ALBERT

Description / Table of Contents: The authors of this volume presented a short course on the rare earth elements to about 80 participants in San Francisco, California, December 1-3, 1989, just prior to the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union.

Description / Table of Contents: Contents: 1 Background Knowledge. -2 Types of Intermolecular Interactions: Qualitative Picture . -3 Calculation of Intermolecular Interactions. -4 Nonadditivity of Intermolecular Interactions . -5 Model Potentials . - Appendix 1: Fundamental Physical Constants and Conversion Table of Physical Units . - Appendix 2: Some Necessary Mathematical Apparatus. . - Appendix 3: Methods of Quantum-Mechanical Calculations of Many-Electron Systems.

Description / Table of Contents: Geological fluids are a central theme linking the petrography and chemistry of all rock types, deformation processes on the microscopic to the continental scale, and the concentration of economic resources. The fundamental importance of fluid migration and evolution to rock composition and structure is reflected in a growing interest in fluid processes, including a series of successful conferences on water-rock interaction. he papers in this volume are intended to give a review of the whole spectrum of current geofluids research. The papers include international case studies and are written by leading experts in the field. - First overview of fluids research - Examples of commercial applications of fluids research - Reviews research for the non-specialist - Up-to-date extensive bibliographies - Promotes methodological transfer between oil and minerals industries - Explains theory behind and consequences of fluid flow processes

Description / Table of Contents: This book presents a series of review articles on nine important ancient orogens on Earth. Comparison of these mountain belts provides a wealth of information for the debate on whether there has been a change in mountain-building processes through the history of the Earth. As a precursor to these papers, the rheology of the Earth’s lithosphere through time is reviewed. Theoretical analysis and insight into the behaviour of the lithosphere of other planets constrain mechanical considerations of the Earth’s lithosphere. It is clear from these overviews that geodynamic concepts and modelling, and new techniques such as deep seismic profiling and geochronology are having a profound impact on orogenic studies. It is also clear that orogenesis must not be equated with the Wilson cycle, culminating in continent-continent collision. Subduction-related orogens and intraplate orogens are also significant.

Description / Table of Contents: This volume represents a review of the key topics that are important to the continuing successful exploitation of gas from one of Europe's oldest hydrocarbon provinces. In a mature hydrocarbon province such as the southern North Sea, advanced techniques are needed for stratigraphic correlation and for improving the efficiency of production. Exploration in the SNS now aims for subtle traps and satellite structures. Explorers are re-evaluating the economic value of marginal and existing fields, and they are continually searching for, and applying, new techniques and technologies for enhanced productivity. Detailed techniques in diagenesis play an important role. Re-evaluation also includes examination of old plays, using detailed knowledge of the connectivity, spatial extent and correlation of known prospective strata to make reliable predictions.

Description / Table of Contents: Contents: 1. Isotopes and radioactivity; 2. The principles o radioactive dating; 3. Radiometric dating methods; 4. Dating by cosmogenic isotopes; 5. Uncertainties and results of radiometric dating; 6. Radiogenic isotope geochemistry; 7. Stable isotope geochemistry; 8. Isotope geology and dynamic reservoir analysis

Description / Table of Contents: The fifth edition of "Understanding Earth" continues the book's enduring goal, to help students understand what physical geology teaches us about the world and what it brings to our lives. Two new co-authors have introduced a wealth of recent data and applications to keep the science on the cutting edge. Students will enjoy coming to learn how we know what we know, and how that knowledge impacts our lives as citizens and consumers.

Description / Table of Contents: The Mediterranean Region represents a complex mosaic of continental, microcontinental and ophiolitic terranes, whose overall evolution has been controlled by relative movements between the African and Eurasian plates. Deciphering the sequence of tectonic events in this region can be likened to attempting to reconstruct all the pictures in a stack of jigsaw puzzles when 90% of the pieces are missing (and the remaining 10% are no longer in their original shape!). Palaeomagnetic studies have played an important part in unravelling this 3D puzzle. The palaeomagnetic technique provides quantitative constraints on our reconstruction, since it can tell us which way each of the remaining pieces should be oriented (using magnetic declinations), their relative position with respect to the top of each picture (using magnetic inclinations), and in some cases which piece belongs to which picture (using magnetic dating). Perhaps more importantly, palaeomagnetism can also tell us something about the processes that led to the present confusion in our puzzle box. The 33 papers in this volume span the full width of the Mediterranean basin and present results from Permian to Quaternary rocks. Together they provide a snap-shot of the current state of palaeomagnetic research in the Mediterranean region. In addition to tectonic and magnetostratigraphic applications of palaeomagnetism, several contributions describe archaeomagnetic studies in the Mediterranean realm.

Description / Table of Contents: Microorganisms cause mineral precipitation and dissolution and control the distribution of elements in diverse environments at and below the surface of the Earth. Conversely, mineralogical and geochemical factors exert important controls on microbial evolution and the structure of microbial communities. This was the rationale for the Short Course on Geomicrobiology presented by the Mineralogical Society of America on October 18 and 19, 1997, at the Alta Peruvian Lodge in Alta, Utah. Minerals have been known and honored since humans realized their essential contributions to the "terra firma" and stone tools thrust our species on the path of cultural evolution. Microbes are the oldest living creatures, probably inhabiting at least a few salubrious environments on the earth as early as 3.8 billion years ago. At this moment in history we are only beginning to appreciate the intimate juxtaposition and interdependence of minerals and microbes. We have been nudged into this position by the realization that our earth is finite, and the recognition of many global environmental problems that minerals and microbes contribute to, both positively and negatively. In addition, our globe may not be the only site in the solar system where 'life' arose, or may persist. What all of these concerns enunciate is that we as scientists only dimly comprehend our own dynamic "terrestrial halls." This short course and volume have been generated with great enthusiasm for grasping as much as possible of the whole panorama of possibilities that involve both the inorganic and biologic realms . Over 3600 mineral species have been defined and their relationships to each other and the environments in which they form have been documented. This vast data base, collected over the past several hundred years and constantly added to and upgraded, is a monument to the research efforts of many geoscientists focused on the inorganic realm. Much of this data has come from investigators intrigued by the novelty, beauty, and versatility of minerals, direct expressions of the chemistry and physics of geologic processes. We are now adding a new dimension to questions of mineral formation, dissolution, and distribution: what were, are, and will be the contributions of microbes to these basic components of the environment. Microbes have also been known for hundreds of years. However, their small size (0.5 to 5 µm in diameter) and the difficulties associated with identifying a species unless it was grown in the laboratory (cultured), precluded thorough analysis. The advent of molecular biology has only recently made it possible to evaluate microbial evolutionary relatedness (phylogeny) and physiological diversity. These techniques are now being applied to study of microbial populations in natural environments. It is becoming very clear that the surface of Earth is populated by far more species of microbes than there are types of minerals. We are now exploring every portion of the globe and finding the relationships under the rubric "geomicrobiology." The ocean deeps are characterized by a diversity of microorganisms, including those associated with manganese nodules. The profusion and concentration of minerals created at ocean ridges and vents matches the variety of microorganisms, large animals, and plants there. The snowy tops of mountain ranges and glaciers of Antarctica harbor not just ice but whole bacterial communities whose cellular types and activities need elucidation. The equatorial jungles and the deserts, with their enormous diversity of ecological niches, further challenge us. The diversity of geographic, geologic, and biologic environments, including some contributed by humans (e.g. mines, air-conditioning equipment), can now also be explored in detail. Modern studies use protocols developed to preserve or measure in situ chemical and physical characteristics. Electron microscopes allow direct characterization of mineral and biological morphology and internal structures. Spectroscopic techniques permit complimentary chemical analysis, including determination of oxidation states, with very high spatial resolution. Other studies quantitatively measure isotopic abudances. These data serve to distinguish biologically mediated, or biologically controlled formation of the mineral from an abiotic process and mechanism. Each ecological niche requires accurate characterization of the mineralogic and biologic entities in order for us to begin to understand the range of dynamic relationships. We can pose many questions. Is the mineral only a substrate, or is its occurrence and stability impacted by microbiologic activity and metabolic requirements? Which minerals are of microbiological rather than inorganic origin and what are the mechanisms by which organisms dictate the morphology and structure of the solid phase formed? How do organic metabolic products bind metals and change their form and distribution, with implications for metal toxicity and geochemical cycles? How do inorganic reactions such as mineral dissolution and precipitation impact microbial populations through control of their physical and chemical environments? Clearly, new and excitingly research areas exist for all varieties of scientists. Although published by the Mineralogical Society of America, the authors of this volume include microbiologists, molecular biologists, biochemists, biophysicists, bioengineers as well as biomineralogists. Here, they bring together their respective expertise and perspectives to provide disciplinary and interdisciplinary background needed to define and further explore the topic of geomicrobiology. The volume is organized so as to first introduce the nature, diversity, and metabolic impact of microorganisms and the types of solid phases they interact with. This is followed by a discussion of processes that occur at cell surfaces, interfaces between microbes and minerals, and within cells, and the resulting mineral precipitation, dissolution, and changes in aqueous geochemistry. The volume concludes with a discussion of the carbon cycle over geologic time. In detail: Nealson and Stahl acquaint us with the basic properties of prokaryotes, including their size and structure. They define the types and ranges of microorganisms and their metabolisms and describe their impacts on some important biogeochemical cycles. Barns and Nierzwicki-Bauer document the phylogenetic relationships and evolution of microorganisms, begging some fundamental questions that might be now just beyond our grasp: What was the 'last common ancestor'? The physiology, biochemistry and ecology of hyperthermophilic, and the many diverse geologically important microbial species from the lithosphere and hydrosphere, as well as some of the techniques employed, are presented. Banfield and Hamers describe and integrate the processes acting on minerals and at surfaces relevant to microorganisms, examining the factors that control mineralogy, mineral forms, and the stability of phases. Surface properties and reaction rates for dissolution, precipitation, and growth of important classes of minerals are discussed. The possible role of mineral surfaces in formation of prebiotic molecules needed to explain the origin of life is examined. Little, Wagner and Lewandowski describe biofilms, an essential interface between microbes and minerals. They demonstrate that these membranes, with their unique morphological and structural attributes, are sites where much activity related to dissolution and/or formation of minerals takes place. Biology makes it possible to move molecules and elements against a gradient. Many questions regarding the transfer of elements from minerals to microbes at this important heterogeneous interface remain. Fortin, Ferris and Beveridge review surface-mediated mineral development by bacteria. Fresh or oceanic waters, anaerobic or aerobic environments provide discretely different ecologies, bacterial entities, and resulting mineralogies. It is obvious from this presentation that investigators have just scratched the surface of microbial mineralization processes. Bazlinski and Moskowitz review the magnetic biominerals and provide insights into the environmental and biological significance of these few tens of nanometer-sized mineral products. The magnetosome chemistry and biochemistry is probably the best understood of any biologically precipitated mineral. Their formation and unique properties underscore the roles these biomaterials play in the rock magnetic record and in geochemical cycles. Tebo, Ghiorse, van Waasbergen, Siering and Caspi contribute data on the roles of Mnminerals and Mn(II) oxidation in geologic environments. Their chapter encompasses molecular genetic and biochemical investigations. Manganese oxides and oxyhydroxides are notoriously difficult to identify and the crystal chemistry of these phases is a research effort on its own. The prospect of learning how microbes utilize the multiple oxidation states of Mn (2+, 3+ and 4+) as a source of energy sharpens the motivation for interdisciplinary study. Manganese is also known as a cofactor in the production and activation of the enzymes that digest large biomolecules that must be the source of the smaller molecular species and ultimately the building blocks of C, N, 0, H required by all species. How have the mechanisms identified in the bacterial systems been transferred up the phylogenetic tree to plants and humans? This is an expanding and intriguing area for further investigation. DeVrind-de Jong and de Vrind address silicate and carbonate deposition by algae (eukaryotic photosynthetic microorganisms). This chapter documents the mechanisms of biomineralization of diatoms and coccoliths. These abundant aquatic organisms are responsible for huge volumes of siliceous sediments and calcium carbonate deposits world wide. The implications of algal biomineralization for climatic variation throughout much of the Earth's history may be quite significant. Stone leads us though a quantitative approach to evaluating reactions between organic molecules and cations. He considers available extracellular organic ligands and the roles these play in uptake of metals. He documents the basic chemical speciation and complexation for several elements, making metal to metal comparisons. Remaining challenges involve coordinating the organic and inorganic results of biologic activity. Following the discussion of biomineralization and interactions between organic compounds and cations, Silver discusses the strategies microorganisms have evolved to deal with toxic metal concentrations in solution. Beyond the fundamental biological significance, this has important implications for understanding microbial populations in contaminated environments. The impact on the geochemical form (speciation) and distribution of elements is also discussed. Nordstrom and Southam summarize sulfide mineral oxidation and dissolution kinetics and devote considerable effort to describing the specific contributions of microorganisms, mostly bacteria. Despite the vast amount of accumulated information, many unanswered questions remain. Barker, Welch and Banfield address weathering of silicate minerals. This topic encompasses not only mineralogy but geomorphology, microbiology, and geochemistry. The necessary interdisciplinary mode of these investigations is highlighted by discussion of the role(s) of bacterial nutrition, groundwater chemistry, and biochemistry. There are obvious implications for hazardous waste storage, a currently daunting and politicized topic that requires predictions over thousands to millions of years. Finally, Des Marais treats the long term evolution of the carbon cycle, adopting a biogeochemical view. He discusses the sources, sinks and the transfer of the element over geologic time. Consideration of such a basic series of questions relating to the partitioning of carbon necessitate interdisciplinary crossovers. It is a fitting conclusion to a dialogue in progress.

Description / Table of Contents: Introduction -- Writing code for Scientific Software -- Using a code toolbox -- Controlling a Laser Ranging System -- Controlling a VLBI system from remote -- Coordination, communication and automation for the GGOS -- A Style Guide for Geodetic Software in C and C++ -- Precise telescope mount model parameters based on the least squares method

Description / Table of Contents: This book combines elementary theory from computer science with real-world challenges in global geodetic observation, based on examples from the Geodetic Observatory Wettzell, Germany. It starts with a step-by-step introduction to developing stable and safe scientific software to run successful software projects. The use of software toolboxes is another essential aspect that leads to the application of generative programming. An example is a generative network middleware that simplifies communication. One of the book’s main focuses is on explaining a potential strategy involving autonomous production cells for space geodetic techniques. The complete software design of a satellite laser ranging system is taken as an example. Such automated systems are then combined for global interaction using secure communication tunnels for remote access. The network of radio telescopes is used as a reference. Combined observatories form coordinated multi-agent systems and offer solutions for operational aspects of the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) with regard to “Industry 4.0”

Description / Table of Contents: 1. Introduction -- 2. General physical and chemical models of the Earth's lower mantle -- 3. Lower-mantle mineral associations -- 4. Ultramafic lower-mantle mineral associations -- 5. Mafic lower-mantle mineral associations -- 6. Carbonatitic lower-mantle mineral associations -- 7. Diamond in the lower mantle -- 8. Role of spin crossover and other physiochemical transformations in the lower mantle -- 9. Dʺ layer : transition from the lower mantle to the Earth's core -- 10. Seismic heterogeneities and their nature in the lower mantle -- Conclusions

Description / Table of Contents: The book summarizes the knowledge and experiences concerning the role of halogens during various geochemical processes, such as diagenesis, ore-formation, magma evolution, metasomatism, mineralization, and metamorphism in the crust and mantle of the Earth. It comprises the role of halogens in other terrestrial worlds like volatile-rich asteroids, Mars, and the ice moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Review chapters outline and expand upon the basis of our current understanding regarding how halogens contribute to the geochemical/geophysical evolution and stability of terrestrial worlds overall.

Description / Table of Contents: With the ever increasing spatial resolution in the characterization of microstructures, textures and chemical as well as isotopic patterns and the continuously improving sensitivity and precision in mineral chemical and isotopic analysis, increasing evidence has emerged indicating that phase relations in rocks from high-temperature environments may be modified during exhumation and cooling and that the original equilibrium phase relations may not have been preserved or that equilibrium may never have been attained fully even at high temperatures. This volume accompanies an EMU School intended bring contemporary research on mineral reaction kinetics to the attention of young researchers and to put it into the context of recent developments in related disciplines. The school and the accompanying volume cannot give a comprehensive review of the current state of geomaterials research. Rather a selection of topics, methods and concepts, which the contributors deem currently most relevant and instructive, is presented. The aim is to provide a methodologically sound insight into the theoretical foundations of mineral reaction kinetics, to help students to become acquainted with contemporary methods in experimentation and analytical techniques, and to give worked examples that illustrate recent advances in geoscience based on an improved characterization and understanding of mineral and rock systems.

Description / Table of Contents: combines the latest in weather, climate and earth science to introduce students to the concepts and current issues of meteorology. Grounded in the scientific method, the new edition of this highly visual text shows students how to observe, calculate and synthesize information as budding scientists. Specific discussions center on severe weather systems like tornadoes and hurricanes, as well as everyday elements like wind, precipitation and the seasons. The MindTap course provides students with engaging features such as Concept Animations, a digital Study Guide, and summative EOC assessment. New assignable Case Study activities in each chapter allow students to apply their knowledge to real life studies and meteorological events.

Description / Table of Contents: Abstract Economically viable concentrations of mineral resources are uncommon in Earth's crust. Most ore deposits that were mined in the past or are currently being extracted were found at or near Earth's surface, often serendipitously. To meet the future demand for mineral resources, exploration success hinges on identifying targets at depth. Achieving this requires accurate and informed models of the Earth's crust that are consistent with all available geological, geochemical and geophysical information, paired with an understanding of how ore-forming systems relate to Earth's evolving structure. Contributions to this volume address the future resources challenge by (i) applying advanced microscale geochemical detection and characterization methods, (ii) introducing more rigorous 3D Earth models, (iii) exploring critical behaviour and coupled processes, (iv) evaluating the role of geodynamic and tectonic setting and (v) applying 3D structural models to characterize specific ore-forming systems.

Description / Table of Contents: Abstract Karst landscapes and karst aquifers are composed of a variety of soluble rocks, such as salt, gypsum, anhydrite, limestone, dolomite and quartzite. They are fascinating areas of exploration, study and research. As karst rocks are abundant on the Earth's surface, the fast evolution of karst landscapes and the rapid flow of water through karst aquifers present many challenges from a number of different perspectives. This collection of 25 papers deals with different aspects of these challenges, including karst geology, geomorphology and speleogenesis, karst hydrogeology, karst modelling, and karst hazards and management. Together these papers provide a state-of-the-art review of the current challenges and solutions we face in describing karst from a scientific perspective, while at the same time providing useful data and information for managing karst territories to land planners, developers, and managers of show caves, natural parks and reserves in karst terrains.

Description / Table of Contents: Abstract Reservoir quality is studied using a wide range of similar techniques in both sandstones and carbonates. Sandstone and carbonate reservoir quality both benefit from the study of modern analogues and experiments, but modelling approaches are currently quite different for these two types of reservoirs. There are many common controls on sandstone and carbonate reservoir quality, but also distinct differences due primarily to mineralogy. Numerous controversies remain including the question of oil inhibition, the key control on pressure solution and geochemical flux of material to or from reservoirs. This collection of papers contains case-study-based examples of sandstone and carbonate reservoir quality prediction as well as modern analogue, outcrop analogue, modelling and advanced analytical approaches.