High field strength element ratios in Archean basalts: a window to evolving sources of mantle plumes?

In terms of high field strength element ratios Nb/Th, Zr/Nb, Nb/Y and Zr/Y, most basalts from non-arc type Archean greenstones are similar to oceanic plateau basalts, suggestive of mantle plume sources. A large number of these basalts have ratios similar to primitive mantle composition. Perhaps the Archean mantle was less fractionated than at present and “primitive mantle” comprised much of the deep mantle and made a significant contribution to mantle plumes. The near absence of Archean greenstone basalts similar to NMORB in composition is also consistent with a relatively unfractionated mantle in which a shallow depleted source (DM) was volumetrically insignificant. The element ratios in basalts also indicate the existence of recycled components (HIMU, EM1, EM2) in the mantle by the Late Archean. This suggests that oceanic lithosphere was recycled into the deep mantle and became incorporated in some mantle plumes by the Late Archean. High field strength element ratios also indicate an important contribution of continental crust or/and subcontinental lithosphere to some non-arc Archean greenstone basalts. This implies that at least thin continental lithosphere was relatively widespread in the Archean.     

Evolution of the skærgaard magma: evidence from crystallized melt inclusions

Polymineralic aggregates composed of clinopyroxene, Fe-Ti oxide minerals, apatite and accessory K-feldspar, biotite, and amphibole are enclosed in cumulus plagioclase grains in the Middle Zone of the Skærgaard intrusion. The chemistry of the minerals in the aggregates, and the textural relations between the aggregates and the host plagioclase grains indicate that they represent inclusions of the contemporaneous melt of the Skærgaard intrusion. Through mass balance calculations a quantitative estimate of the melt composition for this level in the intrusion can be obtained, and this estimate confirms that the silica content in the Middle Zone melt was similar to, or possibly even lower than, the silica content in the initial Skærgaard melt, and relatively enriched in iron.     

Characteristics of magnetic carriers responsible for Late Paleozoic remagnetization in carbonate strata of the mid-continent, U.S.A.

Magnetic analysis of carbonate strata of the mid-continent region of the United States indicates that the Late Paleozoic remagnetization already recognized in the Appalachians also affects almost the entire mid-continent. Magnetic intensity is regionally variable, with more intense magnetizations occurring on intracratonic arches. Magnetization is carried predominately by magnetite, which often occurs in tiny hollow spheroids composed of well formed octahedral microcrysts. Spheroid chemistry and morphology suggests that the magnetite is authigenic, composed of iron extracted from pre-existing pyrite or clay. The timing of the remagnetization, the character of the magnetite, and the regional variation in magnetic intensity support the idea that the remagnetization is a diagenetic consequence of tectonically-driven brine migration.     

Polymer-stabilized emulsions and fine-particle recovery,I. The calcite-quartz system

The interaction between polymer-stabilized oil droplets and fine calcite particles has been studied at pH 10. Large calcite-droplet aggregates form and may be efficiently separated from fine quartz gangue. The influence of particle size, pulp density, oil-droplet size, oil volume, stirring speed and stirring time on separation efficiency have been investigated.     

Estimation using spatially distributed multivariate data: An example with coal quality

A method to estimate several spatially related variables is presented. The method uses principal component analysis to produce cokriging results in a computationally efficient manner and enables a straightforward extension to more than two variables. An example is given that describes the estimation of the coal quality parameters, ash, heating value, and sulfur.     

Evidence for adiabatic decompression melting in the Southern Mariana Arc from high-Mg lavas and melt inclusions

Unusually magnesian (Mg# ∼76) basalts have been sampled from a small submarine volcano situated on the Mariana arc magmatic front. Total alkalis range from 1.7 to 1.94%, Al₂O₃ from 9.09 to 10.3% and CaO from 13.9 to 14.09%. These lavas can be classified based on mineralogy as picrite and ankaramite. Olivine-hosted melt inclusions (MIs) have median MgO contents of 17.17–17.86 wt%, 0.35–0.5% TiO₂, 42–50% SiO₂ and 1.66–3.43% total alkalis, which suggest that the parental magmas were primitive mantle melts. Trace element concentrations for both MIs and lavas are arc-like, although more depleted than most arc lavas. Chlorine (182–334 ppm) and H₂O contents (0.11–0.64 wt%) in the MIs are consistent with the estimated median oxygen fugacities (log ΔFMQ of + 1.53–1.66) which lie at the low end of the range estimates for arc basalts and picrites (ΔFMQ = + 1 to + 3). Isotopic compositions of Sr, Nd, Hf and Pb are similar to those of other Mariana arc lavas and indicate derivation from an Indian Ocean mantle domain. The averaged magmatic temperature estimate from several geothermometers was 1,367°C at 1–1.5 GPa. We propose that high-Mg magmagenesis in this region results from the adiabatic decompression melting of relatively anhydrous but metasomatized mantle wedge. This melting is attributed to enhanced upwelling related to unusual tectonics on the over-riding plate related to a tear or other discontinuity on the subducted slab.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Markov Chain Monte Carlo Implementation of Rock Fracture Modelling

This paper deals with the problem of estimating fracture planes, given only the data at borehole intersections with fractures. We formulate an appropriate model for the problem and give a solution to fitting the planes using a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) implementation. The basics of MCMC are presented, with particular emphasis given to reversible jump, which is required for changing dimensions. We also give a detailed worked example of the MCMC implementation with reversible jump since our implementation relies heavily on this new methodology. The methods are tested on both simulated and real data. The latter is a unique data set in the form of a granite block, which was sectioned into slices. All joints were located and recorded, and the joint planes obtained by stacking strike lines. This work is important in the risk assessment for the underground storage of hazardous waste. Problems and extensions are discussed.     

A planet in transition: The onset of plate tectonics on Earth between 3 and 2 Ga?

Many geological and geochemical changes are recorded on Earth between 3 and 2 Ga.Among the more important of these are the following:(1)increasing proportion of basalts with"arc-like"mantle sources;(2)an increasing abundance of basalts derived from enriched(EM)and depleted(DM)mantle sources;(3)onset of a Great Thermal Divergence in the mantle;(4)a decrease in degree of melting of the mantle;(5)beginning of large lateral plate motions;(6)appearance of eclogite inclusions in diamonds;(7)appearance and rapid increase in frequency of collisional orogens;(8)rapid increase in the production rate of continental crust as recorded by zircon age peaks;(9)appearance of ophiolites in the geologic record,and(10)appearance of global LIP(large igneous province)events some of which correlate with global zircon age peaks.All of these changes may be tied directly or indirectly to cooling of Earth's mantle and corresponding changes in convective style and the strength of the lithosphere,and they may record the gradual onset and propagation of plate tectonics around the planet.To further understand the changes that occurred between 3 and 2 Ga,it is necessary to compare rocks,rock associations,tectonics and geochemistry during and between zircon age peaks.Geochemistry of peak and inter-peak basalts and TTGs needs to be evaluated in terms of geodynamic models that predict the existence of an episodic thermal regime between stagnant-lid and plate tectonic regimes in early planetary evolution.