Early Cretaceous adakitic granites in the Northern Dabie Complex, central China: Implications for partial melting and delamination of thickened lower crust

To date, few adakitic rocks have been reported in direct association with contemporary intra-continental extensional structures, which has cast doubt on genetic models involving partial melting of the lower crust. This study presents Early Cretaceous (143-129 Ma, new Sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) zircon U-Pb ages) adakitic granites, which are directly associated with a contemporary metamorphic core complex (i.e., the Northern Dabie Complex in the Dabie area). These granites exhibit relatively high Sr contents, negligible to positive Eu and Sr anomalies, high La/Yb and Sr/Y ratios, but very low Yb and Y contents, similar to subducted oceanic crust-derived adakites. They are also characterized, however, by very low MgO or Mg^# and Ni values, and Nd-Sr isotope compositions (ε_Nd(t) = −14.6 to −19.4 and (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i = 0.7067-0.7087) similar to Triassic continent-derived eclogites subducted in the Dabie-Sulu Orogen. Additionally, late granitic dikes in the adakitic intrusions exhibit low Sr contents, clearly negative Eu and Sr anomalies, low La/Yb and Sr/Y ratios, but relatively high Yb and Y contents, similar to 118-105 Ma granites in the Northern Dabie Complex. Based on composition and geochronology data of Neoproterozoic amphibolites and orthogneisses, Triassic high- to ultra-high pressure metamorphic rocks, and Early Cretaceous mafic-ultramafic intrusive rocks, and the constraints provided by experimental melt data for tonalites, metabasaltic rocks and eclogites, we suggest that the adakitic granites were most probably generated by partial melting of thickened amphibole or rutile-bearing eclogitic lower crust as a consequence of Triassic-Middle Jurassic subduction and thrusting. The late dikes probably originated from plagioclase-bearing intermediate granulites. Moreover, we suggest that late Mesozoic delamination or foundering of thickened eclogitic lower crust is also a more plausible mechanism for the petrogenesis of Early Cretaceous mafic-ultramafic intrusive rocks in the Dabie area, and probably involved partial melting of a mixed source comprising eclogitic lower crust that had delaminated or foundered into upper lithospheric or asthenospheric mantle peridotite. Asthenospheric upwelling in response to post-collisional delamination of lithospheric mantle was likely to have provided the heat source for the Cretaceous magmatism.     

Accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dating of 1994 Lake Winnipeg cores

Conventional radiocarbon dating of Lake Winnipeg core samples has produced erroneously old ages due to the incorporation of pre-Quaternary carbon derived from carbonaceous rocks, soils and sediments in the watershed, as well as a hard-water effect resulting from leaching of calcareous rocks and soils. To circumvent these problems and develop a reliable chronology for the Lake Winnipeg core series, a total of 64 samples from the Lake Winnipeg core series were processed to isolate well preserved macrofossils suitable for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating. Here we report six radiocarbon ages derived from plant macrofossils and ostracodes, and reconstruct aspects of the depositional environment of each sample based on the associated macrofossil assemblage.     

Improved ocean-geoid resolution from retracked ERS-1 satellite altimeter waveforms

The ocean geoid can be inferred from the topography of the mean sea surface. Satellite altimeters transmit radar pulses and determine the return traveltime to measure sea-surface height. The ERS-1 altimeter stacks 51 consecutive radar reflections on board the satellite to a single waveform. Tracking the time shift of the waveform gives an estimate of the distance to the sea surface. We retrack the ERS-1 radar traveltimes using a model that is focused on the leading edge of the waveforms. While earlier methods regarded adjacent waveforms as independent statistical events, we invert a whole sequence of waveforms simultaneously for a spline geoid solution. Smoothness is controlled by spectral constraints on the spline coefficients. Our geoid solutions have an average spectral density equal to the expected power spectrum of the true geoid. The coherence of repeat track solutions indicates a spatial resolution of 31  km, as compared to 41  km resolution for the ERS-1 Ocean Product. While the resolution of the latter deteriorates to 47  km for wave heights above 2  m, our geoid solution maintains its resolution of 31  km for rough sea. Retracking altimeter waveform data and constraining the solution by a spectral model leads to a realistic geoid solution with significantly improved along-track resolution.     

A formula describing both magnetic and isotopic blocking temperatures

The following new theorem is proved: the equation E/RT_B =ln(1.781 k₀τ), where E = activation energy, R = the molar gas constant and T_B = blocking temperature, applies equally well to both the isotopic and the magnetic systems in rocks from a cooling orogen. The isotopic model involves first-order loss of daughter, while the magnetic model applies to an assemblage of single-domain grains with constant E. Dodson supplied the original proof that the equation applied to isotopic systems. The well-known superficial similarity between the concepts of isotopic and magnetic blocking is thus given quantitative expression.     

Aims and implementation in British urban and regional planning

Failure to fully understand or recognise crucial but culturally-determined British dimensions has led to confusion and error even among the British geographers in understanding and contributing to, urban and regional planning. This point assumes more rather than less significance in the context of a discussion between British and Soviet geographers. This paper therefore examines in part one, three fundamental features of the British system of urban and regional planning and then proceeds in part two to focus on the aims and their implementation. It concludes with a reference to the nature of the relationship between planning and geography.     

A two-dimensional photochemical model of the stratosphere with Rayleigh scattering

Computations of concentrations of minor stratospheric gases using a two-dimensional model of the stratosphere are reported. The model includes Rayleigh scattering. This results in an increase in the photodissociation rate computation time by a factor of 1.5. The effect of ground albedo is assessed by comparing our results with a calculation of photolysis rates for a constant albedo with latitude. Comparison of results with a reference model including only molecular absorption are also made. The largest differences (50%) occur in NO and OH. An approximate expression for including the effects of Rayleigh scattering and surface reflectance in multi-dimensional models is suggested.     

Stable isotope studies of fluid inclusions in speleothems and their paleoclimatic significance

Fluid inclusions found trapped in speleothems (cave deposited travertine) are interpreted as samples of seepage water from which enclosing calcium carbonate was deposited. The inclusions are assumed to have preserved their D/H ratios since the time of deposition. Initial ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratios can be inferred from δD because rain- and snow-derived seepage waters fall on the meteoric water line (δD = 8δ¹⁸O + 10). Estimates of temperature of deposition of the carbonate can be calculated from inclusion D/H ratios and δ¹⁸O of enclosing calcite in Pleistocene speleothems. For most speleothems investigated (0–200,000 yr old) δ¹⁸O of calcite appears to have decreased with increasing temperature of deposition indicating that the dominant cause of climate-dependent change in δ¹⁸O of calcite was the change in K_cw, the isotope fractionation equilibrium constant, with temperature; δ¹⁸O of meteoric precipitation generally increased with increasing temperature, but not sufficiently to compensate for the decrease in K_cw.