Plant-controlled supratidal anhydrite from Al-Khiran, Kuwait
We report here that in the supratidal zone of the Al-Khiran sabkha, diagenetic anhydrite occurs exclusively in association with the living halophyte Halocnemum strobilaceum (Pallas) M .B. This anhydrite has a hair cream-like consistency and the bulk of it has formed as pseudomorphs after gypsum crystals. On the death of the plant at the end of its life cycle, the anhydrite is hydrated back to gypsum. This two-way transformation results in a series of characteristic textures, whose preservation could be due to the comparative ‘youth’ of the sabkha, which is in the very earliest stages of evaporite diagenesis.
Environmental conservation problems in Kuwait
SummaryEnvironmental problems in Kuwait arise from a number of factors: principally climate, population growth, industrialisation, transport and recreation. The impact of these factors on the environment is discussed in the context of growing awareness of the need for conservation of the remaining facets of Kuwait's heritage. The need to move from discussion of these extant environmental problems to effective action is stressed. Both education and the media have a vital role to play in sharpening awareness of problems and their solutions in the short time-scale left for conservation measures.
Formation and Strength of Magnesia Whiskers
The formation of single-crystal magnesia whiskers during the compressive deformation of single crystals at room temperatures is described. These whiskers can have strengths of the order of millions of pounds per square inch. They are formed during fracture as a result of the discontinuous propagation of cracks which are mechanically relieving internal stresses resulting from plastic flow