ALBERT

Beschreibung: Based on cosmogenic 10Be and 26Al analyses in 15 individual detrital quartz pebbles (16e21 mm) and cosmogenic 10Be in amalgamated medium sand (0.25e0.50 mm), all collected from the outlet of the upper Gaub River catchment in Namibia, quartz pebbles yield a substantially lower average denudation rate than those yielded by the amalgamated sand sample. 10Be and 26Al concentrations in the 15 indi- Accepted 9 April 2012 Available online xxx vidual pebbles span nearly two orders of magnitude (0.22 ± 0.01 to 20.74 ± 0.52 x 10 6 10 Be atoms g-1 and 1.35 ± 0.09 to 72.76 ± 2.04 x 106 26Al atoms g-1, respectively) and yield average denudation rates of w0.7 m Myr-1 (10Be) and w0.9 m Myr-1 (26Al). In contrast, the amalgamated sand yields an average Keywords: Beryllium-10 10Be concentration of 0.77 ± 0.03 x 106 atoms g-1, and an associated mean denudation rate of Aluminium-26 Neon-21 Cosmogenic nuclide Grain size bias Namibia 9.6 ± 1.1 m Myr-1, an order of magnitude greater than the rates obtained for the amalgamated pebbles. The inconsistency between the 10Be and 26Al in the pebbles and the 10Be in the amalgamated sand is likely due to the combined effect of differential sediment sourcing and longer sediment transport times for the pebbles compared to the sand-sized grains. The amalgamated sands leaving the catchment are an aggregate of grains originating from all quartz-bearing rocks in all parts of the catchment. Thus, the cosmogenic nuclide inventories of these sands record the overall average lowering rate of the landscape. The pebbles originate from quartz vein outcrops throughout the catchment, and the episodic erosion of the latter means that the pebbles will have higher nuclide inventories than the surrounding bedrock and soil, and therefore also higher than the amalgamated sand grains. The order-of-magnitude grain size bias observed in the Gaub has important implications for using cosmogenic nuclide abundances in deposi- tional surfaces because in arid environments, akin to our study catchment, pebble-sized clasts yield substantially underestimated palaeo-denudation rates. Our results highlight the importance of carefully considering geomorphology and grain size when interpreting cosmogenic nuclide data in depositional surfaces.

Beschreibung: With the study and technical development introduced here, we combine analogue sandbox simulation techniques with seismic physical modelling of sandbox models. For that purpose, we designed and developed a new mini-seismic facility for laboratory use, comprising a seismic tank, a PC-driven control unit, a positioning system, and piezo-electric transducers used here the first time in an array mode. To assess the possibilities and limits of seismic imaging of small-scale structures in sandbox models, different geometry setups were tested in the first experiments that also tested the proper functioning of the device and studied the seismo-elastic properties of the granular media used. Simple two-layer models of different materials and layer thicknesses as well as a more complex model comprising channels and shear zones were tested using different acquisition geometries and signal properties. We suggest using well sorted and well rounded grains with little surface roughness (glass beads). Source receiver-offsets less than 14 cm for imaging structures as small as 2.0–1.5 mm size have proven feasible. This is the best compromise between wide beam and high energy output, and being applicable with a consistent waveform. Resolution of the interfaces of layers of granular materials depends on the interface preparation rather than on the material itself. Flat grading of interfaces and powder coverage yields the clearest interface reflections. Finally, sandbox seismic sections provide images of very good quality showing constant thickness layers as well as predefined channel structures and fault traces from shear zones. Since these can be regarded in sandbox models as zones of decompaction, they behave as reflectors and can be imaged. The multiple-offset surveying introduced here improves the quality with respect to S/N-ratio and source signature even more; the maximum depth penetration in glass bead layers thereby amounts to 5 cm. Thus, the presented mini-seismic device is already able to resolve structures within simple models of saturated porous media, so that multiple-offset seismic imaging of shallow sandbox models, that are structurally evolving, is generally feasible.

Beschreibung: We present a new interface between the geochemical simulator PHREEQC and the open source language R. It represents a tool to flexibly and efficiently program and automate every aspect of geochemical modelling. The interface helps particularly to setup and run large numbers of simulations and visualise the results. Also profiting of numberless high-quality R extension packages, performing sensitivity analysis or Monte Carlo simulations becomes straightforward. Further, an algorithm to speedup reactive transport simulations starting from homogeneous or zone- homogeneous state is programmed and successfully evaluated through the interface. It proved effective and could therefore be included in any reactive transport simulator.

Beschreibung: We studied 40 artesian wells (AWs) in the Amu Darya Delta. These wells include high-salinity (∼ 52 g/l) and saline (5 – 24 g/l) waters but are mostly low-salinity waters (1.3 – 2.9 g/l). The low-salinity AWs cluster into three types, reflecting the variable mixing of different end-member solutes: (residual) brines and solutes deriving from silicate alteration, dissolution of limestone and dissolution of gypsum. The solutes are all undersaturated in calcite and gypsum, contain a substantial cation excess against dissolved inorganic carbon and are characterised by low Ca/SO4 ratios. On the basis of the hydrochemical mass budgets of model cases, we demonstrate that Na-rich Cl-brines (45-48%) and a Na2SO4-brine (30-47%) are the dominant solute components. The solutes derived from aluminium silicate alteration are minor components (7.3 – 19.4%). Even less important are solutes from limestone or gypsum dissolution (0.05 – 3.7%). These waters are unlikely to have originated from sediments hosting gypsum. The low-salinity AWs must have acquired their dominant hydrochemical signatures under non-equilibrium conditions between their remote (unknown) seepage areas and their discharge locations. This acquisition may have begun during the early hydrochemical groundwater evolution when meteoric or surface water passed the critical zone under an arid climate regime. Warmer saline AWs (∼40°C) hosted in deeper Cretaceous formations contain a high portion of NaCl-rich brine (85%) and some are saturated in gypsum. These waters were derived from fluids rising along faults from pre-Cretaceous strata. The high-salinity and relatively cold AWs discharge close to the retreating Aral Sea south of its western basin. These AWs are suboxic, and Si concentrations are very low. The AW hydrochemical signatures reflect the dissolution of halite and gypsum. We observed positive correlations between temperature, Br, B and Si. The temperature correlation with bromide likely documents the transformation of organically bound Br. The silica concentrations in low-salinity AWs southeast of the Aral Sea (eastern basin) are close to quartz saturation and define a chemical Si-geothermometer.