Thickness and (%) CaCO3 variations in the couplets marl-limestone of the lower Maastrichtian at the Sopelana section (Basque Arc)

The Sopelana sea-cliff section exposes, in very good conditions, a continuous marl-limestone alternation from the Lower Maastrichtian in the deep Basque Arc domain. The 55 rhythms studied represent ~1100 ka and correspond to ~60cm/20ka. The marls are thicker than limestone layers and the Fischer diagram detects several shifts of high sedimentation and a well-marked minimum. The spectral analysis of the (%) CaCO3 content of the 30 selected rhythms (179 analysis, 18.74 m), confirms the rhythm with two frequency peaks, which correspond to the precession and eccentricity periods. The high-resolution analysis of four rhythms (<2cm/sample; 117 analysis, 2.04 m) shows a lack of symmetry and a different behaviour among them. The weathering surfaces point out an (%, CaCO3 ) enrichment tendenc

Rate of Return Regulation: The Case of Spanish Ports

An original model is put forward in this article to explain and consider the behavior of some of the most important public services in Spain. The cost function approach and the input distance function approach are used to estimate the existence of overcapitalization as a result of rate of return regulation. The results show that overcapitalization generated by this regulation is too significant not to be taken into account. Copyright International Atlantic Economic Society 2005L51, L52, L59, L95, L97, L98,