Biofacies of Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous sediments of central West Siberia

Paleontological study of Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous sediments recovered by boreholes in the Agan-Vakh and Nadym-Vengapur interfluves clarified environments of their deposition. As is shown, influx of siliciclastic material to central areas of the West Siberian sea basin varied through time. Taxonomic composition and ecological structure of nektonic and benthic fossil assemblages are analyzed and considered in terms of environmental factors such as hydrodynamics, aeration, temperature, and salinity of seawater.     

Geochemistry and origin of the ore-forming fluids in hydrothermal-magmatic systems in tectonically active zones

Data on fluid inclusions and stable isotope compositions (O, H, C, and S) in minerals have been summarized for large-and middle-scale mesothermal gold deposits (Nezhdaninsk, Berezovsk, Kochkar’, Svetlinsk, Darasun, and Maisk), cassiterite-silicate-sulfide deposits of Sikhote Alin (Solnechnoe, Arsen’evsk, and Vysokogorsk), vein silver-base metal deposits in the Southern Verkhoyansk region (Prognoz and Kupol’noe), and epithermal copper-bismuth-silver-base metal deposits of the Karamazar district in Tajikistan (Kanimansur, Tary Ekan, and Zambarak). It is shown that ores precipitated from fluids with salinity varying from brines (up to 60 wt % NaCl equiv) to dilute fluids (1–3 wt % NaCl equiv). As a rule, fluids of different compositions entered the hydrothermal-magmatic system. A fluid mixture of H₂O-CO₂-NaCl±CH₄±N₂ predominated in the orogenic (mesothermal) gold-bearing hydrothermal systems, with deposition of the final-stage gold-bearing sulfosalts from aqueous-salt fluid. Brines played a significant role in the formation of cassiterite-silicate-sulfide and vein silver-base metal deposits. The brines often coexisted with a low-density vapor-rich fluid at the ore deposition site. The obtained data suggest a predominant magmatic component in the hydrothermal-magmatic systems, with a significant contribution of meteoric waters.     

Efficiency of stimulating precipitation from convective clouds using salt powders

Comparative estimates of the efficiency of hygroscopic reagents for the seeding of convective clouds to obtain additional precipitation are performed based on numerical simulation. It is shown that the use of polydisperse salt powders has many benefits over other known hygroscopic reagents. The effect of seeding with salt powders manifests itself at mass concentrations of hygroscopic particles an order of magnitude less than when pyrotechnic flares are used. With salt-powder seeding, it is possible to obtain precipitation from warm convective clouds of moderate thickness from which precipitation does not typically fall. In this case the effect of “reseeding” of clouds, which can be observed in seeding with hygroscopic reagents having narrow size distributions of particles, does not reveal itself.     

Energy of the Jets of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and of Their Eddies in the Surface Layer of the Southern Ocean

Oceanology - The kinetic energy of six jets of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) and of the cyclonic and anticyclonic mesoscale eddies generated by these jets is studied in application to the...     

About Hypothesis of the Superconducting Origin of the Saturn’s Rings

Hypothesis of possible superconductivity of the iced matter of the rings of Saturn (based on the data of Voyager and Pioneer space missions) allow us to explain many phenomena which have not been adequately understood earlier. Introducing into planetary physics force of magnetic levitation of the superconducting iced particle of the rings, which interact with magnetosphere of the planet, becomes to be possible to explain origin, evolution, and dynamics of the rings; to show how the consequent precipitation of the rings’ matter upon the planet was concluded; how the rings began their rotation; how they were compressed by the magnetic field into the thin disc, and how this disc was fractured into hundreds of thousands of separated rings; why in the ring B do exist “spokes”; why magnetic field lines have distortion near by ring F; why there is a variable azimuth brightness of the ring A; why the rings reflected radio waves so efficiently; why exists strong electromagnetic radiation of the rings in the 20.4 kHz–40.2 MHz range and Saturnian kilometric radiation; why there is anomalous reflection of circularly polarized microwaves; why there are spectral anomalies of the thermal radiation of the rings; why the matter of the various rings does not mix but preserves its small-scale color differences; why there is an atmosphere of unknown origin nearby the rings of Saturn; why there are waves of density and bending waves within Saturn’s rings; why planetary rings in the solar system appear only after the Belt of Asteroids (and may be the Belt of Asteroids itself is a ring for the Sun); why our planet Earth has no rings of its own.     

Ultraviolet observations with the space telescope Glazar

Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory; SKB Granit; Geneva Observatory; Flight Control Center. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 32, No. 1, p. 5–13, January–February, 1990.     

Polarimetric and photometric observations of the star m cephei

The results of photometric and polarimetric observations of the star Μ Cep at Byurakan Observatory are presented. Some interesting correlations between the parameters of the star’s brightness variation and the degree of polarization of the light are obtained. It is suggested that the recorded rapid changes in the degree of polarization may result from Μ Cep being a double star. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 219-228, April–June, 2000.