Middle Eocene deformation–sedimentation in the Luracatao Valley: Tracking the beginning of the foreland basin of northwestern Argentina

The Andean foreland basin overlaps the Cretaceous-Paleogene Salta rift basin in northwestern Argentina. Knowledge of the relationship between rift and foreland basins is key to understanding the initial stages of foreland basin development related to Andean shortening. We present a new stratigraphic scheme for the Luracatao Valley, revealing that the Quebrada de los Colorados Formation (Payogastilla Group) lies over the Santa Bárbara Subgroup (Salta Group) through an erosional unconformity that turns into an angular unconformity close to folds and faults recorded in the Santa Bárbara Subgroup. The base of the Quebrada de los Colorados Formation shows growth strata along the west frontal limb of an anticline with Santa Bárbara units in its core. The finding of a mammalian fossil at the base of the Quebrada de los Colorados Formation allows us to assign a Middle-Upper Eocene age to the sedimentation; therefore, the time elapsed between the deposition of the final postrift strata and the beginning of Andean sedimentation was brief and constrained to the Lower-Middle Eocene. This data indicates that the Eocene deformation phase described in other portions of the Puna-Cordillera Oriental transition (e.g., the northern Calchaquí Valley and Aguilar range) is also present in the Luracatao Valley, offering new tools for interpreting the ages and distributions of the initial episodes of sedimentation and deformation related to the Andean shortening. Thus, the Luracatao Valley provides new evidence for tracking the distribution of the Paleogene deformation in northwestern Argentina.     

The use of geoprocessing to assess vulnerability on the east coast aquifers of Rio de Janeiro State,Brazil

The east coast of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, shows a worrying overlap between areas with intrinsic groundwater vulnerability and the most significant urban expansion zones. It experienced a rapid population growth in recent years, mainly due to the tourism industry, resulting in a significant pressure on drinking groundwater resources. In this regard, development and use of techniques to control and protect areas susceptible to contamination is crucial. The elaboration of aquifer vulnerability maps is thus extremely helpful to support water resources management. The aim of the work is to present the methodological approach in the use of Geoprocessing techniques to obtain a suitable groundwater vulnerability model in Rio de Janeiro east coast. Considering the existing problems and the current land use and characteristics of the study region, it is clear that the most vulnerable areas (that is, “extreme” and “very high” vulnerability areas), coincide with the most significant zones of urban occupation, corresponding to 11% of the total study area, demanding adoption of urgent measures in the near future. Geoprocessing tools and remote sensing for characterization of Rio de Janeiro’s east coast aquifer vulnerability gave good results, representing a satisfactory method for management actions at low cost.     

Disputed water: Competing knowledge and power asymmetries in the Yali Alto basin,Chile

Hydrological information – which plays a crucial role in resolving conflicts over water allocation and distribution – is commonly seen as apolitical. However, this type of information is seldom objective and free of biases. Instead, it is used to position arguments and interests in accordance with the prevailing political agendas. Information is structured by complex and conflicting networks of public and private stakeholder interests, further reconstituted in different periods of time and place. Based on a study of the upper Yali basin in the municipality of San Pedro de Melipilla, Chile, we show how knowledge about water is produced, circulated and applied in the context of water scarcity and emerging conflicts over access to groundwater. Building on the notion of the hydrosocial cycle, the qualitative study shows how the production of hydrological reports and its application in political decision-making have reinforced asymmetrical relationships between the stakeholders locked in water conflicts. The lack of capacity of local farmers and community organizations to translate experiences into codified hydrological knowledge further exacerbates these asymmetries. Agro-industrial companies operating in the basin use hydrological assessments to locate and shift the water scarcity problems to the users, whereas locals blame them for accumulating disproportionately large concentrations of water extraction rights. Results contribute to the existing literature on environmental knowledge, arguing that discourses on water scarcity are not objective but shaped by socio-political contingencies. Overemphasising on data and techno-science based information to support certain decisions may be misleading without first unveiling the knowledge production processes operating across power-laden landscapes.     

Population biology and recruitment of a vulnerable sea cucumber,Stichopus herrmanni,on a protected reef

Populations of tropical sea cucumbers, harvested for bêche‐de‐mer, are in a perilous state of conservation, yet there remains a paucity of information on the biology of many harvested species. We examined the population biology of the commercially important curryfish, Stichopus herrmanni, across 2 years on Heron Reef, a protected zone in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) Marine Park. Stichopus herrmanni, a species recently listed as vulnerable to extinction, is a major target species for the fishery operating in the GBR. The size class distribution and density of S. herrmanni were documented for six sites across Heron Reef. There was distinct spatial variation in the size and density of S. herrmanni across sites, with no significant difference between the 2 years. The smallest individuals found were 10 cm long, some of the only juvenile S. herrmanni documented in nature. Juvenile and sub‐adult populations were found along the leeward reef edge of Heron Reef, a habitat characterized by shallow channels of sand between inter‐tidal coral reef and crustose coralline algae (CCA). Juvenile nurseries of sea cucumbers are rarely observed in nature, making this an important observation for understanding the recruitment and population biology of S. herrmanni. The presence of juveniles in the consolidated CCA habitat each year in autumn following the summer spawning period, and the absence of small individuals several months later in spring, suggests an ontogenetic migration or displacement of these individuals to adult habitat. The distribution of larger S. herrmanni suggests intra‐reef connectivity and migration into deeper lagoon areas. This study contributes to understanding the population dynamics of this vulnerable species, a consideration for fisheries management in light of increasing global harvest.     

Relevés de température au marégraphe de Marseille

This study aims at commenting the article by Romano and Lugrezi (2007). Four main facts are brought to light: the temperature data used by Romano and Lugrezi were not sea temperatures, but air temperatures measured inside the Marseille tide gauge building; the sea temperature data still exist and were already exploited in at least three studies; these sea temperature data were never used to correct the tide gauge recordings for any effect in the computation of mean sea levels; the sea temperature was not measured in the tide gauge well, but outside of the building.     

Série du marégraphe de Marseille : mesures de températures de surface de la mer de 1895 à 1956 : une correction

In 2007, a daily temperature series, which has been collected from 1885 to 1967 at the Marseilles tide recorder, was published here. Upon the available information provided by the data managing office, they were considered as sea-surface temperatures. Unfortunately they were not but air temperature inside the building. In the present paper, the authors correct this error by studying the true seawater temperature series which had been dug out after the publication of the precedent paper. The study of this slightly shorter series (1895–1956) leads to close conclusions. Along these 61 years, the warming trend of the surface seawater rises to +1.6 °C, to +1.3 °C if only January to May and December are selected and +2.2 °C during the June to November period. In the first half part of the series (1895–1925), the average value of each month distributions (except January) and annual minimal (except 1956) are significantly lower than along the second (1925–1956).     

Influence of suction cycles on the soil fabric of compacted swelling soil

The soil fabric plays an important role in complex hydromechanical behaviour of the expansive soils. This article addresses the influence of the wetting and drying paths on the soil fabric of compacted bentonite and silt mixtures at two different initial dry densities corresponding to loose and dense states. To obtain the hydric response of the soil, two suction imposition techniques were used: osmotic technique for the suction range less than 8.5 MPa and the vapour equilibrium or the salt solution technique for the suction range between 8.5 and 287.9 MPa. Additionally, the soil fabric analysis was performed using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and nitrogen gas adsorption (BET) techniques. The dense samples produced cumulative swelling strains during the suction cycles, while shrinkage was observed for the loose samples. The suction cycles induced an equilibrium state indicative of the elastic behaviour of the samples. The soil fabric analysis showed that regardless of the soil's initial state (loose or dense), the samples obtained the same soil fabric at the equilibrium state. The experimental results illustrated also the existence of an elastic void ratio (e_0el) where the compacted soils at this state present an elastic hydric behaviour during the successive suction cycles.     

The ultimate summit eruption of Puy de Dôme volcano (Chaîne des Puys,French Massif Central) about 10,700 years ago

The Puy de Dôme volcano is a trachytic lava dome, about 11,000 y old. New pyroclastic layers originating from the volcano itself were discovered covering the summit and the flanks of the volcano. These pyroclastic layers do not fit with the previous interpretation, assuming a non-explosive dome-forming eruption. The tephra display pyroclastic surge features and exhibit fresh trachytic lapilli, basement lithics, allogeneous basaltic lava and clinker fragments requiring an open vent eruption. This ultimate eruption occurred after a period of rest, long enough for vegetation to develop on the volcano, as evidenced by carbonized plant fragments. Radiocarbon dating of some of these fragments gave an age of c.10,700 y also suggesting a significant rest duration.     

Developments at ISO/REMCO and its Impact on the Production and Use of Geological Reference Materials

During the past decade the work of ISO/REMCO, the International Organization for Standardization’s Technical Committee on Reference Materials, was dedicated to achieving global harmonisation, and true involvement of the member countries. The first major accomplishment was the clarification of the terminology in the definitions for reference material and certified reference material, which were published as an amendment to ISO Guide 30 in 2008. The next milestone was the recognition that ISO Guide 34 (‘General requirements for the competence of reference material producers’) be used in conjunction with ISO/IEC 17025 for the accreditation of reference material producers. The third edition of ISO Guide 34 published in November 2009, clarifies the acceptable procedures for the certification of reference materials. This paper will discuss the role of ISO/REMCO in formalising the procedures for the accreditation of reference material producers and the evolution of the terms reference material and certified reference material. The paper will conclude with a case study, where a primary method in a single laboratory – one of the recognised acceptable metrologically valid procedures according to ISO Guide 34 – was used for the certification of reference materials. The reference materials are South African Reference Material SARM 2 (Syenite), SARM 3 (Lujavrite) and SARM 4 (Norite) from the suite of six NIMROCs that were originally certified by the Council for Mineral Technology (MINTEK) in South Africa in the 1970s.     

How Fit Are Your Data?

Most laboratories aim to produce data of the highest quality. Trying to lower uncertainties to infinitesimal figures and push detection limits even lower are valid goals. However, is it possible to overachieve? Are old data still of good enough quality to be usable? In a geochemical context, the main goal of producing analytical results is to answer geological or environmental questions. Not all scientific problems require the same data quality. What is really required are data of adequate quality – i.e., ‘fit-for-purpose’– to ensure that the geological problem at hand can be solved. Furthermore, it is doubtful that uncertainties and reproducibilities associated with field sampling are better than those from laboratories. It is thus proposed that, as geoanalysts, we encourage data users (students, colleagues or referees) to ensure that their analytical results are of sufficient quality to solve the problem. However, authors have to demonstrate, through the use of reproducibility testing, reference and quality control materials, that the quality of their results is sufficient to solve the problem. Uncertainties and detection limits in publications should not only be evaluated with respect to a set value, such as 10%, but also with regard to the geological problem to be solved.