Geotr@nsblog

Two new articles from Carnets de Géologie

2009-12-28T21:02:00.002-12:00

Two new articles (one English and one French) will be officially released by Carnets de Géologie on 31 December 2009.

Do Carmo D.A., Meireles R.P., Suarez P.A.Z. & Mello V.M. (2009).- Size variations of the vestibula of Krithe gnoma Do Carmo & Sanguinetti, 1999 (Ostracoda): a new procedure for their analysis.- Carnets de Géologie - Notebooks on Geology, Brest, Article 2009/09 (CG2009_A09), 9 p., 5 figs., 1 table.

Do Carmo D.A., Meireles R.P., Suarez P.A.Z. & Mello V.M. (2009).- Size variations of the vestibula of Krithe gnoma Do Carmo & Sanguinetti, 1999 (Ostracoda): a new procedure for their analysis [Nouvelle procédure pour analyser les variations des tailles de vestibules chez Krithe gnoma Do Carmo & Sanguinetti, 1999 (Ostracoda)].- Carnets de Géologie - Notebooks on Geology, Brest, Article 2009/09 (CG2009_A09), 9 p., 5 figs., 1 tabl.

Moullade M., Tronchetti G. & Babinot J.-F. (2009).- Le Gargasien de Gargas (Vaucluse, SE de la France) : synthèse des données de terrain et révision de la microfaune de foraminifères et d'ostracodes.- Carnets de Géologie - Notebooks on Geology, Brest, Article 2009/10 (CG2009_A10), 15 p., 9 figs.

Moullade M., Tronchetti G. & Babinot J.-F. (2009).- Le Gargasien de Gargas (Vaucluse, SE de la France) : synthèse des données de terrain et révision de la microfaune de foraminifères et d'ostracodes [The Gargasian of Gargas (Vaucluse, SE France): Synthesis of field data and revision of the foraminiferal and ostracodal microfauna].- Carnets de Géologie - Notebooks on Geology, Brest, Article 2009/10 (CG2009_A10), 15 p., 9 figs.

30 inch, 2 lb. late Jurassic dinosaur

2009-10-23T00:15:00.002-12:00

A 30 inch, 2 lb dinosaur, Fruitadens haagarorum, dating from the late Jurassic, is the smallest ornithischian dinosaur ever found. The New York Times has a small article on it. The abstract from The Proceedings of the Royal Society, with the title "Lower limits of ornithischian dinosaur body size inferred from a new Upper Jurassic heterodontosaurid from North America" can be read here. (Richard J. Butler, Peter M. Galton, Laura B. Porro, Luis M. Chiappe, Donald M. Henderson, and Gregory M. Erickson Lower limits of ornithischian dinosaur body size inferred from a new Upper Jurassic heterodontosaurid from North America Proc R Soc B 2009 : rspb.2009.1494v1-rspb20091494.)

Nummulus brattenburgensis and Crania craniolaris

2009-10-20T03:48:00.002-12:00

Carnets de Géologie has announced a new English publication:

Article 8 [2009]: Nummulus brattenburgensis and Crania craniolaris (Brachiopoda, Craniidae), by Christian C. EMIG.- Format [HTML] or [PDF 1.590 KB] Reference: [CG2009_A08], 11 p., 8 figs., 1 tabl.

Abstract: The Brattingsborg pennies are mentioned in medieval texts dating from the middle of the first millennium and many popular medieval legends refer to their occurrence on Ivö Island in the Scania region (Sweden) as brattingsborgpenningar or in Latin as Nummulus brattenburgensis. Actually they are valves of the fossil brachiopod Crania craniolaris originally described by Linnaeus (1758) as Anomia craniolaris from the Upper Cretaceous. Later Retzius (1781) created the genus Crania based on these specimens from Ivö Island and on another species he described under Crania (now Isocrania) egnabergensis from Ignaberga in the Scania region. The scientific history of those two species is reviewed along with that of Danocrania tuberculata (Nilsson, 1826), formerly figured as Craniolites brattenburgicus, from the Danian of Scania. Two legends about these "pennies" are included.

Water Scarcity

2009-09-20T18:37:00.004-12:00

Water Scarcity - Winter School 2010 on:
Analysing, mapping and evaluating spatio-temporal water scarcity problems
1 – 11 February 2010 in Salzburg, Austria

The international Winter School, organised by the Centre for Geoinformatics deals with topics surrounding the analysis, visualisation and evaluation of spatio-temporal problems related to water scarcity. Delegates learn about current scientific methods and techniques for spatial data acquisition and processing in theory and practise. These methods and techniques methods and techniques can be applied to relevant planning processes in the water sector and in water management. A central focus is placed on learning to implement an early-warning system for water scarcity based on existing operational methods (e.g. Meteorisk) and the associated characterisation of the most important anthropogenically influenced and natural surface waters and groundwater systems.
Information and registration
Registration begins on 1 October and ends on 31 December 2009. We recommend quick registration due to the limited number of places available.

New Book Published by Carnets de Géologie

2009-08-27T00:25:00.005-12:00

Carnets de Géologie had announced the publication of a new book. Book 3 [2009]: PaleoParks - The protection and conservation of fossil sites worldwide [Paléo-Parcs - Sauvegarde et valorisation de sites fossilifères à travers le monde], by Jere H. LIPPS & Bruno R.C. GRANIER (special editors).- Reference: [CG2009_BOOK_03], ISBN13: 978-2-916733-06-7.

This special volume consists of invited contributions based on presentations given at the three PaleoParks Workshops at the International Geological Congress in Florence (2004) and Oslo (2008) and the International Paleontological Congress in Beijing (2006).

For their interest, comments and advice about the PaleoParks initiative the editor thanks (in alphabetic order): R. Aldridge (Leicester, UK), D. Harper (Copenhagen, Denmark), B. Lieberman (Lawrence, Kansas, USA), and R. Maddocks (Houston, Texas, USA). PaleoParks is a special project of the International Paleontological Association (URL: http://ipa.geo.ku.edu/) under the direction of J.H. Lipps (Berkeley, California, USA) as the IPA Delegate for PaleoParks. Alain Coutelle (Brest, France) provided invaluable help for the translation of the English abstracts into French.

List of Contents:
• Cover page
Format [HTML] or [PDF 422 KB]
• Chapter 1. PaleoParks: Our paleontological heritage protected and conserved in the field worldwide, by Jere H. Lipps Format [HTML] or [PDF 1,013 KB], p. 1-10.
• Chapter 2. The Triassic Guanling fossil Group - A key GeoPark from Barren Mountain, Guizhou Province, China, by Xiaofeng Wang, Xiaohong Chen, Chuanshang Wang & Long Cheng Format [HTML] or [PDF 5,376 KB], p. 11-28.
• Chapter 3. The GeoPark of Haute-Provence, France - Geology and palaeontology protected for sustainable development, by Jean-Simon Pagès [HTML] or [PDF 2,478 KB], p. 29-34.
• Chapter 4. The protection and use of the geological and paleontological heritage in Baja California Sur, Mexico, by Javier Gaitán Morán & Alejandro Álvarez Arellano - Capítulo 4. El resguardo y aprovechamiento del patrimonio geológico y paleontológico en Baja California Sur, México, por Javier Gaitán Morán & Alejandro Álvarez Arellano [HTML] o [PDF 391 KB], p. 35-48.
• Chapter 5. Protecting fossil sites in New Zealand, by Bruce W. Hayward [HTML] or [PDF 548 KB], p. 49-64.
• Chapter 6. The Salt Range: Pakistan's unique field museum of geology and paleontology, by Shahid Jamil Sameeni HTML] or [PDF 1,454 KB], p. 65-73.
• Chapter 7. Paleontological parks and museums and prominent fossil sites in Thailand and their importance in the conservation of fossils, by Nareerat Boonchai, Paul J. Grote & Pratueng Jintasakul [HTML] or [PDF 7,448 KB], p. 75-95.
• Chapter 8. Managing fossil resources at the Falls of the Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, USA: A fossil park in an urban setting, by Alan Goldstein [HTML] or [PDF 259 KB], p. 97-101.
• Chapter 9. Paleo-piracy endangers Vendian (Ediacaran) fossils in the White Sea - Arkhangelsk region of Russia, by Mikhail A. Fedonkin, Andrey Yu. Ivantsov, Maxim V. Leonov, Jere H. Lipps, Ekaterina A. Serezhnikova, Eugeniy I. Malyutin & Yuriy V. Khan [HTML] or [PDF 2,686 KB], p. 103-111.
• Chapter 10. Copper Canyon track locality (Pliocene) conservation strategies, Death Valley National Park, USA, by Torrey Nyborg [HTML] or [PDF 2,220 KB], p. 113-119.
• Chapter 11. A possible Late Miocene fossil forest PaleoPark in Hungary, by Géza Császár, Miklós Kázmér, Boglárka Erdei & Imre Magyar [HTML] or [PDF 3,862 KB], p. 121-133.

The preliminary English version can be found at:

http://paleopolis.rediris.es/cg/uk-index.html#NEW

A Low Point in Quarrying for the Rhineland-Palatinate

2009-04-02T18:57:00.002-12:00

A new low point in quarrying in the Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) has been reached with the creation of a new level at the Hahnstätten limestone quarry. On 20 March 2009, a new low point was created in the accessable surface of the Rhineland-Palatinate. The previous lowest point was surpassed when the new level was excavated to 28 m AD (above datum - German: Normalnull). Limestone extraction will continue in the Hahnstätten quarry to 30 m BD (below datum) in the coming years. Of course, exposures exist in current and historical subsurface mining operations that extend to below sea level. Level 25 in the Grube Holzappel mine, for example, reaches 789 m BD.

2 New Publications from Carnets de Géologie

2009-03-26T18:50:00.002-12:00

Carnets de Géologie have issued 2 new publications: a memoir in English and a letter in both English & CASTELLANO! I have only published the links to the English versions.

Letter 1 [2009]: Serravallian (Miocene) nannofossils in Patagonia, Argentina, by Margarita SIMEONI. - Format [HTML] or [PDF 689 KB] - Reference: [CG2009_L01]
Abstract: For the first time, nannofossils found in the marine stratigraphic unit named "Patagoniano" which crops out at Cerro Chenque and Cerro Hermitte in southeastern Chubut, Argentina, are documented. They were recovered from pelitic levels in the lower part of coarsening-upward siliciclastic sedimentary sequences. The nannofossils are assigned in part to the Discoaster kugleri Zone NN7 (Martini, 1971) and CN5b (Bukry, 1971, 1973) thus allowing correlation of the productive levels with the Serravallian Stage (upper Middle Miocene).

Nota breve 1 [2009]: Nannofósiles del Serravalliano (Mioceno) en Patagonia, Argentina, de Margarita SIMEONI.- Formato [HTML] o [PDF 689 KB] - Referencia: [CG2009_L01]
Resumen: Se documenta el primer hallazgo de nannofósiles en el "Patagoniano", unidad estratigráfica marina aflorante en Cerro Chenque y Cerro Hermitte, al sudeste de Chubut, Argentina. Los nannofósiles fueron recuperados en niveles pelíticos inferiores de diferentes ciclos sedimentarios, grano-crecientes hacia la parte superior, formados por rocas siliciclásticas. Los nannofósiles pertenecen, en parte, a la Zona de Discoaster kugleri NN7 (Martini, 1971) and CN5b (Bukry, 1971, 1973) permitiendo la correlación de los niveles fértiles con el Piso Serravalliano (Mioceno Medio superior).

Note brève 1 [2009] : Nannofossiles du Serravallien (Miocène) de Patagonie, Argentine, par Margarita SIMEONI.- Format [HTML] ou [PDF 689 KB] - Référence : [CG2009_L01]
Résumé : Nous décrivons pour la première fois la découverte de nannofossiles dans une unité stratigraphique marine appelé le "Patagonien" affleurant au Cerro Chenque et au Cerro Hermitte au SE de Chubut, Argentine. Ils ont été trouvés dans les niveaux pélitiques de la partie inférieure de séquences sédimentaires silicoclastiques granocroissantes. Ces nannofossiles qui appartiennent, pour partie, à la Zone à Discoaster kugleri NN7 (Martini, 1971) et CN5b (Bukry, 1971, 1973) permettent de corréler les niveaux correspondants à l'étage Serravallien (partie supérieure du Miocène moyen).

Memoir 1 [2009]: Mediterranean Neocomian belemnites, part 3: Valanginian-Hauterivian belemnites, by Nico M.M. JANSSEN.- Format [HTML] or [PDF 2,898 KB] - Reference: [CG 2009_M01]
Abstract: The classical papers of Raspail (1829, 1830) and Duval-Jouve (1841) described a wide range of belemnite species, mainly from the Lower Cretaceous of the Castellane-Peyroules area (Alpes de Haute-Provence, France). The present work focuses mainly on the biostratigraphy of these previously described belemnite taxa for their stratigraphic relationships had not been determined precisely. Here, biostratigraphy is related to the lithologic successions and faunal associations (ammonites) of various outcrops in the area studied. Complementary data were obtained from the La Lagne, Les Allaves and Pas d'Escale sections (Alpes de Haute-Provence, France). And, in order to attain a better understanding of the stratigraphic distribution of Late Valanginian belemnites in condensed glauconitic deposits, these assemblages are compared with belemnites from deeper water successions in the Angles, Source de l'Asse de Moriez, Cheiron areas and those in the vicinity of La Charce and Ver gol that are even deeper.

Mémoire 1 [2009] : Bélemnites néocomienne des régions méditerranéennes, 3ème partie : Bélemnites de l'intervalle Valanginien-Hauterivien, par Nico M.M. JANSSEN.- Format [HTML] ou [PDF 15.672 KB] / pages 45-75 avec arrière-plan colorisé [PDF 3.477 KB] - Référence : [CG2009_M01]
Résumé : Les travaux classiques mais anciens de Raspail (1829, 1830) et Duval-Jouve (1841) décrivent une grande variété d'espèces de bélemnites, provenant essentiellement du Crétacé inférieur de la région de Castellane-Peyroules (Alpes de Haute-Provence, France). Cette nouvelle contribution s'articule autour de la distribution biostratigraphique des bélemnites décrites précédemment car jusqu'à présent cet aspect avait été négligé. Le canevas biostratigraphique est calibré avec les successions lithologiques et les associations fauniques (ammonitofaune) de plusieurs affleurements dans cette région. Des données supplémentaires ont été obtenues à partir de coupes levées dans d'autres secteurs des Alpes de Haute-Provence: La Lagne, Les Allaves et Pas d'Escale. De plus, afin de mieux comprendre la distribution stratigraphique des bélemnites du Valanginien supérieur au sein de niveaux condensés glauconitiques ces associations sont comparées avec les bélemnites de milieux de dépôt p lus profonds à Angles, à la Source de l'Asse de Moriez et à Cheiron, et avec celles des environs de La Charce et Vergol qui correspondent à des milieux plus profonds encore.

Freeze-dried fossils

2008-11-18T23:47:00.000-12:00

Some exceptionally well preserved fossils have been found in the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica's Transantarctic Mountains. They include insects, mosses, freshwater shrimps and algae and represent the remains of a tundra ecosystem existing before the big cool began about 14 million years ago. The fossils themselves are 14.07 Ma and are the first to be recovered in this area, even though it already has a 100-year history of exploration. They were discovered by an international research team led by David Marchant, associate professor of earth sciences at Boston Uni and also included Melanie Leng from the UK's NERC (Natural Environment Research Council) Isotopes Geosciences Laboratory. The findings were reported in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

ISRM Newsletter

2008-11-17T02:43:00.001-12:00

The latest edition of the ISRM (International Society for Rock Mechanics) newsletter is online here.

New e-book and CD from Carnets de Géologie

2008-09-08T18:43:00.005-12:00

Carnets de Géologie have released a new e-book and a new CD. See below for details.

Mattioli E. (special editor), Gardin S., Giraud F., Olivero D., Pittet B. & Reboulet S. (2008). Guidebook for the post-congress fieldtrip in the Vocontian Basin, SE France (September 11-13, 2008). 12th Meeting of the International Nannoplankton Association (Lyon, September 7-10, 2008), ISBN 978-2-916733-02-9, Carnets de Géologie, Brest, Book/Livre 2008/01 (CG2008_BOOK_01), 26 p., 18 figs.

Contents: • Chapter 1. The Aalenian-Bajocian (Middle Jurassic) of the Digne area. • Chapter 2. The Global Boundary Stratotype Sections and Points (GSSP) of the Hauterivian: La Charce section (Drôme, France, Vocontian Basin). • Chapter 3. The nannofossil succession of la Charce across the Valanginian-Hauterivian boundary. • Chapter 4. The OAE 1d (Oceanic Anoxic Event, latest Albian). • Chapter 5. The GSSP (Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point) for the base of the Cenomanian stage (Kennedy et al, 2004). • Chapter 6. The Cenozoic of the Barrême syncline.

[Available in English only!] [Disponible uniquement en version anglaise !]

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The new CD (tome 5) covers October 2002 to mid-July 2008. It is available for only 3 euros (+ 2 euros shipping charges) through PayPal! This edition was sponsored 1) by the organizing committee of the 12th Meeting (Lyon, September 2008) of the International Nannoplankton Association (with its representative Emanuela Mattioli) and 2) by TimeMatters, an Australian consulting paleontology company (with its representative Eric Monteil).

The things daughters say

2008-09-04T20:36:00.003-12:00

My daughter last night, going to bed, talking to mum:
"Ooh, it's cool in my bedroom tonight. Mammy, can you pull my cover straight a little bit?"
Mum: "Yes, but why?"
"Then if I grow a bit in the night, my feet won't stick out the bottom and get cold."

New 'Letter' and 'Memoir' from Carnets de Géologie

2008-08-16T20:14:00.003-12:00

A preliminary version of a new 'Letter' (CG2008 L03) was posted today.

A preliminary version of a new 'Memoir' (CG2008 M03) was posted today.
[Both are available in English only, with French abstracts] (the official release are scheduled for August 27th).

Une nouvelle "Note brève" (CG2008 L03) a été mise en ligne aujourd'hui en version préliminaire.

Un nouveau "Mémoire" (CG2008 M03) a été mis en ligne aujourd'hui en version préliminaire.
[Tous deux ne sont disponibles qu'en version anglaise, avec des résumés en français] (la livraison officielle est prévue pour le 27 Août prochain)

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Letter 3 [2008]: About the stratigraphic position of the Lower Aptian Roloboceras hambrovi level, by Pierre ROPOLO, Michel MOULLADE, Gabriel CONTE & Guy TRONCHETTI. - Format [HTML] or [PDF 180 KB] - Reference: [CG2008_L03], 7 p., 4 figs.

Abstract: In the stratotype of the Lower Aptian substage the position of the assemblage that includes Roloboceras spp. and Megatyloceras spp. has been clearly established as being in the middle part of the upper Bedoulian. Some authors have erected this horizon as a subzone, or even a zone, with R. hambrovi as species index. In other areas (southern England, eastern Spain, the Ardèche in southeastern France), where taphonomic conditions are not always as favourable as they are in the stratotype, the level at which this assemblage occurs seems to be confined to the upper part of the lower Bedoulian. Various hypotheses are considered in an attempt to explain this divergence.

Note brève 3 [2008] : Sur la position stratigraphique du niveau à Roloboceras hambrovi dans l'Aptien inférieur, par Pierre ROPOLO, Michel MOULLADE, Gabriel CONTE & Guy TRONCHETTI.- Format [HTML] ou [PDF 312 KB] - Référence : [CG2008_L03], 7 p., 4 figs.

Résumé : L'association à Roloboceras spp. et Megatyloceras spp. est clairement positionnée dans la partie moyenne du Bédoulien supérieur dans le stratotype du sous-étage, au point d'avoir été érigée en sous-zone ou même en zone, avec R. hambrovi comme espèce-index, par certains auteurs. En d'autres régions (S. Angleterre, Espagne orientale, Ardèche), où les conditions de gisement ne sont cependant pas toujours aussi favorables que dans le stratotype, cette association semblerait plutôt confinée à la partie supérieure du Bédoulien inférieur. Diverses hypothèses sont considérées en vue de tenter d'expliquer cette divergence.

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Memoir 3 [2008]: The Douvilleiceratidae (Ammonoidea) of the Lower Aptian historical stratotype area at Cassis-La Bédoule (SE France), by Pierre ROPOLO, Gabriel CONTE, Michel MOULLADE, Guy TRONCHETTI & Roland GONNET. - Format [HTML] or [PDF 8,685 KB] - Reference: [CG2008_M03], 60 p., 14 figs., 24 pls.

Abstract: Recent biostratigraphic research in the marly limestones of the Cassis-La Bédoule area (SE France) provided a rich macrofauna of Douvilleiceratidae Parona & Bonarelli, 1897. From the uppermost Barremian (Pseudocrioceras waagenoides Subzone) to the middle Aptian (Parahoplites melchioris Zone), specimens of Procheloniceras, Cheloniceras, Roloboceras, Megatyloceras and Epicheloniceras were collected in succession. In this paper we describe the various genera and species from this material and delimit precisely their stratigraphic positions. Our study shows that each genus or subgenus characterizes a discrete stratigraphic interval. In addition, the Cheloniceras meyendorffi, Epicheloniceras debile, Epicheloniceras gracile, and Epicheloniceras buxtorfi subzones, originally defined in England by Casey (1961a), are identified for the first time in the middle Aptian (Gargasian) of the Lower Aptian stratotypic area of Cassis-La Bédoule.

Mémoire 3 [2008] : Les Douvilleiceratidae (Ammonoidea) de la région du stratotype historique de l'Aptien inférieur à Cassis-La Bédoule (SE de la France), par Pierre ROPOLO, Gabriel CONTE, Michel MOULLADE, Guy TRONCHETTI & Roland GONNET.- Format [HTML] ou [PDF 8.685 KB] - Référence : [CG2008_M03], 60 p., 14 figs., 24 pls.

Résumé : Des recherches biostratigraphiques récentes dans les sédiments barrémo-aptiens du secteur de Cassis-La Bédoule (SE de la France) ont révélé une riche macrofaune de Douvilleiceratidae Parona & Bonarelli, 1897. Du Barrémien terminal (Sous-zone à Pseudocrioceras waagenoides) à l'Aptien moyen (Zone à Parahoplites melchioris) nous avons recueilli, de bas en haut, d'abord des spécimens de Procheloniceras, puis de Cheloniceras, Roloboceras, Megatyloceras et Epicheloniceras. Dans cet article nous décrivons et situons stratigraphiquement les différents genres et espèces de ce matériel. Notre étude montre que chaque genre ou sous-genre caractérise un intervalle stratigraphique particulier. De plus, les sous-zones à Cheloniceras meyendorffi, Epicheloniceras debile, Epicheloniceras gracile et Epicheloniceras buxtorfi, définies à l'origine par Casey (1961a) en Angleterre, sont reconnues pour la première fois dans l'Aptien moyen (Gargasien) de la région stratotypique de Cassis-La Bédoule.

Northernmost hydrothermal vent field found

2008-07-25T00:15:00.001-12:00

A team led by Rolf Pedersen of the University of Bergen (Norway) has discovered the world's northernmost hydrothermal vent field. The black smokers are situated at 73° north on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Greenland and Norway, more than 220 kilometres from the previous northernmost vents found during a 2005 expedition, also led by Pedersen.

Other scientists have detected plumes of water from hydrothermal vents even farther north but have been unable to find the vent fields on the sea floor to image and sample them. The cluster of five vents discharge water as hot as approx. 300°C.

Read the complete story here.

Middle Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous continental deposits from eastern High Atlas

2008-07-23T18:28:00.002-12:00

A new, preliminary "Article" (CG2008 A06) version (the official release is scheduled for August 1st) was posted on July 17. [It is primarily a French version, BUT it comes with an abridged English version.]

Un nouvel "Article" (CG2008 A06) est en ligne en version préliminaire (la livraison officielle est prévue pour le 1 Août prochain). [Il est disponible qu'en version française ET en version anglaise courte.]

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Haddoumi H., Charrière A., Andreu B. & Mojon P.-O. (2008). - Middle Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous continental deposits from eastern High Atlas (Morocco): successive paleoenvironments and paleogeographic significance. - Carnets de Géologie - Notebooks on Geology, Brest, Article 2008/06 (CG2008_A06), 29 p., 7 figs., 4 pls. Format [HTML] or [PDF 2.069 KB]

Haddoumi H., Charrière A., Andreu B. & Mojon P.-O. (2008).- Les dépôts continentaux du Jurassique moyen au Crétacé inférieur dans le Haut Atlas oriental (Maroc) : paléoenvironnements successifs et signification paléogéographique.- Carnets de Géologie - Notebooks on Geology, Brest, Article 2008/06 (CG2008_A06), 29 p., 7 figs., 4 pls. Format [HTML] ou [PDF 2.069 KB]

Abstract: In the eastern High Atlas (Morocco), continental "Red Beds" overlying the last marine deposits of Jurassic age consist of three main lithostratigraphic units: the Anoual Formation, the Ksar Metlili Formation and the Dekkar Group, bounded by two sharp sedimentary discontinuities. The Anoual Formation is a fluvial-dominated deltaic plain deposit. It is followed by a final marine transgression of Early Bathonian age. The Ksar Metlili Formation found only in some subsident areas represents a renewal of fluvio-deltaic environments with a flora of Late Tithonian-Early Berriasian charophytes. The Dekkar Group occupies a larger area of sedimentation, its limits overlap the whole domain. From bottom to top, the succession indicates the existence of three paleoenvironments: alluvial fan deposits locally associated with Barremian?-Aptian lacustrine sediments containing charophytes and ostracods, alluvial plain deposits and finally, marine coastal to brackish plain deposits of the Cenomanian. (...)

Résumé : Dans le Haut Atlas oriental marocain, les "Couches rouges" continentales succédant aux dernières formations marines jurassiques sont organisées en trois grands ensembles lithostratigraphiques : la Formation d'Anoual, la Formation de Ksar Metlili et le Groupe de Dekkar, séparés par deux importantes ruptures de l'enregistrement sédimentaire. La Formation d'Anoual correspond à des dépôts de plaine deltaïque à dominante fluviatile, suivis d'une ultime incursion marine d'âge Bathonien inférieur. La Formation de Ksar Metlili est uniquement localisée dans certaines aires subsidentes et représente un deuxième cycle fluvio-deltaïque avec des charophytes d'âge Tithonien terminal-Berriasien inférieur. Le Groupe de Dekkar traduit l'installation d'une nouvelle aire de sédimentation recouvrant l'ensemble de la région avec trois environnements successifs : cônes alluviaux associés à une sédimentation lacustre du Barrémien?-Aptien à charophytes et ostracodes, puis dépôts de plaines alluviales, enfin plaines et lagunes côtières au Cénomanien. (...)

New findings show diverse, wet environments on ancient Mars

2008-07-16T18:21:00.003-12:00

I found this Johns Hopkins University press release very interesting:

Mars once hosted vast lakes, flowing rivers and a variety of other wet environments that had the potential to support life, according to two new studies based on data from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) and other instruments on board NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO).

"The big surprise from these new results is how pervasive and long-lasting Mars' water was, and how diverse the wet environments were," says Scott Murchie, CRISM's principal investigator at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), in Laurel, Md.

One study, published in the July 17 issue of Nature, shows that vast regions of the ancient highlands of Mars -- which cover about half the planet -- contain clay minerals, which can form only in the presence of water. Volcanic lavas buried the clay-rich regions during subsequent, drier periods of the planet's history, but impact craters later exposed them at thousands of locations across the planet.

The clay-like minerals, called phyllosilicates, preserve a record of the interaction of water with rocks dating back to what is called the Noachian period of Mars' history, about 4.6 billion to 3.8 billion years ago. This period corresponds to the earliest years of the solar system, when Earth, the moon and Mars sustained a cosmic bombardment by comets and asteroids. Rocks of this age have largely been destroyed on Earth by plate tectonics; they are preserved on the moon, but were never exposed to liquid water. The phyllosilicate-containing rocks on Mars therefore preserve a unique record of liquid water environments -- possibly suitable for life -- in the early solar system.

"The minerals present in Mars' ancient crust show a variety of wet environments," says John Mustard, a member of the CRISM team from Brown University in Providence, R.I., and lead author of the Nature study. "In most locations the rocks are lightly altered by liquid water, but in a few locations they have been so altered that a great deal of water must have flushed though the rocks and soil. This is really exciting because we're finding dozens of sites where future missions can land to understand if Mars was ever habitable and if so, to look for signs of past life."

A companion study, published in the June 2 issue of Nature Geosciences, finds that the wet conditions persisted for a long time. Thousands to millions of years after the clays were formed, a system of river channels eroded them out of the highlands and concentrated them in a delta where the river emptied into a crater lake slightly larger than California's Lake Tahoe, about 25 miles (40 kilometres) in diameter. "The distribution of clays inside the ancient lakebed shows that standing water must have persisted for thousands of years," says Bethany Ehlmann, another member of the CRISM team from Brown and lead author of the study of the ancient lake within Jezero Crater. "Clays are wonderful at trapping and preserving organic matter, so if life ever existed in this region, there's a chance of its chemistry being preserved in the delta."

CRISM's combination of high spatial and spectral resolutions-better than any previous imaging spectrometer sent to Mars-reveals variations in the types and composition of the phyllosilicate minerals. By combining data from CRISM and MRO's Context Imager (CTX) and High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE), the team has identified three principal classes of water-related minerals dating to the early Noachian period: aluminum-phyllosilicates, hydrated silica or opal, and the more common and widespread iron/magnesium-phyllosilicates. The variations in the minerals suggest that different processes, or different types of watery environments, created them.

"Our whole team is turning our findings into a list of sites where future missions could land to look for organic chemistry and perhaps determine whether life ever existed on Mars," says APL's Murchie.

APL, which has built more than 150 spacecraft instruments over the past four decades, led the effort to build CRISM, and operates the instrument in coordination with an international team of researchers from universities, government and the private sector. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft.

__________

There can surely be no doubt now that Mars hosted surface water for prolonged periods in its past. I personally doubt whether this made the environment hospitable enough, or was prolonged enough, to give rise to life. I would love to be pleasantly surprised.

New memoir at Carnets de Géologie

2008-03-22T20:12:00.003-12:00

Odin G.S. (2008). - Description and illustration of forty-four gilianelles (microproblematica) and ten other microproblematica of the Cretaceous of the stratotype section at Tercis (Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary), South-West France. - Carnets de Géologie - Notebooks on Geology, Brest, Memoir 2008/01 (CG2008_M01), 82 p., 4 figs. (1 video), 16 pls. Format [HTML] or [PDF, 15,672 KB] - Reference: [CG2008_M01]

Odin G.S. (2008). - Description et illustration de quarante-quatre gilianelles (microproblematica) et de dix autres microproblematica du Crétacé de la coupe stratotypique de Tercis (limite Campanien-Maastrichtien), Sud-Ouest France. - Carnets de Géologie - Notebooks on Geology, Brest, Mémoire 2008/01 (CG2008_M01), 82 p., 4 figs. (1 vidéo), 16 pls. Format [HTML] or [PDF, 15.672 KB] - Reference: [CG2008_M01]

Only a French version is available (with English abstract and figure captions)/Il n'est disponible qu'en version française !

A supplement (the same plates but with a color background) will be published later next week/Un supplément (les mêmes planches mais avec un arrière-plan "colorisé") sera publié dans le courant de la semaine prochaine.

Abstract: Following acetolysis, microproblematica were collected from indurated carbonates sampled from the stratotype section of the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary at Tercis (Landes, France). Forty-four (44) taxa of the gilianelles group (microproblematica probably pertaining to the Protista, Protozoans, Rhizopods) as well as ten other microproblematica were discriminated. To document the taxa in this paper 281 scanning electronic microscope images and 183 optical microscope images are presented. The gilianelles encompass 36 species, and 8 subspecies referred to 15 genera of which 14 are new. The new genera are: Tercensella, Azymella, Numismella, Aturella, Scutellella, Corniculum, Caccabella, Orculiella, Pennigerella, Corbella, Aquilegiella, Pocillella, Coraliella, Obbella. Among the other microproblematica, nine species and one subspecies are proposed; they are referred to 7 new genera: Globulella, Piperella, Vasculum, Lucernellus, Cimicellus, Tubella, Pilella. This first general view uses normal taxonomic criteria to recognize and define a group of microfossils of which the identity and the consistency of occurrence are herewith established using the morphological characters of the body of the test, the presence and development of the expansions attached to that body, and its ornamentation. The use of these criteria in an ordered manner suggests that a rigorous taxonomic collocation is feasible, needing only a few other observations before becoming a formal classification. The statigraphic distribution of the taxa provides a means for establishment of a remarkable tool for relative dating in the stratotype section and its immediate vicinity; microproblematica allow the sequence to be subdivided into intervals of deposition on the order of 0.1 Ma, a length of time shorter than the intervals obtained using the many microfossil or macrofossil groups previously employed to calibrate the stratotype. The Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary is within the limits of the genus Aturella lineage in the basal portion of the range of Aturella edentula.

Résumé : L'étude des microfossiles extraits par acétolyse des niveaux carbonatés indurés de la série campano-maastrichtienne du stratotype de limite à Tercis (Landes, France) a permis de découvrir 44 taxons attribués au groupe des gilianelles (microproblematica appartenant probablement aux Protistes, Protozoaires, Rhizopodes) ainsi que dix autres microproblematica. 281 vues au microscope électronique et 183 vues au microscope optique permettent d'illustrer, chez les gilianelles, 36 espèces, et 8 sous-espèces appartenant à 15 genres dont 14 nouveaux. Les nouveaux genres sont : Tercensella, Azymella, Numismella, Aturella, Scutellella, Corniculum, Caccabella, Orculiella, Pennigerella, Corbella Aquilegiella, Pocillella, Coraliella, Obbella. Chez les autres microproblematica, neuf espèces et une sous-espèce sont proposées appartenant à sept genres nouveaux : Globulella, Piperella, Vasculum, Lucernellus, Cimicellus, Tubella, Pilella. Cette première revue d'ensemble avec identificat ion des taxons a conduit à caractériser précisément un groupe dont l'identité et la cohérence sont établies d'après les caractères morphologiques du corps des tests, des expansions qu'ils portent et de leur ornementation. Ces critères, utilisés de façon ordonnée permettent de proposer un classement rationnel qui pourra être confirmé par d'autres observations pour devenir une classification. L'étude de la répartition stratigraphique indique qu'ils constituent un remarquable outil de datation relative dans le site stratotypique et son voisinage immédiat où ils permettent d'individualiser des intervalles de dépôt de l'ordre de 0,1 Ma, plus fins que la plupart de ceux obtenus d'après les nombreux groupes de microfossiles ou de macrofossiles classiques étudiés pour qualifier ce stratotype. Le repérage de la limite Campanien-Maastrichtien peut se faire grâce à la lignée des aturelles ; elle se situe au début de la zone d'existence de l'aturelle édentée (Aturella edentula).

5th International Conference on Applied Geophysics

2008-02-20T20:04:00.002-12:00

The Abstracts of the 5th International Conference on Applied Geophysics to be hosted on the 24th - 26th February 2008 by the Egyptian Society of Applied Petrophysics (ESAP) at the National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt, are available in pdf format here.

Ralph B. Peck - 1912 – 2008

2008-02-20T00:56:00.002-12:00

Ralph B. Peck, Professor Emeritus of Foundation Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign died of congestive heart failure on February 18, 2008, at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was born in Winnipeg, Canada, to his American parents, Orwin K and Ethel Huyck Peck on June 23, 1912.

Ralph Peck earned a Civil Engineering Degree in 1934 and Doctor of Civil Engineering Degree in 1937, both from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. In 1938-39 he attended the Soil Mechanics course at Harvard University and was a laboratory assistant to Arthur Casagrande. From 1939 to 1942 Peck was an assistant subway engineer for the City of Chicago, representing Karl Terzaghi who was a consultant on the Chicago Subway Project. He joined the University of Illinois in 1942, and was a Professor of Foundation Engineering from 1948 to 1974. Since 1974, Professor Peck was a Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois, and a consultant in geotechnical engineering.

In 1948, together with Karl Terzaghi, Ralph Peck co-authored the most influential text book in geotechnical engineering, Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice. In 1953 with Walt Hanson and Tom Thornburn, Ralph Peck co-authored the widely used text book Foundation Engineering.

In 1942, Dr. Peck joined the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Illinois, where he remained as a teacher and mentor until his retirement as Professor Emeritus in 1974. After moving to Albuquerque, Dr. Peck continued his active consulting practice which included jobs in forty-four states in the USA and twenty-eight countries on five continents. His more than one thousand consulting projects include: the rapid transit systems in Chicago, San Francisco and Washington; the Alaskan Pipeline System; the James Bay Project in Quebec; and the Dead Sea dikes. He authored over 250 technical publications, and served as the President of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering from 1969 to 1973. In 1974, he was awarded the National Medal of Science by President Ford. A few of his many honors include the Norman Medal, The Wellington Prize, and the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Education from the American Society of Engineers. His last project was the Rion-Antirion Bridge in Greece. It received the ASCE’s OPAL Outstanding Civil Engineering Award for 2005, and is the only project outside the United States to be so honored.

Ralph Peck married Marjorie E. Truby on June 14, 1937. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Nancy Peck (Allen) Young, and son and daughter-in-law, James (Laurie) Peck, and grandchildren, Michael Young and Maia Peck.

New "Article" and new "Letter" at Notebooks on Geology

2008-01-31T09:19:00.000-12:00

A new "Article" (CG2008 A02) and a new "Letter" (CG2008 L01) were posted today. These are 'preliminary' versions (the final/official releases are scheduled for next Monday, i.e. 04/02/2008).

1) Andreu B. & Odin G.S. (2008).- New micropalaeontological studies on the type section of the Campanian-Maastrichtian at Tercis (SW France): new ostracodes obtained using acetolysis.- Carnets de Géologie - Notebooks on Geology, Brest, Article 2008/02 (CG2008_A02), 14 p., 2 figs., 3 pls., 2 appendices (1 fig., 1 video). Format [HTML] ou [PDF 2.490 KB] - Référence : [CG2008_A02]

2) Baudin F., Moullade M. & Tronchetti G. (2008).- Characterisation of the organic matter of upper Bedoulian and lower Gargasian strata in the historical stratotypes (Apt and Cassis-la-Bédoule areas, SE France).- Carnets de Géologie - Notebooks on Geology, Brest, Letter 2008/01 (CG2008_L01), 9 p., 4 figs., 3 pls., 3 tables. Format [HTML] ou [PDF 180 KB] - Référence : [CG2008_L01] This Letter is also part of the Memoir 200X/XX ("in press").

1) Abstract: Through the use of acetolysis new micropalaeontological studies on the type section of the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary at Tercis (SW France) we obtained additional information on ostracodes. Acetolysis on hard carbonates levels of the Tercis quarry found 22 species in addition to those of the studies published in 2001. Today, 75 species are recognized: they represent 34 known genera, and 4 currently unidentified. Small species usually rare of the genera Aversovalva, Bythoceratina and Eucytherura were collected. All of the assemblages (of both genera and species) are characteristic of a Campanian- Maastrichtian open carbonate platform environment.

2) Abstract: The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content of the Gargasian strata studied in their historical stratotype area is rather low (0.3% on average). Only a few levels show TOC values approaching 1.2%. This small amount of preserved organic matter, associated with low hydrogen index values (10 to 115 mg hydrocarbons/g TOC), argues for deposition in fully oxic conditions. This organic content is a mixture of land-derived organic particles and deeply oxidized marine organic matter. The organic flux was strongly diluted by the autochthonous carbonate input.

International Groundwater Initiatives

2008-01-29T19:21:00.000-12:00

This information came to me on one of my mailing lists.

The Hydrogeologist Time Capsule is a collection of web-accessible video interviews with eminent international hydrogeologists who have made a material difference to the hydrology profession. It includes people such as Jacob Bear, Charles Theis and Paul Witherspoon. This is an inspiring, long term contribution to water education globally.

These well planned interviews are illustrated with graphics and have chapter-references within each interview, enabling easy and quick navigation. The Centre for Groundwater Studies is proud to be associated with IAH's initiative in producing these Time Capsule interviews. They are recommended as an excellent hydrology teaching resource. View them on the web.

My thanks to:
Dr Michael Rivett
School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences
University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

New article at Carnets de Géologie

2008-01-29T04:32:00.000-12:00

A new "Article" (CG2008 A01) was posted on January 22. It is a 'preliminary' version (the final/official release was scheduled for Monday, i.e. 28/01/2007).

Moullade M., Tronchetti G. & Bellier J.-P. (2008).- Planktonic and benthic foraminiferal assemblages and biostratigraphy of the uppermost Bedoulian and lower Gargasian of La Tuilière - St-Saturnin-lès-Apt (area of the Aptian stratotype, Vaucluse, SE France). - Carnets de Géologie - Notebooks on Geology, Brest, Article 2008/01 (CG2008_A01), 50 p., 8 figs., 10 pls.
Format [HTML] or [PDF 7,370 KB] - Reference: [CG2008_A01]

Taxonomic Hierarchy / Taxonomische Hierarchie

2008-01-02T23:38:00.000-12:00

Linnaeus, the 'father of taxonomy', was the first to arrange species in a taxonomic hierarchy. This hierarchy is shown in English, German and Latin below, with examples.

English	German	Latin	Example
Kingdom	Reich	Regnum	Animalia
Sub-kingdom	Unterreich	Subregnum	Metazoa
Phylum	Abteilung/Stamm	Divisio/Phylum	Chordata
Sub-phylum	Unterstamm	Subphylum	Vertebrata
Class	Klasse	Classis	Mammalia
Order	Ordnung	Ordo	Carnivora
Sub-order	Unterordnung	Subordo	Fissipedia
Family	Familie	Familia	Canidae
Sub-family	Unterfamilie	Subfamilia	Caninae
Genus	Gattung	Genus	Canis
Species	Art	Species	Canis familiaris
Sub-species	Unterart (Rasse)	Subspecies	Canis lupus familiaris

Puente Cordoba Helping the Poor in Argentina/Puente Cordoba hilft die Armen in Argentinien

2007-12-27T01:38:00.000-12:00

Liebe Freunde, Helfer und Spender,

Wir, vom noch kleinen Verein Puente Cordoba, wünschen euch / Ihnen ein wunderschönes, besinnliches und friedliches Weihnachtsfest und einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr 2008, voller Erfolg, Gesundheit und Frieden.

Wir blicken auf ein ereignisreiches und erfolgreiches Jahr zurück. Seit Februar 2007 sind wir ein eingetragener Verein und haben in diesem Jahr einige Aktionen gemacht um unser Projekt von Tobi in Cordoba / Argentinien zu unterstützen.

Es folgt ein kurzer Jahresrüblick des Vereins Puente Cordoba: Im Februar haben wir einen Flohmarkt an der Uni Hannover organisiert. Viele von euch / Ihnen habe großzügige Sachspenden (Bücher, Kleidung, Schmuck, etc.) abgegeben, die wir dann zusätzlich zu selbstgebackenen Kuchen verkauft haben. Insgesamt haben wir €250 eingenommen, die wir tags darauf nach Argentinien überwiesen haben. Im Juni hatten wir einen Stand auf dem sonntäglichen Faust e.V. Flohmarkt, mit dem wir €50 eingenommen haben. Ende August haben Iris und Claas Tatje in Nordenham geheiratet. Sie bestimmten, gemeinsam mit dem Pastor, die Kollekte in der Kirche für unseren Verein. Es kamen €250 zusammen. Im September nahmen wir an dem lateinamerikanischen "Barrio Latino"-Fest teil. Wir übernahmen die Kinderbetreuung und verkauften nebenbei selbstgebackene Kuchen. An diesem Tag kamen €180 zusammen. Das Geld und die Spenden der Hochzeit übewiesen wir an unsere Kontaktperson Julia Simian in Argentinien, die davon Lebensmittel, Decken, Schulbücher und -hefte kaufte und sie Tobi überreichte. Durch einen Artikel über uns in der HAZ stieß Herr Pfaffeneder zu uns. Der gebürtige Argentinier freute sich über unser Engagement und bot uns seine Hilfe an. Im November flog er für 6 Wochen nach Cordoba und traf sich dort mit Tobi und seiner Familie. Er brachte ihm Geld unseres Vereinskontos und Fotos mit und gab Tobi noch eine eigene Geldspende. Wir wissen also, dass unser Geld in Cordoba ankommt und dort effizient genutzt wird.

Wir möchten uns sehr herzlich für eure / Ihre Hilfe und euer / Ihr Engagement bedanken und hoffen auf ein weiteres erfolgreiches Jahr für das Projekt von Negro Tobi.

Infos und Neuigkeiten über uns erfährt man auf unserer Homepage, die momentan von Matthias überarbeitet wird. Anbei senden wir euch / Ihnen unseren Mitgliedsantrag, der, wenn das Interesse für eine Mitgliedschaft bei uns besteht, ausgefüllt an Agnes Walter c/o Puente Cordoba e.V., Klostergang 1, 30159 Hannover, geschickt werden kann.

Weiterhin freuen wiruns natürlich sehr über Ideen, Spenden und Hilfe aller Art.

Noch einmal vielen vielen Dank für eure / Ihre Unterstützung und Spenden!

Alles Liebe wünscht Puente Cordoba e.V.

Puente Cordoba e.V.
c/o Agnes Walter
Klostergang 1
30159 Hannover
puente-cordoba@gmx.de
www.negrotobi.de

Postbank Hamburg
Kto: 583070208
BLZ: 20010020

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dear Friends,

Puente Cordoba is a charitable organization, founded in Hannover, Germany in February 2007 by Agnes Walter, who is studying for a graduate degree in education at Hannover University. It is still a very small organisation and currently has only 7 members. It needs more members and/or donations to carry on its work helping the poor in the province of Cordoba, Argentina. Donations can be made on a regular or a one-off basis to the bank account given above, preferably by bank transfer or standing order. If you are outside of Germany please feel free to write to me for further details. Please also visit the organisation's website for more information, although it is currently in German only. The registration/donation form can be downloaded here. This, too, is currently in German, but write to me if you want one in English. Also write if you need a receipt for your donation.

Thanks

Earth Science Books

2007-12-26T05:32:00.000-12:00

Landkartenhaus Gleumes, my German earth science book dealer, has the following new titles:

Andrew Goudie
PHYSISCHE GEOGRAPHIE
Physische Geographie ist ein modernes, einführendes Geographie-Lehrbuch, das durch seine klar erörterten Details, die instruktiven Abbildungen sowie die Veranschaulichung der Lehrinhalte an vorwiegend europäischen Beispielen besticht. Studenten der Geographie wie der Umweltwissenschaften und der Ökologie verstehen mit diesem erfolgreichen Werk die Prozesse der Erde in ihrer gegenseitigen räumlichen und zeitlichen Abhängigkeit. Prüfungsrelevante Fakten der Geomorphologie, Klimatologie, Hydrologie, Bodenkunde und Biogeographie sowie die Wechselbeziehungen zwischen Mensch und Umwelt sind geschickt in den Stoff eingebunden. Die deutsche Fassung wurde auf die hiesigen Studienverhältnisse abgestimmt und aktualisiert.
(Spektrum Akademischer Verlag)
4. Auflage 2007. 487 Seiten mit zahlreichen Abbildungen, Fototafeln, kartoniert.
EUR 22,00
bestellen

Winfried Reiff & Elmar P. Heizmann
DER GEOLOGISCHE LEHRPFAD IM STEINHEIMER METEORKRATER
Ein kleiner, aber sehr gut gemachter Exkursionsführer durch das Steinheimer Becken.
Zahlreiche Fotos, farbige Zeichnungen, Profilskizzen.
(Verlag Dr. F. Pfeil)
2007. 32 Seiten, 24 Abbildungen, 2 Tabellen, geheftet.
EUR 3,50
bestellen

Volker Wilde & Ewald Ockenga
WUNDERWELT VERSTEINERTER PFLANZEN
Ein kleiner Führer des Geoparks Harz.
Kurze Beschreibung der Entwicklung pflanzlichen Lebens durch die Erdgeschichte. Es folgt einen schöner Teil mit Fototafeln, aus den Pflanzenfossilien aus allen Erdzeitaltern und vielen Regionen der Erde abgebildet werden.
(Verlag Dr. F. Pfeil)
2007. 48 Seiten, geheftet.
EUR 5,00
bestellen

Vinx, R.
GESTEINSBESTIMMUNG IM GELÄNDE
Mit einfachen Methoden und wenigen Hilfsmitteln ist eine Gesteinsbestimmung im Gelände möglich. Am wichtigsten sind wohl genaue Beobachtungen und eine Lupe. Aber natürlich muss man auch die gesteinsbildenden Minerale kennen und die petrographischen Gesetzmässigkeiten und die Klassifikationen von Gesteinen verstehen. Dieses Buch erläutert die wichtigsten Arbeitsmethoden für eine erfolgreiche petrographische Feldarbeit und gibt an, welche Werkzeuge und Hilfsmittel man benötigt. Es stellt die wichtigsten gesteinsbildenden Minerale vor und erläutert die Merkmale, die man tatsächlich im Gestein beobachten kann. Alle wichtigen Gesteine werden knapp und einheitlich strukturiert beschrieben. Es wird deutlich gemacht, woran man sie tatsächlich erkennt. Der Autor weist auf unkonventionelle Ansätze aus der Praxis hin, die bei der Bestimmung helfen können. Er gibt an, welche Gesteine ohne Mikroskop nicht zu unterscheiden sind und zeigt, wie man am sinnvollsten Proben für die Untersuchung im Labor nimmt, ohne die oft empfindlichen Aufschlüsse zu zerstören. Die Gesteinsuntersuchung beschränkt sich aber nicht nur auf die Bestimmung und Benennung der Gesteine. Sie umfasst ebenso die Bedingungen ihrer Entstehung und die geologische Geschichte des Fundgebietes. Natürlich geht es auch um die Schönheit mancher Gesteine, präsentiert in durchgehend farbigen Fotos. Denn: Gesteinsbestimmung soll auch Spass machen. Dieses Buch ist durch und durch praxisorientiert. Notwendige Grundlagen werden leicht verständlich erlaeutert. Der Leser lernt die charakteristischen Merkmale der Gesteine zu verstehen. Petrographische Vorkenntnisse sind nicht erforderlich. Das Buch füllt damit eine Lücke zwischen Lehrbüchern der Petrographie und Petrologie einerseits und Gesteins- und Mineralienführern andererseits. Ein Buch dieser Art hat bisher gefehlt.
(Spektrum Akademischer Verlag)
2. Aufl. 2008. XI, 469 Seiten mit 403 Farbabbildungen, gebunden
EUR 44,00
bestellen

Jens Seeling
GEOLOGISCHE WANDERUNGEN : HEIDELBERG
Heidelberg hat nicht nur kulturelle Highlights zu bieten. Die vielfältigen Landschaften in der Umgebung der Stadt – Rheinebene, Bergstraße, Neckartal, Großer and Kleiner Odenwald, Kraichgau – machen die Region zu einem lohnenden Ziel für jeden naturkundlich Interessierten. Wie die heutige Landschaft entstand und sich über Millionen von Jahren entwickelt hat, ist nur ein Aspekt, der in diesem Buch behandelt wird. Weitere Themen sind beispielsweise Vulkanismus und Erdbeben, Wasser und Böden, Rohstoffe und Bergbau. Neben einer Fülle von Geo-Fakten bietet dieses Buch eine Reihe von Wanderungen an. Auf diesen Streifzügen in die Vergangenheit kann man Geologie und Erdgeschichte hautnah erleben und direkt nachvollziehen. Das Buch wurde durchgesehen und um zehn Exkursionspunkte sowie ein Glossar erweitert. Spannend und informativ, in einem leicht verständlichen Stil geschrieben und mit zahlreichen Fotos und Abbildungen illustriert, ist dieses Buch ein idealer Begleiter für jedermann.
2. überarbeitete und erweiterte Auflage 2007. 175 Seiten, mehr als 160 farbige Abbildungen, broschiert.
EUR 14,80
bestellen

Axel Borsdorf
GEOGRAPHISCH DENKEN UND WISSENSCHAFTLICH ARBEITEN
Geographie ist ein vielfältiges Fach. Das Studium setzt räumliches, historisches, sprachliches, kulturelles, naturwissenschaftliches und mathematisches Verständnis voraus. Die Geographie umfasst naturwissenschaftliche, geisteswissenschaftliche und sozialwissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse nicht in additiver, sondern in integrativer Sichtweise. Die erste Aufgabe dieses Buches ist es, Studienanfängern eine erste Orientierung im Fach Geographie zu vermitteln und sie in wissenschaftliches Denken und Arbeiten einzuführen. Die zweite Aufgabe ist es, eine Hilfestellung bei der Erarbeitung von Studien- und Lerntechniken zu bieten. Das Buch hat sich als kleines Lehrbuch erfolgreich bei Studierenden und Dozenten eingeführt. In der Neuauflage wurden neue Beispiele aufgenommen und die Inhalte aktualisiert.
(Spektrum Akademischer Verlag)
2007. 193 Seiten, zahlreiche Abbildungen und Tabellen, gebunden.
EUR 24,95
bestellen

Knox, Paul L. & Marston, Sallie A.
HUMANGEOGRAFIE
Das Buch Humangeographie verfolgt ein inhaltliches Konzept, das in dieser Form für ein deutschsprachiges Lehrbuch zur Einführung in die Geographie neu ist: eine Ordnung des Stoffes der allgemeinen Humangeographie im Spannungsfeld zwischen weltweiter Globalisierung einerseits und Regionalisierung/Fragmentierung andererseits. Durchgehend vierfarbig illustriert und didaktisch sorgfältig aufbereitet, steht es in der Tradition amerikanischer Lehrbücher und wird sicherlich auch deutschsprachige Studierende für das Fach Geographie begeistern. Durch den Bezug auf Alltagserfahrungen gelingt es den Autoren Paul Knox und Sally Marston, das Basiswissen der Humangeographie mit ihren methodischen Konzepten und theoretischen Ansätzen leicht verständlich zu erläutern.Im Kontext der Globalisierungsdebatte und der Umweltproblematik ist das Interesse an geographischen Fragestellungen auch außerhalb der Geographie gewachsen. Dieser stark gestiegenen Nachfrage trägt das Buch insofern Rechnung, als es explizit von den globalen Zusammenhängen ausgeht und die geschilderten Fallbeispiele weltweit ausgewählt sind. Das Buch ermöglicht so auch NichtgeographInnen, sich mit aktuellen Inhalten des Faches Geographie vertraut zu machen.
(Spektrum Akademischer Verlag)
2007. 682 Seiten, zahlreiche, meist farbige Abbildungen, gebunden
EUR 74,50
bestellen

GEO-RALLYE - Spurensuche zur Erdgeschichte
Bonn und Umgebung und Eifel herausgegeben von W.v.Königswald & K.-F.Simon
Spannende Ausflüge für Familien, Schüler und Studenten.
Exkursionsführer, mit genauen Zugangsbeschreibungen und Kartendarstellungen der beschriebenen Fundstellen.
Ideales Kompendium zur Vorbereitung einer Exkursion in Eifel und die Bonner Region mit dem Siebengebirge, auch für überregional ansässige Universitäten und Schulen. Schatztruhe allgemeinverständlicher Informationen für Lehrer, insbesondere für den Projektunterricht in allen Schulformen. Unterhaltsame Reise in Millionen Jahre zurückliegende Zeiträume. Zusammenfassung der seit 2002 stattfindenden GeoRallye der Universität Bonn mit Infopunkten, zusätzlichen Aufschlüssen und Vorstellung der Museen. 34 Autoren des Steinmann-Institutes der Universität Bonn, Fachbereich Geologie, Paläontologie und Mineralogie, erzählen von den Aufschlüsse aus ihrem jeweiligen Fachgebiet, weshalb komplexe Zusammenhänge nachvollziehbar werden. Die einzelnen Beiträge beleuchten erdgeschichtliche Thematiken aus der jeweiligen fachlichen Sicht des Autors. Durch Wiederholungen wird das Verständnis gefördert. Das Buch öffnet den Zugang zu allgemeinen, erdgeschichtlichen Fragestellungen. Sie finden in einzigartiger Weise sorgfältig erarbeitet und beschrieben Zusammenhänge der Geologie, Paläontologie und Mineralogie.
2007. 361 Seiten, zahlreiche Farbfotos und Zeichnungen, paperback.
EUR 15,90
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Earthquake scales

2007-12-09T19:34:00.000-12:00

I have a table describing the stages of the MSK64 seismic intensity scale on my website, showing translations of the different intensities from German to English and vice versa. Andrew Alden has an article on earthquake intensities on his About Geology page. Not exhaustive, it doesn't cover everything, but it gives a quick overview for the interested.