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An association of eighteen coprolites (specimens 01–18) and one isolated coprolite (specimen 209,210) were found in a vertebrate fossil-rich paleosol at the Gratkorn site (south-eastern Austria; late Middle Miocene). The specimens consist mostly of calcium phosphate (apatite) and a matrix formed by microglobules. Coprolites 01–18 show cylindrical and spherical morphologies and are considerably smaller than the tube-shaped specimen 209,210, in which no inclusions were observed. In contrast, coprolites 01–18 contain numerous, highly altered bone fragments (sub-mm-sized long bones and several mm-sized trabecular bone remains) as well as hair imprints, plant detritus and palynomorphs. Based on composition, morphology, size, microstructure, and inclusions, and considering the body fossil record of this site, we assume the hyaenid Protictitherium and the barbourofelid Albanosmilus, as producers of coprolites 01–18 and 209,210, respectively. The preserved bone remains in specimens 01–18 suggest that Protictitherium fed on small vertebrates, but possibly also cracked bones of medium-sized animals. The hair imprints found were either from the hyaenid itself or its prey, while the plant material was probably ingested accidentally. The lack of inclusions in specimen 209,210 is related to the presumably hypercarnivorous diet of Albanosmilus, which was certainly the apex predator in this biome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A report of the supergene mineral mallestigite, Pb3Sb5+(SO4)(AsO4)(OH)6·3H2O, from the type locality Neufinkenstein-Grabanz district, Mallestiger Mittagskogel, Carinthia, Austria, is given in order to close gaps that have been left open since its first description. At the type locality, the dump of an abandoned small copper-lead-zinc mine, the mineral occurs frequently in up to ⁓2 mm long clear colourless idiomorphic hexagonal prisms {100} terminated by the bipyramid {101}. Details of the occurrence, paragenesis, physical properties, a FTIR spectrum and X-ray powder diffraction data are reported. Chemical analysis in a scanning electron microscope in conjunction with a crystal structure analysis gave the empirical formula Pb3.02Sb1.06(SO4)0.96(AsO4)0.97(OH)6·3H2O. An ab-initio crystal structure determination with CCD diffractometer data, MoKα radiation, and a nearly untwinned crystal proved that mallestigite is hexagonal, space group P63, a = 8.9326(4), c = 11.1044(5) Å, V = 767.33(8) Å3, Z = 2, and gave a final R1 = 0.0184 for 1632 independent reflections with I > 2σ(I). Mallestigite belongs to the fleischerite group. The structure is built up from [Sb5+(OH)6]1– octahedra which are linked by triplets of edge-sharing Pb2+ into chains [Pb3Sb(OH)6]5+ extending along a 63 axis. Each three of such chains are bridged by triplets of H2O and by rows of SO42– and AsO43– tetrahedra alternating along a 3-fold axis and showing very different links to the Pb atom. Pb2+ is in a strongly distorted one-sided [9]-coordination by O atoms that makes the structure clearly hemimorphic. Structural relationships to the fleischerite group minerals schaurteite, genplesite, despujolsite and fleischerite as well as to synthetic Ba3Sn4+(SeO4)2(OH)6·3H2O are outlined and changes in the space group symmetry of despujolsite (P 6 ¯ 2c → P63/mmc) and fleischerite (P 6 ¯ 2c → P63) are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isotopic compositions of water of crystallization and sulfate anionic group in gypsum and polyhalite were used as tracers for events related to their formation and subsequent evolution, as for example origin of crystallization water and extent of thermal overprint. For this purpose, gypsum and polyhalite from the Permo-Triassic evaporites of the Eastern Alps, were analysed for isotope composition of sulfate anionic group (δ34S and δ18OSO4) and water of crystallization (δD and δ18O). For comparison, water of crystallisation of polyhalite samples of similar age from New Mexico (USA), Kłodawa (Poland) and Hattberg, Hesse (Germany) were also investigated. Estimated δ18O and δD values of polyhalite formation brines vary from 14.4 to 3.4‰ and 42.5 to −6.1‰, respectively. Gypsum formation brines show different δ18O and δD values, from −5.7 to −15‰ and −30.9 to −88.8‰, respectively. The measured δ18OSO4 values of sulfate group are compatible with a thermal overprint at 100°–200°C for both minerals. The thermal overprint documented for the Eastern Alps led to gypsum but not to polyhalite dehydration. The isotopic composition of water of crystallization suggests that polyhalite is preserving the isotopic signature of an enriched brine. During a subsequent event, anhydrite rehydrated to gypsum, with the isotopic composition of water of crystallisation indicating lower (δD and δ18O) values than the present-day meteoric water ones. Due to their distinct mineral structure and, as a result, different temperature of dehydratation, gypsum and polyhalite record different histories following precipitation in an evaporative system.

Bavsiite from the type locality Gun Claim, Yukon Territory, Canada, occurs as millimetre-sized sky-blue platy crystals in a barium-rich low-temperature skarn related to a porphyritic quartz monzonite stock. Associated minerals are alstonite, baryte, celsian, diopside, fresnoite, mica, suzukiite, walstromite, witherite and minerals of the cerchiaraite group. Bavsiite is optical uniaxial (+), with ω = 1.725(3) and ε = 1.750(3) (589 nm) and pleochroic. Electron microprobe analyses yielded the empirical formula Na0.02Ba1.98Ti0.16Fe2+0.03V4+1.80 Al0.05Si4.00O14 based on 14 oxygen atoms, the simplified chemical formula is Ba2V2Si4O14. Bavsiite is tetragonal, space group I 4/ m , a = 7.043(1), c = 11.444(2) Å and Z = 2 obtained from single crystal data at 100 K, which are in good agreement with cell parameters from powder diffraction data at 293 K: a = 7.051(1) Å and c = 11.470(1) Å. The eight strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern are [ d , Å (I ,%)(hkl)]: 3.76(30)(112), 3.36(44)(013), 3.004(100)(022), 2.493(43)(220), 2.486(67)(114), 2.286(24)(222), 1.785(39)(116) and 1.763(25)(040). The crystal structure was refined to R = 0.0159 based upon 312 unique reflections with I > 2σ(I). The crystal structure of bavsiite comprises unbranched single [Si4O12]8– rings connected by [VO5]6– square pyramids and BaO12 polyhedra. It can also be considered as cage–like [Si4V2O18]12– clusters built by four SiO4 tetrahedra and two VO5 square pyramids. These clusters are cross–linked to form a pseudo-two-dimensional network (2D) parallel to (001) containing empty channels along the a axis and the 2D networks held together by Ba2+ ions located in channels parallel to the c axis. The structural formula is Ba2V2O2[Si4O12]. Bavsiite is polymorphic to suzukiite, BaVSi2O7, which is orthorhombic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The summer of 2019 is particularly well known for the famous heatwaves that swept across the European continent, with its associated drought and record-breaking air temperatures. This was followed by powerful thunderstorms, characterised by hail and heavy rain that damaged the crops on a regional scale. Here, we investigated one of the largest storm cells, lasting more than 6 h, which struck southwestern Romania. High-temporal resolution sampling of storm precipitation was performed for stable isotope measurements, rainfall and air temperature, to follow the storm dynamics. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope measurements show an abrupt decreasing temporal trend followed by superimposed V-shaped patterns interpreted as reflecting moisture replenishment by successive rain bands. To model the stable isotope values of precipitation in relation to the general trend of decreasing air temperatures, we applied a numerical Rayleigh condensation model for a non-constant α isotopic fractionation factor between liquid water and water vapour. The storm is powered by four consecutive moisture fronts, each following a Rayleigh distribution. About 40 % of the water vapour condenses during the sampled storm due to adiabatic expansion and cooling, which lowers saturation. Condensation ceases when cooling and absolute humidity can no longer sustain the dew point, stopping the rain. The timing of the event, occurring late at night and early in the morning, its duration of over 6 h as well as its synoptic scale may indicate a mesoscale convective complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late Permian to Triassic phases from the evaporite deposits of the Northern Calcareous Alps (NCA) and Central Alpine Mesozoic (CAM) were analysed for sulfur and oxygen isotope compositions. For the Upper Permian, most of the δ34S values are in the 11 to 12‰ range. Röt-type sulfates of Early Triassic age are characterized by a heavy sulfur isotopic composition of c. 26‰. The spatial compilation of the available data concerning the isotopic composition of Röt-type sulfates demonstrates that these evaporites are distributed over the entire area of the NCA. Their occurrences are associated with Early Triassic high-temperature conditions of the seawater and a widespread anoxia. The development of sulfates of Carnian–Norian age situated in the CAM is more modest; sulfates are characterized by a δ34S value of c. 15‰. The δ18O values show a broader distribution from 9 to 22‰, related to several factors such as type of deposit, recrystallization processes and bacterial sulfate reduction. The sulfate–sulfide thermometer applied to samples from NCA deposits indicates a thermal overprint of between 215 and 315°C. Microbeam measurements support zonation of minor elements in sphalerite. Sphalerite microstructure indicates thermal overprinting, with no microbial structure being preserved. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The new mineral joanneumite was found at Pabellón de Pica Mountain, Iquique Province, Tarapacá Region, Chile, where it occurs as violet microcrystalline aggregates up to 2 mm in size in small cracks in a gabbroic rock, which is covered by a guano deposit. Associated minerals are salammoniac, dittmarite, möhnite and gypsum. Joanneumite is non-fluorescent and the Mohs hardness is 1. The calculated density is 2.020 g cm-3. The infrared spectrum of joanneumite shows the frequencies of NH3 and isocyanurate groups and the absence of absorptions of H2O molecules and OH - ions. The chemical composition (electron microprobe data, the hydrogen was calculated from the structural formula, wt.%) is C 20.33, N 31.11, O 28.34, Cu 17.27, Zn 0.24, H 2.82, total 100.11. The empirical formula is Cu0.96Zn0.01N7.84C5.98O6.25H9.96 and the idealized formula is CuN8C6O6H10 with the structural formula Cu(C3N3O3H2)2(NH3)2. Due to the lack of suitable single crystals the synthetic analogue of joanneumite was prepared for the single-crystal structure refinement. The crystal structure was solved and refined to R = 0.025 based upon 1166 unique reflections with I > 2 σ (I). Joanneumite is triclinic, space group P1, a = 4.982(1), b = 6.896(1), c = 9.115(2) Å, α = 90.53(3), β = 97.85(3), γ = 110.08(3)°, V = 290.8(1) Å3, Z = 1 obtained from single-crystal data at 100 K, which are in good agreement with cell parameters from powder diffraction data of joanneumite at 293 K: a = 5.042(1), b = 6.997(1), c = 9.099(2) Å, α = 90.05(3), β = 98.11(2), β = 110.95(3)° and V = 296.3(1) Å3. The eight strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern are [d, Å (I,%) (hkl)] 6.52 (68) (010), 5.15 (47) (011), 4.66 (21) (100, 110), 4.35 (9) (111), 3.29 (6) (120), 3.22 (7) (111), 3.140 (100) (121), 2.074 (7) (132). The crystal structure of joanneumite is identical with the structure of synthetic bis(isocyanurato) diamminecopper(II). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ursus spelaeus, the Late Pleistocene a cave bear is known from numerous accumulations found in the fossil sector of caves situated in the Carpathian and Apuseni Mountains. In this study, we present new radiocarbon data along a profile of the Cioclovina Uscată Cave, which is situated in the South Carpathians. The data suggest that, during the entire Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3) interval, the cave was serving as a shelter for U. spelaeus, with the oldest dated bone indicating an age of > 47,710 and the youngest one, an age of 31,820 ± 400 years cal BP. Histogram plots of 110 radiocarbon data from different caves of the Carpathian and Apuseni Mountains as Cioclovina Uscată, Peștera (Cave) cu Oase, Peștera Muierii, or Peștera Urșilor, respectively, show a maximum expansion of the cave bear population between 50,000 and 40,000, a decline between 40,000 and 35,000 and a partial recovery from 35,000–30,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon data of Homo sapiens remains, younger than 35,000 years cal BP, support the fact that H. sapiens accessed the same caves where the cave bear persisted to hibernate. Besides general cool conditions and restricted food sources, the presence of H. sapiens constituted an additional stress factor driving the cave bear to extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the study which analyzes the environmental and tectonic record of a cretaceous and paleogene section from Eastern Carpathians. The researchers have conducted stable isotopic, x-ray diffractometer (XRD), and nannoplancton investigations across the section. The results that lithological changes do not reflect mineral bulk rock changes which suggest that lithology is an incomplete record of environmental conditions.