Holocene-Neogene volcanism in northeastern Australia: chronology and eruption history

Quaternary and late Neogene volcanism is widespread in northeastern Australia, producing at least 397 eruptions covering more than 20,000 km2, including at least 20 flows over 50 km long. Despite this abundance of young volcanism, before this study numerous eruptions had tentative ages or were undated, and the area requires a comprehensive evaluation of eruption patterns through time. To help address these issues we applied multi-collector ARGUS-V 40Ar/39Ar geochronology to determine the age of four of the younger extensive flows: Undara (160 km long, 189 ± 4/4 ka; 2σ, with full analytical/external uncertainties), Murronga (40 km long, 153 ± 5/5 ka), Toomba (120 km long, 21 ± 3/3 ka), and Kinrara (55 km long, 7 ± 2/2 ka). Verbal traditions of the Gugu Badhun Aboriginal people contain features that may potentially describe the eruption of Kinrara. If the traditions do record this eruption, they would have been passed down for 230 ± 70 generations – a period of time exceeding the earliest written historical records. To further examine north Queensland volcanism through time we compiled a database of 337 ages, including 179 previously unpublished K-Ar and radiocarbon results. The compiled ages demonstrate that volcanic activity has occurred without major time breaks since at least 9 Ma. The greatest frequency of eruptions occurred in the last 2 Ma, with an average recurrence interval of <10–22 ka between eruptions. Activity was at times likely more frequent than these calculations indicate, as the geochronologic dataset is incomplete, with undated eruptions, and intraplate volcanism is often episodic. The duration, frequency, and youthfulness of activity indicate that north Queensland volcanism should be considered as potentially still active, and there are now two confirmed areas of Holocene volcanism in eastern Australia – one at each end of the continent. More broadly, our data provides another example of 40Ar/39Ar geochronology applied to Holocene and latest Pleistocene mafic eruptions, further demonstrating that this method has the ability to examine eruptions and hazards at the youngest volcanoes on Earth

Glass Ceiling Effect in Lithuanian Private Sector, What Holds Women Back from Moving to the Top Positions.

The study explores the relationship between glass ceiling perceptions, promotion, and leadership opportunities for the workplace middle-management position in Lithuania. For this study, data was collected using an online questionnaire distributed using the “LinkedIn” social network. Of the total number of participants 725, 521 were females (72 percent), and 204 were male (28 percent). Of the 725 participants, 379 (52 percent) agreed or somewhat agreed that there is gender inequality in the workplace in Lithuania. While the results suggest the perception of a glass ceiling still exists in Lithuania, the results were not extremely explicit as many of the responses fell between the “somewhat agree” and “neutral” range. The European Institute for Gender Equality states that Lithuania would receive a high impact from gender equality it could lead to a 12 percent increase of GDP by 2050, creating additional job places for women. (EIGE, 2019). To test the economic influence for the Lithuanian economy in the face of glass ceiling, almost 300 out of 725 (41 percent) participants agreed that they would not remain in their job if the amount of gender inequality increased, even choosing that it would lead to their choice leaving their job or in extreme cases Lithuania. There has been no significant difference between male and female perceptions about leadership and promotion. Both genders value the most flexible work schedule and balance between work and their personal life, as well as recognition for achievements that they bring to the company

New dates on dingo bones from Madura Cave provide oldest firm evidence for arrival of the species in Australia

The dingo is the only placental land mammal aside from murids and bats to have made the water crossings to reach Australia prior to European arrival. It is thought that they arrived as a commensal animal with people, some time in the mid Holocene. However, the timing of their arrival is still a subject of major debate with published age estimates varying widely. This is largely because the age estimates for dingo arrival are based on archaeological deposit dates and genetic divergence estimates, rather than on the dingo bones themselves. Currently, estimates vary from between 5000-4000 years ago, for finds from archaeological contexts, and as much as 18,000 based on DNA age estimates. The timing of dingo arrival is important as post arrival they transformed Indigenous societies across mainland Australia and have been implicated in the extinction of a number of animals including the Tasmanian tiger. Here we present the results of direct dating of dingo bones from their oldest known archaeological context, Madura Cave on the Nullarbor Plain. These dates demonstrate that dingoes were in southern Australia by between 3348 and 3081 years ago. We suggest that following their introduction the dingo may have spread extremely rapidly throughout mainland Australia.Some of this work was undertaken as part of Linkage Grant LP100200415 funded by the ARC with contributions from the Kimberley Foundation Australia and the Department of Sustainability, Water, Populations and Communities

The mediating effect of depressive symptoms on the relationship between bullying victimization and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents: Findings from community and inpatient mental health settings in Ontario, Canada

Although bullying victimization has been linked to a number of behavioral and emotional problems among adolescents, few studies have investigate the mechanism through which bullying victimization affect non-suicidal self-injury. The objectives of this study were to examine the effect of bullying victimization on non-suicidal self-injury and the mediating effect of depressive symptoms on the relationship between bullying victimization and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents. Data for this study came from the interRAI Child and Youth Mental Health dataset. A total of 1650 adolescents aged 12–18 years (M =14.56; SD =1.79; 54.2% males) were analyzed. Binary logistic and Poisson regression models were conducted to identify the mediating effect of depressive symptoms on the relationship between bullying victimization and non-suicidal self-injury. Of the 1650 adolescents studied, 611 representing 37% engaged in non-suicidal self-injury and 26.7% were victims of bullying. The effect of bullying victimization on non-suicidal self-injury was partially mediated by depressive symptoms after adjusting for the effect of demographic characteristics, history of childhood abuse, social support, and mental health diagnoses. The contribution of bullying victimization and depression to non-suicidal self-injury adds to the case for the development of trauma-focused interventions in reducing the risk of non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents

The role of adverse childhood experiences as determinants of non-suicidal self-injury among children and adolescents referred to community and inpatient mental health settings

The objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence of, and determine the effect of adverse childhood experiences on non-suicidal self-injury among children and adolescents referred to community and inpatient mental health settings. Data for this study were obtained from the interRAI Child and Youth Mental Health dataset. A total of 2038 children and adolescents aged 8–18 years (M = 12.49; SD = 2.88, 61.1% males) were analyzed. Binary logistic regression was fitted to identify predictors of non-suicidal self-injury as a function of adverse childhood experiences, depression, and social support while simultaneously controlling for age, gender, type of patient, legal guardianship, marital status of parents/caregivers, history of foster family placement, and mental health diagnoses. Of the 2038 children and adolescents examined, 592 (29%) of this clinical sample engaged in non-suicidal self-injury. In the multivariate logistic regression model, children and adolescents who were physically abused had 49% higher odds of engaging in non-suicidal self-injury and children and adolescents who were sexually abused had 60% higher odds of engaging in non-suicidal self-injury, when compared to their non-abused counterparts. Other predictors of non-suicidal self-injury include: older age, female gender, inpatient status, depression, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, disruptive behavior disorder, and mood disorders. Children and adolescents who had some form of social support had a 26% decrease in the odds of engaging in non-suicidal self-injury. Assessment procedures for indicators of mental health, particularly among children and adolescents with a history of adverse childhood experiences, should also take into account non-suicidal self-injury. In addition to bolstering social support networks, addressing depression and related emotion regulation skills in childhood may help prevent future non-suicidal self-injury behaviors

Environmental Records from Corals and Coralline Sponges

This research centers on the extraction of environmental information stored in the calcium carbonate skeletons of corals (Porites) and coralline sponges (Astrosclera willeyana). Elemental variations are measured in these samples using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. During this project, techniques were refined and developed to quantitatively measure major (B, Mg, Sr, Ba, U) and minor (Mn, Zn, Pb, REE’s) elemental abundances in corals and coralline sponges. This method was used to extract seasonal records from a high latitude coral living at its limits of cold-water tolerance in Japan. Seasonal cycles of major elements (B, Mg, Sr, U) were calibrated against in situ instrumental temperature monitors. Calibrations were in good agreement with other published reports. This coral also recorded wind-induced upwelling (both annual and El Niño related) by increases in the Ba/Ca ratio. The trace element annual patterns and slow growth rate also indicated that this coral had very slow/no extension during the cold winter months when water temperature was below 18 oC. Cores from Porites sp. coral colonies were also collected from inshore, mid-shelf and outer reef localities (central Great Barrier Reef) to test the robustness of the major elemental SST and runoff proxies (B/Ca, Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca, U/Ca). The inshore reefs selected for this study are heavily influenced by river runoff whereas the mid-reef and outer-reef locations are not. It is shown that Ba/Ca provides an excellent proxy for river runoff. Time series analyses of Sr/Ca, U/Ca, B/Ca and Mg/Ca are compared to in situ sea surface temperature (SST) and/or IGOSS NMC weekly satellite SST to provide calibrations for these elements. Previous workers have noted differences in the calibration of Sr/Ca vs. SST; this LA-ICP-MS dataset shows a slight variation between different corals. This suggests small-scale intra- coral variability. Both the U/Ca and Mg/Ca have calibrations within error for mid-shelf and outer reef corals but the calibrations differ for the inshore corals. Sr/Ca and B/Ca appear to be the most robust of the elemental temperature proxies in terms of recording water temperature. Measurements of coral manganese suggest a seasonal cycle closely linked to solar radiation and wind. Increased solar radiation may increase the dissolved seawater Mn that result in corals having elevated concentrations of Mn during the summer. The use of corals as recorders of marine pollution was examined on the island of Misima in Papua New Guinea where open-cut gold mining commenced in 1989. This mining caused increased sedimentation affecting the nearby fringing coral reef to varying degrees, causing coral mortality (complete suffocation) in some areas. This sediment is made up of completely weathered quartz feldspar, greenstone and schist. These rocks have distinct chemical constituents (rare earth elements [REE], zinc and lead etc.), which are entering the near-shore environment in considerably higher than normal concentrations. Eight coral colonies (2 from high sedimentation, 2 transitional, 2 minor and 2 unaffected control sites) were analyzed for Mn, Y, La, Ce, Zn and Pb. All sites show low steady “background” levels prior to the commencement of mining. After mine construction began in 1988, all sites aside from the control show dramatic increases of Mn, Y, La, and Ce associated with the increased sedimentation. Zn and Pb increase after 1989 when ore processing began. The concentration of these elements in these corals decreases as the distance from the mine increases. Rare earth elements (REE) measured in two corals suggest a pattern different from “normal” seawater. When the coral REE pattern is compared to seawater an enrichment of the light and middle REE’s appear. The heavy REE’s are depleted relative to the seawater pattern. This suggests the nearshore seawater REE’s are influenced by island weathering. Coralline sponges have been proposed as a new source of tropical paleoclimatic information. Profiles of d 13 C in coralline sponges have documented (better and more accurately than corals) the atmospheric increase of 12 C associated with increased fossil fuel consumption. Due to their very slow growth rates ~0.2 mm yr -1 sponges are better suited to recording and providing long-term environmental information rather than annual information. These sponges appear to smooth the record stored in their skeleton by adding secondary aragonite near the base of the living tissue layer. This smoothing limits their use as annual environmental recorders but still enables their use for decadal or longer environmental fluctuations. Smoothed records of Sr/Ca from five sponges around the Southwest Pacific suggest that these sponges are able to capture 5 yr. and longer seawater temperature anomalies over the past 50-200 years. The temperature sensitivity of Sr/Ca in sponges is 7 to 12 times larger than corals with ~0.7-0.9 mmol/mol DSr/Ca per oC for sponges compared to ~0.07 mmol/mol DSr/Ca per oC for corals

Pre-bomb marine reservoir variability in the Kimberley region, Western Australia

New ΔR values are presented for 10 known-age shells from the Kimberley region of northwest Australia. Previous estimates of ΔR for the Kimberley region are based on only 6 individual shell specimens with dates of live collection known only to within 50 yr (Bowman 1985a). Here, we describe the results of our recent attempts to constrain ΔR variability for this region by dating a suite of known-age pre-AD 1950 shell samples from the Australian Museum and Museum Victoria. A regional ΔR of 58 ± 17 14C yr for open waters between Broome and Cape Leveque is recommended based on 7 of these specimens. The criteria used to select shells for dating and inclusion in the regional mean are discussed.Copyright Information: http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/issn/0033-8222

Apparent Periodic and Long-Term Changes in AAIW and UCDW Properties at Fixed Depths in the Southwest Pacific, With Indications of a Regime Shift in the 1930s

Metal/calcium ratios in two long-lived deep-sea gorgonian corals (Lepidisis and Corallium spp.) in the Southwest Pacific evidence periodic decadal variability at depths that correspond to Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) and shallow Upper Circumpolar Deep Water, and a shift in the mid-1930s to late-1930s in mean ambient temperatures, barium/silicate concentrations and possibly pH, the rate at which these properties change over time, and the relationship between temperatures at fixed depth and the Southern Annular Mode (SAM). The decadal periodicity, which is evident in other biological indices in the study area, can be accounted for by water mass heave on the order of 100–150 m, which is consistent with observed scales of variability in the AAIW. The proximate and ultimate causes of the midcentury shifts are unclear, but could be related to suggested mid-20th century changes in climate parameters globally and, more specifically, in the subpolar SW Pacific

Offsetting of CO₂ emissions by air capture in mine tailings at the Mount Keith Nickel Mine, Western Australia: Rates, controls and prospects for carbon neutral mining

The hydrated Mg-carbonate mineral, hydromagnesite [Mg₅(CO₃)₄(OH)₂•4H₂O], precipitates within mine tailings at the Mount Keith Nickel Mine, Western Australia as a direct result of mining operations. We have used quantitative mineralogical data and δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O and F¹⁴C isotopic data to quantify the amount of CO₂fixation and identify carbon sources. Our radiocarbon results indicate that at least 80% of carbon stored in hydromagnesite has been captured from the modern atmosphere. Stable isotopic results indicate that dissolution of atmospheric CO₂ into mine tailings water is kinetically limited, which suggests that the current rate of carbon mineralization could be accelerated. Reactive transport modeling is used to describe the observed variation in tailings mineralogy and to estimate rates of CO₂ fixation. Based on our assessment, approximately 39,800 t/yr of atmospheric CO₂ are being trapped and stored in tailings at Mount Keith. This represents an offsetting of approximately 11% of the mine's annual greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, passive sequestration via enhanced weathering of mineral waste can capture and store a significant amount of CO₂. Recommendations are made for changes to tailings management and ore processing practices that have potential to accelerate carbonation of tailings and further reduce or completely offset the net greenhouse gas emissions at Mount Keith and many other mines

Extraordinarily high biomass benthic community on Southern Ocean seamounts

We describe a previously unknown assemblage of seamount-associated megabenthos that has by far the highest peak biomass reported in the deep-sea outside of vent communities. The assemblage was found at depths of 2-2.5 km on rocky geomorphic features off the southeast coast of Australia, in an area near the Sub-Antarctic Zone characterised by high rates of surface productivity and carbon export to the deep-ocean. These conditions, and the taxa in the assemblage, are widely distributed around the Southern mid-latitudes, suggesting the high-biomass assemblage is also likely to be widespread. The role of this assemblage in regional ecosystem and carbon dynamics and its sensitivities to anthropogenic impacts are unknown. The discovery highlights the lack of information on deep-sea biota worldwide and the potential for unanticipated impacts of deep-sea exploitation