Titan's surface and rotation: new results from Voyager 1 images

We present an analysis of images of Saturn's moon Titan, obtained by the Voyager 1 spacecraft on November 8-12, 1980. Orange filter (590-640 nm) images were photometrically corrected and a longitudinal average removed from them, leaving residual images with up to 5% contrast, and dominated by surface reflectivity. The resultant map shows the same regions observed at 673 nm by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Many of the same albedo features are present in both datasets, despite the short wavelength (600 nm) of the Voyager 1 images. A very small apparent longitudinal offset over the 14 year observation interval places tight constraints on Titan's rotation, which appears essentially synchronous at 15.9458±0.0016 days (orbital period =15.945421±0.000005 days). The detectability of the surface at such short wavelengths puts constraints on the optical depth, which may be overestimated by some fractal models.     

Geochemistry, tectonic setting and geodynamic significance of late orogenic dikes in the Melibocus Massif, Bergsträsser Odenwald

Summary The Melibocus Massif forms a tonalite pluton in the W’ Bergstr?sser Odenwald, which is interpreted as part of a magmatic arc of Devonian to Carboniferous age. Dikes of various compositions intrude frequently this tonalite. Different dike-lithologies are associated with different strike directions. Most dikes show evidence of high-temperature shearing. A probable maximum paleostress direction of ca. 060° can be estimated, i.e. nearly parallel to the known Variscan subduction zone in the Northwest. Due to their ductile deformation under conditions around the Ar-closing temperature of amphibole, intrusion likely occurred during the Carboniferous (Mississippian). The gabbroic to dioritic dikes (malchites) have calc-alkaline composition. Comparison with modern analogues suggests subduction-related arc magmatism. Rare earth element distributions indicate more than 5% partial melting of the mantle source with limited amounts of residual garnet. In contrast to the tonalite pluton the granitoid dikes (alsbachites) are of S-type origin, as indicated by primary muscovite and chemical composition. This requires involvement of continental material in the dike’s source rather than in the tonalite host rock’s source. The trace element chemistry of these dikes indicates magma formation in a convergent plate tectonic situation, i.e. a magmatic arc regime. Therefore, the dikes are probably the late part of the same subduction-related magmatism, which produced the tonalitic and other plutons of the Bergstr?sser Odenwald. In contrast to the large pluton-forming magmas, formation of the dikes during late or post-collisional extension or transtension followed by a phase of compression or transpression is probable.

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Zusammenfassung Geochemie, tektonische Stellung und geodynamische Signifikanz sp?torogener G?nge im Melibocus Massiv, Bergstr?sser Odenwald Der Melibokus Tonalit-Pluton geh?rt zum Bergstr?sser Odenwald, der als Teil eines devonisch-karbonischen magmatischen Bogens interpretiert wird. In diesem Pluton treten sehr h?ufig magmatische G?nge unterschiedlicher Zusammensetzung auf. Die Arbeit zeigt, dass die G?nge unterschiedlicher Zusammensetzung unterschiedliche Streichrichtungen haben. Die meisten der untersuchten G?nge zeigen Hochtemperatur-Schergefüge. Aus der Lage der zerscherten G?nge l?sst sich eine Pal?ostressrichtung mit 060° für Sigma 1 ableiten. Diese Richtung weicht nur unwesentlich von der bekannten variskischen Subduktionszone im Nordwesten ab. Aufgrund ihrer Hochtemperatur-Gefüge, die im Bereich der Schlie?ungstemperatur von Ar in Hornblenden gebildet wurden, ist das Alter der G?nge wahrscheinlich ebenfalls als Karbon (Mississippian) einzustufen. Die gabbroiden bis dioritischen G?nge (Malchite) haben eine kalkalkaline Zusammensetzung. Der Vergleich mit rezenten Magmatiten deutet auf eine Entstehung in einem magmatischen Bogen (Kontinentalrand) hin. Die Seltenerdelementverteilung der G?nge zeigt einen wahrscheinlichen Aufschmelzungsgrad der Mantelquellregion von über 5% bei einem geringen Anteil von residualem Granat an. Im Gegensatz zu den tonalitischen Nebengesteinen zeigen die granitoiden G?nge anhand ihrer modalen (Muskovit) als auch chemischen Zusammensetzung S-Typ-Charakter. Dies bedeutet eine h?here Beteiligung krustaler Komponente in der Magmenquelle als dies für den Tonalit angenommen werden darf. Die Spurenelementchemie der granitoiden G?nge zeigt ebenfalls eine Bildung in einem konvergenten plattentektonischen Regime, d.h. innerhalb eines magmatischen Bogens. Die G?nge stellen somit vermutlich das Produkt eines sp?ten Abschnittes des subduktionsbezogenen Magmatismus, der auch die Tonalite und andere Plutone im zentralen Bergstr?sser Odenwald geschaffen hat, dar. Im Gegensatz zu dem Magmatismus der die Plutone erzeugt hat, sind die G?nge wahrscheinlich gegen Ende der Kollision oder nachfolgend auf diese in eine sich dehnende Kruste intrudiert und in einem nachfolgenden kompressiven Regime deformiert worden.

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Received August 31, 1999; revised version accepted October 9, 2000     

Theory of gravitational radiation of the (Ω,A µν )-field

Further exploration of the -field theory as first proposed by Yu (1989) is here presented to cover the equation of motion of a test particle which induces gravitational radiation. The same theory is shown to contain an exact gravitational radiation equation derived as a logical consequence of field equations without extra postulates. In this general dynamic context the theory is renamed The (,A _µ )-field Theory.     

Thermochronometry and palaeomagnetism of the Archaean Nelshoogte Pluton, South Africa

²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb single-grain zircon, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar single-grain hornblende and biotite, and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar bulk-sample muscovite and biotite ages from the Nelshoogte trondhjemite pluton located in eastern Transvaal, South Africa, show that this granitoid had a protracted thermal history spanning 3213±4  Ma to about 3000  Ma. Whole-rock ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages from cross-cutting dolerite dykes indicate that these were intruded at about 1900  Ma. There is no evidence of this or other, later events significantly affecting the argon systematics of the minerals from the pluton dated by the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar method.
  The pluton has a well-defined palaeomagnetic pole which is dated at 3179±18 (2 σ ) Ma by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of hornblende. This pole (18°N, 310°E, A ₉₅=9°) yields a palaeolatitude of 0°, significantly different from other Archaean poles from the Kaapvaal Craton. The palaeolatitude difference implies that there was significant apparent polar wander during the Archaean. A second, overprinting magnetization seen in the pluton is also seen in the lower-Proterozoic dolerite dykes, and is consistent with other lower-Proterozoic (2150–1950  Ma) poles for southern Africa.     

How to drive roAp stars

Rapidly oscillating Ap stars constitute a unique class of pulsators with which to study non-radial oscillations under some — even for stars — unusual physical conditions. These stars are chemically peculiar, they have strong magnetic fields and they often pulsate in several high-order acoustic modes simultaneously. We discuss here an excitation mechanism for short-period oscillation modes based on the classical κ mechanism. We particularly stress the conditions that must be fulfilled for successful driving. Specifically, we discuss the roles of the chemical peculiarity and strong magnetic field on the oscillation modes and what separates these pulsators from δ Scuti and Am-type stars.     

The magnetic effects of brecciation and shock in meteorites: III. The achondrites

We present results of a magnetic survey of achondritic meteorites, representing the aubrites (A), diogenites (D), Irowardites (H), and eucrites (E) groups and relate their magnetic behavior to respective class characteristics and models of origin.Magnetic susceptibility (x) values cluster well within each group and decrease systematically between groups (from 2 to 0.1×10^–3GOe^–1 cm^–3), with the average metal contents, (from 1 to <0.1 wt%) in the above order. The natural remanent magnetization (NRM) values range broadly within each group, but group averages decrease roughly as above. However, the considerable within-sample and intra-group variability in NRM level and its demagnetization characteristics attest to inhomogeneous and localized brecciation effects. Although petrological-chemical studies resolve a primary component of magmatic differentiation on the planetoid of origin, no clear magnetic record of such event has been preserved. The magnetization of achondrites is mainly the product of their complex, multi-stage impact brecciation and metamorphism history, in accord with other lines of evidence.The magnetic behavior of achondrites is remarkably similar to that characteristic of lunar breccias and impact-melt rocks and reinforces their analogous mode of genesis, as brought out by chemical and petrographic analyses.     

12. Betrachtungen zur Großtektonik des subäquatorialen Afrika

Zusammenfassung Gegen die Einpassung des afrikanischen Werdeganges in den Rahmen eines uralten ONO gerichteten Felderbaues der Kruste werden Bedenken geltend gemacht. Einer Deutung der Großtektonik im Sinne der Verschiebungstheorie wird der Vorzug gegeben.