Rapid grain boundary diffusion in foraminifera tests biases paleotemperature records.

The oxygen isotopic compositions of fossil foraminifera tests constitute a continuous proxy record of deep-ocean and sea-surface temperatures spanning the last 120 million years. Here, by incubating foraminifera tests in O-enriched artificial seawater analogues, we demonstrate that the oxygen isotopic composition of optically translucent, i.e.

A Unitary Association-based conodont biozonation of the Smithian-Spathian boundary (Early Triassic) and associated biotic crisis from South China.

Unlabelled: The Smithian-Spathian boundary (SSB) crisis played a prominent role in resetting the evolution and diversity of the nekton (ammonoids and conodonts) during the Early Triassic recovery. The late Smithian nektonic crisis culminated at the SSB, ca. 2.

Kinetic oxygen isotope fractionation upon acid liberation of CO from artificial and natural norsethite (BaMg(CO ) ), a mineral analogue of dolomite.

Rationale: The analytical method to determine the stable oxygen isotope ( O/ O) composition of carbonates via phosphoric acid digestion leads to temperature- and solid-dependent kinetic isotope fractionation. Values for the double carbonate norsethite (BaMg(CO ) ) have been unknown so far.

Methods: The temperature dependence of kinetic oxygen isotope fractionation during the reaction of synthetic and natural BaMg(CO ) with orthophosphoric acid (H PO ) according to the overall reaction BaMg(CO ) + 2H PO = Ba + Mg + 2HPO + 2CO + 2H O has been examined for the first time using separate carbonate decomposition via fluorination or phosphoric acid digestion, with the resulting gases analyzed by isotope ratio monitoring mass spectrometry.

Fast and pervasive diagenetic isotope exchange in foraminifera tests is species-dependent.

Oxygen isotope compositions of fossil foraminifera tests are commonly used proxies for ocean paleotemperatures, with reconstructions spanning the last 112 million years. However, the isotopic composition of these calcitic tests can be substantially altered during diagenesis without discernible textural changes. Here, we investigate fluid-mediated isotopic exchange in pristine tests of three modern benthic foraminifera species (Ammonia sp.

Sedimentary organic matter from a cored Early Triassic succession, Georgetown (Idaho, USA).

The plant fossil record from Lower Triassic sedimentary successions of the Western USA is extremely meager. In this study, samples from a drill core taken near Georgetown, Idaho, were analyzed for their palynological content as well as their stable carbon isotope composition. The concentration of palynomorphs is generally low.

The driving mechanisms of the carbon cycle perturbations in the late Pliensbachian (Early Jurassic).

The Early Jurassic (late Pliensbachian to early Toarcian) was a period marked by extinctions, climate fluctuations, and oceanic anoxia. Although the causes of the early Toarcian Oceanic Anoxia Event (OAE) have been fairly well studied, the events that lead to the Toarcian OAE, i.e.

Unexpected large evasion fluxes of carbon dioxide from turbulent streams draining the world's mountains.

Inland waters, including streams and rivers, are active components of the global carbon cycle. Despite the large areal extent of the world's mountains, the role of mountain streams for global carbon fluxes remains elusive. Using recent insights from gas exchange in turbulent streams, we found that areal CO evasion fluxes from mountain streams equal or exceed those reported from tropical and boreal streams, typically regarded as hotspots of aquatic carbon fluxes.

Metamorphic pressure variation in a coherent Alpine nappe challenges lithostatic pressure paradigm.

Pressure-temperature-time paths obtained from minerals in metamorphic rocks allow the reconstruction of the geodynamic evolution of mountain ranges under the assumption that rock pressure is lithostatic. This lithostatic pressure paradigm enables converting the metamorphic pressure directly into the rock's burial depth and, hence, quantifying the rock's burial and exhumation history. In the coherent Monte Rosa tectonic unit, Western Alps, considerably different metamorphic pressures are determined in adjacent rocks.

Bacterial spores, from ecology to biotechnology.

The production of a highly specialized cell structure called a spore is a remarkable example of a survival strategy displayed by bacteria in response to challenging environmental conditions. The detailed analysis and description of the process of sporulation in selected model organisms have generated a solid background to understand the cellular processes leading to the formation of this specialized cell. However, much less is known regarding the ecology of spore-formers.

Neogene sharks and rays from the Brazilian 'Blue Amazon'.

The lower Miocene Pirabas Formation in the North of Brazil was deposited under influence of the proto-Amazon River and is characterized by large changes in the ecological niches from the early Miocene onwards. To evaluate these ecological changes, the elasmobranch fauna of the fully marine, carbonate-rich beds was investigated. A diverse fauna with 24 taxa of sharks and rays was identified with the dominant groups being carcharhiniforms and myliobatiforms.

Linking megathrust earthquakes to brittle deformation in a fossil accretionary complex.

Seismological data from recent subduction earthquakes suggest that megathrust earthquakes induce transient stress changes in the upper plate that shift accretionary wedges into an unstable state. These stress changes have, however, never been linked to geological structures preserved in fossil accretionary complexes. The importance of coseismically induced wedge failure has therefore remained largely elusive.

Application of δ(18)O, δ(13)CDIC, and major ions to evaluate micropollutant sources in the Bay of Vidy, Lake Geneva.

Waters were sampled monthly from a profile at the wastewater outlet and a reference point in the Bay of Vidy (Lake Geneva) for a year. The samples were analyzed for (18)O/(16)O of water, (13)C/(12)C of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), major ions, and selected micropollutant concentrations. δ(18)O values, combined with the major ion concentrations, allowed discharged waste and storm-drainage water to be traced within the water column.

Caution on the use of NBS 30 biotite for hydrogen-isotope measurements with on-line high-temperature conversion systems.

Rationale: The supply of NBS 30 biotite is nearly exhausted. During measurements of NBS 30 and potential replacements, reproducible δ(2)HVSMOW-SLAP values could not be obtained by three laboratories using high-temperature conversion (HTC) systems. The cause of this issue has been investigated using the silver-tube technique for hydrogen-isotope measurements of water.

Opportunistic feeding strategy for the earliest old world hypsodont equids: evidence from stable isotope and dental wear proxies.

Background: The equid Hippotherium primigenium, with moderately hypsodont cheek teeth, rapidly dispersed through Eurasia in the early late Miocene. This dispersal of hipparions into the Old World represents a major faunal event during the Neogene. The reasons for this fast dispersal of H.

Bronze Age volcanic event recorded in stalagmites by combined isotope and trace element studies.

Stable isotope analyses of speleothems (carbonate deposits formed in caves) have been widely used to reconstruct paleoenvironmental conditions. Recent improvements in geochemical techniques have enabled us to analyze climate-influenced deposits at high temporal resolution so that hitherto unrecognized environmental conditions may be identified. Stable H, C and O isotope analyses on carbonate and inclusion water have been combined with multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) age dating and laser-ablation ICP-MS trace element analyses on a stalagmite from southern Hungary.

The stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope variation of water stored in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.

A set of bottled waters from a single natural spring distributed worldwide in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles has been used to examine the effects of storage in plastic polymer material on the isotopic composition (delta18O and delta2H values) of the water. All samples analyzed were subjected to the same packaging procedure but experienced different conditions of temperature and humidity during storage. Water sorption and the diffusive transfer of water and water vapor through the wall of the PET bottle may cause isotopic exchange between water within the bottle and water vapor in air near the PET-water interface.