Newtontoppen granitoid rocks, their geology, chemistry and Rb-Sr age

A post-tectonic Caledonian granite in southern Ny Friesland has been fully mapped and the following new names are proposed: the Chydeniusbreen granitoid suite, consisting of the Raudberget granitoid body in the north; the Newtontoppen granitoid body in the middle; and the Ekkoknausane granitoid body in the south
The contact relationships, internal structures and distribution of various rock types infer an asymmetric lopolith or a harpolith-like body, a large sickle-shaped intrusion stretched in the direction of general tectonic transport, for the Newtontoppen granitoid body.
Seven rock types are described in the Newtontoppen granitoid and four emplacement stages are recognised. The major rock types seem to have an alkali-calcic to alkalic bulk rock chemistry and show a transition between I- and S-type granite derived from anatectic melting of various protoliths under relatively high temperature conditions. Possible later K₂0 introduction modified the earlier formed rock types.
A Rb-Sr whole rock age of 432 ± 10 Ma has been obtained by a seven point isochron with MSDW = 2.59 and an initial Sr isotope ratio = 0.715. This age is approximately 30 Ma older than the previously obtained K-Ar whole rock and Rb-Sr biotite ages, ca. 400 Ma, which represents the period of cooling. The high initial Sr isotope ratio supports the interpretation of an anatectic origin.     

Rb-Sr whole rock and U-Pb zircon datings of the granitic-gabbroic rocks from the Skålfjellet Subgroup, southwest Spitsbergen

Recent remapping and new age determinations has shed light on the understanding of Precambrian rocks northwest of Hornsund, southwest Spitsbergen. The Skålfjellet Subgroup has been regarded as the eastern equivalent of the Vimsodden Subgroup, and both of these occur within the Precambrian Eimfjellet Group of southwest Spitsbergen. Although the Eimfjellet Group is considered to be older than the oldest unconformity in the area, the age of the rocks has not been known. The granitic-gabbroic rocks in the Skålfjellet Subgroup have been considered to be the products of granitisation for many years, but recent observations show that they are exotic blocks incorporated into the basic eruptive rocks which are the main constituents of the subgroup. These plutonic rocks have a wide range of compositions, from syenite via granite to gabbroic cumulates, which suggests the existence of a well-differentiated plutonic body at depth.
U-Pb zircon and Pb evaporation datings yielded magmatic ages of ca. 1,100 to 1,200 Ma, and a conformable age has been obtained by Rb-Sr whole rock dating. Detrital zircons from the micaceous schists of the Isbjørnhamna Group, which underlies the Skålfjellet Subgroup, show a poorly defined discordia with an upper intercept age of ca. 2,200 Ma and a lower intercept age of ca. 360 Ma. These dating results define the magmatic age of the granitic-gabbroic rocks as late Mesoproterozoic, early Grenvillian. This age is in broad agreement with that of the metavolcanic rock clasts of the Pyttholmen meta-pyroclastic-conglomeratic unit at Vimsodden, which is considered to be the westernmost occurrence of the Skålfjellet Subgroup.
A Rb-Sr whole rock age determination of the shaly phyllites from the Deilegga Group was performed in order to place constraints on the age of younger Precambrian event; however, no good isochron was obtained.     

PROJECTIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR THE CZECH REPUBLIC

The paper deals with a selection of the climatological baseline, GCM validity and construction of the climate change scenarios for an impact assessment in the Czech territory. The period of 1961–1990 has been selected as the climatological baseline. The corresponding database includes more than 50 monthly mean temperature and precipitation series, and 16 time series of daily meteorological data that contain also the solar radiation data. The 1× CO₂ outputs produced by four GCMs, provided by the CSMT (GISS, GFD30, GFD01, and CCCM), were compared with observed temperature and precipitation conditions in western and central Europe with a particular attention devoted to the Czech territory. The GCM ability to simulate annual cycles of temperature, precipitation and radiation was thoroughly examined. The GISS and CCCM were selected as a basis for constructing climate change scenarios as they simulated reasonably the observed patterns. According to the GISS variant, 2× CO₂ climate assumes a higher winter and lower summer warming, and an increase in annual precipitation amounts. A dangerous combination of the summer temperature increase and declining precipitation amounts is a specific feature of the CCCM scenario. An incremental scenario for temperature and precipitation is based on the combination of prescribed changes in both annual means and annual courses.     

Groundwater potential of the Egbe-Mopa basement area,central Nigeria

Abstract

An investigation on the groundwater potentials of the Egbe-Mopa area in central Nigeria, underlain by the Basement Complex, is presented. The investigation involved mapping of the subsurface by use of vertical electrical soundings; measurement of depth to groundwater; and evaluation of hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity and yield by means of pumping test interpretation. The results indicate subsurface units that range from three to five resistivity layers; depth to groundwater of 0–10 m; overburden thickness of 3–16 m; hydraulic conductivity of 6.2?×?10^?6 to 3.4?×?10^?4 m/s; transmissivity of 4.3?×?10^?7 to 2?×?10^?3 m²/s; and groundwater yield of 0.2–2.5 L/s. The hydraulic head assessments revealed a general northward groundwater flow direction. The study identified three aquifer potential types, of high, medium and low productivity, respectively. Based on the longitudinal conductance of the overburden units, four distinct Aquifer Protective Capacity zones were delineated, namely, poor, weak, moderate and good.

Citation Okogbue, C.O. and Omonona, O.V., 2013. Groundwater potential of Egbe-Mopa basement area, central Nigeria. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (4), 826–840.     

Additional Rb-Sr and single-grain zircon datings of Caledonian granitoid rocks from Albert I Land, northwest Spitsbergen

Previous K-Ar and Rb-Sr datings of the metamorphic and granitic rocks from the northwestern basement region of Spitsbergen mainly show the cooling time of the rocks, except for a Rb-Sr isochron age of the Hornemantoppen granitoid. New samples were collected during several years of geological mapping in the area and the Rb-Sr whole rock isochron and single-grain zircon evaporation methods were applied to the Hornemantoppen granitoids and the grey granites. A dioritic dyke was also dated by the latter method. The bulk rock chemistry study shows that most of both granitic rocks are of the S-type and probably post orogenic, with distinctive incorporation of crustal materials. The isotopic data also support this interpretation. The results of the Rb-Sr isotope analyses, 412 ± 4.8 Ma and the zircon Pb evaporation age of 424 ± 56 Ma, confirm the previous age of the Hornemantoppen granitoid, 414 ± 10 Ma. An older zircon age of 547 ± 19 Ma is considered to be the minimum age of inherited zircon. Zircons from the grey granites suggest an age of ca. 420 Ma with a large error. Field relations demonstrate that the grey granites are older than the Hornemantoppen granitoids. A minimum inherited zircon age, 952 ± 20 Ma, has been obtained from the grey granites. Three multi-grain Pb ages, 423 ± 22 Ma (2 grains), 461 ± 42 Ma and 561 ± 93 Ma (the last two 3 grains) were considered to be mixed ages. Although no definitive evidence for the presence of Grenvillian granites in this area has been obtained in the present study, preliminary results from the multi-grain zircon evaporation method, carried out in the Russian laboratory at Apatity, infer Paleo- and Mesoproterozoic protoliths for the metamorphic rocks of northwestern Spitsbergen.     

Grenvillian U-Pb zircon ages of quartz porphyry and rhyolite clasts in a metaconglomerate at Vimsodden, southwestern Spitsbergen

Proterozoic metasupracrustal rocks form a NNW-SSE trending basement zone along the western coast of Spitsbergen. The rocks show complex structures as a result of both Caledonian and Tertiary deformation, and most of the subordinate metaigneous rocks are not suitable for isotopic age determination. Some zircon-bearing rocks were found in the southwestern part of Spitsbergen and an attempt of U-Pb dating was performed.
U-Pb dating was carried out on zircon fractions from quartz porphyry and rhyolite clasts in a metaconglomerate unit of the Pyttholmen Formation northwest of Hornsund, southwestern Spitsbergen. The Pyttholmen Formation is considered to be a lateral equivalent of the upper part of the Gulliksenfjellet quartzite and in the same time as the upper part of the Skålfjellet metavolcanites. Therefore, the obtained ages are applicable to the age of the Skålfjellet igneous activities. Some of the dated samples are strongly schistose and their magmatic origin is difficult to confirm; the interpretation of the isotopic results is not well constrained; however, some explanations are possible which refer to the known geological conditions; an igneous age of siliceous volcanic rocks of ca. 1200 Ma, inherited zircon ages of ca. 2500 Ma and a regional metamorphic age of ca. 930 Ma. The last age belongs to the Grenvillian period and is conformable with the Rb/Sr whole rock age obtained from the garnet-biotite schists of the Isbjernhamna Group underlying the Skålfjellet metavolcanites.     

Evaluation of the extent of pollution of discharged oil field brine in the Bonny estuary,Niger Delta,Nigeria

This is an assessment of the degree of effects of discharged produced water in river and sediments of the Bonny estuary, Niger Delta. It involved seasonal analyses of twenty-two (22) water and thirty-four (34) sediment samples from the Bonny River. The physicochemical properties (i.e., hydrocarbon content, heavy metals, and other inorganic constituents) of the water samples were examined, while the sediments were inspected for heavy metals and organic hydrocarbon constituents that may have been sourced from the discharged produced water. In addition, the principal component and cluster analyses, index of geoaccumulation, and pollution load index plots were utilized to deduce the degree of pollution, source, and distribution of these contaminants. From the results of the analyses, the Bonny seawater is contaminated with nitrate, phosphates, nickel, ammonia, and phenols in dry season, whereas nitrate, sulfate, phosphate, total nitrogen, total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), and heavy metals—zinc and lead—are observed in the rainy (wet) season. Similarly, the sediments are contaminated with benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, xylene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, TPH, phenols, and heavy metals in both seasons. Considering the outcomes of these analyses, it is evident that the composition and quality of seawater and sediments of the Bonny estuary have been strongly influenced by produced water discharges in the area.     

Hydrochemical characteristics and quality assessment of regolith aquifers in Enugu metropolis, southeastern Nigeria

Twenty groundwater samples were collected from Enugu metropolis over two seasonal periods in order to characterize the groundwater and to determine its quality for domestic and irrigation purposes. The results show that groundwater of the area is strongly acidic to slightly alkaline in nature and varied from “soft water” to “moderately hard” water type. The major ionic trend is in the order Cl^? > Na⁺ > HCO₃ ^? > K⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > SO₄ ^2?and Mg²⁺ > Cl^? > Na⁺ > K⁺ > Ca²⁺ > HCO ₃ ^?  > SO₄ ^2? in abundance for dry and rainy seasons, respectively. The results also reveal that there is an increase in trend of the ionic concentrations during the dry season, which arises from weathering of the host rocks and anthropogenic activities. Two hydrochemical facies were identified, namely, Na⁺ –K⁺ –Cl^? –SO₄ ^2?and Ca²⁺ –Mg²⁺ –Cl^? –SO₄ ^2? _, with Na⁺ –K⁺ –Cl^? –SO₄ ^2? as the dominant facies for the two seasons. Groundwater quality ranges from “very poor water” to “good water” and “water unsuitable for drinking purposes” to “good water” for the dry season and rainy season investigations, respectively. The groundwater is suitable for irrigation purposes for the two seasons.     

Assessment of groundwater quality of Lokoja basement area, North-Central Nigeria

The hydrochemical characteristics and quality of groundwater in Lokoja basement area have been evaluated based on different indices for assessing groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes. Twenty groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical parameters, major ions and heavy metals. The results revealed that the groundwater is slightly alkaline, with little variations in chemical composition. For example, electrical conductivity (EC) ranges from 242μS/cm to 1835μS/cm. The abundance of the major ions is in the order of Ca²⁺ >Na⁺>Mg²⁺>K⁺> Fe^2+/3+ = HCO₃ >Cl^? >NO₃ >SO₄ >PO₄. Based on the hydrochemical data, four hydrochemical facies were identified namely, Ca-Mg-HCO₃, Na-K-HCO₃, Na-K-Cl-SO₄ and Ca-Mg-Cl-SO₄ and these facies depict groundwater recharge zone, transition flow zone, deep flow zone and mixed water zone respectively. Groundwater from the area is unsuitable for drinking and domestic purposes as some of the ions and heavy metals of health concerns are well above the stipulated guideline values. Irrigation water quality indicators (salinity, Na % and Mg %), reveal that the groundwater is unsuitable for irrigation purposes. Interpreted statistical analysis reveals that the groundwater chemical compositions are controlled predominantly by weathering of litho units of the basement rocks and by drainage from domestic wastes.