Pyrite Morphology and δ34S as Indicators of Deposition Environment in Organic-Rich Shales

This study is focused on the mineralogical, chemical, and isotopic characterization of pyrites from the rocks of the Bazhenov Formation (Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous organic-rich shales, Western Siberia, Russia). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed pyrites of different morphologies: small and large framboids, small crystals, and large euhedral crystals; all morphotypes were usually combined into aggregates. Isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) showed that small framboids and microcrystalline pyrite are isotopically light, with δ34SCDT varying from −55 to −20‰. Large framboids and euhedral crystals of pyrite are isotopically heavy with δ34SCDT up to +26‰. Both morphology and δ34S were suggested to be controlled by the redox conditions and sedimentation regime. The abundance of small framboids suggests that pyrite sedimentation occurred under anoxic conditions; the presence of the large framboids and euhedral crystals of pyrite suggest the accumulation of sediments occurred at suboxic conditions, possibly in the presence of oxygen.

Reservoir sedimentation regime analysis: case study of Kedungombo reservoir and Sermo reservoir

The Kedungombo and the Sermo Reservoirs have problems in fulfilling basic services because of sedimentation. Sedimentation that occurs in each of the reservoirs would form a specific reservoir sedimentation pattern that is supposed to be similar because the hydrology and physiography conditions of the reservoir's catchment area are similar. This study aims to determine the dynamics of sedimentation patterns that occur in the dead storage for reviewing the characteristics/sedimentation regime of the two reservoirs. The analysis was carried out by processing bathymetrical data which were processed into a digital terrain model (DTM) using ArcGIS. Furthermore, the storage volume, sedimentation volume, storage percentage, and specific reservoir sedimentation rate are calculated. The results showed that the two reservoirs showed an increase in sedimentation volume each year so that the reservoir characteristic curve shifted from the plan graph. The dead storage capacity of Kedungombo Reservoir is 100% in 1989 to 43% in 2016 and 100% of Sermo Reservoir in 1997 to 58% in 2011. The specific reservoir sedimentation rate, i.e. 0.0031 and 0.0042 million m3/year/km2 for the Kedungombo Reservoir (between 1989 and 2016) and the Sermo Reservoir (between 1997 and 2011) respectively, indicating that the two reservoirs are in the same regime

A gap in sedimentation in the Silurian section of the Subpolar Urals at the Ludlow-Pridoli boundary

Research subject. The article discusses the results of a new detailed study of a reference section of the Upper Silurian in the Subpolar Urals. This study was undertaken to clarify the existing contradictions concerning the age of the Ludlow-Pridoli boundary deposits and the definition of the Ludlow-Pridoli boundary, which is based on the study of different fauna groups.Materials and methods. The newly collected collections contained more than 100 samples of sedimentary rocks with fossil macro fauna, 22 tests on microfauna, 198 tests on chemical analysis for determining the content of Ba, Sr and δ13C and δ18O isotopes in carbonates. The results of experiments were confirmed by the authors’ bio-sedimentological, paleo-ecological and chemostratigraphic data.Results. The conducted research confirmed the existence of a gap in sedimentation at the end of Ludlow; clarified the thickness of the Sizim stage in the reference section; elucidated its sedimentological and chemostratigraphic characteristics; allowed changes in biodiversity due to a change in the sedimentation regime, paleoecological impact on biota in the late Ludlow and restoration of biota in the early Pridoli to be traced. The study also demonstrated that the time boundaries of the transgressive and regressive stages in the development of the Northern Ural sea basin and the event-stratigraphic boundary of the Ludlow-Pridoli were directly related to the main global events in the Late Silurian (Lau Event, Lower Pridolian Event), the traces of which are preserved in the studied section.Conclusions. The intensification of regressive tendencies across the largest part of the Northern Ural paleobasin in the Late Ludlow, widespread development of microbial biota, cessation of the Silurian reef formation, as well as the extinction of Pentamerida brachiopods – exclusively, indicate a significant ecosystematic restructuring in the late Ludlow. It can be assumed that the absence of a significant positive deviation of the δ13C global Lau Event in this section is associated with the identified gap, the amplitude of which correlates with the Ozarkodina snajdri and Ozarkodina crispa zones located above the Polygnathoides siluricus zone in the conodont sequence of the Upper Ludlow.

Composition of Sedimentary Organic Matter across the Laptev Sea Shelf: Evidences from Rock-Eval Parameters and Molecular Indicators

Global warming in high latitudes causes destabilization of vulnerable permafrost deposits followed by massive thaw-release of organic carbon. Permafrost-derived carbon may be buried in the nearshore sediments, transported towards the deeper basins or degraded into the greenhouse gases, potentially initiating a positive feedback to climate change. In the present study, we aim to identify the sources, distribution and degradation state of organic matter (OM) stored in the surface sediments of the Laptev Sea (LS), which receives a large input of terrestrial carbon from both Lena River discharge and intense coastal erosion. We applied a suite of geochemical indicators including the Rock Eval parameters, traditionally used for the matured OM characterization, and terrestrial lipid biomarkers. In addition, we analyzed a comprehensive grain size data in order to assess hydrodynamic sedimentation regime across the LS shelf. Rock-Eval (RE) data characterize LS sedimentary OM with generally low hydrogen index (100–200 mg HC/g TOC) and oxygen index (200 and 300 CO2/g TOC) both increasing off to the continental slope. According to Tpeak values, there is a clear regional distinction between two groups (369–401 °C for the inner and mid shelf; 451–464 °C for the outer shelf). We suggest that permafrost-derived OM is traced across the shallow and mid depths with high Tpeak and slightly elevated HI values if compared to other Arctic continental margins. Molecular-based degradation indicators show a trend to more degraded terrestrial OC with increasing distance from the coast corroborating with RE results. However, we observed much less variation of the degradation markers down to the deeper sampling horizons, which supports the notion that the most active OM degradation in LS land-shelf system takes part during the cross-shelf transport, not while getting buried deeper.

Chapter 5 The Eocene Subduction–Obduction Complex of New Caledonia

Convergence and subduction started in the Late Paleocene, to the east of New Caledonia in the South Loyalty Basin/Loyalty Basin, leading to the formation of the Subduction–Obduction Complex of Grande Terre. Convergence during the Eocene consumed the oceanic South Loyalty Basin and the northeasternmost margin of Zealandia (the Norfolk Ridge). The attempted subduction of the Norfolk Ridge eventually led to the end-Eocene obduction. Intra-oceanic subduction started in the South Loyalty Basin, as indicated by high-temperature amphibolite (56 Ma), boninite and adakite series dykes (55–50 Ma) and changes in the sedimentation regime (55 Ma). The South Loyalty Basin and its margin were dragged to a maximum depth of 70 km, forming the high-pressure–low-temperature Pouébo Terrane and the Diahot–Panié Metamorphic Complex, before being exhumed at 38–34 Ma. The obduction complex was formed by the stacking from NE to SW of several allochthonous units over autochthonous Zealandia, including the Montagnes Blanches Nappe (Norfolk Ridge crust), the Poya Terrane (the crust of the South Loyalty Basin) and the Peridotite Nappe (the mantle lithosphere of the Loyalty Basin). A model of continental subduction accepted by most researchers is proposed and discussed. Offshore continuations and comparable units in Papua New Guinea and New Zealand are presented.

Cropmarks in het Tiberdal: onderzoek naar gebruik en bewoning van de Tibervallei nabij Crustumerium in de Romeinse tijd

Cropmarks in the Tiber valley: research into the use and occupation of the Tiber valley near Crustumerium in Roman times. This paper reports on a short field campaign aimed at investigating an extensive crop-mark identified in aerial photography by the first author. The cropmark is situated in the Tiber floodplain near the ancient settlement of Crustumerium, north of the centre of Rome and close to old riverbanks of the river Tiber. Surface finds, coring and geophysical mapping suggest that the cropmark indicates the buried remains of a substantial building complex of probably Roman Imperial date. This is an important discovery, which contributes to our understanding of the palaeogeography, sedimentation regime and settlement history of the Tiber floodplain. In this paper we limit ourselves to an initial (and speculative) interpretation of the cropmark in terms of its extent and individual components. The fieldwork was carried out in the framework of the Crustumerium project of the Groningen Institute of Archaeology, in collaboration with the Archaeological Superintendency of Rome.

Study on Sediment Regime Changes in Downstream of the Ba River, Vietnam under the Impact of Reservoirs System

Reservoirs system in upstream of Ba River has been affecting to the hydrology and sediment regime at the downstream. Sediment imbalance causes consequences such as erosion at river bank, lack of sediment supply to downstream areas and deposition/erosion in estuaries. This study focused on a quantitative assessment of the impact of Ba Ha reservoir and Song Hinh reservoir on sediment regime at the Cung Son hydrological station (12 km downstream of Ba Ha reservoir and 45 km from the mouth of the Da Dien river). Research used analytical and statistical methods with flow and suspended sediment data measured at the Cung Son hydrological station from 1977 to 2016. The results show that the system of these two reservoirs has a huge impact to the sedimentation regime, especially after the operation of Ba Ha reservoir. The average amount of sediment in the period before and after 2008 significantly reduced from about 2.5 million to about 1 million tons per year.