Kimberlite petrogenesis: Insights from clinopyroxene-melt partitioning experiments at 6 GPa in the CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-CO2 system

In this experimental study, we examine the mineral-melt partitioning of major and trace elements between clinopyroxene and CO₂-rich kimberlitic melts at a pressure of 6 GPa and temperatures of 1410°C and 1430°C. The melts produced contain ∼ 28 wt% dissolved CO₂, and are saturated with olivine and clinopyroxene. To assess the effects of temperature, crystal and melt compositions on trace element partitioning, experiments were performed in the model CaO-MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-CO₂ system. Our results reveal that all the elements studied, except Al, Mg, Si, and Ga, are incompatible in clinopyroxene. Partition coefficients show a considerable range in magnitude, from ∼ 10⁻³ for D_U and D_Ba to ∼ 2.5 for D_Si. The two experimental runs show similar overall partitioning patterns with the D values being lower at 1430°C. Rare earth elements display a wide range of partition coefficients, D_La (0.012-0.026) being approximately one order of magnitude lower than D_Lu (0.18-0.23). Partition coefficients for the 2+ and 3+ cations entering the M2-site exhibit a near-parabolic dependence on radius of the incorporated cations as predicted from the lattice strain model. This underlines the contribution made by the crystal structure toward controlling the distribution of trace elements. Using data obtained in this study combined with that in the published literature, we also discuss the effects that other important parameters, namely, melt composition, pressure, and temperature, could have on partitioning.Our partition coefficients have been used to model the generation of the Group I (GI) kimberlites from South Africa. The numerical modeling shows that kimberlitic melts can be produced by ∼0.5% melting of a MORB-type depleted source that has been enriched by small-degree melts originating from a similar depleted source. This result suggests that the source of GI kimberlites may be located at the lithosphere-asthenosphere transition. Percolation of small degree melts from the asthenosphere would essentially create a metasomatic horizon near the bottom of the non-convecting sublithospheric mantle. Accumulation of such small degree melts together with the presence of volatiles and conductive heating would trigger melting of the ambient mantle and subsequently lead to eruption of kimberlitic melts. Additionally, our model shows that the GI source can be generated by metasomatism of a 2 Ga old MORB source ca. 1 Ga ago. Assuming that MORB-type mantle is the most depleted source of magmas on earth, then this is the oldest age at which the GI source could have existed. However, this age most likely reflects the average age of a series of metasomatic events than that of a single event.     

Geochemistry of sedimentary rocks from Permian–Triassic boundary sections of Tethys Himalaya: implications for paleo-weathering,provenance, and tectonic setting

The geochemical characteristics of two sections—the Permian–Triassic boundary (PTB) Guryul Ravine section, Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Kashmir, India; and the Attargoo section, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India—have been studied in the context of provenance, paleo-weathering, and plate tectonic setting. These sections represent the siliciclastic sedimentary sequence from the Tethys Himalaya. The PTB siliciclastic sedimentary sequence in these regions primarily consists of sandstones and shales with variable thickness. Present studied sandstones and shales of both sections had chemical index of alteration values between 65 and 74; such values reveal low-to-moderate degree of chemical weathering. The chemical index of weathering in studied samples ranged from 71 to 94, suggesting a minor K-metasomatism effect on these samples. Plagioclase index of alteration in studied sections ranged from 68 to 92, indicating a moderate degree of weathering of plagioclase feldspars. The provenance discriminant function diagram suggests that the detritus involved in the formation of present studied siliciclastic sedimentary rocks fall in quartzose sedimentary and felsic igneous provenances. These sediments were deposited in a passive continental margin plate tectonic setting according to their location on a Si₂O versus K₂O/Na₂O tectonic setting diagram.     

Simulation and evaluation of satellite scanner stereo images

During 1986–1996, several satellite missions on Stereoscopy are planned. This paper sumarises an attempt in evaluating these stereoscopic images for cartographic purposes. For the purpose, we have taken into account a proposed Indian experiment on satellite stereoscopy, which will be based on push-broom type scanning and a ground resolution of 70m×70m. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A04KF003 00004     

Bianchi Type I Bulk Viscous Stiff Fluid Tilted Cosmological Model in General Relativity

Bianchi Type I Bulk viscous fluid tilted cosmological model without shearviscosity is investigated. The behaviour of the model in presence andabsence of bulk viscosity is discussed. The physical and geometricalconsequences of the models are also discussed.     

Landslide susceptibility mapping of Tevankarai Ar sub-watershed,Kodaikkanal taluk,India, using weighted similar choice fuzzy model

This paper deals with the landslide susceptibility zonation of Tevankarai Ar sub-watershed using weighted similar choice fuzzy method in a GIS environment. There has been a rapid increase in landslide occurrences in the Kodaikkanal town and area surrounding the town specially in the settlements around the town and road links leading to and from the town. This necessitates a detailed study of slope instability problems in this area. It is observed that these incidences occur frequently during the monsoon and summer showers. Rainfall is identified as the prime triggering factor. Eleven physical factors that cause instability are identified as causative factors from the field investigations and landslide occurrences. Land use pattern, slope gradient, curvature and aspect, weathering index which are evaluated from the weathering ratios of different chemical constituents of the three major lithological variations, soil type, hydraulic conductivity of soil and soil thickness, geomorphology, drainage, and lineament have been utilized to prepare the spatial variation. A weighted similar choice fuzzy model which ranks a set of alternatives by identifying the similarity between the outcome of alternatives and outcome of ideal alternatives is used to rank the causative factors. Each causative factor is classified into sub-categories and rated based on their effect on stimulating the landslide event using qualitative judgment derived from field studies and landslide history. The prepared thematic maps of causative factors are integrated, utilizing the GIS software Arcmap. The outcome has projected the low, moderate, high, and very high landslide susceptibility zones. The high-hazard and very high-hazard areas fall in the northwestern part characterized by croplands and agricultural plantations, while the moderate hazard zones are seen in prominent settlements and low-hazard zones are observed in the sparse settlements and zones of less agricultural activity. The model is verified using the relative landslide density (R) index, and the susceptibility map is found to be consistent with the mapped landslide incidences. The results from this study illustrate that the use of weighted similar choice fuzzy method is suitable for landslide susceptibility mapping on regional scale in growing hill towns as Kodaikkanal town.     

GIS based landslide susceptibility mapping of Tevankarai Ar sub-watershed, Kodaikkanal, India using binary logistic regression analysis

Landslide susceptibility mapping is the first step in regional hazard management as it helps to understand the spatial distribution of the probability of slope failure in an area.An attempt is made to map the landslide susceptibility in Tevankarai Ar subwatershed,Kodaikkanal,India using binary logistic regression analysis.Geographic Information System is used to prepare the database of the predictor variables and landslide inventory map,which is used to build the spatial model of landslide susceptibility.The model describes the relationship between the dependent variable(presence and absence of landslide) and the independent variables selected for study(predictor variables) by the best fitting function.A forward stepwise logistic regression model using maximum likelihood estimation is used in the regression analysis.An inventory of 84 landslides and cells within a buffer distance of 10m around the landslide is used as the dependent variable.Relief,slope,aspect,plan curvature,profile curvature,land use,soil,topographic wetness index,proximity to roads and proximity to lineaments are taken as independent variables.The constant and the coefficient of the predictor variable retained by the regression model are used to calculate the probability of slope failure and analyze the effect of each predictor variable on landslide occurrence in thestudy area.The model shows that the most significant parameter contributing to landslides is slope.The other significant parameters are profile curvature,soil,road,wetness index and relief.The predictive logistic regression model is validated using temporal validation data-set of known landslide locations and shows an accuracy of 85.29 %.     

A rare composite xenolith from Salt Lake Crater,Oahu: high-pressure fractionation and implications for kimberlitic melts in the Hawaiian mantle

A composite xenolith of olivine-bearing garnet clinopyroxenite wall rock intruded by two spinels + garnet veins is described. Vein minerals exhibit textural evidence of a reaction relationship with the mineral phases in the wall rock. Wall rock clinopyroxene contains exsolved blebby garnet and very fine lamellar exsolution of orthopyroxene, indicating that this xenolith had undergone considerable subsolidus cooling. Garnet-clinopyroxene thermometry suggests that the xenolith last equilibrated in the mantle at a temperature of about 1,060 (ᆭ °C). The spinels in the veins are of two kinds: pleonaste (that occurs with vein garnet) and a high-Mg, high-Al titanomagnetite (MAT spinels). Intriguingly, the MAT spinels are chemically very similar to the spinels found as groundmass in kimberlites, are moderately subhedral to euhedral, have a weakly developed cumulate texture, and, at places, show a reaction relation with the pleonaste + garnet (cumulate?) assemblage in the vein. Based on petrographic, chemical, and phase equilibrium considerations, we propose the following evolutionary history of this composite xenolith. (1) In the first stage the olivine-bearing garnet clinopyroxenite formed as crystal extracts (cumulates) as a result of high pressure fractionation of an alkaline melt in the deepest levels of Hawaiian lithosphere/uppermost asthenosphere (100-110 km). (2) In the second stage, igneous veining (the melt composition of this vein is not precisely known but could be kimberlitic) occurs in the already existing wall rock resulting in the precipitation of pleonaste + garnet. A reaction relation between the igneous veins and the wall rock also characterizes this stage. (3) The last igneous episode in this xenolith is recorded by MAT spinels in the wall rock and their precipitation close to the previous pleonaste + garnet veins. The last igneous stage could well be due again to high pressure fractionation of a kimberlitic melt (the residual melt after precipitation of pleonaste + garnet). The time relationship between exsolution and the later igneous veining stages is not known. The MAT spinels are not a result of sub-solidus solvus processes as partial reaction (melt present) between the pleonaste + garnet (from the second igneous stage) and MAT spinel exists, pointing to the igneous nature of the MAT spinel. Based on striking similarity between the MAT spinels in our xenolith and those found as groundmass in kimberlites, we propose that the veining stages could well have been kimberlitic. Thus, even though kimberlitic melts are not seen on the Koolau shield, this particular xenolith clearly shows the existence of such melts at great depths beneath Hawaii. We also propose that the initial wall rock, which represents crystal extracts (even though it does not exhibit definitive cumulate texture) as a result of high-pressure fractionation of an alkaline melt and subsequent veining episodes, are of pre-Koolau age. This implies that the Koolau shield volcano may have had a pre-shield alkalic stage.     

On precursors to the Italy earthquake M.6.2 using VLF signal of NSY(45.9 kHz) received at Kiel Longwave Monitor

On August 24, 2016, an earthquake of magnitude 6.2 struck Central Italy (42.706°N and 13.223°E) at 1:36 UT. We present the results obtained from the US Navy VLF Transmitter’s NSY signal of 45.9 kHz transmitted from Niscemi, in the province of Sicily, Italy and received at the Kiel Longwave Monitor, Germany for 2016. We analysed the terminator times and their individual differences. We also analysed trends, dispersion and night time fluctuation which gave us a possible precursor the Italy earthquake. We found ionospheric perturbations in these parameters on 14th, 19th and 22nd of August, few days prior. Moreover, we filtered the possible effects due to lightning, storms and auroras if any.