The role of hybridization in the genesis of Hercynian granitodis in the gredos massif,Spain: inferences from Sr-Nd isotopes

The Gredos massif is one the better exposed granitoid complexes of the Iberian massif. It is composed mainly of peraluminous granitoids with subordinate basic and ultrabasic complexes. The massif also contains mega-enclaves of migmatites with which the granitoids show transitional contacts. Two major magmatic associations have been distinguished in this study: (1) One comprises the granitoids with microgranular enclaves, the enclaves, and basic rocks; (2) the other is formed by leucogranites, intrusive into the former series and free of microgranular enclaves. Field relationships and microstructures indicate that the rocks of the first series are related by a dominant hybridization process. The Sr-Nd isotopic study reveals that this process is complex, relating different end-members of mantle and crustal affinities, and occurred around 295 Ma ago, late with respect to the main deformation phases of the Hercynian orogeny. The granitoids with microgranular enclaves (GME) are part of an overall mixing trend involving Palaeozoic mantle-derived magma and melts of older crustal material. Amphibole-bearing GME, in general, contain greater proportions of the mantle-derived component than the cordierite-bearing GME. The actual mixing processes took place on a variety of scales, sometimes between melts which were themselves hybrids. On a local scale this hybridization process can be modelled by simple binary mixing as documented in the case of a composite dyke. The isotopic signatures of the basic rocks are probably, to a large degree, the result of interaction with crustal melts, though additionally the presence of an enriched mantle source cannot be elmininated. Microgranular enclaves and their immediate hosts have differing initial Sr and Nd isotopic signatures, indicating that isotopic equilibrium was not attained. This suggests that the enclaves did not reside in their final granitic melt for long before cooling of the whole system. The enclaves are considered to have been derived from basaltic melts which had fractionated and hybridised to varying degrees. Late-stage peraluminous leucogranites have similar initial Nd isotopic compositions to the evolved GME; a crustal source with a radically different Nd isotopic composition or age does not need to be invoked in their petrogenesis.     

The stabilizing effect of Na2S on the collector coating of chrysocolla

The heterogeneous reaction between natural and sulphidized chrysocolla and potassium amyl xanthate in solution is investigated.It is found that, together with the consumption of large amounts of xanthate, particles composed of the reaction products are spontaneously released from the surface of chrysocolla giving rise to a colloidal dispersion. In principle the mechamism is related to the peptizing effect of the excess xanthate ions that are found when Cu²⁺ and X^? ions are made to react in a homogeneous phase.In sulphidized chrysocolla this phenomenon is markedly reduced, showing that Na₂S has a stabilizing effect on the collector coating.Flotation experiments performed with aqueous amyl dixanthogen emulsions show that stable adhesion occurs only on properly sulphidized chrysocolla. It is believed that the mechanism controlling adhesion in this case is similar to that which determines the stability of the collector layer.     

Effects of seismic wave propagation upon buried pipelines

The behaviour of long straight buried pipelines subjected to seismic wave propagation is investigated. Well-known relationships for determining upper bounds for the axial strain and curvature in the pipeline as well as relationships for relative displacement and rotation at the pipeline joints are discussed. The assumption that the seismic excitation can be modelled as a travelling wave having a shape which remains unchanged as it traverses the pipeline is examined in detail. It is shown that this assumption is unconservative when the effective propagation velocity of the seismic waves with respect to the pipeline is such that the actual time lag (separation distance between points divided by effective propagation velocity) is less than a ‘cross-over’ time lag. Cross-over time lags for 22 pairs of ground displacements recorded during the 1971 San Fernando Earthquake are presented in this paper. Finally, methods for estimating the propagation speed of the seismic waves along or with respect to the pipeline are discussed.     

Interbasin underflow between closed Altiplano basins in Chile

Interbasin ground water movement of 200 to 240 L/sec occurs as underflow beneath a mountainous surface water divide separating the topographically higher Salar de Michincha from the topographically lower Salar de Coposa internally drained basins in the Altiplano of northern Chile. Salt-encrusted flats (salars) and saline lakes occur on the lowest parts of the basin floors and comprise the principal evaporative discharge areas for the basins. Because a surface water divide separates the basins, surface water drainage boundaries do not coincide with ground water drainage boundaries. In the region, interbasin ground water movement is usually not recognized, but occurs for selected basins, and at places is an important component of ground water budgets. With increasing development of water for mining industry and potential exportation of ground water from the Altiplano for use at coastal cities, demonstration and quantification of interbasin movement is important for assessment of sustainable ground water development in a region of extreme aridity. Recognition and quantification of interbasin ground water underflow will assist in management of ground water resources in the arid Chilean Altiplano environment.     

Application of a statistical water-table model reveals connections between dunes and vegetation at Doñana

We present a simple statistical model of the water-table fluctuations based on a set of multiple regressions for a dune slack of the Doñana National Park, and its utility to understand some ecological processes. The variation in the coefficients of the regressions for different locations allows discrimination between different zones in the dune slack, and explains the spatial pattern of heath vegetation observed in the stabilized sands. Model simulations were compared with an existing sparse data set of water-table levels, and suggests possible mechanisms responsible for the catastrophic pine tree mortality, which happened during the drought of 1979–83.     

Burying processes carried out by a mobile transversal dunefield, Paracuru County, State of Ceará, Brazil

The migration of dunes and the consequent burying of the city of Paracuru by a transversal dunefield with perpendicular ridges oriented to the dominant windstream have been investigated. Overlapping aerial photographs taken during different flights have been used as a reference. Two sediment transportation directions were identified: the first is fed by the prevailing easterly winds; the second corresponds to the secondary southeasterly winds. With the maintenance of current wind conditions and pluvial precipitation, dunes will bury part of Paracuru town in approximately 120 years. Within this context, the geological evolution model that was applied proved to be satisfactory for the comprehension of sediment transportation mechanisms along the transversal dunes. Considering the prognosis in relation to Paracuru and its urban growth towards the dunefield, it is necessary to continue to study aeolian dynamics, aiming to develop support for the elaboration of future projects directed towards environmental management of the area.     

Turbulence Over Urban-type Roughness: Deductions from Wind-tunnel Measurements

Turbulence data from experiments conducted over a staggered cube array, modelling a neutrally stable atmospheric boundary layer in an urban environment, are presented. The results support the contention that organised eddy structures in the near-wall region differ significantly from those in regular smooth-wall flows or in rough-wall boundary layers with much smaller h/δ ratios (where δ and h are the boundary-layer thickness and the height of the roughness elements, respectively). Attention is concentrated on spatial correlations, spectra (and thus the dominant length and time scales), maps of anisotropy invariants and quadrant analyses of the stress tensor. Results are obtained within both the roughness sublayer (i.e. the region above the roughness but within which the flow is spatially inhomogeneous) and the canopy region (i.e. below the height of the roughness elements) and discussion includes consideration of the turbulence kinetic energy balance at various heights.     

The Central Extremadura batholith: Geotectonic implications (European Hercynian Belt)—an outline

Study of the Central Extremadura batholith and shear zone, described for the first time herein, provides new insights into the tectonomagmatic evolution of the Ibero-Armorican arc.The main plutonic event may be closely related to intracontinental shear-zone development. The Central Extremadura shear zone may provide a model for the interpretation of collision structures related to the origin of the Ibero-Armorican arc.     

Emplacement fractures in granite plutons (Central Extremadura batholith,Spain)

Some plutons of the Central-Extremadura batholith show lateral widening at the final stage of their emplacement. Consequently, various fracture systems have developed, generally filled by aplites that appear both in the plutonic mass and in the metamorphic host rocks.The spatial arrangement of fractures may be interpreted in a simple model in which an important role is played by fluid pressure, as it determines the value of the acting effective stress and, naturally, the different failure mechanisms reflected in different dike systems.

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Zusammenfassung In einigen Granit-Plutonen des Zentralextremadura-Batholithen konnte eine laterale Ausdehnung in den Endetappen ihrer Platznahme festgestellt werden. Dabei wurden verschiedene Bruchsysteme entwickelt, die im allgemeinen mit Aplit gefüllt sind und sowohl im Inneren der plutonischen Masse als auch im metamorphen Nebengestein auftreten.Die spezielle Anordnung der Bruchsysteme konnte anhand eines einfachen Modells interpretiert werden. Dabei spielt der Durchströmungsdruck eine wichtige Rolle, da er den Wert der effektiven Spannung bestimmt und verschiedene Bruchmechanismen, die sich in verschiedenen Gangsystemen widerspiegeln.

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Résumé Quelques plutons du batholite de l'Estremadure centrale ont donné lieu à une expansion latérale au stade final de leur mise en place. Plusieurs systèmes de fractures se sont ainsi développées; elles sont généralement occupées par des aplites et apparaissent aussi bien à l'intérieur de la masse plutonique que dans l'encaissant métamorphique.La distribution spatiale de ces fractures a pu être interprétée par un modèle simple dans lequel la pression des fluides joue un rôle important: cette pression détermine la valeur de la contrainte effective et conditionne les divers mécanismes de facturation, qui se traduisent dans différents systèmes de filons.

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Assessment of regional seasonal rainfall predictability using the CPTEC/COLA atmospheric GCM

This is a study of the annual and interannual variability of regional rainfall produced by the Center for Weather Forecasts and Climate Studies/Center for Ocean, Land and Atmospheric Studies (CPTEC/COLA) atmospheric global climate model. An evaluation is made of a 9-member ensemble run of the model forced by observed global sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies for the 10-year period 1982–1991. The Brier skill score and, Relative Operating Characteristics (ROC) are used to assess the predictability of rainfall and to validate rainfall simulations, in several regions world wide. In general, the annual cycle of precipitation is well simulated by the model for several continental and oceanic regions in the tropics and mid latitudes. Interannual variability of rainfall during the peak rainy season is realistically simulated in Northeast Brazil, Amazonia, central Chile, and southern Argentina–Uruguay, Eastern Africa, and tropical Pacific regions, where the model shows good skill. Some regions, such as northwest Peru–Ecuador, and southern Brazil exhibit a realistic simulation of rainfall anomalies associated with extreme El Niño warming conditions, while in years with neutral or La Niña conditions, the agreement between observed and simulated rainfall anomalies is not always present. In the monsoon regions of the world and in southern Africa, even though the model reproduces the annual cycle of rainfall, the skill of the model is low for the simulation of the interannual variability. This is indicative of mechanisms other than the external SST forcing, such as the effect of land–surface moisture and snow feedbacks or the representation of sub-grid scale processes, indicating the important role of factors other than external boundary forcing. The model captures the well-known signatures of rainfall anomalies of El Niño in 1982–83 and 1986–87, indicating its sensitivity to strong external forcing. In normal years, internal climate variability can affect the predictability of climate in some regions, especially in monsoon areas of the world.