Adding the missing third and fourth dimensions to trajectory analysis in carbonate systems

We developed a seismic geomorphology-based procedure to enhance traditional trajectory analysis with the ability to visualize and quantify lateral variability along carbonate prograding-margin types (ramps and rimmed shelves) in 3D and 4D. This quantitative approach analysed the shelf break geometric evolution of the Oligo-Miocene carbonate clinoform system in the Browse Basin and delineated the feedback between antecedent topography and carbonate system response as controlling factor on shelf break rugosity. Our geometrical analysis identified a systematic shift in the large-scale average shelf break strike direction over a transect of 10 km from 62° to 55° in the Oligo-Miocene interval of the Browse Basin, which is likely controlled by far-field allogenic forcing from the Timor Trough collision zone. Plotting of 3D shelf break trajectories represents a convenient way to visualize the lateral variability in shelf break evolution. Shelf break trajectories that indicate contemporaneous along-strike progradation and retrogradation correlate with phases of autogenic slope system re-organization and may be a proxy for morphological stability of the shelf break. Shelf break rugosity and shelf break trajectory rugosity are not inherited parameters and antecedent topography does not dictate long-term differential movement of the shelf margin through successive depositional sequences. The autogenic carbonate system response to antecedent topography smooths high-rugosity areas by filling accommodation and maintains a relatively constant shelf break rugosity of ~150 m. Color-coding of the vertical component in the shelf break trajectory captures the creation and filling of accommodation, and highlights areas of the transect that are likely to yield inconsistent 2D sequence stratigraphic interpretations.     

Production of acid water in a lead-zinc mine,Coeur d'Alene,Idaho

The Bunker Hill Mine in Idaho's Coeur d'Alene mining district produces approximately 10 m³/minute of acid water containing high concentrations of heavy metals. Field and laboratory studies indicate that much of the acid water is produced in a single ore body in the upper part of the mine. The ore of this body contains mainly sphalerite, galena, and pyrite in a siderite-quartz gangue. Ground water recharges this ore body through a near-vertical zone of high permeability, which is the result of mining by the caving technique. Ore samples from the caving area contained oxidized forms of iron and produced acid in a laboratory leaching test. Leaching experiments with several ore samples from the mine also indicated that the ratio of pyrite to calcite in the samples strongly controlled the resultant pH values. Oxidation of pyrite to sulfuric acid and compounds of iron is apparently responsible for the production of acid water in the mine. In contrast, dissolution of calcite in water results in a basic solution, with pH around 8.3, that can neutralize the acid produced by the oxidation process. Methods for prevention of acid mine drainage in this and other similar mines are noted.     

Modulation of short waves by long waves

The amplitude, wavelength, and frequency of short waves in the presence of waves of a longer scale vary in a manner that is related in phase to the long-wave profile. The purpose of this study is to observe and quantify the change in the variance of short-wave slope that occurs as a result of the change in short-wave position along a coincident long wave, during the active generation of the short-wave field by wind. To this end, measurements of wave-slope time series are made in a laboratory environment where the long-scale waves are generated mechanically and the short scale are generated primarily by air flow. The frequency variation of the short waves, as measured along the long-wave profile, is described by considering the waves to be linearly advected by the longer waves. The peak-to-peak variation along the long-wave profile of the short-wave slope variance for a given frequency band is commonly found to be 10% of its mean value. The magnitude of the excursions become smaller as short-wave frequency increases, and larger as wind speed increases. The maximum value of the short-wave slope variance generally leads the long-wave profile curve by 45 ° to 180 °.     

Heavy metal pollution in the sediments of the Coeur d'Alene River,Idaho

Analysis of sediment samples collected from the Coeur d'Alene River in northern Idaho, USA, indicates that the main stem and the south fork of the river are contaminated with heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Mn, and Zn) from the local mining operations. Laboratory experiments indicate that these metals in the sediments can be leached and reach saturation concentrations in water in a relatively short period of time. The rate of leaching of heavy metals with distilled water appeared to follow first-order kinetics. The saturation concentrations of Mn and Zn in water reached ppm levels from the leaching process. Cadmium and Pb are much less soluble relative to Zn in the sediments. The high concentrations of heavy metals in the sediments are a source of contamination that should be considered for the water quality management planning of the Coeur d'Alene River-Lake system.     

Temperature-dependent Fe2+–Mn2+ order–disorder behaviour in amphiboles

The partitioning of Fe and Mn between the large M(4) site and the octahedral sites, M(1,2,3) in the amphibole structure has been investigated in two natural manganogrunerites of compositions Ca_0.1Mn_1.9 Mg_1.25Fe²⁺ _3.56Fe³⁺ _0.38Si_7.81O₂₂(OH)₂ and Ca_0.24Mn_1.57 Mg_2.27 Fe²⁺ _2.76Fe³⁺ _0.32Si_7.84O₂₂(OH)₂. The long-range cation distribution in the two samples has been elucidated by in situ neutron powder diffraction revealing that Mn is preferentially ordered onto M(4) ? M(2) >M(1) >M(3) in both samples. Partitioning of Mn from M(4) into the octahedral sites begins at 350 °C, with site exchange energies of ?16.6 kJ mol^?1 and ?14.9 kJ mol^?1, in samples containing 1.90 and 1.57 Mn apfu, respectively. Mössbauer and infrared spectroscopy have been used to study the samples at room temperature, and Mössbauer data agree well with the diffraction results, confirming that high-temperature cation distributions are retained during cooling. The fine structure in the hydroxyl-stretching region of the IR absorption spectra has been used to discuss qualitatively the site occupancies of the coordinating M(1)M(3)M(1) triplet, linked by O(3). On the basis of such modelling, we conclude that a degree of local clustering is present in both samples.     

Sacred cows and thumping drums: claiming territory as 'zones of tradition' in British India

Theories that explain the origins of communal violence in South Asia often point to the discursive creation of the perception of distinct and adversarial Hindu and Muslim identity categories at the beginning of the twentieth century. This paper argues that these theories overemphasize imagined social differences without adequately considering how these boundaries were territorialized in everyday life through performative place-making practices. In order to fill this gap, 'zones of tradition', areas where religious or cultural practices are reified into official tradition, are suggested as one way of conceptualizing how group-making discourses are linked to places. As examples, the cow protection movement that campaigned to institute local bans on the slaughter of cattle and conflicts over Hindu processions playing music as they passed in front of mosques are considered. As these practices were contested, it is argued that zones of tradition were established across British India symbolically and tangibly dividing the territory before it was officially partitioned.     

Simultaneous observation solutions for NASA-MOTS and SPEOPT station positions on the North American Datum

Simultaneous observations of the GEOS-I and II flashing lamps by the NASA MOTS and SPEOPT cameras on the North American Datum (NAD) have been analyzed using geometrical techniques to provide an adjustment of the station coordinates. Two separate adjustments have been obtained. An optical data—only solution has been computed in which the solution scale was provided by the Rosman-Mojave distance obtained from a dynamic station solution. In a second adjustment, scaling was provided by processing simultaneous laser ranging data from Greenbelt and Wallops Island in a combined optical-laser solution. Comparisons of these results with previous GSFC dynamical solutions indicate an rms agreement on the order of 4 meters or better in each coordinate. Comparison with a detailed gravimetric geoid of North America yields agreement of 3 meters or better for mainland U.S. stations and 7 and 3 meters, respectively, for Bermuda and Puerto Rico.     

3D resistivity inversion using 2D measurements of the electric field

Field and 'noisy' synthetic measurements of electric-field components have been inverted into 3D resistivities by smoothness-constrained inversion. Values of electrical field can incorporate changes in polarity of the measured potential differences seen when 2D electrode arrays are used with heterogeneous 'geology', without utilizing negative apparent resistivities or singular geometrical factors. Using both the X - and Y -components of the electric field as measurements resulted in faster convergence of the smoothness-constrained inversion compared with using one component alone. Geological structure and resistivity were reconstructed as well as, or better than, comparable published examples based on traditional measurement types. A 2D electrode grid (20 × 10), incorporating 12 current-source electrodes, was used for both the practical and numerical experiments; this resulted in 366 measurements being made for each current-electrode configuration. Consequently, when using this array for practical field surveys, 366 measurements could be acquired simultaneously, making the upper limit on the speed of acquisition an order of magnitude faster than a comparable conventional pole–dipole survey. Other practical advantages accrue from the closely spaced potential dipoles being insensitive to common-mode noise (e.g. telluric) and only 7% of the electrodes (i.e. those used as current sources) being susceptible to recently reported electrode charge-up effects.