A global horizon scan of the future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on urban ecosystems

Technology is transforming societies worldwide. A major innovation is the emergence of robotics and autonomous systems (RAS), which have the potential to revolutionize cities for both people and nature. Nonetheless, the opportunities and challenges associated with RAS for urban ecosystems have yet to be considered systematically. Here, we report the findings of an online horizon scan involving 170 expert participants from 35 countries. We conclude that RAS are likely to transform land use, transport systems and human–nature interactions. The prioritized opportunities were primarily centred on the deployment of RAS for the monitoring and management of biodiversity and ecosystems. Fewer challenges were prioritized. Those that were emphasized concerns surrounding waste from unrecovered RAS, and the quality and interpretation of RAS-collected data. Although the future impacts of RAS for urban ecosystems are difficult to predict, examining potentially important developments early is essential if we are to avoid detrimental consequences but fully realize the benefits

2DTraC : an Excel add-in for 2D spacial transformations with applications in microscopy and microanalysis

A Microsoft Excel add-in has been developed to aid the relocation of analysis points on petrographical samples between analytical runs on different microscopes and instruments. The general procedure is as follows. Two readily identifiable reference points are defined on the sample. During the first analytical run, the positions of these reference points and of any features of interest are recorded using the co-ordinate system of this instrument. During a subsequent run, which may be on a different instrument with a different co-ordinate system, the positions of the reference points are recorded. The add-in then uses the reference point positions to calculate a set of transformations that maps the co-ordinate system of the first instrument into that of the second. These transformations are then applied to the co-ordinates of the features of interest to calculate their expected positions on the second instrument

Sedimentary and diagenetic environments of the Wildmoor Sandstone Formation (UK) : implications for groundwater and contaminant transport, and sand production

The Wildmoor Sandstone Formation, proved in three boreholes drilled at Birmingham University, is dominated by fine- to medium-grained sandstones deposited in a braided river environment, within which channel lag, channel fill and abandoned channel facies are recognized. Minor proportions of aeolian sandsheet are present, as are dolocretes, not previously reported in the formation. The sandstones are feldspathic and lithic arenites, and typically are clay-poor. Early dolomite dominates the diagenetic overprint, and is preferentially developed in channellag deposits. Burial diagenetic effects are minor. Late calcite occurs as a pore-filling phase and within fractures. Minor fractures and granulation seams are oriented parallel to the NE-SW Birmingham Fault. ‘Conventional’ granulation seams, with comminution of detrital material, and more complex seams containing comminuted dolomite cement with a millimetre-wide halo of dolomite cement are present, the latter implying that the sandstone was dolomitecemented at the time of fracturing. Several scales of heterogeneity will affect groundwater solute transport. The palaeosols and abandoned channel mudstones may act as barriers to vertical flow at the decimetre scale. Dolomite-cemented channel-lag deposits may act similarly at smaller scales. Granulation seams have permeabilities of two-three orders of magnitude lower than their host sandstones, but their limited occurrence may limit their impact on larger scale flow. Matrix permeability is controlled by grain size and dolomite cement. The fines in the fine-grained, ripple cross-laminatied sandstones were extensively washed out during coring, and this lithology may be a source of sand yields in some sandstone boreholes. Although no enhancement of particle yields was seen during packer testing, the possibility remains that more comprehensive failure may occur at higher pumping rates

Direct evidence of fluid mixing in the formation of stratabound Pb–Zn–Ba–F mineralisation in the Alston Block, North Pennine Orefield (England)

The North Pennine Orefield Alston Block has produced approximately 4 Mt Pb, 0.3 Mt Zn, 2.1 Mt fluorite, 1.5 Mt barite, 1 Mt witherite, plus a substantial amount of iron ore and copper ore from predominantly vein-hosted mineralisation in Carboniferous limestones. However, a significant proportion of this production (ca. 20%) came from stratabound deposits. Though much is known about the vein mineralisation, the relationship between the veins and the stratabound mineralisation is not well-understood. New petrographic, isotopic and fluid inclusion data derived from samples of stratabound mineralisation allow us to present a unified model that addresses the genesis of both the vein and stratabound styles of mineralisation. The mineralisation can be considered in terms of three episodes: 1. Dolomitisation and ankeritisation Limestones in the vicinity of the stratabound mineralisation were pervasively dolomitised/ankeritised, and developed vuggy porosity in the presence of a high-salinity brine consistent with fluids derived from adjacent mud and shale-filled basins. 2. Main stage fluorite–quartz–sulphide mineralisation Metasomatism of limestone was accompanied by brecciation, dissolution and hydrothermal karstification with modification of the existing pore system. The open space was filled with fluorite, galena, sphalerite, quartz and barite, formed in response to mixing of lowsalinity sodic groundwater with high-salinity calcic brine with elevated metal contents (particularly Fe up to 7,000 ppm) relative to “normal” high total dissolved solids sedimentary brines. 3. Late-stage barite mineralisation paragenetically appears to represent either the waning stages or the distal portions of the main hydrothermal circulation system under cooler conditions

Permo-Triassic unconformity- related Au-Pd mineralisation, south Devon, UK : new insights and the European perspective

An integrated mineralogical-geochemical study of unconformity-related Au-Pd occurrences within and around the Permo–Triassic basins of southwest England, UK, has confirmed the importance of low temperature (86±13°C), hydrothermal carbonate veins as hosts for the mineralisation. Fluid inclusion data for the carbonate gangue, supported by stable isotope (13C and 18O) and radiogenic (87Sr/86Sr) data, have identified three principal fluids: (1) a reducing calcic brine [>25 wt% salinity, 2)] originating in the sub-unconformity basement and an expression of advanced mineral–fluid interaction; (2) an oxidising sodic brine [~16 wt% salinity, >0.9 NaCl/(NaCl+CaCl2)] originating in the post-unconformity red beds under evaporitic conditions, and (3) an oxygenated, low salinity groundwater (<3 wt% salinity).="" the="" sodic="" brine="" is="" reasoned="" to="" be="" the="" parent="" metalliferous="" fluid="" and="" to="" have="" acquired="" its="" enrichment="" in="" au="" and="" pd="" by="" the="" leaching="" of="" immature="" sediments="" and="" intra-rift="" volcanic="" rocks="" within="" the="" local="" permo–triassic="" basins.="" metal="" precipitation="" is="" linked="" to="" the="" destabilisation="" of="" au="" and="" pd="" chloride="" complexes="" by="" either="" mixing="" with="" calcic="" brines,="" dilution="" by="" groundwaters="" or="" interaction="" with="" reduced="" lithologies.="" this="" explains="" the="" diversity="" of="" mineralised="" settings="" below="" and="" above="" the="" unconformity="" and="" their="" affinity="" with="" red="" bed="" brines.="" the="" paucity="" of="" sulphide="" minerals,="" the="" development="" of="" selenides="" (as="" ore="" minerals="" and="" as="" mineral="" inclusion="" in="" gold="" grains),="" the="" presence="" of="" rhodochrosite="" and="" manganoan="" calcites="" (up="" to="" 2.5 wt%="" mn="" in="" calcite)="" and="" the="" co-precipitation="" of="" hematite="" and="" manganese="" oxides="" are="" consistent="" with="" the="" overall="" high="" oxidation="" state="" of="" the="" ore="" fluids.="" a="" genetic="" model="" is="" proposed="" linking="" permo–triassic="" red="" beds,="" the="" mixing="" of="" oxidising="" and="" reducing="" brines,="" and="" the="" development="" of="" unconformity-related="" precious="" metal="" mineralisation.="" comparison="" with="" other="" european="" permo–triassic="" basins="" reveals="" striking="" similarities="" in="" geological="" setting,="" mineralogy="" and="" geochemistry="" with="" au,="" au-pd="" and="" selenide="" occurrences="" in="" germany="" (tilkerode,="" korbach-goldhausen),="" poland="" (lubin)="" and="" the="" czech="" republic="" (svoboda="" nad="" úpou="" and="" stupná).="" though="" the="" known="" au-pd="" occurrences="" are="" sub-economic,="" several="" predictive="" criteria="" are="" proposed="" for="" further=""