Chariocrinus japonicus, a new species of isocrinid crinoid (Articulata) from the Lower Cretaceous of Takayama City, central Japan
A specimen, originally described as ‘Pentacrinus’ from the Middle–Upper Jurassic of central Japan, is re-analysed and now recognised to be a new species of the genus Chariocrinus Hess, 1972, from the Lower Cretaceous. Chariocrinus japonicus sp. nov. has nine columnals per noditaxis, low columnal height, a pentalobate to sub-pentagonal articular facet and an impersistent median ridge on the latera. Chariocrinus was originally described from the Middle Jurassic of Switzerland, and has also been recognised from elsewhere in Europe, Antarctica and North America. The Japanese specimen represents the first report of Chariocrinus in the Cretaceous of Asia, thereby significantly extending both its temporal and eastern geographical range. This specimen suggests Chariocrinus had a global distribution and, as such, conforms with the distribution of other Mesozoic and modern isocrinine genera.
First articulated stalked crinoids from the Mesozoic of South America: two new species from the Lower Cretaceous of the Neuquén Basin, west-central Argentina
Abstract. Two new isocrinids are described from the Lower Cretaceous Agrio Formation of the Neuquén Basin, west-central Argentina. Isocrinus (Chladocrinus) covuncoensis new species is based on several beautifully preserved specimens from Valanginian beds of the Pilmatué Member. It is characterized by a small size, multiramose crown with six arm divisions, 240 arm tips, mostly isotomous branching, seven (or rarely eight) secundibrachials, smooth and stout column, short noditaxis, and pentalobate columnals. The species occurs in a 30 m thick interval of cross-bedded sandstones and mixed clastic-carbonate sediments that represent the migration of large, tidally influenced, subaqueous dunes developed in the offshore. Sudden burial of crinoids that dwelled on the dune toes and interdunes, possibly by the acceleration of the lee face migration, provided the exceptional preservation of specimens and thus this finding can be considered as a local crinoid Konservat Lagerstätte. Isocrinus (Chladocrinus) pehuenchensis new species is described from a single articulated specimen preserved in a silty calcareous concretion collected from a late Hauterivian concretion level of the Agua de la Mula Member. It is characterized by isotomous branching, eight or nine secundibrachials (IIBr), slender column ornamented with medial ridge of fine tubercles, interradius acuminated with fine tubercles on its tip, short noditaxis, and pentastellate columnals. It is associated with low-energy fall-out deposits in the offshore. The excellent state of preservation was due to an early cementation process by carbonate that enhanced lithification around the specimen.
Thermodynamic Evaluation of Solar Integration into a Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plant
The term integrated solar combined-cycle (ISCC) has been used to define the combination of solar thermal energy into a natural gas combined-cycle (NGCC) power plant. Based on a detailed thermodynamic cycle model for a reference ISCC plant, the impact of solar addition is thoroughly evaluated for a wide range of input parameters such as solar thermal input and ambient temperature. It is shown that solar hybridization into an NGCC plant may give rise to a substantial benefit from a thermodynamic point of view. The work here also indicates that a significant solar contribution may be achieved in an ISCC plant, thus implying substantial fuel savings and environmental benefits.