Timing of rotational motion of Southwest Japan inferred from paleomagnetism

Paleomagnetic field directions for the period younger than 35 Ma are obtained from igneous rocks distributed in the San'in district, Inner Zone of Southwest Japan. The remanent magnetization of samples between 30 and 35 Ma old are fairly well grouped with a mean direction of D = 65.9°, I = 48.6°, and ₉₅ = 6.5°. This result establishes that Southwest Japan rotated clockwise 56 ± 12° during the past 30 m.y. A declination value of about 60° is observed in the rocks of 28 Ma ( D = 52.2°, I = 33.5°) and 21 Ma (D = 69.9°, I = 49.5°). Comparing this with results from dacitic rocks with an age of 15 Ma in other areas of Southwest Japan suggests that rotational motion did not occur possibly until 15 Ma. These results require that the rotation of Southwest Japan occurred just after the Shikoku Basin had been created.     

川滇地块西部差异性旋转的构造意义:青藏高原东南缘白垩纪红层古地磁学新证据

印度-欧亚板块碰撞以来青藏高原内部及其周缘地区经历了复杂的构造演化,复杂构造变形区的复合构造使得古地磁的数据解释究竟代表区域的构造旋转还是只能反映局部的构造变形一直是备受关注的问题.本文通过采集川滇地块西缘渔泡江断裂东侧三岔河地区白垩纪红层古地磁样品,揭示采样区差异性旋转并探讨川滇地块西部自中新世以来的构造演化规律.前人的地质调查表明川滇地块渔泡江断裂东侧上白垩统赵家店组地层发育倾伏褶皱.三岔河剖面以三岔河镇为界分为南北两段,三岔河南段剖面高温剩磁分量平均方向在倾斜校正后D_s=29.3°,I_s=45.7°,k_s=54.3,α₉₅=6.6°,倾伏地层产状校正后D_s=30.6°,I_s=46.6°,k_s=69.3,α₉₅=5.8°;而三岔河北侧剖面高温剩磁分量平均方向在倾斜校正后D_s=350.4°,I_s=42.1°,k_s=69.4,α₉₅=9.2°,倾伏地层产状校正后D_s=347.4°,I_s=41.9°,k_s=96.6,α₉₅=7.8°;两组高温剩磁分量均通过了褶皱检验,表明其获得于褶皱形成之前.相对于东亚稳定区80 Ma古地磁极,三岔河南侧剖面发生了20.5°±4.8°的顺时针构造旋转量,与楚雄盆地核部之间不存在差异性旋转;但三岔河镇以北剖面却发生了22.7°±6.6°的逆时针旋转.综合分析川滇地块内部的古地磁数据表明自中新世以来川滇地块南部楚雄盆地经历了约20°的顺时针构造旋转,而三岔河镇北侧经历了约20°逆时针旋转.进一步分析表明三岔河北侧剖面相对于南侧剖面经历了约40°的逆时针旋转,可能由于研究区的滑脱构造导致岩石薄弱层拆离滑脱所引起.

     

An integrated paleomagnetic study of Rio Grande de Santiago volcanic succession (trans-Mexican volcanic belt): revisited

We carried out an integrated paleomagnetic, rock-magnetic and paleointensity study of Miocene volcanic succession from the trans-Mexican volcanic belt (TMVB) north of Guadalajara. A total of 37 consecutive basaltic lava flows (326 oriented standard paleomagnetic cores) were collected at Lazo locality. Continuous susceptibility measurements with temperature and hysteresis experiments yield in most cases reasonably reversible curves with Curie points close to that of pseudo-single-domain magnetite. Two geomagnetic reversals were observed in the 300 m thick composite section. Paleosecular variation was lower than the one observed in general during Miocene. It appears that the volcanic units have been emplaced during a relatively short time span of about 1 Ma. The mean paleomagnetic directions obtained from this study do not differ significantly from that expected for the middle Miocene. The mean paleomagnetic direction calculated from all data is I=31.1°, D=354.6°, k=124 and ₉₅=2.1°, N=37. Seventy-two samples with apparently preserved primary magnetic mineralogy and without secondary magnetization, mostly belonging to reverse polarity chron were pre-selected for Thellier paleointensity determination. The flow-mean paleointensity values are ranging from 22.4±3.4 to 53.8±6.0 μT and the corresponding virtual dipole moments (VDMs) are ranging from (5.4±0.8) to (12.0±1.4)×10²² A m². This corresponds to mean value of (7.7±2.2)×10²² A m², which is close to present day geomagnetic field strength. Altogether, our data suggest the existence of relatively high geomagnetic field strength undergoing low fluctuations.     

印欧大陆碰撞前亚洲大陆南缘古位置再研究:林周盆地上白垩统红层的古地磁新结果

拉萨地块林周盆地白垩系红层的古地磁数据一直都有较大争议.过去认为磁倾角变浅可能是造成这些分歧的主要原因.我们在林周盆地设兴组背斜两翼进行了系统的古地磁采样,15个采样点的特征剩磁分量在倾斜校正和倾伏褶皱校正后平均方向为D=339.3°,I=22.9°(α_(95)=5.1°).特征剩磁分量在大约69%展开时获得最大集中,表明其为同褶皱重磁化;此时平均方向为D=339.1°,I=27.3°(α_(95)=4.1°),对应的古地磁极为65.4°N,327.5°E(A_(95)=3.5°),参考点29.3°N/88.5°E的古纬度为15.0°N±3.5°.薄片镜下分析显示赤铁矿为次生矿物,岩石磁组构(AMS)也表现为过渡型构造变形组构.样品的特征剩磁方向应为重磁化的结果,E/I(elongation vs inclination)校正法显示特征剩磁方向并没有发生倾角变浅.根据区域构造,重磁化时代约为72.4±1.8 Ma到64.4±0.6 Ma.综合考虑拉萨地块东西部的古地磁数据以及地震层析成像资料后我们认为,碰撞前拉萨地块大约呈NW-SE向准线性分布,并处于~10°N-15.0°N;自~70 Ma以来,拉萨地块与稳定欧亚大陆之间至少存在1200±400 km(11.1°±3.5°)的南北向构造缩短量;印度大陆与欧亚大陆的碰撞不应晚于55 Ma.     

A long connection (750–380 Ma) between South China and Australia: paleomagnetic constraints

A new paleomagnetic study has been carried out on sediments of middle Cambrian age in the North Sichuan Basin (Yangtze Block). Detailed stepwise thermal demagnetizations allowed us to isolate three components. Site-mean direction derived from higher temperature components is D/I=146.9°/–17.1° (₉₅=8.3°) yielding a pole position at 51.3°S, 166.0°E. The fold and reversal tests suggest that remanence was acquired during early stage of sedimentation. Combined with the high-qualities early Sinian (748 Ma) and middle Silurian poles obtained recently from the Yangtze block, the deriving polar track demonstrates a similar loop to that of Australia. After rotating these poles from South China to fit that of Australia, the South China Block is placed against northwestern Australia. This reconstruction favors the correlations of the Jiangnan Grenville-age orogenic belt with the Rudall belt of western Australia, and subsequently the late Proterozoic Jiangnan and Officer/Adelaide rift systems. The paleobiogeographic evidence also indicates that this configuration might maintain by the middle Devonian.     

四川盆地早白垩世红层磁倾角偏低研究

对四川盆地东北部巴中地区和西部雅安地区早白垩世红层分别采集9块手标本,进行了详细的古地磁学研究.系统退磁获得两地的特征剩磁,其中巴中地区平均方向为,倾斜校正之前：D_g/I_g=25.3°/19.0°,k=18.6,α₉₅=8.8°;倾斜校正之后：D_s/I_s=25.8°/18.9°,k=24.3,α₉₅=7.6°.雅安地区平均方向为,倾斜校正之前：D_g/I_g=24.5°/45.0°,k=15.7,α₉₅=9.0°;倾斜校正之后：D_s/I_s=356.7°/35.6°,k=28.5,α₉₅=6.6°.磁化率各向异性实验结果显示两地均未受到显著的构造应力影响.等温剩磁各向异性（AIR）实验结果,巴中地区IRMz/IRMx平均值为0.8194,表明18%的压实率;雅安地区IRMz/IRMx平均值为0.8909,表明11%的压实率,计算得到巴中和雅安地区校正后的磁倾角分别为22.7°和38.8°.根据等温剩磁各向异性（AIR）实验和Tauxe and Kent（2004）提出的EI校正法得到的结果表明,四川盆地早白垩世陆相碎屑岩层中存在沉积压实作用造成的磁倾角偏低现象,而且川东北巴中地区的偏低程度强于川西雅安地区.

     

帕米尔东北缘晚新生代旋转运动新证据

为进一步研究帕米尔东北缘晚新生代演化特征,在塔里木盆地西部英吉沙背斜上新世地层中采集了11个采点共111块古地磁样品.对样品进行系统热退磁测定,揭示了一组高温特征剩磁分量,获得了采样剖面的上新世古地磁极.特征剩磁方向为:Dg=342.4°,Ig= 59.2°,κg=32.3,α95=8.6°; Ds=352.4°,Is=49.9°,κs=59.1,α95=6.3°,相对应的古地磁极位置为:79.7°N,295.9°E,dp=5.6°,dm=8.4°,α95=6.9°.这一高温分量通过了倒转检验,代表了研究区上新世时期的原生特征剩磁.通过对英吉沙背斜周缘断裂及形成的大地构造背景分析,结合其地貌特征、GPS数据,认为英吉沙背斜在开始形成至今经历了明显的逆时针构造旋转,该旋转同晚新生代以来帕米尔东北缘喀什凹陷发生刚性构造旋转运动有着密切的关系.     

黑龙江省饶河枕状玄武岩古地磁学研究及其构造意义

蛇绿岩中枕状玄武岩的古地磁学研究可为古海洋的恢复与演化提供定量化依据.黑龙江省饶河地区中侏罗世枕状玄武岩的岩石学、岩石磁学研究表明,该岩石具备水下喷出特点,发育辉长结构,载磁矿物为磁铁矿.17个采点181块样品的热退磁实验表明,中侏罗世枕状玄武岩记录了高温分量和中温分量,前者为熔岩喷发记录的原生剩磁方向,平均方向D/I=59.4°/46.3°,α95=6.8°,对应的极位置为40.3°N,224.6°E,A95=7°;后者可能为晚侏罗世—早白垩世岩浆热事件的叠加,平均方向D/I=55.4°/60.6°,α95=3.9°,对应的极位置为50.8°N,210.6°E,A95=5.2°.综合考虑区域地质背景,将这一结果与邻区同时代的古地磁数据对比,推测在中侏罗世之前,在饶河杂岩与佳木斯地体之间存在一定规模的海域,与现今日本海相似;早白垩世时期,该海域封闭,饶河杂岩与华北、西伯利亚板块在动力学上已成为整体.     

海南岛早白垩世红层磁组构和古地磁新结果

海南岛白垩纪红层是迄今产出古地磁结果最多的地层,但古地磁结果难以在海南岛周边古地磁结果和地质限制条件下作出合理解释.为了更好地认识海南岛白垩纪红层古地磁方向的可靠性,我们对采自前人工作地区的14个采点132个样品开展了古地磁和磁组构的综合研究.磁化率各向异性测试显示14个采点样品平均各向异性度为1.018,线理度为1.014,面理度为1.004.各采点磁化率椭球体最小轴显著偏离地层法线,没有反映出沉积或压实特征.野外调查发现采点区域的节理组交线(代表中间应力轴)与磁化率椭球体中间轴一致,意味着采点磁性矿物的排列方位很可能因构造应力影响发生改变.逐步热退磁显示14个采点分离出的特征剩磁解阻温度高于660℃,方向区别于现代地磁场方向;褶皱检验表明在褶皱展平度为80.4%(95%置信范围内褶皱展平度为77%±12.2%)时精度参数达最大,对应方向为D=359.9°, I=43.4°,κ=70.2,α95=4.8°,与前人的古地磁方向一致.通过与华南地块参考极对比,以及综合分析海南岛围区古地磁和地质限制条件,表明该古地磁方向是不协调的.我们认为前人和本文采样红层剩磁很可能在沉积时获得,但在沉积后受到区域构造应力的影响,致使磁性矿物排列改变,从而导致古地磁方向也发生变化.因此,我们认为这些样品所记录的古地磁方向不能准确反映海南岛白垩纪古纬度.     

Large tectonic rotation of part of New Zealand in the last 5 Ma

Detailed paleomagnetic data from the Wairoa Syncline, a middle Miocene to the present forearc basin on the East Coast of the North Island, New Zealand, show that the rate of clockwise rotation for the last 5 Ma has been 7–8°/Ma of which less than 1.5°/Ma can be explained by apparent polar wander due to motion of the Australian or Pacific plates. This rotation is similar to a present-day rate of 7°/Ma determined from geodetic data. Between 5 and 20 Ma ago the rate of tectonic rotation is poorly determined and may be between 0° and 2°/Ma.

The change in the rate of rotation of the Wairoa Syncline around 5 Ma is probably related to a markedly different tectonic style in the New Zealand region within the last 5 Ma, associated with a change in position of the Euler poles of rotation for the Pacific-Australian plates.     

Palaeomagnetism of (late Vendian-earliest Cambrian) minor alkaline intrusions, Fen Complex, southeast Norway

Emplacement of the Fen central complex (603-565 Ma) within the Fennoscandian Shield in southeast Norway was preceded by the emplacement of numerous minor alkaline intrusions into the surrounding gneisses. A palaeomagnetic sample of 28 of these bodies has identified a predominant SSE negative remanence carried by magnetite in some bodies and hematite in others. A sporadic high blocking temperature component appears to record localised effects associated with the development of the Oslo rift and igneous province to the east, but no major magnetic overprinting by post-emplacement events is recognised. The stable magnetisation vectors for twenty sites comprise a coherent population with those for two sites reversed with respect to the remainder; they yield a mean direction ofD = 210°,I = 44° (₉₅ = 6.4°) and a palaeomagnetic pole at 324°E, 50°S (dpdm=4.9°7.9°). The difference between the pole position for this early phase of the Fen magmatism and that for the late metasomatic rødberg (322°E, 63°S) in the interior of the complex is interpreted in terms of continental movement during the late Vendian-earliest Cambrian interval of alkaline activity here. The defined direction of APW movement continues a motion recognised from other Vendian data but subsequent movements during Lower Cambrian times are unclear.     

Paleomagnetism and accretionary tectonics of northern Sikhote Alin

The results of the paleomagnetic investigation of the sediments pertaining to the Silasinskaya Formation of the Kiselevka–Manoma terrane within the Sikhote Alin orogenic belt are presented. The ancient prefolding magnetization component is revealed: Decs = 271.7°, Incs = 52.2°, Ks = 13.5, and a ^95s = 5.1° (positive fold and reversal tests); and the coordinates of the corresponding paleomagnetic pole for ~103 ± 10 Ma are calculated: Plat = 26.3°, Plong = 70.5°, dp = 4.8°, and dm = 7.0°. As a result of this study, the geodynamical settings and paleolatitudes of the formation of three objects in the northern part of Sikhote Alin orogen are established: (a) the Kiselevskaya Formation of the Kiselevka–Manoma terrane was formed 133 Ma ago at 19° N under the seamount condition on the Izanagi Plate; (b) the Silasinskaya Formation of the Kiselevka–Manoma terrane was formed 103 Ma ago at 35° N under the oceanic island arc conditions; and (c) the Utitskaya Formation of the Zhuravlevsk–Amur terrane was formed 95 Ma ago at 54° N in the active continental margin conditions. It is found that the transform continental margin of Eurasia developed in the time interval from 105 to 65 Ma ago in the regime of a left-lateral submeridional shear from 30° to 60° N. The complete attachment of the studied rocks of the Kiselevka–Manoma terrane to the Eurasia’s margin (to the Zhuravlevsk–Amur terrane) occurred at the boundary of 60–70 Ma. Simultaneously, the sense of the displacement in the submeridional shears changed from left-lateral to right-lateral with the formation of pullapart type basins (Lake Udyl’).     

REE diffusion in calcite

Chemical diffusion of four rare-earth elements (La, Nd, Dy and Yb) has been measured in natural calcite under anhydrous conditions, using rare-earth carbonate powders as the source of diffusants. Experiments were run in sealed silica capsules along with finely ground calcite to ensure stability of the single-crystal samples during diffusion anneals. Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) was used to measure diffusion profiles. The following Arrhenius relations were obtained over the temperature range 600–850°C: D_La =2.6×10⁻¹⁴ exp(−147±14 kJ mol⁻¹/RT) m² s⁻¹, D_Nd =2.4×10⁻¹⁴ exp(−150±13 kJ mol⁻¹/RT) m² s⁻¹, D_Dy =2.9×10⁻¹⁴ exp(−145±25 kJ mol⁻¹/RT) m² s⁻¹, D_Yb =3.9×10⁻¹² exp(−186±23 kJ mol⁻¹/RT) m² s⁻¹. In contrast to previous findings for refractory silicates (e.g. zircon), differences in transport rates among the REE are not pronounced over the range of temperature conditions investigated in this study. Diffusion of the REE is significantly slower than diffusion of the divalent cations Sr and Pb and slower than transport of Ca and C at temperatures above 650°C. Fine-scale zoning and isotopic and REE chemical signatures may be retained in calcites under many conditions if diffusion is the dominant process affecting alteration.     

Paleomagnetism of the Upper Silurian and Lower Devonian carbonates of New York State: evidence for secondary magnetizations residing in magnetite

Paleomagnetic directions for the Upper Silurian and Lower Devonian carbonates of the Helderberg escarpment (New York State) differ from expected Late Silurian and Early Devonian directions for cratonic North America. The mean direction (D = 165°, I = −10°; paleopole at 50°N 129°E) is similar to Late Carboniferous and Early Permian results. Negative fold tests, and a lack of reversals, suggest that the magnetization is secondary. However, low coercivities, low blocking temperatures, the thermomagnetic curves (T_C near 570°C) and the acquisition of isothermal remanent magnetizations all suggest that the remanence is carried by magnetite. If a detrital origin of these magnetites is assumed, the secondary nature of the remanence would argue for thermal resetting as a result of deep burial of the rocks. However, no evidence for such thermal resetting is seen in the alteration of conodonts. More likely perhaps is a chemical or thermochemical origin of the remanence; this would require the magnetites to be authigenic.     

拉萨地块中部晚白垩世火山岩Ar-Ar年代学和古地磁研究结果及其构造意义

为进一步确定拉萨地块白垩纪-古近纪的古地理位置,我们对青藏高原拉萨地块措勤地区林子宗火山岩18个采点进行了古地磁研究.结果表明高温(高场)特征剩磁分量主要为亚铁磁性的磁铁矿所携带,特征剩磁分量在95%置信水平下通过了褶皱检验. 倾斜校正后采点平均的特征剩磁方向为D/I=16.2°/17.7°, α95=5.6°,对应古地磁极位置为63.1°N,224.6°E,A95=5.1°. 另一方面,Ar-Ar年代学结果表明采样剖面的林子宗火山岩形成年龄为~99-93 Ma, 与拉萨地块林周盆地的林子宗群火山岩的形成年龄存在较大差异.由此我们得到晚白垩世拉萨地块中部措勤地区的古纬度为8.5°±6.9°N,与林周盆地古近纪林子宗群典中组和年波组所揭示出的古纬度相当,进一步表明亚洲大陆最南缘的拉萨地块在晚白垩世-古近世期间位于北半球~10°N的低纬度地区.结合最新的特提斯海相地层古地磁结果,晚白垩世-古近世拉萨地块的古地理位置限定了印度与欧亚大陆的初始碰撞时间不晚于60.5 Ma;~93 Ma以来,拉萨地块和单一刚性欧亚大陆之间存在~1900 km的构造缩短.     

扬子地块奥陶系碳酸盐岩重磁化机制探讨

碳酸盐岩是记录古地磁场信息的重要载体,然而,广泛存在的重磁化现象制约了碳酸盐岩在古地磁研究中的应用,其重磁化机制亟待解决.本文对采自贵州羊蹬地区的319块奥陶系碳酸盐岩定向样品作了详细的古地磁学和岩石磁学研究,其结果表明,94%样品(A类)记录了单一剩磁分量A,其解阻温度低于450℃;在地理坐标系下的平均方向为Dg/Ig=3.1°/48.1°(α95=2.9°),对应的古地磁极(87.0°N,2.8°E,A95=3.0°)与扬子地块古近纪-第四纪的古地磁极重合.6%样品(B类)记录了两个磁化分量,其高温分量(450℃~585℃)与A分量显著不同,但明显远离扬子块体早古生代古地磁极;低温分量(< 450℃)与A分量类似.说明羊蹬剖面奥陶系碳酸盐岩记录了两期重磁化.A分量和B低温分量的主要载磁矿物为磁黄铁矿(胶黄铁矿),B高温分量的主要载磁矿物为磁铁矿.这些磁性矿物都是成岩后的次生矿物.其中,解阻温度高于450℃的磁铁矿可能受晚燕山期造山运动影响生成;磁黄铁矿(胶黄铁矿)等矿物可能与印度板块与欧亚大陆碰撞引起的喜马拉雅造山运动所产生的流体作用有关,以后一期重磁化为主.新生代早期青藏高原隆升产生的流体在流经东南缘的碳酸盐岩等沉积岩层时,与原岩发生相互作用,使磁黄铁矿、胶黄铁矿、磁铁矿等磁性矿物生长并获得化学剩磁,造成了广泛重磁化.     

鲁科一井上白垩统沉积岩岩石磁学和天然剩磁分析:兼论利用剩磁方向恢复钻孔岩芯原始方位的可行性

本文对"鲁科一井"（CCSD-LK-Ⅰ）768.9~1112.3 m之间的上白垩统沉积岩样品进行了岩石磁学、磁化率各向异性（AMS）以及天然剩磁组分的研究.在此基础上,分析了利用特征剩磁（ChRM）和黏滞剩磁（VRM）方向恢复岩芯原始方位的可行性.三轴等温剩磁热退磁曲线、磁滞回线、反向场退磁曲线、一阶反转曲线等岩石磁学测量结果表明,沉积岩的主要载磁矿物为磁铁矿和赤铁矿.335块样品的AMS测量结果表明磁化率椭球主轴的最大轴K1和中间轴K2与水平面夹角较小,最小轴K3接近垂直于水平面分布,说明沉积岩保留了原始沉积磁组构特征.系统热退磁实验表明,多数样品在25~350℃和500~690℃温度段分别获得VRM和ChRM分量.利用ChRM偏角方向,并考虑构造旋转量校正,对VRM偏角方向进行恢复,Fisher统计得到DVRM=-1.3°,IVRM=59.6°,与当地现代地磁场方向（D=-6.7°,I=53.9°）基本一致.用ChRM偏角方向对磁化率主轴K1偏角方向进行校正,校正的结果为：Dch_K1=349.2°,Ich_K1=-0.7°.本文研究结果对于地质勘探中利用古地磁学方法恢复钻孔岩芯原始方位具有一定参考意义.     

Prediction of siderophile element metal-silicate partition coefficients to 20 GPa and 2800°C: the effects of pressure, temperature, oxygen fugacity, and silicate and metallic melt compositions

We report new metal-silicate partition coefficients for Ni, Co and P at 7.0 GPa (1650–1750°C), and Ni, Co, Mo, W and P at 0.8, 1.0 and 1.5 GPa (1300–1400°C). Guided by thermodynamics, all available metal-silicate partition coefficients, D(i), where i is Ni, Co, P, Mo and W, are regressed against 1/T, P/T, lnf(O₂), ln(1 − X_s) (X_S is mole fraction of S in metallic liquid) and nbo/t (non-bridging oxygen/tetrahedral cation ratio, a silicate melt compositional-structural parameter) to derive equations of the following form: ln D(i) = aln f(O₂) + (b/T) + (cP/T) + d(nbo/t) + eln(1 − X_S) + f. Expressions for solid metal-liquid silicate and liquid metal-liquid silicate partition coefficients are derived for S-free and S-bearing systems.

We investigate whether Earth's upper-mantle siderophile element abundances can be reconciled with simple metal-silicate equilibrium. Sulfur-free metallic compositions do not allow a good fit. However, Ni, Co, Mo, W and P abundances in the upper mantle are consistent with simple metal-silicate equilibrium at mantle pressures and temperatures (27 GPa, 2200 K, ΔIW(iron-wüstite) = −0.15, nbo/t = 2.7; X_S = 0.15). Although these conditions are near the anhydrous peridotite solidus, they are well above the hydrous solidus and probably closer to the liquidus. A hydrous magma ocean and early mantle are consistent with predicted planetary accretion models. These results suggest that siderophile element abundances in Earth's upper mantle were established by liquid metal-liquid silicate equilibrium near the upper-mantle-lower-mantle boundary.     

Study of the effect of a thermal treatment on the DE determination in ESR dating of speleothems

The choice of the ESR signal in the dating of speleothems is still debated. Among the peaks observed in speleothem ESR spectra, the most frequently signals used for the determination of the palaeodoses are the peaks at g=2.0007 (h3 line), g=2.0040 (Broad Line) and g=2.0057 (h1 line).

In order to determine the better analytical way to obtain reproducible D_E values from these three ESR signals, successive additional annealing treatments ranging from 60–300 °C were performed on several samples of a stalagmitic floor from the Mousterian site of the Caverna delle Fate (Liguria, Italy), also dated by U-series between 90 and130 ka. The results confirm that D_E values can be obtained from h3 and BL signals without annealing, while the h1 signal requires a thermal pre-treatment, to obtain the maximum intensity of this line. Then, on our samples, the D_Evalues derived for the three lines are equivalent. It gives, hence, the opportunity to obtain data when the g=2.0007 line cannot be used.     

Heavy REE are compatible in clinopyroxene on the spinel lherzolite solidus

Trace element partitioning between clinopyroxene and melt was investigated experimentally under conditions appropriate to near-solidus melting of spinel lherzolite in the upper mantle. Starting material was a high-Na, Al basalt glass previously shown to be a very low degree (1%) partial melt of spinel lherzolite at 1.5 GPa, 1269°C [Robinson et al., Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., in press]. The experiment was run with a spinel seed under sub-liquidus conditions (1255°C) to ensure clinopyroxene crystallisation. The experimental clinopyroxene composition is consistent with equilibrium close to the solidus of fertile mantle lherzolite, most notably in its high contents of Ca-Tschermak's (CaTs) molecule (22 mol %) and Na₂O (1.4 wt%). Clinopyroxene–melt partition coefficients (D) for a wide range of trace elements, determined by SIMS analysis of run products, differ markedly from those reported in other studies under conditions less appropriate to mantle melting. In particular partition coefficients for the heavy rare earth elements (Gd–Lu) are greater than unity (e.g. D_Lu=1.45), and the critical partitioning parameter, (D_Sm/D_Nd)×(D_Hf/D_Lu), is 0.68. These features, which arise due to the high CaTs content of the clinopyroxene, dramatically reduce the required involvement of garnet in the melting region beneath mid-ocean ridges.