Geological Occurrence Research Articles

Diamond-bearing Ophiolites and Their Geological Occurrence

Diamond-bearing Ophiolites and Their Geological Occurrence

Diamond-bearing Ophiolites and Their Geological Occurrence

Diamond-bearing Ophiolites and Their Geological Occurrence

Diamond-bearing ophiolites and their geological occurrence

We document in this study the geological occurrence of diamonds and other ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) minerals in ophiolitic mantle peridotites and podiform chromitites from different orogenic belts. These minerals exist in both high-Cr and high-Al chromitites. Most ophiolite-hosted diamonds are small (∼ 200-500 μm across), and some contain distinctive inclusions (i.e., coesite, Ni-Mn-Co alloys, spessartite, tephroite). All of the analyzed diamonds have extremely light carbon isotope compositions (δ 13 C = -28.7 to -18.3‰) and variable trace element contents that distinguish them from most kimberlitic and UHP metamorphic varieties. A wide range of highly reduced minerals, such as native elements, Ni-Mn-Co alloys, Fe-Si and Fe-C phases and moissanite (SiC) also occuras accompanying mineral separates confirming the super-reducing conditions of their environment of formation. The presence of exsolution lamellae of diopside and coesite in some chromite grains suggests chromite crystallization depths around >380 km, near the mantle transition zone. Carbon and other recycled crustal materials at these depths are likely to have been derived from previously subducted material. The peridotites encapsulating the podiform chromitites and diamonds were transported to shallow mantle by convection cells beneath oceanic spreading centers. The chromitites may have formed in the deep mantle or in shallow suprasubduction zone environments. Our observations suggest that diamonds, UHP minerals and recycled crustal material are likely to be ubiquitous in the oceanic mantle.

Complementary considerations in the safety case for the deep repository at Olkiluoto, Finland: support from natural analogues

A report entitled “complementary considerations” has recently been published by Posiva, the organization implementing the spent fuel disposal programme in Finland. It is part of the documentation (called TURVA-2012 safety case) submitted in 2012 for the construction license for a deep geological repository at the Olkiluoto site in Finland. The complementary considerations report addresses diverse and less quantifiable types of evidence and arguments for long-term safety which enhance confidence in the outcome of the safety assessment, especially for times greater than a few thousand years. Natural analogues form the core of the “complementary considerations” with the focus very much on geological occurrences of materials and/or processes which mirror those in the repository. For example, native copper is found in fractures in the Fennoscandian Shield and an understanding of its persistence would be of use when assessing the likely lifetime of the copper canister which surrounds the spent fuel. Based on the outcome of this Olkiluoto site specific report, research topics have been identified in relation to processes affecting the performance and future behaviour of the engineered barrier system materials, especially in relation to corrosion of copper and iron (used in waste container outer shell and insert, respectively), alteration and deformation of the bentonite buffer (clay used in the voids between the waste container and bedrock) and interaction with cementitious materials (tunnel supports etc.) “complementary considerations” is not the sole user of natural analogue information within the safety case, but its main aim is to allow thorough discussion and provide background that can be referred to in other safety case documentation, such as process descriptions, assessment of repository performance etc.

Mineralogical and geochemical studies of brecciated ores in the Dalucao REE deposit, Sichuan Province, southwestern China

The Dalucao deposit, located in western Sichuan Province, southwestern China, in the western part of the Yangtze Craton, is one of the largest and most extensive rare earth element (REE) deposits in the Himalayan Mianning–Dechang REE belt. Moreover, the Dalucao deposit is the only deposit identified in the southern part of the belt. The Dalucao deposit contains the No. 1, 2, and 3 orebodies; the No. 1 and 3 orebodies are both hosted in two breccia pipes, located in syenite–carbonatite host rocks. Both pipes have elliptical cross-sections at the surface, with long-axis diameters of 200–400m and short-axis diameters of 180–200m; the pipes extend downwards for >450m. No. 1 and No. 3 have total thickness varying between 55 and 175m and 14 to 58m respectively. The REE mineralization is associated with four brecciation events, which are recorded in each of the pipes. The ore grades in the No. 1 and 3 orebodies are similar, and consist of 1.0%–4.5% rare earth oxides (REOs). The No. 1 orebody is characterized by a Type I mineral assemblage (fluorite+barite+celestite+bastnäsite), whereas the No. 3 orebody is characterized by a Type II assemblage (fluorite+celestite+pyrite+muscovite+bastnäsite+strontianite). Argon (40Ar/39Ar) dating of hydrothermal muscovite intergrown with REE minerals in typical ores from the No. 1 and 3 orebodies yielded similar ages of 12.69±0.13 and 12.23±0.21Ma, respectively, which suggest that both mineral assemblages formed coevally, rather than in paragenetic stages. Both ages are also similar to the timing of intrusion of the syenite–carbonatite complex (12.13±0.19Ma). The ore-mineral assemblages occur in breccias, veinlets, and in narrow veins. The ore veinlets, which usually show a transition to mineralized breccia or brecciated ores, are commonly enveloped by narrow veins and stringer zones with comparable mineral assemblages. The brecciated ores form 95% of the volume of the deposit, whereas brecciated ores are only a minor constituent of other deposits in the Mianning–Dechang REE belt. The carbonatite in the syenite–carbonatite complexes contains high concentrations of S (0.07–2.32wt.%), Sr (16,500–20,700ppm), Ba (3600–8400ppm), and light REEs (LREE) (2848–10,768ppm), but is depleted in high-field-strength elements (HFSE) (Nb, Ta, P, Zr, Hf, and Ti). The syenite is moderately enriched in large-ion lithophile elements (LILE), Sr (155–277ppm), and Ba (440–755ppm). The mineralized, altered, and fresh syenites and carbonatites exhibit similar trace element compositions and REE patterns. Brecciation events, and the Dalucao Fault and its secondary faults around the deposit, contributed to the REE mineralization by facilitating the circulation of ore-forming fluids and providing space for REE precipitation. Some hydrothermal veins composed of coarse-grained fluorite and quartz are distributed in the syenite–carbonatite complex. The oxygen isotope compositions of ore-forming fluids in equilibrium with quartz at 215°C are −4.95‰ to −7.45‰, and the hydrogen isotope compositions of fluid inclusions in coarse-grained quartz are −88.4‰ to −105.1‰. The syenite–carbonatite complex and carbonatite are main contributors to the mineralization in the geological occurrence. Thus, the main components of the ore-forming fluids were magmatic water, meteoric water, and CO2 derived from the decarbonation of carbonatite. According to the petrographic studies, bastnäsite mineralization developed during later stages of hydrothermal evolution and overprinted the formation of the brecciated fluorite–quartz hydrothermal veins. As low-temperature isotope exchange between carbonates of the carbonatite and water-rich magmatic fluids will lead to positive shifts in δ18O values of the carbonates, C–O isotopic compositions from the bulk primary carbonatite to hydrothermal calcite and bastnäsite changed (δ18OV-SMOW from 8.0‰ to 11.6‰, and δ13C V-PDB from −6.1 to −8.7‰). According to the chemical composition of syenite and carbonatite, REE chloride species are the primary complexes for the transport of the REEs in the hydrothermal fluids, and the presence of bastnäsite and parisite means the REE were precipitated as fluorocarbonates. High contents of Sr, Ba and S in the syenite–carbonatite complex led to the deposition of large amount of barite and celestite.

Remotely Sensed Ore Mineralization Potentials in Ramand Altered Region, North of Iran

In some regions the main geological occurrences contain igneous pyroclastics formations such as rhyodacite and rhyolithic tuffs. An extended region with dominant alterations has been detected by remote sensing techniques for sampling purposes according to field observation activities. Enhancement of alterations has been done in Ramand region after applying a Crosta-based selective principle component analysis technique on ETM photomaps. Advanced Silicification haloes are most important evidence indicate to Base and Precious metals potentials in postmagmatic environments. For identifying the Silica content and related variations in epithermal systems, Crosta technique is adequate. This method introduces to recognition some clay and iron-oxides aggregations as the main part of gold bearing hydrothermal alterations in prospected regions. Concluded photomaps of which signals have been improved by mathematical analysis contained number of unique digital numbers related to mineralization potentials in Ramand region, Qazvin province, Iran.

Growth Pattern and Its Indication of Spheroidal Nano-Micro Crystal Aggregates of Pyrite in the Baiyunpu Pb-Zn Polymetallic Deposit, Central Hunan

The Baiyunpu deposit lies in the southwest plunging Dachengshan anticline in central Hunan, which is a large Pb-Zn polymetallic deposit. The orebodies were surrounded by the Qiziqiao Formation limestone in the Middle Devonian, and its geological occurrence is consistent with the wall rocks. A large number of spheroidal pyrite aggregates are found unevenly distributed in the ores. The spheroidal aggregates are made up of kernels and concentric rings. The kernels are composed of approximately epigranular pyrite nanocrystals, while the rings are composed of accumulated pyrite microcrystals growing along the radial direction. The spheroidal pyrite aggregate and its outer zones can be divided into five areas (A–E). The results of electron probe micro analysis (EPMA) show that from the zone A1 to B, Co/Ni <1, the sum of Co and Ni is 0.08%−0.26%, S/Fe increases from 2.06 to 2.15. While from the zone C to E, Ni cannot be detected and S/Fe decreases from 2.22 to 2.08. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis in the micro zone shows obvious crystalline characteristics in the aggregates. Moving from the inside outwards, the maximum diffraction peak intensity of the (111) and (220) crystal planes of pyrite increases, and the crystallinity improves. The degree of change in the (111) plane is the most prominent Considering the theory of crystal growth along with the geologic features of the depositional environment where the spheroidal pyrite aggregates developed, we confirm that the spheroidal aggregates are the result of nano-micro crystalline gathering and growth occurring by the following sequence of processes: nano-crystalline nucleation and growth, gathering into a ball, oriented growth of microcrystals, continuous accumulation, and adjustment of grain boundaries. The formation of the spheroidal pyrite aggregates in the late Qiziqiao Formation of the Middle Devonian occurred in a neutral to weak alkaline and reductive sedimentary environment in the normal oxygen-rich shallow-water carbonate platform edge. The variations in the S/Fe ratio and crystallisation characteristics indicate that during pyrite crystal growth, the sulphur fugacity was high locally and rose constantly, the degree of supersaturation decreased locally and the growth environment was stable relatively.

Analysis of the Badong Ms5.1 earthquake source characteristics

The mainshock location of the Badong Ms5 .1 earthquake is determined using four location methods: the simplex method, HYP2000, hyposat, and locSAT; the 350 aftershocks over 3 months are relocated using the double difference location method. The results indicate that aftershocks are distributed as bands along the NEE direction and that the aftershocks 1 month after the mainshock, which are mainly distributed in the west of the mainshock and near the Gaoqiao fault, are shallow earthquakes within 5 km; the depth of each aftershock after one month is deeper, and two distinct fault planes, for which the geological occurrence is similar to the Gaoqiao and Zhoujiashan-Niukou fault, are shaped. The frequency-spectrum analysis of the recorded waveform in 12 seismic events indicates that the corner frequency of the mainshock is significantly lower than that of its aftershock and is also lower than a tectonic earthquake of the same magnitude. We considered that this result is related to the constraint of the parameter calibration relationship in the focal spectrum and the lithology change due to water erosion. Combined with the focal mechanism and geological tectonic setting, we conclude that the occurrence of the earthquake is related to the activity of the Daping and Gaoqiao fault and is a reservoir-induced tectonic seismicity.

Geochronological and geochemical evidence for the nature of the Dongling Complex in South China

The ancient basement of the Yangtze craton in South China is poorly exposed and its early evolution is loosely constrained yet. The Dongling Complex is usually advocated as the ancient basement of the Yangtze craton without an intensive study yet. Schist and gneiss from the Dongling Complex have high SiO2 and Al2O3 contents, low CIA values. Their REE and trace element distribution patterns are similar to PAAS and average upper crust. Their δ18O values are generally higher than 10‰ for quartz, demonstrating a sedimentary origin for their protolith. Detrital zircon U–Pb dating yields three distinct age populations for the Dongling metasediments: (1) >2.4Ga with negative ɛHf(t) values, mostly on cores and unzoned grains; (2) ∼2.0Ga with negative ɛHf(t) values on weak luminance and unzoned domains; (3) 730–830Ma with ɛHf(t) values ranging from −24.8 to 4.9 on oscillatory zonings and fragmented euhedral grains. The zircons of different U–Pb ages exhibit similar REE patterns but different Ti-in-zircon temperatures. The zircon age populations are consistent with provenances from both the Yangtze craton and the Jiangnan orogen for the Dongling sediments. The youngest detrital zircon age of 731±13Ma provides an upper limit for the deposition age; the geological occurrence of overlying strata provides a lower limit of 635Ma for the deposition age. In view of the extensional setting in South China during the middle Neoproterozoic, the most plausible tectonic environment for deposition of the Dongling sediments is a failed continental rift basin between the Yangtze craton and the Jiangnan orogen. Therefore, the Dongling Complex is not the ancient basement of the Yangtze craton despite the involvement of some basement materials in its protolith.

Geologic implications of gas hydrates in the offshore of India: Results of the National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 01

The Indian National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 01 (NGHP-01) is designed to study the occurrence of gas hydrate along the passive continental margin of the Indian Peninsula and in the Andaman convergent margin, with special emphasis on understanding the geologic and geochemical controls on the occurrence of gas hydrate in these two diverse settings. The NGHP-01 expedition established the presence of gas hydrates in the Krishna–Godavari and Mahanadi Basins, and the Andaman Sea. The expedition discovered in the Krishna–Godavari Basin one of the thickest gas hydrate accumulations ever documented, in the Andaman Sea one of the thickest and deepest gas hydrate stability zones in the world, and established the existence of a fully developed gas hydrate petroleum system in all three basins.The primary goal of NGHP-01 was to conduct scientific ocean drilling/coring, logging, and analytical activities to assess the geologic occurrence, regional context, and characteristics of gas hydrate deposits along the continental margins of India. This was done in order to meet the long-term goal of exploiting gas hydrate as a potential energy resource in a cost effective and safe manner. During its 113.5-day voyage, the D/V JOIDES Resolution cored and/or drilled 39 holes at 21 sites (1 site in Kerala–Konkan, 15 sites in Krishna–Godavari, 4 sites in Mahanadi, and 1 site in the Andaman deep offshore area), penetrated more than 9250 m of sedimentary section, and recovered nearly 2850 m of core. Twelve holes were logged with logging-while-drilling (LWD) tools and an additional 13 holes were wireline logged. The science team utilized extensive on-board laboratory facilities to examine and prepare preliminary reports on the physical properties, geochemistry, and sedimentology of all the data collected prior to the end of the expedition. Samples were also analyzed in additional post-expedition shore-based studies conducted in leading laboratories around the world.One of the specific objectives of this expedition was to test gas hydrate formation models and constrain model parameters, especially those that account for the formation of concentrated gas hydrate accumulations. The necessary data for characterizing the occurrence of in situ gas hydrate, such as interstitial water chlorinities, core-derived gas chemistry, physical and sedimentological properties, thermal images of the recovered cores, and downhole measured logging data (LWD and/or conventional wireline log data), were obtained from most of the drill sites established during NGHP-01. Almost all of the drill sites yielded evidence for the occurrence of gas hydrate; however, the inferred in situ concentration of gas hydrate varied substantially from site to site. For the most part, the interpretation of downhole logging data, core thermal images, interstitial water analyses, and pressure core images from the sites drilled during NGHP-01 indicate that the occurrence of concentrated gas hydrate is mostly associated with the presence of fractures in the sediments, and in some limited cases, by coarser grained (mostly sand-rich) sediments.

New material referable to Wakaleo (Marsupialia: Thylacoleonidae) from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, northwestern Queensland: revising species boundaries and distributions in Oligo/Miocene marsupial lions

Gillespie, A.K., Archer, M., Hand, S.J. & Black, K.H., 2014. New material referable to Wakaleo (Marsupialia: Thylacoleonidae) from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, northwestern Queensland: revising species boundaries and distributions in Oligo/Miocene marsupial lions. Alcheringa 38, 513–527. ISSN 0311–5518.New material of Wakaleo oldfieldi and W. vanderleueri from the Miocene freshwater limestones of the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, northwestern Queensland, is described. This material includes the first known upper dentition of W. oldfieldi and dentaries of both species bearing the previously undescribed and morphologically distinct M3. Previously, the two species were distinguished only by size differences in P3 and the size of P3 relative to M1. Wakaleo oldfieldi exhibits a more plesiomorphic M3 that retains a well-developed talonid basin in contrast to W. vanderleueri, which has lost this structure. The phyletic succession and geological occurrences of Wakaleo species make this genus an important taxon in biochronological analyses of Australian Cenozoic assemblages. At Riversleigh, W. oldfieldi is found in deposits allocated to Faunal Zone B and Faunal Zone C, which are regarded as early and middle Miocene in age, respectively. The presence of this species in the Kutjamarpu Local Fauna of central Australia suggests that fauna may be of a similar age. Broader faunal correlations have suggested Faunal Zone C correlates with the middle Miocene Bullock Creek Local Fauna, which contains the more derived W. vanderleueri. Based on stage-of-evolution arguments, W. oldfieldi should occur in older deposits than those yielding W. vanderleueri. The presence of both species of Wakaleo in Faunal Zone C assemblages at Riversleigh suggests that current presumptions about the contemporaneity of the many Faunal Zone C Sites should be examined more rigorously.Anna K. Gillespie [a.gillespie@unsw.edu.au], Michael Archer [m.archer@unsw.edu.au], Suzanne J. Hand [s.hand@unsw.edu.au] and Karen H. Black [k.black@unsw.edu.au] School of Biological Earth and Environmental Science, UNSW 2052, Sydney, Australia. Received 3.1.2014, revised 21.2.2014, accepted 21.3.2014.

Numerical Simulation and Analysis of Sand-Shale Ratio of Bedrock Impacting Mining Subsidence

Significant geological factor of coal occurrence is layered structure of coal measures overburden rock, and bedrock sand-shale ratio is a key element of coal measures overburden rock layered structure. On the background of geological occurrence conditions of 2-2 coal in Yushen coal mining area, the sandstone layer, sandstone average thickness and sand-shale ratio are taken as variables to build the 18 different types of layered structure models. On this basis, basic law of coal measures bedrock sand-shale ratios which is a key characteristic of layered structure impacting mining subsidence is mainly studied by using numerical simulation method. The results show that: firstly, in spite of any condition of sandstone layer coefficient subsidence coefficient always decrease with the increase of sand-shale ratios. However, the effect of sand-shale ratios on subsidence coefficient continuously decreased with the increasing of sandstone layer coefficient. Secondly, when the sandstone layer coefficient is less than 70%, the different sand-shale ratios have significant influence on the subsidence coefficient, and when the sandstone layer coefficient is more than 90%, subsidence coefficients corresponding to different sand-shale ratios show obvious convergence characteristics. The gap between each other is only 1%~2%. Thirdly, taking the subsidence coefficient corresponding to the sand-shale ratio is 6:4 as reference, the curves about the rate of decrease in subsidence coefficient is set up when the sand-shale ratio is 7:3 or 8:2, and the fitting equations are presented on the basis of Log3P1 mathematical model.

Criticality of Iron and Its Principal Alloying Elements

Because modern technology depends on reliable supplies of a wide variety of materials and because of increasing concern about those supplies, a comprehensive methodology was created to quantify the degree of criticality of the metals of the periodic table. In this paper, we apply this methodology to iron and several of its main alloying elements (i.e., vanadium, chromium, manganese, and niobium). These elements represent the basic metals of any industrial society and are vital for national security and economic well-being. Assessments relating to the dimensions of criticality - supply risk, vulnerability to supply restriction, and environmental implications - for 2008 are made on the global level and for the United States. Evaluations of each of the multiple indicators are presented, with aggregate results plotted in "criticality space", together with Monte Carlo simulation-derived "uncertainty cloud" estimates. Iron has the lowest supply risk, primarily because of its widespread geological occurrence. Vanadium displays the highest cradle-to-gate environmental implications, followed by niobium, chromium, manganese, and iron. Chromium and manganese, both essential in steel making, display the highest vulnerability to supply restriction, largely because substitution or substitution at equal performance is not possible for all end-uses. From a comprehensive perspective, we regard the overall criticality as low for iron and modest for the alloying elements we evaluated.

Arsenic in private drinking water wells: an assessment of jurisdictional regulations and guidelines for risk remediation in North America.

Arsenic is a known carcinogen found globally in groundwater supplies due to natural geological occurrence. Levels exceeding the internationally recognized safe drinking water standard of 10 μg/L have been found in private drinking water supplies in many parts of Canada and the United States. Emerging epidemiological evidence confirms groundwater arsenic to be a significant health concern, even at the low to moderate levels typically found in this region. These findings, coupled with survey data reporting limited public adherence to testing and treatment guidelines, have prompted calls for improved protective measures for private well users. The purpose of this review is to assess current jurisdictional provisions for private well water protection in areas where arsenic is known to naturally occur in groundwater at elevated levels. Significant limitations in risk management approaches are identified, including inconsistent and uncoordinated risk communication approaches, lack of support mechanisms for routine water testing and limited government resources to check that testing and treatment guidelines are followed. Key action areas are discussed that can help to build regulatory, community and individual capacity for improved protection of private well water supplies and enhancement of public health.

“Mucientes Chert” in the Northern Iberian Plateau (Spain)

The so-called “Mucientes is a variety that appears in the central area of the Iberian North Plateau, in the Duero Basin. It is widely known in the geological and archaeological literature and its use for knapping was especially important in Prehistory. From a macroscopic point of view it is a nodular chert, with white and very porous cortex, and brown to blackish or beige colour in the inner part. In this work we carried out a more accurate petrographic, mineralogical and chemical characterization of this lithology using SEM, XRD and XRF techniques in samples coming from “Las Canteras” (Mucientes village), a chert outcrop of the “Cuestas” Unit (V allesian-Aragonian, Miocene Age). Also, we have made a review of its geological occurrence and archaeological distribution areas. It is intended to sketch the delimitation of the geographical area of occurrence taking into account the geological and archaeological references.

Impact of Inorganically Bound Sulfur on Late Shale Gas Generation

Nonisothermal, confined pyrolysis was applied to a mature shale sample from the Ordovician Salgan Formation in Tarim Basin, northwest China. Experiments were conducted using gold-tubes with added water at a very slow heating rate (2 °C/h) and end temperatures between 336 and 600 °C. To investigate the influence of inorganically bound sulfur on the generation of gases and to consider the geological occurrence of sulfur-containing minerals, such as prevalent pyrite in shales, the experiments were carried out with and without admixtures of MgSO4, CaSO4, and pyrite. High amounts of methane along with lower amounts of wet gases were formed from highly mature shale without minerals added, demonstrating a huge late gas generation potential at post peak-oil window maturities. In the experiments with added sulfates and pyrite, all organic gases were consumed in varying proportions, resulting in different chemical and stable carbon isotopic compositions. Pyrite treatment affects wet gas (C2–C5) evolution directly, ...

Geological occurrences of ductile-brittle transition along shallow subduction zone

Geological occurrences of ductile-brittle transition along shallow subduction zone

Analysis of the Key Geological-Mining Factors Impacting Mining Subsidence in Coal Mining Area: A Case Study in YuShenfu Mining Area

Development of mining subsidence in the coal mining area is impacted by the geological occurrence conditions and mining design conditions. Therefore, taking the Yushenfu coal mining area in northern Shaanxi province as study area, the research analyzed the key geological and mining impact factors of the mining subsidence respectively with grey correlation analysis method and stepwise regression analysis method. The results show that the perturbation coefficient, synthetical protodyakonov coefficient of overburden rocks, width-depth ratio and the ratio of mining depth and height are selected as the key geological-mining factors impacting mining subsidence in YuShenFu coal mining area. It hopes that the research results can present the scientific guiding function for the prevention of mining subsidence in the future.

Unlocking the secrets of Al-tobermorite in Roman seawater concrete

Ancient Roman syntheses of Al-tobermorite in a 2000-year-old concrete block submerged in the Bay of Pozzuoli (Baianus Sinus), near Naples, have unique aluminum-rich and silica-poor compositions relative to hydrothermal geological occurrences. In relict lime clasts, the crystals have calcium contents that are similar to ideal tobermorite, 33 to 35 wt%, but the low-silica contents, 39 to 40 wt%, reflect Al 3+ substitution for Si 4+ in Q 2 (1Al), Q 3 (1Al), and Q 3 (2 Al) tetrahedral chain and branching sites. The Al-tobermorite has a double silicate chain structure with long chain lengths in the b [020] crystallographic direction, and wide interlayer spacing, 11.49 Å. Na + and K + partially balance Al 3+ substitution for Si 4+ . Poorly crystalline calcium-aluminum-silicate-hydrate (C-A-S-H) cementitious binder in the dissolved perimeter of relict lime clasts has Ca/(Si+Al) = 0.79, nearly identical to the Al-tobermorite, but nanoscale heterogeneities with aluminum in both tetrahedral and octahedral coordination. The concrete is about 45 vol% glassy zeolitic tuff and 55 vol% hydrated lime-volcanic ash mortar; lime formed &lt;10 wt% of the mix. Trace element studies confirm that the pyroclastic rock comes from Flegrean Fields volcanic district, as described in ancient Roman texts. An adiabatic thermal model of the 10 m 2 by 5.7 m thick Baianus Sinus breakwater from heat evolved through hydration of lime and formation of C-A-S-H suggests maximum temperatures of 85 to 97 °C. Cooling to seawater temperatures occurred in two years. These elevated temperatures and the mineralizing effects of seawater and alkali- and alumina-rich volcanic ash appear to be critical to Al-tobermorite crystallization. The long-term stability of the Al-tobermorite provides a valuable context to improve future syntheses in innovative concretes with advanced properties using volcanic pozzolans.

Reinterpretation of the cranial morphology of Utatsusaurus hataii (Ichthyopterygia) (Osawa Formation, Lower Triassic, Miyagi, Japan) and its systematic implications

ABSTRACT Utatsusaurus hataii is an early member of Ichthyopterygia from the Osawa Formation (Lower Triassic) of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Although the holotype of the species lacks a well-preserved cranium, UHR 30691 preserves a near-complete skull and may be referred to Utatsusaurus based on a similar geologic occurrence and, most importantly, the following shared features with the holotype: subthecodont tooth implantation; the presence of distomesially compressed tooth crowns; a humerus that is longer than wide; and an ulnar facet on the humerus that is as wide as the radial facet. The first complete description of the skull of UHR 30691 and the incorporation of data derived from it into a phylogenetic analysis retrieves a monophyletic Ichthyopterygia that is supported by 18 unambiguous synapomorphies. The updated analysis recovers Utatsusaurus in a basal clade with Parvinatator (united by one unambiguous feature), which collectively form the sister group to all other ichthyopterygians. SUPPLEMENTAL DATA—Supplemental materials are available for this article for free at www.tandfonline/UJVP