U-Th-Pb systematics of selected samples from Apollo 17, Boulder 1, Station 2

Nine U-Th-Pb whole-rock analyses of selected brecciated materials from sample 72215 and one analysis of a pigeonite basalt clast from 72275 are presented. Both samples are from Boulder 1, Apollo 17. These data supplement previous Boulder 1 U-Th-Pb analyses of samples 72275 and 72255. U and Th concentrations indicate that most of the samples contain a moderate to large KREEP component. Samples containing the least KREEP are a noritic clast (72255,49; Civet Cat clast) and an anorthositic clast (72275,117). Evidence for the migration of Pb from Pb-rich matrix material into relatively Pb-poor clasts is presented for two clasts. Most of the Boulder 1 data define a linear trend that intersects concordia at ～ 3.9 and 4.4 b.y. when plotted on a U-Pb concordia diagram. The presence of one anorthositic clast distinctly off this trend indicates that a simple two-stage U-Pb evolution history is inadequate to explain all the data. Accordingly physical significance is only attached to the lower concordia intercept age of 3.9–4.0 b.y. The older concordia intercept age of ～ 4.4 b.y. is interpreted to reflect an averaging of events both older and younger than 4.4 b.y. The data suggest that significant differentiation and/or metamorphism occurred ～ 4.2 b.y. ago. The age of this event, however, is not accurately defined by these data.     

Contribution of abiogenic and biogenic particles to trace-metal composition of phytoplankton assemblages in seawater of Shimizu Port, Japan

The contribution of abiogenic and biogenic particles to trace-metal (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Ti, V, and Zn) composition was investigated for phytoplankton (primarily diatoms) collected in Shimizu Port, a coastal seawater region. Except for Cd, the trace metals occurred predominantly in lithogenic or nonlithogenic abiogenic particles associated with plankton. In contrast, it is likely that Cd in seawater is taken up intracellularly, and not adsorbed extracellularly by phytoplankton. The lower P-normalized quotas of Cd in Shimizu Port than in offshore regions may be because plankton are dominated by diatoms.     

A routine high-precision method for Lu-Hf isotope geochemistry and chronology

A method for chemical separation of Lu and Hf from rock, meteorite and mineral samples is described, together with a much improved mass spectrometric running technique for Hf. This allows (i) geo- and cosmochronology using the¹⁷⁶Lu→¹⁷⁶Hf+β^? decay scheme, and (ii) geochemical studies of planetary processes in the earth and moon.Chemical yields for the three-stage ion-exchange column procedure average 90% for Hf. Chemical blanks are <0.2 ng for Lu and Hf. From 1 μg of Hf, a total ion current of 0.5×10^?11 Ampere can be maintained for 3–5 h, yielding 0.01–0.03% precision on the ratio¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf. Normalisation to¹⁷⁹Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf=0.7325 is used.Extensive results for the Johnson Matthey Hf standard JMC 475 are presented, and this sample is urged as an international mass spectrometric standard; suitable aliquots, prepared from a single batch of JMC 475, are available from Denver.Lu-Hf analyses of the standard rocks BCR-1 and JB-1 are given. The potential of the Lu-Hf method in isotope geochemistry is assessed.     

Precambrian tholeiitic-dacitic rock-suites and Cambrian ultramafic rocks in the Pennine nappe system of the Alps: Evidence from Sm-Nd isotopes and rare earth elements

Major element, trace element and Sm-Nd isotope analyses were made of polymetamorphic hornblendefelses, plagioclase amphibolites and banded amphibolites from the Berisal complex in the Simplon area (Italy, Switzerland) to determine their age, origin and genetic relationships. In light of major and rare earth element data, the hornblendefelses are inferred to have originally been pyroxene-rich cumulates, the plagioclase amphibolites and the dark layers of the banded amphibolites to have been tholeiitic basalts and the light layers dacites. The Sm-Nd isotope data yield isochron ages of 475±81 Ma for the hornblendefelses, 1,018±59 Ma for the plagioclase amphibolites and 1,071±43 Ma for the banded amphibolites. The 1 Ga magmatic event is the oldest one ever found in the crystalline basement of the Pennine nappes. The Sm -Nd isotope data support the consanguinity of the tholeiitic dark layers and the dacitic light layers of the banded amphibolites with the tholeiitic plagioclase amphibolites and the ultramafic hornblendefelses.The initial _Nd values indicate that all three rock types originated from sources depleted in light rare earth elements. We suggest that plagioclase and banded amphibolites were a Proterozoic tholeiite-dacite sequence that was strongly deformed and flattened during subsequent folding. The hornblendefelses are thought to be Cambrian intrusions of pyroxene-rich material.     

Age and origin of anorthosites,charnockites, and granulites in the Central Virginia Blue Ridge: Nd and Sr isotopic evidence

Rb-Sr isotopic data for anorthosites, charnockites, ferrodioritic to quartz monzonitic plutons, and high-grade gneisses of the Blue Ridge of central Virginia show evidence of post-emplacement metamorphism, but in some cases retain Grenville ages. The Pedlar River Charnockite Suite yields an isochron age of 1021 +/-36 Ma, (initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.7047 +/-6), which agrees with published U-Pb zircon ages. Five samples of that unit which contain Paleozoic mylonitic fabrics define a regression line of 683 Ma, interpreted as a mixing line with no age significance. Samples of the Roseland Anorthosite Complex show excessive scatter on a Rb-Sr evolution diagram probably due to Paleozoic (475 m.y.) metamorphism. Data from the ferrodioritic to quartz monzonitic plutons of the area yield an age of 1009 +/-26 Ma (inital ratio=0.7058 +/-4), which is in the range of the U-Pb zircon ages of 1000–1100 Ma. The Stage Road Layered Gneiss yields an age of 1147 +/-34 Ma (initial ratio of 0.7047 +/- 5).Sm-Nd data for the Pedlar River Charnockite Suite reflect a pre-Grenville age of 1489 +/-118 Ma ( _Nd=+6.7 +/-1.2). Data for the Roseland Anorthosite Complex and the ferrodioritic to quartz monzonitic plutons yield Grenville isochron ages of 1045 +/44 Ma ( _Nd=+1.0 +/-0.3) and 1027 +/-101 Ma ( _Nd=+1.4 +/-1.0), respectively. Two Roseland Anorthosite samples plot far above the isochron, demonstrating the effects of post-emplacement disturbance of Sm-Nd systematics, while mylonitized Pedlar River Charnockite Suite samples show no evidence of Sm-Nd redistribution.The disparity of the Sm-Nd age and other isotopic ages for the Pedlar River Charnockite Suite probably reflects a Sm-Nd source age, suggesting the presence of an older crust within this portion of the ca. 1 Ga old basement.     

Characterization of Fe(III) (hydr)oxides in arsenic contaminated soil under various redox conditions by XAFS and Mössbauer spectroscopies

Characterization of Fe(III) (hydr)oxides in soils near the Ichinokawa mine was conducted using X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and Mössbauer spectroscopies, and the structural changes were correlated with the release of As into pore-water. The Eh values decreased monotonically with depth. Iron is mainly present as poorly-ordered Fe(III) (hydr)oxides, such as ferrihydrite, over a wide redox range (from Eh = 360 to −140 mV). Structural details of the short-range order of these Fe(III) (hydr)oxides were examined using Mössbauer spectroscopy by comparing the soil phases with synthesized ferrihydrite samples having varying crystallinities. The crystallinity of the soil Fe (hydr)oxides decreased slightly with depth and Eh. Thus, within the redox range of this soil profile, ferrihydrite dominated, even under very reducing conditions, but the crystalline domain size, and, potentially, particle size, changed with the variation in Eh. In the soil–water system examined here, where As concentration and the As(III)/As(V) ratio in soil water increased with depth, ferrihydrite persisted and maintained or even enhanced its capacity for As retention with increased reducing conditions. Therefore, it is concluded that As release from these soils largely depends on the transformation of As(V) to As(III) rather than reductive dissolution of Fe(III) (hydr)oxide.     

Characterization of bottom sediments from Osaka Bay,Japan

The physical, chemical, and dewatering characteristics of 19 bottom sediments from Osaka Bay, Japan, have been analyzed to aid in the development of sediments in the coastal bay area. The sediments in the east near Osaka Port were highly polluted from the influence of human activities and were difficult to dewater. These sediments were composed of fine particles, low in pH, zetapotential, and initial settling rate, and were high in ignition loss, metal concentrations, compression volume, specific resistance, cake water content, and drying index. However, the sediments near Akashi Channel showed the reverse where they are affected by strong tidal current. A correlation analysis has been made of all the parameters. There are significant relationships between all the dewatering parameters. Therefore, sediments difficult to dewater by gravity settling are also difficult to dewater by vacuum filtration and solar evaporation. Sediments containing fine particles and pollutants are difficult to dewater. Several forms of pollutants can occur in the sediments.     

Evolution of continental crust and mantle heterogeneity: Evidence from Hf isotopes

We present initial ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷ Hf ratios for many samples of continental crust 3.7-0.3 Gy old. Results are based chiefly on zircons (1% Hf) and whole rocks: zircons are shown to be reliable carriers of essentially the initial Hf itself when properly chosen on the basis of U-Pb studies. Pre-3.0 Gy gneisses were apparently derived from an unfractionated mantle, but both depleted and undepleted mantle are evident as magma sources from 2.9 Gy to present. This mantle was sampled mainly from major crustal growth episodes 2.8, 1.8 and 0.7 Gy ago, all of which show gross heterogeneity of ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf in magma sources from _Hf=0 to +14, or about 60% of the variability of the present mantle.The approximate _Hf=2_Nd relationship in ancient and modern igneous rocks shows that ¹⁷⁶Lu/¹⁷⁷Hf fractionates in general twice as much as ¹⁴⁷Sm/¹⁴⁴Nd in mantle melting processes. This allows an estimation of the relative value of the unknown bulk solid/liquid distribution coefficient for Hf. D_Lu/D_Hf= 2.3 holds for most mantle source regions. For garnet to be an important residual mantle phase, it must hold Hf strongly in order to preserve Hf-Nd isotopic relationships.The ancient Hf initials are consistent with only a small proportion of recycled older cratons in new continental crust, and with quasi-continuous, episodic growth of the continental crust with time. However, recycling of crust less than 150 My old cannot realistically be detected using Hf initials. The mantle shows clearly the general positive _Hf resulting from a residual geochemical state at least back to 2.9 Gy ago, and seems to have repeatedly possessed a similar degree of heterogeneity, rather than a continuously-developing depletion. This is consistent with a complex dynamic disequilibrium model for the creation, maintenance and destruction of heterogeneity in the mantle.     

SmNd study of Archean alkalic rocks from the Superior Province of the Canadian Shield

The Abitibi Volcanic Belt in eastern Superior Province of the Canadian Shield is the largest continuous greenstone belt in the world and is a key example of late Archean crust. This belt has, in general, suffered a low intensity of metamorphism and deformation, and, as a result, the stratigraphy and geology are well established. Tholeiitic and calc-alkaline series of igneous rocks are present in this belt in about equal proportions. However, the undersaturated potassic and leucitic volcanics of the Timiskaming Group are a unique feature of this belt.SmNd systematics were determined for twelve Timiskaming volcanic rocks. These rocks show nepheline, diopside and/or olivine plus leucite in the norm and a highly fractionated REE pattern. Sm and Nd concentrations range from 25 to 160 and 45 to 300 times the chondritic abundance, respectively. The Sm and Nd isotopic data yield an isochron age of 2702±105Ma for these volcanic rocks with an initial ε_Nd of +1.9±1.6. This age establishes the Timiskaming alkalic rock to be one of the oldest of their kind. From stratigraphic relations, 2705 Ma is an upper limit for the age and the ε_Nd values of +1.8 to +2.2 at this age for the twelve rocks are also upper limits. Further, this small but positive ε_Nd value for the isochron, when compared to other mantle-derived Archean rocks in the Superior Province, indicates that the Archean mantle was heterogeneous beneath the Canadian Shield and that the Timiskaming alkalic lavas were derived from a depleted mantle.