Authors' Reply

Abstract— Jull et al. propose an alternative interpretation of our depth vs. ¹⁴C data measured on a peat core from the central Tunguska impact site (Rasmussen et al., 1999). We find that the proposed alternative is untenable.     

Chemical Composition,U–Th–Pb Age,and Geodynamic Setting of Metavolcanic Filla Series (Rauer Islands,East Antarctica)

Geotectonics - An assemblage of mafic granulites (schists), plagiogneisses, and metasedimentary rocks, which is referred to as the Filla Series, is exposed in the Rauer Islands (opposite the...     

The Rayner tectonic Province of East Antarctica: Compositional features and geodynamic setting

Geochemical and new isotopic (U-Pb, Sm-Nd) data on the Mesoproterozoic metaigneous complexes of the Rayner Province in central East Antarctica (Enderby Land-Kemp Land and the northern Prince Charles Mountains) are presented. These territories are mainly composed of amphibolite-to-granulite-facies orthogneisses, many of which are Y-depleted tonalite gneisses and mafic schists. The igneous complexes of their protolith are largely products of anatexis of the lower crust; mantle-derived and upper crustal rocks are less abundant. The geochemical features of the mafic rocks indicate that they crystallized from high-temperature plume-related mantle melts and low-temperature lithospheric melts. As follows from the published and new Nd model ages, the Rayner Province formed and evolved over the Paleo-to-Mesoproterozoic in the regime of accretionary and collisional tectonics with predominance of accretion of the juvenile Paleoproterozoic crust between 1500–2400 Ma. New data show that in the northern Prince Charles Mountains, granite-gneiss protoliths were emplaced ca. 1040 and 930 Ma ago. The Rayner Province is considered to be a long-living mobile belt formed as a result of collision of Paleoproterozoic island-arc terranes and Archean blocks amalgamating into a continental massif 1050–1000 Ma ago in the course of the growth of the Rodinia supercontinent. In the northern Prince Charles Mountains, thermal processes related to magmatic underplating at the base of the crust were probably important.     

Charnockite composition in relation to the tectonic evolution of East Antarctica

Charnockitic suites in central Dronning Maud Land (DML), Mac.Robertson Land (MRL), and the Bunger Hills area are compositionally varied and probably include both mantle and lower-crustal components. In this paper we present new geological and geochemical data on the DML charnockitic rocks, and compare their geochemistry with that of charnockitic rocks from several other Antarctic high-grade terranes, particularly MRL and the Bunger Hills. These areas have different geological histories and one of the main aims of this study is to investigate possible links between charnockite composition and the tectonic history of their host terranes. Antarctic charnockitic rocks form two distinct compositional groups. 510 Ma DML charnockites are relatively alkalic and ferroan, with high K₂O, Zr, Ga, Fe / Mg, and Ga / Al, and very low MgO, characteristic of A-type (alkaline, commonly anorogenic) granitoids. The more mafic DML rocks, at least, were derived by fractionation of a relatively alkaline high-P–Ti ferrogabbro parent magma. Most other early Palaeozoic charnockitic rocks in Antarctica are of similar composition. In contrast, MRL (c. 980 Ma) and Bunger Hills (c. 1170 Ma) charnockites are mainly calc-alkalic or calcic and magnesian, and the associated mafic components are tholeiitic. MRL and Bunger Hills charnockites are late-orogenic, whereas DML charnockites are post-orogenic, and appear to have been emplaced after post-collision extension and decompression. These two mineralogically and geochemically distinct charnockite groups may thus reflect a compositional trend in an evolving orogen, either accretional or collisional, respectively.     

The tectogenesis stages of the antarctic shield: Review of geochronological data

A review of numerous isotopic-geochronological studies is given. The major attention is paid to modern U-Pb zircon measurements using the SHRIMP method. The major tectogenesis stages recognized in the Antarctic shield are Archean (3800–3300, 3100–2800, and 2550–2450 Ma), Paleoproterozoic (2200–2000 and 1850–1700 Ma), Mesoproterozoic (1400–1250 and 1200–920 Ma), and Neoproterozoic-Early Paleozoic (600–500 Ma). Ancient Eo-and Paleoarchean processes (intrusion of tonalite gneisses protoliths, or metamorphism) took place at Enderby Land, Kemp Land, and the Prince Charles Mountains. At some localities tectonic activity ended at 1700 Ma, at other places reworking or rejuvenation occurred later. Mesoproterozoic tectogenesis was not synchronous. The completion phases of tectonic activity are known to have occurred in different places 1150, 1050, and 980–920 Ma ago. In areas of Mesoproterozoic tectogenesis, evidence of Paleoproterozoic or (rarely) Archean endogene processes is sometimes found. Most likely, this stage refers to the formation of the vast continental block. The Neoproterozoic-Early Paleozoic tectogenesis was practically synchronous over most of the Antarctic shield; on large areas it was characterized by metamorphism and pervasive schistosity, but in many other localities only various granitoids and pegmatites were intruded. Within all the areas of Neoproterozoic-Early Paleozoic tectogenesis isotopic evidence of the earlier (largely Mesoproterozoic) endogene processes are found.     

New exact cosmologies on the brane

We develop a method for constructing exact cosmological solutions in brane world cosmology. New classes of cosmological solutions on Randall–Sandrum brane are obtained. The superpotential and Hubble parameter are represented in quadratures. These solutions have inflationary phases under general assumptions and also describe an exit from the inflationary phase without a fine tuning of the parameters. Another class solutions can describe the current phase of accelerated expansion with or without possible exit from it.