Fluid–rock reactions in the 1.3 Ga siderite carbonatite of the Grønnedal–Íka alkaline complex,Southwest Greenland

Petrogenetic studies of carbonatites are challenging, because carbonatite mineral assemblages and mineral chemistry typically reflect both variable pressure–temperature conditions during crystallization and fluid–rock interaction caused by magmatic–hydrothermal fluids. However, this complexity results in recognizable alteration textures and trace-element signatures in the mineral archive that can be used to reconstruct the magmatic evolution and fluid–rock interaction history of carbonatites. We present new LA–ICP–MS trace-element data for magnetite, calcite, siderite, and ankerite–dolomite–kutnohorite from the iron-rich carbonatites of the 1.3 Ga Grønnedal–Íka alkaline complex, Southwest Greenland. We use these data, in combination with detailed cathodoluminescence imaging, to identify magmatic and secondary geochemical fingerprints preserved in these minerals. The chemical and textural gradients show that a 55 m-thick basaltic dike that crosscuts the carbonatite intrusion has acted as the pathway for hydrothermal fluids enriched in F and CO₂, which have caused mobilization of the LREEs, Nb, Ta, Ba, Sr, Mn, and P. These fluids reacted with and altered the composition of the surrounding carbonatites up to a distance of 40 m from the dike contact and caused formation of magnetite through oxidation of siderite. Our results can be used for discrimination between primary magmatic minerals and later alteration-related assemblages in carbonatites in general, which can lead to a better understanding of how these rare rocks are formed. Our data provide evidence that siderite-bearing ferrocarbonatites can form during late stages of calciocarbonatitic magma evolution.     

Is orogenesis a net sink or source of atmospheric CO2?

In global carbon cycle models, orogenesis is often viewed as a sink for atmospheric CO₂, acting on tectonic timescales. However, recent attempts to quantify fluxes for CO₂ produced by metamorphic reactions and released to the atmosphere suggest that these are an order‐of‐magnitude greater than CO₂ uptake by chemical weathering of silicate minerals, and that metamorphic CO₂ is released on millennial timescales. These hypotheses have gained support from both measurements of CO₂ emissions from present‐day orogenic hot springs and chromatographic modelling of carbonation reactions in metamorphic rocks from ancient orogens. In this article I review research that attempts to quantify metamorphic CO₂ release fluxes, focussing specifically on studies conducted in the SW Scottish Highlands.     

Survey of larval Euphausia superba lipid content along the western Antarctic Peninsula during late autumn 2006

A survey of larval Euphausia superba (furcilia stages four and six) was conducted in waters along the western Antarctic Peninsula during late autumn (May and June 2006). Larvae were collected from stations in four regions to estimate dry weight and lipid content. There were no statistically significant differences in the dry weight or lipid content among the regions sampled. The overall average (±S.D.) dry weight was 1.51 ± 0.32 mg indiv.⁻¹ and 0.85 ± 0.12 mg indiv.⁻¹ for F6 and F4 larvae, respectively. The average (±S.D.) lipid content was 21.6 ± 9.6 %DW and 27.9 ± 13.7 %DW for F6 and F4 larvae, respectively.     

Origin of silicate minerals in carbonatites from Alnö Island,Sweden: magmatic crystallization or wall rock assimilation?

Textural, electron microprobe and whole rock geochemical evidence from carbonatites and associated silicate rocks on Alnö Island, Sweden, suggest that the carbonatite, at the time of emplacement, could have been an (almost) pure CaCO₃ liquid with a high volatile (H₂O–CO₂) content and that most silicate minerals, which are ubiquitously present, are either (1) assimilated from the surrounding wall rock, by progressive and coupled fragmentation and corrosion; or (2) by‐products of corrosive interaction between the carbonatite liquid and the wall rock. This interpretation is supported by balancing a reaction to describe interaction between carbonatite and a cpx + ne‐bearing (ijolite) wall rock. Although our analysis does not preclude the possibility that fenitizing agents (e.g. Na, Fe) were transported by the carbonatite liquid, these components are not required to drive the observed mineralogical changes in the carbonatite.     

Towards a pro-community-based water resource management system in Northwest Cameroon: practical evidence and lessons of best practices

This paper examines community-based water supply management (CBWSM) in three rural districts of Northwest Cameroon as well as a review of the literature focusing on some successful community-based natural resource management initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa. Using empirical and secondary data collected through participatory research methods, it is argued that CBWSM has failed to achieve sustainable water supplies in Northwest Cameroon. Findings revealed that centralized control, the prevalence of poverty, passive involvement of public, private and grassroots community has continued to thwart water supplies within these districts. It is important to note that in any natural resource management system, power becomes a crucial factor as it determines who has and does not have access to common-pool resources. This paper argues that argues that strong traditional leadership, resolute devolution, and active participation of rural communities will facilitate and invigorate a platform for capturing the views of diverse user groups and this can bring about a people-centered and community-driven development process. Some aspects of best practice arising from successful case studies in Cameroon can contribute significantly to promoting the development of effective CBWSM in other rural communities with similar characteristics in and out of Cameroon. This will be possible only if rural groups are involved and engaged in the management of their resources while integrating some aspects of best practice.

     

Occurrence and use of Compsopogon coeruleus (Rhodophyta: Compsopogonaceae) in Fiji,South Pacific

The rhodophyte Compsopogon coeruleus (Balbis ex C. Agardh) Montagne is newly recorded from Fiji, South Pacific. Plants occur in dense masses in the Wainivesi River in the province of Tailevu. Local villagers collect the plants and use them to cook a “pudding” with tinned fish, very similar to “puddings” prepared by coastal Fijians using marine species such as Gracilaria and Hypnea. This is the first documented account of the use of Compsopogon as a gelling agent in the preparation of human food.     

The timing and direction of metamorphic fluid flow in Vermont

A suite of metabasite dykes, emplaced within the Albee Formation, east-central Vermont, preserves evidence of interaction with a CO₂-bearing hydrous fluid during Acadian metamorphism. Coupled advective and diffusive cross-layer fluxes of CO₂ are recorded by forwards progress of the hydration-carbonation reaction: 3 amphibole + 2 epidote + 8 H₂O + 10 CO₂ = 3 chlorite + 10 calcite + 21 quartz Advection, diffusion and mineral reaction rates are modelled from reaction progress data through application of an analytical solution to the 1-D mass conservation equation for linear reaction kinetics (Lichtner 1988; Lasaga and Rye 1993; Skelton et al. in press). Dimensionless Peclet (Pe) and Damköhler (N_D) numbers which describe the ratios of advection to diffusion and reaction rate to advection are thus resolved, from which time-integrated fluid fluxes are calculated. Small Pe (<10), large N_D (>10) and small time-integrated fluid fluxes (<5 m³/m²) are obtained, predicting that cross-layer fluxes of CO₂ are largely diffusive. It follows that, within the Albee schists, fluid flow must have been layer parallel. Where fluid flow is layer parallel, it is both interesting and informative to consider the geometry of fluid flow at a fold hinge. For layer-parallel fluid flow to be maintained, the flow direction must reverse which is difficult to justify with regards to the driving force. It is perhaps more reasonable that fluid should “escape” through the fold hinge (cf. Skelton et al. 1995), either via close-spaced microveins (cf. Cole and Graham 1994) or macro-scale axial-planar quartz veins (Ferry 1992, 1994). At present, the Albee schists are ～ vertical and strike ～ N–S. This reflects: (1) E–W recumbent folding of strata (early Acadian “nappe-stage” deformation; D₁); (2) N–S arching of strata (late Acadian “dome-stage” deformation; D₂). In the Strafford Quadrangle, east-central Vermont, curious “Coarse Garnet Schists” occur in the axial regions of D₁ fold closures. On the basis of this spatial association, crystal morphologies, reaction textures and chemical zoning profiles, it is postulated that the Coarse Garnet Schists developed in response to structurally focused fluid escape. That fluid flow was syn-D₁ is implicit to this argument. As such, layer-parallel fluid flow must have been ～ horizontal. Although this conclusion is in close agreement with that of Ferry (1994), up-temperature fluid flow is not implicated.