Geological map of northern XU-Fjella, Heimefrontfjella, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica (Scale 1:25,000)

The geological map shows the northeastern part of the polyphase deformed Sivorg Terrane in the Heimefrontfjella/Dronning Maud Land. The basement was affected by late Mesoproterozoic and Cambrian deformation and metamorphism. Geological mapping was carried out during the Antarctic Expedition 2000/01 of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research. Topographic data were obtained through stereoscopic aerial photo interpretation. The photogrammetric photo flights were undertaken in 1986 by the Institut für Angewandte Geodäsie, Frankfurt/M. Horizontal ground control points required for aerial photo interpretation were determined by means of Doppler satellite observation during the 2nd German Neuschwabenland Expedition 1985/86. Vertical ground control points were taken from unpublished map drafts at 1:100 000 scale by Norsk Polarinstitutt, Oslo. The elevation above mean sea level was transferred to Heimefrontfjella barometrically. For this reason assertions concerning the absolute elevation (referred to sea level) are uncertain. Contours and spot heights presented on the map were obtained from the photogrammetric evaluation of the photography taken in 1986; relative elevation data (height differences) are accurate to approximately ±10 m. Published by Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Universität Bremen & Geologisches Institut, RWTH Aachen.

Geological map of HANSSONHORNA, Heimefrontfjella, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, 2nd revised Edition (Scale 1:25,000)

The geological map shows the border area between the polyphase (late Mesoproterozoic and Cambrian) deformed Sivorg Terrane and the Kottas Terrane where a pervasive Cambrian tectonometamorphic overprints is lacking. Geological revision mapping was carried out during the Antarctic Expedition 2000/01 of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research. Topographic data were obtained through stereoscopic aerial photo interpretation. The photogrammetric photo flights were undertaken in 1986 by the Institut für Angewandte Geodäsie, Frankfurt. Horizontal ground control points required for aerial photo interpretation were determined by means of Doppler satellite observation during the 2nd German Neuschwabenland Expedition 1985/86. Vertical ground control points were taken from unpublished map drafts at 1:100 000 scale by Norsk Polarinstitutt, Oslo. The elevation above mean sea level was transferred to Heimefrontfjella barometrically. For this reason assertions concerning the absolute elevation (referred to sea level) are uncertain. Contours and spot heights presented on the map were obtained from the photogrammetric evaluation of the photography taken in 1986; relative elevation data (height differences) are accurate to approximately ±10 m. Published by Geologisches Institut der RWTH Aachen & Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Bremen.

Pollen record in the area of Niederrheinische Bucht, Germany

Die Niederrheinische Bucht, ein altes tektonisches Senkungsgebiet, dessen Ausdehnung durch die Orte Aachen, Bonn, Duüsseldorf und Duisburg bestimmt ist, bildete während des jüngeren Tertiärs eine Meeresbucht am Südrande des Nordseebeckens. Noch zu Beginn des Pleistocäns erstreckte sich die Nordsee bis in den Raum von Nijmegen, und im Pliocän verlief die Kuüste etwa auf der Linie Maastricht-Kleve. Im Mittelmiocän reichte die Nordsee bis in die nördliche Niederrheinische Bucht. Marines Oberoligocän mit reicher Fauna findet sich noch in der Gegend von Köln. In Verbindung mit den marinen Transgressionen kam es in den inneren Teilen der Niederrheinischen Bucht zu mehr oder weniger ausgedehnten Vermoorungen, die zur Bildung von Braunkohlenflözen führten, unter denen das miocäne Hauptbraunkohlenflöz nordwestlich von Köln eine Mächtigkeit von mehr als 90 m erreicht. Nach NW spaltet sich das Hauptflöz in drei Teilflöze auf, die von oben nach unten als Flöz Garzweiler, Flöz Frimmersdorf und Flöz Morken bezeichnet werden. Diese Flöze können, wie neue Untersuchungen ergaben, eindeutig mit dem marinen Mittelmiocän in Verbindung gebracht werden.

Geophysical mapping of the sediment architecture in the Orkhon Valley, Mongolia

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) and capacitive coupled resistivity (CCR) measurements were conducted in order to image subsurface structures in the Orkhon Valley, Central Mongolia. The data are extended by information from drill cores to the entire transects distinguishing different sedimentary environments in the valley. The Orkhon Valley is part of the high sensitive Steppe region in Central Mongolia, one of the most important cultural landscapes in Central Asia. There, archaeological, geoarchaeological and sedimentological research aims to reconstruct the landscape evolution and the interaction between man and environment during the last millennia since the first settlement. In May 2009 and 2010 geophysical surveys have been conducted including transects with lengths between 1.5 and 30 km crossing the entire valley and a kilometre-scaled grid in the southern part of the investigation area. The geoelectrical and GPR data revealed the existence of two layers characterized by different resistivity values and radar reflectors. The two layers do not only represent material contrasts, but also reflect the influence of sporadic permafrost which occurs in several areas of Mongolia. The results help to reconstruct the evolution of the braided Orkhon River and therefore give important hints to understand the environmental history of the Orkhon Valley.

Analysis of Manganese nodules from Sonne cruises SO06/1 and /2, "Hawaii-Tahiti-Transect", Teilprojekt ICIME

Manganese nodules research has focused on the area between the Clarion Fracture Zone to the North and the Clipperton Fracture Zone to the South where significant concentrations were found ni Ni-Cu. During the CCOP/SOPAC-IOC/IDOE International workshop on the "Geology Mineral Resources and Geophysics of the South Pacific" held in Fiji in September 1975, a working group on manganese nodules was formed by scientists from: CNEXO, Brest, the Institute of Oceanography, New Zealand, Imperial College, London and the Technical University of Aachen. A draft project was presented in July 1976 by J. Andrews, University of Hawaii and G. Pautot, Cnexo on a joint survey under the name of: "Hawaii-Tahiti Transect program". Further details were worked on in September 1976 during the International Geological Congress in Sydney with the participation of D. Cronan, Imperial College, Glasby, New Zealand Geological Survey and G. Friedrich, Aachen TU. The scientific final program was established in July 1977, planning on the participation of three research vessels: the Suroit (CNEXO), the Kana Keoki (U. of Hawaii) and the Sonne (Aachen TU). Several survey areas were selected across the Pacific Ocean (Areas A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H) with about the same crustal age (about 40 million years) and a similar water depths. Being near large fault zones, the ares would be adequate to study the influences of biological productivity, sedimentation rate and possibly volcanic activity on the formation and growth of manganese nodules. The influnece of volcanic activity study would particularly apply to area G being situated near the Marquesas Fracture Zone. The cruise from R/V Sonne started in August 1978 over areas C, D, F, G K. The R/V suroit conducted a similar expedition in 1979 over areas A, B, C, D, E, H and I. Others cruises were planned during the 1979-1980 for the R/V Kana Keoki. The present text relates the R/V Sonne Cruises SO-06/1 and SO-06/2 held within the frame work of this international cooperative project.