Estimation of covariance matrix from geochemical data with observations below detection limits

Multivariate statistical analyses have been extensively applied to geochemical measurements to analyze and aid interpretation of the data. Estimation of the covariance matrix of multivariate observations is the first task in multivariate analysis. However, geochemical data for the rare elements, especially Ag, Au, and platinum-group elements, usually contain observations the below detection limits. In particular, Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) for the rare elements produces multilevel and possibly extremely high detection limits depending on the sample weight. Traditionally, in applying multivariate analysis to such incomplete data, the observations below detection limits are first substituted, for example, each observation below the detection limit is replaced by a certain percentage of that limit, and then the standard statistical computer packages or techniques are used to obtain the analysis of the data. If a number of samples with observations below detection limits is small, or the detection limits are relatively near zero, the results may be reasonable and most geological interpretations or conclusions are probably valid. In this paper, a new method is proposed to estimate the covariance matrix from a dataset containing observations below multilevel detection limits by using the marginal maximum likelihood estimation (MMLE) method. For each pair of variables, sayY andZ whose observations containing below detection limits, the proposed method consists of three steps: (i) for each variable separately obtaining the marginal MLE for the means and the variances, , , , and forY andZ: (ii) defining new variables by and and lettingA=C+D andB=C–D, and obtaining MLE for variances, and forA andB; (iii) estimating the correlation coefficient _YZ by and the covariance _YZ by . The procedure is illustrated by using a precious metal geochemical data set from the Fox River Sill, Manitoba, Canada.     

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 ( ):

Empirical estimation of isostatic uplift using the lake-tilting method at lake Fegen and lake S?ven, southwestern Sweden

A nonuniform glacio-isostatic uplift results in differential uplift for different parts of a lake. If the lake outlet is situated in the area with the greatest rate of uplift, then the lake will be continuously transgressed. Ancient lake levels can be estimated by dating transgressed peat at different depths in such a lake. Two lakes in southwestern Sweden have been investigated by this method and the course of glacio-isostatic uplift has been determined empirically. The uplift can be expressed by an exponential function through the following formula

The crystal structure of a triclinic roscherite

Summary The crystallography of roscherite is more complicated than previously thought. Single crystal X-ray work on material from Foote Mine (California) gave triclinic symmetry. The unit cell corresponding to the one adopted for monoclinic roscherite hasa=15.921,b=11.965,c=6.741 Å, =91°04, =94°21, =89°59 1/2, space group . The least-squares refinement of the structure using 2380 non zero reflections with anisotropic temperature factors resulted in a conventional reliability factorR=0.060.The X-ray study indicates the formula while that proposed for monoclinic roscherite is The atomic arrangements of both varieties of roscherite are very similar. The lowering of symmetry is caused by the segregation of the trivalent cations into only half of the sites of a monoclinic point position. Crystallochemical considerations suggest that the symmetry of roscherite does not depend on the kind of trivalent cations occupying the 6-coordinated position, but rather by the ratio between trivalent and divalent metal ions.

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Die Kristallstruktur eines triklinen Roscherites

Zusammenfassung Die Kristallographie des Roscherites ist komplizierter als man bisher annahm. Einkristall-Röntgenuntersuchungen an Material von Foote Mine (Kalifornien) ergaben trikline Symmetrie. Die Elementarzelle, welche der für monoklinen Roscherit angenommenen entspricht, hata=15,921,b=11,965,c=6,741 Å, =91°04, =94°21, =89°59 1/2, Raumgruppe . Die Verfeinerung der Struktur mit der Methode der kleinsten Quadrate ergab unter Verwendung anisotroper Temperaturfaktoren für 2380 beobachtete Reflexe einen konventionellen ZuverlässigkeitsindexR=0,060.Die Röntgenuntersuchung weist auf die Formel , während für monoklinen Roscherit vorgeschlagen wurde. Die Atomanordnungen beider Abarten des Roscherites sind sehr ähnlich. die Symmetrieerniedrigung wird dadurch hervorgerufen, daß die dreiwertigen Kationen nur die Hälfte der Positionen einer monoklinen Punktlage besetzen. Kristallchemische Überlegungen weisen darauf hin, daß die Symmetrie nicht von der Art der dreiwertigen Kationen, welche eine 6-koordinierte Punktlage besetzen, abhängt, sondern vielmehr von dem Mengenverhältnis zwischen 3-wertigen und 2-wertigen Metallionen.

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With 1 Figure     

Manganese olivine I: Electrical conductivity

To investigate the point defect chemistry and the kinetic properties of manganese olivine Mn₂SiO₄, electrical conductivity () of single crystals was measured along either the [100] or the [010] direction. The experiments were carried out at temperatures T=850–1200 °C and oxygen fugacities atm under both Mn oxide (MO) buffered and MnSiO₃ (MS) buffered conditions. Under the same thermodynamic conditions, charge transport along [100] is 2.5–3.0 times faster than along [010]. At high oxygen fugacities, the electrical conductivity of samples buffered against MS is 1.6 times larger than that of samples buffered against MO; while at low oxygen fugacities, the electrical conductivity is nearly identical for the two buffer cases. The dependencies of electrical conductivity on oxygen fugacity and temperature are essentially the same for conduction along the [100] and [010] directions, as well as for samples coexisting with a solid-state buffer of either MO or MS. Hence, it is proposed that the same conduction mechanisms operate for samples of either orientation in contact with either solid-state buffer.The electrical conductivity data lie on concave upward curves on a log-log plot of vs , giving rise to two regimes with different oxygen fugacity exponents. In the low- regime , the exponent, m, is 0, the MnSiO₃-activity exponent, q, is 0, and the activation energy, Q, is 45 kJ/mol. In the high regime 10^{ - 7} {\text{atm}}} \right)$$ " align="middle" border="0"> , m=1/6, q=1/4–1/3, and Q=45 and 200 kJ/mol for T<1100 °c=" and=">T>1100 °C, respectively.     

An experimental study of the diffusion of oxygen in quartz and albite using an overgrowth technique

Diffusion rates of¹⁸O tracer in quartz ( c, 1 Kb H₂O) and Amelia albite ( 001, 2 Kb H₂O) have been measured, using Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS). A new technique involving hydrothermal deposition of labelled materials has removed the possibility of pressure solution-reprecipitation processes adversely affecting the experiments. Reported diffusion constants are:-quartz ( c), ,Q=98±7 KJ mol^–1 (600–825° C, 1 Kb); Amelia albite ( 001), ,Q=85±7 KJ mol^–1, (400–600° C, 2 Kb). Measured quartz¹⁸O diffusivities decrease discontinuously at the- transition, reflecting strong structural influences. The reported albite data agree with previously recorded studies, but-quartz data indicate significantly lower activation energies. Possible causes of this discrepancy, and some geological consequences, are noted.     

An almandine garnet isograd in the Rogers Pass area,British Columbia: The nature of the reaction and an estimation of the physical conditions during its formation

In the Rogers Pass area of British Columbia the almandine garnet isograd results from a reaction of the form: 5.31 ferroan-dolomite+8.75 paragonite+4.80 pyrrhotite+3.57 albite+16.83 quartz+1.97 O₂=1.00 garnet+16.44 andesine+1.53 chlorite+2.40 S₂+1.90 H₂O+10.62 CO₂. The coefficients of this reaction are quite sensitive to the Mn content of ferroan-dolomite.Experimental data applied to mineral compositions present at the isograd, permits calculation of two intersecting P, T equilibrium curves. P=29088–39.583 T is obtained for the sub-system paragonite-margarite (solid-solution), plagioclase, quartz, ferroan-dolomite, and P=28.247 T–14126 is obtained for the sub-system epidote, quartz, garnet, plagioclase. These equations yield P=3898 bars and T=638° K (365° C). These values are consistent with the FeS content of sphalerite in the assemblage pyrite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite and with other estimates for the area.At these values of P and T the composition of the fluid phase in equilibrium with graphite in the system C-O-H-S during the formation of garnet is estimated as: bars, bars, bars, bars, bars, bars, bars, bars, , bars, bars.     

An experimental study of Fe-Mg partitioning between olivine and orthopyroxene at 1173, 1273 and 1423 K and 1.6 GPa

The partitioning of Mg and Fe²⁺ between coexisting olivines and orthopyroxenes in the system MgO-FeO-SiO₂ has been investigated experimentally at 1173, 1273, 1423 K and 1.6 GPa over the whole range of Mg/Fe ratios. The use of barium borosilicate as a flux to promote grain growth, and the identification by back-scattered electron imaging of resulting growth rims suitable for analysis by electron microprobe, results in coexisting olivine and orthopyroxenene compositions determined to a precision of±0.003 to 0.004 in molar Fe/(Mg+Fe). Quasi-reversal experiments were performed starting with Mg-rich olivine and Fe-rich orthopyroxene (low K_D) and vice versa (high K_D), which produced indistinguishable results. The distribution coefficient, K_D, depends on composition and on temperature, but near Fe/(Mg+Fe)=0.1 (i.e. mantle compositions) these effects cancel out, and K_D is insensitive to temperature. The results agree well with previous experimental investigations, and constrain the thermodynamic mixing properties of Mg-Fe olivine solid solutions to show small near-symmetric deviations from ideality, with between 2000 and 8000 J/mol. Multiple non-linear least squares regression of all data gave a best fit with (implying 5450 J/mol at 1 bar) and , but the two W _G parameters are so highly correlated with each other that our data are almost equally well fit with , as obtained by Wiser and Wood. This value implies , apparently independent of temperature. Our experimental results are not compatible with the assessment of olivine-orthopyroxene equilibria of Sack and Ghiorso.     

The dependence of the Fe2+-Mg cation-partitioning between olivine and basaltic liquid on pressure,temperature and composition

The equilibrium partitioning of Fe²⁺ and Mg between olivine and liquid along a liquid line of descent has been determined for a calc-alkaline system, ranging in composition from picritic to andesitic. Experiments were conducted between 1000–1450° C and 1 bar to 30 kbar. Within the compositional range investigated and , the compositional dependence of the Fe²⁺ and Mg partitioning is a function of the Mg-content of the liquid. The Mg-content of the liquid correlates strongly with temperature. The variation of the Fe²⁺ and Mg partitioning were therefore evaluated individualy as functions of composition and temperature alone. The composition dependence of the cation-partitioning coefficients (Kd) is given by the following two equations:

Aluminum partitioning between olivine and ultrabasic silicate liquid to 6 GPa

Trace element analyses of 1-atm and high-pressure experiments show that in komatiite and peridotite, the olivine (OL)/liquid (L) distribution coefficient for Al₂O₃ ( ) increases with pressure and temperature. Olivine in equilibrium with liquid accepts as much as 0.2 wt% Al₂O₃ in solution at 6 GPa. Convergence to equilibrium compositions at this high level is shown by cation diffusion of Al into synthetic forsterite crystals of low-Al contents in the presence of melt. Convergence to low-Al equilibrium compositions at lower P and T is shown by diffusion of Al out of synthetic forsterite with high initial Al content. Isobaric and isothermal experimental data subsets reveal that temperature and pressure variations both have real effects on . Variation in silicate melt composition has no detectable effect on within the limited range of experimentally investigated mixtures. Least-squares regression for 24 experiments, using komatiite and peridotite, performed at 1 atm to 6 GPa and 1300 to 1960°C, gives the best fit equation: Increase in with increasingly higher-pressure melting is consistent with incorporation of a spinel-like component of low molar volume into olivine, although other substitutions possibly involving more complex coupling cannot be ruled out. High P-T ultrabasic melting residues, if pristine, may be recognized by the high calculated from microprobe analyses of Al₂O₃ concentrations in residual olivines and estimated Al₂O₃ concentration in the last liquid removed. In general the low levels of Al in natural olivine from mantle xenoliths suggest that pristine residues are rarely recovered.     

Partition of Ni between olivine and sulfide: equilibria with sulfide-oxide liquids

The partition of Ni between olivine and monosulfide-oxide liquid has been investigated at 1300–1395° C, =10^–8-9–10^–6.8, and =10^–2.0–10^–0.9, over the composition range 20–79 mol. % NiS. The product olivine compositions varied from Fo98 to Fo59 and from 0.06 to 3.11 wt% NiO. The metal/sulfur ratio of the sulfide-oxide liquid increases with increase in , decrease in , and increase in NiS content. The Ni/Fe exchange reaction has been perfectly reversed using natural olivine and pure forsterite as starting materials. The FeO and NiO contents of olivine from runs equilibrated at the same and form isobaric distributions with NiS content, which, to a first approximation, are dependent at constant temperature and total pressure on a variable term, –0.5 log ( / ). The Ni/Fe distribution coefficient (K _D3) exhibits only a weak decrease from 35 to 29 with increase in from the IW buffer to close to the FMQ buffer. At values higher than FMQ, the sulfide-oxide liquid has the approximate composition (Ni,Fe)₃±_xS₂K _D358. The present K _D3 vs O/(S+O) data define a trend which extrapolates to K _D320 at 10 wt% oxygen in the sulfide-oxide liquid. The compositions of olivine and Ni-Cu sulfides associated with early-magmatic basic rocks and komatiites are consistent, at 1400° C, with a value of -log ( / ) of about 7.7, which is equivalent to 0.0 wt% oxygen in the hypothesized immiscible sulfide-oxide liquid. Therefore, K _D3 would not be reduced significantly from the 30 to 35 range for sulfide-oxide liquids with low oxygen contents.     

Microphenocrystic pyrrhotite from dacite rocks of Satsuma-Iwojima,southwest Kyushu,Japan and the solubility of sulfur in dacite magma

Microphenocrystic pyrrhotites were observed in the glassy groundmass of two dacite rocks from Satsuma-Iwojima, southwest Kyushu, Japan. It suggests that the dacite magma was saturated with respect to pyrrhotite at the time of eruption, and thus the sulfur contents in the groundmass can be taken as the solubility of sulfur in the dacite magma. The solubility of sulfur in the dacite rocks thus calculated is 65 to 72 ppm sulfur at the estimated conditions of T=900±50°C, and atm.     

Spatial relationships of multivariate data

Spatial factor analysis (SFA) is a multivariate method that determines linear combinations of variables with maximum autocorrelation at a given lag. This is achieved by deriving estimates of auto-/cross-correlations of the variables and calculating the corresponding eigenvectors of the covariance quotient matrix. A two-point spatial factor analysis model derives factors by the formation of transition matrixU comparing auto-/cross-correlations at lag 0,R ₀, with those at a specified lag d,R _d, expressed asU _d=R ₀ ^–1 R_d. The matrixU _d can be decomposed into its spectral components which represent the spatial factors. The technique has been extended to include three points of reference. Spatial factors can be derived from the relationship:

Single crystal raman studies of pyrite-type RuS2, RuSe2, OsS2, OsSe2, PtP2, and PtAs2

Single crystal Raman spectra of pyrite-type RuS₂, RuSe₂, OsS₂, OsSe₂, PtP₂, and PtAs₂ are presented and discussed with reference to the energies of the X-X stretching modes _x-x (A _g, F _g) and the X₂ librations (E, 2F_g). The main results obtained are (i) strong Raman resonance effects, (ii) different sequences for _x-x (A _g) and (E _g), i.e., R_{x_2 } $$ " align="middle" border="0"> for PtP₂ and PtAs₂ and R_{x_2 } $$ " align="middle" border="0"> for OsS₂, owing to the interplay of intraionic and interionic lattice forces, (iii) greater strengths for the intraionic P-P and As-As bonds compared to the S-S and Se-Se bonds, respectively, and (iv) a strong influe_gnce of the metal ions on the strength of the X-X bonds.This is contribution LXI of a series of papers on lattice vibration spectra     

Die Verbindung Cu2FeSnSe3,8 im Vergleich zum Zinnkies

Zusammenfassung Die Phase Cu₂FeSnSe_3,8 ist tetragonal, Raumgruppe mit ₀=5.69 undc ₀=11,26 Å.Z=2,D _x=5,441. Synthesetemperatur: 410°C.

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The compound Cu₂FeSnSe_3,8 in comparison to stannite

Summary The phase Cu₂FeSnSe_3,8 is tetragonal, space-group with ₀=5.69 andc ₀=11.26 Å.Z=2,D _x=5.441. Temperature of synthesis: 410°C.

     

Grossular activity-composition relationships in ternary garnets determined by reversed displaced-equilibrium experiments

Activity-composition relationships of Ca₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂ (grs) in ternary Ca-Mg-Fe garnets of various compositions have been determined by reversed displaced equilibrium experiments at 1000° C and 900° C and pressures of 8 to 17 kbar. The mixing of grs in garnet is nearly ideal at 30 mol% grs, with positive deviations from ideality at lower grs contents. Models of garnet mixing currently in the literature do not predict this trend. Analysis of the present reversals, in conjunction with a garnet mixing model based solely on calorimetry measurements on the binary joins, indicates that a ternary interaction constant for a ternary asymmetric Margules model (Wohl 1953) cannot be constrained. Apparently, some aspects of the garnet binary joins are still not well-known. An alternative asymmetric empirical model, based on analysis of pseudobinary joins of constant Mg/Mg + Fe(Mg #), reproduces the data well and is able to predict grs activity coefficients for garnets with grs contents between 3 and 40 mol% and Mg numbers between 0 and 0.60. The grossular activity coefficient, _grs, is given by:

Johillerit,Na(Mg,Zn)3 Cu(AsO4)3, ein neues Mineral aus Tsumeb,Namibia

Zusammenfassung Die chemische Analyse des neuen Minerals Johillerit mit der Elektronenmikrosonde ergab: Na₂O 5,4, MgO 18,3, ZnO 5,4, CuO 15,8 und As₂O₅ 55,8, Summe 100.7%. Aus diesem Ergebnis wurde die idealisierte Formel Na(Mg, Zn)₃ Cu(AsO₄)₃ abgeleitet. Johillerit ist monoklin mit der RaumgruppeC2/c. Die Gitterkonstanten sind:a=11,870 (3),b=12,755 (3),c=6,770 (2) , =113,42 (2)°,Z=4. Die stärksten Linien des Pulverdiagramms sind: 4,06 (5) (22 ), 3,50 (4) (310), 3,25 (8) (11 ), 2,75 (10) (330, 240), 2,64 (5) (311, 13 , 40 ), 1,952 (4) (13 , 35 ), 1,682 (4) (20 , 460), 1,660 (5) (40 , 71 , 550, 64 ), 1,522 (4) (442, 153, 13 ). Es bestehen enge strukturelle Beziehungen zwischen Johillerit und O'Danielit, Na(Zn, Mg)₃H₂(AsO₄)₃, sowie einigen synthetischen. Verbindungen.Johillerit ist violett durchscheinend. Die Spaltbarkeit nach {010} ist ausgezeichnet und nach {100} und {001} gut.H (Mohs)3.D=4,15 undD _X =4,21 g·cm^–3. Das Mineral ist optisch zweiachsig positiv, 2V80 (5)°. Die Werte der Lichtbrechung sindn =1,715 (4),n =1,743 (4) undn =1,783 (4). Die Auslöschung istn b und auf (010)n c16°. Johillerit ist stark pleochroitisch mit den AchsenfarbenX=violett-rot,Y = blauviolett undZ = grünblau. Das neue Mineral kommt in radialstrahligen Massen gemeinsam mit kupferhaltigem Adamin und Konichalcit in zersetzem Kupfererz von Tsumeb, Namibia, vor. Die Benennung erfolgte nach Prof. Dr.J.-E. Hiller (1911–1972).

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Johillerite, Na(Mg, Zn) ₃ Cu(AsO ₄ ) ₃ , a new mineral from Tsumeb, Namibia

Summary Electron microprobe analysis of the new mineral johillerite gave Na₂O 5.4, MgO 18.3, ZnO 5.4, CuO 15.8, and As₂O₅ 55.8, total 100.7%. From this result, the ideal formula is given as Na(Mg, Zn)₃ Cu(AsO₄)₃. Johillerite crystallizes monoclinic,C2/c. The unit cell dimensions are:a=11.870(3),b=12.755 (3),c=6.770 (2) , =113.42 (2)°,Z=4. The strongest lines on the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are: 4,06 (5) (22 ), 3,50 (4) (310), 3,25 (8) (11 ), 2,75 (10) (330, 240), 2,64 (5) (311, 13 , 40 ), 1,952 (4) (13 , 35 ), 1,682 (4) (20 , 460), 1,660 (5) (40 , 71 , 550, 64 ), 1,522 (4) (442, 153, 13 ). There is a close relationship between johillerite, o'danielite, Na(Zn, Mg)₃H₂(AsO₄)₃, and some synthetic compounds. Johillerite is violet in colour, transparent. Cleavage is {010} perfect, {100} and {001} good.H (Mohs)3.D=4.15 andD _X =4.21 g·cm^–3. The mineral is optically biaxial positive, 2V80 (5)°. The refractive indices are:n =1.715 (4),n =1.743 (4),n =1.783 (4). The extinction isn b and on (010)n c16°. Strongly pleochroic with axial coloursX=violet-red,Y=bluish violet andZ=greenish blue. The new mineral was found in radiated masses together with cuprian adamite and conichalcite in an oxidized copper ore from Tsumeb, Namibia. It is named in honour of Prof. Dr.J.-E. Hiller (1911–1972).

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Mit 1 Abbildung     

High-temperature creep and kinetic decomposition of Ni2SiO4

To investigate high-temperature creep and kinetic decomposition of nickel orthosilicate (Ni₂SiO₄), aggregates containing 3 vol% amorphous SiO₂ have been deformed in uniaxial compression at a total pressure of one atomsphere. Twenty-three samples with grain sizes (d) from 9 to 30 m were deformed at temperatures (T) from 1573 to 1813 K, differential stresses () from 3 to 20 MPa, and oxygen fugacities (f o ₂) from 10^-1 to 10⁵ Pa. At temperatures up to 1773 K, the steady-state creep rate () can be described by the flow law

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