Board on Earth Sciences and Resources and its Activities

The Board will provide oversight of the earth science and resource activities within the National Research Council, provide a review of research and public activities in the solid-earth sciences, and provide analyses and recommendations relevant to the supply, delivery, and associated impacts of and issues related to hydrocarbon, metallic, and non-metallic mineral resources. The Board will monitor the status of the earth sciences, assess the health of the disciplines, and identify research opportunities, and will respond to specific agency requests

National Geoscience Data Repository System. Final report

The American Geological Institute (AGI) has completed the first phase of a study to assess the feasibility of establishing a National Geoscience Data Repository System to capture and preserve valuable geoscientific data. The study was initiated in response to the fact that billions of dollars worth of domestic geological and geophysical data are in jeopardy of being irrevocably lost or destroyed as a consequence of the ongoing downsizing of the US energy and minerals industry. This report focuses on two major issues. First, it documents the types and quantity of data available for contribution to a National Geoscience Data Repository System. Second, it documents the data needs and priorities of potential users of the system. A National Geoscience Data Repository System would serve as an important and valuable source of information for the entire geoscience community for a variety of applications, including environmental protection, water resource management, global change studies, and basic and applied research. The repository system would also contain critical data that would enable domestic energy and minerals companies to expand their exploration and production programs in the United States for improved recovery of domestic oil, gas, and mineral resources

Numerical model to determine the composition of H2O–NaCl–CaCl2 fluid inclusions based on microthermometric and microanalytical data

Natural fluids approximated by the H2O–NaCl–CaCl2 system are common in a wide range of geologic environments, including sedimentary basins associated with hydrocarbon occurrences and MVT deposits, submarine hydrothermal systems, and other metamorphic, magmatic and hydrothermal environments. We present a comprehensive numerical model and Microsoft® Excel©-based computer program to determine the compositions of fluid inclusions in the H2O–NaCl–CaCl2 system based on microthermometric and microanalytical data. The model consists of six polynomial correlation equations that describe liquid salinity as a function of NaCl/CaCl2 ratio and melting temperature on each of the ice, hydrohalite, halite, antarcticite, CaCl2·4H2O and CaCl2·2H2O vapor-saturated liquidus surfaces. The cotectic and peritectic boundaries are determined from the intersections of the liquidus surfaces. The model is implicitly internally consistent and topologically correct. The model expands upon the compositional range of applicability and the data types that can be used for compositional determination. It reproduces experimental data for all compositions that lie within the H2O–NaCl–CaCl2·4H2O compositional triangle in the H2O–NaCl–CaCl2 system and yields accurate reproductions of the H2O–NaCl and H2O–CaCl2 binaries. Furthermore, in comparison to previously published models, the one presented here eliminates systematic errors, wavy isotherms and cotectic and peritectic curves with local “bumps.

Reference Raman spectra of synthesized CaCl2.nH(2)O solids (n=0, 2, 4, 6)

International audienceThe CaCl(2)nH(2)O solids with n=0, 1, 2, 4, 6 are of importance in fluid geochemistry in both the Earth and Mars. Their unambiguous identification is thus essential. Raman spectroscopy either in laboratory or in the robotic planet exploration with Raman spectrometer may provide such identification. Published Raman spectra of these minerals were from either unknown, or poorly known or simply wrong samples. The aim of this work is to provide Raman spectra over the 100-4000cm(-1) spectral range for these solids synthesized in capillary and unambiguously identified by X-ray diffraction. Raman spectra were collected at room temperature and at -172 degrees C. First interpretations of the Raman spectra of the OH stretching and bending modes of water and of the low-wavenumber bands (100-1000cm(-1)) are given according to the knowledge of their structure. The main Raman bands are given for their identification and will be helpful for ExoMars surface exploration in the next ESA-Exomars mission in 2016-2018