Sedimentology of a Middle Jurassic Base-of-Slope environment, Cutri Formation, Mallorca

The Cutri Formation’s, type location, exposed in the NW of Mallorca, Spain has previously been described by Álvaro et al., (1989) and further interpreted by Abbots (1989) unpublished PhD thesis as a base-of-slope carbonate apron. Incorporating new field and laboratory analysis this paper enhances this interpretation. From this analysis, it can be shown without reasonable doubt that the Cutri Formation was deposited in a carbonate base-of-slope environment on the palaeowindward side of a Mid-Jurassic Tethyan platform. Key evidence such as laterally extensive exposures, abundant deposits of calciturbidtes and debris flows amongst hemipelagic deposits strongly support this interpretation.

Fossil associations from the middle and upper Eocene strata of the Pamplona Basin and surrounding areas (Navarre, western Pyrenees)

Fossil associations from the middle and upper Eocene (Bartonian and Priabonian) sedimentary succession of the Pamplona Basin are described. This succession was accumulated in the western part of the South Pyrenean peripheral foreland basin and extends from deep-marine turbiditic (Ezkaba Sandstone Formation) to deltaic (Pamplona Marl, Ardanatz Sandstone and Ilundain Marl formations) and marginal marine deposits (Gendulain Formation). The micropalaeontological content is high. It is dominated by foraminifera, and common ostracods and other microfossils are also present. The fossil ichnoasssemblages include at least 23 ichnogenera and 28 ichnospecies indicative of Nereites, Cruziana, Glossifungites and ?Scoyenia-Mermia ichnofacies. Body macrofossils of 78 taxa corresponding to macroforaminifera, sponges, corals, bryozoans, brachiopods, annelids, molluscs, arthropods, echinoderms and vertebrates have been identified. Both the number of ichnotaxa and of species (e. g. bryozoans, molluscs and condrichthyans) may be considerably higher. Body fossil assemblages are comparable to those from the Eocene of the Nord Pyrenean area (Basque Coast), and also to those from the Eocene of the west-central and eastern part of South Pyrenean area (Aragon and Catalonia). At the European scale, the molluscs assemblages seem endemic from the Pyrenean area, although several Tethyan (Italy and Alps) and Northern elements (Paris basin and Normandy) have been recorded. Palaeontological data of studied sedimentary units fit well with the shallowing process that throughout the middle and late Eocene occurs in the area, according to the sedimentological and stratigraphical data.

Revisiting the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous of the NW South Iberian Basin: new ages and sedimentary environments

The study of the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous deposits (Higueruelas, Villar del Arzobispo and Aldea de Cortés Formations) of the South Iberian Basin (NW Valencia, Spain) reveals new stratigraphic and sedimentological data, which have significant implications on the stratigraphic framework, depositional environments and age of these units. The Higueruelas Fm was deposited in a mid-inner carbonate platform where oncolitic bars migrated by the action of storms and where oncoid production progressively decreased towards the uppermost part of the unit. The overlying Villar del Arzobispo Fm has been traditionally interpreted as an inner platform-lagoon evolving into a tidal-flat. Here it is interpreted as an inner-carbonate platform affected by storms, where oolitic shoals protected a lagoon, which had siliciclastic inputs from the continent. The Aldea de Cortés Fm has been previously interpreted as a lagoon surrounded by tidal-flats and fluvial-deltaic plains. Here it is reinterpreted as a coastal wetland where siliciclastic muddy deposits interacted with shallow fresh to marine water bodies, aeolian dunes and continental siliciclastic inputs. The contact between the Higueruelas and Villar del Arzobispo Fms, classically defined as gradual, is also interpreted here as rapid. More importantly, the contact between the Villar del Arzobispo and Aldea de Cortés Fms, previously considered as unconformable, is here interpreted as gradual. The presence of Alveosepta in the Villar del Arzobispo Fm suggests that at least part of this unit is Kimmeridgian, unlike the previously assigned Late Tithonian-Middle Berriasian age. Consequently, the underlying Higueruelas Fm, previously considered Tithonian, should not be younger than Kimmeridgian. Accordingly, sedimentation of the Aldea de Cortés Fm, previously considered Valangian-Hauterivian, probably started during the Tithonian and it may be considered part of the regressive trend of the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous cycle. This is consistent with the dinosaur faunas, typically Jurassic, described in the Villar del Arzobispo and Aldea de Cortés Fms.

Upper-Pleistocene terrace deposits in Mediterranean climate: geomorphological and source-rock control on mineral and geochemical signatures (Betic Cordillera, SE Spain)

Mineral and chemical composition of alluvial Upper-Pleistocene deposits from the Alto Guadalquivir Basin (SE Spain) were studied as a tool to identify sedimentary and geomorphological processes controlling its formation. Sediments located upstream, in the north-eastern sector of the basin, are rich in dolomite, illite, MgO and KB2BO. Downstream, sediments at the sequence base are enriched in calcite, smectite and CaO, whereas the upper sediments have similar features to those from upstream. Elevated rare-earth elements (REE) values can be related to low carbonate content in the sediments and the increase of silicate material produced and concentrated during soil formation processes in the neighbouring source areas. Two mineralogical and geochemical signatures related to different sediment source areas were identified. Basal levels were deposited during a predominantly erosive initial stage, and are mainly composed of calcite and smectite materials enriched in REE coming from Neogene marls and limestones. Then the deposition of the upper levels of the alluvial sequences, made of dolomite and illitic materials depleted in REE coming from the surrounding Sierra de Cazorla area took place during a less erosive later stage of the fluvial system. Such modification was responsible of the change in the mineralogical and geochemical composition of the alluvial sediments.

The Neolithic of El Niño cave (Ayna, Albacete) in the Sierra del Segura context

Since its excavation in the summer of 1973, El Niño cave has been considered a key site to understand the process of production economy and pottery technology introduction in South-eastern Iberian Peninsula, and especially to approach how such process could have affected people already settled in the Segura mountains. However, data from El Niño cave was very fragmentary, due to the lack of a broad study of Neolithic occupations of the site. In this paper, we present the analysis of pottery, lithic industry and faunal remains, as well as the existing dates from the site´s Holocene levels. The review of different evidence from the site allows suggesting that El Niño cave would have probably acted as a hunting and shepherding station, being a logistical site of larger places. However, limitations due to the fact that we are dealing with a 40- year-old excavation, prevent specifying how the process of Neolithic introduction in the Segura Mountains occurred.

Argaric Sociology: Sex and Death

The detailed, rich and diverse Argaric funerary record offers an opportunity to explore social dimensions that usually remain elusive for prehistoric research, such us social rules on kinship rights and obligations, sexual tolerance and the role of funerary practices in preserving the economic and political organization. This paper addresses these topics through an analysis of the social meaning of Argaric double tombs by looking at body treatment and composition of grave goods assemblages according to gender and class affiliation. The Argaric seems to have been a conservative society, scarcely tolerant regarding homosexuality, and willing to celebrate ancestry associated to certain places as a means of asserting residence and property rights.

Source Provenance of Pre-Historic Granitic Grindstones: The Case Study of the Cogotas I Archaeological Site of Arroyo Mucientes/San Lázaro (Castronuño, Valladolid) and a Proposal on the General Methodological Flow Process

The occurrence of hand grindstones at the Cogotas I archaeological sites is considered to be a common feature. Given that a distant-provenance raw material is frequently involved, determination of its source is a basic factor in the search for a better understanding of resource management and for any Political Economy approach. To progress in these directions an overall study should be planned, using selected grindstones with a view to covering diverse sub-zones of the Cogotas I dispersal area, especially because of its considerable distance from the granite basement source. Such a study may today includes diverse analytical procedures combining successive geographic, petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical criteria. To check the plausibility of the proposed methodology, a preliminary test has been carried out on two granite grindstones, obtained at the archaeological excavation at the Castronuño (Valladolid) Cogotian site, which is fifty km away from an inferred source area that was presumably located at Peñausende (Zamora). The result obtained validates the proposed operational process, yielding a generalizable knowledge to other similar situations.

Caracterização geológica e geofísica da área do porto da Figueira da Foz

No âmbito de um projeto realizado para a Administração Portuária do Porto da Figueira da Foz, foram recolhidos dados geofísicos no offshore da costa da Figueira da Foz, utilizando um sistema combinado de sonar de varrimento lateral e de sísmica de alta resolução com o objetivo de compreender a distribuição de sedimentos ao longo do fundo marinho e assim entender melhor a sua origem. Os dados de varrimento lateral foram processados, analisados e representados em mosaicos recorrendo ao software integrado TRINTON Prespective. Foram colhidas 10 amostras de sedimentos de fundo que foram analisadas do ponto de vista granulométrico e que foram usadas para a calibração dos mosaicos do sonar de varrimento lateral de modo a produzir um mapa semi-quantitativo de classificação dos sedimentos de fundo. Os dados de reflexão sísmica foram processados e analisados através dos softwares SPW e RadExPro. Os mapas de sonar de varrimento lateral produzidos (mosaicos) mostram uma relação entre o tamanho de grão e composição dos depósitos de plataforma interna e os processos geológicos que ocorrem na zona costeira adjacente. Também se verifica uma relação entre a orientação da costa e a sua consequente exposição às ondas incidentes, e como isso afeta e altera a distribuição do tamanho grão. Neste contexto, a interpretação combinada dos mosaicos do sonar de varrimento lateral com os dados de granulometria e a batimetria dos sedimentos permitiram uma cartografia interpretativa detalhada da morfologia do mar, uma melhor compreensão do controlo da linha costeira na propagação das ondas e correntes e, por conseguinte, na transferência de sedimento no litoral. Os dados de sísmica permitem ainda verificar a espessura das várias camadas geológicas em profundidade.

Diques de terremotos cerca de San Salvador

En muchos lugares alrededor de la capital y en las riberas del lago de Ilopango se encuentran diques verticales cortando capas casi horizontales de cenizas. Existen por lo menos seis de estos diques, uno cerca del otro a 200 m al norte de la Ciudad Universitaria en el profundo barranco de mejicanos. La mayor parte de dichos diques consisten en cenizas arcillosas, en la parte central de los diques más gruesos se encuentran pequeños granos de pómez blancos y pedacitos regulares de lava oscura. Otros diques cortan los depósitos de pómez, sedimentados por la acción del agua, en los márgenes del Río Acelhuate cerca del nuevo boulevard hacia el aeropuerto de Ilopango. Uno de estos en la margen oriente del río, tiene forma de un tronco de árbol, cuya raíces se abren hacia abajo. El origen de estos diques esta fuera de dudas,se formaron de la misma manera que los diques de arenisca ya descritos en muchas partes del mundo, especialmente aquellos que cortan las rocas terciarias de la Cordillera de la Costa de California.

Examen geológico-Petrografico de un Perfil de Toba en la República de El Salvador(informe preliminar)

Gran parte de la República de El Salvador está cubierta por productos de explosiones volcánicas, originarias de los diferentes volcanes activos y apagados, estos depósitos volcánicos no son solamente testigos importantes de la actividad volcánica, sino también representan un factor determinativo del paisaje Salvadoreño y son como rocas madres de la cual se origina el suelo de importancia básica para la agricultura. En la Carretera del Norte entre Villa Delgado y Apopa, hay depósitos de cenizas volcánicas en buena exposición por la construcción de la carretera, en los paredones de los cortes se observa la sucesión de 4 a 5 capas distintas de materiales diferentes, unas encimas de las otras. Estos estratos están separados por horizontes de descomposición, es decir de tierras negras. Fue objeto de este estudio reconocer la composición de dichas capas y aquella de las resultantes tierras descompuestas. Para tal fin se tomo 10 muestras de un perfil situado a unos 400 metros al norte del tercer cruce ferroviario al norte de Villa Delgado, en la propia carretera.

Las cenizas de pómez en los alrededores de San Salvador

En los alrededores de la ciudad de San Salvador abundan cenizas blancas de pómez, la llamada “Tierra blanca”, resultantes de erupciones del volcán El Boquerón. Los horizontes de descomposición permiten estudiar la estratificación de las cenizas de pómez tal como se detalladamente en vista de 3 perfiles. El contenido mineral y el análisis químico indican un magma acido, rico en cal. Una investigación de las distintas capaz de ceniza, respecto a la distribución de granos y minerales, da a conocer diferencias cuantitativas apropiadas para la comprobación de los perfiles. En la descomposición de las cenizas el vidrio se transforma de preferencia en metahaloisa los demás minerales se muestran bastante estables, a excepción de los piroxenes. Por consiguiente la descomposición se efectúa solamente con pocas transformaciones químicas, la descomposición de depósitos de edad conocida, parece realizarse muy lentamente bajo las condiciones climáticas actuales en El Salvador. De eso resultan algunos datos para la historia de las expulsiones del volcán El Boquerón que muestra una actividad muy larga con largos tiempos de calma y periodos breves de erupciones violentas.

Tintado de superficies y efectos visuales mediante el uso de micro y nanopartículas metálicas

Sistema de coloración de superficies mediante el empleo de soluciones de partículas nanoscópicas metálicas depositadas sobre la superficie del objeto a tintar. Al no suponer un recubrimiento completo de la superficie, como el que se da en depósitos moleculares, sino un depósito discreto de partículas, dejará pasar los detalles originales de la superficie. Este método presenta la ventaja de que el color se controla mediante la elección del tipo de partícula o mezcla de ellas y no únicamente mediante el control del espesor de la lámina depositada, en el caso de deposiciones moleculares. Lo parámetros de control y diseño son: forma de las partículas, tamaño de las partículas, relación de aspecto de las mismas, naturaleza material de las partículas, concentración de partículas, relación de mezcla de las partículas.

Dispositivo automático de pesada diseñado para medir la evaporación desde el suelo

Este dispositivo mide la evaporación del suelo humedecido mediante un emisor de riego localizado. Consiste en dos depósitos cilíndricos, concéntricos. El depósito exterior (1) contiene una célula de carga (3) que soporta al depósito interior (2) y permite medir la evaporación mediante diferencias de pesada. El depósito interior contiene el suelo (2a) y un espacio inferior (2b) en el que se recoge el agua de drenaje. El diámetro del depósito interior se diseña con el objetivo de contener toda la superficie humedecida por el emisor y su profundidad no es muy elevada, ya que la evaporación se produce desde la superficie del suelo. La toma de datos se realiza de modo automático mediante un registrador de datos o sistema de adquisición de datos.

Metodología para la medición del riesgo de liquidez en una cooperativa financiera

Este trabajo plantea la implementación de una metodología para la medición del riego de liquidez al modelo interno adoptado por CONFIAR Cooperativa Financiera, haciendo énfasis en proyecciones estadísticas de los depósitos y retiros de cuentas de ahorro a la vista, depósitos y retiros de aportes sociales, captaciones en contratos de depósito a término, captaciones en depósitos contractuales y los desembolsos de créditos, a través del modelo de series de tiempo para la construcción del flujo de caja, conforme a lo exigido por la Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia.