An expanded Smithian–Spathian (Lower Triassic) boundary from a reefal build‐up record in Oman: implications for conodont taxonomy, high‐resolution biochronology and the carbon isotope record

Some 2.7 myr after the Permian–Triassic boundary mass extinction, a stepwise extinction of the nekton (ammonoids and conodonts) ended at the Smithian–Spathian boundary (SSB) during an episode of climate cooling. SSB records from continental shelves are usually affected by an unconformity, suggesting a forced regression of glacioeustatic origin. Here, we document a new 30-m-thick SSB section from Jebel Aweri (Batain Plain, Oman) that provides an exceptionally complete and expanded record preserved in an exotic block. Most of this SSB section consists of microbial boundstone build-ups with a framework of metazoan bioclasts that formed in shallow water on an offshore seamount. In Wadi Musjah (Hawasina nappes, Oman), another exotic block records the SSB in a deeper water setting represented by Hallstatt-type facies. These two sections provide a unique perspective on the early Spathian rapid re-diversification of conodonts. They led to a thorough revision of conodont taxonomy around the SSB and to the construction of the highest resolution biochronological scheme for this time interval in the Tethys. A total of five SSB sections from Oman representing both offshore seamounts and lower slope deposits were included in a high-resolution, quantitative unitary associations (UA) analysis. The resulting 8 conodont biozones are intercalibrated with ammonoid zones and with the carbonate carbon isotope record ultimately placing the SSB in the interval of separation between UAZ3 and UAZ4. Only the association of Novispathodus pingdingshanensis with Icriospathodus crassatus can be used to unambiguously characterize the base of the Spathian. Key words: Oman, Smithian, Spathian, conodont, Early Triassic, unitary association

Sedimentology and wine, a cross road

Part of the Alps and the foreland basin will be crossed by our field trip. Limestone, gypsum, landslide siliceous carbonate pebbles and clay, marls carbonates and sandstone are composing the main terroirs of the tasted wines

A Comparison of Pneumatic Actuators for Soft Growing Vine Robots

Soft pneumatic actuators are used to steer soft growing "vine" robots while being flexible enough to undergo the tip eversion required for growth. In this study, we compared the performance of three types of pneumatic actuators in terms of their ability to perform eversion, quasi-static bending, dynamic motion, and force output: the pouch motor, the cylindrical pneumatic artificial muscle (cPAM), and the fabric pneumatic artificial muscle (fPAM). The pouch motor is advantageous for prototyping due to its simple manufacturing process. The cPAM exhibits superior bending behavior and produces the highest forces, while the fPAM actuates fastest and everts at the lowest pressure. We evaluated a range of dimensions for each actuator type. Larger actuators can produce more significant deformations and forces, but smaller actuators inflate faster and can evert at a lower pressure. Because vine robots are lightweight, the effect of gravity on the functionality of different actuators is minimal. We developed a new analytical model that predicts the pressure-to-bending behavior of vine robot actuators. Using the actuator results, we designed and demonstrated a 4.8 m long vine robot equipped with highly maneuverable 60x60 mm cPAMs in a three-dimensional obstacle course. The vine robot was able to move around sharp turns, travel through a passage smaller than its diameter, and lift itself against gravity.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, 3 table

Dirty cash (money talks) : 4AMLD and the money laundering regulations 2017.

Presents a socio-legal analysis of reforms made by the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017, implementing Directive 2015/849. Discusses the Regulations' approach to risk, including due diligence and de-risking. Considers their potential effectiveness, human rights implications and unintended effects. Questions the effectiveness of registration provisions to promote transparency

Inventaire des géotopes du Canton de Vaud

Rapport non publié. Lausanne : Conservation de la Nature, Canton de Vaud

Conodont-based Griesbachian biochronology of the Guryul Ravine section (basal Triassic, Kashmir, India)

The Guryul Ravine section (Kashmir, India) exposes one the world's most continuous carbonate rock successions throughout the Permian-Triassic boundary and beyond. Due to political instability in this region, the biostratigraphy of this section has not been updated for nearly three decades. Following new high-resolution sampling, we reassess here the conodont biochronology and isotopic records of the fifteen lowermost stratigraphical metres (Member E) of the Khunamuh Formation at Guryul Ravine section. This interval includes both the Permian-Triassic and the Griesbachian-Dienerian (lower-upper Induan) boundaries. The First Occurrence of Hindeodus parvus, the index for the base of the Triassic, is confirmed in the middle of sub-member E2 (Unit 56 in Matsuda, 1981 [Journal of Geosciences, Osaka City University 24, 75–108]; our bed GUR09). We characterize 11 Unitary Association Zones based on the conodont record from China and from Guryul Ravine. UAZ1–2 are Late Permian and identified only in South China, UAZ3–11 are identified both in China and Guryul Ravine. The Griesbachian-Dienerian boundary is included within the interval of separation between UAZ8 and UAZ9. At Guryul Ravine, this boundary is precisely constrained between beds GUR310 and GUR311, and corresponds to the replacement of segminiplanate (here Clarkina and Neoclarkina) by segminate (Sweetospathodus and Neospathodus) conodonts. This faunal turnover was possibly linked to a climate change at the Griesbachian-Dienerian transition, from a cool and dry to a hot and humid climate. This transition could be the trigger of the migration of neogondolellids towards high latitudes and of the radiation of neospathodids during the Dienerian

Earthquake induced soft sediment deformation (seismites): new data from the Early Triassic Guryul Ravine section (Kashmir)

At the classical Guryul ravine section of Kashmir, the Permo-Triassic (P-T) boundary is located about 3 m above the base of the Khunamuh Formation. Brookfield et al. (2013) proposed that the deposits straddling the boundary between the Khunamuh Formation and the underlying, Permian Zewan Formation are Siberian Traps-induced seismites overlain by tsunamites. These deposits have been subject to a divergent re-interpretation by Krystyn et al. (2014), who rejected a Siberian-Traps origin. Here, we report the discovery of highly contorted beds at the top of a 7 m. thick, thin-bedded, light beige nodular lime mudstone, a new lithological unit recorded in the Early Triassic Khunamuh Formation, 120 m above the top of the Zewan Formation. These contorted beds, about 1 m thick, are showing typical earthquake induced soft sediment deformations, similar to the latest Permian in the lower part of the section. This new nodular limestone is of early Spathian age as indicated by our conodont sampling and crops out at the base of a cliff-forming limestone interval named Niti Limestone throughout the Tethys Himalaya area since the 19th century. It is interesting to note that both latest Permian and early Spathian seismites occur at a marked lithological change, i.e. a shift in the depositional settings. The latest Permian seismite occurs on a delta ramp with mixed quartzose sand, silt and shelly carbonate lenses, storm influenced deposits, followed by an abrupt contact with the overlying deeper, thin- bedded and siliceous clay mud turbidite deposits and rare lime mud lenses. The early Spathian one is intercalated at the top of a distal ramp nodular limestone deposits, just at the change to the shallower thick-bedded Niti limestone. The latest Permian seismic activity coincides with a platform drowning during a transgressive phase and the early Spathian one occurred during a platform uplift, also during a transgressive phase. Both may conceivably have been driven by recurrent phases of syn-sedimentary block faulting of the northern Indian passive margin. In this, we agree with the conclusions of Krystyn et al. (2014) that any relation between the local occurrences of seismites-tsunamites and the eruption of the Siberian traps is unlikely. Yet, we must keep in mind that both coincide also with global shifts in the geochemical, sedimentological, paleontological and climate records