to the D₂ deformation rather than to batholitic intrusion, but near horizontal structural lineations suggest that they were not formed by diapiric movements. A granodiorite and pink feldspar granite from just within the Corunna granitic dome are slightly deformed: pooled isochrons indicate an age of 3232 ± 27 Ma but different IRs of 0.7032 and 0.7009, respectively. At Tambourah, in the eastern Shaw granitic dome, local D₂ also deforms an intrusive microadamellite of age 3087 ± 34 Ma and IR = 0.7103 ± 0.0057. There is therefore a real spread in ages of D₂ granitoids and D₂ deformation between about 3300 and 3100 Ma.Layered megacrystic gneiss, at Tambourah, also intruded by the microadamellite, contains a nebulous foliation argued to be local S₁. Layered and homogeneous megacrystic gneiss produce updated RbSr total rock isochrons of 2995 ± 95 and 2779 ± 38 Ma, respectively. The primary age of these D₁ gneisses is clearly greater than that of the D₂ granitoids and is probably indicated by Pidgeon's (1978c) zircon age of 3417 ± 40 Ma from the Shaw granitic dome. If so, Hickman's (1975) “Migmatite Suite” contains both D₁ gneisses and D₂ granitoids separated in age at Tambourah by ca. 300 Ma, although neither appears to be older than the lower part of the preserved layered sequence. The protocrust on which that sequence was deposited has yet to be directly identified.     

Microwave scattering by surface waves on water

The electromagnetic backscattering from small-amplitude water waves has been studied using a microwave model (2.5 GHz). The first- and second-order backscatter Doppler spectra have been measured and compared with the theoretical models, and good agreement has been found. In this paper, the specific case of two water waves propagating at right angles to each other will be presented, and the level of contribution of both the hydrodynamic and the electromagnetic effects on the backscatter radar Doppler spectrum will be considered.     

Latest update of tests and improvements to US Coast Guard viscous oil pumping system

Over the past nine years, the US Coast Guard has incorporated the prevention through people (PTP) philosophy as a “human factors” approach to learn how maritime operations can be regulated safer and be more efficient by evaluating training, management policies, operational procedures, and establishing partnerships with the maritime industry. One of the key elements of applying a PTP approach is identifying and incorporating lessons learned from major marine casualties and pollution incidents. Since 1997, the US Coast Guard National Strike Force has responded to three major oil spills involving foreign freight vessels grounding, which included the removal of highly viscous oil using various lightering equipment and systems. An informal workgroup consisting of the US Coast Guard, US Navy Supervisor of Salvage (NAVSUPSALV), and various representatives from oil pollution clean-up companies met at the following facilities: the Chevron Asphalt Facility in Edmonds, WA (September 1999), the Oil and Hazardous Materials Simulated Environmental Test Tank (OHMSETT) testing facility in Leonardo, New Jersey (November 1999 and March 2000), the Alaska Clean Seas (ACS) warehouse annex in Prudhoe Bay, AK (October 2000), and Cenac Towing Company facility in Houma, LA (May 2002). The group shared ideas and techniques, and tested different pumps and hose lengths with viscous oil. It was during the early tests that the first quantitative results showed just how efficient lubricated transport of heavy oil product could be, and broadened the knowledge of such methods to the entire industry. Although this technology had existed for many years in the oil production and handling industry, its use had never been investigated in a laboratory setting with regard to salvage response lightering systems.