Can 234U–230Th dating be used to date large semi‐arid tufas? Challenges from a study in the Naukluft Mountains,Namibia     

Abigail E.C. Stone  Heather A. Viles  Louise Thomas  Peter Van Calsteren 《第四纪科学杂志》2010,25(8):1360-1372

The large, extensive tufa deposits of the semi‐arid Naukluft Mountains, Namibia are potentially important palaeoenvironmental indicators in an area with few proxy records. Tufas are reliable indicators of increased moisture availability, and have been shown to be amenable to ²³⁴U–²³⁰Th dating, although two challenges are detrital contamination and open‐system behaviour. Densely cemented tufa facies are good candidates for dating, minimising these problems. We report attempts to date five densely‐cemented units, which are only found rarely within the Naukluft deposits. We applied a detailed methodology using multiple subsample analysis, measurement of insoluble residues, application of ‘isochron’ mixing lines, and attempted open‐systems modelling, alongside observations of micromorphology and cathodoluminescence in order to assess the validity of any obtained dates. Surprisingly, densely cemented tufas were found not always to be suitable for dating. Two units contained detrital contamination, which could not be corrected for using a single leachate correction or ‘isochron’ methods. Two units contained ‘excess ²³⁰Th’. This could result under a closed‐system if initial (²³⁴U/²³⁸U) was sufficiently high. Alternatively this may be the result of open‐system behaviour, and loss of uranium, or incorporation of initial unsupported ²³⁰Th, which render samples unsuitable for ²³⁴U–²³⁰Th dating. Micromorphological appearance and cathodoluminescence behaviour are used to explore these possibilities. This study exemplifies the need for careful sample selection, and highlights the importance of analysing multiple subsamples from any tufa sample. The detailed methodology applied proves to be a powerful tool for identifying the range of problems that can be encountered when selecting suitable candidate samples for successful dating. It also shows that semi‐arid tufa sequences may contain very little material suitable for dating. A reliable age of c 80 ka was obtained for a banded unit within a large fluvial barrage, with less reliable dates suggesting tufa deposition during times since >350 ka through to the late Holocene. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.  相似文献   

On the concept of delivery of sediment and nutrients to stream channels     

Keith Beven  Louise Heathwaite  Phil Haygarth  Des Walling  Rich Brazier  Paul Withers 《水文研究》2005,19(2):551-556

  相似文献   

The Effects of Ground Water Sampling Devices on Water Quality: A Literature Review     

Louise V. Parker 《Ground Water Monitoring & Remediation》1994,14(2):130-141

This paper reviews both field and laboratory studies that tested or compared the ability of various types of sampling devices to deliver representative ground water samples. Several types of grab samplers, positive displacement devices, and suction-lift devices were evaluated, Gas-lift and inertial-lift pumps were also evaluated. This study found that most of these devices can. under certain circumstances, alter the chemistry of ground water samples, das-lift pumps, older types of submersible centrifugal pumps, and suction-lift devices are not recommended when sampling for sensitive constituents such as volatile organics and inorganics, or inorganics that are subject to oxidation/precipitation reactions. In general, of the devices reviewed in this paper, bladder pumps gave the best recovery of sensitive constituents. However, better performance could be achieved for several devices if improved operational guidelines were developed by additional testing, especially at lower flow rates. Clearly, further research is warranted. Future studies should focus on pumping rate, flow control mechanisms, and dedication or decontamination of sampling devices.  相似文献   

Effect of Concentration on Sorption of Dissolved Organics by PVC, PTFE, and Stainless Steel Well Casings     

Louise V. Parker  Thomas A. Ranney 《Ground Water Monitoring & Remediation》1994,14(3):139-149

This report examines sorption of low ppb levels of organic solutions by polytetra- fluoroethylene (PTFE), rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and stainless steel 304 and 316 well casings. Nineteen organics were selected, including several munitions and chlorinated solvents. Compounds were selected to offer a range of physical properties, such as solubility in water, octanol/water partition coefficient, and molecular structure. When these results were compared with the results from a similar study conducted at ppm levels, the rate and extent of sorption by PTFE and PVC were the same as seen previously for almost all analytes. There were no losses of any compounds associated with stainless steel. At these low levels (ppm and ppb), the rate of diffusion within the polymer (PVC and PTFE) is independent of concentration. Only with PTFE are the rates rapid enough to be of concern when monitoring for some contaminants in ground water. Tetrachloroethylene was the compound PTFE sorbed the most rapidly. The study showed that PVC well casings are suitable for monitoring low levels (ppm and ppb) of organics.  相似文献   

Book reviews     

Kacper R. Rybicki  Brian J. Mitchell  Louise H. Kellogg  Andrea Borgia  Allan M. Rubin  Douglas R. Schmitt  Douglas R. Schmitt  Edo Nyland  Zbigniew Fajklewicz  David Stevenson  Janusz L. Borkowski 《Pure and Applied Geophysics》1990,133(1):179-180

  相似文献   

(White) papering over the regional problem: unemployment in Geelong and the federal government response     

Louise Johnson  Steve Wright 《The Australian geographer》1994,25(2):121-125

  相似文献   

Eutrophication—The future marine coastal nuisance?     

Rutger Rosenberg 《Marine pollution bulletin》1985,16(6):227-231

Increased inputs of nutrients to marine coastal areas over the last decades have created a basis for eutrophication of the waters surrounding Sweden. In combination with relatively low water exchange in these vertically stratified and almost non-tidal waters, local and regional effects of increased macro-algal biomass, and decreased oxygen concentrations in bottom water leading to mortalities of benthic animals and decreased fish catches have at times been observed. The effects were first noted in the Baltic, but are now obvious also in Swedish and Danish coastal areas in the Kattegat and the Belt Sea. Similar symptoms have recently also been recorded off the Danish North Sea coast. Other shallow coastal and shelf areas, where stratification occurs, can be regarded as potentially eutrophic risk areas.  相似文献   

Book reviews     

Boulding  Kenneth E.  Rosenberg  Norman J.  Harvey  L. D. Danny 《Climatic change》1985,7(4):461-466

  相似文献   

Fossil mammoths from Santa Cruz Island, California     

John Cushing  Marla Daily  Elmer Noble  V. Louise Roth  Adrian Wenner   《Quaternary Research》1984,21(3):376-384

Mammoth remains on Santa Cruz Island, one of the four Northern Channel Islands of California, are very sparse, in marked contrast to those reported from Santa Rosa and San Miguel Islands of the same island group. A probable major reason for this scarcity is that Quaternary deposits are greatly restricted on Santa Cruz Island. It is proposed, contrary to popular opinion, that fossils found on Santa Cruz Island were derived from animals which died on the island, and were not transported there by humans. Reasons for this conclusion are that the size and geological context of the fossils are similar to those of the largest mammoth fossils of Santa Rosa Island, and that, in spite of extensive investigations by many persons, mammoth remains have not been found in middens, either on the islands or on the adjacent mainland.  相似文献   

The fate of Chernobyl radiocesium in the River Öre catchment,northern Sweden     

Louise Malmgren  Mats Jansson 《Aquatic Sciences - Research Across Boundaries》1995,57(2):144-160

A¹³⁷Cs-balance for the catchment of the River Öre in central northern Sweden which received about 30 kBq m^–2 of radiocesium from the Chernobyl accident was calculated for the period 1986–1991. Altogether, slightly less than 10% of the total deposition in the catchment was estimated to be exported from the terrestrial parts during this period of time. More than 90% of this loss is transported with the River Öre to the outer sea of the Gulf of Bothnia. The retention in Lake Örträsket which is the only lake along the river course and the Öre Estuary outside the river mouth was thus slightly less than 10%. Nearly all of the radiocesium deposited in the lake is permanently retained in the sediments and successively covered with less radioactive sediment. A considerable export of radiocesium from the estuary to the outer sea takes place due to resuspension and subsequent transport by wind and wave generated currents.  相似文献