Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Matteo Branchetti, Jonathan C. O. Zepper, Siem T. J. Peters, Janne M. Koornneef, Gareth R. Davies
Summary: The study of 39 garnet harzburgites from Kimberley in the Kaapvaal Craton revealed insights into the origin, age, and evolution of the sub-cratonic lithospheric mantle (SCLM). Different characteristics of the garnet harzburgites reflect distinct evolutionary histories, likely influenced by different periods of magmatic activity.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Prashant Dhote, P. Zamarkar, D. C. Meshram, Ashish Dongre
Summary: Wehrlite xenoliths from northwest India record three events of modification in the mantle, including mantle metasomatism, phlogopite veining during rifting, and eruption of lamprophyres and mela-nephelinites. These events are related to the separation of Greater-Seychelles from India.
JOURNAL OF EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Spectroscopy
Igor S. Sharygin, Alexander Golovin, Alexey A. Tarasov, Anna M. Dymshits, Elizaveta Kovaleva
Summary: Identifying the composition of primary/primitive mantle melts by studying melt inclusions in mantle xenoliths provides key information about mantle evolution and magmatism. This study characterized mineral assemblages of unexposed crystallized secondary melt inclusions in olivine from the sheared garnet peridotites, suggesting an alkali-rich carbonate melt origin at depths greater than 150 km, genetically related to the kimberlite magmatism that formed the Bultfontein pipe.
JOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Oded Elazar, Ronit Kessel, Jin-Xiang Huang, Katharina Marquardt, Oded Navon
Summary: The study identified fluid/melt microinclusions in dusty garnets from the Roberts Victor mine in South Africa, which contain water, CO2, carbonate, and other elements that are enriched relative to the host garnet. The composition of the microinclusions resembles high-density fluids trapped in diamonds, suggesting a role of diamond forming fluids in mantle metasomatism.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Lesego Ramokgaba, Anton le Roex, Jock Robey
Summary: Samples from kimberlite bodies and dykes in Kimberley, South Africa were analyzed for their rock compositions and geochemical characteristics, revealing distinct differences in mineral compositions and geochemistry. The intrusive bodies were classified as different types of kimberlites, showing evidence of partial melting of a source region enriched in LREE. The geochemical features of the kimberlites suggest different sources and processes of formation.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Levente Patko, Zoltan Kovacs, Nora Liptai, Laszlo E. Aradi, Marta Berkesi, Jakub Ciazela, Karoly Hidas, Carlos J. Garrido, Istvan J. Kovacs, Csaba Szabo
Summary: The single-lithology and composite xenoliths from Mindszentkalla provide insights into the geochemical evolution of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle. These xenoliths show evidence of at least two metasomatic events, with the first event leading to orthopyroxene enrichment and the formation of harzburgites. The different domains of the composite xenoliths likely represent reaction products of variably evolved basaltic melts. The formation of these xenoliths is likely linked to past subduction of oceanic crust and plate extrusion.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Thando Ndarana, Tsholanang S. Rammopo, Chris J. C. Reason, Mary-Jane Bopape, Francois Engelbrecht, Hector Chikoore
Summary: Using 41 years of ERA5 reanalysis data, this study identifies two types of ridging events in the South Atlantic Ocean high pressure systems. These events are associated with different configurations of Rossby wave packets and have distinct surface and upper tropospheric anomalies. The N-type events induce stronger precipitation over the South African mainland, while the S-type events have a stronger impact on the moisture content along the southern coast.
ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Marina Karaevangelou, Maya G. Kopylova, Yan Luo, D. Graham Pearson, Vadim N. Reutsky, Paul Loudon
Summary: This study compared diamond inclusions in the Lace kimberlite and the Voorspoed kimberlite to analyze their geological characteristics. The results showed that the Lace diamonds were mainly formed from mantle carbon, and their thermal parameters were similar to those of the Voorspoed mantle. The differences between the two mainly came from geological features and thermal variations.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Elizabeth Holton, Carla Louw, Edward Archer, Tobias Louw, Gideon Wolfaardt, Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern
Summary: There has been an uneven distribution of antimicrobial agents (AAs) usage globally, with an increase in consumption worldwide. Inappropriate use of antibiotics can contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), highlighting the importance of monitoring and understanding prescribing and consumption behaviors in different communities. Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) is a cost-effective tool that allows for large-scale studies on AA usage patterns. By analyzing municipal wastewater and informal settlement discharge in Stellenbosch, the study successfully estimated community antimicrobial intake. The findings revealed higher-than-average usage in the informal settlements compared to municipal wastewater, emphasizing the need for better monitoring and control of AA usage.
Article
Geography, Physical
David Morris
Summary: Breuil's visits to Stone Age and rock art sites near Kimberley, South Africa provided insights into his initial thoughts and how they developed in relation to contemporaries. The roles of his field and editorial helpers shed light on his modus operandi, while Pratt's concept of 'discursive polyphony' helps understand the range of shifting perspectives in these histories. Opportunities are sought to reflect on the Breuil legacy in light of subsequent work in the region.
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Sonja Aulbach, Andrea Giuliani, Marco L. Fiorentini, Raphael J. Baumgartner, Dany Savard, Vadim S. Kamenetsky, Stefano Caruso, Leonid Danyushevky, Will Powell, William L. Griffin
Summary: The metasomatised continental mantle may be essential in the formation of ore deposits containing platinum-group elements (PGE) and gold. Research on highly metasomatised peridotite xenoliths from the Bultfontein kimberlite in the Kaapvaal Craton reveals key characteristics of their composition, with nickel, base metal sulphides, and spinels playing important roles in hosting PGE and gold. The presence of tellurides and metasomatic compounds may also contribute to the mineralization process.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Xiaofei Pan, Yufeng Ren, Zengqian Hou, Yongpeng Ouyang, Xuejing Gong, Qiuyun Li, Yanshen Yang
Summary: The recently discovered basanite dike in the Zaolin area of Jingdezhen, South China, contains various mantle xenocrysts and the melt may have originated from the mantle depth, forming during the rifting regime of the Eocene.
Article
Geology
L. J. Cabri, A. M. McDonald, T. Oberthur, N. Tamura, A. Vymazalova, K. C. Ross, F. Melcher
Summary: A new mineral named "andrieslombaardite" was discovered in honor of Andries Frederik Lombaard, who played a key role in its discovery, a hundred years after the discovery of the Merensky Reef. It was first found in placer deposits in British Colombia, Canada, and has since been found in other locations such as the Bushveld Complex in South Africa. The chemical composition of andrieslombaardite is RhSbS, and it belongs to the cubic crystal system.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
P. I. Ogungbuyi, P. E. Janney, C. Harris
Summary: The study of carbonatite, aillikite, and olivine melilitite from the Zandkopsdrift complex in Namaqualand, South Africa reveals chemical and isotopic differences, with uncertainties in differentiation history complicating estimation of primary magma compositions. A mantle plume likely played a role in the formation of these rocks through direct melts or as a heat source for pre-existing metasomatic heterogeneities.
Article
Geology
Jian Huang, Jin-Xiang Huang, William L. Griffin, Fang Huang
Summary: This study reports the zinc isotope compositions of Type I and Type II eclogites from the Roberts Victor kimberlite in the Kaapvaal Craton, South Africa. The results indicate that Type II eclogites have higher δZn-66 values and lower δMg-26 values, possibly due to diffusion-driven zinc-magnesium isotope exchange between the garnet and the parental melts in the deep lithosphere. In contrast, Type I eclogites show greater inter-mineral zinc isotope fractionation, likely reflecting incomplete equilibration during later metasomatism.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Holger Sommer, Alfred Kroner, Dorrit E. Jacob, Xiao-chao Che, Jean Wong, Hangqiang Xie
Summary: The TTG rocks in Viti Levu, Fiji Islands were formed through hydrous partial melting of gabbroic oceanic crust and anatexis of gabbro, resulting in the formation of tonalite and quartz diorite units during the late-Eocene to mid-Miocene. The zircon ages indicate different formation times for the parental gabbro and TTGs, with evidence of interaction with hydrothermally altered seafloor and a homogenous mantle source. Whole-rock calculations support the formation of tonalite through decompression at water-saturated amphibolite-facies conditions, while quartz diorite formed by anatexis under granulite-facies conditions at shallow depth in the South Pacific region.
PRECAMBRIAN RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
William Hicks, Sean Beevers, Anja H. Tremper, Gregor Stewart, Max Priestman, Frank J. Kelly, Mathias Lanoiselle, Dave Lowry, David C. Green
Summary: This study quantified the sources of non-exhaust particulate matter traffic emissions in London using highly time-resolved measurements over a 12-month period. The results revealed that brake wear is the primary source of non-exhaust emissions, and the emission factors are influenced by speed and road surface conditions. Further statistical analysis and advanced source apportionment techniques were used to enhance understanding of these important vehicle sources.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Alicia M. Cruz-Uribe, F. Zeb Page, Emilie Lozier, Maureen D. Feineman, Thomas Zack, Regina Mertz-Kraus, Dorrit E. Jacob, Kouki Kitajima
Summary: Garnet from an amphibolitized eclogite block in California shows complex growth patterns with similarities in composition between vein and matrix garnet. Major and trace element zoning in garnet reveals multiple growth stages, while oxygen isotope analyses suggest late-stage growth involved interaction with serpentinites.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geology
M. G. Pamato, D. Novella, D. E. Jacob, B. Oliveira, D. G. Pearson, S. Greene, J. C. Afonso, M. Favero, T. Stachel, M. Alvaro, F. Nestola
Summary: Sulfides are the most abundant inclusions in diamonds and can be used to date diamond formation via Re-Os isotopic analyses. The study found that Re-Os isotope equilibration in sulfide inclusions is sufficiently fast at mantle temperatures to be reset by the diamond-forming event, confirming that the Re-Os isochrons likely reflect the ages of diamond formation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
A. Al-Shalan, D. Lowry, R. E. Fisher, E. G. Nisbet, G. Zazzeri, M. Al-Sarawi, J. L. France
Summary: The largest observed source of methane in Kuwait is landfill sites, with smaller contributions from fossil fuel industry, wastewater treatment, and ruminant animals. Isotopic analysis helps identify the sources of methane and their relative contributions.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Euan G. Nisbet, Grant Allen, Rebecca E. Fisher, James L. France, James D. Lee, David Lowry, Marcos F. Andrade, Thomas J. Bannan, Patrick Barker, Prudence Bateson, Stephane J-B Bauguitte, Keith N. Bower, Tim J. Broderick, Francis Chibesakunda, Michelle Cain, Alice E. Cozens, Michael C. Daly, Anita L. Ganesan, Anna E. Jones, Musa Lambakasa, Mark F. Lunt, Archit Mehra, Isabel Moreno, Dominika Pasternak, Paul Palmer, Carl J. Percival, Joseph R. Pitt, Amber J. Riddle, Matthew Rigby, Jacob T. Shaw, Angharad C. Stell, Adam R. Vaughan, Nicola J. Warwick, Shona E. Wilde
Summary: This study reports methane isotopologue data from Africa and South America, highlighting the importance of tropical wetlands and fires as sources of methane emissions. The isotopic signatures of methane have significant implications for global methane budget models and efforts to reduce air pollution in Africa.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY A-MATHEMATICAL PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
James L. France, Rebecca E. Fisher, David Lowry, Grant Allen, Marcos F. Andrade, Stephane J-B Bauguitte, Keith Bower, Timothy J. Broderick, Michael C. Daly, Grant Forster, Mangaliso Gondwe, Carole Helfter, Alison M. Hoyt, Anna E. Jones, Mathias Lanoiselle, Isabel Moreno, Peter B. R. Nisbet-Jones, David Oram, Dominika Pasternak, Joseph R. Pitt, Ute Skiba, Mark Stephens, Shona E. Wilde, Euan G. Nisbet
Summary: The rising atmospheric methane burden and the uncertainty surrounding its causes are the focus of this study. The researchers present a collection of new delta C-13(CH4) signatures for tropical wetlands and rice fields, which provide insights into isotopic variation and potential seasonal shifts. Long-term monitoring at two observatories in Bolivia and Botswana shows that biogenic methane sources, particularly wetlands, dominate the records. The findings suggest significant seasonal variation in tropical wetland delta C-13(CH4) signatures, highlighting the need to incorporate this variability into future global and regional models.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY A-MATHEMATICAL PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peter B. R. Nisbet-Jones, Julianne M. Fernandez, Rebecca E. Fisher, James L. France, David Lowry, David A. Waltham, Ceres A. Woolley Maisch, Euan G. Nisbet
Summary: This note examines the justifiability of removing methane from the atmosphere, highlighting the significant positive impact it can have on reducing greenhouse effects, but also acknowledging the energy costs associated with various oxidation methods.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY A-MATHEMATICAL PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. M. Fernandez, H. Maazallahi, J. L. France, M. Menoud, M. Corbu, M. Ardelean, A. Calcan, A. Townsend-Small, C. van der Veen, R. E. Fisher, D. Lowry, E. G. Nisbet, T. Rockmann
Summary: Atmospheric methane continues to increase and it is crucial to target specific anthropogenic source categories for emissions reduction. In Bucharest, Romania, mobile measurement techniques were used to locate street-level methane leaks and determine their sources. The study found a significant number of leak indications, with a majority attributed to biogenic wastewater and natural gas. Bucharest's methane emissions exceeded those of Hamburg and Paris.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT-X
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Semra Bakkaloglu, Dave Lowry, Rebecca E. Fisher, Malika Menoud, Mathias Lanoiselle, Huilin Chen, Thomas Rockmann, Euan G. Nisbet
Summary: This study characterizes the carbon isotopic signatures of methane waste sources and explores the use of hydrogen isotopes for waste source identification. The results show distinct signatures for different waste sources, providing valuable information for regional modeling.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Geology
L. Pasqualetto, F. Nestola, D. E. Jacob, M. G. Pamato, B. Oliveira, S. Perritt, I Chinn, P. Nimis, S. Milani, J. W. Harris
Summary: This study evaluated the reliability of Sm-Nd ages in clinopyroxene inclusions in diamonds. Through crystallographic orientation analyses and Nd diffusion modeling, it was found that some inclusions were co-genetic with diamonds, while others were older. Based on the modeling results, clinopyroxene inclusions smaller than 0.2 mm and equilibrated at temperatures higher than 1050-1080 degrees C may be the most suitable for age determinations.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Simon M. Clark, Bruno Colas, Dorrit E. Jacob, Joerg C. Neuefeind, Hsiu-Wen Wang, Katherine L. Page, Alan K. Soper, Philipp Schodder, Patrick Duchstein, Benjamin Apeleo Zubiri, Tadahiro Yokosawa, Vitaliy Pipich, Dirk Zahn, Erdmann Spiecker, Stephan E. Wolf
Summary: Understanding the processes of biomineralization is important for various disciplines, such as quantifying the effects of climate change on marine organisms and advancing biomimetic materials. This study focuses on determining the structure of intermediate amorphous phases, specifically amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC), using simulations and experimental data. The researchers found that ACC consists of ordered nano-domains and a matrix of water molecules, resulting in a gel-like structure. These findings provide a new atomic-scale understanding of ACC and contribute to the general exploration of biomineralization and biomimetic processes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Simon M. Clark, Vili Grigorova, Bruno Colas, Tamim A. Darwish, Kathleen Wood, Joerg Neuefeind, Dorrit E. Jacob
Summary: Magnesium doped Amorphous Calcium Carbonate can be synthesized by adjusting the Mg/Ca ratio in the precursor solution. The resultant Amorphous Calcium Carbonate crystallizes as aragonite, with no Mg present. Changes in the Mg to Ca ratio have minimal effect on nucleation rates but strongly impact crystal growth rates, suggesting a dissolution-reprecipitation model for aragonite formation via an Amorphous Calcium Carbonate intermediate.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Amy Foulds, Grant Allen, Jacob T. Shaw, Prudence Bateson, Patrick A. Barker, Langwen Huang, Joseph R. Pitt, James D. Lee, Shona E. Wilde, Pamela Dominutti, Ruth M. Purvis, David Lowry, James L. France, Rebecca E. Fisher, Alina Fiehn, Magdalena Puehl, Stephane J. B. Bauguitte, Stephen A. Conley, Mackenzie L. Smith, Tom Lachlan-Cope, Ignacio Pisso, Stefan Schwietzke
Summary: The oil and gas sector is a significant source of methane emissions, and quantifying these emissions remains challenging. This study compares methane emission data collected from 21 offshore facilities with operator-reported emissions and a global inventory. The results show that operator-reported emissions are accurate, while the global inventory underestimates the emissions.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stephen M. Platt, Oystein Hov, Torunn Berg, Knut Breivik, Sabine Eckhardt, Konstantinos Eleftheriadis, Nikolaos Evangeliou, Markus Fiebig, Rebecca Fisher, Georg Hansen, Hans-Christen Hansson, Jost Heintzenberg, Ove Hermansen, Dominic Heslin-Rees, Kim Holmen, Stephen Hudson, Roland Kallenborn, Radovan Krejci, Terje Krognes, Steinar Larssen, David Lowry, Cathrine Lund Myhre, Chris Lunder, Euan Nisbet, Pernilla B. Nizzetto, Ki-Tae Park, Christina A. Pedersen, Katrine Aspmo Pfaffhuber, Thomas Rockmann, Norbert Schmidbauer, Sverre Solberg, Andreas Stohl, Johan Strom, Tove Svendby, Peter Tunved, Kjersti Tornkvist, Carina van der Veen, Stergios Vratolis, Young Jun Yoon, Karl Espen Yttri, Paul Zieger, Wenche Aas, Kjetil Torseth
Summary: The Zeppelin Observatory is an important atmospheric measurement site located on Zeppelin Mountain in the Svalbard archipelago. It is part of several European and global monitoring programmes and research infrastructures. This article provides details on the establishment of the observatory and presents a review of the current state of the European Arctic atmosphere and future research directions.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2022)
