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Proceedings Reference Quantitative clay mineralogy as provenance indicator for the recent muds located at the marine limit of influence of the Scheldt estuary
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2017
Article Reference Micrometeorites from the Sør Rondane Mountains, Antarctica
Micrometeorites are dust-sized (i.e., 10 to 2000 µm in size) extraterrestrial particles reaching the Earth’s surface [1]. We report the discovery of hundreds of micrometeorites during the 2017-2018 BELAM (Belgian Antarctic Meteorites) expedition that took place in the south to south-east area up to 40 km away from the Belgian Princess Elisabeth Station (71°57Ļ00ļS; 23°20Ļ49ļE). Two types of micrometeorite traps were targeted on the glacially eroded tops of Vengen, Walnumfjellet, Widerøfjellet, Svindland and Smalegga Mountains, consisting of 1/ seven samples of soils that have potentially been exposed for long periods of times (up to several Ma), similarly to samples collected in the Atacama Desert [2] and 2/ five samples of wind catchment areas, such as the base of large boulders or within cracks. The lee-sides of three lateral and supraglacial moraines were also sampled, totalling eleven samples. In all cases, the sampled material, weighing 80 kg, consisted of moderately sorted finegrained rock detritus. Preliminary results suggest that the distribution of micrometeorites varies according to the type of trap, with glacial moraines exhibiting the lowest concentrations, followed by wind-catchment areas and soils from the top of the glacially eroded summits of mountains. Samples exposed on the border of the Sør Rondane Mountains with the Antarctic Plateau exhibit concentrations one order of magnitude greater than in moraines. Similarly to the Larkman Nunatak micrometeorite collection [3], the micrometeorite accumulation mechanism in moraine and wind-catchment areas seems to be mainly controlled by wind. Conversely, direct infall of micrometeorites may contribute significantly as an accumulation mechanism in exposed soil samples, as evidenced by the presence of large micrometeorites (>400 µm in size). Thus, this new collection, comprising various sampling site types, may serve as the basis to understand micrometeorite distribution patterns in Antarctica.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018
Article Reference Petrographic and geochemical characterization of a chondrule-like object preserved in an Antarctic micrometeorite
We report the discovery of a pristine chondrule-like object in a scoriaceous meteorite recovered from the Sør Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica. A preliminary study using a JEOL JSM-IT 300 scanning electron microscope, coupled to an energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel indicates that i) the chondrulelike object has a minimum diameter size of ~187 µm, which is broadly analoguous to chondrules found in CM, CO, H and EH chondrites [1]; ii) the chondrule-like object displays a radial pyroxene texture and is readily delineated from the surrounding micrometeorite ground mass. This is emphasized by the presence of microscopic olivine and magnetite crystals at the outer edge of the chondrule-like object. This suggests that it served as a nucleation point for crystallization of secondary mineral phases during atmospheric deceleration and heating. Hence, this object likely represents an original feature of the micrometeoroid; iii) the mineralogical content of the chondrule-like object is mainly composed of low-Ca pyroxene with interstitial glass, some smaller nodules of FeNi metal and a local cluster of chromite grains. The surrounding micrometeorite material displays a micro-porphyritic olivine texture which contains a single nodule of Fe sulfide, vesicles, and a number of relict mineral grains that survived atmospheric entry. The latter are predominantly composed of forsterite-rich olivine, although several relict grains of low-Ca pyroxene (i.e., enstatite-rich end-members) are observed as well. The objective of this study is twofold: i) analyze the major element and triple-oxygen isotope composition of the chondrule-like object, and the relict mineral phases to specify the nature of the precursor material, and ii) discuss the overall rarity of chondrules in micrometeorites.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018
Inproceedings Reference Abc Taxa, Field guide to the brittle and basket stars (Echinodermata: ophiuroidea) of South Africa.
Brittle and basket stars (ophiuroids) are one of five extant classes of the phylum Echinodermata and have a fossil record dating back almost 500 million years to the Early Ordovician. Today they remain diverse and widespread, with over 260 described genera and over 2 000 extant species globally, more than any other class of echinoderm. Ophiuroid species are found across all marine habitats from the intertidal shore to the abyss. In southern Africa, the ophiuroid fauna has been studied extensively by a number of authors and is relatively well-known. The last published review of the southern African Ophiuroidea however was by Clark and Courtman-Stock in 1976. It included 101 species reported from within the boundaries of South Africa. In the 40 years since that publication the number of species has risen to 136. This identification guide, which is the nineteenth volume of the series Abc Taxa includes a taxonomic key to all 136 species, and gives key references, distribution maps, diagnoses, scaled photographs (where possible), and a synthesis of known ecological and depth information for each. The guide is designed to be comprehensive, well-illustrated and easy to use for both naturalists and professional biologists. Taxonomic terms, morphological characteristics and technical expressions are defined and described in detail, with illustrations to clarify some aspects of the terminology. A checklist of all species in the region is also included, and indicates which species are endemic (33), for which we report significant range extensions (23), which have been recorded as new to the South African fauna (28) since the previous monograph of Clark and Courtman-Stock (1976) and which have undergone taxonomic revisions since that time (28). This contribution delivers a copiously illustrated overview of the volume and details how it has been diffused in South Africa and beyond.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2021
Inproceedings Reference Mapping offshore resources of the Belgian Continental Shelf using 3D voxel modelling
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018
Inproceedings Reference Long-term dataset on water clarity in the BPNS (1971-2016)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018
Inproceedings Reference Short-term variability of high-frequency seafloor multibeam echosounder backscatter: results from field experiments on the Belgian Continental Shelf
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018
Inproceedings Reference Monitoring the direct impact of sand extraction on the bathy-morphology and the seabed sediments in the Belgian part of the North Sea. Lessons of ten years of measurements
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018
Inproceedings Reference Climate change impact on storm surges and significant wave heights on the Belgian Continental Shelf
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018
Inproceedings Reference Climate change impact on storm surges and significant wave heights on the Belgian Continental Shelf
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018