Effects of crab–halophytic plant interactions on creek growth in a S.W. Atlantic salt marsh: A Cellular Automata model

The Bahía Blanca Estuary (38° 50′ S, and 62° 30′ W) presents salt marshes where interactions between the local flora (Sarcocornia perennis) and fauna (Chasmagnathus granulatus) generate some kind of salt pans that alter the normal water circulation and condition its flow and course towards tidal creeks. The crab–vegetation dynamics in the salt marsh presents variations that cannot be quantified in a reasonable period of time. The interaction between S. perennis plant and C. granulatus crab is based on simple laws, but its result is a complex biological mechanism that causes an erosive process on the salt marsh and favors the formation of tidal creeks. To study it, a Cellular Automata model is proposed, based on the laws deduced from the observation of these phenomena in the field, and then verified with measurable data within macroscale time units. Therefore, the objective of this article is to model how the interaction between C. granulatus and S. perennis modifies the landscape of the salt marsh and influences the path of tidal creeks. The model copies the basic laws that rule the problem based on purely biological factors.The Cellular Automata model proved capable of reproducing the effects of the interaction between plants and crabs in the salt marsh. A study of the water drainage of the basins showed that this interaction does indeed modify the development of tidal creeks. Model dynamics would likewise follow different laws, which would provide a different formula for the probability of patch dilation. The patch shape can be obtained changing the pattern that dilates.     

Crystal-chemistry of clinopyroxenes from potassic and ultrapotassic rocks in central Italy: implications on their genesis

The clinopyroxenes mentioned have been investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction combined with electron microprobe analysis. The aim of this study was to characterize the crystal-chemical variations of clinopyroxenes in order to delineate the intracrystalline constraints which are characteristic of specific magmatic environments. Clinopyroxenes (cpx) crystallized from peralkaline ultrapotassic melt with kamafugitic and lamproitic affinities are characterized by high Si contents, which are insensitive to variations in silica abundance and silica saturation of the melt. The high Si occupancy in clinopyroxenes from kamafugitic magma is coupled to large M1 (i.e. Mg and Fe²⁺) and M2 (high Ca occupancy) sites, whereas in clinopyroxenes from magmas with lamproitic affinity, high Si content is combined with large M1 but small M2 sites. Clinopyroxenes from Romantype alkaline potassic and ultrapostassic rocks are characterized by an expanded tetrahedron (high ^IVA1 content) and small M1 site which is combined with small M2 polyhedron in clinopyroxenes from the potassic rocks and large M2 site in those from the ultrapotassic rocks.     

Uranium in metamorphic rocks

The distribution of U has been studied in two metamorphic rock-series with a gradient of regional metamorphism. One series ranges from the lowest greenschist to amphibolite facies and the other one shows increasing metamorphic grade from amphibolite to granulite facies. Several medium and high pressure granulitic inclusions from alkali basalts were also analyzed. The abundances of U in the rocks do not appear to be affected by metamorphism below the granulite facies grade. Granulites are depleted in U in comparison with equivalent rocks of amphibolite facies grade. There are also differences in their U distribution, as the bulk of U in amphibolite facies rocks is located along the fractures and cleavage planes of ferro-magnesian minerals and in U-rich accessories, while in granulites, most of the U resides in accessory minerals. It seems that the depletion of U in granulites is due to a loss of U which is not located in accessory minerals or in the crystal structure of rock-forming minerals and may also be related to a migration of hydrous fluids, perhaps during dehydration.     

The stiff upper LIP: investigating the High Arctic Large Igneous Province

The Canadian Arctic Islands expose a complex network of dykes and sills that belong to the High Arctic Large Igneous Province (HALIP), which intruded volatile‐rich sedimentary rocks of the Sverdrup Basin (shale, limestone, sandstone and evaporite) some 130 to 120 million years ago. There is thus great potential in studying the HALIP to learn how volatile‐rich sedimentary rocks respond to magmatic heating events during LIP emplacement. The HALIP remains, however, one of the least well known LIPs on the planet due to its remote location, short field season, and harsh climate. A Canadian–Swedish team of geologists set out in summer 2015 to further explore HALIP sills and their sedimentary host rocks, including the sampling of igneous and meta‐sedimentary rocks for subsequent geochemical analysis, and high pressure‐temperature petrological experiments to help define the actual processes and time‐scales of magma–sediment interaction. The research results will advance our understanding of how climate‐active volatiles such as CO_2, SO₂ and CH₄ are mobilised during the magma–sediment interaction related to LIP events, a process which is hypothesised to have drastically affected Earth's carbon and sulphur cycles. In addition, assimilation of sulphate evaporites, for example, is anticipated to trigger sulphide immiscibility in the magma bodies and in so doing could promote the formation of Ni‐PGE ore bodies. Here we document the joys and challenges of ‘frontier arctic fieldwork’ and discuss some of our initial observations from the High Arctic Large Igneous Province.     

Latitudinal patterns of export production recorded in surface sediments of the Chilean Patagonian fjords (41–55°S) as a response to water column productivity

The Chilean Patagonian fjords region (41–56°S) is characterized by highly complex geomorphology and hydrographic conditions, and strong seasonal and latitudinal patterns in precipitation, freshwater discharge, glacier coverage, and light regime; all of these directly affect biological production in the water column. In this study, we compiled published and new information on water column properties (primary production, nutrients) and surface sediment characteristics (biogenic opal, organic carbon, molar C/N, bulk sedimentary δ¹³C_org) from the Chilean Patagonian fjords between 41°S and 55°S, describing herein the latitudinal pattern of water column productivity and its imprint in the underlying sediments. Based on information collected at 188 water column and 118 sediment sampling sites, we grouped the Chilean fjords into four main zones: Inner Sea of Chiloé (41° to ～44°S), Northern Patagonia (44° to ～47°S), Central Patagonia (48–51°S), and Southern Patagonia (Magellan Strait region between 52° and 55°S). Primary production in the Chilean Patagonian fjords was the highest in spring–summer, reflecting the seasonal pattern of water column productivity. A clear north–south latitudinal pattern in primary production was observed, with the highest average spring and summer estimates in the Inner Sea of Chiloé (2427 and 5860 mg C m^?2 d^?1) and Northern Patagonia (1667 and 2616 mg C m^?2 d^?1). This pattern was closely related to the higher availability of nutrients, greater solar radiation, and extended photoperiod during the productive season in these two zones. The lowest spring value was found in Caleta Tortel, Central Patagonia (91 mg C m^?2 d^?1), a site heavily influenced by glacier meltwater and river discharge loaded with glacial sediments. Biogenic opal, an important constituent of the Chilean fjord surface sediments (Si_OPAL ～1–13%), reproduced the general north–south pattern of primary production and was directly related to water column silicic acid concentrations. Surface sediments were also rich in organic carbon content and the highest values corresponded to locations far away from glacier influence, sites within fjords, and/or semi-enclosed and protected basins, reflecting both autochthonous (water column productivity) and allochthonous sources (contribution of terrestrial organic matter from fluvial input to the fjords). A gradient was observed from the more oceanic sites to the fjord heads (west–east) in terms of bulk sedimentary δ¹³C_org and C/N ratios; the more depleted (δ¹³C_org ?26‰) and higher C/N (23) values corresponded to areas close to rivers and glaciers. A comparison of the Chilean Patagonian fjords with other fjord systems in the world revealed high variability in primary production for all fjord systems as well as similar surface sediment geochemistry due to the mixing of marine and terrestrial organic carbon.     

Formation and stability of mixed Mg/Ca/phytate species in synthetic seawater media: Consequences on ligand speciation

The results of a potentiometric investigation (by ISE-H⁺, glass electrode) on the speciation of phytate ion (Phy¹²⁻) in an ionic medium simulating the major components (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻ and SO₄²⁻) of natural seawater, at different salinities and t = 25 °C, are reported. The work was particularly aimed at determining the possible formation of mixed Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺–phytate ion pairs, and to establish how including the formation of these mixed species would affect the speciation modeling in seawater media. After testing various speciation models, that considering the formation of the MgCaH₃Phy⁵⁻, MgCaH₄Phy⁴⁻, Mg₂CaH₃Phy³⁻ and Mg₂CaH₄Phy²⁻ species was accepted, and corresponding stability constants were determined at two salinities (S = 5, 10). A discussion is reported both on the choice of the experimental conditions and on the possibility to extend these results to those typical of real seawater. A detailed procedure is also described to demonstrate that the stability of these species is higher than that statistically predicted. As reported in literature, a parameter, namely log X, has been determined in order to quantify this extra stability for the formation of each mixed species at various salinities. For example, at S = 10, log X₁₁₃ = 2.67 and log X₁₁₄ = 1.37 for MgCaH₃Phy⁵⁻ and MgCaH₄Phy⁴⁻ (statistical value is log X_stat = 0.60), and log X₂₁₃ = 6.11 and log X₂₁₄ = 2.15 for Mg₂CaH₃Phy³⁻ and Mg₂CaH₄Phy²⁻ (log X_stat = 1.43), respectively. Results obtained also showed that the formation of these species may occur even in conditions of low salinity (i.e. low concentration of alkaline earth cations) and low pH (i.e., more protonated ligand).     

Die ausseralpine Taphrogenese im kaledonisch-variszisch konsolidierten sardischen Vorlande

Zusammenfassung Ein großer Graben teilt das sardische Vorland von Norden nach Süden, wobei nur der Osthorst (Gennargentu) vollständig, jedoch zersplittert, stehengeblieben ist. Vom Westhorst dagegen ragen nur einige Bruchstücke (Iglesiente, Nurra) vom Meer empor. Viele Seitengräben zweigen vom Hauptgraben ab, so daß die Verstellung der getroffenen Schollen ein asymmetrisches Bild der kratonischen Tektonik hervorgerufen hat.Die Grabenfüllung ist hauptsächlich durch Vulkanite erfolgt; die Sedimente spielen nur eine untergeordnete Rolle. Die Eruptionen beginnen mit dem Oligozän und enden mit dem Pleistozän. Eine Trennung in zwei Zyklen (vorhelvetisch bzw. nachtortonisch) gilt für Südsardinien nicht, weil hier submarine Explosionen (Diatremen) und Tuffiteinschaltungen auch während der mittelmiozänen Transgression vorgekommen sind.Geochemisch gehören die Vulkanite der Kalkalkalireihe, jedoch mit atlantischen und mediterranen Tendenzen. Wenn man eine lokale Aufschmelzung des unteren Sockels des sardischen Kratons annimmt, kann man eine palingenetische Abstammung der tertiären Liparite von variszischen Graniten verstehen.Die Bruchlinien bei der taphrogenetischen Deformation unseres alten Vorlandes lassen zwei dominierende Richtungen erkennen: Südost-Nordwest in Südsardinien (Campidano), Nordost-Südwest in Nordsardinien (Tirsograben und Logudoro). Im Rahmen der Strukturelemente des westlichen Mittelmeeres kann man auch eine horizontale Schollenverschiebung (eine Art Epirophorese im Kleinen!) für Sardinien annehmen, und zwar eine relative Bewegung des Iglesiente in Südost-Richtung, d.h. parallel der großen Abschwenkung des Balearenbogens.

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A great Graben cuts the Sardic Foreland. Its Eastern lip is preserved in a fractured state, the Western rim subsidized to a great extent. Side-grabens diverge from the rift asymmetrically. The Graben-fill consists mainly of igneous material of Oligocene to Recent age. Maindirections of taphrogenesis are NW (in the S-portion) and NE in Northern Sardinia. Locally lateral movements are suspected.

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Résumé Un grand graben divise l'avant-pays sarde du Nord au Sud; seul le horst oriental (Gennargentu) est resté tout à fait en place bien que fracturé. Du horst occidental seuls quelques blocs (Iglesiente, Nurra) émergent de la mer. De nombreux graben latéraux bifurquent à partir du graben principal, de sorte que le déplacement des blocs a entraîné une disposition asymétrique de la tectonique cratonique.Le remplissage du graben s'est fait essentiellement par des volcanites; les sédiments n'occupent qu'une place secondaire. Les éruptions débutent à l'Oligocène et se terminent au Pléistocène. Une division en 2 cycles (préhelvétique et posttortonique) ne s'applique pas à la Sardaigne du Sud, car ici des explosions sous-marines (Diatremes) et des intercalations de tuffites sont également intervenues durant la transgression du Miocène moyen.Du point de vue géochimique les volcanites appartiennent à la série calcoalcaline avec cependant une tendance atlantique et méditerranéenne. En admettant une fusion locale du socle inférieur du craton sarde, on comprend alors la dérivation palingénétique des liparites tertiaires à partir des granites varisques.Les lignes de fracture liées à la déformation taphrogénétique de notre ancien avant-pays montrent deux directions dominantes: SE-NW en Sardaigne méridionale (Campidano), NE-SW en Sardaigne septentrionale (graben du Tirso et de Logudoro). Dans le cadre des éléments structuraux de la Méditerranée occidentale on peut également admettre en Sardaigne un déplacement horizontal des compartiments (du genre épirophorèse en petit!), à savoir un déplacement relatif d'Iglesiente vers le sud-est, c'est-à-dire parallèlement au grand décalage de l'arc des Baléares.

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Riassunto Una geoanticlinale emergente dal centro del Mediterraneo occidentale formava l'Avampaese Sardo durante il Mesozoico.Questa dorsale, già consolidata con le orogenesi caledonica ed ercinica, poi peneplanata e solo in parte invasa da mari epicontinentali, dopo aver subito ampie oscillazioni, è stata alla fine ridotta in frammenti da una tettonica disgiuntiva terziaria.I pilastri, residui dello sbloccamento, formano il caratteristico rilievo attuale di media montagna (tipo Gennargentu), isolato da depressioni a sviluppo ed orientamento ineguali, convergenti verso una zona a direzione meridiana. Questa è la fossa principale del Sistema («fossa tettonica sarda» per eccellenza, fra il Golfo dell'Asinara a N e quello di Cagliari a S).In questa grande fossa la pianura del Campidano, nella Sardegna meridionale, non è che la depressione attuale, risultante dallo spostamento dell'asse di maggior sprofondamento, tuttora in via di assetto.D'altra parte, parecchie «fosse laterali», minori, penetrando nell'antico massiccio, hanno staccato dallo stesso altrettante schegge. Lo sbandamento di questi frammenti dei pilastri tettonici conferisce alle fosse una asimmetria caratteristica, specialmente evidente dalla Valle del Tirso al Golfo dell'Asinara.Lo sprofondamento delle fosse tettoniche è stato accompagnato da un vulcanismo a intensità decrescente dall'Oligocene al Plistocene.La distinzione in due cicli (pre-elveziano, rispettivamente post-tortoniano) non è valida per la Sardegna meridionale, dove (Marmilla e Campidano) le manifestazioni vulcaniche (diatremi e intercalazioni di tufiti) sono continuate anche durante l'invasione marina del Miocene medio.Nella colmata delle fosse tettoniche prevalgono le vulcaniti sui sedimenti; tra le lave prevalgono quelle acide sulle basiche, talvolta in alternanza fra loro.Dalle discordanze tra le varie fasi eruttive e dalle intercalazioni lacustri fra le stesse risulta che entro le fosse tettoniche sono awenute dislocazioni secondarie per piegamento.Dal punto di vista geochimico le lave appartengono alla serie alcalicalcica con tendenze verso le serie alcaline (atlantica e mediterranea). Se si ammette peró una parziale fusione della base granitica del cratone formante l'Avampaese Sardo, il vulcanismo delle nostre fosse tettoniche potrebbe essere un riflesso di oscuri rapporti fra palingenesi e tafrogenesi.In fine, nel tentativo di inserire le dislocazioni disgiuntive, che hanno colpito durante il Terziario l'Avampaese Sardo, si potrà forse riconoscere anche una traslazione orizzontale di zolle (epiroforesi) ed in particolare uno spostamento in blocco dell'Iglesiente, al di qua della fossa tettonica del Campidano, in direzione concordante con la grande deviazione verso Sud-est dell'arco delle Isole Baleari.

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Uranium in spinel peridotite inclusions in basalts from Sardinia

The uranium distribution in spinel peridotite inclusions and their host basalt from Sardinia, Italy, was determined by fission-track mapping. Whole-rock U concentrations range from 14 to 55 ppb. Although the partitioning of U among major silicate phases of the inclusions — olivine, orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene — remains roughly constant, the U content in the minerals is highly variable, e.g. ranging from 27 ppb to 177 ppb in clinopyroxene. The U variation in the minerals shows no apparent correlation with their major element chemistry. Liquid which equilibrated with the assemblages of inclusions with high U content, had U concentrations higher than those found in basaltic rocks. It is suggested that the inclusions were contaminated with a phase strongly enriched in U and subsequently recrystallized. The available data show that spinel peridotite inclusions of basaltic rocks frequently have complex multistage evolution and thus cannot provide a representative picture of the upper mantle radioactivity.     

Preliminary Interlaboratory Trial for ISO/DIS 12010: Determination of Short Chain Polychlorinated Alkanes (SCCP) in Water

A first preliminary interlaboratory trial was planned to prepare ISO/DIS 12010: Water quality – determination of short chain polychlorinated alkanes (SCCP) in water – method using GC/MS and electron capture negative ionisation (ECNI). The task was to determine the sum of short chain polychlorinated n‐alkanes with carbon chain lengths of C₁₀–C₁₃ and a chlorine content between 49 and 67% in water by GC‐ECNI‐MS and quantification by multiple linear regression described in ISO/DIS 12010 as the compulsory method. Distributed samples were obtained from a real water extract spiked with a target concentration of 0.4 µg/mL sum of SCCP, i.e. the environmental quality target level according to the Water Framework Directive. The interlaboratory trial included the calibration, a column chromatographic clean up, a concentration step and an integration of chromatographic unresolved humps as well as the quantification with multiple linear regression. Reproducibility standard deviations between 21.5 and 22.9% were achieved by 17 participating laboratories from four countries. The method outlined no significant difference of the results between the standard solution and a real water matrix extract. On the basis of this succeeded preliminary interlaboratory trial the final interlaboratory trial for validation of ISO 12010 was prepared in autumn 2010.