Geochemical characteristics of mineral air particles emitted inside a clay atomisation plant which introduces waste recycling processes

The objective of this work is to assess the concentrations of three factions of air particles (settable particles, TSP and PM10) and the levels of several toxic elements in a clay atomisation industry through aerosol sampling at several points inside an industrial plant. Mechanical activities, which produce diffuse emissions, are the main process of discharge of particles in both indoor and outdoor workplace environments in the atomisation plant. The levels of As, Cd, Pb, Zn, Ba and Ni increase in the zones with higher concentrations of particles and lower ventilation. The concentrations of As and F are not influenced by the recycling processes. The levels of Cd and Pb do not show great enrichment in air particles collected inside the atomisation plant although the content of both elements is associated with ceramic muck recycling. Finally, the content of B in waste water is mainly transferred in gaseous phase to the atmosphere during the process of drying by atomisation.     

Prediction of ground displacements and velocities from groundwater level changes at the Vallcebre landslide (Eastern Pyrenees, Spain)

In active landslides, the prediction of acceleration of movement is a crucial issue for the design and performance of warning systems. The landslide of Vallcebre in the Eastern Pyreenes, Spain, has been monitored since 1996 and data on rainfall, groundwater levels and ground displacements are measured on a regular basis. Displacements observed in borehole wire extensometers have shown an immediate response of the landslide to rainfall episodes. This rapid response is likely due to the presence of preferential drainage ways. The occurrence of nearly constant rates of displacement in coincidence with steady groundwater levels suggests the presence of viscous forces developed during the movement. An attempt to predict both landslide displacements and velocities was performed at Vallcebre by solving the momentum equation in which a viscous term (Bingham and power law) was added. Results show that, using similar rheological parameters for the entire landslide, computed displacements reproduce quite accurately the displacements observed at three selected wire extensometers. These results indicate that prediction of displacements from groundwater level changes is feasible.     

Spatiotemporal estimation of snow depth using point data from snow stakes,digital terrain models,and satellite data

Snow availability in Alpine catchments plays an important role in water resources management. In this paper, we propose a method for an optimal estimation of snow depth (areal extension and thickness) in Alpine systems from point data and satellite observations by using significant explanatory variables deduced from a digital terrain model. It is intended to be a parsimonious approach that may complement physical‐based methodologies. Different techniques (multiple regression, multicriteria analysis, and kriging) are integrated to address the following issues: We identify the explanatory variables that could be helpful on the basis of a critical review of the scientific literature. We study the relationship between ground observations and explanatory variables using a systematic procedure for a complete multiple regression analysis. Multiple regression models are calibrated combining all suggested model structures and explanatory variables. We also propose an evaluation of the models (using indices to analyze the goodness of fit) and select the best approaches (models and variables) on the basis of multicriteria analysis. Estimation of the snow depth is performed with the selected regression models. The residual estimation is improved by applying kriging in cases with spatial correlation. The final estimate is obtained by combining regression and kriging results, and constraining the snow domain in accordance with satellite data. The method is illustrated using the case study of the Sierra Nevada mountain range (Southern Spain). A cross‐validation experiment has confirmed the efficiency of the proposed procedure. Finally, although it is not the scope of this work, the snow depth is used to asses a first estimation of snow water equivalent resources.     

A network theory approach for a better understanding of overland flow connectivity

Hydrological connectivity describes the physical coupling (linkages) of different elements within a landscape regarding (sub‐) surface flows. A firm understanding of hydrological connectivity is important for catchment management applications, for example, habitat and species protection, and for flood resistance and resilience improvement. Thinking about (geomorphological) systems as networks can lead to new insights, which has also been recognized within the scientific community, seeing the recent increase in the use of network (graph) theory within the geosciences. Network theory supports the analysis and understanding of complex systems by providing data structures for modelling objects and their linkages, and a versatile toolbox to quantitatively appraise network structure and properties. The objective of this study was to characterize and quantify overland flow connectivity dynamics on hillslopes in a humid sub‐Mediterranean environment by using a combination of high‐resolution digital‐terrain models, overland flow sensors and a network approach. Results showed that there are significant differences between overland flow connectivity on agricultural areas and semi‐natural shrubs areas. Significant positive correlations between connectivity and precipitation characteristics were found. Significant negative correlations between connectivity and soil moisture were found, most likely because of soil water repellency and/or soil surface crusting. The combination of structural networks and dynamic networks for determining potential connectivity and actual connectivity proved a powerful tool for analysing overland flow connectivity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Contribution to knowledge of the last dinosaur footprints in Europe. Persistence of ornithopods in the upper Maastrichtian of SE Spain

In the locality of Rambla de los Gavilanes (Betic Chain Murcia, Spain), six new outcrops with dinosaur footprints are reported from an uppermost Cretaceous succession of coastal marine deposits. Four of these sites are found in the upper part of the lower Maastrichtian and the other two in the upper Maastrichtian, these latter located only a few meters below the Cretaceous-Paleocene boundary (K/Pg). Traces appear as impressions or as natural casts, on tabular limestone beds consisting of micritic carbonate facies, these deposited in coastal marine areas that include a variety of environments (coastal lakes, tidal flats, salt marshes, and shallow coastal lakes). Two main types of traces have been recognized, respectively attributed to sauropod footprints and large ornithopod footprints with remarkable pointed hoof marks. The Maastrichtian sites with large ornithopod footprints in Europe are reported from Spain, Poland and Romania. Sauropod (titanosaurian), theropod (Irenesauripus and other undetermined theropods), and ornithopod footprints have been found at sites located up to 20 m below the K/Pg boundary. The Spanish dinosaur ichnites known closest to the K/Pg boundary are in the Pyrenean upper Maastrichtian, and are tridactyl, theropod and ornithopod (Hadrosauropodus and Amblydactylus) footprints. In this work, the assignation of the Rambla de los Gavilanes ornithopod footprints has been made following the recommended synthesis in several recent papers which reduce the large ornithopod ichnogenus to four.     

Upper Maastrichtian shallow marine environments and neoselachian assemblages in North Iberian palaeomargin (Castilian Ramp,Spain)

Upper Maastrichtian deposits formed in a nearshore subtidal environment within the Valdenoceda Formation (Castilian Ramp, North Iberian margin) are described together with two recently found selachian assemblages. Rare earth element concentrations (REE) have been used to assess the degree of taphonomic mixing and reworking, observing that it is minor or non-existent, and differences in degree of preservation and ecologic mixing can be explained by biostratinomic processes. The patterns of REE also helped to obtain a better understanding of the depositional environment, including the diagenetic history from burial to final degree of bone preservation.The fossil assemblages here described are close to that of the late Maastrichtian of Albaina (in the enclave of Condado de Treviño, Burgos), both in the Basque-Cantabrian Region, but their age may be slightly older (early late Maastrichtian). In total, the new assemblages consist of 17 taxa, assigned to 11 genera of shallow-water dwellers combined with individuals from the outer shelf. They represent cosmopolitan taxa (Squalicorax pristodontus, Serratolamna serrata and Rhombodus binkhorsti) together with local species (Rhinobatos echavei, Rhinobatos ibericus). Although there are not significant differences between Albaina and Quintanilla la Ojada faunas, the new assemblages add interesting taphonomic and geochemical information to the few existing uppermost Cretaceous deposits with fossil sharks in southwestern Europe.     

滇东南安那金矿床成矿流体地球化学研究

云南安那金矿床位于右江盆地南缘,产于二叠纪辉绿岩侵入体之中,广泛发育乳白色石英网脉,蚀变辉绿岩体即为金矿体。与右江盆地以沉积岩为容矿岩石的卡林型金矿床类似,具有硅化、粘土化、碳酸盐化和硫化物化等热液蚀变特征。本文对安那金矿床石英中的流体包裹体岩相学、显微测温学、激光拉曼光谱以及氢氧同位素组成进行了分析,发现成矿期石英中的流体包裹体主要为富含CO_2气-液两相或三相流体包裹体,其均一温度范围为208~312℃(平均254℃),盐度很低,变化范围为0~2%Na Cleqv,成矿溶液的密度为0.88~0.98g/cm~3,表明形成安那金矿床的成矿流体属于中温、低盐度、中-低密度的流体。激光拉曼光谱分析显示,石英中包裹体的气相成分富含CO_2、N_2以及微量CH_4等挥发分。成矿流体的氢氧同位素组成显示变质流体成因,结合矿石显微岩相学结构,认为流体溶蚀交代辉绿岩中的含Ti-Fe辉石或者钛铁矿,溶解Fe的硫化作用过程是含Au黄铁矿和毒砂沉淀富集的重要机制。成矿作用可能与右江盆地南缘印支期造山事件有关。     

东非鲁伍马盆地深水区构造-沉积演化过程及油气地质特征

利用深水区的二维、三维地震资料开展构造-沉积演化研究,鲁伍马盆地二叠纪—早侏罗世为冈瓦纳陆内—陆间裂谷活动期,发育河流—湖泊沉积;中侏罗世—早白垩世为马达加斯加漂移期,位于剪切型大陆边缘,发育海陆过渡相沉积;晚白垩世—渐新世为被动大陆边缘期,深水沉积广泛发育,重力流沉积延伸至戴维隆起带;中新世—第四纪为东非裂谷海域分支活动期,陆坡和凯瑞巴斯地堑发育深水重力流沉积。盆地垂向上形成"断—坳—断"结构,二叠纪—早侏罗世及中新世—现今发育两期明显的裂谷活动。马达加斯加漂移期的海相泥岩为深水区的主力烃源岩,古近纪的陆坡深水浊积砂体为主要储层。东非裂谷海域分支的断层活动沟通了下伏烃源岩,晚期断层不发育的西部陆坡成为主要的油气聚集区。     

黔东南凯里-榕江-从江前寒武系甚低级变质作用研究

根据碎屑岩甚低级变质作用原理,运用伊利石结晶度、绿泥石结晶度、伊利石-白云母多型、伊利石(白云母)b_0值、绿泥石温度计等碎屑岩低温变质研究的方法,分析研究了黔东南前寒武系67个2μm的粘土样品,得到黔东南凯里-榕江-从江一带下江群伊利石结晶度为0.221~0.607°Δ2θCu Kα、绿泥石结晶度为0.239~1.393°Δ2θCu Kα,变质带伊利石-白云母多型均为2M_1型,伊利石(白云母)b_0值为0.9001~0.9048nm,平均0.9021nm。根据伊利石(白云母)b_0值的累积频率曲线得出研究区下江群遭受的变质作用为典型的中压变质类型。由Cathelineau(1988)绿泥石温度计估算出下江群浅变质带峰期变质温度为362~382℃。以上结果表明凯里-榕江-从江一带下江群经历了成岩-高近变质-浅变质作用,基于Warr和Rice标样的成岩/变质界限,剖面可划分为一个成岩带、两个近变质带、一个转变带和一个浅变质带。结合华南地区新元古代构造运动,推断新元古界下江群经历的成岩-变质作用与晋宁运动引起的扬子地块与华夏地块碰撞拼贴有关。     

DAYTIME HEAT BALANCE FOR ESTIMATING NON-RADIATIVE FLUXES OF LAKE BANYOLES,SPAIN

Combining a six-term heat balance equation and a seasonal thermocline model, a new equation to calculate non- radiative fluxes of Lake Banyoles has been determined. Mean daily measurements of global solar radiation, downward longwave radiation, wind speed, air temperature and water surface temperature were used as input data and lake temperature as the calculated output data of the model. To calibrate performance of the new equation, calculated lake temperature was compared with measured lake temperature during both the mixing and the stratified period of the lake. The new coefficients in the wind function to calculate the non-radiative fluxes at the water surface were assumed to depend on the variability of the wind speed, the air temperature of the study area and the surface temperature of the lake. In addition, the results were used to estimate the heat balance of the air–water interface of Lake Banyoles over a period of two years. The processes that have been taken into account are shortwave and longwave radiation, back-radiation emitted by the lake, sensible and latent heat and throughflow.