云南九顶山正长斑岩年代学、岩石地球化学及Sr-Nd-Hf同位素特征

九顶山复式岩体沿北西向金沙江–红河断裂与南北向程海断裂交汇处发育,处于南北地洼区与滇西地洼区接触带,是滇西地洼期斑岩成矿带中段的代表性富碱斑岩体之一。该岩体由呈岩株、岩脉、岩墙或岩床等产出的斑状花岗岩、正长斑岩、(二长)花岗斑岩、碱长花岗斑岩和煌斑岩等组成。本文着重对正长斑岩的形成年代、岩石地球化学和成因特征开展研究,结果表明:正长斑岩的LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄为34.6±0.7 Ma,即岩浆侵位于始新世(E2),属滇西地洼激烈期及新生代富碱岩浆活动高峰期(45~30 Ma)的产物;岩石具高硅(Si O256%)、高钾(K2O=3.38%~8.92%,K2O/Na2O1)、富碱(ALK=8.15%~11.15%)和低Mg O(3%)的特征,属钾玄岩系列–高钾钙碱性系列过铝质(A/CNK=0.71~1.22)花岗岩;在微量元素组成上,岩石高Sr(400×10-6)、低Y(18×10-6)和Yb(1.9×10-6),与陆内造山环境形成的"C型"钾质埃达克岩地球化学特征类似;全岩的Sr-Nd-Hf同位素组成特征显示岩浆源区是壳幔物质混合的"EMII型"富集地幔源。正长斑岩的形成应与印度–欧亚板块碰撞俯冲背景下,金沙江–红河断裂大规模左行走滑引起的热扰动和局部引张作用有关,在这种区域热–动力学条件下,地幔部分熔融与地壳物质发生混合作用,形成活化型壳幔混合源高钾富碱岩浆。     

云南永胜分水岭矿区富碱斑岩地球化学、锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

云南永胜分水岭矿区富碱斑岩体位于扬子地块西缘宾川-程海断裂与箐河断裂交汇部位,属于金沙江–哀牢山富碱斑岩带组成部分,主要由黑云母花岗闪长斑岩(BGDP)和花岗闪长斑岩(GDP)组成。两类岩石均具有富碱(BGDP的K_2O+Na_2O均值为8.22%、GDP的K_2O+Na_2O均值为8.13%)、富钾(BGDP的K_2O/Na_2O均值为1.08,GDP的K_2O/Na_2O均值为1.2)和准铝质(BGDP的A/CNK均值为0.95、GDP的A/CNK均值为0.94)特征,表明二者均属准铝质高钾钙碱性系列的富碱斑岩。两类岩石均富集大离子亲石元素(Rb、Ba、Pb、Sr)、Th、U和LREE,亏损高场强元素(Ta、Nb和Ti),二者稀土元素配分模式均为右倾平滑型,且Eu异常不显著(δEu=0.85~1.12)。地球化学特征表明它们属同源岩浆演化的产物,具有相似的源区特征和成岩动力学背景。花岗闪长斑岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄为34.5±0.3 Ma(MSWD=1.5,n=19),落在金沙江–哀牢山富碱斑岩带岩浆活动的高峰期内(45~30 Ma)。综合岩石学、地球化学和成岩年代学资料,认为分水岭矿区富碱斑岩形成的动力学条件和源区特征与金沙江–哀牢山富碱斑岩带一致,即形成于印度–欧亚板块碰撞期后动力学性质转换背景下,是加厚下地壳和上地幔部分熔融的产物,与金沙江–哀牢山走滑断裂构造活动密切相关。     

云南宾川小龙潭矿区花岗斑岩年代学、地球化学及成因

云南宾川小龙潭矿区斑岩体位于扬子板块西缘程海断裂带东侧,属金沙江-红河富碱侵入岩带组成部分.本文对矿区内与成矿密切相关的花岗斑岩进行了岩石学、年代学及地球化学研究.结果显示:花岗斑岩由二长花岗斑岩(MGP)和钾长花岗斑岩(KGP)组成,二者岩相学特征相似,空间上无明显分带关系,呈过渡渐变关系,具典型斑状结构.二长花岗斑岩和钾长花岗斑岩均具富碱、低钛和准铝质-弱过铝质特征,属准铝质-弱过铝质钾玄岩系列富碱斑岩;二者富集轻稀土元素(LREE)和大离子亲石元素(Rb、Ba、U),亏损重稀土元素(HREE)和高场强元素(Ta、Nb、Ti,Zr,Hf),具有较高Sr含量和Sr/Y值,中等负Eu异常(δEu=0.39～0.78),表现出C型埃达克质岩地球化学特征.二长花岗斑岩和钾长花岗斑岩具相似的地球化学特征,表明它们属同源岩浆演化产物.二长花岗斑岩锆石U-Pb年龄为34.7±0.3 Ma,反映其形成于古近纪始新世,与金沙江-红河富碱侵入岩活动高峰期(45～30 Ma)吻合.综合研究表明,小龙潭矿区花岗斑岩属具C型埃达克质岩地球化学特征的花岗岩,起源于底侵作用带来的幔源岩浆与石榴角闪岩相加厚下地壳部分熔融的混合岩浆,是印度-欧亚板块晚碰撞期力学性质由挤压向伸展转化动力学背景下的产物,具备成矿作用发生的物质基础,有较好的成矿潜力.     

富碱斑岩成因与Cu—Mo—Au矿床成矿作用——以金沙江—红河富碱斑岩成矿带为例

富碱斑岩因其产出构造环境独特、岩石类型特殊,并常与铜多金属矿床密切相关,而受到广泛关注。本文在回顾相关研究进展的基础上,通过岩石成因和构造环境、岩浆性质和岩浆源区等方面的综合研究,探讨了金沙江—红河富碱斑岩成矿带富碱岩浆成矿作用及成岩成矿机制。系统的矿床地质、年代学、地球化学等研究表明：① 金沙江—红河富碱斑岩成矿带内成岩成矿作用集中于43~32 Ma,成矿富碱斑岩系始新世—渐新世I型钾玄质花岗斑岩,是印—亚大陆后碰撞背景下大陆内部大型走滑和伸展等动力过程诱导的岩浆活动产物,金沙江和哀牢山—红河断裂的差异走滑运动可能控制了成矿带差异性成岩成矿事件;② 成矿带北段以Cu—Mo为主的成矿富碱斑岩源自新元古代下地壳的部分熔融,且源区有富集地幔和亏损地幔物质的加入,而南段以Cu—Au或Cu(—Mo—Au)为主的成矿富碱斑岩源自具有不同程度富集地幔物质加入的新生下地壳的部分熔融;③ 带内以Cu为主的斑岩—矽卡岩型矿床中成矿富碱斑岩的氧逸度（ΔFMQ）与矿床规模具有正相关性。除受氧逸度控制外,源区高K2O含量有利于斑岩—矽卡岩型Au矿床的形成。该研究对金沙江—红河富碱斑岩成矿带乃至同类矿床研究和找矿勘查具有理论和实际意义。     

富碱斑岩成因与Cu—Mo—Au矿床成矿作用——以金沙江—红河富碱斑岩成矿带为例

富碱斑岩因其产出构造环境独特、岩石类型特殊,并常与铜多金属矿床密切相关,而受到广泛关注。笔者等在回顾相关研究进展的基础上,通过岩石成因和构造环境、岩浆性质和岩浆源区等方面的综合研究,探讨了金沙江—红河富碱斑岩成矿带富碱岩浆成矿作用及成岩成矿机制。系统的矿床地质、年代学、地球化学等研究表明：(1)金沙江—红河富碱斑岩成矿带内成岩成矿作用集中于43～32 Ma,成矿富碱斑岩系始新世—渐新世I型钾玄质花岗斑岩,是印—亚大陆后碰撞背景下大陆内部大型走滑和伸展等动力过程诱导的岩浆活动产物,金沙江和哀牢山—红河断裂的差异走滑运动可能控制了成矿带差异性成岩成矿事件;(2)成矿带北段以Cu—Mo为主的成矿富碱斑岩源自新元古代下地壳的部分熔融,且源区有富集地幔和亏损地幔物质的加入,而南段以Cu—Au或Cu(—Mo—Au)为主的成矿富碱斑岩源自具有不同程度富集地幔物质加入的新生下地壳的部分熔融;(3)带内以Cu为主的斑岩—矽卡岩型矿床中成矿富碱斑岩的氧逸度(ΔFMQ)与矿床规模具有正相关性。除受氧逸度控制外,源区高K₂O含量有利于斑岩—矽卡岩型Au矿床的形成。该研究对金沙江—红河富碱...     

云南金平铜厂斑岩Cu(Mo-Au)矿床含矿石英正长斑岩地球化学特征及成因机制探讨

铜厂斑岩型Cu(Mo-Au)矿床位于金沙江-红河富碱侵入岩带的南段,其含矿的石英正长斑岩侵入体属金沙江-红河富碱侵入岩带的重要组成部分.对铜厂石英正长斑岩开展详细的地球化学研究结果表明,其具有高碱、富钾及准铝质-弱过铝质等特征,属钾玄岩系列岩石;微量和稀土元素分析表明,铜厂石英正长斑岩明显富集Rb、Ba、Th、U、K、La和Sr等大离子亲石元素,相对亏损Nb、Ta和Ti等高场强元素,具有明显的“TNT”负异常,稀土总量高,明显富集轻稀土而亏损重稀土,轻重稀土分馏显著;(87Sr/86Sr)i为0.707097～0.707138,εNd(t)为-7.1 ～ -6.8,在Sr-Nd同位素相关图上,与EMII来源岩石相似.对比金沙江-红河富碱侵入岩带北段的玉龙含矿的二长花岗斑岩和中段的马厂箐含矿的花岗斑岩的地球化学特征,铜厂含矿斑岩具有高的全碱、微量元素和稀土元素含量、高的(87Sr/86Sr)i值和低的εNd(t)值、不具埃达克质岩属性等特征.综合研究表明,铜厂含矿的石英正长斑岩在成因类型上属于A型花岗岩类,形成于～35 Ma的晚碰撞走滑环境且直接起源于EMII地幔的部分熔融铜厂与玉龙及马厂箐斑岩型Cu( Mo-Au)矿床含矿斑岩地球化学特征和成矿规模存在差异,与源区物质的部分熔融程度和地壳物质的混染程度密切相关.     

云南哀牢山-红河断裂带南段新生代富碱斑岩岩石成因和地质意义

在青藏高原东南缘和扬子克拉通西缘,哀牢山-红河断裂带南段,产出了一些新生代富碱斑岩,本文选择绿春-金平一带的三类斑岩进行了年代学、地球化学和岩石成因研究,试图为研究区的壳幔相互作用和哀牢山-红河断裂带的关联提供新证据。研究区出露的三类富碱斑岩及其锆石U-Pb年龄分别是花岗斑岩(34.36±0.39Ma)、石英二长斑岩(35.48±0.39Ma)和正长斑岩(35.36±0.43Ma)。三类岩石的锆石ε_(Hf)(t)值分别是-6.4～+2.6、-1.5～+3.6和-3.1～+1.0。三类岩石具有相似的微量元素、稀土元素和同位素特征,具有富集大离子亲石元素、轻重稀土分馏强烈、亏损Nb、Ta和Ti等高场强元素的特征,具有弱的Eu负异常,~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr值为0.7067～0.7078,ε_(Nd)(t)为-3.8～-3.7。花岗斑岩和石英二长斑岩都来源于加厚的铁镁质下地壳,但正长斑岩来源于交代富集的岩石圈地幔,源区的富集可能是新元古代和晚古生代大洋俯冲交代导致的,印度与欧亚大陆的持续汇聚导致哀牢山-红河断裂带下部地壳和岩石圈地幔的增厚,在35Ma左右三江地区应力转变引起了岩石圈地幔的拆沉,使得软流圈上涌引起下地壳和岩石圈地幔的部分熔融,然后岩浆沿着地壳裂隙上涌和侵位,形成不同类型的富碱斑岩。     

云南澜沧老厂隐伏花岗斑岩体地球化学特征及构造环境

详细阐述了老厂隐伏花岗斑岩的地球化学特征,利用图解判别了其形成的构造环境,并初步探讨其成因机制。老厂花岗斑岩SiO2含量(68.09%~73.48%)与中国花岗岩平均值基本相当,富碱(Na2O+K2O为7.73%~8.51%),富钾(K2O/Na2O为1.85~25.8),属酸性偏铝质高钾钙碱性系列岩浆岩。轻稀土元素中等富集,重稀土元素相对亏损,(La/Yb)N=12.01~24.85,δEu=0.79~0.99(为弱负异常),稀土元素分布曲线为平滑的右倾曲线。通过花岗斑岩地球化学特征、图解判别、锆石标型特征等的综合研究,认为老厂隐伏花岗斑岩体是以壳源为主的壳幔源混合成因花岗斑岩,形成于青藏高原新生代碰撞造山主碰撞阶段区域挤压机制下的主碰撞构造环境。碰撞激发深部地幔局部熔融,使熔融体沿穿透性构造发育的早期裂谷带轴部上涌,成为构造-岩浆-热事件的主要驱动力;地幔物质涌入,向下地壳注入新生物质,诱发下地壳物质熔融,形成壳幔混合源富钾含矿岩浆。     

滇西丽江地区新生代富碱斑岩年代学、地球化学特征及其地质意义

滇西丽江地区新生代富碱斑岩位于滇西“三江”褶皱造山带与扬子板块西南缘结合部位,岩石类型多样,可分为碱性岩和碱性花岗岩,前者主要有正长斑岩、正长岩及粗面斑岩;后者主要包括花岗斑岩、二长花岗斑岩及石英二长斑岩。锆石LA ICP MS U Pb定年研究确定区内斑岩结晶年龄为346～371 Ma,侵位于始新世晚期。碱性岩石的SiO2含量为5454%～6770%,K2O＞Na2O,具有钾玄岩的特征;碱性花岗岩的SiO2含量为6716%～7066%,K2O＜Na2O,具有高钾钙碱性的特征。两类岩石都具有富碱(Na2O+K2O=703%～1170%)和准铝质—弱过铝质(A/CNK=064～115)的特征。富集轻稀土元素和大离子亲石元素(Sr、Ba、K、Pb等),相对亏损重稀土元素和高场强元素(Nb、Ta、Ti等),且具有高Sr、Sr/Y和La/Yb比值及低Y、Yb和镁值(Mg#＜05),表明区内斑岩兼具钾玄质岩石和埃达克质岩石的特征。综合研究认为,区内斑岩形成于印度－亚洲大陆碰撞造山的后碰撞阶段,其形成与减压熔融及幔源岩浆底侵促使增厚下地壳底部岩石发生部分熔融有关,是青藏高原东南缘构造转换带对主碰撞带造山作用过程的岩浆事件响应,进而分析确认本区具有斑岩-热液型金多金属矿床的找矿潜力,为深入认识丽江地区构造-岩浆-成矿作用提供了重要约束。     

滇西剑川始新世富碱岩浆岩锆石U-Pb年代学与Sr-Nd-Hf同位素地球化学及其对岩石成因的制约

滇西剑川富碱岩浆岩位于青藏高原东南缘的三江南段,是金沙江-红河富碱岩浆岩带的重要组成部分。剑川富碱岩浆岩包括花岗岩和正长岩两类岩石,前者主要有花岗斑岩和石英二长斑岩,后者主要是正长斑岩和粗面岩。本文对剑川富碱岩浆岩进行了主微量元素、锆石U-Pb年代学和Sr-Nd-Hf同位素特征研究。锆石U-Pb测年结果显示,剑川花岗岩结晶年龄为35. 1～36. 1Ma,正长岩结晶年龄为35. 7～35. 8Ma,均形成于始新世。花岗斑岩和石英二长斑岩的SiO_2含量为67. 92%～69. 93%,K_2O/Na_2O比值介于0. 86～1. 22,具有高钾钙碱性特征;正长斑岩和粗面岩的SiO_2含量为53. 94%～63. 51%,K_2O/Na_2O比值介于1. 30～2. 68,属于钾玄质岩石系列。两类岩石都富集轻稀土元素(LREE)和大离子亲石元素(LILE),相对亏损高场强元素(HFSE)。其中,花岗斑岩和石英二长斑岩有着较高的Sr、Sr/Y、La/Yb值和低的Y、Yb含量,具有埃达克质岩浆属性。结合Sr-Nd-Hf同位素研究认为,滇西剑川地区花岗岩起源于增厚的镁铁质新生下地壳部分熔融,正长岩是由交代富集的岩石圈地幔熔融产生的基性岩浆演化而来的产物。滇西剑川新生代富碱岩浆活动是对印度与欧亚板块晚碰撞阶段,岩石圈地幔发生对流减薄和软流圈物质上涌过程的响应。     

Mountains,nations, parks,and conservation

Between 1985 and 1991, two new mountain protected areas (MTNPA) covering more than 35,000 km² and based on participatory management models — the Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area, Nepal, and Qomolangma Nature Preserve, Tibet Autonomous Region — were successfully established through the collaborative efforts of Woodlands Mountain Institute and conservationists in China and Nepal. Characteristics common to both projects include the importance of establishing (1) effective rationales, (2) local support constituencies, (3) a senior advisory group, (4) a task force, (5) linkages between conservation and development, and (6) fund raising mechanisms. The lessons derived from the experiences of Woodlands Mountain Institute are of significant value to others in preserving MTNPA. Increased collaboration and communication between all interested in conservation, however, will remain a critical component for expanding mountain protected area coverage to throughout the world.     

Roles of xenomelts,xenoliths, xenocrysts,xenovolatiles, residues,and skarns in the genesis,transport, and localization of magmatic Fe-Ni-Cu-PGE sulfides and chromite

Most sulfide-rich magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposits form in dynamic magmatic systems by partial melting S-bearing wall rocks with variable degrees of assimilation of miscible silicate and volatile components, and generation of barren to weakly-mineralized immiscible Fe sulfide xenomelts into which Ni-Cu-Co-PGE partition from the magma. Some exceptionally-thick magmatic Cr deposits may form by partial melting oxide-bearing wall rocks with variable degrees of assimilation of the miscible silicate and volatile components, and generation of barren Fe ± Ti oxide xenocrysts into which Cr-Mg-V ± Ti partition from the magma. The products of these processes are variably preserved as skarns, residues, xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and xenovolatiles, which play important to critical roles in ore genesis, transport, localization, and/or modification. Incorporation of barren xenoliths/autoliths may induce small amounts of sulfide/chromite to segregate, but incorporation of sulfide xenomelts or oxide xenocrysts with dynamic upgrading of metal tenors (PGE > Cu > Ni > Co and Cr > V > Ti, respectively) is required to make significant ore deposits. Silicate xenomelts are only rarely preserved, but will be variably depleted in chalcophile and ferrous metals. Less dense felsic xenoliths may aid upward sulfide transport by increasing the effective viscosity and decreasing the bulk density of the magma. Denser mafic or metamorphosed xenoliths may also increase the effective viscosity of the magma, but may aid downward sulfide transport by increasing the bulk density of the magma. Sulfide wets olivine, so olivine xenocrysts may act as filter beds to collect advected finely dispersed sulfide droplets, but other silicates and xenoliths may not be wetted by sulfides. Xenovolatiles may retard settling of – or in some cases float – dense sulfide droplets. Reactions of sulfide melts with felsic country rocks may generate Fe-rich skarns that may allow sulfide melts to fractionate to more extreme Cu-Ni-rich compositions. Xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and xenovolatiles are more likely to be preserved in cooler basaltic magmas than in hotter komatiitic magmas, and are more likely to be preserved in less dynamic (less turbulent) systems/domain/phases than in more dynamic (more turbulent) systems/domains/phases. Massive to semi-massive Ni-Cu-PGE and Cr mineralization and xenoliths are often localized within footwall embayments, dilations/jogs in dikes, throats of magma conduits, and the horizontal segments of dike-chonolith and dike-sill complexes, which represent fluid dynamic traps for both ascending and descending sulfides/oxides. If skarns, residues, xenoliths, xenocrysts, xenomelts, and/or xenovolatiles are present, they provide important constraints on ore genesis and they are valuable exploration indicators, but they must be included in elemental and isotopic mass balance calculations.     

Comparative study of As,Cd, Cu,Cr, Mg,Mn, Ni,Pb and Zn concentrations between sediment and water from estuary and port

The contents of As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn have been determined in sediment and water samples from Valle de las Garzas estuary and Port Manzanillo (Colima, Mexico) using ICP-AES. The concentrations of these elements were used for a comparative study to determine the distribution of heavy metals and to evaluate which elements reflect natural or anthropogenic backgrounds. For this purpose, seven sampling points were selected: Four of them correspond to the lagoon, and three were situated in the port. Statistical analysis of the mineral content was assessed. Initially, data comparison was assessed by statistical tests for each variable. Principal component analysis was then applied considering the influence of all variables at the same time by obtaining the distribution of samples according to their scores in the principal component space. In this way, four studies were carried out: (1) study of sediments collected during the dry season; (2) study of sediments collected during the rainy season; (3) comparative study between sediments from rainy and dry season; and (4) study of water composition collected during rainy season. From the results of the performed analyses, it can be concluded that metals distribution pattern reflected natural and anthropogenic backgrounds (e.g., sediments from the lagoon, situated at the beginning of the rain channel, presented high contents of Zn and Cu, perhaps related to anthropogenic activities or the influence of igneous sediments).     

Coprecipitation of Ti,Mo, Sn and Sb with fluorides and application to determination of B,Ti, Zr,Nb, Mo,Sn, Sb,Hf and Ta by ICP-MS

We examined the coprecipitation behavior of Ti, Mo, Sn and Sb in Ca–Al–Mg fluorides under two different fluoride forming conditions: at < 70 °C in an ultrasonic bath (denoted as the ultrasonic method) and at 245 °C using a Teflon bomb (denoted as the bomb method). In the ultrasonic method, small amounts of Ti, Mo and Sn coprecipitation were observed with 100% Ca and 100% Mg fluorides. No coprecipitation of Ti, Mo, Sn and Sb in Ca–Al–Mg fluorides occurred when the sample was decomposed by the bomb method except for 100% Ca fluoride. Based on our coprecipitation observations, we have developed a simultaneous determination method for B, Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, Sb, Hf and Ta by Q-pole type ICP-MS (ICP-QMS) and sector field type ICP-MS (ICP-SFMS). 9–50 mg of samples with Zr–Mo–Sn–Sb–Hf spikes were decomposed by HF using the bomb method and the ultrasonic method with B spike. The sample was then evaporated and re-dissolved into 0.5 mol l^− 1 HF, followed by the removal of fluorides by centrifuging. B, Zr, Mo, Sn, Sb and Hf were measured by ID method. Nb and Ta were measured by the ID-internal standardization method, based on Nb/Mo and Ta/Mo ratios using ICP-QMS, for which pseudo-FI was developed and applied. When 100% recovery yields of Zr and Hf are expected, Nb/Zr and Ta/Hf ratios may also be used. Ti was determined by the ID-internal standardization method, based on the Ti/Nb ratio from ICP-SFMS. Only 0.053 ml sample solution was required for measurement of all 9 elements. Dilution factors of ≤ 340 were aspirated without matrix effects. To demonstrate the applicability of our method, 4 carbonaceous chondrites (Ivuna, Orgueil, Cold Bokkeveld and Allende) as well as GSJ and USGS silicate reference materials of basalts, andesites and peridotites were analyzed. Our analytical results are consistent with previous studies, and the mean reproducibility of each element is 1.0–4.6% for basalts and andesites, and 6.7–11% for peridotites except for TiO₂.     

Parents,permission, and possibility: Young women,college, and imagined futures in Gujarat,India

This article advances critical geographies of youth through examining the spatiality implicit in the imagined futures of young women in rural India. Geographers and other scholars of youth have begun to pay more attention to the interplay between young people’s past, present, and imagined futures. Within this emerging body of scholarship the role of the family and peer group in influencing young people’s orientations toward the future remain underexamined. Drawing on eleven months of ethnographic fieldwork, my research focuses on a first generation of college-going young women from socioeconomically marginalized backgrounds in India’s westernmost state of Gujarat. I draw on the “possible selves” theoretical construct in order to deploy a flexible conceptual framework that links imagined post-educational trajectories with motivation to act in the present. In tracing the physical movement of these young women as they navigate and complete college, my analysis highlights the ways in which particular kinds of spaces and spatial arrangements facilitate and limit intra- and inter-generational contact, and the extent to which this affects young women’s conceptions of the future. I conclude by considering the wider implications of my research for ongoing debates surrounding youth transitions, relational geographies of age, and education in the Global South.     

Models,validation, and applied geochemistry: Issues in science,communication, and philosophy

Models have become so fashionable that many scientists and engineers cannot imagine working without them. The predominant use of computer codes to execute model calculations has blurred the distinction between code and model. The recent controversy regarding model validation has brought into question what we mean by a ‘model’ and by ‘validation.’ It has become apparent that the usual meaning of validation may be common in engineering practice and seems useful in legal practice but it is contrary to scientific practice and brings into question our understanding of science and how it can best be applied to such problems as hazardous waste characterization, remediation, and aqueous geochemistry in general. This review summarizes arguments against using the phrase model validation and examines efforts to validate models for high-level radioactive waste management and for permitting and monitoring open-pit mines. Part of the controversy comes from a misunderstanding of ‘prediction’ and the need to distinguish logical from temporal prediction. Another problem stems from the difference in the engineering approach contrasted with the scientific approach. The reductionist influence on the way we approach environmental investigations also limits our ability to model the interconnected nature of reality. Guidelines are proposed to improve our perceptions and proper utilization of models. Use of the word ‘validation’ is strongly discouraged when discussing model reliability.     

Partition coefficients of Hf,Zr, and REE between zircon,apatite, and liquid

Concentration ratios of Hf, Zr, and REE between zircon, apatite, and liquid were determined for three igneous compositions: two andesites and a diorite. The concentration ratios of these elements between zircon and corresponding liquid can approximate the partition coefficient. Although the concentration ratios between apatite and andesite groundmass can be considered as partition coefficients, those for the apatite in the diorite may deviate from the partition coefficients. The HREE partition coefficients between zircon and liquid are very large (100 for Er to 500 for Lu), and the Hf partition coefficient is even larger. The REE partition coefficients between apatite and liquid are convex upward, and large (D=10–100), whereas the Hf and Zr partition coefficients are less than 1. The large differences between partition coefficients of Lu and Hf for zircon-liquid and for apatite-liquid are confirmed. These partition coefficients are useful for petrogenetic models involving zircon and apatite.     

Entropy,materials, and posterity

Materials and energy are the interdependent feedstocks of economic systems, and thermodynamics is their moderator. It costs energy to transform the dispersed minerals of Earth's crust into ordered materials and structures. And it costs materials to collect and focus the energy to perform work — be it from solar, fossil fuel, nuclear, or other sources. The greater the dispersal of minerals sought, the more energy is required to collect them into ordered states.But available energy can be used once only. And the ordered materials of industrial economies become disordered with time. They may be partially reordered and recycled, but only at further costs in energy. Available energy everywhere degrades to bound states and order to disorder — for though entropy may be juggled it always increases. Yet industry is utterly dependent on low entropy states of matter and energy, while decreasing grades of ore require ever higher inputs of energy to convert them to metals, with ever increasing growth both of entropy and environmental hazard.Except as we may prize a thing for its intrinsic qualities — beauty, leisure, love, or gold — low-entropy is the only thing of real value. It is worth whatever the market will bear, and it becomes more valuable as entropy increases. It would be foolish of suppliers to sell it more cheaply or in larger amounts than their own enjoyment of life requires, whatever form it may take. For this reason, and because of physical constraints on the availability of all low-entropy states, the recent energy crises is only the first of a sequence of crises to be expected in energy and materials as long as current trends continue.The apportioning of low-entropy states in a modern industrial society is achieved more or less according to the theory of competitive markets. But the rational powers of this theory suffer as the world grows increasingly polarized into rich, over-industrialized nations with diminishing resource bases and poor, supplier nations with little industry. The theory also discounts posterity, the more so as population density and percapita rates of consumption continue to grow. A new social, economic, and ecologic norm that leads to population control, conservation, and an apportionment of low-entropy states across the generations is needed to assure to posterity the options that properly belong to it as an important but voiceless constituency of the collectivity we call mankind.

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Zusammenfassung Rohstoffe und Energie sind die Grundlagen unseres ökonomischen Systems, das von den Gesetzen der Thermodynamik bestimmt wird. Es kostet Energie, um die auf der Erde verteilten Rohstoffe diesem System zuzuführen. Andererseits braucht man Rohstoffe, um die Energie nutzbar zu machen.Die verfügbare Energie kann nur einmal genutzt werden und das Material verbraucht sich. Verbrauchtes Material kann teilweise zur weiteren Nutzung zurückgeführt werden, das kostet wiederum Energie. Die verfügbare Energie nimmt überall ab, und einmal geschaffene Ordnung gerät wieder in Unordnung — das heißt, die Entropie des Systems nimmt ständig zu. Die Industrie ist jedoch abhängig von einem niedrigen Entropiezustand sowohl der Materie als auch der Energie.Je ärmer die Erze sind, um so höher wird die Energie sein, um sie in Metalle umzuwandeln, wobei die Entropie und die Belastung der Umwelt ständig zunimmt.Außer den Dingen, die wir wegen höherer ideeller Werte schätzen, ist eine niedrige Entropie der einzige realistische Wertmaßstab, und der wirkliche Wertzuwachs ist nur an einer höheren Entropie zu messen. Es ist unverantwortlich, Dinge, die eine höhere Entropie bedingen, billiger zu verkaufen oder in größerer Menge zu erzeugen, als unbedingt notwendig ist. Da wir dies heute in unserem Handeln nicht berücksichtigen, ist die derzeitige Energiekrise nur der Anfang einer Folge von Krisen, die Energie und Rohstoffe betreffen, solange wir nicht umdenken.Die Verteilung von niedriger Entropie in einer modernen Industriegesellschaft wird mehr oder weniger nach dem Prinzip der konkurrierenden Märkte erreicht. Das selbstregulierende System gerät jedoch mit zunehmender Polarisierung in reiche Industrienationen mit abnehmenden Ressourcen und armen Nationen mit geringer Industrialisierung in Unordnung. Dieses Prinzip berücksichtigt auch nicht die Nachwelt, vor allem wenn die Bevölkerungsdichte stetig zunimmt und die Konsumbedürfnisse anwachsen. Es sind neue soziale, ökonomische und ökologische Normen notwendig, die zur Populationskontrolle, zur Erhaltung der Umwelt und zu einem Zustand niedriger Entropie für zukünftige Generationen führen. Die nach uns kommenden Menschen haben ein Anrecht darauf.

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Résumé Matériaux et énergie sont les sources des systèmes économiques et sont régis par les lois de la thermodynamique. Il faut de l'énergie pour transformer les ressources minérales dispersées dans la croûte terrestre en matériaux et structures ordonnancées. Et il faut des matériaux pour receuillir et concentrer l'énergie, qu'elle soit solaire ou atomique, ou provienne de combustibles fossiles ou d'autres sources. Plus les minéraux recherchés sont dispersés et plus est côuteuse l'énergie pour leur donner une ordonnance.Or l'énergie disponsible ne peut être utilisée qu'une seule fois. Et les matériaux ordonnancés des économies industrielles se dégradent avec le temps. Ils peuvent être remis partiellement en état et recyclés, mais pour cela il faut de nouveau de l'énergie. Partout l'énergie disponible se dégrade et l'ordre devient désordre; -malgré toutes les jongleries possibles l'entropie augmente toujours.L'industrie dépend clairement d'états de basse entropie tant en ce qui concerne les matériaux que l'énergie, tandis que plus pauvres sont les minerais, plus; élevée est l'énergie à mettre en jeu pour en extraire les métaux, avec toujours augmentation à la fois de l'entropie et de la degradation des milieux.A l'exception de ce que nous apprécions pour leur valeur intrinsèque — la beauté, le loisir, l'amour ou l'or — la basse entropie est la seule chose de réelle valeur. Son prix est réglé par le marché, et sa valeur augmente au fur et à mesure que l'entropie s'accroît. Ceux qui en disposent seraient insensés de la vendre à bas prix ou en quantité supérieure à ce qu'exige leur propre niveau de vie. Pour cette raison, et à cause des contraintes physiques liées à la disponibilité en états de basse entropie, la récente crise d'énergie n'est, en ce qui concerne les matières premières et l'énergie, que la première d'une série de crises auxquelles il faut s'attendre aussi longtemps que se poursoit la marche actuelle des étènements.Dans les sociétés industrielles modernes, les approvisionnement en basse entropie s'effectuent plus ou moins conformément à la théorie de la concurrence des marchés. Cependant la rationalité de cette théorie se ressent de l'accentuation croissante de la polarisation, à l'échelle du monde, en nations riches, surindustrialisées, à ressources de base décroissantes, et en nations pauvres, sous-industrialisées, mais fournisseurs de resources-naturelles. De plus cette théorie ne tient pas compte de notre postérité, et ce, en face d'une densité de population et d'un taux de la consommation par tête d'habitant en augmentation continue.Nous avons donc besoin de nouvelles normes sociales, économiques et écologiques qui conduisent au contrôle de la population, à la conservation et à la répartition des états de basse entropie à travers les générations pour assurer à notre postérité les options qui leur riviennent de droit comme une constituante importante, mais encore muette, de la collectivité que nous appelons l'Humanité.

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Dedicated with appreciation to Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen, distinguished economist, realist among cornucopians     

Pebbles,Shapes, and Equilibria

The shape of sedimentary particles may carry important information on their history. Current approaches to shape classification (e.g. the Zingg or the Sneed and Folk system) rely on shape indices derived from the measurement of the three principal axes of the approximating tri-axial ellipsoid. While these systems have undoubtedly proved to be useful tools, their application inevitably requires tedious and ambiguous measurements, also classification involves the introduction of arbitrarily chosen constants. Here we propose an alternative classification system based on the (integer) number of static equilibria. The latter are points of the surface where the pebble is at rest on a horizontal, frictionless support. As opposed to the Zingg system, our method relies on counting rather than measuring. We show that equilibria typically exist on two well-separated (micro and macro) scales. Equilibria can be readily counted by simple hand experiments, i.e. the new classification scheme is practically applicable. Based on statistical results from two different locations we demonstrate that pebbles are well mixed with respect to the new classes, i.e. the new classification is reliable and stable in that sense. We also show that the Zingg statistics can be extracted from the new statistics; however, substantial additional information is also available. From the practical point of view, E-classification is substantially faster than the Zingg method.