Redox-controlled iron isotope fractionation during magmatic differentiation: an example from the Red Hill intrusion, S. Tasmania

This study presents accurate and precise iron isotopic data for 16 co-magmatic rocks and 6 pyroxene–magnetite pairs from the classic, tholeiitic Red Hill sill in southern Tasmania. The intrusion exhibits a vertical continuum of compositions created by in situ fractional crystallisation of a single injection of magma in a closed igneous system and, as such, constitutes a natural laboratory amenable to determining the causes of Fe isotope fractionation in magmatic rocks. Early fractionation of pyroxenes and plagioclase, under conditions closed to oxygen exchange, gives rise to an iron enrichment trend and an increase in $ f_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $ of the melt relative to the Fayalite–Magnetite–Quartz (FMQ) buffer. Enrichment in Fe³⁺/ΣFe_melt is mirrored by δ⁵⁷Fe, where ^VIFe²⁺-bearing pyroxenes partition ⁵⁷Fe-depleted iron, defining an equilibrium pyroxene-melt fractionation factor of $ \Updelta^{57} {\text{Fe}}_{{{\text{px}} - {\text{melt}}}} \le - 0.25\,\permille \times 10^{6} /T^{2} $ . Upon magnetite saturation, the $ f_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $ and δ⁵⁷Fe of the melt fall, commensurate with the sequestration of the oxidised, ⁵⁷Fe-enriched iron into magnetite, quantified as $ \Updelta^{57} {\text{Fe}}_{{{\text{mtn}} - {\text{melt}}}} = + 0.20\,\permille \times 10^{6} /T^{2} $ . Pyroxene–magnetite pairs reveal an equilibrium fractionation factor of $ \Updelta^{57} {\text{Fe}}_{{{\text{mtn}} - {\text{px}}}} \approx + 0.30\,\permille $ at 900–1,000?°C. Iron isotopes in differentiated magmas suggest that they may act as an indicator of their oxidation state and tectonic setting.     

A multi-isotope approach for understanding sources of water,carbon and sulfur in natural springs of the Central Appalachian region

Natural springs have been reliable sources of domestic water and have allowed for the development of recreational facilities and resorts in the Central Appalachians. The structural history of this area is complex and it is unknown whether these natural springs receive significant recharge from modern precipitation or whether they discharge old water recharged over geological times scales. The main objective of this study was to use stable isotopes of water ( $\delta^{18} {\text{O}}_{{{\text{H}}_{2} {\text{O}}}}$ and $\delta^{2} {\text{H}}_{{{\text{H}}_{2} {\text{O}}}}$ ), dissolved inorganic carbon ( $\delta^{13} {\text{C}}_{\text{DIC}}$ ) and dissolved sulfate ( $\delta^{34} {\text{S}}_{{{\text{SO}}_{4} }}$ and $\delta^{18} {\text{O}}_{{{\text{SO}}_{4} }}$ ) to delineate sources of water, carbon and sulfur in several natural springs of the region. Our preliminary isotope data indicate that all springs are being recharged by modern precipitation. The oxygen isotope composition indicates that waters in thermal springs did not encounter the high temperatures required for O isotope exchange between the water and silicate/carbonate minerals, and/or the residence time of water in the aquifers was short due to high flow rates. The carbon isotopic composition of dissolved inorganic carbon and sulfur/oxygen isotopic composition of dissolved sulfate provide evidence of low-temperature water–rock interactions and various biogeochemical transformations these waters have undergone along their flow path.     

A micro-Mössbauer study of chromites included in diamond and other mantle-related rocks

Oxygen fugacity ( $ f_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }} $ f O 2 ) is a fundamental but little known intensive variable in mantle processes. It influences the P/T position of a mantle solidus and the composition of mantle-derived melts and fluids and constrains mantle-core equilibria and a number of geophysical properties of the mantle. An important source of information on oxidation states is the ferric–ferrous iron ratio in mantle spinels. Since the magnetite component is low in mantle spinels, normal analytical errors translate into considerable $ f_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }} $ f O 2 uncertainties. In this study, we analyzed the Fe³⁺–Fe_tot ratio of chromites present as inclusions in diamond and other mantle-related occurrences by point-source Mössbauer spectroscopy using single-crystal absorbers as well as conventional Mössbauer spectroscopy using powder absorbers. The studied spinels have been previously analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and electron microprobe. The ferric–ferrous ratios found are normally similar to the different techniques apart from some samples where a large number of grains have been used for the analyses (powder absorbers). The general agreement between the different techniques allows us to conclude that the studied chromites are stoichiometric. However, conventional Mössbauer spectroscopy on powder absorbers should be conducted with great care, since the method requires a relatively large amount of sample material. Spinel frequently occurs as small grains, and the large number of crystals required may possess different degrees of oxidation/alteration and, consequently, different ferric–ferrous ratio leading to possible errors in the interpretation of the results.     

An experimental study of Ti and Zr partitioning among zircon, rutile, and granitic melt

In order to evaluate the effect of trace and minor elements (e.g., P, Y, and the REEs) on the high-temperature solubility of Ti in zircon (zrc), we conducted 31 experiments on a series of synthetic and natural granitic compositions [enriched in TiO₂ and ZrO₂; Al/(Na + K) molar ~1.2] at a pressure of 10 kbar and temperatures of ~1,400 to 1,200 °C. Thirty of the experiments produced zircon-saturated glasses, of which 22 are also saturated in rutile (rt). In seven experiments, quenched glasses coexist with quartz (qtz). SiO₂ contents of the quenched liquids range from 68.5 to 82.3 wt% (volatile free), and water concentrations are 0.4–7.0 wt%. TiO₂ contents of the rutile-saturated quenched melts are positively correlated with run temperature. Glass ZrO₂ concentrations (0.2–1.2 wt%; volatile free) also show a broad positive correlation with run temperature and, at a given T, are strongly correlated with the parameter (Na + K + 2Ca)/(Si·Al) (all in cation fractions). Mole fraction of ZrO₂ in rutile $ \left( {\mathop X\nolimits_{{{\text{ZrO}}_{ 2} }}^{\text{rt}} } \right) $ in the quartz-saturated runs coupled with other 10-kbar qtz-saturated experimental data from the literature (total temperature range of ~1,400 to 675 °C) yields the following temperature-dependent expression: $ {\text{ln}}\left( {\mathop X\nolimits_{{{\text{ZrO}}_{ 2} }}^{\text{rt}} } \right) + {\text{ln}}\left( {a_{{{\text{SiO}}_{2} }} } \right) = 2.638(149) - 9969(190)/T({\text{K}}) $ , where silica activity $ a_{{{\text{SiO}}_{2} }} $ in either the coexisting silica polymorph or a silica-undersaturated melt is referenced to α-quartz at the P and T of each experiment and the best-fit coefficients and their uncertainties (values in parentheses) reflect uncertainties in T and $ \mathop X\nolimits_{{{\text{ZrO}}_{2} }}^{\text{rt}} $ . NanoSIMS measurements of Ti in zircon overgrowths in the experiments yield values of ~100 to 800 ppm; Ti concentrations in zircon are positively correlated with temperature. Coupled with values for $ a_{{{\text{SiO}}_{2} }} $ and $ a_{{{\text{TiO}}_{2} }} $ for each experiment, zircon Ti concentrations (ppm) can be related to temperature over the range of ~1,400 to 1,200 °C by the expression: $ \ln \left( {\text{Ti ppm}} \right)^{\text{zrc}} + \ln \left( {a_{{{\text{SiO}}_{2} }} } \right) - \ln \left( {a_{{{\text{TiO}}_{2} }} } \right) = 13.84\left( {71} \right) - 12590\left( {1124} \right)/T\left( {\text{K}} \right) $ . After accounting for differences in $ a_{{{\text{SiO}}_{2} }} $ and $ a_{{{\text{TiO}}_{2} }} $ , Ti contents of zircon from experiments run with bulk compositions based on the natural granite overlap with the concentrations measured on zircon from experiments using the synthetic bulk compositions. Coupled with data from the literature, this suggests that at T ≥ 1,100 °C, natural levels of minor and trace elements in “granitic” melts do not appear to influence the solubility of Ti in zircon. Whether this is true at magmatic temperatures of crustal hydrous silica-rich liquids (e.g., 800–700 °C) remains to be demonstrated. Finally, measured $ D_{\text{Ti}}^{{{\text{zrc}}/{\text{melt}}}} $ values (calculated on a weight basis) from the experiments presented here are 0.007–0.01, relatively independent of temperature, and broadly consistent with values determined from natural zircon and silica-rich glass pairs.     

The calcium oxotellurate(IV) nitrates Ca5Te4O12(NO3)2(H2O)2 and Ca6Te5O15(NO3)2

Single crystals of two novel calcium oxotellurate(IV) nitrates were grown under hydrothermal conditions and were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction. Ca $_5$ Te $_4\text {O}_{12}$ (NO $_3$ ) $_2$ (H $_2$ O) $_2$ [ $Cc$ , $Z=4$ , $a=25.258(3)$ Å, $b=5.7289(7)$ Å, $c=17.0066(19)$ Å, $\beta =124.377(2)^{\circ}$ , $R[F^2 > 2\sigma (F^2)]=0.043$ , 4083 $F^2$ data, 281 parameters] can be described as a non-classic order/disorder (OD) structure, which fulfills the basic principle of OD theory, viz. local equivalence of polytypes, but does not strictly follow the vicinity condition (VC) of OD theory. The structure is made up from an alternating stacking of non-polar layers composed of isolated [TeO $_3$ ] units and Ca $^{2+}$ ions and polar layers containing NO $_3^-$ ions and water molecules. The electron lone-pairs of the [TeO $_3$ ] units protrude into the free space of the anion/water layers. The crystal under investigation was a non-classic OD-twin of domains of a maximum degree of order (MDO). At the twin plane a fragment of the second MDO polytype is located. The main building blocks of Ca $_6$ Te $_5\text {O}_{15}$ (NO $_3$ ) $_2$ [ $P2_1/c$ , $Z=4$ , $a=15.494(2)$ Å, $b=5.6145(7)$ Å, $c=39.338(4)$ Å, $\beta =142.480(5)^{\circ}$ , $R[F^2 > 2\sigma (F^2)]=0.043$ , 3026 $F^2$ data, 307 parameters] are isolated [TeO $_3$ ] units and Ca $^{2+}$ ions which are connected to a three-dimensional framework perforated by channels in which the N atoms of the nitrate anions are located and the electron lone-pairs of the [TeO $_3$ ] units protrude. The structure can topologically be derived from the structure of Ca $_5$ Te $_4\text {O}_{12}$ (NO $_3$ ) $_2$ (H $_2$ O) $_2$ by removing the water molecules and connecting the CaTeO $_3$ layers with additional [TeO $_3$ ] units and Ca $^{2+}$ ions.     

Magnetic behavior of trioctahedral micas with different octahedral Fe ordering

This contribution is finalized at the discussion of the magnetic structure of two samples, belonging to phlogopite–annite [sample TK, chemical composition ^IV(Si_2.76Al_1.24) ^VI(Al_0.64Mg_0.72 $ {\text{Fe}}_{1.45}^{2 + } $ Mn_0.03Ti_0.15) (K_0.96Na_0.05) O_10.67 (OH)_1.31 Cl_0.02] and polylithionite–siderophyllite joints [sample PPB, chemical composition ^IV(Si_3.14Al_0.86)^VI(Al_0.75Mg_0.01 $ {\text{Fe}}_{1.03}^{2 + } $ $ {\text{Fe}}_{1.03}^{3 + } $ Mn_0.01Ti_0.01Li_1.09) (K_0.99Na_0.01) O_10.00 (OH)_0.65F_1.35]. Samples differ for Fe ordering in octahedral sites, Fe²⁺/(Fe²⁺?+?Fe³⁺) ratio, octahedral composition, defining a different environment around Fe cations, and layer symmetry. Spin-glass behavior was detected for both samples, as evidenced by the dependency of the temperature giving the peak in the susceptibility curve from the frequency of the applied alternating current magnetic field. The crystal chemical features are associated to the different temperature at which the maximum in magnetic susceptibility is observed: 6?K in TK, where Fe is disordered in all octahedral sites, and 8?K in PPB sample, showing a smaller and more regular coordination polyhedron for Fe, which is ordered in the trans-site and in one of the two cis-sites.     

Petrological cannibalism: the chemical and textural consequences of incremental magma body growth

The textures of minerals in volcanic and plutonic rocks testify to a complexity of processes in their formation that is at odds with simple geochemical models of igneous differentiation. Zoning in plagioclase feldspar is a case in point. Very slow diffusion of the major components in plagioclase means that textural evidence for complex magmatic evolution is preserved, almost without modification. Consequently, plagioclase affords considerable insight into the processes by which magmas accumulate in the crust prior to their eventual eruption or solidification. Here, we use the example of the 1980–1986 eruptions of Mount St. Helens to explore the causes of textural complexity in plagioclase and associated trapped melt inclusions. Textures of individual crystals are consistent with multiple heating and cooling events; changes in total pressure (P) or volatile pressure ( $P_{{{\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}}}$ P H 2 O ) are less easy to assess from textures alone. We show that by allying textural and chemical analyses of plagioclase and melt inclusions, including volatiles (H₂O, CO₂) and slow-diffusing trace elements (Sr, Ba), to published experimental studies of Mount St. Helens magmas, it is possible to disambiguate the roles of pressure and temperature to reconstruct magmatic evolutionary pathways through temperature–pressure–melt fraction (T– $P_{{{\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}}}$ P H 2 O –F) space. Our modeled crystals indicate that (1) crystallization starts at $P_{{{\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}}}$ P H 2 O  > 300 MPa, consistent with prior estimates from melt inclusion volatile contents, (2) crystal cores grow at $P_{{{\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}}}$ P H 2 O  = 200–280 MPa at F = 0.65–0.7, (3) crystals are transferred to $P_{{{\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}}}$ P H 2 O  = 100–130 MPa (often accompanied by 10–20 °C of heating), where they grow albitic rims of varying thicknesses, and (4) the last stage of crystallization occurs after minor heating at $P_{{{\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}}}$ P H 2 O  ~ 100 MPa to produce characteristic rim compositions of An₅₀. We hypothesize that modeled $P_{{{\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}}}$ P H 2 O decreases in excess of ~50 MPa most likely represent upward transport through the magmatic system. Small variations in modeled $P_{{{\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}}}$ P H 2 O , in contrast, can be effected by fluxing the reservoir with CO₂-rich vapors that are either released from deeper in the system or transported with the recharge magma. Temperature fluctuations of 20–40 °C, on the other hand, are an inevitable consequence of incremental, or pulsed, assembly of crustal magma bodies wherein each pulse interacts with ancestral, stored magmas. We venture that this “petrological cannibalism” accounts for much of the plagioclase zoning and textural complexity seen not only at Mount St. Helens but also at arc magmas generally. More broadly we suggest that the magma reservoir below Mount St. Helens is dominated by crystal mush and fed by frequent inputs of hotter, but compositionally similar, magma, coupled with episodes of magma ascent from one storage region to another. This view both accords with other independent constraints on the subvolcanic system at Mount St. Helens and supports an emerging view of many active magmatic systems as dominantly super-solidus, rather than subliquidus, bodies.     

Crystallographic preferred orientation in wüstite (FeO) through the cubic-to-rhombohedral phase transition

Magnesiowüstite, (Mg_0.08Fe_0.88)O, and wüstite, Fe_0.94O, were compressed to ~36?GPa at ambient temperature in the diamond anvil cell (DAC) at the Advanced Light Source. X-ray diffraction patterns were taken in situ in radial geometry in order to study the evolution of crystallographic preferred orientation through the cubic-to-rhombohedral phase transition. Under uniaxial stress in the DAC, {100}_c planes aligned perpendicular to the compression direction. The {100}_c in cubic became { $\left\{ {10\bar 14} \right\}$ }_r in rhombohedral and remained aligned perpendicular to the compression direction. However, the {101}_c and {111}_c planes in the cubic phase split into { ${10{\bar{1}}4}$ }_r and { ${11{\bar{2}}0}$ }_r, and (0001)_r and { ${10{\bar{1}}1}$ }_r, respectively, in the rhombohedral phase. The { ${11{\bar{2}}0}$ }_r planes preferentially aligned perpendicular to the compression direction while { ${10{\bar{1}}4}$ }_r oriented at a low angle to the compression direction. Similarly, { ${10{\bar{1}}1}$ }_r showed a slight preference to align more closely perpendicular to the compression direction than (0001)_r. This variant selection may occur because the 〈 ${10{\bar{1}}4}$ 〉_r and [0001]_r directions are the softer of the two sets of directions. The rhombohedral texture distortion may also be due to subsequent deformation. Indeed, polycrystal plasticity simulations indicate that for preferred { ${10{\bar{1}}4}$ }〈 ${1{\bar{2}}10}$ 〉_r and { ${11{\bar{2}}0}$ }〈 ${{\bar{1}}101}$ 〉_r slip and slightly less active { ${10{\bar{1}}1}$ }〈 ${{\bar{1}}2{\bar{1}}0}$ 〉_r slip, the observed texture pattern can be obtained.     

Djerfisherite: nebular source of refractory potassium

Djerfisherite is an important carrier of potassium in highly reduced enstatite chondrites, where it occurs in sub-round metal-sulfide nodules. These nodules were once free-floating objects in the protoplanetary nebula. Here, we analyze existing and new data to derive an equation of state (EOS) for djerfisherites of $ {\text{K}}_{ 6} ({\text{Cu}},{\text{Fe}},{\text{Ni}})^{B} ({\text{Fe}},{\text{Ni}},{\text{Cu}})_{24}^{C} {\text{S}}_{ 2 6} {\text{Cl}} $ K 6 ( Cu , Fe , Ni ) B ( Fe , Ni , Cu ) 24 C S 2 6 Cl structural formula. We use this EOS to calculate the thermal stability of djerfisherite coexisting in equilibrium with a cooling vapor of solar composition enriched in a dust analogous to anhydrous, chondritic interplanetary dust (C-IDP). We find that condensed mineral assemblages closely match those found in enstatite chondrites, with djerfisherite condensing above 1,000 K in C-IDP dust-enriched systems. Results may have implications for the volatile budgets of terrestrial planets and the incorporation of K into early formed, highly reduced, planetary cores. Previous work links enstatite chondrites to the planet Mercury, where the surface has a terrestrial K/Th ratio, high S/Si ratio, and very low FeO content. Mercury’s accretion history may yield insights into Earth’s.     

The ferric-ferrous ratio of natural silicate liquids equilibrated in air

Results of chemical analyses of glasses produced in 46 melting experiments in air at 1,350° C and 1,450° C on rocks ranging in composition from nephelinite to rhyolite have been combined with other published data to obtain an empirical equation relating in \((X_{{\text{Fe}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{3}} }^{{\text{liq}}} /X_{{\text{FeO}}}^{{\text{liq}}} )\) to T, \(\ln f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } \) and bulk composition. The whole set of experimental data range over 1,200–1,450° C and oxygen fugacities of 10^?9.00 to 10^?0.69 bars, respectively. The standard errors of temperature and \(\log _{10} f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } \) predictions from this equation are 52° C and 0.5 units, respectively, for 186 experiments.     

Partition of Ni between olivine and sulfide: the effect of temperature,f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } and f_{{\text{S}}_{\text{2}} }

The experimental distribution coefficient for Ni/ Fe exchange between olivine and monosulfide (K_D3) is 35.6±1.1 at 1385° C, \(f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } = 10^{ - 8.87} ,f_{{\text{S}}_{\text{2}} } = 10^{ - 1.02} \) , and olivine of composition Fo96 to Fo92. These are the physicochemical conditions appropriate to hypothesized sulfur-saturated komatiite magma. The present experiments equilibrated natural olivine grains with sulfide-oxide liquid in the presence of a (Mg, Fe)-alumino-silicate melt. By a variety of different experimental procedures, K _D3 is shown to be essentially constant at about 30 to 35 in the temperature range 900 to 1400° C, for olivine of composition Fo97 to FoO, monosulfide composition with up to 70 mol. % NiS, and a wide range of \(f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } \) and \(f_{{\text{S}}_{\text{2}} } \) .     

Chemistry, Raman and infrared spectroscopic characterization of the phosphate mineral reddingite: (MnFe)3(PO4)2(H2O,OH)3, a mineral found in lithium-bearing pegmatite

Detailed investigation of an intermediate member of the reddingite–phosphoferrite series, using infrared and Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microcopy and electron microprobe analysis, has been carried out on a homogeneous sample from a lithium-bearing pegmatite named Cigana mine, near Conselheiro Pena, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The determined formula is $ ({\text{Mn}}_{1.60} {\text{Fe}}_{1.21} {\text{Ca}}_{0.01} {\text{Mg}}_{0.01} )_{\sum 2.83} ({\text{PO}}_{4} )_{2.12} \cdot ({\text{H}}_{2} {\text{O}}_{2.85} {\text{F}}_{0.01} )_{\sum 2.86} $ , indicating predominance in the reddingite member. Raman spectroscopy coupled with infrared spectroscopy supports the concept of phosphate, hydrogen phosphate and dihydrogen phosphate units in the structure of reddingite-phosphoferrite. Infrared and Raman bands attributed to water and hydroxyl stretching modes are identified. Vibrational spectroscopy adds useful information to the molecular structure of reddingite–phosphoferrite.     

Natural Cr(VI) contamination of groundwater in the Cecina coastal area and its inner sectors (Tuscany,Italy)

A detailed hydrogeochemical study of groundwater in the Cecina coastal plain (Livorno province, Italy) and its inner sectors was undertaken in 2008, as chemical analyses carried out on groundwater since 2006 have revealed Cr(VI) concentrations of up to 49 μg/L (well above the permissible limit of 5 μg/L). Ophiolite outcrops are present throughout the study area, and their fragments likely represent a significant portion of the existing multilayered aquifer skeleton. Waters delivered by the serpentinite outcrops have a typically Mg–HCO₃ composition, whereas those of the coastal plain are prevailingly of the Ca/Mg–HCO₃ type with significant Mg contents. Significant NO₃ contamination characterises the studied coastal plain, and an interesting negative correlation exists between Cr(VI) and both NO₃ and SO₄ deriving from the widespread use of (NH₄)₂SO₄ as a farm fertilizer. Chromium speciation calculations carried out using the EQ3NR code reveal that the prevailing Cr(VI) species in solution is CrO₄ ^2?; however, CaCrO₄° and MgCrO₄° neutral complexes represent significant percentages (up to 42 %). These findings suggest that the mobility and consequently the bioavailability of Cr(VI) can be significantly enhanced by these neutral complexes, which are not considered to be affected by adsorption/desorption processes. The Cr(VI) source, investigated by means of the Mg/SiO₂ molar ratio, seems to be represented mainly by Mg-bearing minerals of the chlorite group. Petrographic observations confirm the occurrence of this mineral group. The interaction between rainwater and the local serpentinite rock was simulated at different $P_{{{\text{CO}}_{ 2} }}$ and $P_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }}$ conditions by reaction path modelling using the EQ3/6 software package. $P_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }}$ was varied in accordance with the assumption that redox conditions are determined in part by NO₃. Results are in good agreement with experimental data on spring waters and subordinately with data on some coastal plain groundwater, which plot in a rather wide $P_{{{\text{CO}}_{ 2} }}$ and $P_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }}$ field. Although the dissolved Cr content is mostly of natural origin, fertilization may affect its fate.     

P wave attenuation structure beneath the Kanto district and surrounding area, Japan

Spectral ratios of teleseismic P waves for 15 deep (>200 km) earthquakes recorded at 146 High-Sensitivity Seismographic Network stations in the Kanto district and its surrounding area, eastern Japan, were inverted for attenuation parameter $ t_P^{ * } $ . The dataset consisted of good-quality vertical-component seismograms, whose P phases were handpicked. The P wave spectral ratios with high signal-to-noise ratios were calculated up to 1 Hz for all the station pairs, linear regressed, and then inverted for $ t_P^{ * } $ using the technique of least squares . The result showed that the active volcanic areas were clearly characterized by high $ t_P^{ * } $ . In contrast, $ t_P^{ * } $ varied in the nonvolcanic areas. The present result on the $ t_P^{ * } $ distribution was roughly consistent with the shallow part (<30 km) of an attenuation structure, which has been previously obtained based on 3-D tomography by using records of high-frequency (around 5 Hz) P waves from local earthquakes. This suggested that the present method of $ t_P^{ * } $ estimation is valid. The advantage and possible application to other areas were also discussed.     

Oxygen potential of diamond formation in the lower mantle

Thermodynamic calculations have shown that when a metallic phase arising due to ferroan ion disproportionation is contained in lower-mantle rocks, carbon occurs as iron carbide and the oxygen fugacity corresponds to the equilibrium of ferropericlase with Fe-Ni alloy. The typical values of oxygen fugacity in zones of diamond formation in the lower mantle lie between the iron-wüstite buffer and six logarithmic units above this level. The processes that proceed in the lower mantle give rise to variation of $f_{O_2 }$ within several orders of magnitude above the elevated $f_{O_2 }$ values, which are necessary for the formation of diamond, as compared with a common level typical of the lower mantle. The mechanisms responsible for redox differentiation in the lower mantle comprise the subduction of oxidized crustal material, mechanical separation of metallic phase and silicate-oxide mineral assemblage enriched in ferric ions, as well as transfer of fused silicate material presumably enriched in Fe³⁺ through the mantle.     

The Activity of H2O,Fugacity of O2 and Variation of Their Chemical Potential During Metamorphic Peak of the Granulite Complex Near Taipingzhai—Louzishan Region,East Hebei Province

The thermodynamic calculation of dehydration reacton suggests very low activity of H2O during metamorphic peak of the Archaean granulite complex in the region studied.The αH2O values for Al-rich gneiss and hypersthene biotite gneiss-granulite in the Taipingzhai region are usually between 0.10 and 0.20,and those in the Louzishan region are 0.15-0.25.The fugacity of O2 in terms of lgf O2 in whole region ranges form-8to-14.The average coefficients of (δμH2O/δHMg^Bt)and(δμO2/δXMg^Bt)in the Taipingzhai region are-0.293 and-1.60 respectively,and those in the Louzishan region are-0.364and-1.420.The activity of H2O is very low in the whole region,but its values and other data mentioned above are considerably constant from place to place within a given region,even in rocks of dirrerent lithological characters.However,they show a certain gradient between different regions.Such characteristics are compatible with the genetic mechanism known as“carbonic metamorphism” put forward by Newton et al.,i.e.,the α H2O during the peak stage is controlled by permeation of pervasive CO2 influx of the mantle source,and shows features of external buffering.     

Biradical states of oxygen-vacancy defects in ��-quartz: centers E_{2}^{\prime \prime } and E_{4}^{\prime \prime }

Several new radiation defects with total electron spin S?=?1 occurring in electron-irradiated, synthetic ??-quartz have been observed by using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. These defects are considered to be biradicals, i.e., pairs of S?=?1/2 species. The concentration of these centers depends on the condition of the fast-electron irradiation. They have different decay behaviors that allow measurements of any individual species especially when it predominates over the others. The primary spin Hamiltonian parameter matrices g ₁, g ₂, D have now been determined for two similar defects, which herein are labeled $ E_{2}^{\prime \prime } $ and $ E_{4}^{\prime \prime } $ . Inter-electron distances estimated by using the magnetic dipole model, suggest that the structures of centers $ E_{2}^{\prime \prime } $ and $ E_{4}^{\prime \prime } $ both involve the unpaired electrons each located in orbitals of two silicon atoms next to a common oxygen vacancy but which have slightly different Si?CSi distances at 0.90 and 0.79?nm, respectively. This model is consistent with previous DFT calculations of the triplet configurations with local energetic minima. Observed decay behaviors suggest a transformation of centers $ E_{2,4}^{\prime \prime } $ to the analogous $ E_{1}^{\prime \prime } $ center. These triplet centers in quartz provide new insights into the structures of analogous defects in amorphous silica.     

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.     

The system Fe-Si-O: Oxygen buffer calibrations to 1,500K

The five solid-phase oxygen buffers of the system Fe-Si-O, iron-wuestite (IW), wuestite-magnetite (WM), magnetite-hematite (MH), quartz-iron-fayalite (QIF) and fayalite-magnetite-quartz (FMQ) have been recalibrated at 1 atm pressure and temperatures from 800°–1,300° C, using a thermogravimetric gas mixing furnace. The oxygen fugacity, \(f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) was measured with a CaO-doped ZrO₂ electrode. Measurements were made also for wuestite solid solutions in order to determine the redox behavior of wuestites with O/Fe ratios varying from 1.05 to 1.17. For FMQ, additional determinations were carried out at 1 kb over a temperature range of 600° to 800° C, using a modified Shaw membrane. Results agree reasonably well with published data and extrapolations. The reaction parameters K, ΔG _r ^o , ΔH _r ^o , and ΔS _r ^o were calculated from the following log \(f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) /T relations (T in K): $$\begin{gathered} {\text{IW }}\log f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } = - 26,834.7/T + 6.471\left( { \pm 0.058} \right) \hfill \\ {\text{ }}\left( {{\text{800}} - 1,260{\text{ C}}} \right), \hfill \\ {\text{WM }}\log f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } = - 36,951.3/T + 16.092\left( { \pm 0.045} \right) \hfill \\ {\text{ }}\left( {{\text{1,000}} - 1,300{\text{ C}}} \right), \hfill \\ {\text{MH }}\log f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } = - 23,847.6/T + 13.480\left( { \pm 0.055} \right) \hfill \\ {\text{ }}\left( {{\text{1,040}} - 1,270{\text{ C}}} \right), \hfill \\ {\text{QIF }}\log f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } = - 27,517.5/T + 6.396\left( { \pm 0.049} \right) \hfill \\ {\text{ }}\left( {{\text{960}} - 1,140{\text{ C}}} \right), \hfill \\ {\text{FMQ }}\log f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } = - 24,441.9/T + 8.290\left( { \pm 0.167} \right) \hfill \\ {\text{ }}\left( {{\text{600}} - 1,140{\text{ C}}} \right). \hfill \\ \end{gathered}$$ These experimentally determined reaction parameters were combined with published 298 K data to determine the parameters G_f, H_f, and S_f for the phases wuestite, magnetite, hematite, and fayalite from 298 K to the temperatures of the experiments. The T? \(f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) data for wuestite solid solutions were used to obtain activities, excess free energies and Margules mixing parameters. The new data provide a more reliable, consistent and complete reference set for the interpretation of redox reactions at elevated temperatures in experiments and field settings encompassing the crust, mantle and core as well as extraterrestrial environments.     

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.