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Geology topics

R.J. Rosenbauer

Publications and source records attributed to R.J. Rosenbauer.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
USGS1993

Ikaite precipitation by mixing of shoreline springs and lake water, Mono Lake, California, USA

Metastable ikaite (CaCO 3 ·6H 2 O) forms abundantly during winter months along the south shoreline of Mono Lake where shoreline springs mix with lake water. Ikaite precipitates because of its decreased solubility at low temperature and because of orthophosphate-ion inhibition of calcite and aragonite. During the spring some of the ikaite is transformed to anhydrous CaCO 3 and is incorporated into tufa, but most is dispersed by wave action into the lake where it reacts to form gaylussite (Na 2 Ca(CO 3 ) 2 · 5H 2 O). Spring waters have low pH values, are dominantly Ca-Na-HCO 3 , have low radiocarbon activities, and are mixtures of deep-seated geothermal and cold groundwaters. Chemical modeling reveals that precipitation of CaCO 3 can occur over a broad range of mixtures of spring and lake water with a maximum production occurring at 96% spring water and 4% lake water. Under these conditions all the Ca and a significant fraction of the CO 3 of the precipitate is spring supplied. A radiocarbon age of 19,580 years obtained on a natural ikaite sample supports this conclusion. With the springs supplying a large and probably variable portion of the carbonate, and with apparent 14 C age of the carbonate varying from spring to spring, tufa of similar actual antiquity may yield significantly different 14 C dates, making tufa at this location unsuitable for absolute age dating by the radiocarbon method.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1993

A flexible Au-Ir cell with quick assembly for hydrothermal experiments

The paper describes a new flexible reaction cell for high-temperature and high-pressure experiments in hydrothermal apparatus. The interior of the cell is all Au, except for two inert Ir gaskets. The design features an all Au cap that can be easily and rapidly assembled and disassembled. The capacity of the cell is approximately 240 mL, with a height of 20 cm and an o.d. of 6 cm. -Authors

American Mineralogist↗
USGS1992

Geochemical effects of deep-well injection of the Paradox Valley brine into Paleozoic carbonate rocks, Colorado, U.S.A.

Brine seepage into the Dolores River from ground water in Paradox Valley, Colorado constitutes a major source of salt to the Colorado River. Plants are enderway to remove this source of salt by drawing down the Paradox Valley brine (PVB) and forcibly injecting it into a deep disposal well (4.8 km). Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of deep-well injection of PVB. The results show that PVB is near saturation with anhydrite at 25°C, and that heating results in anhydrite precipitation. The amount and the rate at which anhydrite forms is temperature, pressure, and substrate dependent. Paradox Valley brine heated in the presence of Precambrian rocks from the drill core produces the same amount of anhydrite as PVB heated alone, but at a greatly accelerated rate. A 30% dilution of PVB with Dolores River water completely eliminates anhydrite precipitation when the fluid is heated with the Precambrian rocks. Interaction of PVB and Leadville Limestone is characterized by dolomitization of calcite by brine Mg which releases Ca to solution. This added Ca reacts with SO 4 to form increased amounts of anhydrite. A 20% dilution of PVB by Dolores River water has no effect on dolomitization and reduces the amount of anhydrite only slightly. A 65% dilution of PVB by Dolores River water still does not prevent dolomitization but does suppress anhydrite formation. Computer modeling of PVB by programs utilizing the Pitzer ion-interaction parameters is in general agreement with the experimental results. Ion-activity products calculated by both SOLMINEQ and PHRQPITZ are close to equilibrium with both anhydrite and dolomite whenever these phases are present experimentally, although the calculations over-estimate by a factor of 2 the degree of saturation. Some discrepancies in the calculated results between the two programs are due largely to differences in mineral solubility data.

Colorado↗
USGS1991

Gaylussite formation at Mono Lake, California

The salinity of Mono Lake has steadily increased since 1941 from 50%. to about 90%. due to diversion of tributary streams. This increase has resulted in the newly discovered precipitation of gaylussite (Na 2 Ca(CO 3 ) 2 · 5H 2 O). Chemical modeling of the lake water using Pitzer equations suggests that gaylussite has been forming year round since about 1970 when the salinity first exceeded 80%., and that it was earlier forming intermittently at lower salinities in the winter shortly after diversion began, breaking down incongruently to aragonite during summers. Lake water appears to remain at a constant 9-fold supersaturation with aragonite at all salinities, perhaps buffered by monohydrocalcite which appears to be just at saturation for all salinities. Other saline lakes also appear to be buffered by monohydrocalcite.

California↗
USGS1991

UDATE1: A computer program for the calculation of uranium-series isotopic ages

UDATE1 is a FORTRAN-77 program with an interface for an Apple Macintosh computer that calculates isotope activities from measured count rates to date geologic materials by uranium-series disequilibria. Dates on pure samples can be determined directly by the accumulation of 230Th from 234U and of 231Pa from 235U. Dates for samples contaminated by clays containing abundant natural thorium can be corrected by the program using various mixing models. Input to the program and file management are made simple and user friendly by a series of Macintosh modal dialog boxes. ?? 1991.

Computers & Geosciences↗
USGS1988

Experimental oxygen isotope fractionation between siderite-water and phosphoric acid liberated CO2-siderite

The equilibrium fractionation of O isotopes between synthetic siderite and water has been measured at temperatures ranging from 33° to 197°C. The fractionation between siderite and water over this temperature range can be represented by the equation: 10 3 ln α = 3.13 × 10 6 T −2 − 3.50. Comparison between the experimental and theoretical fractionations is favorable only at approximately 200°C; at lower temperatures, they generally differ by up to 2 permil. Siderite was prepared by the slow addition of ferrous chloride solutions to sodium bicarbonate solutions at the experimental temperatures. It was also used to determine the O isotope fractionation factors between phosphoric acid liberated CO 2 and siderite. The fractionation factors for this pair at 25° and 50°C are 1.01175 and 1.01075, respectively. Preliminary results of the measured C isotope fractionation between siderite and Co 2 also indicate C isotopic equilibrium during precipitation of siderite. The measured distribution of 13 C between siderite and CO 2 coincides with the theoretical values only at about 120°C. Experimental and theoretical C fractionations differ up to 3 permil at higher and lower temperatures.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1988

A test of uranium-series dating of fossil tooth enamel: Results from Tournal Cave, France

A series of well preserved mammal bones and horse teeth was analyzed from archaeological levels of Tournal Cave (Magdalenian, Aurignacian, and Mousterain) to test the hypothesis that well-crystallized enamel behaves more as a closed system than does whole bone. The isotopic composition of bones and tooth enamels from this deposit meet criteria for confidence, and gave no reasons to suspect contamination or open-system behavior. Two samples for which 231 Pa could be analyzed showed internal concordance with the respective 230 Th ages. In spite of the favourable isotopic criteria, however, comparison of the U-series ages of the bones and the tooth enamel with stratigraphic position and 14 C control indicated the dates were not meaningful. In general, both bones and tooth enamels gave ages too young, although some were clearly too old. Neither group showed any systematic increase of age with stratigraphic depth. Tooth enamel, therefore, shows no advantage over bone for U-series dating for this site. In Tournal cave both bones and enamel are apparently open to U, which is probably cycling as a consequences of post-depositional groundwater movement.

Applied Geochemistry↗
USGS1983

Hydrothermal alteration of graywacke and basalt by 4 m NaCl

Separate experiments at 350 degrees C and 500 bars at a rock/fluid ratio of 1/10. Illite, dolomite, and quartz amounting to 67 percent of the original graywacke, were converted to albite and smectite. The rock gained Na and released Ca, K, heavy metals, and CO 2 to solution. In sharp contrast, the reaction of 4 m NaCl with basalt produced only minor alteration. Albitization of graywacke produces H (super +) whereas albitization of basalt apparently consumes H (super +) . All experiments to date that have reacted basalt with sea water, natural brine, and fully saturated NaCl over a variety of conditions have been unsuccessful in producing a spilite alteration assemblage.

Economic Geology↗
USGS1983

Thermal decarboxylation of acetic acid: Implications for origin of natural gas

Laboratory experiments on the thermal decarboxylation of solutions of acetic acid at 200°C and 300°C were carried out in hydrothermal equipment allowing for on-line sampling of both the gas and liquid phases for chemical and stable-carbon-isotope analyses. The solutions had ambient pH values between 2.5 and 7.1; pH values and the concentrations of the various acetate species at the conditions of the experiments were computed using a chemical model. Results show that the concentrations of acetic acid, and not total acetate in solution, control the reaction rates which follow a first order equation based on decreasing concentrations of acetic acid with time. The decarboxylation rates at 200°C (1.81 × 10 −8 per second) and 300°C (8.17 × 10 −8 per second) and the extrapolated rates at lower temperatures are relatively high. The activation energy of decarboxylation is only 8.1 kcal/mole. These high decarboxylation rates, together with the distribution of short-chained aliphatic acid anions in formation waters, support the hypothesis that acid anions are precursors for an important portion of natural gas. Results of the δ 13 C values of CO 2 , CH 4 , and total acetate show a reasonably constant fractionation factor of about 20 permil between CO 2 and CH 4 at 300°C. The δ 13 C values of CO 2 and CH 4 are initially low and become higher as decarboxylation increases.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1983

Geochemistry and economic potential of massive sulfide deposits from the eastern Pacific Ocean

Bulk chemical analyses are performed for major and minor elements using a variety of techniques on a suite of 9 samples of sea floor massive sulfide deposits from 21?N EPR, Juan de Fuca Ridge and Galapagos Rift. Results indicate that deposits at 21?N and Juan de Fuca are very similar despite a geographic separation of 2300 km and are composed primarily of Zn, Fe, and S, with important minor concentrations of Ag, As, Cd and Ge. The Galapagos Rift massive sulfide is primarily Fe, Cu and S and with important minor contents of only Co and Mo. Au is low, ranging from below detection up to 0.17 ppm. Pt group metals are very low, and average about 0.001 ppm. Consideration of enrichment factors and relative metal abundance suggests that MORB is a sufficient source for all the metals enriched in the sea floor deposits. The economically important metals for the 21?N and Juan de Fuca deposits are primarily Zn and Ag, (97%) with potential by-products of Cu, Cd and possibly, Ge. For the Galapagos Rift, the primary value is with Cu (86%) with potential by-products of Co and Mo. The Galapagos Rift deposit is similar to, but contains about twice the Cu content, of typical ore from the Skouriotisa mine of the Troodos complex of Cyprus. The grade of the 21?N/Juan de Fuca deposits is 4 times greater than that of the Galapagos Rift and about twice that of prime deep-sea manganese nodules.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1981

Uranium series dating of human skeletal remains from the Del Mar and Sunnyvale sites, California

Uranium series analyses of human bone samples from the Del Mar and Sunnyvale sites indicate ages of 11,000 and 8,300 years, respectively. The dates are supported by internal concordancy between thorium-230 and protactinium-231 decay systems. These ages are significantly younger than the estimates of 48,000 and 70,000 years based on amino acid racemization, and indicate that the individuals could derive from the population waves that came across the Bering Strait during the last sea-level low.

California↗
USGS1977

Recent metalliferous sediment in the North Pacific manganese nodule area

Quaternary sediments cored in the northeast Pacific nodule area (DOMES site C, 14°N, 126°W) contain a significant amount of hydrothermal metalliferous mud. Water content, color, mineralogy, and chemical composition are analogous to metalliferous sediments of the subequatorial East Pacific Rise. Correction for contribution of pelagic clay indicates the metalliferous fraction to be about 40% of the sediment. SiO 2 and Mg are major components in the corrected composition, as they are for other metalliferous sediments similarly corrected from a variety of East Pacific Rise and DSDP metalliferous sediments. A correlation between Mg and SiO 2 for these corrected sediments could indicate a hydrothermal origin for a significant portion of the SiO 2 . Results from DSDP in the nodule area suggest that metalliferous globules are a ubiquitous minor component of the Clipperton Oceanic Formation, which underlies much of the Pacific ferromanganese nodule belt. This indicates that deposition of hydrothermal precipitates is not confined to spreading centers.

Earth and Planetary Science Letters↗