Reconstruire les manifestations du sacré et les pratiques rituelles et/ou cultuelles de l'Italie méridionale et dela Sicile, au Xème-VIIème siècle av. J. Chr., est un objectif ambitieux parce que on doit aborder des aspectsimmatériels, liés à la spiritualité, pas facilement visibles dans l'évidence archéologique. Choisir, en plus, lapériode de la protohistoire représente une difficulté majeure puisque les sources littéraires sont presquetotalement absentes. L'analyse de la documentation archéologique, axée sur trois direction d'intervention -l'espace ainsi naturel qu'humain, les bâtiments et le mobilier retrouvés - a permis, par contre, d'identifier desmarqueurs cultuels, éléments qui se répètent avec persistance à travers les siècles. Le regard spécifique sur lecontexte est la clé interprétative utilisée pour étudier les trois aspects, avec un nouveau critère, qui n'est pluslié aux classes de la production artisanale, mais plutôt à leur fonctionnalité. La présence du rite et du culte aété détecté dans 166 sites de l'Italie méridionale, reconnus comme des lieux de culte or du rite (anaktora), etanalysée en comparaison avec les établissements et les contextes funéraires de la même période et de lamême aire géographique. Le résultat est une reconstruction du sacré qui vise à offrir un portrait des communautés grecques et indigènes vues dans la sphère du rite. / The reconstruction of the sacred manifestations and of the ritual and/or cult practices in Southern Italy, Sicilyincluded, in the 9th-7th B.C., is an ambitious project, because it is necessary to approach insubstantialaspects, linked to the spirituality, non readable in the archaeological evidence. Choosing, furthermore, theproto-historical period reveals another /a bigger difficulty, since the literary sources are almost absent. Theanalysis of the archaeological documentation, conducted through three research guidelines- the space, bothnatural and human, the buildings and the findings- has created a new interpretative model based on thecultual markers. These are recurring elements, enduring in the centuries, related to the depositional pattern orthe presence of particular objects. The specific attention due to the context is the key factor of the research,which uses a new criterion for the findings analysis, not based on the traditional division of production classes, but on their function. The presence of the rite and of the cult has been detected in 166 sites, identified as cultual places or even ritual places (anaktora), and has been compared with settlements and funerary contexts of the same period and geographical area. The result is the reconstruction of the sacred aspect which aims at giving a portrait of Greek and Indigenous communities in the cult sphere.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Southern offshore basins of South Africa are well known as potential provinces of hydrocarbon exploration and production. The complex nature of the Bredasdorp sub-basin’s syn-rift architecture (transform fault system) can have adverse effects on reservoir distribution due to periodic local and regional uplift of horsts and grabens. This present investigation focusses on an integrated approach of the 1AT1-V horizon or early Cretaceous sediments in the Bredasdorp sub-basin to identify the depositional environment and provenance of these sediments as well as their role in regionally complex compositional heterogeneities associated with the late stage rifting of Gondwana break-up. An integrated seismic, sedimentological (including petrography and geochemistry) and ichnologic analysis of the 1AT1-V horizon sediments showed an overall lower regressive element complex assemblage set and an upper transgressive element complex assemblage set that occurred as a >120m thick succession. The analysis identified a mixed-energy deltaic succession followed by an estuarine succession. The 1AT1-V interval (late syn-rift) consisted of nine sedimentary facies associations (and associated petrofacies) on a dipslope setting with variations occurring along the strike and the downdip depositional slope areas. Two overall sequences were identified as a lower regressive and upper transgressive sequence (Element complex assemblage sets). The regressive sequence consisted of middle to distal delta front lobe fringes, hyperpycnal event beds (sourced from basement highs), offshore migrating tidal bars (and associated inter-bar regions), distal mouth bars, terminal distributary channels (and associated inter-terminal distributary regions). The distal delta plain to proximal delta front consisted of interdistributary bays, distributary channels, crevasse splay sub-deltas, mouth bars, tidal flats and offshore embayments. In the laterally isolated depocenter, these deposits also consisted of basement high slopes with upliftment of the basement highs leading to proximal/central embayment to regressive shoreface/foreshore environments. These sequences consisted generally of low diversity and intensities (impoverished abundances) of trace fossils. The paleoclimate inference from this sequence indicates a humid climate with intermediate degrees of weathering intensities (possibly fluctuating arid-humid conditions). The transgressive sequence consisted of estuarine sedimentation with the occurrence of tidal sand ridges and compound dune fields, embayment facies and tidal bars. These sequences consisted of relatively higher ichnodiversities and intensities than their relative regressive sequences. The paleoclimate inference during these times consisted of more arid to semi-arid settings with low degrees of weathering in the source terrain. Local tectonic upliftment and subsidence, with exposed basement highs, gave rise to differential process regimes (tidal, wave and fluvial) and hence depositional facies in the diachronous updip/downdip areas (spatial) and within-stratigraphic (temporal) variations. There are several modern analogues that are similar to the 1AT1-V horizon sequence and they are the Mahakam, Ganges-Brahmaputra, Po, Burdekin deltaic and Satpara lake environments Compaction and dissolution diagenetic features as well as transportation were responsible for the major compositional heterogeneities concerning the reservoir quality and distribution. Proximal and distal sources were identified with first cycle and polycyclic sediments being deposited in the northern and southern part of the basin during the late stages of rifting in the Bredasdorp sub-basin. The provenance lithology has been identified as recycled sedimentary rocks (and their meta-equivalents) with an ultimate source terrain that was largely felsic in nature (Cape granite suite). The northern part of the studied section is suggested to have received sediments from the main metasedimentary rocks of the Cape fold belt (including the Table Mountain Group and Bokkeveld Group) whereas the southern sections received more sediments from the basement highs (recycled Malmesbury Group (and Pre-Cape sediments) and Cape granite suite), which is further supported by seismic data. Provenance analysis revealed that the Cape Fold belt (most recent collision) was possibly a provenance terrain but overprinting of several collisions are also acknowledged. The tectonic setting was envisaged to be of a rifted margin during the break-up of Gondwana. This compositional heterogeneity due to facies and provenance-related terrains had major consequences to the reservoir quality and distribution from the northern part to the southern part of the studied section

Community succession, the orderly changes a community experiences with time, is considered to be the result of either autogenic or allogenic factors working singularly or in combination. It has been further suggested that, as communities undergo succession, certain biological parameters change in a predictable manner. Examination of members 2 through 4 of the Mississippian (KinderhookOsage) Lodgepole Formation of Samaria Mountain, Idaho provides a means to evaluate these concepts. Within the study section comprised of 125 beds (61.5 m thick), four rock types are recognized. These include: (1) fossiliferous wackestone (78% of beds), which ranges in color from dark-gray (N3) to medium-light gray (N6), is fine to coarse crystalline, has an average insoluble content of 3.1 percent by weight, and an average organic content of 0.25 percent by weight; (2) fossiliferous mudstone (1S% of beds), which ranges in color from dark-gray (N3) to medium-gray (NS), is very fine to fine crystalline, has an average insoluble content of 2.3 percent and an average organic content of 0.30 percent by weight; (3) fossiliferous packstone (6% of beds), which ranges in color from medium-gray (NS) to light-gray (N7), is medium to coarse crystalline, has an average insoluble content of 3.3 percent by weight and an average organic content of O. 17 percent by weight; and (4) crystalline carbonate (1% of beds), which is light-gray (N7) in color, is coarse crystalline, has an insoluble content of 9.3 percent by weight, and an organic content of 0.2 percent by weight. However, at ninety-five percent confidence level, no statistical relationship could be seen between the rock types and either the insoluble contents or the organic content. Twenty-one taxa, including corals, brachiopods, crinoids, blastoids, gastropods, echinoids, and sharks were recognized, with most taxa ranging throughout the study section. Well-preserved fossils are generally rare. However, this deficiency seems to be due to weathering of the containing strata rather than to currents acting on the skeletons prior to burial. Orientational data support this conclusion. Measurements of the direction (vector) from the apical end to the calical end of the horn coral Zaphrentis show that the orientations of toppled corals is random. Two biological parameters are calculated for each of the bedding surfaces examined, i.e., diversity and calcified biovolume. Diversity is calculated two ways, i.e., in terms of equitability, and in terms of richness. For richness, values range from 0.0 to 7.41, with a mean of 4.12, and for dominance diversity, values range from 0.0 to 1.95, with a mean value of 0.87. Calcified biovolume, which is used as the basis for inferences involving biomass, ranges from 0 to 30,015 cubic centimeters per bedding surface, with a mean value of 744.1 cubic centimeters per bedding surface. Three faunal associations, as well as several sub-associations within the three major associations, are indicated by the clustering of indices of affinity. These associations include: (1) Zaphrentis-Crinoid- Syringopora-Echinoid-Cleiothryridina-Unispirifer-Spirifer-Orthotetes- Flexaria-Camarotoechia-Schizophoria-Lithostrotionella; (2) Cruziana-Dwelling tube; (3) Shark-Blastoid-Helminthopsis. Trophic relationships within the three associations suggest that they were the result of two factors: (1) the tendency towards a vertical stratification of the association's members, which resulted in a more efficient use of the water column; (2) direct physical interaction among association members, in the form of predator-prey or symbiotic relationships. The former type of interaction may have been operative between the sharks and blastoids of faunal association 3. Environmental reconstruction involved the determination of four parameters: (1) paleocurrent direction and intensity; (2) sedimentation rate; (3) bathymetry; and (4) substrate. From the study of both physical and biological evidence, it is concluded that, during the time of Lodgepole deposition a very weak, unidirectional current, or multidirectional currents of similar competency operated over a carbonate-mud substrate. Evidence suggests that the sedimentati on rate was extremely low, and that the Eh= 0 line was just below the sediment-water interface. The water depth at this location was probably below normal effective wave base, but above the zone of oxygen depletion. Study of fossils on bedding surfaces overlying barren bedding surfaces or surfaces containing fossil hash, suggests that four successional stages can be recognized. Because changes in the faunal composition between the various successional stages appear to take place both with (10 times), and without lithologic changes (16 times), it is concluded that succession may result from either biological modifications of the environment or physical changes. Therefore, succession was both autogenically or allogenically controlled. Additionally, the comnrunities were retrograded to an "earlier" successional stage 24 times within the 125 bed succession. As succession proceeded through the successional sequence, values for equability-diversity and calcified biovolume generally increase. This trend is in agreement with previously predicted trends. With succession the overall trend observed in the trophic structure appears to be one of an increase in the proportion of filter feeders in the community relative to the proportion of deposit feeders in the community.

<p> The transition from the Whirlpool Sandstone to the Manitoulin Dolomite represents a marine transgression. Within the Manitoulin Formation, the proportion of siliclastics to carbonates shows a marked upward decrease. The Manitoulin Formation consists of four main facies. The lower two facies indicate an inner shelf environment, while the upper two represent a middle to outer shelf environment. </p> <p> These sediments have been almost totally dolomitized. Cathodoluminescent microscopy was employed to determine the diagenetic history of quartz, calcite, and dolomite cements. The petrographic characteristics of the dolomite using CL and normal light indicate a late stage (epigenetic) dolomitization. </p> <p> Dolomitization is thought to have been a late diagenetic process brought about by Mg-rich fluids expelled during compaction of adjacent shales and supplemented by brines circulating through fracture systems. </p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Arts (BA)

<p> A sedimentogical and petrological examination of the basal sands of the Stoddart Formation in the area of Josephine field has been undertaken. The determination of the depositiianal environment and the history of sedimentation of the basal Stoddart sands are the objectives of this study. </p> <p>The thick sands at the base of the Stoddart Formation which have a blocky gamma ray response consist of fine-grained sandstone dominated by angle of repose cross-bedding. The sedimentary structures, stratification types, composition and facies relationships of these sands indicate that they are of a coastal aeolian origin.</p> <p>The compositional, textural and surface texture characteristics of these sands were studied under petrographic, cathodolumenescent and scanning electron microscopes. Observations indicate that the above criteria can be used to support the interpretation of an aeolian origin for the cross-bedded sands of the basal Stoddart Formation. </p> <p>The sands of the basal Stoddart show rapid transitions between sub-aerial and marine environments. These rapid changes are believed to be caused by sudden sea level fluctuations resulting from movement of reactivated faults in the Peace River arch area. </p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Science (BSc)

The Trinity River is an urbanized, effluent-dominated river, and is heavily relied upon for drinking water. The benthic macroinvertebrate community has been monitored for over 20 years, with the focus of this dissertation on three studies (1987-88, 2005, and 2011). Water quality improvement following dechlorination resulted in increased benthic metrics. Overall habitat quality, in-stream cover, surface water total organic carbon, sediment total organic carbon, near-field urban land-use, near-field forested land-use, surface water surfactant toxic units, and depositional sediment biofilm fatty acids all have statistically significant relationships with benthic macroinvertebrate metrics. These relationships are better defined with increased taxonomic resolution at the genus/species level for all benthic taxa, including Chironomidae and Oligochaeta. It is recommend that benthic identifications for state and city water quality assessments be done at the genus/species level. A novel method for quantifying depositional sediment biofilm fatty acids has been produced and tested in this dissertation. Benthic metrics are directly related to fatty acid profiles, with several essential fatty acids found only at upstream sites.

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