Impact Events as a Possible Mechanism to Initiate Sublimation–Dust Activity of Main-Belt Asteroids

Astronomy Reports - As was shown in papers [1, 2] and other studies of these authors, sublimation–dust activity in some primitive-type asteroids of the Main asteroid belt (MAB) correlates...     

Model of Reflection Spectra of Rock Surface in 2π Space

This paper deals with reflection spectra and polarized reflection spectra of 20 sorts of rock in 2π space, and then creates a model of reflection spectra of rock surface in 2π space. We measured the change of reflection and polarized reflection spectra as altering the incidence angle, vertex angle, azimuth angle, band and polarization. The results show that influence of the incidence angle on spectral curves is very strong. And when the vertex angle is constant, the horizontal azimuth polarizes rock spectra, and distorts the circular spectrum to become elliptic. The polarization influences the reflection intensity of rock spectra, but has no evident influence on the characteristics of wave forms of rock in 2π space. Therefore, we can describe the whole reflection spectral characteristics, including polarization, of rock surface in 2π space by measuring and calculating the e and p values in several key directions.     

Shock Waves as a Possible Mechanism of Generation of Abnormally High Accelerations during the М 9.0 Tohoku Earthquake on March 11, 2011

Doklady Earth Sciences - A mechanism of generation of abnormally high accelerations (>1g, with the maximum of ~3g), recorded during the 2011 Tohoku earthquake (Mw = 9.0), is proposed. Based...     

Impact lithologies – a key for reconstruction of rock-forming processes and a geological model of the Popigai crater,northern Siberia

The 100-km diameter Popigai impact crater (astrobleme), which formed 35.7?Ma ago as a result of the collision of an ordinary chondrite asteroid, was discovered in the 1970s. The impact site was studied in detail for nearly two decades, and various geological investigations were performed there. They included drilling of numerous wells (about 850), geophysical surveys, and investigations of impact breccias and impactites. This research was generally performed in connection with the identification of the unique resource of industrial impact diamonds, which were found in impact rocks for the first time in the world. The extensive research data acquired over 20–30 years include geological maps, collections of rock samples and thin sections, core samples, etc. All these materials are stored in the Russian Research Geological Institute in St Petersburg. Although a lot of data on the Popigai crater have already been published, the available materials and new analytical methods offer the opportunity to obtain some new data on mechanisms of rock-forming processes during an impact event, to improve existing geological models, and to compare in detail all these features to those established in other large craters on the Earth. Modelling of the physical processes of impact cratering has been extended and new data contribute significantly to the study of impact cratering and other problems of comparative planetology. In particular, many different hypotheses of rock-forming mechanisms are tested, especially those of impact melting of various target lithologies, homogenisation of huge volumes of melt products, and their mode of ejection, deposition, cooling, etc.     

Primor’ye as a new promising region of Russia with gold-palladium-platinum ore mineralization of a nontraditional type

Doklady Earth Sciences -     

Pretreatment of diosgenin wastewaters using polyferric sulfate as a main coagulant

Diosgenin is produced from Dioscrea L, mainly using D.zingiberensis as the raw material. During the process, particularly in the process of acidic hydrolysis, large quantities of high-strength wastewaters are discharged. The waste liquids are characteristic of strong acidity, usually with pH value less than 1, and high concentrations of organic matter with average CODcr （chemical organic demand） in the range of 20000-3000 mg/L. Without proper treatment, their free disposal would pose serious threat to natural ecosystem and cause considerable environmental problems. Since diosgenin wastewaters contain high load organics and acidity, appropriate pretreatment is needed before they are biologically degraded. Coagulation is a common method for eliminating colloid particles and/or high molecule organic chemicals from wastewaters. Poly-ferric sulfate is found to be most effective in removing organic matter. The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of poly-ferric sulfate to reduce CODcr and turbidity from diosgenin wastewaters. Due to its high acidic nature, the pH value of diosgenin wastewater was neutralized with Ca（OH）2 solution before being coagulated. Various factors that influence the coagulation process, such as pH value, the dosage of poly-ferric sulfate, polyelectrolyte aids and mixing conditions were examined in the experiments.     

REE Geochemical Characteristics of Tungsten Minerals as a Discriminant Indicator of Genetic Types of Ore Deposits

Tungsten minerals (scheelite and wolframite) from two genetic types of granitoids show significant differences in REE distribution, probably due to different material sources and origins. Tungsten minerals in granite porphyry of the crust-mantle source are relatively high in ΣREE(1884ppm on average). Σ Ce is rich relative to Σ Y and Σ Ce/ΣY is relatively high (>1). The chondrite-normalized REE distribution patterns are characterized by a group of rightward-inclined curves. Tungsten minerals in quartz veins intruding the granites of crust origin have lower ΣREE (335 ppm on average). ΣY is rich relative to ΣCe and ΣCe/ΣY is relatively low (<1). The chondrite-normalized REE distribution patterns are characterized by a group of leftward-inclined curves. So the REE distribution patterns can be used to discriminate the sources of rock-and ore-forming materials and the genetic types of W deposits so as to provide clues to ore prospecting.     

Accurate Calculation of Geodetic Heights of a Celestial Body’s Surface Points Relative to the Triaxial Ellipsoid

Doklady Earth Sciences - The approximation of the Earth’s physical surface by a mathematical surface is commonly carried out by a sphere or an ellipsoid of revolution. A triaxial ellipsoid...     

Diamonds and Their Mineral Inclusions,and What They Tell Us: A Detailed “Pull-Apart” of a Diamondiferous Eclogite

For the first time, three-dimensional, high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (HRXCT) of an eclogite xenolith from Yakutia has successfully imaged diamonds and their textural relationships with coexisting minerals. Thirty (30) macrodiamonds (≥1 mm), with a total weight of just over 3 carats, for an ore grade of some 27,000 ct/ton, were found in a small (4 × 5 × 6 cm) eclogite, U51/3, from Udachnaya. Based upon 3-D imaging, the diamonds appear to be associated with zones of secondary alteration of clinopyroxene (Cpx) in the xenolith. The presence of diamonds with secondary minerals strongly suggests that the diamonds formed after the eclogite, in conjunction with meta-somatic input(s) of carbon-rich fluids. Metasomatic processes are also indicated by the non-systematic variations in Cpx inclusion chemistry in the several diamonds. The inclusions in the diamonds vary considerably in major- and trace-element chemistry within and between diamonds, and do not correspond to the minerals of the host eclogite, whose compositions are extremely homogeneous. Some Cpx inclusions possess +Eu anomalies, probably inherited from their crustal source rocks. The only consistent feature for the Cpx crystals in the inclusions is that they have higher K₂O than the Cpx grains in the host.

The δ¹³C compositions are relatively constant at ?5% both within and between diamonds, whereas δ¹⁵N values vary from ?2.8% to ?15.8%. Within a diamond, the total N varies considerably from 15 to 285 ppm in one diamond to 103 to 1250 ppm in another. Cathodoluminescent imaging reveals extremely contorted zonations and complex growth histories in the diamonds, indicating large variations in growth environments for each diamond.

This study directly bears on the concept of diamond inclusions as time capsules for investigating the mantle of the Earth. If diamonds and their inclusions can vary so much within this one small xenolith, the significance of their compositions is a serious question that must be addressed in all diamond-inclusion endeavors.     

Spatial arrangement of décollements as a control on the development of thrust faults

We used two-dimensional finite element models to explore different configurations of weak layers in undeformed sedimentary sequences to investigate the occurrence of three characteristic types of thrust configurations: ramp-flat; imbricate; and duplex. In our models, we embedded two low-friction weak layers with a finite spatial extent in a sequence of stronger rock. These two weak layers were initially horizontal, were separated vertically by 1 km, and were arranged in three different relative positions to each other. When the models were deformed and these weak layers developed into décollements, they interacted to produce one of the three types of thrust faults as a function of their initial configurations. When the tips of weak layers were separated by a large gap (>10 km), only the lower-level décollement became active, producing imbricate thrusts. When the two weak layers overlapped for a large distance (>10 km), they simultaneously became active décollements, producing duplexes in the overlapped zone. When the gap or overlap was small (<5 km), the two weak layers also simultaneously became active décollements but their tips linked up to form a ramp-flat geometry. These results suggest that thrust geometry is highly sensitive to the initial arrangement of décollements.     

Protons of Radiation Belts as a Source of Hydrogen in the Earth’s Atmosphere

Doklady Earth Sciences - A scenario is proposed for replenishing the Earth’s exosphere with atomic hydrogen of cosmic origin. An assessment was made, and the coincidence of the total atomic...     

Impact assessment of a saline waste lagoon on groundwater pollution near a coastal aquifer in India—synthesis of geoelectrical and hydrochemical studies

The present study is an attempt to assess the impact of a saline waste lagoon on the near subsurface through electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). Resistivity and IP imaging data have been collected on profiles close to the lagoon and at a far off location (control location). Water samples have been collected from the lagoon and a municipality drinking well close to it and analysed for the water chemistry. The geoelectrical sections indicate very low resistivity formations in the near subsurface in the vicinity of the lagoon as compared to the control profile. The water chemistry data from the monitoring well close to the profile also indicates very high total dissolved solids (8658 mg/L) and qualitatively supports the contamination of the near subsurface. The conductive formations in the vicinity of the lagoon can be attributed to the overflow from the lagoon or the seepage.     

Spots on the Surface of a Star: An Influence on the Estimates of Star–Exoplanet Binary System Parameters

Astronomy Reports - We developed an algorithm to model a light curve observed in a binary system that contains an exoplanet and a host star, on the surface of which there are spots. The spot-caused...     

The effectiveness of “clay” liners as basal isolation of landfills: a case study

A sodium bentonite is being used in the basal-isolation of landfills installed on strongly fractured granitic rocks of N Portugal (NW Iberia). To evaluate the performance of this clay as the ultimate impermeable basal barrier, a detailed study was carried out of the granite fracture network; the Na-bentonite was tested to characterize its mechanical and geotechnical behavior; geophysical surveys were made to search for landfill leakage and the waters found around the landfill were geochemically characterized. Fractures in the granite are usually open and devoid of mineral infillings or clay materials and, thus, permeability of the granite is very high. Dispersal of contaminants can be further enhanced by the position of the landfill on a high steep-sided ridge. Geophysical and geochemical data show evidence for seepage and dispersion of pollutants, which means that the clay failed as an ultimate isolation barrier against seepage. This investigation shows that this can be due to fracturing of the clay under load and/or to its non-homogeneous saturation and extreme shrinking character upon drying, which are accompanied by the formation of extensive cracking. Observations and experimental results suggest that the use of synthetic clays in the safe building of landfill bottom liners needs further research, and extreme care should be taken in preventing that clay water content suffers large variations after saturation, as this process considerably degrades the mechanical behavior and sealing properties of the studied Na-bentonite.     

The Wolf–Rayet star HD 192163 as a possible evolutionary progenitor of a low-mass X-ray binary

We have used 46 high-resolution echelle spectra of the Wolf-Rayet star HD 192163 taken in 2005–2009 at the Cassegrain focus of the 2-m Zeiss-2000 telescope of the Shamakha Astrophysical Observatory to study profiles of the five strongest emission lines (HeII 4859, HeII 5411, CIV 5808, HeI 5875, (HeII + Hα) 6560). We also obtained four echelle spectrograms of the Wolf-Rayet star HD 191765 for a comparative study of the NaI 5890 (D₂) and NaI 5896 (D₁) interstellar absorption lines. The echelle spectrograms were reduced using the DECH20 code. We determined the equivalent widths, radial velocities, central intensities, and half-widths of the emission lines. We detected variations in the violetwing of the (HeII + Hα) 6560 emission band (between λ ～ 6496 Å and λ ～ 6532 Å). Our statistical analysis of the radial velocities available for the (HeII + Hα) 6560 emission band reveals a peak at the ～1% level at the frequency ν = 0.195 d^?1, corresponding to the period P = 5.128^d. We also studied the NaI 5890 (D₂) and NaI 5896 (D₁) interstellar absorption lines, which are important for understanding the nature of the nebula NGC 6888, whose origin is related to HD 192163. Asymmetric profiles were found for the NaI 5890 and NaI 5896 interstellar absorption lines, interpreted as reflecting a contribution from NGC 6888 to these lines. We suggest that the detected profile variations of the (HeII + Hα) 6560 emission band and the periodic variations of its Doppler shifts (P = 5.128^d) are due to the existence of a low-mass K-M star companion to the Wolf-Rayet star. HD 192163 is a possible evolutionary progenitor of a low-mass X-ray binary.     

Radon as a “Deterministic” indicator of natural and industrial geodynamic processes

Doklady Earth Sciences -