云南禄丰煤岩与围岩中富勒烯（C60）物质的初步探索

中国云南煤中是否存在富勒烯还没有科学定论。本工作运用高效液相色谱方法，对中国云南禄丰晚三叠世煤岩及其围岩中是否存在天然富勒烯物质的问题进行了探索性研究；同时发展了适于从复杂地质样品中分离纯化富勒烯和定性与定量检测富勒烯的一套技术方法。结果显示，从定性角度有两个样品确实存在富勒烯。本文据此提出，富勒烯的赋存与煤岩／围岩交互相上的含煤碳质泥岩有着密切的关系。下一步研究应着重调查比煤岩与顶板和底板界面层并大力研究其中天然富勒烯的地学成因。本工作的意义还在于为今后我国加入和独立开展以富勒烯类物质（如C60／C70）及其衍生物质（如He C60 C70)作为地球化学示踪物的古地球突变大事件的研究，奠定了实验方法学基础。     

Boulder shores in South Africa – a distinct but poorly documented coastal habitat type

This study compares the composition, species richness and biomass of macrofaunal and algal assemblages on intertidal boulder shores as compared with those on adjacent rock-platforms, at six sites along the southwest coast of South Africa. Of 214 species identified, 175 were recorded on boulder shores and 124 on rock-platform shores; of these, 99 species were common to both habitat types, 92 were exclusive to boulders, and 23 were exclusive to rock-platforms. Significant differences in community structure (F_(1,95) = 13.02, p < 0.01) (PERMANOVA test), species richness (F_(1,95) = 14.28, p < 0.01), biomass (F_(1,95) = 9.45, p < 0.01) and diversity (F_(1,95) = 578.83, p < 0.01) (two-way ANOVA) were detected between the two habitat types. Average dissimilarity of community structure between rock-platform and boulder shores was 87.96% (SIMPER analysis). The increased species richness and biomass on boulder shores extended across all tidal levels, but was most marked in the highshore. These results confirm that boulder shores along the southwestern Cape support a distinct biota, richer and very different from that on adjacent rock-platforms, and rich in boulder-dependent species. We propose that boulder shores merit separate management and conservation targets as compared to rock-platforms, though the ecology of boulder shores in the region remains very poorly known and requires further study.     

Nanogeochemistry of hydrothermal magnetite

Magnetite from hydrothermal ore deposits can contain up to tens of thousands of parts per million (ppm) of elements such as Ti, Si, V, Al, Ca, Mg, Na, which tend to either structurally incorporate into growth and sector zones or form mineral micro- to nano-sized particles. Here, we report micro- to nano-structural and chemical data of hydrothermal magnetite from the Los Colorados iron oxide–apatite deposit in Chile, where magnetite displays both types of trace element incorporation. Three generations of magnetites (X–Z) were identified with concentrations of minor and trace elements that vary significantly: SiO₂, from below detection limit (bdl) to 3.1 wt%; Al₂O₃, 0.3–2.3 wt%; CaO, bdl–0.9 wt%; MgO, 0.02–2.5 wt%; TiO₂, 0.1–0.4 wt%; MnO, 0.04–0.2 wt%; Na₂O, bdl–0.4 wt%; and K₂O, bdl–0.4 wt%. An exception is V₂O₃, which is remarkably constant, ranging from 0.3 to 0.4 wt%. Six types of crystalline nanoparticles (NPs) were identified by means of transmission electron microscopy in the trace element-rich zones, which are each a few micrometres wide: (1) diopside, (2) clinoenstatite; (3) amphibole, (4) mica, (5) ulvöspinel, and (6) Ti-rich magnetite. In addition, Al-rich nanodomains, which contain 2–3 wt% of Al, occur within a single crystal of magnetite. The accumulation of NPs in the trace element-rich zones suggest that they form owing to supersaturation from a hydrothermal fluid, followed by entrapment during continuous growth of the magnetite surface. It is also concluded that mineral NPs promote exsolution of new phases from the mineral host, otherwise preserved as structurally bound trace elements. The presence of abundant mineral NPs in magnetite points to a complex incorporation of trace elements during growth, and provides a cautionary note on the interpretation of micron-scale chemical data of magnetite.     

Carbon on surfaces of magnesium oxide and olivine single crystals. Diffusion from the bulk or surface contamination?

We have conducted detailed studies of the behavior of carbon on the surfaces of MgO and olivine single crystals using various surface analytical techniques: viz. secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), Auger electron spectrometry (AES) and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS). In order to distinguish without ambiguity the effect of diffusion of carbon from the bulk to the surface and the effect of surface contamination by carbon-containing species, the experiments were conducted in ultrahigh vacuum, i.e. 10^?11–10^?9 torr. In addition to MgO and olivine single crystals, we have conducted the same studies on TiO₂, MnO, SiO₂ and Ta₂O₅ which serve as blank samples. The MgO and olivine samples were also intentionally implanted with known doses of carbon and the mobility of this particular carbon was investigated in detail. Our results show that the bulk carbon content in MgO is around 40 wt. ppm, considerably lower than the quantities quoted by Freund and co-workers in the past. We also show that the carbon in both MgO and olivine does not display any rapid diffusion behaviour leading to surface segreation in the temperature range 78–723 K, in contrast to the previous findings of Freund and co-workers.     

Speleothems from the earliest Quaternary: Snapshots of paleoclimate and landscape evolution at the northern rim of the Alps

Ancient cave systems in the Northern Calcareous Alps, today located well above the timberline at altitudes of 2400–2500 m, host U-rich speleothems that preserved growth layers on the microscopic scale of presumably annual origin. Two flowstone samples were dated to 2.019 + 0.037/?0.069 Ma and 1.730 + 0.032/?0.068 Ma, respectively, using U–Pb isochron techniques. These ages are corroborated by the Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene pollen spectrum extracted from one of the samples. We use a multiproxy approach and exploit laminated speleothem sequences to tie high-resolution stable isotope data to a floating lamina-counted chronology. O isotope values of growth intervals when calcite deposition was close to isotopic equilibrium are low compared to modern and Holocene speleothems from other alpine caves and are inconsistent with the current altitudinal setting of the caves. A vegetated but geomorphologically stable alpine catchment (i.e. ～2000 m asl., no (peri)glacial processes) combined with a deep-seated cave (the thickness of the vadose zone might have exceeded 1000 m) is required in order to reconcile the isotopic data with the pollen record and the petrographic evidence. Furthermore, the data can be used to constrain the rate for Quaternary rock-uplift to ≤0.8 mm/annum for this frontal part of the European Alps. Collectively, the data suggest that these speleothems formed both during interglacials (MIS 59 or 61) and interglacial–glacial transitions (MIS 75/74 or 77/76), but the seasonal precipitation pattern was arguably markedly different from today's. Provided that the highly regular microscopic laminae are indeed annual, lamina counts suggest a minimum length of ca 6 ka for interglacials during the earliest Pleistocene.     

Human impact on Holocene sediment dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean – the example of the Roman harbour of Ephesus

During the past millennia, many erosion and accumulation processes have been modified by anthropogenic impact. This holds especially true for the environs of ancient settlements and their harbours along the Mediterranean coasts. Our multi‐proxy investigations in the Roman harbour and the harbour canal of Ephesus (western Turkey) reveals that humans have significantly triggered soil erosion during the last three millennia. Since the eighth century bc , and especially since the Hellenistic period, a high sedimentation rate indicates fast alluviation and delta progradation of the Küçük Menderes. Deforestation, agriculture (especially ploughing) and grazing (especially goats) were the main reasons for erosion of the river catchment area. One consequence was significant siltation of the Hellenistic/Roman harbour basin. This sediment trap archives the human impact, which was strongly enhanced from Hellenistic/Roman to Byzantine times (second/first centuries bc to the sixth/seventh centuries ad ), evidenced by high sedimentation rates, raised values of heavy metal contaminations [lead (Pb), copper (Cu)], the occurrence of fruit tree pollen and of intestinal parasites. From the middle to the end of the first millennium ad , the influence of Ephesus declined, which resulted in a decrease of human impact. Studies of several ancient settlements around the Mediterranean Sea tell a comparable story. They also confirm that during their most flourishing periods the human impact totally overprinted the climatic one. To detect the latter, geo‐bio‐archives of relatively pristine areas have to be investigated in detail. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Focusing on monofilament nets while overlooking the priorities of artisanal fisheries governance in Senegal

Despite its legal prohibition since 1998, the nylon monofilament net is still widely used in Senegalese artisanal fisheries. To achieve a complete ban on monofilament use, it is necessary to understand the main arguments for its continued use and what alternatives exist. Using a field experiment among local fishers as well as empirical knowledge and a literature review, this article highlights the challenges to the eradication of nylon monofilament. Our study shows that in a context where decision-makers pay too much attention to social, economic and political stakes, the efficiency of nylon monofilament nets confers a major advantage upon which fishers rely, and this counters any regulatory action against this type of gear. Moreover, numerous studies globally have indicated that communication campaigns that focus on the ghost-fishing power of this type of net seem to be inappropriate. We concluded that the issue of continued use of monofilament should be addressed through an integrated fisheries management programme that reduces overcapacity and fosters sustainable fishing practices.