The efficiency of the spiral-in of a black hole to the Galactic Centre

We study the efficiency at which a black hole or dense star cluster spirals in to the Galactic Centre. This process takes place on a dynamical friction time-scale, which depends on the value of the Coulomb logarithm (ln Λ). We determine the accurate value of this parameter using the direct N -body method, a tree algorithm and a particle-mesh technique with up to two million plus one particles. The three different techniques are in excellent agreement. Our measurement for the Coulomb logarithm appears to be independent of the number of particles. We conclude that  ln Λ= 6.6 ± 0.6  for a massive point particle in the inner few parsec of the Galactic bulge. For an extended object, such as a dense star cluster, ln Λ is smaller, with a value of the logarithm argument Λ inversely proportional to the object size.     

Palaeolimnological studies of the eutrophication of volcanic Lake Albano (Central Italy)

We use palaeolimnological techniques to reconstruct the eutrophication history of a volcanic lake (Lake Albano, central Italy) over the past three centuries. The presence of annual varves down to the bottom of the core (c. 1700 A.D.) indicated the lack of bioturbation and likely long-term meromixis. Sedimentation rates were estimated by varve counts (calcite/diatom couplets), indicating a mean rate of 0.15 cm yr^–1. The reconstruction of eutrophication was traced using past populations of algal and photosynthetic bacteria (through their fossil pigment), and geochemistry, as well as fossil remains of chironomids. Phaeophorbidea and the red carotenoid astaxanthin were used to detect past zooplankton development.The first sign of trophic change related to human activities is datedc. 1870 A.D. From that period onward a sharp increase of authigenic CaCO₃, nitrogen, N:P ratio, and dinoxanthin, a characteristic carotenoid of Chrysophyceae and Dinophyceae, is observed.Chironomid analyses showed the near absence of a deep water fauna throughout the core length. The populations of chironomid larvae are restricted to oxygenated littoral zones. In fact, the few fossil remains found are primarily of littoral origin, representing shallow water midges that were transported to profundal waters. The reduction of total chironomid in the uppermost layers of the core is to be related to human land uses.     

Petrochemical constraints on the models of Cretaceous-Eocene tectonic evolution of the Eastern Pontic chain (Turkey)

Sixteen selected samples from the Upper Cretaceous volcanic belt of the Eastern Pontids have been analysed for major elements, Rb, Sr and Zr. On the basis of the K₂O versus SiO₂ distribution, two groups of rocks have been distinguished, one with calc-alkaline affinity and a second group with shoshonitic character. The calc-alkaline rocks have porphyritic texture with clinopyroxene, plagioclase and orthopyroxene as phenocryst and in the groundmass. The orthopyroxene is lacking in the shoshonites where plagioclase, clinopyroxene and, in the more evolved terms, amphibole and biotite are the main phenocryst minerals. The shoshonitic rocks have higher $\text{K}{}_2\text{O}\text{Na}{}_2\text{O}$ ratio, K₂O, P₂O₅ and Rb, contents with respect to the calc-alkaline samples. The TiO₂ content is invariably low, never exceeding approximately 1%. The occurrence of volcanic rocks ranging in composition from calc-alkaline to shoshonitic in the Upper Cretaceous volcanic belt of the Eastern Pontids suggests that the Upper Cretaceous volcanic cycle reached its mature stage before the onset of the Eocene calc-alkaline volcanism which is believed to be neither genetically nor tectonically related with the Upper Cretaceous volcanism.     

Die Tektonik der Dolomiten im Rahmen des Südalpinen Baues

Zusammenfassung Die Struktur der Dolomiten paßt ausgezeichnet in das tektonische Bild der südlichen Alpen, wenn auch das Vorhandensein der permischen Porphyrplatte stellenweise häufig Brüche verursacht hat.Die Dislokationen der Dolomiten folgen im allgemeinen Falten und Faltenverwerfungen, die von Westen nach Osten verlaufen und vorwiegend eine Vergenz nach Süden aufweisen.Die permische Porphyrplatte und die markanten Linsen der Dolomitriffe machen diese Gegend zu einem klassischen Beispiel selektiver Tektonik.Die Tektonik der Dolomiten beruht z. T. auf Ablösungs- und Gleiterscheinungen an geneigten Flächen. Es gibt zahlreiche Falten und Brüche im kristallinen Unterbau, die anscheinend durch Druck entstanden sind.

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The structure of the Dolomite-unit easily fits into the tectonic framework of the Southern Alps even if the Permian porphyry plate locally produced more fracturing.The dislocations of the Dolomites, in general, corresponds to West-Eastorientated folds and faulted overfolds. The porphyry plate mentioned and the rigid lenses of the Dolomites reefs have produced classic examples of selective tectonics.Tectonic of the Dolomites is due in part to decollements and sliding from inclined planes, but decollement surfaces of a regional nature are excluded, and the dislocations of the Dolomites-region are not only epidermic.Numerous folds and fractures intersect the basement as well and seem compressive.

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Résumé La structure des Dolomites s'intègre remarquablement bien dans le plan tectonique des Alpes Méridionales, bien que la présence de la dalle porphyrique permienne ait fréquemment, par endroit, provoqué des ruptures. Les dislocations des Dolomites font suite en général à des plis et à des plis-failles avec axes allant d'Ouest en Est et montrant de façon prédominante un déversement vers le Sud.La dalle porphyrique permienne et les lentilles des récifs des Dolomites font de cette région un exemple classique de «tectonique sélective». La tectonique des Dolomites repose en partie sur des phénomènes de décollement et de glissement le long de surfaces inclinées. Il y a de nombreux plis et fractures dans le soubassement cristallin qui, semble-t-il, résultent d'une compression.

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Phase relations in the partial melting of the Baldissero spinel-lherzolite (Ivrea-Verbano zone,Western Alps,Italy)

The occurrence of various types of mobilizates in the Baldissero spinel lherzolite is due to partial melting of the same body. The study of the relationships between the peridotite and its mobilizates demonstrates that olivine did not take an active part in the fusion. Estimates of the degree of partial melting vary from 10% for the average composition, to 20% for the most depleted samples. These values refer to an initial pyrolitic composition, and thus are relative, as they can vary depending on the actual primary composition.The calculated composition of the liquid generated by partial melting is quite similar to that of a picritic basalt, and is practically the same irrespective of the 10% and 20% fusion. This fact provides strong evidence that melting took place at a unique invariant point of the natural system, producing a liquid with a remarkably constant composition.Projection of the liquid in the fo-an-di-si diagram is fairly well aligned with the modal compositions of the solid residua, but does not coincide with the minimum of the simplified system. The proposed solution is based on the enlargement of the spinel field (at constant pressure), due to the Cr content in this phase. Therefore, the position of the invariant minimum is not fixed, but rather controlled by the Cr content of the spinel. Is is suggested that, by an increase in the Cr content, spinel might at a given moment become refractory. Thus, saturated or over-saturated magmas are produced depending on the phase relations between olivine, orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene. This would happen in the case of very advanced fusions or in the case of fusion of already depleted peridotites.The relationships between mobilizates of different generations suggest a non adiabatic mantle upwelling.     

Neogene and quaternary volcanism of the Bijar Area (Western Iran)

In the Bijar region (Western Iran) two distinct volcanic cycles have been recognized. The first, of Upper Miocene age, consists of high-K cale-alkaline volcanic rocks interpreted as final products of the cale-alkaline Tertiary phase of central Iran. The second volcanic cycle, mostly of Pleistocene age (0.5–1.3 m.v.) consists of undersaturated, mainly potassic, alkaline products. As the lavas of this last phase are slightly fractionated, the chemical differences shown by these rocks have been interpreted as primitive features related to the physical conditions governing the partial melting in the mantle and/or the mantle heterogeneity. In a volcanic center (Sarajukh volcano) contemporaneous basic and acid magmas have been found, and interpreted as derived from two different and independent sources. The alkaline basic volcanism is considered as an expression of disjunctive processes that have affected the western margin of the Iranian plate after the Pliocene.