An exceptional surface occurrence: the middle to upper Miocene succession of Pécs-Danitzpuszta (SW Hungary)

The Pécs-Danitzpuszta sand pit is the most important outcrop of the oldest Pannonian (upper Miocene, Tortonian) deposits in southern Hungary. A trench excavated in 2018 exposed Lake Pannon deposits and underlying Paratethys strata down to the upper Badenian (Serravallian), and together with the sand pit they make up a continuous sedimentary succession with a true thickness of ~220 metres. Due to tectonic deformation, middle Miocene deposits and carbonates in the lowermost Pannonian are overturned. Layers become vertical close to the marl-sand boundary, then the dip changes to normal, with continuously decreasing dip angles. The exposed succession starts with 5 m of upper Badenian (13.8-12.6 Ma old) calcareous marls and sandy limestones with sublittoral, then littoral molluscs, which were deposited in the normal salinity seawaters of the Central Paratethys. The overlying 8 m of sand, silt, sandy breccia and conglomerate are fossil-free,; only the lowermost silt layer contains reworked Badenian microfauna. This unit probably accumulated from gravity-driven flows in a fan-like, probably terrestrial depositional setting. The next 7.5 m of frequently alternating thin-bedded limestones, marls and clays with sublittoral biota represent rapid transgression. Foraminifers, ostracods, molluscs and calcareous nannoplankton indicate late Sarmatian, then Pannonian age for this interval. However, the locations of the boundaries indicated by the various groups are not are not consistent, making the position of the Sarmatian/Pannonian boundary uncertain. The Sarmatian beds with marine fossils still accumulated in the Paratethys, between ~12.1–11.6 Ma, under varying salinities due among others to temporary freshwater input. The Pannonian strata already represent sediments of the brackish Lake Pannon. Above these beds, uniform calcareous marl becomes dominant with some clay layers and graded or structureless conglomerate to sandstone interbeds. The deposition of the overall 64- m- thick Pannonian calcareous marl section took place in the open, probably few -hundred -metres -deep water of the lake between ~11.62 and 10.5–10.2 Ma. It may represent a rare, well-exposed surface occurrence of the Endrőd Formation which is known from thousands of wells in the Pannonian Basin. Above this section, a 6-7 -m- thick transitional interval of silty marls and sands is followed by ~140 m of limonitic, pebbly sands. They have poor to moderate sorting and rounding, metre -thick beds with transitional boundaries and abundant fossils and clasts reworked from older Miocene units. Their accumulation took place between 10.2-10.5 and 9.6 Ma by gravity flows connected to deep-water portions of fan deltas.

Environmental assessment of Petasites spurius (Retz.) Reichb. in various habitats of the southern taiga subzone in Kirov oblast

The paper presents the results of an ecological assessment of Petasites spurius habitats in the southern taigasubzone of Kirov oblast. Indicators of potential ecological valence indicate a low degree of lability of species individuals,which is manifested in the predominance of stenovalent and hemistenovalent fractions. Their distribution is limited by verydry and damp, poor and saline soils, low illumination. The studied P. spurius cenopopulations differ in the level of soilmoisture and salt regime, which is associated with the degree of their distance from the water line. In general, individuals of P.spurius quite fully realize their ecological potential, however, in cenopopulation 1 they are realized the least. This is due to itslocation, high level of moistening, surface occurrence of water table and constant leaching of mineral salts from the substrate.

The flooding of Lviv territory: reasons, patterns of development, ecological consequences

Flooding territories of Lviv occupy area more than 50 km2 . The largest area of technogenic flooding belongs to Lviv plateau. Highly dissected parts of Roztochchya belong to nonflooding. Main nature reasons of flooding development are near to surface occurrence waterproof deposits and leveled relief. Technogenic flooding are outflows of water from engineer networks and infraction of surface water. Key words: flooding, technogenic aquifer, soil waters, waterproof deposits, cultural layer, seismicity.

Bilateral Six Cusped and Three Rooted Mandibular First Molars

ABSTRACT Teeth are vertebrate organs that arise from complex and progressive interactions between an ectoderm, the oral epithelium and an underlying mesenchyme. A significant amount of research has focused on determining the processes that initiate tooth development. It is widely accepted that there is a factor (multiple signaling molecules, including BMPs, FGFs, Shh and Wnt proteins) within the tissues of the first branchial arch that is necessary for the development of teeth. A 9-year-old reported to our department with the chief complaint of pain in the lower right back teeth region. On clinical examination, mandibular molars revealed the presence of an extra cusp on the lingual surface. Occurrence of six cusps in permanent mandibular molar is a rare phenomenon, and number of cases reported is very few.

Occurrence of ocean sunfish, Mola mola near fronts in the western English Channel

Surface occurrence of ocean sunfish (Mola mola) was recorded during summer (May–September) in the western English Channel off Plymouth over a six-year period between 1995 and 2001. Fifteen individuals of between 0.5–0.7 m estimated total length were sighted during 1651 hours of observation. Nearly all sightings (93%) occurred in June and July in water between 13 and 17°C. Sunfish were mostly associated with frontal and stratified water masses (86%) rather than in cooler, mixed water.

Asymptotic measurements of free surface instabilities in laser-induced shock waves

An experimental technique based on optical scattering to detect melting in release of strongly shocked materials is presented. This method is used to study the asymptotic behavior of the free surface of shock-loaded materials. After reflection of a shock wave from a metallic sample free surface, occurrence of a solid to liquid transition will induce a dynamic behavior such as mass ejection and development of instabilities. A study of the mass ejection due to laser-induced shock waves in aluminium, copper, and tin targets is presented. Shock waves of order of hundreds of kilobars to more than one megabar are produced by a Nd:YAG laser system with a wavelength of 1.06 μm, pulse width of 7 ns FWHM focused to spot of 200 μm. The velocities, size, and topological structure of the ejected particles are measured. The radii of the ejecta are in the range 0.5–7 μm.

Geophysical surveys of the East Kirkton Limestone, Viséan, West Lothian, Scotland

ABSTRACTMagnetic and resistivity geophysical surveys conducted across the only known exposure of the East Kirkton Limestone have produced new information upon its extent. This is important to determine because of its unique faunal assemblage and possible hot spring deposition, suggesting a potential for precious metal mineralisation. Magnetic anomalies are attributed to basalts within the Bathgate Hills Volcanic Formation. Modelling of the magnetic data demonstrates a general dip to the west of about 25°, and the presence of significant local faulting. Modelling of vertical electrical sounding data shows the East Kirkton sequence (the limestone and associated beds) to be a low resistivity layer within the more highly resistive volcanic sequence. The East Kirkton sequence is seen to deepen to the west, and also to the north probably by faulting. Therefore the present exposure is the only near surface occurrence of the East Kirkton Limestone locally, but within the area of the survey no lateral limits to the formation are observed.