Multi-method radiometric dating of volcano-sedimentary layers from northern Italy: Age and duration of the Priabonian stage

A comparison between conventional KAr (biotite) ages and fission track (zircon and apatite) and UPb (zircon) ages obtained from stratigraphically well-constrained Priabonian (Late Eocene) volcano-sedimentary deposits of northern Italy is presented. Two sections at Priabona (one level) and Possagno (two levels) were dated. The application of fission track dating appears fruitful for obtaining reasonably precise (±4 to 5% 2σ errors) ages useful for time-scale calibration. The concordancy of apatite and zircon fission track ages, and the reproducibility of results provide the time of volcanic eruption and deposition. The UPb analysis of the zircons has not been unsuccessful, but discordancy does not permit accurate dating. Significant dates obtained from Possagno are: KAr method, 35.0 ± 0.5 Ma (duplicate analysis on K-rich biotite from the same level); fission track dating method, 35.8 ± 1.4 Ma (weighted mean age on 2 apatite and 3 zircon separates from the same level); UPb method, 36.7 ± 1.0 Ma (maximum age of discordant zircons from the same level). The comparison between the present results and recent multi-method and multi-laboratory results obtained from time equivalent Priabonian (Late Eocene) biotite-rich layers from the Apennines shows perfect agreement and supports the location of a Priabonian stage between about 37.5 Ma and about 33.7 (±0.5) Ma; the alternative ages preferred by the Decade of North American Geology convention should be abandoned and a large portion of this scale revised accordingly.     

Trace-element distribution in an active hydrothermal system, Roosevelt hot springs thermal area, Utah

Chemical interaction of thermal fluids with reservoir rock in the Roosevelt Hot Springs thermal area, Utah, has resulted in the development of characteristic trace-element dispersion patterns. Multielement analyses of surface rock samples, soil samples and drill cuttings from deep exploration wells provide a three-dimensional perspective of chemical redistribution within this structurally-controlled hot-water geothermal system.Five distinctive elemental suites of chemical enrichment are recognized, each characteristic of a particular combination of physical and chemical conditions within the geothermal system. These are: (1) concentrations of As, Sb, Be, and Hg associated with siliceous material at locations of liquid discharge, fluid mixing or boiling; (2) concentrations of Mn, Ba, W, Be, Cu, Co, As, Sb and Hg in manganese and iron oxide deposits; (3) high concentrations of Hg in argillized rock near fumaroles and lower concentrations in a broad diffuse halo surrounding the thermal center; (4) concentrations of As in sulfides and Li in silicate alteration minerals immediately surrounding high-temperature fluid flow-controlling fractures; (5) deposits of CaCO₃ at depth where flashing of brine to steam has occurred due to pressure release. The geochemical enrichments are not, in general, widespread, pervasively developed zones of regular form and dimension as are typical in many ore-forming hydrothermal systems.As the geothermal system develops, changes and eventually declines through time, the chemical deposits are developed, remobilized or superimposed upon each other, thus preserving within the rocks a record of the history of the geothermal system. Recognition of trace-element distribution patterns during the exploration of a geothermal system may aid definition of the present geometry and interpretation of the history of the system.     

L'âge radiométrique du Miocène inférieur en Europe Occidentale et Centrale

Systematic research over years on datable horizons of lower Miocene age has led to an election of nine glauconite samples suitable for dating work. The chosen glauconites come from various regions of the tethys. Following careful sedimentological as well as stratigraphical studies the K-Ar ages of these glauconites were measured. The interpretation of the apparent ages found takes into consideration sedimentation, mineralogical quality and present knowledge of the genesis of the green glauconite pellets. The presented data allow to fix the basis of the Miocene at about 21–22 m. y. and the boundary of Aquitanian-Burdigalian at 18 m. y. The K-Ar data on glauconites presented here are in good agreement with newer measurements of other authors on high temperature minerals of the same age span.     

The generalized kinetic equation as a model for the nonlinear transfer in third-generation wave models

An alternative model for the nonlinear interaction term S_nl in spectral wave models, the so called generalized kinetic equation (Janssen J Phys Oceanogr 33(4):863–884, 2003; Annenkov and Shrira J Fluid Mech 561:181–207, 2006b; Gramstad and Stiassnie J Fluid Mech 718:280–303, 2013), is discussed and implemented in the third generation wave model WAVEWATCH-III. The generalized kinetic equation includes the effects of near-resonant nonlinear interactions, and is therefore able, in theory, to describe faster nonlinear evolution than the existing forms of S_nl which are based on the standard Hasselmann kinetic equation (Hasselmann J Fluid Mech 12:481–500, 1962). Numerical simulations with WAVEWATCH have been carried out to thoroughly test the performance of the new form of S_nl, and to compare it to the existing models for S_nl in WAVEWATCH; the DIA and WRT. Some differences between the different models for S_nl are observed. As expected, the DIA is shown to perform less well compared to the exact terms in certain situations, in particular for narrow wave spectra. Also for the case of turning wind significant differences between the different models are observed. Nevertheless, different from the case of unidirectional waves where the generalized kinetic equation represents a obvious improvement to the standard forms of S_nl (Gramstad and Stiassnie 2013), the differences seems to be less pronounced for the more realistic cases considered in this paper.     

Observation of water vapor in the stratosphere of Jupiter with the Odin space telescope

The water vapor line at 557 GHz has been observed with the Odin space telescope with a high signal-to-noise ratio and a high spectral resolution on November 8, 2002. The analysis of this observation as well as a re-analysis of previously published observations obtained with the submillimeter wavelength astronomy satellite seem to favor a cometary origin (Shoemaker-Levy 9) for water in the stratosphere of Jupiter, in agreement with the ISO observation results. Our model predicts that the water line should become fainter and broader from 2007. The observation of such a temporal variability would be contradictory with an IDP steady flux, thus supporting the SL9 source hypothesis.     

Etude isotopique de l'altération naturelle d'une formation à glauconie (méthode à l'argon)

In Normandy (France), the glauconite bearing base of the Cenomanian has a wide distribution in outcrops and boreholes. Glauconite pellets are subjected to natural weathering and fluvial transport following separation from the glauconite-bearing bedrock by streams and creeks which dissolve the carbonate fraction. From the 100 samples collected, 19 samples from the studied horizon have been selected after X ray, diffaction studies. X ray diffractron techniques show that the non weathered glauconite pellets are composed of well-ordered gilauconites. In the reworked glauconite, the alteration is manifested by a slight opening of the structure. In addition, the diffractogramm yield a fast and sensitive estimation of the K contents of the glauconites. Lowering of the K content goes hand in hand with the opening of the glauconite structure. 12 samples were selected from the autochtonous horizon (fresh outcrop and borehole) a second group of 7 samples was taken from alluvions (streams and quaternary terraces) to study the effects of natural weathering. As actually, no other glauconite-bearing horizons are found in the region, the glauconite pellets in the alluvions can only be derived from the studied bedrock. Reworking and natural weathering of the glauconites leads to a decrease of the K content of 10–15%. Argon analysis shows that comparable percentage of radiogenic argon is lost at the same time so that the apparent ages do not change (in the errors limits). These results are only valid for well-ordered glauconites and continental alteration under moderate climate with basic fresh water. In conclusion, it can be stressed that the credibility of glauconite K-Ar ages does not change after such a reworking.     

Sur les inocérames de Tercis (Landes,France) : le meilleur outil corrélatif entre Europe et Amérique du Nord autour de la limite Campanien–Maastrichtien

Four hundred inoceramids have been collected in the geological site at Tercis, where the Campanian–Maastrichtian boundary has been recently defined. At Tercis, a distinct drop of the adult size of inoceramids is observed between levels 111 and 117 and two turnovers of faunal composition were documented between levels 94 and 96 and between levels 111 and 117; the latter interval encompasses the stage boundary. The recognised inoceramid assemblages are very close to those known from North America, allowing better correlation than before between the two domains in the interval 77–70 Ma. The presence of these faunas perfectly located in the section leads to consider the Tercis section as the best known reference for this fossil group, the surprisingly good correlative potential of which has still to be considered in many areas.     

Définition d'une limite multicritère ; stratigraphie du passage Campanien–Maastrichtien du site géologique de Tercis (Landes,SW France)Definition of a multi-criteria boundary; stratigraphy of the Campanian–Maastrichtian interval of the geological site at Tercis (Landes,SW France)

Lithostratigraphy, physicochemical stratigraphy, biostratigraphy, and geochronology of the 77–70 Ma old series bracketing the Campanian–Maastrichtian boundary have been investigated by 70 experts. For the first time, direct relationships between macro- and microfossils have been established, as well as direct and indirect relationships between chemo-physical and biostratigraphical tools. A combination of criteria for selecting the boundary level, duration estimates, uncertainties on durations and on the location of biohorizons have been considered; new chronostratigraphic units are proposed. The geological site at Tercis is accepted by the Commission on Stratigraphy as the international reference for the stratigraphy of the studied interval. To cite this article: G.S. Odin, C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 409–414.     

Extreme wave events and sampling variability

Ocean Dynamics - Wave field data are affected not only by the accuracy of instruments recording them but also by sampling variability, an uncertainty due to the limited number of observations. For...