Cyclostratigraphy of the Middle to Upper Ordovician successions of the Armorican Massif (western France) using portable X-ray fluorescence

To expand traditional cyclostratigraphic numerical methods beyond their common technical limitations and apply them to truly deep-time archives we need to reflect on the development of new approaches to sedimentary archives that traditionally are not targeted for cyclostratigraphic analysis, but that frequently occur in the impoverished deep-time record. Siliciclastic storm-dominated shelf environments are a good example of such records. Our case study focusses on the Middle to Upper Ordovician siliciclastic successions of the Armorican Massif (western France), which are well-studied in terms of sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy. In addition, these sections are protected geological heritage due to the extraordinary quality of the outcrops. We therefore tested the performance of non-destructive high-resolution (cm-scale) portable X-ray fluorescence and natural gamma-ray analyses on outcrop to obtain major and trace element compositions. Despite the challenging outcrop conditions in the tidal beach zone, our geochemical analyses provide useful information regarding general lithology and several specific sedimentary features such as the detection of paleoplacers, or the discrimination between different types of diagenetic concretions such as nodules. Secondly, these new high-resolution data are used to experiment the application of commonly used numerical cyclostratigraphic techniques on this siliciclastic storm-dominated shelf environment, a non-traditional sedimentological setting for cyclostratigraphic analysis. In the lithological relatively homogenous parts of the section spectral power analyses and bandpass filtering hint towards a potential astronomical imprint of some sedimentary cycles, but this needs further confirmation in the absence of more robust independent age constraints.

Quantifying occurrence of deformation bands in sandstone as a function of structural and petrophysical factors and their impact on reservoir quality: an example from outcrop analog of Productive Series (Pliocene), South Caspian Basin

Deformation bands (DB) are known to influence porosity and permeability in sandstones. This study aims to predict the occurrence of DB and to quantify their impact on reservoir properties based on field measurements in the steeply dipping limb of a kilometer-scale fold in Yasamal Valley, western South Caspian Basin. An integrated approach of characterizing bands and their effect on reservoir properties included measurements of natural gamma radioactivity and permeability using portable tools, along with bed dip and the count of DB across distinct facies. A set of core analyses was performed on outcrop plugs with and without bands to estimate the alteration of rock properties at the pore scale. Interpretation of outcrop gamma-ray data indicates the absence of bands in Balakhany sandstones containing shale volume greater than 18% for unconsolidated and 32% for calcite-rich facies. A high amount of calcite cement appears to increase the number of DB. A poor, positive trend between bed dip and DB concentration was identified. We show that net to gross, defined as the thickness fraction of sandstone bound by mudstones, is among the parameters controlling the occurrence of bands. Samples containing a single DB show a 33% and 3% decrease in permeability and porosity, respectively, relative to the host rock. We reveal a new set of lithological and petrophysical factors influencing DB occurrence. This study offers a direct tool that can be applied in subsurface reservoir analogs to predict the occurrence and concentration of DB and estimate their influence on rock properties.

Age and driving mechanisms of the Eocene–Oligocene transition from astronomical tuning of a lacustrine record (Rennes Basin, France)

The Eocene–Oligocene Transition (EOT) marks the onset of the Antarctic glaciation and the switch from greenhouse to icehouse climates. However, the driving mechanisms and the precise timing of the EOT remain controversial mostly due to the lack of well-dated stratigraphic records, especially in continental environments. Here we present a cyclo-magnetostratigraphic and sedimentological study of a ∼ 7.6 Myr long lacustrine record spanning the late Eocene to the earliest Oligocene, from a drill core in the Rennes Basin (France). Cyclostratigraphic analysis of natural gamma radiation (NGR) log data yields duration estimates of Chrons C12r through C16n.1n, providing additional constraints on the Eocene timescale. Correlations between the orbital eccentricity curve and the 405 kyr tuned NGR time series indicate that 33.71 and 34.10 Ma are the most likely proposed ages of the EO boundary. Additionally, the 405 kyr tuning calibrates the most pronounced NGR cyclicity to a period of ∼1 Myr, matching the g1–g5 eccentricity term, supporting its significant expression in continental depositional environments, and hypothesizing that the paleolake level may have behaved as a low-pass filter for orbital forcing. Two prominent changes in the sedimentary facies were detected across the EOT, which are temporally equivalent to the two main climatic steps, EOT-1 and Oi-1. We suggest that these two facies changes reflect the two major Antarctic cooling/glacial phases via the hydrological cycle, as significant shifts to drier and cooler climate conditions. Finally, the interval spanning the EOT precursor glacial event through EOT-1 is remarkably dominated by obliquity. This suggests preconditioning of the major Antarctic glaciation, either from obliquity directly affecting the formation/(in)stability of the incipient Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS), or through obliquity modulation of the North Atlantic Deep Water production.

Exploring The Interactions of a Natural Gamma-Oryzanol with Human Serum Albumin: Surface Plasmon Resonance, Fluorescence, and Molecular Modeling Studies

γ-oryzanol (ORY) is the vital bioactive compound, which is a mixture of ferulic acid ester and plant sterols. In the present work, the binding of ORY to human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated at the molecular level using fluorescence spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) as well as molecular modeling studies. Based on the fluorescence data analysis, ORY can form a non-fluorescent complex with HSA and induce static quenching of the emission intensity of HSA. Also, the high value of K SV (34.69 × 104 M−1) confirmed a high sensitivity of HSA toward ORY. The real-time monitoring of the binding of ORY to HSA was carried out using the SPR technique. The small K D value (1.23 × 10−6 M) calculated by SPR analysis indicated a high affinity of ORY toward HSA. The molecular modeling studies confirmed that ORY has only one binding site on HSA and binds HSA in a cavity between subdomain IIA and IIIA.

Green Tuff: Gamma Index in a Typical Building Material of Ciglio Area (Ischia Island)

Radiological characterization of tuff of Ciglio area in Ischia Island was performed to assess the potential radiological hazard associated with its use. For this purpose, high resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy was used. In five green tuff samples was measured the activity concentration of natural gamma-ray emitting radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K so, the mean gamma index was calculated. The mean value of the gamma index resulted lower than the reference level and it meets the dose criterion for the safety use of green tuff as building material.

Thermal Conductivity Estimation Based on Well Logging

The thermal conductivity of a stratum is a key factor to study the deep temperature distribution and the thermal structure of the basin. A huge expense of core sampling from boreholes, especially in offshore areas, makes it expensive to directly test stratum samples. Therefore, the use of well logging (the gamma-ray, the neutron porosity, and the temperature) to estimate the thermal conductivity of the samples obtained from boreholes could be a good alternative. In this study, we measured the thermal conductivity of 72 samples obtained from an offshore area as references. When the stratum is considered to be a shale–sand–fluid model, the thermal conductivity can be calculated based on the mixing models (the geometric mean and the square root mean). The contents of the shale and the sand were derived from the natural gamma-ray logs, and the content of the fluid (porosity) was derived from the neutron porosity logs. The temperature corrections of the thermal conductivity were performed for the solid component and the fluid component separately. By comparing with the measured data, the thermal conductivity predicted based on the square root model showed good consistency. This technique is low-cost and has great potential to be used as an application method to obtain the thermal conductivity for geothermal research.

A python code for automatic construction of Fischer plots using proxy data

Fischer plots are widely used in paleoenvironmental research as graphic representations of sea- and lake-level changes through mapping linearly corrected variation of accumulative cycle thickness over cycle number or stratum depth. Some kinds of paleoenvironmental proxy data (especially subsurface data, such as natural gamma-ray logging data), which preserve continuous cyclic signals and have been largely collected, are potential materials for constructing Fischer Plots. However, it is laborious to count the cycles preserved in these proxy data manually and map Fischer plots with these cycles. In this paper, we introduce an original open-source Python code “PyFISCHERPLOT” for constructing Fischer Plots in batches utilizing paleoenvironmental proxy data series. The principle of constructing Fischer plots based on proxy data, the data processing and usage of the PyFISCHERPLOT code and the application cases of the code are presented. The code is compared with existing methods for constructing Fischer plots.

Age and driving mechanisms of the Eocene-Oligocene Transition from astronomical tuning of a lacustrine record (Rennes Basin, France)

The Eocene-Oligocene Transition (EOT) marks the onset of the Antarctic glaciation and the switch from greenhouse to icehouse climates. However, the driving mechanisms and the precise timing of the EOT remain controversial mostly due to the lack of well-dated stratigraphic records, especially in continental environments. Here we present a cyclo-magnetostratigraphic and sedimentological study of a ∼7.6 Myr-long lacustrine record spanning the late Eocene to the earliest Oligocene, from a drill-core in the Rennes Basin (France). Time-series analysis of natural gamma-ray (NGR) log data shows evidence of Milankovitch cycle bands. In particular, the 405 kyr stable eccentricity is expressed with strong amplitudes. Astronomical calibration to this 405 kyr periodicity yields duration estimates of Chrons C12r through C16n.1n, providing additional constraints on the middle–early Eocene timescale. Correlations between the orbital eccentricity curve and the 405 kyr tuned NGR time series and assumptions on their phase relationships, enable to test previously proposed ages for the EO boundary, indicating that 33.71 and 34.10 Ma are the most likely. Additionally, the 405 kyr tuning calibrates the most pronounced NGR cyclicity to a period of ∼1 Myr matching the g1-g5 eccentricity term. Such cyclicity has been recorded in other continental records, pointing to its significant expression in continental depositional environments. The record of g1-g5 and sometimes g2-g5 eccentricity terms in previously acquired sedimentary facies proxies in CDB1 core led us to hypothesize that the paleolake level may have behaved as a lowpass filter for orbital forcing. Two prominent changes in the sedimentary facies were detected across the EOT, which are temporally equivalent to the two main climatic steps, EOT-1 and Oi-1. Combined with previously acquired geochemical (δ15Norg, TOC), mineralogical (Quartz, clays) and pollen assemblage proxies from CDB1, we suggest that these two facies changes reflect the two major Antarctic cooling/glacial phases via the hydrological cycle, as significant shifts to drier and cooler climate conditions, thus supporting the stepwise nature of the EOT. Remarkably, a strongly dominant obliquity expressed in the latest Eocene corresponds in time to the interval from the EOT precursor glacial event till the EOT-1. We interpret the obliquity dominance as reflecting preconditioning phases for the onset of the major Antarctic glaciation, either from its direct impact on the formation/(in)stability of the incipient Antactic Ice Sheet (AIS), or through its modulation of the North Atlantic Deep Water production given the North Atlantic coastal location of the CDB1 site.

GABA enhancement by simple carbohydrates in yoghurt fermented using novel, self-cloned Lactobacillus plantarum Taj-Apis362 and metabolomics profiling

This study aimed to enhance natural gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) production in yoghurt by the addition of simple sugars and commercial prebiotics without the need for pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) cofactor. The simple sugars induced more GABA production (42.83–58.56 mg/100 g) compared to the prebiotics (34.19–40.51 mg/100 g), with glucose promoting the most GABA production in yoghurt (58.56 mg/100 g) surpassing the control sample with added PLP (48.01 mg/100 g). The yoghurt prepared with glucose also had the highest probiotic count (9.31 log CFU/g). Simulated gastrointestinal digestion of this GABA-rich yoghurt showed a non-significant reduction in GABA content and probiotic viability, demonstrating the resistance towards a highly acidic environment (pH 1.2). Refrigerated storage up to 28 days improved GABA production (83.65 mg/100 g) compared to fresh GABA-rich yoghurt prepared on day 1. In conclusion, the addition of glucose successfully mitigates the over-use of glutamate and omits the use of PLP for increased production of GABA in yoghurt, offering an economical approach to produce a probiotic-rich dairy food with potential anti-hypertensive effects.