Oxygen isotope fractionation between rutile and water

Synthetic rutile-water fractionations (1000 ln α) at 775, 675, and 575° C were found to be ?2.8, ?3.5, and ?4.8, respectively. Partial exchange experiments with natural rutile at 575° C and with synthetic rutile at 475° C failed to yield reliable fractionations. Isotopic fractionation within the range 575–775° C may be expressed as follows: 1 $$1000\ln \alpha ({\rm T}i{\rm O}_{2 } - H_2 O) = - 4.1 \frac{{10^6 }}{{T_{k^2 } }} + 0.96$$ . Combined with previously determined quartz-water fractionations, the above data permit calibration of the quartz-rutile geothermometer: 1 $$1000\ln \alpha ({\text{S}}i{\rm O}_{2 } - Ti{\rm O}_{2 } ) = 6.6 \frac{{10^6 }}{{T_{k^2 } }} - 2.9$$ . When applied to B-type eclogites from Europe, as an example, the latter equation yields a mean equilibration temperature of 565° C.     

WASP-121b Secondary Eclipses Revisited Using TESS Observation

Astronomy Reports - We present the detection and characterization of the ultrahot Jupiter WASP-121b ( $${{R}_{p}} \simeq 1.865{\kern 1pt} {{R}_{J}}$$ , $${{M}_{p}} \simeq 1.184{\kern 1pt}...     

Thermal expansion and spontaneous strain associated with the normal-incommensurate phase transition in melilites

The linear thermal expansions of åkermanite (Ca₂MgSi₂O₇) and hardystonite (Ca₂ZnSi₂O₇) have been measured across the normal-incommensurate phase transition for both materials. Least-squares fitting of the high temperature (normal phase) data yields expressions linear in T for the coefficients of instantaneous linear thermal expansion, $$\alpha _1 = \frac{1}{l}\frac{{dl}}{{dT}}$$ for åkermanite: $$\begin{gathered} \alpha _{[100]} = 6.901(2) \times 10^{ - 6} + 1.834(2) \times 10^{ - 8} T \hfill \\ \alpha _{[100]} = - 2.856(1) \times 10^{ - 6} + 11.280(1) \times 10^{ - 8} T \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ for hardystonite: $$\begin{gathered} \alpha _{[100]} = 15.562(5) \times 10^{ - 6} - 1.478(3) \times 10^{ - 8} T \hfill \\ \alpha _{[100]} = - 11.115(5) \times 10^{ - 6} + 11.326(3) \times 10^{ - 8} T \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ Although there is considerable strain for temperatures within 10° C of the phase transition, suggestive of a high-order phase transition, there appears to be a finite ΔV of transition, and the phase transition is classed as “weakly first order”.     

Young Stellar Complexes in the Giant Galaxy UGC 11973

We present results of the analysis of photometric and spectroscopic observations of the young stellar complexes in the late giant spiral galaxy UGC 11973. Photometric analysis in the $$UBVRI$$ bands have been carried out for the 13 largest complexes. For one of them, metallicity of the surrounding gas $$Z = 0.013 \pm 0.005$$ , the mass $$M = (4.6 \pm 1.6) \times {{10}^{6}}{\kern 1pt} {{M}_{ \odot }}$$ , and the age of the stellar complex $$t = (2.0 \pm 1.1) \times {{10}^{6}}$$ yr were evaluated, using spectroscopic data. It is shown that all complexes are massive ( $$M \geqslant 1.7 \times {{10}^{5}}{\kern 1pt} {{M}_{ \odot }}$$ ) stellar groups younger than $$3 \times {{10}^{8}}$$ yr.     

Foundations of cable car towers upon alpine glaciers

This paper presents a design approach for strip footings upon glacier ice. Safety against ultimate limit state is proved by the geotechnical slip-line field solution by Prandtl. Glacier ice at 0°C can be modelled as purely cohesive material. Statistical evaluation of uniaxial compression tests with high strain rate revealed a mean value of the cohesion of 600 kPa and a characteristic value c _k = 355 kPa (5% fractile). With a coefficient of variation V _c = 0.3, the partial safety factor turns out to be γ _c = 1.9. An approximate solution for estimating the creep settlement rate is presented to check the serviceability limit state: with the width b of the strip foundation, p the foundation pressure and for ice at 0°C. Experiences on Stubai glacier with grate shaped footings showed that creep settlements occurring per year due to maximum foundation pressures 250 kPa did not influence the operation and the maintenance of the cable cars.     

Equations of state of Plagioclase Feldspars

The volume variation with pressure of seven intermediate plagioclase feldspars has been determined by high-pressure single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The bulk moduli of plagioclases for a 3rd-order Birch-Murnaghan EoS can be described by the following pair of equations:

High temperature calorimetry of sulfide systems

The standard enthalpies of formation of FeS (troilite), FeS₂ (pyrite), Co_0.9342S, Co₃S₄ (linnaeite), Co₉S₈ (cobalt pentlandite), CoS₂ (cattierite), CuS (covellite), and Cu₂S (chalcocite) have been determined by high temperature direct reaction calorimetry at temperatures between 700 K and 1021 K. The following results are reported: $$\Delta {\rm H}_{f,FeS}^{tr} = - 102.59 \pm 0.20kJ mol^{ - 1} ,$$ $$\Delta {\rm H}_{f,FeS}^{py} = - 171.64 \pm 0.93kJ mol^{ - 1} ,$$ $$\Delta {\rm H}_{f,Co_{0.934} S} = - 99.42 \pm 1.52kJ mol^{ - 1} ,$$ $$\Delta {\rm H}_{f,Co_9 S_8 }^{ptl} = - 885.66 \pm 16.83kJ mol^{ - 1} ,$$ $$\Delta {\rm H}_{f,Co_3 S_4 }^{In} = - 347.47 \pm 7.27kJ mol^{ - 1} ,$$ $$\Delta {\rm H}_{f,CoS_2 }^{ct} = - 150.94 \pm 4.85kJ mol^{ - 1} ,$$ $$\Delta {\rm H}_{f,Cu_2 S}^{cc} = - 80.21 \pm 1.51kJ mol^{ - 1} ,$$ and $$\Delta {\rm H}_{f,CuS}^{cv} = - 53.14 \pm 2.28kJ mol^{ - 1} ,$$ The enthalpy of formation of CuFeS₂ (chalcopyrite) from (CuS+FeS) and from (Cu+FeS₂) was determined by solution calorimetry in a liquid Ni_0.60S_0.40 melt at 1100 K. The results of these measurements were combined with the standard enthalpies of formation of CuS, FeS, and FeS₂, to calculate the standard enthalpy of formation of CuFeS₂. We found \(\Delta {\rm H}_{f,CuFeS_2 }^{ccp} = - 194.93 \pm 4.84kJ mol^{ - 1}\) . Our results are compared with earlier data given in the literature; generally the agreement is good and our values agree with previous estimates within the uncertainties present in both.     

Use of Pitzer Equations to Examine the Formation of Mercury(II) Hydroxide and Chloride Complexes in NaClO<Subscript>4</Subscript> Media

The thermodynamic stability constants for the hydrolysis and formation of mercury (Hg²⁺) chloride complexes

The concept of geochemical potential field exemplified by ore formation field

Geochemical potential field is defined as the scope within the earth’s space where a given component in a certain phase of a certain material system is acted upon by a diffusion force, depending on its spatial coordinatesX, Y andZ. The three coordinates follow the relations: $$NF_{ix} = - \frac{{\partial \mu }}{{\partial x}}, NF_{iy} = - \frac{{\partial \mu }}{{\partial y}}, NF_{iz} = - \frac{{\partial \mu }}{{\partial z}}$$ The characteristics of such a field can be summarized as: (1) The summation of geochemical potentials related to the coordinatesX, Y, Z, or pseudo-velocity head, pseudo-pressure head and pseudo-potential head of a certain component in the earth is a constant as given by $$\mu _x + \mu _y + \mu _z = c$$ or $$\mu _{x2} + \mu _{y2} + \mu _{z2} = \mu _{x1} + \mu _{y1} + \mu _{z1} $$ Derived from these relations is the principle of geochemical potential conservation. The following relations have the same physical significance: $$\mu _k + \mu _u + \mu _p = c$$ or $$\mu _{k2} + \mu _{u2} + \mu _{p2} = \mu _{k1} + \mu _{u1} + \mu _{p1} $$ (2) Geochemical potential field is a vector field quantified by geochemical field intensity which is defined as the diffusion force applied to one molecular volume (or one atomic volume) of a certain component moving from its higher concentration phase to lower concentration phase. The geochemical potential field intensity is given by $$\begin{gathered} E = - grad\mu \hfill \\ E = \frac{{RT}}{x}i + \frac{{RT}}{y}j + \frac{{RT}}{z}K \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ The present theory has been inferred to interpret the mechanism of formation of some tungsten ore deposits in China.     

Study of Bright Compact Radio Sources of the Northern Hemisphere at 111 MHz

The search for compact components of strong ($${{S}_{{{\text{int}}}}} \geqslant 5$$ Jy at 102.5 MHz) discrete radio sources from the Pushchino catalogue was carried out using the method of interplanetary scintillation. A total of 3620 sources were examined, and 812 of them were found to harbor compact (scintillating) components. Estimates of fluctuations of the flux density of these compact components were derived from the scintillation index ($${{m}_{{\max}}}$$) corresponding to an elongation of 25°. The angular size and compactness of 178 sources with compact components were estimated. Scintillation indices of sources corresponding to the compact component ($${{m}_{0}}$$) and flux densities of compact components were determined. It was demonstrated that slow variations of the spatial distribution of interplanetary plasma, which are related to the 11-year cycle of solar activity, may exert a systematic influence on the estimates of angular sizes of sources. Coefficients compensating the deviation from the spherical symmetry of solar wind in the estimates of angular sizes were found using the coefficient of asymmetry of the statistical distribution of intensity fluctuations. The study of correlations between the parameters of sources in the sample revealed that the maximum value of the scintillation index decreases as the integrated flux increases, while the angular size has no marked dependence on the integrated flux.     

Atmospheric pressure changes due to volcanic eruptions and possible water level fluctuations

The data of Reed (1983) are analysed to produce the following empirical equations for the amplitude p ₀ (overall fluctuation) in Pascals of the air pressure wave associated with a volcanic eruption of volume V km³ or a nuclear explosion of strength M Mt: Here s is the distance from the source in km. $$\begin{gathered} \log _{10} p_0 = 4.44 + \log _{10} V - 0.84\log _{10} s \hfill \\ {\text{ }} = 3.44 + \log _{10} M - 0.84\log _{10} s. \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ Garrett's (1970) theory is examined on the generation of water level fluctuations by an air pressure wave crossing a water depth discontinuity such as a continental shelf. The total amplitude of the ocean wave is determined to be where c ₂ ¹ = gh ₁, c ₂ ² = gh ₂, g is acceleration of gravity, h ₁ and h ₂ are the water depths on the ocean and shore side of the depth discontinuity, c is the speed of propagation of the air pressure wave, and ? is the water density. $$B = \left[ {\frac{{c_2^2 }}{{c^2 - c_2^2 }} + \frac{{c^2 (c_1 - c_2 )}}{{(c - c_1 )(c^2 - c_2^2 )}}} \right]\frac{{p_0 }}{{g\varrho }}$$ It is calculated that a 10 km³ eruption at Mount St. Augustine would cause a 460 Pa air pressure wave and a discernible water level fluctuation at Vancouver Island of several cm amplitude.     

Thermodynamic Properties of Brucite Determined by Solubility Studies and Their Significance to Nuclear Waste Isolation

Solubility experiments were conducted for the dissolution reaction of brucite, Mg(OH)₂ (cr): Experiments were conducted from undersaturation in deionized (DI) water and 0.010–4.4 m NaCl solutions at 22.5°C. In addition, brucite solubility was measured from supersaturation in an experiment in which brucite was precipitated via dropwise addition of 0.10 m NaOH into a 0.10 m MgCl₂ solution also at 22.5°C. The attainment of the reversal in equilibrium was demonstrated in this study. The solubility constant at 22.5°C at infinite dilution calculated from the experimental results from the direction of supersaturation by using the specific interaction theory (SIT) is: with a corresponding value of 17.0 ± 0.2 (2σ) when extrapolated to 25°C. The dimensionless standard chemical potential (μ°/RT) of brucite derived from the solubility data in 0.010 m to 4.4 m NaCl solutions from undersaturation extrapolated to 25°C is −335.76 ± 0.45 (2σ), with the corresponding Gibbs free energy of formation of brucite, , being −832.3 ± 1.1 (2σ) kJ mol⁻¹. In combination with the auxiliary thermodynamic data, the is calculated to be 17.1 ± 0.2 (2σ), based on the above Gibbs free energy of formation for brucite. This study recommends an average value of 17.05 ± 0.2 in logarithmic unit as solubility constant of brucite at 25°C, according to the values from both supersaturation and undersaturation. Sandia National Laboratories is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under Contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.     

Opening and resetting temperatures in heating geochronological systems

We present a theoretical model for diffusive daughter isotope loss in radiochronological systems with increasing temperature. It complements previous thermochronological models, which focused on cooling, and allows for testing opening and resetting of radiochronometers during heating. The opening and resetting temperatures are, respectively,

Eclipsing System PS UMa: Evolutionary Status and Physical Parameters of the Components

We present the first high accuracy UBVRI(RI)c CCD light curves of the newly discovered eclipsing system PS UMa = GSC 4375 1733 ($$P = 9_{·}^{d}27$$, $$V = 12_{·}^{m}42$$). The photometric solutions are found, the physical parameters of the components are derived. The eccentricity of the orbit was found to be negligible e = 0.074, which made it difficult to measure the rate of the apsidal rotation. High accuracy of our observations allowed us to find the reliable parameters of the system. Components (Sp = F7 + G1) have advanced significantly in their evolution, the age of the system is 2.4 billion years. The mass and the radius of G1 component is larger and it is ahead of the F7 component in its evolution. The model of the system best suits the theory in the absence of the overshooting in the core. Obtained from our observations photometrical parallax π = 0$$_{.}^{\prime\prime }$$00102(2) coincides with GAIA DR2 value $$\pi =0_{·}^{\prime\prime }00106(3)$$ within their errors. The new EW type variable with period $$ \approx {\kern 1pt} 0_{·}^{d}40$$ was found in the field of PS UMa.     

Pyrite formation driven by MSW landfill leachate in the Madrid Basin, Spain

The role of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill leachate on the genesis of minor amounts of pyrite associated with gypsum in an otherwise predominantly evaporitic sequence was studied in geological and geochemical terms. The potential association between landfill leachate and the conditions required for bacterial reduction of sulfate and fixation of H₂S as pyrite were examined. The lithological column was generally found to contain little or no Fe. The δ³⁴S values for sulfates were consistent with previously reported data; however, the measured δ¹⁸O values were slightly higher. Sulfides disseminated in the marl/lutite exhibited higher δ³⁴S values (≈−8‰) than gypsum-coating pyrite crystals (δ³⁴S < −30‰). Dissolution of gypsum to sulfate and the supply of metabolizable organic matter and Fe required for H₂S fixation as sulfides may have originated from landfill leachate. Intermittent availability of leachate, a result of the precipitation regime, can facilitate sulfur disproportionation and lead to fractionations as high as      

The Equation of State for Caspian Sea Waters

The density ρ of Caspian Sea waters was measured as a function of temperature (273.15–343.15) K at conductivity salinities of 7.8 and 11.3 using the Anton-Paar Densitometer. Measurements were also made on one of the samples (S = 11.38) diluted with water as a function of temperature (T = 273.15–338.15 K) and salinity (2.5–11.3). These latter results have been used to develop an equation of state for the Caspian Sea (σ = ±0.007 kg m⁻³)

Genesis of secondary uranium minerals associated with jasperoid veins,El Erediya area,Eastern Desert,Egypt

Uranium mineralization in the El Erediya area, Egyptian Eastern Desert, has been affected by both high temperature and low temperature fluids. Mineralization is structurally controlled and is associated with jasperoid veins that are hosted by a granitic pluton. This granite exhibits extensive alteration, including silicification, argillization, sericitization, chloritization, carbonatization, and hematization. The primary uranium mineral is pitchblende, whereas uranpyrochlore, uranophane, kasolite, and an unidentified hydrated uranium niobate mineral are the most abundant secondary uranium minerals. Uranpyrochlore and the unidentified hydrated uranium niobate mineral are interpreted as alteration products of petscheckite. The chemical formula of the uranpyrochlore based upon the Electron Probe Micro Analyzer (EPMA) is . It is characterized by a relatively high Zr content (average ZrO₂ = 6.6 wt%). The average composition of the unidentified hydrated uranium niobate mineral is , where U and Nb represent the dominant cations in the U and Nb site, respectively. Uranophane is the dominant U⁶⁺ silicate phase in oxidized zones of the jasperoid veins. Kasolite is less abundant than uranophane and contains major U, Pb, and Si but only minor Ca, Fe, P, and Zr. A two-stage metallogenetic model is proposed for the alteration processes and uranium mineralization at El Erediya. The primary uranium minerals were formed during the first stage of the hydrothermal activity that formed jasperoid veins in El Eradiya granite (130–160 Ma). This stage is related to the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous phase of the final Pan-African tectono-thermal event in Egypt. After initial formation of El Erediya jasperoid veins, a late stage of hydrothermal alteration includes argillization, dissolution of iron-bearing sulfide minerals, formation of iron-oxy hydroxides, and corrosion of primary uranium minerals, resulting in enrichment of U, Ca, Pb, Zr, and Si. During this stage, petscheckite was altered to uranpyrochlore and oxy-petscheckite. Uranium was likely transported as uranyl carbonate and uranyl fluoride complexes. With change of temperature and pH, these complexes became unstable and combined with silica, calcium, and lead to form uranophane and kasolite. Finally, at a later stage of low-temperature supergene alteration, oxy-petscheckite was altered to an unidentified hydrated uranium niobate mineral by removal of Fe.     

Galaxies in Observations and Numerical Models

Astronomy Reports - A comparison of the virial parameters of galaxies and galaxy clusters (radius, density, and entropy function) in a wide range of masses, $${{10}^{6}} \leqslant...     

Mechanisms of hydrogen incorporation and diffusion in iron-bearing olivine

The incorporation and diffusion of hydrogen in San Carlos olivine (Fo₉₀) single crystals were studied by performing experiments under hydrothermal conditions. The experiments were carried out either at 1.5 GPa, 1,000°C for 1.5 h in a piston cylinder apparatus or at 0.2 GPa, 900°C for 1 or 20 h in a cold-seal vessel. The oxygen fugacity was buffered using Ni–NiO, and the silica activity was buffered by adding San Carlos orthopyroxene powders. Polarized Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was utilized to quantify the hydroxyl distributions in the samples after the experiments. The resulting infrared spectra reproduce the features of FTIR spectra that are observed in olivine from common mantle peridotite xenoliths. The hydrogen concentration at the edges of the hydrogenated olivine crystals corresponds to concentration levels calculated from published water solubility laws. Hydrogen diffusivities were determined for the three crystallographic axes from profiles of water content as a function of position. The chemical diffusion coefficients are comparable to those previously reported for natural iron-bearing olivine. At high temperature, hydrogenation is dominated by coupled diffusion of protons and octahedrally coordinated metal vacancies where the vacancy diffusion rate limits the process. From the experimental data, we determined the following diffusion laws (diffusivity in m² s⁻¹, activation energies in kJ mol⁻¹): for diffusion along [100] and [010]; for diffusion along [001]. These diffusion rates are fast enough to modify significantly water contents within olivine grains in xenoliths ascending from the mantle.     

A Coupled Riverine-Marine Fractionation Model for Dissolved Rare Earths and Yttrium

Fractionation of yttrium (Y) and the rare earth elements (REEs) begins in riverine systems and continues in estuaries and the ocean. Models of yttrium and rare earth (YREE) distributions in seawater must therefore consider the fractionation of these elements in both marine and riverine systems. In this work we develop a coupled riverine/marine fractionation model for dissolved rare earths and yttrium, and apply this model to calculations of marine YREE fractionation for a simple two-box (riverine/marine) geochemical system. Shale-normalized YREE concentrations in seawater can be expressed in terms of fractionation factors ( _ij ) appropriate to riverine environments ( ) and seawater ( ):