ALBERT

Beschreibung: Colonial non-zooxanthellate corals from deep-water coral reefs, Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, produce large amounts of extracellular mucus (EMS). This mucus has various functions, e.g., an antifouling capability protecting the coral skeleton from attacks of endolithic and boring organisms. Both corals show thick epithecal and exothecal skeletal parts with a clear lamellar growth pattern. The formation of the epitheca is unclear. It is supposed that the EMS play a central role during the calcification process of the epithecal skeletal parts. Staining with the fluorochrome tetracycline has shown an enrichment of Ca2+ ions in the mucus. In order to investigate this hypothesis, the protein content of the mucus and the intracrystalline organic matter from newly formed epithecal aragonite of Madrepora oculata was determined via sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis. Identical band patterns within both substances could be detected, one around 45 kDa molecular weight and a cluster around 30-35 kDa molecular weight. The occurrence of identical protein patterns within the mucus and in the newly formed aragonite confirms the idea that the mucus plays an important role during the organomineralization of the coral epitheca.

Beschreibung: In the light of global change, the necessity to monitor atmospheric depositions that have relevant effects on ecosystems is ever increasing particularly for tropical sites. For this study, atmospheric ionic depositions were measured on tropical Central Sulawesi at remote sites with both a conventional bulk water collector system (BWS collector) and with a passive ion exchange resin collector system (IER collector). The principle of IER collector to fix all ionic depositions, i.e. anions and cations, has certain advantages referring to (1) post-deposition transformation processes, (2) low ionic concentrations and (3) low rainfall and associated particulate inputs, e.g. dust or sand. The ionic concentrations to be measured for BWS collectors may easily fall below detection limits under low deposition conditions which are common for tropical sites of low land use intensity. Additionally, BWS collections are not as independent from the amount of rain fallen as are IER collections. For this study, the significant differences between both collectors found for nearly all measured elements were partly correlated to the rainfall pattern, i.e. for calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. However, the significant differences were, in most cases, not highly relevant. More relevant differences between the systems were found for aluminium and nitrate (434–484 %). Almost five times higher values for nitrate clarified the advantage of the IER system particularly for low deposition rate which is one particularity of atmospheric ionic deposition in tropical sites of extensive land use. The monthly resolution of the IER data offers new insights into the temporal distribution of annual ionic depositions. Here, it did not follow the tropical rain pattern of a drier season within generally wet conditions.

Beschreibung: The incorporation of hydrogen in enstatite in a hydrous system containing various amounts of NaCl was investigated at 25 kbar. The hydrogen content in enstatite shows a clear negative correlation to the NaCl-concentration in the system. The most favourable explanation is the reduction of water fugacity due to dilution. Other reasons for the limited hydrogen incorporation at high NaCl levels, such as a significant influence of Na+ on the defect chemistry or an exchange between OH- and Cl-in enstatite, appear much less important. A partition coefficient D Na En/Fluid = 0.0013 could be determined, demonstrating that Na is less incompatible in enstatite than H. The new results support the idea that dissolved components have to be considered when the total hydrogen storage capacity in nominally anhydrous minerals is estimated, especially in geological settings with high levels of halogens, such as subduction zones.

Beschreibung: The coprecipitation of U (VI) with iron corrosion products from aqueous solutions by zero valent iron was investigated. The evidence of coprecipitation was demonstrated by conducting experiments with well characterized scrap iron,pyrite and a mixture of both materials with experimental durations of up to four months. Results indicate that under anoxic conditions only less than one tenth of the immobilized U(VI) was associated with the surface of scrap iron, whereas theremaining amount is entrapped in aging corrosion products.

Beschreibung: Saline, 450-m-deep Lake Van (Eastern Anatolia, Turkey) is, with 576 km3, the third largest closed lake on Earth and its largest soda lake. In 1989 and 1990, we investigated the hydrochemistry of the lake’s water column and of the tributary rivers. We also cored the Postglacial sediment column at various water depths. The sediment is varved throughout, allowing precise dating back to ca. 15 ka BP. Furthermore, lake terrace sediments provided a 606-year-long floating chronology of the Glacial high-stand of the lake dating to 21 cal. ka BP. The sediments were investigated for their general mineralogical composition, important geochemical parameters, and pore water chemistry as well. These data allow reconstructing the history of the lake level that has seen several regressions and transgressions since the high-stand at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. Today, the lake is very alkaline, highly supersaturated with Ca-carbonate and has a salt content of about 22 g kg−1. In summer, the warmer epilimnion is diluted with river water and forms a stable surface layer. Depth of winter mixing differs from year to year but during time of investigation the lake was oxygenated down to its bottom. In general, the lake is characterized by an Na–CO3–Cl–(SO4)-chemistry that evolved from the continuous loss of calcium as carbonate and magnesium in the form of Mg-silica-rich mineral phases. The Mg cycle is closely related to that of silica which in turn is governed by the production and dissolution of diatoms as the dominant phytoplankton species in Lake Van. In addition to Ca and Mg, a mass balance approach based on the recent lake chemistry and river influx suggests a fractional loss of potassium, sodium, sulfur, and carbon in comparison to chloride in the compositional history of Lake Van. Within the last 3 ka, minor lake level changes seem to control the frequency of deep water renewal, the depth of stratification, and the redox state of the hypolimnion. Former major regressions are marked by Mg-carbonate occurrences in the otherwise Ca-carbonate dominated sediment record. Pore water data suggest that, subsequent to the major regression culminating at 10.7 ka BP, a brine layer formed in the deep basin that existed for about 7 ka. Final overturn of the lake, triggered by the last major regression starting at about 3.5 ka BP, may partly account for the relative depletion in sulfur and carbon due to rapid loss of accumulated gases. An even stronger desiccation phase is proposed for the time span between about 20 and 15 ka BP following the LGM, during which major salts could have been lost by precipitation of Na-carbonates and Na-sulfates.

Beschreibung: Resin protects wounded trees from microbial infection, but also provides a suitable substrate for the growth of highly specialized fungi. Chaenothecopsis proliferatus is described growing on resin of Cunninghamia lanceolata from Hunan Province, China. The new fungus is compared with extant species and two new fossil specimens from Eocene Baltic and Oligocene Bitterfeld ambers. The Oligocene fossil had produced proliferating ascomata identical to those of the newly described species and to other extant species of the same lineage. This morphology may represent an adaptation to growing near active resin flows: the proliferating ascomata can effectively rejuvenate if partially overrun by fresh, sticky exudate. Inward growth of fungal hyphae into resin has only been documented from Cenozoic amber fossils suggesting comparatively late occupation of resin as substrate by fungi. Still, resinicolous Chaenothecopsis species were already well adapted to their special ecological niche by the Eocene, and the morphology of these fungi has since remained remarkably constant.

Beschreibung: Five volcanic tuffs ranging from dacitic tuffs of Hungary to rhyolite, phonolite and basaltic tuffs of Germany were consolidated under laboratory conditions. Prior to consolidation an anti-hygro, a hydrous consolidant, which reduces the swelling ability of clay minerals, was applied. The three consolidants, a silicic acid ester (SAE), an elastic silicic acid ester (eSAE) and an acrylate resin (PMMA) were applied on test specimens under vacuum. Petrographic characterisation (polarizing microscopy, XRD, SEM) provided data for fabric analyses and the mineral composition of the tuffs. Changes in fabric, effective porosity, density, tensile strength, ultrasonic wave velocity were evaluated after the treatment. Weathering simulation tests such as hygric dilatation and thermal dilatation aimed to prove the effectiveness of consolidation and the durability of consolidated tuff samples. More than 500 samples were analysed. The tests showed that SAE caused the highest increase in indirect tensile strength. The water absorption and the pore size distribution of the tuffs were modified by consolidation. The PMMA reduced the water absorption the most, whereas SAE modified it the least. All the tested consolidants increased the thermal dilatation of the tuffs. The changes in hygric dilatation were not uniform: for most tuffs SAE increased and PMMA decreased the hygric dilatation, although the clay-rich Habichtswald tuff showed the opposite trend. The changes in hygric and thermal behaviour of consolidated tuff require special care when specific consolidants are chosen. These products modify the physical properties of consolidated tuffs and change the behaviour of weathering.

Beschreibung: A 782 d solubilization study using not shaken batch experiments and involving one uranium-bearing rock and three natural carbonate minerals was conducted to characterize uranium (U) leaching under oxic conditions. Results showed that aqueous U concentration increased continuously with a solubilization rate of 0.16 mgm-2h-1 for the first 564 d (1.5 y). After 1.5 y, U concentration reached a maximum value (saturation) and decreased afterwards. The saturation concentration of 54 mgL-1 (mean value) was influenced to various extent by the presence of carbonate minerals. Dissolution/precipitation, adsorption or ion exchange processes appear to control U solubilization.

Beschreibung: This article explores double-diffusive convective fluid motion in an aquifer above a salt dome. Aside from the ambient regional flow regime, the hydraulic conditions in an aquifer connected with a salt formation are determined by differences in salinity. Whereas density-driven flow patterns induced by the effect of salt have been studied before we focus on the additional effect of temperature. For the model setup, we select typical parameter values that are characteristic of not only the lowlands in Germany and Poland. For the computation of flow in a vertical cross-section, we use numerical modeling with COMSOL Multiphysics. The size and strength of eddies in the high salinity region above the aquifer base are strongly influenced by thermal effects. A sensitivity study shows a wide range of convection phenomena, ranging from the absence of convective motions via steady and oscillating circulation to unsteady fluctuating patterns. The flow and transport parameters show the highest sensitivity to the thermal Rayleigh number.

Beschreibung: The veneer cladding of the Oeconomicum (OEC, Göttingen), the State Theatre of Darmstadt (STD, Darmstadt) and of the State and University Library (SUB, Göttingen) is characterised by pronounced bowing after a short time of exposure. Direct comparison of bowing data related to measurements from 2000 to 2003 at the SUB clearly show that the amplitude in bowing had significantly increased. The bowing is different in intensity and orientation (concave, convex). The cladding material (Peccia marble, Rosa Estremoz marble and Carrara marble) are different in lattice preferred orientation, grain size distribution and grain interlocking. Depending on the bowing, panels may show cracks mostly initiated at the dowels. The percentage of visible cracks and breakouts increases with the amplitude of bowing except for the STD. Repetitive heatingcooling under dry conditions leads to considerable inelastic residual strain only after the first or second thermal cycle. The residual strain continuously increases again if water is present, whereby the moisture content after a thermal cycle has a certain impact on the decay rate. The water-enhanced thermal dilatation strongly correlates with the deterioration rate obtained from the laboratory bow test. Detailed petrophysical investigations provide evidence that with increasing bowing a decrease of mechanical properties (flexural strength or breaking load at dowel hole) occur. Marble degradation is also connected with the increase in porosity and a general shift of the maximum pore radii to larger pore sizes...