Chronology and chemical history of the parent body of basaltic achondrites studied by the 87Rb-87Sr method

Total-rock ⁸⁷Rb-⁸⁷Sr measurements have been carried out on ten eucrites. Internal “isochrons” were determined for Ibitira, Bereba, Pasamonte, Stannern, Sioux County and Juvinas. Ibitira as well as Juvinas (previously published) give an age of 4.52 ± 0.25 b.y. The corresponding “ages” of Bereba and Sioux County are 4.17 ± 0.26 b.y. and 4.19 ± 0.14 b.y. Stannern and Pasamonte have maximum “ages” of 3.1 and 2.6 b.y., respectively. These last four “ages” are significantly lower than 4.55 b.y.Using the total rocks and the two primitive eucrites Ibitira and Juvinas, we define as the best differentiation age for eucrites 4.57 ± 0.13 b.y. which is better than any previous determination, and (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_BABI = 0.69899 ± 0.00004. We discuss the early differentiation of the basaltic achondrite parent body by assuming that the parent body started with chondritic composition and had a two-step evolution during the very early history of the solar system.     

The Adhi Kot breccia and implications for the origin of chondrules and silica-rich clasts in enstatite chondrites

The Adhi Kot EH4 enstatite chondrite breccia consists of silica-rich clasts (12+mn; 5 vol.%), chondrule-rich clasts (55+mn; 10 vol.%) and matrix (35+mn; 10 vol.%). The silica-rich clasts are a new kind of enstatite chondritic material, which contains more cristobalite (18–28 wt.%) than enstatite (12–14 wt.%), as well as abundant niningerite and troilite. The bulk atomic Mg/Si ratios of the clasts (0.22–0.40) are much lower than the average for enstatite chondrites (0.79). Kamacite and martensite (with 8–11 wt.% Ni and a martensitic structure) occur in all three breccia components. The clasts have kamacite-rich rims, and kamacite-rich aggregates occur in the matrix.A unidirectional change in the ambient pS₂/pO₂ ratio in the region of the solar nebula where Adhi Kot agglomerated can explain many of the breccia's petrologic features. If this region initially had a very high pS₂/pO₂ ratio in a gas of non-cosmic composition, sulfurization of enstatite and metallic Fe (e.g., MgSiO₃ + 2Fe + C + 3H₂S = MgS + SiO₂ + 2FeS + H₂O + CH₄) may have occurred, producing abundant niningerite, free silica and troilite at the expense of enstatite and metallic Fe. The Ni content of the residual metal would have increased, perhaps to ～ 8–10 wt.%. The silica-rich clasts agglomerated under these conditions; a significant fraction of the originally produced niningerite was lost (perhaps by aerodynamic size-sorting processes), lowering the clasts' bulk Mg/Si ratios.The pS₂/pO₂ ratio then decreased (perhaps because of infusion of additional H₂O) and sulfurization of metallic Fe and enstatite ceased. The chondrule-rich clasts agglomerated under these conditions, acquiring little free silica and niningerite. An episode of chondrule formation occurred at this time (by melting millimeter-sized agglomerates of this relatively silica-poor enstatite chondrite material and concomitant fractionation of an immiscible liquid of metallic Fe,Ni and sulfide). The chondrule-rich clasts agglomerated many such chondrules. Subsequently, the matrix agglomerated, acquiring the few remaining chondrules. Kamacite-rich aggregates formed, after the cessation of metal sulfurization, and agglomerated with the matrix. The kamacite-rich clast rims were acquired at this time.The components of Adhi Kot accreted to the EH chondrite parent body, where the breccia was assembled, buried beneath additional accreting material, and metamorphosed at temperatures of ? 700°C. Impact-excavation of the breccia and deposition onto the surface caused the formation of martensite from taenite inside the clasts and the matrix. At the surface, impact-melting produced an albite glass spherule, which was incorporated into the matrix. However, the absence of solar-wind-implanted rare gases in bulk Adhi Kot indicates that the breccia spent little time in a regolith.     

The Blithfield meteorite and the origin of sulfide-rich,metal-poor clasts and inclusions in brecciated enstatite chondrites

Blithfield (EL6) is one of five known enstatite chondrite breccias. It consists of troilite-rich clasts (35 ± 5vol.%) embedded in an extremely metallic Fe,Ni-rich matrix (65 ± 5 vol.%) that contains metal nodules up to 17 mm in size. Clasts and matrix agglomerated independently in the solar nebula under conditions of high and lowpS₂/pO₂ ratios, respectively. The matrix accreted to an EL chondrite planetesimal and was metamorphosed to～ 1000°C, above the FeNiS eutectic; chondrule textures were obliterated. The S-rich eutectic melt was lost from the matrix. The matrix material was buried to a depth of at least 3 km; accreting troilite-rich material was incorporated into the matrix as clasts. The breccia cooled through～ 500°C at 1000–10,000°C/Myr. After cooling below～ 500°C, Blithfield was quenched, possibly by impact excavation from depth and deposition onto the surface.Clasts or inclusions that are enriched in sulfide and depleted in metallic Fe,Ni are common in brecciated enstatite chondrites. Variations in thepS₂/pO₂ ratio in the nebular regions where these materials formed may explain many of their petrologic properties. The silica-rich clasts in Adhi Kot (EH4) formed at very highpS₂/pO₂ratios(> 10²⁷); niningerite, free silica and troilite were produced from the sulfurization of enstatite and metallic Fe. The troilite-rich clasts in Blithfield and Atlanta (EL6) as well as the troilite-rich regions of the Hvittis (EL6) matrix formed at somewhat lowerpS₂/pO₂ ratios where sulfurization of metalic Fe produced troilite. The Ni content of the residual metal increased, forming some metal of martensitic composition. The dark inclusions in Abee (EH 4), which contain up to 9 wt.% oldhamite, formed at highpS₂/pO₂ ratios in the presence of an additional Ca-rich component.     

Nitrogen contents and isotopic ratios of clasts from the enstatite chondrite Abee

Nitrogen contents and isotopic ratios have been determined for three clasts from the enstatite chondrite Abee by stepwise heating. The clasts possess a wide range in nitrogen content, ranging from 254 to 850 ppm, whereas the nitrogen isotopic ratios are nearly identical atδ¹⁵N= ?29.2±0.6‰. A refractory inorganic nitrogen-bearing phase contains about 90% of the nitrogen which is released at temperatures of 1000°C and above. The stepwise heating experiments suggest the possible existence of two other distinct nitrogen components, released at low (770°C) and high (1500°C) temperatures.     

The relation between the magnitude derived from surface and from body waves for station průhonice

auam aum¶rt;, m u n¶rt; n a¶rt;u u nm a anu, umua a u mauu u 1964–1976 . ¶rt; aum¶rt; ma auau aum¶rt;, n¶rt; uu m .     

Geomagnetic field intensity during the Plio-Pleistocene derived from the thermo-remanence of porcellanites and palaeo-slags (Czechoslovakia)

Summary The present paper deals with the derivation of the intensity of the geomagnetic field in the Plio-Pleistocene, Central Europe. The intensity was derived from the thermo-remanence of porcellanites and palaeo-slags. These rocks represent a common product of intense thermal alteration of loams due to spontaneous combustion of coal seams. Porcellanites and palaeo-slags show outstanding palaeomagnetic properties, their remanent magnetization is of thermo-remanent origin and they were mineralogically stabilized under natural conditions in the geological past, during the coal combustion. It was found, that the intensity of the geomagnetic field during the Plio-Pleistocene oscillated about the value of the present-day intensity.     

Horizontal and vertical ground motion prediction equations derived from the Italian Accelerometric Archive (ITACA)

A set of Ground Motion Prediction Equations (GMPEs) for the Italian territory is proposed, exploiting a new strong-motion data set become available since July 2007 through the Italian Accelerometric Archive (ITACA). The data set is composed by 561 three-component waveforms from 107 earthquakes with moment magnitude in the range 4.0–6.9, occurred in Italy from 1972 to 2007 and recorded by 206 stations at distances up to 100 km. The functional form used to derive GMPEs in Italy (Sabetta and Pugliese in Bull Seismol Soc Am 86(2):337–352, 1996) has been modified introducing a quadratic term for magnitude and a magnitude-dependent geometrical spreading. The coefficients for the prediction of horizontal and vertical peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity and 5% damped acceleration response spectra are evaluated. This paper illustrates the new data set, the regression analysis and the comparisons with recently derived GMPEs in Europe and in the Next Generation Attenuation of Ground Motions (NGA) Project.     

Liquefaction fragility of sewer pipes derived from the case study of Urayasu (Japan)

Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering - The damage on supply and drainage water networks is a serious cause of economic disruption for urban systems affected by earthquakes. Among various concerns,...     

Seismicity pattern of the Betic Cordillera(southern Spain) derived from the fractal properties of earthquakes and faults

Several studies on earthquake occurrence and associated faulting have demonstrated that both phenomena have a scale-invariant behavior which can be analyzed by means of a set of non-integer dimensions(Dq) describing their fractal properties and the calculation of multi-fractal spectra.It is the case that the behavior of these spectra is asymptotic at the ends of the variation interval of q,which is a real number that enters into the definition of the partition function of the dataset.The difference between the extreme values,called multi-fractal spectrum slope,is used to investigate the heterogeneity of the spatial distribution of earthquakes and fault systems.In this paper we focus on the Betic Cordillera,southeastern Spain,which is commonly considered the contact between the Eurasian and African plates and has an important seismic activity in the context of the Iberian Peninsula.Some of the most conspicuous Iberian earthquakes,such as the 1829 mb6.3 Torrevieja and the 1884 mb6.1 Alhama de Granada earthquakes occurred in this mountain range and both reached intensity X.The present work implies a new analysis based on the slope of multi-fractal spectra and referred to the historical seismicity of the region,specifically b-value(frequency distribution of earthquakes respect to magnitude),epicentral location,seismic energy and faulting.On this basis we propose a seismotectonic zonation that is contrasted with the stress state and the geodynamical evolution of the Betic Cordillera.     

Uranium-lead age of the Bruderheim L6 chondrite and the 500-Ma shock event in the L-group parent body

Measured Pb-Pb whole meteorite data for the Bruderheim L6 chondrite scatter slightly about a line passing above Can?on Diablo lead and yielding an age of 4.482 + 0.017 Ga, using the terrestrial²³⁸U/²³⁵U ratio of 137.88. The measured U isotopic composition for Bruderheim, using the dissolution procedures employed for these U-Pb studies, is near the terrestrial composition. In the concordia diagram the U-Pb data chiefly plot above the concordia curve and define a line which intersects the concordia curve at 4.536 + 0.006 Ga and 0.495 Ga, but the data for Bruderheim cannot be understood at all in terms of the more usual two- or three-stage episodic U-Pb models involving a fixed μ-value in the first stage. Most samples show an apparent excess of radiogenic lead for single-stage (closed system) evolution when Can?on Diablo troilite is used for the initial lead composition. Evidence is presented to show that the apparent excess radiogenic lead cannot be explained by terrestrial contamination alone.A different U-Pb model is presented which describes qualitatively and quantitatively most features of the U-Pb data for Bruderheim. If this model correctly describes the U-Pb evolution of Bruderheim then the “formation” age is given as 4.536 Ga by both U-Pb and Pb-Pb data, the meteorite U-Pb system was disturbed by a later (shock?) event at about 500 Ma ago, and the data are consistent with (though do not require) a Can?on Diablo initial lead composition. This interpretation suggests that the classical phenomenon of apparent excess radiogenic lead reflects the application of a single-stage model to a meteorite that has evidently experienced at least a two-stage history. The explanation of the observation that in the concordia diagram most meteorite samples (corrected for Can?on Diablo lead) plot in the lead excess region remains obscure, though this may be due to the wrong choice of initial lead for Bruderheim.     

Cosmic-ray exposure histories of two Antarctic meteorites from Chinese collections and the Guangmingshan and Zhuanghe chondrites

In this paper, we report cosmic-ray exposure ages (3He, 21Ne, 38Ar) and gas retention ages (4He, 40Ar) of two Antarctic meteorites, and the Guangmingshan and Zhuanghe ordinary chondrites. The Antarctic meteorites (GRV98002 and GRV98004) were collected on …     

The Niger (I) carbonaceous chondrite and implications for the origin of aggregates and isolated olivine grains in C2 chondrites

The origin of olivine grains in C2 carbonaceous chondrites is a controversial topic: directly condensed material or detrital remnants of preexisting chondrules? This study shows that the Niger C2 meteorite is similar to Murchison but reveals several interesting features in relation to the origin of the olivine. Microprobe analysis of olivine (Si, Fe, Mg, Ca, Mn, Cr), glass and nickel-iron inclusions within the grains, and Fe-S-O phase as well as the relationships between the olivine grains in the aggregates, between the grains and the interstitial phyllosilicate matrix, between the inclusions and their host olivine grains, and the morphology of some aggregates all show that two populations of olivine coexist, probably crystallized from chondrule melts rather than by direct condensation from a solar nebula gas. The characteristics of the nickel-iron inclusions within the olivine suggest a magmatic chondrule-making stage from previously condensed materials.     

A comparison of results derived from scaling VS chirp-ionosonde ionograms with the international reference ionosphere (IRI)

The results derived from processing vertical-incidence ionograms obtained with the chirp-ionosonde at Irkutsk for different winter time intervals (February) and at equinox are presented. The peak height hmF2 was determined by Dudeney's formula based on ionogram parameters, including the coefficient M(3000). The algorithm is suggested for determining the coefficient M(3000) in the automatic mode using the conventional form of the transfer curve method without invoking a standard transparency called the “transfer curve”. The parameters foF2 and hmF2 are compared with the international reference ionosphere (IRI-95) model. It is found that in most cases the values of the foF2 and hmF2 parameters, calculated in the IRI-95 model, are similar to the median ones. It is confirmed that for practical purposes where it is necessary to know the radio wave propagation conditions along the propagation path, the IRI model is convenient and attractive.     

Variation in curve numbers derived from plot runoff data for New South Wales (Australia)

The curve number method is a simple one parameter (the curve number) rainfall runoff model. While its theoretical underpinning has been questioned it remains a powerful hydrological tool in the absence of detailed data and is therefore used extensively in hydrological models. This study aims to characterize the variation in maximum retention values (S), which underlie curve numbers, for a range of agricultural treatments across a large spatial area in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The data used for the analysis spans several decades of rainfall runoff observations. A range of different derivation methods result in variation in mean and variance of S. In particular, methods that emphasize the larger storms result in greater S and thus lower runoff. For larger spatial scales, emphasis on larger storms gives more reliable estimates of S. Systematic variation in S arises from variations in treatment, pre‐runoff soil moisture, rainfall depth, and variations in cover. On the basis of the analysis, a table of curve number values for different land uses found in NSW is presented. The resulting distributions of S and curve numbers provide guidance for rainfall runoff modelling studies in the agricultural important areas of NSW. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

One century sedimentary record of Hg and Pb pollution in the Sagua estuary (Cuba) derived from Pb and Cs chronology

The vertical distribution of Hg and Pb were determined in a sediment core collected from the Sagua estuary (North Cuba) that receives input from the Sagua river, one of the most polluted rivers discharging into the Cuban coastal environment. Depth profiles of metal concentrations were converted to time-based profiles using the ²¹⁰Pb dating method and confirmed with the ¹³⁷Cs fallout peak. The mean mass accumulation rate was estimated to be 0.17 ± 0.04 g cm⁻² y⁻¹ (mean sediment accumulation rate 0.52 ± 0.13 cm y⁻¹) and the core bottom was estimated to date back about 130 years. The historical sedimentary record showed a strong enrichment of mercury concentrations in the past decades, caused by the incomplete treatment of industrial wastes from a chlor-alkali plant with mercury-cell technology in the Sagua river basin. Lead fluxes to sediments showed a gradual increase from the 1920s to present, which agrees with a population increase in Sagua la Grande City. Fluxes of both metals have increased the past 25 years, with values reaching a maximum of 0.5 and 3.9 μg cm⁻² y⁻¹ for Hg and Pb, respectively.     

Electrical conductivity measurements on synthetic olivines and on olivine,enstatite and diopside from Dreiser Weiher,Eifel (Germany) under defined thermodynamic activities as a function of temperature and pressure

Results of electrical conductivity measurments on synthetic olivines of the system Mg₂SiO₄Fe₂SiO₄ and on minerals of Dreiser Weiher peridotite nodule Ib-8 (Eifel, Germany) are discussed in relation to the measuring procedure and to the variation of thermodynamic parameters.The measurements were performed in solid state high-pressure vessels between 340 and 1100°C and at a pressure of 10 kbar. It is shown that for ternary olivines and for pyroxenes, the control of two further variables, like the chemical activities of the components, is needed besides temperature and pressure control. The experimental set-up for the control of chemical activities and oxygen partial pressure is shown. From the slopes of the lines of log σ against 1/T the activation energies were calculated. Though in most cases the same oxygen fugacity ?_O2 is applied, the results reveal different values for synthetic and natural samples since the chemical activities of SiO₂ are different.     

Up-scaling of SEBAL derived evapotranspiration maps from Landsat (30 m) to MODIS (250 m) scale

Remotely sensed imagery of the Earth’s surface via satellite sensors provides information to estimate the spatial distribution of evapotranspiration (ET). The spatial resolution of ET predictions depends on the sensor type and varies from the 30–60 m Landsat scale to the 250–1000 m MODIS scale. Therefore, for an accurate characterization of the regional distribution of ET, scaling transfer between images of different resolutions is important. Scaling transfer includes both up-scaling (aggregation) and down-scaling (disaggregation). In this paper, we address the up-scaling problem.The Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) was used to derive ET maps from Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images. Landsat 7 bands have spatial resolutions of 30–60 m, while MODIS bands have resolutions of 250, 500 and 1000 m. Evaluations were conducted for both “output” and “input” up-scaling procedures, with aggregation accomplished by both simple averaging and nearest neighboring resampling techniques. Output up-scaling consisted of first applying SEBAL and then aggregating the output variable (daily ET). Input up-scaling consisted of aggregating 30 m Landsat pixels of the input variable (radiance) to obtain pixels at 60, 120, 250, 500 and 1000 m before SEBAL was applied. The objectives of this study were first to test the consistency of SEBAL algorithm for Landsat and MODIS satellite images and second to investigate the effect of the four different up-scaling processes on the spatial distribution of ET.We conclude that good agreement exists between SEBAL estimated ET maps directly derived from Landsat 7 and MODIS images. Among the four up-scaling methods the output simple averaging method produced aggregated data and aggregated differences with the most statistically and spatially predictable behavior. The input nearest neighbor method was the least predictable but was still acceptable. Overall, the daily ET maps over the Middle Rio Grande Basin aggregated from Landsat images were in good agreement with ET maps directly derived from MODIS images.     

Cooling rates in the shock veins of chondrites: constraints on the (Mg, Fe)2SiO4 polymorph transformations

The occurrence of γ-phase, a high-pressure polymorph of olivine (α-phase), in the shock veins of Sixiangkou chondrite was due to a greater cooling rate (> 10 000°C·s^-1) in the veins. Because γ-phase partially reverted to β-phase and no back-transformation from β-phase to α-phase took place, the shock veins of Peace River chondrite with a cooling rate of 1 000–2 000δC·s^-1 contain a great amount of β-phase. In the shock veins of Mbale chondrite with a cooling rate of <500°C·s^-1, the majority of γ-phase reverted to α-phase. The heat dissipation in shock veins took place after a stage of shock compression of chondrite parent body, and the parent body was broken into fragmental pieces. Cooling rate in the shock veins constrained the back-transformations of (Mg, Fe)₂SiO₄ high-pressure polymorphs. Project of Chen and Xie supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 496720981, Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (Grant No. 960500), and the Science Foundation of Academia Sinica for the returned scholars.     

Mercury flux to estuarine sediments, derived from Pb-210 and Cs-137 geochronologies (Guaratuba Bay, Brazil)

A sediment core from Guaratuba Bay was used to indicate possible Hg modifications to this coastal environment brought about by growing agricultural activity. Sedimentation rates were estimated to be 6.1 mm/year and 5.2 mm/year through 210Pb and 137Cs geochronologies, respectively. Mercury concentrations and organic matter ratios in the surface layers are greater than in the older sediments, supporting the hypothesis of anthropogenic enrichment. Results show that the Hg flux has raised more than twofold during the second half of the 20th century. These results point to the need for further studies to substantiate the hypothesis of anthropogenic enrichment and to quantify point sources of Hg to this estuary.     

Total body burden and tissue distribution of polyfluorinated compounds in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from the German Bight

Total body burden and tissue distribution of polyfluorinated compounds (PFCs) were investigated in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from the German Bight in 2007. A total number of 18 individual PFCs from the following groups could be quantified in the different tissues: perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluorinated sulfonates (PFSAs) and their precursors perfluorinated sulfinates (PFSiAs), perfluorinated sulfonamides, and sulfonamido ethanols. Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) was the predominant compound in all measured seal tissues (up to 1665 ng g⁻¹ wet weight in liver tissue). The dominant PFCAs were perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), but their concentrations were much lower compared to PFOS. The mean whole body burden in harbor seals of all detected PFCs was estimated to be 2665 ± 1207 μg absolute. The major amount of the total PFCs burden in the bodies was in blood (38%) and liver (36%), followed by muscle (13%), lung (8%), kidney (2%), blubber (2%), heart (1%), brain (1%), thymus (<0.01%) and thyroid (<0.01%). These data suggest large differences in body burden and accumulation pattern of PFCs in marine mammals.