A 3.5 Ga record of water-limited, acidic weathering conditions on Mars

The secondary mineral budget on Earth is dominated by clay minerals, Al-hydroxides, and Fe-oxides, which are formed under the moderate pH, high water-to-rock ratio conditions typical of Earth's near-surface environment. In contrast, geochemical analyses of rocks and soils from landed missions to Mars indicate that secondary mineralogy is dominated by Mg (± Fe, Ca)-sulfates and Fe-oxides. This discrepancy can be explained as resulting from differences in the chemical weathering environment of Earth and Mars. We suggest that chemical weathering processes on Mars are dominated by: (1) a low-pH, sulfuric acid-rich environment in which the stoichiometric dissolution of labile mineral phases such as olivine and apatite (± Fe–Ti oxides) is promoted; and (2) relatively low water-to-rock ratio, such that other silicate phases with slower dissolution rates (e.g., plagioclase, pyroxene) do not contribute substantially to the secondary mineral budget at the Martian surface. Under these conditions, Al-mobilization is limited, and the formation of significant Al-bearing secondary phases (e.g., clays, Al-hydroxides, Al-sulfates) is inhibited. The antiquity of rock samples analyzed in-situ on Mars suggest that water-limited acidic weathering conditions have more than likely been the defining characteristic of the Martian aqueous environment for billions of years.     

Study of the erosion rates in the upper Maracujá Basin (Quadrilátero Ferrífero/MG,Brazil) by the in situ produced cosmogenic 10Be method

The present work quantifies the erosive processes in the two main substrates (schists–phyllites and granites–gneisses) of the upper Maracujá Basin in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero/MG, Brazil, a region of semi‐humid tropical climate. Two measuring methods of concentration were used: (i) in situ produced ¹⁰Be in quartz veins (surface erosion rates) and (ii) ¹⁰Be in fluvial sediments (basin erosion rates). The results confirm that (i) erosion tends to be more aggressive close to the headwaters than in the lower parts of the basin and (ii) the region is now affected by dissection. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of surface characteristics on infiltration patterns in an arid shrub desert

Precipitation is often the sole source of water replenishment in arid and semi‐arid areas and, thus, plays a pertinent role in sustaining desert ecosystems. Revegetation over 40 years using mainly Artemisia ordosica and Caragana korshinskii at Shapotou Desert Experimental Research Station near Lanzhou, China, has established a dwarf‐shrub and microbiotic soil crust cover on the stabilized sand dunes. The redistribution of infiltrated moisture through percolation, root extraction, and evapotranspiration pathways was investigated. Three sets of time‐domain reflectometry (TDR) probes were inserted horizontally at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 cm depths below the ground surface in a soil pit. The three sets of TDR probes were installed in dwarf‐shrub sites of A. ordosica and C. korshinskii community with and without a microbiotic soil crust cover, and an additional set was placed in a bare sand dune area that had neither vegetation nor a microbiotic soil crust present. Volumetric soil moisture content was recorded at hourly intervals and used in the assessment of infiltration for the different surface covers. Infiltration varied greatly, from 7·5 cm to more than 45 cm, depending upon rainfall quantity and soil surface conditions. In the shrub community area without microbiotic soil crust cover, infiltration increased due to preferential flow associated with root tunnels. The microbiotic soil crust cover had a significant negative influence on the infiltration for small rainfall events (～10 mm), restricting the infiltration depth to less than 20 cm and increasing soil moisture content just beneath the soil profile of 10 cm, whereas it was not as strong or clear for larger rainfall events (～60 mm). For small rainfall events, the wetting front depth for the three kinds of surface cover was as follows: shrub community without microbiotic soil crust > bare area > shrub community with microbiotic soil crust. In contrast, for large rainfall events, infiltration was similar in shrub communities with and without microbiotic soil crust cover, but significantly higher than measured in the bare area. Soil water extraction by roots associated with evapotranspiration restricted the wetting front penetration after 1 to 3 h of rainfall. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

黄土丘陵沟壑区小流域降雨入渗产流点面转化

在充分考虑小流域土壤入渗速率点面转化及地表结皮等影响因素在内的基础上 ,提出了小流域土壤入渗速率点面转化公式 :fm=fn×Sn/S×an×bn。以纸坊沟小流域为例 ,将实测的流域土壤入渗速率值 (点渗值 )利用上式进行转化 (面渗值 ) ,并与流域径流出口观测站由降雨径流观测值根据水量平衡原理推算出的面渗值进行对比 ,平均相对误差仅为 2 .42 %。初步得出流域土壤面渗率与不同治理度、年内 5～ 9月降雨总量间的单因子和复合因子高精度回归方程 ,为流域综合治理后的水资源量变化趋势提供一条量化途径     

A model of the early evolution of karst aquifers in limestone in the dimensions of length and depth

A new model of the early evolution of limestone karst aquifers in the dimensions of length and depth is presented. In its initial state the aquifer consists of a rock massive with evenly spaced fractures of about 50 μm aperture widths with an hydraulic conductivity of 10⁻⁷ ms⁻¹. In addition to this a coarser network of prominent fractures with aperture widths of several 100 μm is also present. Boundary conditions of constant recharge 450 mm/year, or constant head from the input of allogenic streams are imposed. First the position of the water table in the aquifer is calculated, then dissolutional widening during a time step in all the fractures below the water table is found by use of the well-known nonlinear dissolution kinetics of limestone. This is iterated and the position of the water table as well as the fracture widths are found as a function of time. In the case of constant recharge to a karst plateau, the water table in any case drops to base level and conduits there propagate from the spring headwards. If constant head conditions are valid the position of the water table remains almost stable and conduits propagate along the water table from the input towards the spring. There is competition between conduit evolution along prominent fractures and along tight fissures close to the water table. In any case under constant head conditions one of these pathways wins, and early karst evolution is terminated by a breakthrough event with an explosive increase of the flow through the aquifer until constant head conditions break down. Depending on the boundary conditions of constant head or constant recharge or a combination of both it is possible to describe models of cave genesis, which have been derived from field evidence, such as the water table models of Swinnerton and Rhoades as well as the four-state model by Ford and Ewers (Can. J. Earth Sci., 15 (1978) 1783).     

Fluid-rock history of granulite facies humite-marbles from Ambasamudram, southern India.

An extensive humite‐bearing marble horizon within a supracrustal sequence at Ambasamudram, southern India, was studied using petrological and stable isotopic techniques to define its metamorphic history and fluid characteristics. At peak metamorphic temperatures of 775±73°C, based on calcite‐graphite carbon isotope thermometry, the mineral assemblages suggest layer‐by‐layer control of fluid compositions. Clinohumite + calcite‐bearing assemblages suggest X_CO2 < 0.4 (at 700°C and 5 kbar), calcite + forsterite + K‐feldspar‐bearing assemblages suggest X_CO2>0.9 (at 790°C); and local wollastonite + scapolite + grossular‐bearing zones formed at X_CO2 of c. 0.3. Retrograde reaction textures such as scapolite + quartz symplectites after feldspar and calcite and replacement of dolomite + diopside or tremolite+dolomite after calcite+forsterite or calcite+clinohumite are indicative of retrogression under high X_CO2 conditions. Calcite preserves late Proterozoic carbon and oxygen isotopic signatures and the marble lacks evidence for extensive retrograde fluid infiltration, while during prograde metamorphism the possible infiltration of aqueous fluids did not produce significant isotopic resetting. Isotopic zonation of calcite and graphite grains was likely produced by localized CO₂ fluid infiltration during retrogression. Contrary to the widespread occurrence of humite‐marbles related to retrograde aqueous fluid infiltration, the Ambasamudram humite‐marbles record a prograde‐to‐peak metamorphic humite formation and retrogression under conditions of low X_H2O.     

Mapping runoff generating areas using AGNPS-VSA model

ABSTRACT

In humid regions, surface runoff is often generated by saturation-excess runoff mechanisms from relatively small variable source areas (VSAs). However, the majority of the current hydrologic models are based on infiltration-excess mechanisms. In this study, the AGricultural Non-Point Source Pollution (AGNPS) model was used to integrate the VSA concept using topographic wetness index (TWI). Both the original and AGNPS-VSA models were evaluated for a small agricultural field in Ontario, Canada. The results indicate that the AGNPS-VSA model performed better than original model. The AGNPS-VSA model predicted that only the saturated portion of the field with higher TWI values produced runoff, whereas the original AGNPS model showed uniform hydrologic response from the entire field. The results of this study are important for accurately mapping the locations of VSAs. This new model could be a powerful tool in identifying critical source areas for applying targeted best management practices to minimize pollutant loads to receiving waters.     

Trace metal composition of and accumulation rates of sediments in the Upper Gulf of Thailand

Sediment cores and grab samples were collected in the Upper Gulf of Thailand to determine sedimentation rates and to determine if metal concentrations reflect anthropogenic inputs.Accumulation rates of sediments in the Upper Gulf measured using the ²¹⁰Pb method, appear to vary from ca. 4 to 11 mm yr^?1. Sediment budgets suggest that little of the sediment delivered to the Upper Gulf by the major rivers is ultimately transported to the Lower Gulf. Metal concentrations in Upper Gulf sediments appear to be dominantly controlled by natural inputs.     

新疆-甘肃北山金矿南带的成矿流体演化和成矿机制

北山金矿南带是西北5省区规模最大的金矿带。选择北山南带的新金厂、老金厂和小西弓金矿床，在矿床地质和岩相学研究的基础上，对脉石英的流体包裹体进行了显微温度计和激光拉曼探针气体成分测定；对石英和矿石黄铁矿的包裹体H2O，CO2和CH4进行了H和C同位素组成测定，对石英和黄铁矿分别做了O和S同位素组成测定。3个金矿床的脉石英含有富CO2＋CH4、H2O溶液以及H2O-CO2＋CH4包裹体。小西弓金矿床流体包裹体的均一化温度主要介于270℃-450℃，一部分H2O溶液包裹体圈闭了高盐度流体（16．43—18．63wt．％NaCl equiv．），大部分H2O溶液包裹体和全部富CO2＋CH。包裹体代表了中-低盐度（2．8％-13．6％）流体。新金厂金矿床流体包裹体的均一化温度主要介于210℃-346℃；一部分流体包裹体圈闭了高盐度（10．98％～14％NaCl equiv．）流体，一部分H2O溶液包裹体和绝大多数富CO2＋CH4包裹体圈闭了中-低盐度（2．9％-8．81％NaCl equiv．）流体。老金厂金矿床H2O溶液包裹体的均一化温度主要分布于141℃-400℃，含盐度介于1．4％-8．28％，属于中-低盐度流体。进行了大气降水-围岩^18O／^16O、D／H交换反应模拟。小西弓矿床早期硫化物-石英脉金矿成矿流体对应较高的水／岩比（=0．01—0．05），其^18O／^16O和D／H组成更受钾长花岗岩者控制，硫化物的δ^34S值也接近钾长花岗岩的黄铁矿者，指示热液流体围绕着钾长花岗岩的对流淋滤。成矿晚期，围绕着花岗岩侵入体的热液对流崩溃，矿区围岩内发育更大尺度的彼此分离的弥漫性流体渗透淋滤；相应地，小西弓矿床晚期蚀变岩金矿成矿流体的8D值对应低水／岩比（0．005-≈0．01），其δ^18O值变化范围较宽，受当地中元古界变质岩控制，蚀变岩型金矿黄铁矿的δ^34S值也接近中元古界长英质片岩的黄铁矿者。新金厂金矿和老金厂金矿成矿流体的δD值和δ^18O值对应的水／岩值分别介于0．004—0．01和0．007～0．02，与岩浆流体或者下二叠统哲斯群辉绿岩和英安岩围岩具有更密切的关系。新金厂金矿和老金厂金矿黄铁矿样品的δ^34S值介于-2．58‰和-6．32‰，指示S来源于下二叠统哲斯群辉绿岩、英安岩和碳质板岩围岩。3个金矿的石英包裹体CO2（δ^13C=-2．20‰--9．14‰），以及石英和黄铁矿包裹体CH4（δ^13C=013．10‰--27．40‰）不平衡；前者来源于幔源岩浆去气，后者来源于哲斯群碳质板岩或者中元古界长英质片岩中的还原碳。3个金矿黄铁矿包裹体的CO（δ^13C=-10．79‰--23．62‰）主要来源于哲斯群碳质板岩或中元古界长英质片岩中的还原碳，但是，也混合了较少的岩浆CO2。包裹体CO2和CH4δ^13C值的系统变化，也反映了从岩浆侵位和去气、流体对流，到围岩中流体大面积弥漫性渗透淋滤的演化过程。CH4介入成矿流体，导致流体不混溶和金的沉淀。北山金矿南带的形成既不同于典型的造山带型金矿床，也不同于与侵入岩有关的金矿床。我们提出北山金矿南带的成矿模式为：岩浆去气和流体对流、岩石挤压破碎、流体弥漫性渗透淋滤。