Mediu-se a seção de choque de ionização da camada K de átomos de Au e Bi por impacto de elétrons com energias entre os respectivos potenciais de ionização (80 e 90 keV) e 100 keV. Filmes finos de Au e Bi, evaporados em suportes de filmes finos de C, foram posicionados numa câmara de vácuo perpendicularmente ao feixe de elétrons do sistema injetor do Mícrotron da Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil. Os raios x emitidos num ângulo de 120 graus em relação à direção do feixe de elétrons foram observados com um detetor de HPGe planar, cuja eficiência total de pico foi determinada com fontes radioativas de atividades conhecidas. Para cada energia de feixe, a seção de choque experimental de produção de raios x foi determinada com base nas áreas dos picos $K\\alpha_{2,1}$ característicos, na área do espectro de bremsstrahlung próxima ao \"tip\" e na seção de choque duplamente diferencial de produção de bremsstrahlung teórica. Valores tabelados de fluorescence yield e taxa de emissão de raios x foram empregados para converter seções de choque de produção de raios x em seções de choque de ionização. Os resultados experimentais obtidos são ligeiramente maiores do que os resultados de cálculos recentes baseados na aproximação de Bohr com ondas distorcidas. No caso do Au, os poucos resultados encontrados na literatura para energias próximas ao limiar de ionização diferem entre si quase por um fator 4 a 100 keV, e a seção de choque obtida neste trabalho se encontra próxima do valor médio desses dados. Por outro lado, este experimento fornece as primeiras medições da seção de choque de ionização da camada K do Bi para energias menores que 2 MeV. / The cross sections for the ionization of the K shells of Au and Bi atoms by electrons with energies from 100 keV down to the respective thresholds (80 and 90 keV) were measured. To this end, thin films of Au and Bi, evaporated on very thin C backings, were positioned in a vacuum chamber perpendicularly to the electron beam delivered by the the microtron injector at the Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. The x-rays emitted at an angle of 120 degrees relative to the beam direction were observed with a planar HPGe detector, whose full-energy peak efficiency curve had been determined using radioactive sources of known activities. For each beam energy, the experimental x-ray production cross section was determined using the area of the characteristic $K\\alpha_{2,1}$ peaks, the area of the spectrum in an energy interval close to the bremsstrahlung tip and the theoretical doubly-differential bremsstrahlung cross section. Tabulated fluorescence yields and x-ray emission rates were employed to convert x-ray production to ionization cross sections. The obtained experimental values for the K shells of the studied atoms are slightly larger than that of recent calculations carried out within the distorted-wave Born approximation. In the case of Au, the few measurements reported in the literature at energies close to the threshold differ by almost a factor of 4 at 100 keV, and our cross sections lie between those older data. On the other hand, the present experiment provides the first cross section measurements for the K shell ionization of Bi below 2 MeV.

The accurate and efficient simulation of coupled neutron-photon problems is necessary for several important radiation detection applications. Examples include the detection of nuclear threats concealed in cargo containers and prompt gamma neutron activation analysis for nondestructive determination of elemental composition of unknown samples. In these applications, high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometers are used to preserve as much information as possible about the emitted photon flux, which consists of both continuum and characteristic gamma rays with discrete energies. Monte Carlo transport is the most commonly used modeling tool for this type of problem, but computational times for many problems can be prohibitive. This work explored the use of coupled Monte Carlo-deterministic methods for the simulation of neutron-induced photons for high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy applications. A method was developed for the implementation of coupled neutron-photon problems into RAdiation Detection Scenario Analysis Toolbox (RADSAT), a computer code that couples the complementary strengths of discrete-ordinate and Monte Carlo approaches to obtain high-resolution detector responses. Central to this work was the development of a method for generating multi-group neutron-photon cross-sections in a way that separates the discrete and continuum photon emissions so that the key signatures in neutron activation analysis (i.e., the characteristic line energies) are preserved. The mechanics of the cross-section preparation method are described and contrasted with standard neutron-gamma cross-section sets. These custom cross-sections were then applied to several benchmark problems using the method developed in this work. Multi-group results for neutron and photon flux are compared to MCNP results. Finally, calculated responses of high-resolution spectrometers were compared. The added computational efficiency of the coupled Monte Carlo-deterministic method and the positive agreement achieved in the code-to-code verification make the integration of the coupled neutron-photon method into RADSAT a promising endeavor.

Exotic pine plantations are a major landuse within the coastal lowlands of southeast Queensland, extending from close to the shoreline to the hinterland ranges. These plantations are within a sub-tropical climatic zone, and in most years, the summers are appreciably wetter than the winters. This terrain, in general, has been highly weathered and the soils are poor in nutrients. Environmental factors such as the climate, topography and weathering profile (including soil) are found to be important controls on vadose zone hydrology, which, in turn, has a great impact on tree growth and consequently on the design of management practices. This research project takes a holistic approach to investigate the influence of these environmental factors at different scales, and is designed to fulfil the following objectives: (1) To build a spatial model of forest productivity for the entire Tuan Toolara State Forest (TTSF), southeast Queensland, by analysing the spatial patterns of many environmental variables that may have controls on soil water distribution. (2) To determine how some of these environmental factors are responsible for the development of water-logging and soil salinisation by examining in detail an area of low site index that is severely affected by these two processes. (3) To develop a model to assess the risks of water-logging spatially and temporally. A multiple regression model was constructed to predict the forest productivity (measured by the value of site index, the average dominant tree height at 25 years of age). The independent variables were derived from a digital elevation model (elevation, slope, curvature, hillshade, flow accumulation and distance to streams), γ-ray spectrometry (potassium, thorium and uranium), and interpolated rainfall. The model explained up to 60% of the variance in the site indices and produced predictive maps of site index for two species: P. elliottii Engelm. and Queensland hybrid, a P. elliottii × P. caribaea Morelet hybrid. The model also identified the lowest site index area at the northern Tuan State Forest (NTSF), likely due to a greater risk of water-logging and salinisation. The NTSF area is of low relief and, therefore, the focus has been on the vertical controls of deep weathering profile. The methodology included setting up a network of groundwater bores screened at different depths within the weathering profile, characterising the profile (mineralogy, EC, and pH) and the groundwaters within it (water levels, physico-chemical parameters, major and minor ions). It is found that water-logging is caused by perched groundwater formed on top of the ferricrete or mottled saprolite after prolonged rainfall. Localised salinisation is related to the discharge of brackish groundwater occurring within the mottled saprolite. The deep aquifer within the coarse saprolite is fresh and not responsible for salinisation, a situation that differs from many other settings in Australia. The ability of using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) computer model to simulate soil water balance and to assess the risks of water-logging was tested in a selected catchment in the TTSF. The model successfully simulated stream flow at 2 weirs for a period of 6 years; the achieved R2 were 0.752 and 0.858, respectively. Long-term simulation for a 30-year period showed that there are pronounced seasonal patterns in rainfall and evapotranspiration as well as in soil water. For mature plantation with slopes of 3-15%, the mean annual duration of water-logging ranged from 161 days in the humus podzols, to 110 days in the gleyed podzolic, and to 90 days in the yellow podzolics. The outcomes of this research suggest that forest management can be strongly supported by understanding the impacts of these environmental factors (e.g. climate, topography and weathering profile) on vadose zone hydrological processes; the selection of optimum approach will depend on the research objective or purpose. The models and analytical tools that were developed or tested here have the potential to be successfully applied elsewhere if the input data are available.

For about 20 years now, observations of 6Li in several old metal-poor stars inside the halo of our galaxy have been reported, which are largely independent of the stars’ metallicity, and which point to a possible primordial origin. The observations exceed the predictions of the Standard Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis model by a factor of 500. In the relevant energy range, no directly measured S-factors were available yet for the main production reaction 2H(α,γ)6Li, while different theoretical estimations have an uncertainty of up to two orders of magnitude. The very small cross section in the picobarn range has been measured with a deuterium gas target at the LUNA acceler- ator (Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics), located deep underground inside Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy. A beam-induced, neutron-caused background in the γ-detector occurred which had to be analyzed carefully and sub- tracted in an appropriate way, to finally infer the weak signal of the reaction. For this purpose, a method to parameterize the Compton background has been developed. The results are a contribution to the discussion about the accuracy of the recent 6Li observations, and to the question if it is necessary to include new physics into the Standard Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis model.

Mediu-se a seção de choque de ionização da camada K de átomos de Au e Bi por impacto de elétrons com energias entre os respectivos potenciais de ionização (80 e 90 keV) e 100 keV. Filmes finos de Au e Bi, evaporados em suportes de filmes finos de C, foram posicionados numa câmara de vácuo perpendicularmente ao feixe de elétrons do sistema injetor do Mícrotron da Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil. Os raios x emitidos num ângulo de 120 graus em relação à direção do feixe de elétrons foram observados com um detetor de HPGe planar, cuja eficiência total de pico foi determinada com fontes radioativas de atividades conhecidas. Para cada energia de feixe, a seção de choque experimental de produção de raios x foi determinada com base nas áreas dos picos $K\\alpha_{2,1}$ característicos, na área do espectro de bremsstrahlung próxima ao \"tip\" e na seção de choque duplamente diferencial de produção de bremsstrahlung teórica. Valores tabelados de fluorescence yield e taxa de emissão de raios x foram empregados para converter seções de choque de produção de raios x em seções de choque de ionização. Os resultados experimentais obtidos são ligeiramente maiores do que os resultados de cálculos recentes baseados na aproximação de Bohr com ondas distorcidas. No caso do Au, os poucos resultados encontrados na literatura para energias próximas ao limiar de ionização diferem entre si quase por um fator 4 a 100 keV, e a seção de choque obtida neste trabalho se encontra próxima do valor médio desses dados. Por outro lado, este experimento fornece as primeiras medições da seção de choque de ionização da camada K do Bi para energias menores que 2 MeV. / The cross sections for the ionization of the K shells of Au and Bi atoms by electrons with energies from 100 keV down to the respective thresholds (80 and 90 keV) were measured. To this end, thin films of Au and Bi, evaporated on very thin C backings, were positioned in a vacuum chamber perpendicularly to the electron beam delivered by the the microtron injector at the Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. The x-rays emitted at an angle of 120 degrees relative to the beam direction were observed with a planar HPGe detector, whose full-energy peak efficiency curve had been determined using radioactive sources of known activities. For each beam energy, the experimental x-ray production cross section was determined using the area of the characteristic $K\\alpha_{2,1}$ peaks, the area of the spectrum in an energy interval close to the bremsstrahlung tip and the theoretical doubly-differential bremsstrahlung cross section. Tabulated fluorescence yields and x-ray emission rates were employed to convert x-ray production to ionization cross sections. The obtained experimental values for the K shells of the studied atoms are slightly larger than that of recent calculations carried out within the distorted-wave Born approximation. In the case of Au, the few measurements reported in the literature at energies close to the threshold differ by almost a factor of 4 at 100 keV, and our cross sections lie between those older data. On the other hand, the present experiment provides the first cross section measurements for the K shell ionization of Bi below 2 MeV.

Orientadores: Alvaro Penteado Crosta, Hartmut Beurlen / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Geociencias / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T18:20:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva_SebastiaoMiltonPinheiroda_D.pdf: 16585343 bytes, checksum: 70c3444445e77b34a0b4aa6c35c60fd3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Neste estudo foram utilizados dados de espectroscopia de reflectância (ER), imagens dos sensores Terra/ASTER e EO-1/Hyperion e dados de gamaespectrometria aérea e terrestre para caracterização espectromineralógica e gamaespectrométrica de pegmatitos e granitos pegmatíticos da porção sul da PPB. Por meio da ER foi possível caracterizar fases e misturas de fases minerais que compõem essas rochas, incluindo caulinita, muscovita, illita/sericita e turmalina em pegmatitos do tipo homogêneo. A aplicação da análise por principais componentes aos dados Terra/ASTER através da técnica Crósta resultou em um mapa exibindo a mineralogia principal dos pegmatitos homogêneos e heterogêneos da área de estudo, bem como dos quartzitos da Formação Equador, biotita xistos da Formação Seridó, além de coberturas superficiais limonitizadas associadas. No pegmatito do Alto do Giz, selecionado para um estudo detalhado, foram identificadas por meio da ER fases, e misturas de fases, de caulinita, illita/sericita, lepidolita, mica sódica, muscovita, cookeíta e turmalina, cujas associações contribuiram para definir uma zona litinífera (cookeita+lepidolita) nas bordas dos núcleos de quartzo N2 e N3 e o zoneamento interno do pegmatito. Com base nesses resultados é proposta sua classificação como do tipo complexo, sub-classe espodumênio. Além disso, foram reconhecidos pelo menos três estágios de sua evolução: um primeiro relacionado à cristalização de espodumênio, um outro de natureza hidrotermal, que deu origem à cookeita e, finalmente, e um terceiro estágio de caulinização ligado a processo hidrotermal e/ou supergênico. A análise e classificação espectral da imagem do sensor EO-1/Hyperion possibilitou mapear a distribuição das zonas do pegmatito Alto do Giz utilizando os minerais muscovita, caulinita e mica sódica como indicadores das distintas zonas. Com dados do aerolevantamento gamaespectrométrico do Projeto Seridó, reprocessados e reinterpretados utilizando métodos modernos, com apoio da gamaespectrometria terrestre, foi possível discriminar os quartzitos das regiões norte e sul da área de estudos, em função de suas distintas assinaturas do tório (eTh) e da razão eTh/K, bem como caracterizar os granitos pegmatíticos por meio das razões dos canais eU/eTh e eU/K. As imagens do tório (eTh) e da razão eTh/K permitiram identificar metaconglomerados e metarenitos ricos em minerais pesados, intercalados nos quartzitos da Formação Equador, e propor um novo tipo de mineralização torífera na Faixa Seridó. Determinações com MEV-EDS revelaram teores máximos de 79,4% de ThO2 e 87,7% de ETR (Ce, La, Nd) em monazitas; 99,2% de TiO2 em rutilo e 1,81% de HfO2 em zircão. Esses resultados demonstraram o destacado potencial para caracterização e mapeamento de granitos pegmatíticos da PPB com base em dados coletados há várias décadas e de baixa resolução espacial. O detalhamento realizado no granito Galo Branco por meio da coleta de dados de gamaespectrometria terrestre, dosagens radiométricas e determinações químicas por ICP-MS indicaram teores de 0,47 ppm a 7,8 ppm de urânio, de 0,1 ppm a 21 ppm de tório e de 2% a 5,24% de potássio. Essas concentrações irregularmente distribuídas sugerem mudanças de conteúdo e concentração de minerais acessórios durante os estágios de diferenciação e cristalização magmática desse granito. A ocorrência de diques de pegmatitos encaixados em quartzitos ao sul do granito Galo Branco foi revelada por meio das elevadas razões eU/eTh. / Abstract: Reflectance spectroscopy (ER), Terra/ASTER and EO-1/Hyperion images, and ground and aerial gamma ray data were employed for mineral characterization of pegmatites and pegmatitic granites in the southern portion of the BPP. ER results allowed to characterize mineral phases and mixtures of minerals including kaolinite, illite/sericite, muscovite and turmaline (schorl) in homogeneous pegmatites. Principal component analysis were applied to Terra/ASTER data using the Crósta techique, resulting in a map exhibiting the main mineralogy of homogeneous and heterogeneous pegmatites, as well as quartzites of the Equador Fm. biotite schists of the Serido Fm. and iron-rich superficial deposits. The Alto do Giz pegmatite was selected for a detailed study and mineral phases comprising kaolinite, muscovite, illite/sericite, Na- and Li-bearing micas, cookeite and tourmaline were recognized, allowing to define a lLi-rich zone (cookeite+lepidolite) around nuclei N2 and N3 and to establish the internal zoning of the pegmatite. Based on these results we proposed its classification as a complex-type pegmatite, of the spodumene sub-class. Furthermore, at least three evolution stages have been establish for Alto do Giz: an early stage represented by the primary crystallization of spodumene, followed by hydrothermal alteration that originated cookeite, and later stage comprising intense kaolinization originated from hydrothermal and/or supergenic processes. The analysis and spectral classification of the EO-1 Hyperion data allowed to map the spatial distribution of the distinct zones, based on the occurrence of key minerals such as muscovite, kaolinite, and Na-bearing mica. Using the airborne gamma ray data of the Seridó Aerogeophysical Project, reprocessed and reinterpreted using modern techniques, and using ground gamma data as a support, it was possible to distinguish quartzites from the north and south portions of the BPP based on their distinctive Th contents and on the eTh/K ratio, as well as to characterize pegmatitic granites using the ratios eU/eTh and eU/eK. Th and eTh/K images allowed the identification of metarenites and metaconglomerates bearing significative amounts of heavy minerals, thus revealing a new type of mineralization in the Serido Belt. Semi-quantitative scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses revealed up to 79.4% of ThO2 and 87.7% of REE in monazites; up to 99.2% of TiO2 in rutile and up to 1.81% of HfO2 in zircon. These results indicated the potential of the methodology employed in this work for the characterization of pegmatitic granites and pegmatites in the Borborema Pegmatitic Province (BPP) using low spatial resolution airborne geophysical data collected decades ago. The detailed study of the Galo Branco granite with ground gamma ray data and radiometric and ICP-MS laboratory analysis showed that this granite has U grades of 0.47 ppm to 7.8 ppm, Th between 0.1 ppm and 21.0 ppm and K between 2.00% e 5.24%. These concentrations are irregularly distributed suggesting mineralogical changes in contents and concentration of accessory minerals during magmatic crystallization and differentiation stages of this granite. The occurrence of pegmatites dikes intruding the quartzites to the south of the Galo Branco granite was revealed by the eUe/Th ratio since they are relatively enriched in uranium. / Doutorado / Geologia e Recursos Naturais / Doutor em Geociências

Oito blocos transportáveis para calibração foram construídos para serem utilizados como padrões de concentração na calibração de espectrômetros gama portáteis e aerotransportados. Todo o procedimento de construção é descrito em detalhe. Os blocos, com dimensões de 1 m x 1 m x 0,30 m e massas variando entre 593 kg e 673 kg, devem a sua radioatividade à adição de diferentes quantidades de feldspato potássico (ortoclásio), caldasito e areia monazítica à massa de concreto. As concentrações de potássio, urânio e tório variam significativamente de um bloco para outro atingindo valores máximos de 5,7% de K, 45,6 ppm eU e 137 ppm eTh. A distribuição do fluxo de radiação gama proveniente da superfície dos blocos de concreto e a magnitude das heterogeneidades na concentração dos elementos radioativos foi determinada experimentalmente. Como exemplo de aplicação apresenta-se o resultado da calibração de um espectrômetro gama portátil. / Eight transportable calibration pads were built in to be used as concentration standards for portable and airborne gamma spectrometers calibrations. The pads construction procedure is described in full detail. The pads, with dimensions of 1 m x 1 m x 0,30 m and masses between 593 kg and 673 kg were made radioactive by the addition of different amounts of k-feldspar, caldasite and monazitic sand to the concrete masses. The potassium, uranium and thorium concentration vary significantly in the pads, reaching maximum values of 5,7% of K, 45,6 ppm eU and 137 ppm eTh. The distribution of the gamma radiation flux from the pads surfaces and the heterogeneity magnitudes of the radioactive elements concentration were experimentally established. An example of gamma spectrometer calibration is presented.

Caractérisation numérique de la technique de spectrométrie gamma par simulation Monte-Carlo : Application à la datation d'échantillons environnementaux.Résumé :Afin d'optimiser la détermination de l'activité d'échantillons environnementaux, l'étalonnage en efficacité de la chaîne spectrométrique se doit d'être de bonne qualité. Le travail de cette thèse consiste à rassembler les problématiques principales : les phénomènes d'auto-absorption et de coïncidence. Ces effets sont traités par métrologie et simulation Monte-Carlo (MCNP6), impliquant la bonne modélisation préalable de nos détecteurs. Le problème d'auto-absorption est dominant lorsque le standard utilisé pour l'étalonnage en efficacité a des caractéristiques physico-chimiques différentes des échantillons. Un étalonnage numérique semble plus approprié et nous l'appliquons à une archive sédimentaire du lac de Longemer (France). Nous proposons une méthode nouvelle se basant sur une mesure expérimentale ajustée numériquement afin de déterminer le coefficient d'atténuation massique des échantillons. Il est alors possible de remonter à une composition chimique fictive qui permettra d'utiliser la simulation Monte-Carlo pour réaliser l'étalonnage. Ainsi, à 59,54 keV la correction de l'auto-absorption peut atteindre 24 %. Les phénomènes de coïncidence peuvent également être corrigés par simulation. Le logiciel ETNA permet cette correction mais ne permet pas la modélisation d'un détecteur puits. Dans le but de corriger l'efficacité de notre détecteur puits, possédant une géométrie propice aux coïncidences, nous utilisons le transfert de rendement qui lui est adaptable pour n'importe quelle géométrie. Les résultats par cette méthode sont validés par MCNP6 et Génie 2000 sur les énergies principales du 214Bi. / In order to improve the determination of environmental samples activity, the detector efficiency calibration must be reliable. These studies deal with the main issues in gamma-ray spectrometry: the self-absorption and the true coincidence summing effects (TCS). These phenomena are studied by metrology and Monte-Carlo simulation (MCNP6) that imply the faithful of our detector models in relation to the experimental device. The self-absorption problem is the main one when the used standard for efficiency calibration has not the same physical and chemical characteristics than samples. A numerical calibration seems to be more suitable and we apply it for Longemer lake archives (France). A new method is proposed where an experimental measurement is processed through numerical simulations to determine the mass attenuation coefficient of the samples. It makes it possible to define a virtual chemical composition to use Monte-Carlo simulation. Then the numerical calibration at 59.54 keV gives a 24% self-absorption correction. The TCS problems can also be corrected by simulation. The ETNA software can determine this correction but it doesn’t make the well type detector model possible, with a geometry conducive to TCS effects. With the aim of correcting the efficiency of our well detector, the efficiency transfer, which can be adjusted to any device, is used. The results with this method are validated by MCNP6 and Genie 2000 software on the main lines of 214Bi.

Missing page viii. Page 171 was repeated with different text. / <p> The decay of 14.9 min. ⁸⁹Rb to levels in ⁸⁹Sr has been studied by use of Ge(Li) detectors, NaI(Tl) detectors and a magnetic beta ray spectrometer. Fourteen gamma rays have been studied by ɣ-ɣ and β-ɣ coincidence experiments and establish levels at 0, 1.031, 2,000, 2.277, 2.567, 2.708, 2.770, 3.225 and 3.500 MeV. The Q value is 4.486 ± .012 Mev. </p> <p> The techniques of beta and gamma ray spectroscopy using Ge(Li), NaI(Tl) and plastic beta detectors have been applied in the study of the decay of 3.2 min. ⁸⁹Kr to levels in ⁸⁹Rb. Seventy nine of the one hundred and eleven observed gamma rays have been classified in the proposed decay scheme. The Q value is 5.15 ± .03 MeV. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Une calibration orbitale du Valanginien et d’une partie de l’Hauterivien (Crétacé inférieur) est présentée au cours de ce travail. Celles-ci sont basées sur l’identification des cycles de l’excentricité à partir d’analyses spectrales menées sur des proxies climatiques mesurés à haute résolution sur des alternances marne/calcaire hémipélagiques.Cinq coupes de référence sont analysées dans le Bassin Vocontien (Sud-Est de la France), couvrant l’ensemble de l’étage du Valanginien. Une durée de 5,08 Ma est proposée pour cet étage à partir de l’identification du cycle de l’excentricité de 405 ka. Le cadre temporel proposé, combiné aux âges radioisotopiques disponibles, montre que la perturbation en 13C du Valanginien moyen (événement Weissert) est antérieure à la mise en place des trapps du Paraná-Etendeka. La forte expression de l’obliquité dans la partie supérieure du Valanginien pourrait refléter la mise en place de calottes polaires de faible extension.La transition Hauterivien-Barrémien de Río Argos (Sud-Est de l’Espagne) est traitée par une analyse multi-proxies (cortèges argileux et susceptibilité magnétique ou SM). Par comparaison avec les bancs calcaires, les interbancs marneux sont enrichis en kaolinite et en illite, appauvries en smectite et possèdent de fortes valeurs de SM. Cela reflète des conditions tropicales humides lors du dépôt des marnes tandis que les calcaires se déposent en climat semi-aride. Les durées des zones d’ammonite à P. ohmi et à T. hugii sont respectivement estimées à 0,78 Ma et 0,54 Ma. L’événement anoxique Faraoni a une durée comprise entre 100 et 150 ka. Par corrélation avec d’autres coupes, Río Argos apparaît être le meilleur candidat GSSP / Orbital floating time scales are proposed for the Valanginian Stage and part of the Hauterivian Stage (Early Cretaceous). These are based on the identification of the eccentricity cycles from spectral analyses performed on high-resolution climatic proxies measured on hemipelagic marl-limestone alternations. Five reference sections were analysed in the Vocontian Basin (SE France), spanning the entire Valanginian. A duration of 5,08 myr is proposed for the Valanginian Stage from the identification of the 405-kyr eccentricity cycle. The time frame proposed, combined with available radiometric ages, shows that the mid-Valanginian 13C positive excursion (namely the Weissert Event) occurs prior to the onset of the Paraná-Etendeka traps. The stronger expression of the obliquity cycles in the upper part of the Valanginian Stage may be caused by the onset of low-extension polar ice. The Hauterivian-Barremian transition of the Río Argos section (SE Spain) was studied by a multi-proxies analysis (clay minerals, magnetic susceptibility or MS). Compared to limestone beds, marl interbeds are enriched in kaolinite and illite, impoverished in smectite and show stronger MS values. This reflect tropical humid conditions during marl deposits while limestone were deposited under semi arid conditions. The durations of the P. ohmi and T. hugii ammonite zones are assessed at 0.78 myr and 0.54 myr, respectively. The duration of the Faraoni anoxic event ranges from 100 to 150 kyr. By correlation with other sections, the Río Argos section appears to be the most valuable candidate for GSSP.