Laser-Dye Imaging of the pH Field in a Laboratory Experiment

We established a precise DeLIF (Dual Emission Laser Light Fluorescence) system for the instant measurement of the pH field in laboratory experiments. This method is very important in studies of the biological impacts of CO₂ sequestration, i.e., effects of pH on organisms. The technique is demonstrated by applying it to the pH measurement around a liquid CO₂ droplet, which has a large gradient of CO₂ concentration near its interface, the concentration value on the boundary being known as the solubility of CO₂. In the Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) method using quinine and an ultraviolet laser light source, the relatively unstable pulse of the laser source decreased the measurement reliability. We therefore investigated many kinds of fluorescent dye and demonstrated the DeLIF measurement, identifying a process for cancelling fluctuations of laser light intensity. Quinine and sulforhodamine were used as fluorescence dyes. The molar absorption coefficient and emission intensity of quinine depend on the pH of aqueous solutions, while those of sulforhodamine are not as much affected by pH. The ratio of these fluorescence intensities represents pH at each point of the image. As a result, the pH field was successfully measured with an uncertainty of only approximately ±0.005, for 3.0 < pH. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Elemental Concentrations in Nine New GSJ Rock Reference Samples "Sedimentary Rock Series"

Nine new rock reference samples of the "Sedimentary rock series", Chert JCh-1, Dolomite JDo-1, Lake sediment JLk-1, Limestone JLs-1, Stream sediments JSd-1 to JSd-3, and Slates JS1-1 and JSl-2 have been prepared by the Geological Survey of Japan(GSJ). Thirty major, minor and trace elements were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry, flame emission spectrometry, infrared absorption spectrometry and wet chemical techniques. The results of homogeneity tests showed that almost all elements, with a few exceptions, are considered to be distributed homogeneously in each reference sample.     

Determination of Silver in Seventy-Three Geochemical Reference Samples by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

The silver content of seventy-three geochemical reference samples has been determined by atomic absorption spectrometry using an air-acetylene flame or a graphite furnace atomizer, after extraction of silver as iodide with methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). A comparison with published data shows clearly the need for much more data on most reference samples.     

Determination of Gold in Sixty Geochemical Reference Samples by Flameless Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

The gold content of sixty geochemical reference samples has been determined by atomic absorption spectrometry using a graphite furnace atomizer after digestion of sample with aqua regia and extraction of gold as chloride by methylisobutylketone. A comparison with published data shows clearly the need for much more data on most samples before consensus values could be assigned.
La teneur en or dans soixante échantillons géochimiques de référence a été déterminée par le spectromètre d'absorption atomique équipé d'un four à graphite. L'échantillon a été mis en solution avec de l'eau régale et l'or extrait avec du methylisobutylketone. Un examen des données publiées sur l'or montre qu'il faut davantage de résultats pour fixer des valeurs de consensus dans la plupart des échantillons.     

1992 compilation of analytical data for rare-earth elements, scandium, yttrium, zirconium and hafnium in twenty-six GSJ reference samples

Abstract: Analytical data for fourteen rare-earth elements, scandium, yttrium, zirconium and hafnium, received by May 1992, have been compiled on twenty-six GSJ (Geological Survey of Japan) reference samples. Seventeen of them are 'Igneous rock series' and nine are "Sedimentary rock series". The reported data including personal communication were evaluated under the consideration on analytical methods and geochemical evidences. No significant difference has been observed between the values obtained by the different analytical methods. Based on the selected available data, 1992 compilation values were tabulated.     

Pyroclastic flows from the 1991 eruption of Unzen volcano,Japan

Pyroclastic flows from Unzen were generated by gravitational collapse of the growing lava dome. As soon as the parental lobe failed at the edge of the dome, spontaneous shattering of lava occurred and induced a gravity flow of blocks and finer debris. The flows had a overhanging, tongue-like head and cone- or rollershaped vortices expanding outward and upward. Most of the flows traveled from 1 to 3 km, but some flows reached more than 4 km, burning houses and killing people in the evacuated zone of Kita-kamikoba on the eastern foot of the volcano. The velocities of the flows ranged from 15 to 25 m/s on the gentle middle flank. Observations of the flows and their deposits suggest that they consisted of a dense basal avalanche and an overlying turbulent ash cloud. The basal avalanche swept down a topographic low and formed to tongue-like lobe having well-defined levees; it is presumed to have moved as a non-Newtonian fluid. The measured velocities and runout distances of the flows can be matched to a Bingham model for the basal avalanche by the addition of turbulent resistance. The rheologic model parameters for the 29 May flow are as follows: the density is 1300 kg/m³, the yield strength is 850 Pa, the viscosity is 90 Pa s, and the thickness of the avalanche is 2 m. The ash cloud is interpreted as a turbulent mixing layer above the basal avalanche. The buoyant portions of the cloud produced ash-fall deposits, whereas the dense portions moved as a surge separated from the parental avalanche. The ash-cloud surges formed a wide devastated zone covered by very thin debris. The initial velocities of the 3 June surges, when they detached from avalanches, are determined by the runout distance and the angle of the energy-line slope. A comparison between the estimated velocities of the 3 June avalanches and the surges indicates that the surges that extended steep slopes along the avalanche path, detached directly from the turbulent heads of the avalanches. The over-running surge that reached Kita-Kamikoba had an estimated velocity higher than that of the avalanche; this farther-travelled surge is presumed to have been generated by collapse of a rising ash-cloud plume.     

米仓山楔入冲断构造模型低温热年代学证据及其意义

基于低温热年代学特征的构造重建（或解译）与浅部地表过程模型在诠释盆-山结构与演化过程中受到越来越广泛的重视与应用.青藏高原东缘米仓山-川北前陆盆山系统楔入冲断构造模型与浅部地貌建造（非）耦合的检验校正为米仓山造山带构造变形及其动力学模型研究提供了契机.基于稳态楔入冲断构造低温热年代学模型研究表明,米仓山-川北前陆盆-山结构带盆山地貌的建造和低温热年代学（磷灰石裂变径迹和（U-Th）/He）特征具有明显的耦合性,二者统一于（盆地向）具~4°古地貌斜坡的楔入冲断构造模型.现今米仓山地区低温热年代学不具有明显的海拔高程和年龄线性关系,但当古地貌具有~4°坡度时低温热年代学与古地貌具有明显的线性相关性,揭示晚白垩世米仓山东西段具有一致（或相似）的稳态抬升剥露特征,东西段剥露速率分别为0.05 mm/a 和0.03 mm/a.古地貌坡度与古地温梯度具有较好的相关性（R²=95%~98%）,相关古地温梯度（25~35 ℃/km）符合米仓山稳态剥露地质结构特征.米仓山造山带楔入冲断构造模型的发育可能受控于多套滑脱层系（尤其是深部和浅部滑脱层系）和扬子板块能干性基底对造山带盆地向扩展变形过程的阻挡作用.     

Multi-scale modeling of CO2 dispersion leaked from seafloor off the Japanese coast

A numerical simulation was conducted to predict the change of pCO₂ in the ocean caused by CO₂ leaked from an underground aquifer, in which CO₂ is purposefully stored. The target space of the present model was the ocean above the seafloor. The behavior of CO₂ bubbles, their dissolution, and the advection-diffusion of dissolved CO₂ were numerically simulated. Here, two cases for the leakage rate were studied: an extreme case, 94,600 t/y, which assumed that a large fault accidentally connects the CO₂ reservoir and the seafloor; and a reasonable case, 3800 t/y, based on the seepage rate of an existing EOR site. In the extreme case, the calculated increase in ΔpCO₂ experienced by floating organisms was less than 300 ppm, while that for immobile organisms directly over the fault surface periodically exceeded 1000 ppm, if momentarily. In the reasonable case, the calculated ΔpCO₂ and pH were within the range of natural fluctuation.     

Partitioning of the grain-size components of Dali Lake core sediments: evidence for lake-level changes during the Holocene

We recovered a sediment core (DL04) from the depocenter of Dali Lake in central-eastern Inner Mongolia. The upper 8.5 m were analyzed at 1-cm intervals for grain-size distribution to partition the grain-size components and provide a high-resolution proxy record of Holocene lake level changes. Partitioning of three to six components, C1, C2, C3 through C6 from fine to coarse modes within the individual polymodal distributions, into overlapping lognormal distributions, was accomplished utilizing the method of lognormal distribution function fitting. Genetic analyses of the grain-size components suggest that two major components, C2 and C3, interpreted as offshore-suspension fine and medium-to-coarse silt, can serve as sediment proxies for past changes in the level of Dali Lake. Lower modal sizes of both C2 and C3 and greater C3 and lower C2 percentages reflect higher lake stands. The proxy data from DL04 core sediments span the last 12,000 years and indicate that Dali Lake experienced five stages during the Holocene. During the interval ca. 11,500–9,800 cal year BP, lake level was unstable, with drastic rises and falls. Following that interval, the lake level was marked by high stands between ca. 9,800 and 7,100 cal year BP. During the period from ca. 7,100 to 3,650 cal year BP, lake level maintained generally low stands, but displayed a slight tendency to rise. Subsequently, the lake level continued rising, but exhibited high-frequency, high-amplitude fluctuations until ca. 1,800 cal years ago. Since ca. 1,800 cal year BP, the lake has displayed a gradual lowering trend with frequent fluctuations.     

Timescale of material circulation in subduction zone: U–Pb zircon and K–Ar phengite double‐dating of the Sanbagawa metamorphic complex in the Ikeda district,central Shikoku,southwest Japan

We have estimated the timescale of material circulation in the Sanbagawa subduction zone based on U–Pb zircon and K–Ar phengite dating in the Ikeda district, central Shikoku. The Minawa and Koboke units are major constituents of the high‐P Sanbagawa metamorphic complex in Shikoku, southwest Japan. For the Minawa unit, ages of 92–81 Ma for the trench‐fill sediments, are indicated, whereas the age of ductile deformation and metamorphism of garnet and chlorite zones are 74–72 Ma and 65 Ma, respectively. Our results and occurrence of c. 150 Ma Besshi‐type deposits formed at mid‐ocean ridge suggest that the 60‐Myr‐old Izanagi Plate was subducted beneath the Eurasian Plate at c. 90 Ma, and this observation is consistent with recent plate reconstructions. For the Koboke unit, the depositional ages of the trench‐fill sediments and the dates for the termination of ductile deformation and metamorphism are estimated at c. 76–74 and 64–62 Ma, respectively. In the Ikeda district, the depositional ages generally become younger towards lower structural levels in the Sanbagawa metamorphic complex. Our results of U–Pb and K–Ar dating show that the circulation of material from the deposition of the Minawa and Koboke units at the trench through an active high‐P metamorphic domain to the final exhumation from the domain occurred continuously throughout c. 30 Myr (from c. 90 to 60 Ma).