Deformation-induced microstructures in soils affected by mass movements

The soil deformation produced by mass movements gives rise to specific microscopic features. The study of some markers of deformation, such as the orientation of rigid clasts and the morphology of fine-grained intercalations, indicates that, in most cases, mass movements can be related to simple shear. The development of these features varies according mainly to the type of mass movement (solifluction, debris flow or earth slide). Different factors play a significant role in their formation: intrinsic soil characteristics such as the grain size of the matrix, water content and matrix/element viscosity ratios, and external factors such as the intensity and homogeneity of deformation. A careful study of the microscopic features leads to a better understanding of the dynamics of mass deposits.     

Propriétés thermodynamiques des solutions (Na,K)ClH2O entre 400 et 800°C, 1–2 Kb: une revue des équilibres d'échange avec les silicates sodipotassiques

Several independant determinations of the difference in Gibbs free energy of formation (from the elements at 25°, 1 bar) between NaCl⁰ and KCl⁰ in aqueous solutions (molality > 0.5) are derived from equilibrium data between alkali feldspars, feldspathoids (nepheline-kalsilite), micas (muscoviteparagonite) and hydrothermal (Na, K)Cl-H₂O solutions. These results along with other data from the literature are discussed. The relation: $\text{Δ}{}^0\text{?,}\text{KCl}{}^0\text{? Δ}{}^0\text{/tf,}\text{NaCl}{}^0\text{(}\text{J}\text{) = ?16500(± 2500) ? 18(± 4) T(}\text{K}\text{)}$. is proposed from 400 to 800°C and 1 to 2 Kbar.     

Seismotectonics of the Papua New Guinea—Solomon Islands region

Earthquakes for the period 1964–1973 are relocated by the method of Joint Hypocenter Determination in order better to resolve the configuration and the structure of the New Guinea—New Britain—Solomon Islands region. Focal mechanism solutions are integrated with the seismicity and interpreted closely with it. A zone of subduction exists beneath New Britain and the Solomon Islands, a zone of left-lateral strike-slip movement extends from New Ireland to New Guinea. The zone of seismicity in northern New Guinea has developed as a result of a continent—island-arc collision in late Oligocene—Miocene times and does not exhibit a well-developed inclined seismic zone. It is proposed that plate tectonics theory does not apply rigorously, but slip-line field theory allows the presentation of a new geodynamic model for this region.     

Reaction of OH Radicals with Acetone: Determination of the Branching Ratio for the Abstraction Pathway at 298 K and 1 Torr

We have determined the 2-oxo-propyl CH₃C(O)CH₂ (sometimes called 1-methylvinoxy or acetonyl) radical yield for the reaction of acetone with OH radical relative to the 2-oxo-propyl yields for the reactions of F- and Cl atoms with acetone using the Discharge Flow technique. The 2-oxo-propyl radical has been monitored by Laser Induced Fluorescence LIF at short reaction times in the systems: OH + acetone (R1), F + acetone (R2), and Cl + acetone (R3). From these measurements we have deduced the branching ratio for the 2-oxo-propyl radical formation in the title reaction to be in the range 0.8 R 1.     

Paléoclimat des Petites Antilles depuis 4000 ans BP : l'enregistrement de la lagune de Grand-Case à Saint-Martin

A 2.5-m-thick sequence of lake sediments at the Étang de Grand-Case, Saint Martin (French West Indies) is studied here. Significant hydrological budget fluctuations allows distinction of three main climatic periods: (1) an overall dry period (4200 BP–2300 BP), characterised by carbonated mud, gypsum and storm sand layers; (2) a wet phase (2300 BP–1150 BP) dominated by organic mud; and (3) a more complex phase (1150 BP to present), with detrital inputs due to human activities. Comparison with other regional high-resolution records shows that similar climate modifications typify the whole Mesoamerican and Caribbean area. The climatic phenomena that are implicated in the variations of both precipitation and hurricane frequency over the Lesser Antilles are due to the latitudinal displacement of the inter-tropical convergence zone. These data give new support to the hypothesis of the existence of a correlation between peopling phases and climate variations in the Caribbean as previously proposed by some archaeologists. To cite this article: P. Bertran et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Energetics of water dissolution in trachyte glasses and liquids

Enthalpies of dissolution in HF solutions have been measured at 323 K for a series of hydrous trachyte glasses. Enthalpies of mixing between water and molten trachyte have then been calculated from heat capacity data for the same set of samples and available enthalpy for pure water. The moderately negative enthalpies of mixing suggested at 1 bar by the measurements made on glasses almost disappear when trachyte liquids and water are referred to the same temperature, and particularly so when enthalpies of mixing are calculated for a few kbars pressure. As found for albite and phonolite liquids, trachyte melts thus appear to mix nearly ideally as far as enthalpy is concerned. These results imply that the enthalpy of exsolution of water from magmas is very small or negligible under the P-T-X conditions relevant to trachytic volcanism, even for complete degassing of up to 5 wt% H₂O. Furthermore, the viscosity increase associated with exsolution-driven cooling is negligible compared to the decrease caused directly by water exsolution.