Distribution of isomorphous cations within octahedral sheets in montmorillonite from Camp-Bertaux

 Ni-saturated montmorillonite from Camp-Bertaux heated at different temperatures has been studied by X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray absorption (EXAFS) and vibration IR spectroscopy. Analysis of the experimental data has shown that heating of samples at temperatures higher than 150° C was accompanied by migration of Ni cations into vacant cis-octahedra of 2:1 layers. In the octahedral sheet the Ni cation has two “heavy” (Fe) and four “light” (Al and Mg) nearest octahedral cations. A model for the octahedral cation distribution in Camp-Bertaux montmorillonite was proposed in which Fe and Mg octahedral cations are segregated in small clusters. Received July 7, 1996 / Revised, accepted August 23, 1996     

Mixed-layer corrensite-chlorites and their formation mechanism in the glauconitic sandstone-clayey rocks (Riphean, Anabar Uplift)

The paper presents the first detailed mineralogical, structural, and crystal-chemical characteristics of the mixed-layer corrensite-chlorites from the glauconitic sandy-clayey rocks that make up the bottom (0.10 m) of a basal member (1.50 m) of the lower subformation of the Yusmastakh Formation (Riphean, Anabar Uplift, North Siberia). Like the overlying mudstones (1.40 m) in the basal member, these rocks are generally transformed up to the deep catagenesis level and included in a thick dolomite sequence. In mudstones represented by the dioctahedral micas, the corrensite-type minerals are observed as traces.     

Spatial distribution and feeding of dominant zooplankton species in the Ob River estuary

The distribution and feeding of dominant mesozooplankton species were studied in the estuary of the Ob River and adjacent inner Kara Sea shelf waters in September 2013. It was shown that the spatial distributions of Cyclops sp., Senecella siberica, Limnocalanus macrurus, Mysis oculata, Drepanopus bungei, Jashnovia tolli and Pseudocalanus sp. are related to the specific characteristics of the hydrographic regime in the estuarine frontal zone. The distributions of Cyclops sp., Senecella siberica, and Pseudocalanus sp. are mainly limited by salinity, while other species inhabit an area with a wide range of salinity values without clear preferences. Peaks of their abundance could be either consolidated or distanced in space. The populations of Jashnovia tolli, Drepanopus bungei, and Pseudocalanus sp. permanently inhabit the layer under the pycnohalocline; the populations of Cyclops sp. and Mysis oculata inhabit the upper mixed layer. Limnocalanus macrurus demonstrates a different vertical distribution pattern: the copepod undertakes diel vertical migrations in the southern part of the estuarine frontal zone; in its northern part, the population is concentrated below the pycnocline during day and night. The differences in the distributions of the studied species determine their feeding behavior and their role in phytoplankton grazing. The most intense utilization of biomass and production of autotrophic phytoplankton by zooplankton occur in the freshened water zone and the adjacent southern periphery of the estuarine frontal zone: the total daily phytoplankton consumption makes up 10–18% of the biomass and 60–380% of primary production. Daily zooplankton consumption of phytoplankton in the estuarine frontal zone decreases to 2–7% of the biomass and to 14% of primary production; in inner shelf waters, the values do not exceed 1% for both phytoplankton biomass and production.     

Nature of the structural and crystal-chemical heterogeneity of the Mg-rich glauconite (Riphean,Anabar Uplift)

The detailed mineralogical and structural-crystal-chemical characteristics are reported for the first time for glauconite grains extracted from the fine-platy silty-sandy dolomites at the roof of the lower subformation of the Yusmastakh Formation (Riphean, Anabar Uplift, North Siberia). Based on the complex study (X-ray diffraction, classical chemical analysis, microprobe analysis, IR-spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy with microprobe analysis, and Mössbauer spectroscopy), it was demonstrated that the studied glauconite sample is characterized by unique chemical and structural heterogeneity.The mineral structure consists of micaceous (90%), smectite (6%), and di-trioctahedral chlorite (4%) layers. Mica is classed with Al-glauconite (Al > Fe³⁺) with elevated Mg content. The elevated Mg mole fraction of the mineral is caused by the presence of Mg-bearing brucite-type interlayers of di-trioctahedral chlorite and the high Mg content in the octahedral sheets of 2: 1 layers. It was first discovered that glauconites are characterized by the heterogeneous distribution of cations over the available trans- and cis-octahedra due to the coexistence of trans- and cis-vacant octahedra and small trioctahedral clusters in octahedral sheets. The distribution of isomorphic cations over the accessible octahedral sites is also heterogeneous due to the tendency of Fe, Mg and Al, Mg cations to segregation and formation of corresponding domains.It was found that structure of the studied glauconite has a specific stacking defect: in addition to the predominant subsequent layers of similar azimuthal orientation according to 1M type (～77%), some layer fragments are rotated at 180° (～15%) and ±120° (8%). The structural-crystal-chemical heterogeneity of the mineral is explained by the fact that its microcrystals grew in the dolomitic sediment under nonequilibrium conditions of the reduction zone of a shallow-water basin with a sufficiently high content of Mg cations, which significantly contributed to the glauconite formation.     

The Role of Plankton in the Vertical Flux in the East Siberian Sea Shelf

Oceanology - The role of plankton in the vertical flux in the East Siberian Sea was studied in the 69 cruise of the RV “Akademik Mstislav Keldysh” in September 2017. Vertical fluxes...     

Distribution and Feeding of Dominant Zooplankton Species under Autumn Coccolithophorid Development in the Eastern Part of the Barents Sea

Oceanology - Studies of zooplankton spatial distribution and feeding were conducted in the eastern part of the Barents Sea in early October 2014. The study period was characterized by positive...     

Role of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Noctiluca scintillans</Emphasis> population in the trophic dynamics of the Black Sea plankton over the spring period

Noctiluca scintillans is a common and numerous component of the heterotrophic plankton living in the Black Sea. It can play a significant role in the trophic dynamics of the pelagial community. The ingestion rate for the Black Sea Noctiluca is experimentally measured in this article, and its influence on the plankton community over the spring period is estimated. The average grazing of phytoplankton by the N. scintillans population made up about 0.8% in March. In local swarms, it was up to 11%. Noctiluca grazed 4.6% of the primary production per day in June. The grazing of Calanus euxinus eggs by the Noctiluca population varied from 1% to 42% in March. Then, it was 16% in April and 23% in June. The grazing of Acartia clausi eggs was from 1% to 7% in March–April (up to 80% in Noctiluca swarms), from 60% to 817% in May, and 45% in June. The grazing of Calanus faecal pellets was less than 1% in March–April and more than 20% in the beginning of June. It is the first time when the cumulative daily ration (subject to its various food components) for N. scintillans has been measured. The size of the ration was significantly higher than the energy expenditures on metabolism both in March (0.21 μg of C/ind/day) and in the beginning of June (0.28 μg of C/ind/day). Thus, the rapid growth of the population was enabled.