Primitive andesites from the Taupo Volcanic Zone formed by magma mixing

Andesites with Mg# >45 erupted at subduction zones form either by partial melting of metasomatized mantle or by mixing and assimilation processes during melt ascent. Primitive whole rock basaltic andesites from the Pukeonake vent in the Tongariro Volcanic Centre in New Zealand’s Taupo Volcanic Zone contain olivine, clino- and orthopyroxene, and plagioclase xeno- and antecrysts in a partly glassy matrix. Glass pools interstitial between minerals and glass inclusions in clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene and plagioclase as well as matrix glasses are rhyolitic to dacitic indicating that the melts were more evolved than their andesitic bulk host rock analyses indicate. Olivine xenocrysts have high Fo contents up to 94%, δ¹⁸O_(SMOW) of +5.1‰, and contain Cr-spinel inclusions, all of which imply an origin in equilibrium with primitive mantle-derived melts. Mineral zoning in olivine, clinopyroxene and plagioclase suggest that fractional crystallization occurred. Elevated O isotope ratios in clinopyroxene and glass indicate that the lavas assimilated sedimentary rocks during stagnation in the crust. Thus, the Pukeonake andesites formed by a combination of fractional crystallization, assimilation of crustal rocks, and mixing of dacite liquid with mantle-derived minerals in a complex crustal magma system. The disequilibrium textures and O isotope compositions of the minerals indicate mixing processes on timescales of less than a year prior to eruption. Similar processes may occur in other subduction zones and require careful study of the lavas to determine the origin of andesite magmas in arc volcanoes situated on continental crust.     

Characterization of microstructural and physical properties changes in biocemented sand using 3D X-ray microtomography

An experimental study has been performed to investigate the effect of the biocalcification process on the microstructural and the physical properties of biocemented Fontainebleau sand samples. The microstructural properties (porosity, volume fraction of calcite, total specific surface area, specific surface area of calcite, etc.) and the physical properties (permeability, effective diffusion) of the biocemented samples were computed for the first time from 3D images with a high-resolution images obtained by X-ray synchrotron microtomography. The evolution of all these properties with respect to the volume fraction of calcite is analysed and compared with success to experimental data, when it is possible. In general, our results point out that all the properties are strongly affected by the biocalcification process. Finally, all these numerical results from 3D images and experimental data were compared to numerical values or analytical estimates computed on idealized microstructures constituted of periodic overlapping and random non-overlapping arrangements of coated spheres. These comparisons show that these simple microstructures are sufficient to capture and to predict the main evolution of both microstructural and physical properties of biocemented sands for the whole range of volume fraction of calcite investigated.     

Polychaetes from Jan Mayen (Annelida, Polychaeta)

A thorough literature review has been undertaken to establish the first complete account of polychaetes recorded from the area around the volcanic island of Jan Mayen. The annotated checklist lists 121 species-level taxa, representing an increase from the 75 species previously recorded. The checklist is based on existing records, supplemented with material sampled in 1999, from which 42 species new to the area were reported. Some previously reported species from the area have been excluded because of inadequate documentation. The polychaete fauna of Jan Mayen is comparable with that of the mainland Norwegian coast and the Svalbard area. No taxa unique to the island were found. However, knowledge of the marine invertebrate fauna in general at Jan Mayen is sparse because few surveys have been undertaken there. It is expected that future expeditions will reveal further new taxon records for the area.     

Steric Sea-Level Change and its Impact on the Gravity Field caused by Global Climate Change

It is sometimes assumed that steric sea-level variations do not produce a gravity signal as no net mass change, thus no change of ocean bottom pressure is associated with it. Analyzing the output of two CO₂ emission scenarios over a period of 2000 years in terms of steric sea-level changes, we try to quantify the gravitational effect of steric sea-level variations. The first scenario, computed with version 2.6 of the Earth System Climate Model developed at the University of Victoria, Canada (UVic ESCM), is implemented with a linear CO₂ increase of 1% of the initial concentration of 365 ppm and shows a globally averaged steric effect of 5.2 m after 2000 years. In the second scenario, computed with UVic ESCM version 2.7, the CO₂ concentration increases quasi-exponentially to a level of 3011 ppm and is hold fixed afterwards. The corresponding globally averaged steric effect in the first 2000 years is 2.3 m. We show, due to the (vertical) redistribution of ocean water masses (expansion or contraction), the steric effect results also in a small change in the Earth’s gravity field compared to usually larger changes associated with net mass changes. Maximum effects for computation points located on the initial ocean surface can be found in scenario 1, with the effect on gravitational attraction and potential ranging from 0.0 to −0.7·10⁻⁵ m s⁻² and −3·10⁻³ to 6·10⁻³ m² s⁻², respectively. As expected, the effect is not zero but negligible for practical applications.     

Isotopic age determinations of crystalline rocks of the Upper Harz Mountains,Germany

Dating of crystalline rocks occurring in the Upper Harz Mountains was carried out by means of U-Pb isotope investigations on zircons and sphene as well as by Rb-Sr isotope measurements on whole-rock samples and biotites.U-Pb data of euhedral and rounded, detrital zircons of the allochthonous block of the Ecker gneiss point to an age (upper intercept) of the source area of the predominantly metasedimentary rocks of about 1.6 Ga or older. The lower intercept indicates a possible metamorphic event at ca. 560 Ma in the Ecker gneiss or in the source rock of the zircons of this complex. The concordant data point of a sphene fraction from a metavolcanic sample documents contact metamorphic influence on the Ecker gneiss by the Variscan intrusions of the Upper Harz Mountains.Emplacement of the intrusions of the Harzburg gabbronorite and the Brocken and Oker granites occurred contemporaneously 293–297 Ma ago within the analytical error limits. This points to a common geotectonic cause of the ascent of the magmas. Uplift of the Ecker gneiss block, now squeezed in between Harzburg gabbronorite and Brocken granite, was connected to these processes.The mineral ages of the plutonites are close to the intrusion ages indicating fast cooling processes in shallow crustal levels.

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Zusammenfassung Eine altersmäßige Einstufung der im Oberharz vorkommenden kristallinen Gesteine wurde durch U-Pb-Isotopenuntersuchungen an Zirkonen und Titanit sowie Rb-Sr-Isotopenmessungen an Gesamtgesteinsproben und Biotiten durchgeführt.U-Pb-Daten von idiomorphen und runden, detritischen Zirkonen der allochthonen Eckergneis-Scholle deuten auf ein Alter des Ursprungsgebietes der weitgehend metasedimentären Gesteine von etwa 1. 6 Ga oder älter hin und sie weisen ferner auf ein mögliches Metamorphose-Ereignis vor rund 560 Ma im Eckergneis oder im Liefergestein der Zirkone des Eckergneises hin. Der konkordante Datenpunkt bei ca. 295 Ma einer Titanit-Fraktion aus einer Metavulkanit-Probe dokumentiert die kontaktmetamorphe Beeinflussung des Eckergneises durch die variskischen Intrusionen des Oberharzes.Die Platznahme der Intrusionen der Gesteine des Harzburger Gabbronorit-Massivs sowie des Brokken- und Oker-Granits erfolgten innerhalb der analytischen Fehlergrenzen zeitgleich vor 293–295 Ma. Dies deutet auf eine gemeinsame geotektonische Ursache des Aufdringens der Magmen. Damit verbunden war der Aufstieg der Eckergneis-Scholle, die jetzt zwischen Harzburger Gabbronorit und Brockengranit »eingeklemmt« ist.Mineralalter der Plutonite liegen nahe bei den Intrusionsaltern und weisen auf rasche Abkühlungsvorgänge in seichtem Krustenniveau hin.

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Résumé Des mesures d'âge ont été effectuées sur des roches cristallines de l'Oberharz par les méthodes de l'U-Pb sur zircon et sphène et du Rb-Sr sur roches totales et sur biotites. La méthode U-Pb, appliquée aux zircons idiomorphes et détritiques arrondis de l'écaille allochtone des gneiss d'Ecker, fournit un âge (intersection supérieure) d'environ 1,6 Ga au moins pour la source des matériaux surtout métasédimentaires. L'intersection inférieure indique la possibilité d'un événement métamorphique à ± 560 Ma soit dans les gneiss d'Ecker, soit dans les roches-sources de leurs zircons. Un résultat concordant à ± 295 Ma fourni par le sphène d'une métavolcanite enregistre l'action du métamorphisme de contact engendré dans les gneiss d'Ecker par les intrusions varisques.La mise en place des intrusions du massif gabbronoritique du Harzburg et celle des granite de Brocken et d'Ocker ont été contemporaines: âges de 293 à 297 Ma, compris dans l'intervalle d'approximation des mesures. Ce résultat est en faveur d'une même cause géotectonique pour l'ascension de ces magmas. C'est en relation avec ce processus que s'est produit le soulèvement de l'écaillé des gneiss d'Ecker, actuellement coincée entre le gabbro du Harzburg et le granite de Brocken.Les âges minéraux des plutons sont voisins des âges d'intrusion, ce qui indique un refroidissement rapide dans un niveau crustal peu profond.

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The role of ternary projections in colour displays for geochemical maps and in economic mineralogy and petrology

Ternary (triangular) diagrams show the compositional variation of three end-members, recalculated to 100%, and represent the projection into two dimensions of three or more components (since an end-member may represent the sum of more than one original component), and hence multiple space. During the present century they have been of particular importance in chemistry, the earth sciences, colour-mixing and the studies of colour that underlie the development of geochemical colour maps. Such concepts can be traced back to Newton's Opticks although he did not use an explicit ternary theory of colour mixing. Development of the trichromatic theory of colour deficiency began with Mariotte in the 17th century and was definitively established by Maxwell in the 1850s. These colour theorems underlie the development in recent years of the colour maps now in widespread use in geochemistry. The progress of regional geochemical mapping in the British Isles has gone hand-in-hand with the development of computer software and hardware. The use of multi-element colour-combined geochemical maps can be traced from early work at Imperial College by Webb and his co-workers (1964–79) to its later application in the British Geological Survey's Geochemical Atlas series (from 1983 onwards). Between 1955 and 1975 the use of ternary diagrams came to be commonly used in studies of mineralogical composition, including economic minerals, petrology, classification, and phase relationships. In igneous petrology, the quartz–alkali-feldspar–plagioclase-feldspathoid double-triangle has achieved increasing international acceptance. We illustrate these applications with examples pertinent to the Northern Highland Caledonides, with particular emphasis on the lamprophyres and associated rocks. Two distinct multivariate trends of variation are shown to be present which may warrant further investigation to elucidate their bearing on Caledonian mineralisation.     

The role of ternary projections in colour displays for geochemical maps and in economic mineralogy and petrology

Ternary (triangular) diagrams show the compositional variation of three end-members, recalculated to 100%, and represent the projection into two dimensions of three or more components (since an end-member may represent the sum of more than one original component), and hence multiple space. During the present century they have been of particular importance in chemistry, the earth sciences, colour-mixing and the studies of colour that underlie the development of geochemical colour maps. Such concepts can be traced back to Newton's Opticks although he did not use an explicit ternary theory of colour mixing. Development of the trichromatic theory of colour deficiency began with Mariotte in the 17th century and was definitively established by Maxwell in the 1850s. These colour theorems underlie the development in recent years of the colour maps now in widespread use in geochemistry. The progress of regional geochemical mapping in the British Isles has gone hand-in-hand with the development of computer software and hardware. The use of multi-element colour-combined geochemical maps can be traced from early work at Imperial College by Webb and his co-workers (1964–79) to its later application in the British Geological Survey's Geochemical Atlas series (from 1983 onwards). Between 1955 and 1975 the use of ternary diagrams came to be commonly used in studies of mineralogical composition, including economic minerals, petrology, classification, and phase relationships. In igneous petrology, the quartz–alkali-feldspar–plagioclase-feldspathoid double-triangle has achieved increasing international acceptance. We illustrate these applications with examples pertinent to the Northern Highland Caledonides, with particular emphasis on the lamprophyres and associated rocks. Two distinct multivariate trends of variation are shown to be present which may warrant further investigation to elucidate their bearing on Caledonian mineralisation.     

Environmental impacts by input of substances in landscapes of the District (Bezirk) of Leipzig,Germany

Problems of landscape and resource protection resulting from the intensification of land-use can be mastered only by intersectoral planning and a land management considering (landscape-)ecological principles right from the beginning. In the district of Leipzig ecological studies in the '80ies have focussed on:

1. Determination of the regional pattern of atmospheric immissions;
2. Registration of heavy metals in soil and vegetation;
3. Soil compaction, soil erosion;
4. Study of stress indicators in the aeration zone and in the top-most aquifer in order to examine barrier effects in the percolation process.

First results are discussed.     

Detection of the historical Askja ad 1875 and modern Icelandic cryptotephras in varved lake sediments – results from a first systematic search in northern Poland

Volcanic ash can disperse thousands of kilometres from the source volcano and provide valuable chronostratigraphic markers for palaeoclimate studies. We present new cryptotephra findings of historical and modern Icelandic eruptions in annually laminated lacustrine sediment records from several sites within a 570 km SW–NE transect across northern Poland. Sediments from the two lakes Wąsoskie and Szurpiły contain glass shards originating from the Plinian Askja ad 1875 eruption and showing bimodal, rhyolitic and dacitic affinities. A further cryptotephra finding in Lake Lubińskie suggests a potential origin from the Hekla ad 1845 eruption. These new findings extend the tephra dispersal map towards the south-east and provide valuable isochrons for the synchronisation of palaeoclimate proxy data at the termination of the Little Ice Age in central eastern Europe. Very low glass concentrations of modern cryptotephra in Lake Wąsoskie were potentially correlated with the Eyjafjallajökull ad 2010 eruption. Further findings in the uppermost sediments of lakes Szurpiły and Żabińskie in north-eastern Poland tentatively suggest other sources from either the Hekla and/or Kamchatkan volcanoes.