ALBERT

Description: DNA-based divergence time estimates suggested major changes in the composition of epiphyte lineages of liverworts during the Cretaceous; however, evidence from the fossil record is scarce. We present the first Cretaceous fossil of the predominantly epiphytic leafy liverwort genus Radula in ca. 100 Myr old Burmese amber. The fossil's exquisite preservation allows first insights into the morphology of early crown group representatives of Radula occurring in gymnosperm-dominated forests. Ancestral character state reconstruction aligns the fossil with the crown group of Radula subg. Odontoradula; however, corresponding divergence time estimates using the software BEAST lead to unrealistically old age estimates. Alternatively, assignment of the fossil to the stem of subg. Odontoradula results in a stem age estimate of Radula of 227.8 Ma (95 % highest posterior density (HPD): 165.7–306.7) and a crown group estimate of 176.3 Ma (135.1–227.4), in agreement with analyses employing standard substitution rates (stem age 235.6 Ma (142.9–368.5), crown group age 183.8 Ma (109.9–289.1)). The fossil likely belongs to the stem lineage of Radula subg. Odontoradula. The fossil's modern morphology suggests that switches from gymnosperm to angiosperm phorophytes occurred without changes in plant body plans in epiphytic liverworts. The fossil provides evidence for striking morphological homoplasy in time. Even conservative node assignments of the fossil support older rather than younger age estimates of the Radula crown group, involving origins for most extant subgenera by the end of the Cretaceous and diversification of their crown groups in the Cenozoic.

Description: Chemical fingerprints of impacts are usually compromised by extreme conditions in the impact plume, and the contribution of projectile matter to impactites does not often exceed a fraction of per cent. Here we use chromium and oxygen isotopes to identify the impactor and impact-plume processes for Zhamanshin astrobleme, Kazakhstan. ε54Cr values up to 1.54 in irghizites, part of the fallback ejecta, represent the 54Cr-rich extremity of the Solar System range and suggest a CI-like chondrite impactor. Δ17O values as low as -0.22‰ in irghizites, however, are incompatible with a CI-like impactor. We suggest that the observed 17O depletion in irghizites relative to the terrestrial range is caused by partial isotope exchange with atmospheric oxygen (Δ17O = -0.47‰) following material ejection. In contrast, combined Δ17O-ε54Cr data for central European tektites (distal ejecta) fall into the terrestrial range and neither impactor fingerprint nor oxygen isotope exchange with the atmosphere are indicated.Identifying the original impactor from craters remains challenging. Here, the authors use chromium and oxygen isotopes to indicate that the Zhamanshin astrobleme impactor was a carbonaceous chrondrite by demonstrating that depleted 17O values are due to exchange with atmospheric oxygen.

Description: Die World Trade Organization (WTO) und besonders die Doha- Verhandlungen über die Weltagrarmärkte stehen vielfach in der Kritik, gegenüber der dringlichen Aufgabe zu versagen, den Hunger in der Welt zu bekämpfen. Zum einen wird eine Ausweitung des Freihandels gefordert und mit der ökonomischen Theorie von Ricardo begründet. Zum anderen werden ein gerechter, fairer Welthandel und ein Recht auf Ernährungssouveränität gefordert. Beide Standpunkte werden hier kritisiert. Sie unterstellen ein Politikversagen, das nicht erklären kann, warum Staaten Freihandel und Protektionismus betreiben. Zur Begründung der Kritik wird auf allgemeiner Ebene der Zusammenhang zwischen der Dynamik von Akkumulation und räumlicher Expansion in kapitalistischen Ökonomien und dem Interesse moderner Staaten am Außenhandel erörtert. Es wird dargelegt, in welcher Weise die Institution WTO ein Mittel imperialistischer Politik ist. Als konkrete Beispiele hierfür werden die Doha-Runde und der gegenwärtige Streit um den Agrarhandel untersucht. Sie zeigen die konkreten Ziele und Verlaufsformen imperialistischer Politik sowie die Rolle der WTO und der Weltmarktentwicklung in der Konkurrenz der Staaten um den abstrakten Reichtum, in der das (Über-)Leben der Hungernden nur als unattraktive Geschäftssphäre vorkommt.

Description: A series of various readily water-soluble carbamates were synthesized with good yields. These compounds are useful chemical tracers for assessing the cooling progress in a georeservoir during geothermal power plant operation. Acylation of primary amines was carried out as well as using a solution of sodium bicarbonate and without the presence of salt. Products were characterized by 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. Purity was confirmed through elemental analysis.

Description: Open Access Publikationsfonds 2015

Description: The combination of scanning electron microscope–cathodoluminescence (CL), fluid inclusion analysis and high-resolution electron probe microanalysis of Al, Ti, K and Fe in vein quartz has yielded results permitting a greater understanding of the complex mineralisation of the Central Oyu Tolgoi and Zesen Uul porphyry-style deposits, southern Mongolia. These data demonstrate the relationship between quartz precipitation, dissolution and ore deposition as the mineralising fluid chemistry changed through time. Four major quartz generations are identified in the A-type veins from the stockworks of both the Central Oyu Tolgoi (OTi to OTiv) and Zesen Uul deposits (ZUi to ZUiv). Despite differences in the associated alteration and mineralisation style, the observed CL textures and trace element signatures of the quartz generations are comparable between deposits. The OTi and ZUi stage formed both the primary network of A-type veins and pervasive silicification of the host rock. Using the Ti-in-quartz geothermometer, crystallisation temperatures for OTi and ZUi of between 598°C and 880°C are indicated. The main stage of sulphide mineralisation was accompanied by the dissolution of pre-existing quartz (OTi and ZUi) and precipitation of a weakly luminescent generation of quartz (OTii and ZUii) with a low Ti content, reflected in a calculated temperature drop from approximately 700°C to 340°C in Central Oyu Tolgoi and 445°C in Zesen Uul. OTii and ZUii stage quartzes show high and variable Al concentrations. The next stage of quartz in both deposits (OTiii and ZUiii) forms a fine network of veins in cracks formed in pre-existing quartz. OTiii and ZUiii quartz contain measurable fluid inclusions of moderate salinity (3–17.1 wt.% NaCl eq.), entrapped in the temperature range 256°C to 385°C. OTiii and ZUiii are not related to any sulphide mineralisation. The final OTiv and ZUiv stages are characterised by quartz–calcite micro-breccias that penetrate the A-type veins. Based on the calculated entrapment temperatures, the OTiv/ZUiv stage crystallised between 212°C and 335°C, and the quartz is characterised by elevated but variable Al and Fe contents. The CL and trace element signatures of the OTi to OTiii and ZUi to ZUiii stages of the two Mongolian porphyries show similar features to those observed in porphyry-style deposits from other regions. This suggests that a common sequence of quartz crystallisation occurs during the formation of early veins in many porphyry copper systems.

Description: Chemical reduction has long dominated the thinking about the mechanism of aqueous contaminant removal in the presence of metallic iron (e.g. Fe0/H2O systems). However, a large body of experimental evidence indicates that chemical reduction is not adequate to explain satisfactorily the efficiency of Fe0/H2O systems for several substances or classes of substances. By contrast, the alternative approach, that contaminants are fundamentally adsorbed and co-precipitated by iron corrosion products seems to provide a better explanation of observed efficiency. The new approach is obviously not really understood. The present communication aims at clarifying this key issue. It seems that a paradigm shift is necessary for the further development of the iron technology.