High-pressure phase equilibria in a garnet lherzolite,with special reference to Mg2+Fe2+ partitioning among constituent minerals

Phase equilibria in a natural garnet lherzolite nodule (PHN 1611) from Lesotho kimberlite and its chemical analogue have been studied in the pressure range 45–205 kbar and in the temperature range 1050–1200°C. Partition of elements, particularly Mg²⁺Fe²⁺, among coexisting minerals at varying pressures has also been examined. High-pressure transformations of olivine(α) to spinel(γ) through modified spinel(β) were confirmed in the garnet lherzolite. The transformation behavior is quite consistent with the information previously accumulated for the simple system Mg₂SiO₄Fe₂SiO₄. At pressures of 50–150 kbar, a continuous increase in the solid solubility of the pyroxene component in garnet was demonstrated in the lherzolite system by means of microprobe analyses. At 45–75 kbar and 1200°C, the Fe²⁺/(Mg + Fe²⁺) value becomes greater in the ascending order orthopyroxene, Ca-rich clinopyroxene, olivine and garnet. At 144–146 kbar and 1200°C, garnet exhibits the highest Fe²⁺/(Mg + Fe²⁺) value; modified spinel(β) and Ca-poor clinopyroxene follow it. When the modified spinel(β)-spinel(γ) transformation occurred, a higher concentration of Fe²⁺ was found in spinel(γ) rather than in garnet. As a result of the change in the Mg²⁺Fe²⁺ partition relation among coexisting minerals, an increase of about 1% in the Fe₂SiO₄ component in (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄ modified spinel and spinel was observed compared with olivine.These experimental results strongly suggest that the olivine(α)-modified spinel(β) transformation is responsible for the seismic discontinuity at depths of 380–410 km in the mantle. They also support the idea that the minor seismic discontinuity around 520 km is due to the superposition effect of two types of phase transformation, i.e. the modified spinel(β)-spinel(γ) transformation and the pyroxene-garnet transformation. Mineral assemblages in the upper mantle and the upper half of the transition zone are given as a function of depth for the following regions: 100–150, 150–380, 380–410, 410–500, 500–600 and 600–650 km.     

High-pressure phase transformations in the system CaSiO3-Al2O3

Phase assemblages for five selected compositions in the system CaSiO₃-Al₂O₃ have been investigated in the pressure range 100–300 kbar and at about 1000°C in a diamond-anvil press coupled with laser heating. At pressures below about 250 kbar, the assemblage of grossularite plus corundum is stable for compositions containing more than 25 mole% Al₂O₃. Above about 250 kbar, phase assemblages for the latter compositions are truncated by those in the join CaAl₂O₄-SiO₂. Garnet solid solutions are stable between about 10 and 25 mole% Al₂O₃. Grossularite transforms to a new tetragonal form at pressures greater than about 250 kbar, but the stability field for the garnet solid solutions extends to pressures up to about 300 kbar. The perovskite modification appears to be stable at pressures above about 150 kbar, but is probably limited to nearly pure CaSiO₃ composition. Phase behaviour for calcium-bearing silicates or aluminosilicates in the lower mantle are apparently more complicated than was suggested earlier.     

Scaling Transition in Earthquake Sources: A Possible Link Between Seismic and Laboratory Measurements

We estimate the corner frequencies of 20 crustal seismic events from mainshock–aftershock sequences in different tectonic environments (mainshocks 5.7 < M _W < 7.6) using the well-established seismic coda ratio technique (Mayeda et al. in Geophys Res Lett 34:L11303, 2007; Mayeda and Malagnini in Geophys Res Lett, 2010), which provides optimal stability and does not require path or site corrections. For each sequence, we assumed the Brune source model and estimated all the events’ corner frequencies and associated apparent stresses following the MDAC spectral formulation of Walter and Taylor (A revised magnitude and distance amplitude correction (MDAC2) procedure for regional seismic discriminants, 2001), which allows for the possibility of non-self-similar source scaling. Within each sequence, we observe a systematic deviation from the self-similar \( M_{0} \propto \mathop f\nolimits_{\text{c}}^{ - 3} \) line, all data being rather compatible with \( M_{0} \propto \mathop f\nolimits_{\text{c}}^{ - (3 + \varepsilon )} \) , where ε > 0 (Kanamori and Rivera in Bull Seismol Soc Am 94:314–319, 2004). The deviation from a strict self-similar behavior within each earthquake sequence of our collection is indicated by a systematic increase in the estimated average static stress drop and apparent stress with increasing seismic moment (moment magnitude). Our favored physical interpretation for the increased apparent stress with earthquake size is a progressive frictional weakening for increasing seismic slip, in agreement with recent results obtained in laboratory experiments performed on state-of-the-art apparatuses at slip rates of the order of 1 m/s or larger. At smaller magnitudes (M _W < 5.5), the overall data set is characterized by a variability in apparent stress of almost three orders of magnitude, mostly from the scatter observed in strike-slip sequences. Larger events (M _W > 5.5) show much less variability: about one order of magnitude. It appears that the apparent stress (and static stress drop) does not grow indefinitely at larger magnitudes: for example, in the case of the Chi–Chi sequence (the best sampled sequence between M _W 5 and 6.5), some roughly constant stress parameters characterize earthquakes larger than M _W ~ 5.5. A representative fault slip for M _W 5.5 is a few tens of centimeters (e.g., Ide and Takeo in J Geophys Res 102:27379–27391, 1997), which corresponds to the slip amount at which effective lubrication is observed, according to recent laboratory friction experiments performed at seismic slip velocities (V ~ 1 m/s) and normal stresses representative of crustal depths (Di Toro et al. in Nature in press, 2011, and references therein). If the observed deviation from self-similar scaling is explained in terms of an asymptotic increase in apparent stress (Malagnini et al. in Pure Appl Geophys, 2014, this volume), which is directly related to dynamic stress drop on the fault, one interpretation is that for a seismic slip of a few tens of centimeters (M _W ~ 5.5) or larger, a fully lubricated frictional state may be asymptotically approached.     

Characterizing and Locating Very Weak (−2.2 ≥ M L ≥ −3.4) Induced Seismicity in Unstable Sandstone Cliffs by Nanoseismic Monitoring

Unloaded natural rock masses are known to generate seismic signals (Green et al., 2006; Hainzl et al., 2006; Husen et al., 2007; Kraft et al., 2006). Following a 1,000 m³ mass failure into the Mediterranean Sea, centimeter-wide tensile cracks were observed to have developed on top of an unstable segment of the coastal cliff. Nanoseismic monitoring techniques (Wust-Bloch and Joswig, 2006; Joswig, 2008), which function as a seismic microscope for extremely weak seismic events, were applied to verify whether brittle failure is still generated within this unconsolidated sandstone mass and to determine whether it can be detected. Sixteen days after the initial mass failure, three small-aperture sparse arrays (Seismic Navigation Systems-SNS) were deployed on top of this 40-m high shoreline cliff. This paper analyzes dozens of spiky nanoseismic (?2.2 ≥ M _L ≥ ?3.4) signals recorded over one night in continuous mode (at 200 Hz) at very short slant distances (3–67 m). Waveform characterization by sonogram analysis (Joswig, 2008) shows that these spiky signals are all short in duration (>0.5 s). Most of their signal energy is concentrated in the 10–75 Hz frequency range and the waveforms display high signal similarity. The detection threshold of the data set reaches M _L ?3.4 at 15 m and M _L ?2.7 at 67 m. The spatial distribution of source signals shows 3-D clustering within 10 m from the cliff edge. The time distribution of M _L magnitude does not display any decay pattern of M _L over time. This corroborates an unusual event decay over time (modified Omori’s law), whereby an initial quiet period is followed by regained activity, which then fades again. The polarization of maximal waveform amplitude was used to estimate spatial stress distribution. The orientation of ellipses displaying maximal signal energy is consistent with that of tensile cracks observed in the field and agrees with rock mechanics predictions. The M _L– surface rupture length relationship displayed by our data fits a constant-slope extrapolation of empirical data collected by Wells and Coppersmith (1994) for normal fault features at much larger scale. Signal characterization and location as well as the absence of direct anthropogenic noise sources near the monitoring site, all indicate that these nanoseismic signals are generated by brittle failure within the top section of the cliff. The atypical event decay over time that was observed suggests that the cliff material is undergoing post-collapse bulk strain accommodation. This feasibility study demonstrates the potential of nanoseismic monitoring in rapidly detecting, locating and analyzing brittle failure generated within unconsolidated material before total collapse occurs.     

Some aspects of volcanic rocks of the valley of Mexico

Three periods of volcanic activity connected with tectonic events form the geological history of the Valley of Mexico (Mooser 1963, 1969). An igneous rock suite from rhyodacites to andesites (but lacking rhyolites and basalts) can be observed in each period. During the Tertiary epochs — in the Oligo-Miocene and Upper Miocene-Pliocene — we have a more dacitic volcanism, in the Quaternary epoch a more andesitic volcanism. This result was verified by calculating the average of all available and stratigraphically datable chemical analyses byGunn &Mooser (1971) andNegendank (1972). Using the average chemical composition of the Oligo-Miocene, Upper Miocene-Pliocene and Quaternary products the equivalent igneous rocks were computed using theRittmann-norms in theStreckeisen-Q-A-P-F double triangle with the following result (names in parenthesis are those using the classification ofMiddlemost (1973): Quaternary : quartz-latite-andesite (andesite) Upper Miocene-Pliocene : leuco-quartz-latite-andesite (high lime dacite) Oligo-Miocene : leuco-quartz-latite-andesite (high lime dacite) The equal average composition of the two groups of Tertiary volcanic rocks seems to support the theory of a uniform primary andesite magma apart from which of the two possible theories of petrogenesis one favors. The calculated average trace element abundances show high Cr- and Ni-values which suggests that mantle material was involved if we consider the Tertiary products as partial melting products of the lower crust. A more elegant hypothesis seems to be the model ofGunn &Mooser (1971), who consider these volcanic rocks as partial melting products of oceanic tholeiites or their high pressure derivatives in the sense ofRaleigh &Lee (1969).     

New Seismic Noise Models Obtained Using Very Broadband Stations

It has been two decades since the last comprehensive standard model of ambient earth noise was published Peterson (Observations and modelling of seismic background noise, US Geological Survey, open-file report 93–322, 1993). The PETERSON model was updated by analyzing the absolute quietest conditions for stations within the GSN (Berger et al. in J Geophys Res 109, 2005; Mcnamara and Buland in Bull Seism Soc Am 94:1517–1527, 2004; Ringler et al. in Seismol Res Lett 81(4) doi:10.1785/gssrl.81.4.605, 2010). Unfortunately, both the original model and the updated models did not include any deployed station in North Africa and Middle East, which reflects the noise levels within the desert environment of those regions. In this study, a survey was conducted to create a new seismic noise model from very broadband stations which recently deployed in North Africa. For this purpose, 1 year of continuous recording of seismic noise data of the Egyptian National Seismic Network (ENSN) was analyzed in order to create a new noise model. Seasonal and diurnal variations in noise spectra were recorded at each station. Moreover, we constructed a new noise model for each individual station. Finally, we obtained a new cumulative noise model for all the stations. We compared the new high-noise model (EHNM) and new low-noise model (ELNM) with both the high-noise model (NHNM) and low-noise model (NLNM) of Peterson (Observations and modelling of seismic background noise, US Geological Survey, open-file report 93–322, 1993). The obtained noise levels are considerably lower than low-noise model of Peterson (Observations and modelling of seismic background noise, US Geological Survey, open-file report 93–322, 1993) at ultra long period band (ULP band), but they are still below the high-noise model of Peterson (Observations and modelling of seismic background noise, US Geological Survey, open-file report 93–322, 1993). The results of this study could be considered as a first step to create permanent seismic noise models for North Africa and Middle East regions.     

The peculiarities of magma rise in presence of water

The viscosity of basalts (quartz and olivine tholeiite) was studied under pressure in dry conditions and in the presence of water. In dry conditions at 1400°C when pressure increases to 20 kbars the viscosity reduces by a factor of 2. In conditions of water saturation of basalt melts at 5 kbar the viscosity is smaller by a factor of ～ 50 than that in dry conditions. In the water undersaturated conditions when water content is fixed (3.3% H₂O) in melt the viscosity considerably decreases with pressure and takes intermediate value between those in dry and water saturated conditions. Experimental data recently obtained permit us to consider the peculiarities of physical properties of magma in the presence of water on a new base. Ascending magma can reach critical velocities of transition to the turbulent regime under negligible pressure drop, as a result of low viscosity. It is known at present that water influences on the viscosity of acidic melt under pressure of 1–8 kbars and at temperatures between 800–1200°C. Various authors gave physico-chemical evaluation of the dynamics of granite melts on the basis of these data. The viscosity of basalt melts and their dynamics under normal pressure is also well-known. The known new experimental data of basaltic melt viscosity under pressure in dry conditions (Kushiro et al., 1976;Khitarov et al., 1978) and in the presence of water (Khitarov et al., 1976) embrace broader intervals of physico-chemical conditions as on the pressure (up to 20–30 kbar) as well on the content of water (from 3% up to 12 %). These data permitted to evaluate on a new base the dynamics of magmatic melts under pressure.     

Generation of komatiite magma and gravitational differentiation in the deep upper mantle

The densities of silicate liquids with basic, picritic, and ultrabasic compositions have been estimated from the melting curves of minerals at high pressures. Silicate liquids generated by partial melting of the upper mantle are denser than olivine and pyroxenes at pressures higher than 70 kbar, and garnet is the only phase which is denser than the liquid at pressures from 70 kbar to at least 170 kbar. In this pressure range, garnet and some fraction of liquid separate from ascending partially molten diapirs. It is therefore suggested that aluminium-depleted komatiite with a high Ca/OAl₂O₃ ratio may be derived from diapirs which originated in the deep upper mantle at pressures from 70 kbar to at least 140 kbar (200–400 km in depth), where selective separation of pyropic garnet occurs effectively. On the other hand, aluminium-undepleted komatiite is probably derived from diapirs originating at shallower depths (< 200 km). Enrichment of pyropic garnet is expected at depths greater than 200 km by selective separation of garnet from ascending diapirs. The 200-km discontinuity in the seismic wave velocity profile may be explained by a relatively high concentration of pyropic garnet at depths greater than 200 km.     

An Independent Assessment of the Load/Unload Response Ratio (LURR) Proposed Method of Earthquake Prediction

The Load/Unload Response Ratio (LURR) method is a proposed technique to predict earthquakes that was first put forward by Yin (1987). LURR is based on the idea that when an area enters the damage regime, the rate of seismic activity during loading of the tidal cycle increases relative to the rate of seismic activity during unloading in the months to one year preceding a large earthquake. Since earth tides generally contribute the largest temporal variations in crustal stress, it seems plausible that earth tides would trigger earthquakes in areas that are close to failure (e.g., Vidale et al., 1998). However, the vast majority of studies have shown that earth tides do not trigger earthquakes (e.g., Vidale et al., 1998; Heaton, 1982; Rydelek et al., 1992). In this study, we conduct an independent test of the LURR method, since there would be important scientific and social implications if it were proven to be a robust method of earthquake prediction. Smith and Sammis (2004) undertook a similar study and found no evidence that there was predictive significance to the LURR method. We have repeated calculations of LURR for the Northridge earthquake in California, following both the parameters of X.C. Yin (personal communication) and the somewhat different ones of Smith and Sammis (2004). Though we have followed both sets of parameters closely, we have been unable to reproduce either set of results. Our examinations have shown that the LURR method is very sensitive to certain parameters. Thus it seems likely that the discrepancies between our results and those of previous studies are due to unaccounted for differences in the calculation parameters. A general agreement was made at the 2004 ACES Workshop in China between research groups studying LURR to work cooperatively to resolve the differences in methods and results, and thus permit more definitive conclusions on the potential usefulness of the LURR method in earthquake prediction.     

Gradual Fault Weakening with Seismic Slip: Inferences from the Seismic Sequences of L’Aquila, 2009, and Northridge, 1994

We estimate seismological fracture energies from two subsets of events selected from the seismic sequences of L’Aquila (2009), and Northridge (1994): 57 and 16 selected events, respectively, including the main shocks. Following Abercrombie and Rice (Geophys J Int 162: 406–424, 2005), we postulate that fracture energy (G) represents the post-failure integral of the dynamic weakening curve, which is described by the evolution of shear traction as a function of slip. Following a direct-wave approach, we compute mainshock-/aftershock-source spectral ratios, and analyze them using the approach proposed by Malagnini et al. (Pure Appl. Geophys., this issue, 2014) to infer corner frequencies and seismic moment. Our estimates of source parameters (including fracture energies) are based on best-fit grid-searches performed over empirical source spectral ratios. We quantify the source scaling of spectra from small and large earthquakes by using the MDAC formulation of Walter and Taylor (A revised Magnitude and Distance Amplitude Correction (MDAC2) procedure for regional seismic discriminants, 2001). The source parameters presented in this paper must be considered as point-source estimates representing averages calculated over specific ruptured portions of the fault area. In order to constrain the scaling of fracture energy with coseismic slip, we investigate two different slip-weakening functions to model the shear traction as a function of slip: (i) a power law, as suggested by Abercrombie and Rice (Geophys J Int 162: 406–424, 2005), and (ii) an exponential decay. Our results show that the exponential decay of stress on the fault allows a good fit between measured and predicted fracture energies, both for the main events and for their aftershocks, regardless of the significant differences in the energy budgets between the large (main) and small earthquakes (aftershocks). Using the power-law slip-weakening function would lead us to a very different situation: in our two investigated sequences, if the aftershock scaling is extrapolated to events with large slips, a power law (a la Abercrombie and Rice) would predict unrealistically large stress drops for large, main earthquakes. We conclude that the exponential stress evolution law has the advantage of avoiding unrealistic stress drops and unbounded fracture energies at large slip values, while still describing the abrupt shear-stress degradation observed in high-velocity laboratory experiments (e.g., Di Toro et al., Fault lubrication during earthquakes, Nature 2011).     

Melting of hydrous upper mantle and possible generation of andesitic magma: An approach from synthetic systems

Phase equilibria in a portion of the system forsterite-plagioclase (An₅₀Ab₅₀ by weight)-silica-H₂O have been determined at 15 kbar pressure under H₂O-saturated conditions. The composition of the liquid pertinent to the piercing point forsterite + enstatite solid solution + amphibole + liquid + vapor is similar to that of calc-alkaline andesite. The electron microprobe analysis of the glass coexisting with the above three crystalline phases is very close to that of the piercing point determined by phase assemblage observations; however, the glass near (< 8 μm) forsterite crystals is significantly depleted in the normative forsterite component. With the addition of 10 wt.% KAlSi₃O₈, the composition of this piercing point becomes even closer to the compositions of calc-alkaline andesites. It is also shown that the liquid coexisting with forsterite and enstatite solid solution remains silica-rich (60–62 wt.%) over a wide (～ 100°C) temperature range. The present experimental studies support the view that liquids similar in composition to calc-alkaline andesites can be generated by direct partial melting of hydrous upper mantle at least at or near 15 kbar.     

The join grossularite-calcite through the system CaO—Al2O3—SiO2—CO2 at 30 kilobars: Crystallization range of silicates and carbonates on the liquidus

At 30 kbar, calcite melts congruently at 1615°C, and grossularite melts incongruently to liquid + gehlenite (tentative identification) at 1535°C. The assemblage calcite + grossularite melts at 1450°C to produce liquid + vapor, with piercing point at about 49 wt.% CaCO₃. Vapor phase is present in all hypersolidus phase fields except for those with less than about 7% CaCO₃ or 8% Ca₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂. These results, together with known liquidus data for CaO—SiO₂—CO₂ and inferred results for CaO—Al₂O₃—CO₂ and Al₂O₃—SiO₂—CO₂, permit construction of the position of the CO₂- saturated liquidus surface in the quaternary system, and estimation of the positions of liquidus field boundaries separating some of the primary crystallization fields on this surface. The field of calcite is separated from those for grossularite and quartz by a field boundary with about 50% dissolved CaCO₃. Crystallization paths of silicate liquids in the range Ca₂SiO₄—Ca₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂—SiO₂, with some dissolved CO₂, will terminate at a quaternary eutectic on this field boundary, with the precipitation of calcite together with grossularite and quartz, at a temperature below 1450°C. Addition of Al₂O₃ to CaO—SiO₂—CO₂ in amounts sufficient to stabilize garnet thus causes little change in the general liquidus pattern as far as carbonates and silicates are concerned. With addition of MgO, we anticipate that silicate liquids with dissolved CO₂ will also follow liquidus paths to fields for the precipitation of carbonates; we conclude that similar paths link kimberlite and some carnbonatite magmas.     

Attenuation Tomography Based on Strong Motion Data: Case Study of Central Honshu Region, Japan

Three-dimensional frequency dependent S-wave quality factor (Q_β(f)) value for the central Honshu region of Japan has been determined in this paper using an algorithm based on inversion of strong motion data. The method of inversion for determination of three-dimensional attenuation coefficients is proposed by Hashida and Shimazaki (J Phys Earth. 32, 299–316, 1984) and has been used and modified by Joshi (Curr Sci. 90, 581–585, 2006; Nat Hazards. 43, 129–146, 2007) and Joshi et al. (J. Seismol. 14, 247–272, 2010). Twenty-one earthquakes digitally recorded on strong motion stations of Kik-net network have been used in this work. The magnitude of these earthquake ranges from 3.1 to 4.2 and depth ranging from 5 to 20 km, respectively. The borehole data having high signal to noise ratio and minimum site effect is used in the present work. The attenuation structure is determined by dividing the entire area into twenty-five three-dimensional blocks of uniform thickness having different frequency-dependent shear wave quality factor. Shear wave quality factor values have been determined at frequencies of 2.5, 7.0 and 10 Hz from record in a rectangular grid defined by 35.4°N to 36.4°N and 137.2°E to 138.2°E. The obtained attenuation structure is compared with the available geological features in the region and comparison shows that the obtained structure is capable of resolving important tectonic features present in the area. The proposed attenuation structure is compared with the probabilistic seismic hazard map of the region and shows that it bears some remarkable similarity in the patterns seen in seismic hazard map.     

Flood basalts from dharwars of Mysore,India

The term flood basalt is redefined emphasizing the importance of the subaerial environment. Using the well established physical criteria of aerial extent, internal structures, time of extrusion and associations, flood basalt activity is distinguished in the Archeans (Dharwars) of Mysore from the geosynclinal volcanics. Study of chemical composition of the Dharwar and other Archean volcanics in the light ofSugimura’s (1968) SWS index, and plotting of the chemical analyses on theMacdonald andKatsura’s (1964) alkali-silica diagram,Kuno’s (1968) alkali-alumina-silica diagram and Scheynamann’s silica-Niggli qz diagram shows both geosynclinal and subaerial volcanics are mainly tholeiitic. Therefore in deciphering the environment of volcanism, it is suggested that the physical criteria take precedence over chemical composition.     

Constructing Constitutive Relationships for Seismic and Aseismic Fault Slip

For the purpose of modeling natural fault slip, a useful result from an experimental fault mechanics study would be a physically-based constitutive relation that well characterizes all the relevant observations. This report describes an approach for constructing such equations. Where possible the construction intends to identify or, at least, attribute physical processes and contact scale physics to the observations such that the resulting relations can be extrapolated in conditions and scale between the laboratory and the Earth. The approach is developed as an alternative but is based on Ruina (1983) and is illustrated initially by constructing a couple of relations from that study. In addition, two example constitutive relationships are constructed; these describe laboratory observations not well-modeled by Ruina’s equations: the unexpected shear-induced weakening of silica-rich rocks at high slip speed (Goldsby and Tullis, 2002) and fault strength in the brittle ductile transition zone (Shimamoto, 1986). The examples, provided as illustration, may also be useful for quantitative modeling.     

A Godunov-type Finite Volume Scheme for Meso- and Micro-scale Flows in Three Dimensions

This short note reports the extension of the f-waves approximate Riemann solver (Ahmad and Lindeman, 2007; LeVeque, 2002; Bale et al., 2002) for three-dimensional meso- and micro-scale atmospheric flows. The Riemann solver employs flux-based wave decomposition for the calculation of Godunov fluxes and does not require the explicit definition of the Roe matrix to enforce conservation. The other important feature of the Riemann solver is its ability to incorporate source term due to gravity without introducing discretization errors. The resulting finite volume scheme is second-order accurate in space and time. The finite-difference schemes currently used in atmospheric flow models are neither conservative nor able to resolve regions of sharp gradients. The finite volume scheme described in this paper is fully conservative and has the ability to resolve regions of sharp gradients without introducing spurious oscillations in the solution. The scheme shows promise in accurately resolving flows on the meso- and micro-scales and should be considered for implementation in the dynamical cores of next generation meso- and micro-scale atmospheric flow models.     

A double partial melt zone in the mantle beneath mid-ocean ridges

For a lherzolite mantle with about 0.1 wt.-percent CO₂ or less, and a CO₂/H₂O mole ratio greater than about one, the mantle solidus curve in P-T space will have two important low-temperature regions, one centered at about 9 kbar (30 km depth) and another beginning at about 28 kbar (90 km depth). It is argued that the depth of generation of primary tholeiitic magmas beneath ridge crests is about 9 kbar, and that the geotherm changes from an adiabatic gradient at greater pressures to a strongly superadiabatic gradient at lesser pressures. Such a ridge geotherm would intersect the solidus at two separate depth intervals corresponding to the two low-temperature regions on the solidus. With increasing age and cooling of the lithosphere, the shallow partial melt zone would pinch out and the thickness of the deep partial melt zone would decrease. With increasing depth in a mature oceanic lithosphere, the rock types would consist of depleted harzburgite from directly beneath the crust to about 30 km depth, fertile spinel lherzolite from about 30 km to 50–60 km, and fertile garnet lherzolite from about 50–60 km to the top of the deep partial melt zone at about 90 km.     

The Frequency Dependence of Harmonic Fluid Flow Through Networks of Cracks and Pores

—The "dynamic" permeability k(ω) of heterogeneous networks of cracks, tubes and spheres, was determined by numerically simulating the harmonic flow of an interstitial fluid for a wide range of frequencies. For comparison with previous works, this procedure was applied to the 100 network realizations used in Bernabé (1995). In most cases, the calculated frequency dependence of the real and imaginary parts of k(ω) was consistent with the JKD model (Johnson et al., 1987), showing a transition from "viscous", macroscopic flow at low frequencies to "inertial" flow at high frequencies. The viscous skin depth δ _c at the transition was found to be proportional to the critical capillary radius r _c from a capillary invasion (Katz and Thompson, 1986). A simple explanation is that these two length scales arise from the same percolation problem. On the other hand, δ _c was not well correlated with the JKD parameter Λ. The conclusion is that Λ and δ _c (or r _c ?) are two independent parameters, derived from two unrelated approaches (i.e., weighted averaging and percolation theory). Finally, an attempt was made to relax the initial assumptions of a rigid solid matrix and an incompressible fluid. It was observed that the effect of the fluid compressibility could occasionally be very large, especially when networks with large amounts of storage pore space were considered.     

Monsoon activity and coupling between low-latitude and high-latitude stratospheric activities

From a Fourier analysis of the monthly mean values of the northern hemispheric geopotential heights at 30 and 50 mb levels, for the period 1972–1979, the transports of momentum and of sensible heat, and the energy conversion terms,C(K _E ,K _Z ) andC(A _Z ,A _E ), have been computed along 30°N and 60°N latitutudes. The variation in these dynamical parameters at 60°N, in relation to monsoon activity in low latitudes and the easterly and westerly phases of the QBO over Gan Island, suggest that a coupling may exist between the high-latitude stratospheric changes and low-latitude monsoon activity and that the low-latitude stratospheric activity modulates high-latitude circulation, confirming the results obtained byHolton andTan (1980) and byLabitzke (1983). The study of the low-latitude stratospheric changes in relation to the high-latitude warmings also indicates a linkage between the low- and high-latitude features     

The influence of pressure,temperature and bulk composition on the appearance of garnet in orthogneisses — an example from South Harris,Scotland

Granulite facies metamorphism of the igneous complex of South Harris has produced garnet-clinopyroxene-plagioclase assemblages from olivine-normative rocks and 2 pyroxene-plagioclase-quartz assemblages from quartz-normative rocks. The appearance of garnet can be considered in terms of two complex reactions:Olivine + plagioclase₁ → (Ca, Mg, Fe) garnet + plagioclase₂(olivine-normative) (A)Orthopyroxene + plagioclase₁ → (Ca, Mg, Fe) garnet + plagioclase₂ + quartz (quartz-normative) (B)For bulk compositions of the South Harris rocks the equilibrium pressure for reaction (A) has been exceeded whereas that for reaction (B) was not reached. Estimated physical conditions of metamorphism bracketed by these and other reactions are: 800–860°C and 10–13 kbar. These estimates, based on experimental data on simple systems combined with thermodynamic models of the solid solutions involved are in good agreement with extrapolated pressures for the experimentally determined appearance of garnet in basaltic compositions (Green and Ringwood, 1967). The latter give 9–12 kbar in the temperature range of interest. The calculations are also consistent with the occurrence of kyanite in associated metapelites and with the stability of spinel-lherzolite during the granulite metamorphism.