Thaumasite from the Tschwinning mine,South Africa

Summary Thaumasite from the manganese mine of Tschwinning, South Africa, has the formula Ca_3.097 Si_1.062OH_6.372(CO₃)_0.994(SO₄)_1.000·11.596 H₂O. Unit cell parameters (a=11.013(2) Å,c=10.379(5) Å,V=1090.1(6) ų) and refraction indices (n_e=1.458(2),n _o=1.498(2)) compare well with the best ones available in the literature. The IR spectrum and DT-TG profiles are given. Contradictions between the IR spectrum, a recent structural refinement and the DT-TG are discussed, but cannot be explained satisfactorily.

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Thaumasit aus der Mangan-Mine von Tschwinning, Süd-Afrika

Zusammenfassung Thaumasit aus der Mangan-Mine von Tschwinning, Süd-Afrika, besitzt die Formel Ca_3.097 Si_1.062OH_6.372(CO₃)_0.994(SO₄)_1.000·11.596 H₂O. Die Parameter der Elementarzelle (a=11.013(2) Å,c=10.379(5) Å,V=1090.1(6) ų) und die Brechungsindizes (n _e=1.458(2),n _o=1.498(2)) zeigen gute Übereinstimmung mit verfügbaren Literaturdaten. Es werden ein IR-Spektrum und DT-TG-Profile präsentiert. Gegensätze zwischen dem IR-Spektrum, einer neueren Strukturverfeinerung und dem DT-TG werden diskutiert, können jedoch nicht zufriedenstellend erklärt werden.

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Deformation produced by oblique rifting

With oblique rifting, both extension perpendicular to the rift trend and shear parallel to the rift trend contribute to rift formation. The relative amounts of extension and shear depend on α, the acute angle between the rift trend and the relative displacement direction between opposite sides of the rift. Analytical and experimental (clay) models of combined extension and left-lateral shear suggest the fault patterns produced by oblique rifting. If α is less than 30°, conjugate sets of steeply dipping strike-slip faults form in rifts. Sinistral and dextral strike-slip faults trend subparallel and at large angles to the rift trend, respectively. If α is about 30°, strike-slip, oblique-slip and/or normal faults form in rifts. Faults with sinistral and dextral strike slip trend subparallel and at large angles to the rift trend, respectively. Normal faults strike about 30° counterclockwise from the rift trend. If α exceeds 30°, normal faults form in rifts. They have moderate dips and generally strike obliquely to the rift trend and to the relative displacement direction between opposite sides of the rift. If α equals 90°, the normal faults strike parallel to the rift trend and perpendicularly to the displacement direction.The modeling results apply to the Gulf of California and Gulf of Aden, two Tertiary continental rift systems produced by combined extension and shear. Our results explain the presence and trends of oblique-slip and strike-slip faults along the margins of the Gulf of California and the oblique trend (relative to the rift trend) of many normal faults along the margins of both the Gulf of California and the Gulf of Aden.     

Time domain procedure of FE-BE-IBE coupling for seismic interaction of arch dams and canyons

A procedure for three-dimensional (3-D) coupling of finite elements (FEs), boundary elements (BEs) and infinite boundary elements (IBEs) is presented for the numerical modelling of seismic interaction between arch dams and rock canyons. First, a system of coupling 3-D boundary and infinite boundary elements is developed for simulation of infinite and irregular canyons and for determination, in the frequency domain, of impedance functions on the dam-canyon interface. Secondly, the impedance functions for all degrees-of-freedom are transformed approximately into frequency independent discrete parameters by a curve fitting technique. Finally, these discrete parameters are combined with the dam structure which is discretized by finite elements, thus allowing the response of the arch dam-canyon system to be evaluated. The proposed procedure is efficient because it permits the seismic analysis of arch dam-canyon interaction by the substructure technique in the time domain. To demonstrate both the validity and efficiency of the present procedure, the response of an arch dam-canyon system is obtained under unit impulse acting on the dam-canyon interface as the free field input. Very good agreement is noted when comparing the frequency response determined from the time domain with that from the frequency domain under harmonic excitation applied on the interface of the dam-canyon.     

X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for field analysis of metals in marine sediments

The accuracy, precision and performance of a field-portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer was evaluated for the determination of metals in marine sediments both in the laboratory and, more importantly, on board a small research vessel. The XRF performed with minimal problems on board the survey vessel and provided precise, near-real-time determination of metals at levels indicative of contamination in samples obtained by sediment grabs. Analytical results obtained on the wet, bulk samples in the field and on the dry, homogenized samples in the laboratory were comparable.     

Effective barometric admittance and gravity residuals

In the analysis of surface gravity signals that may originate from the Earth's core, the step of correcting for the atmospheric pressure fluctuations is one that must be done carefully. We apply two techniques for determining the local, or effective, barometric admittance function between simultaneous observations of surface gravity and pressure. The first is a frequency domain fit that computes the admittance on a band-by-band basis. Using data from both the Canadian and French superconducting gravimeters we determined that the magnitude of the local, or background, admittance increases smoothly and monotonically from about 0.2 μgal mbar⁻¹ at long periods (> 10 days) to about 0.35 μgal mbar⁻¹ at frequencies greater than 3 cycles per day (c.p.d.); the phase lag is within a few degrees of 180°. By comparison, the effective admittances of the large-scale harmonics of the solar heating tide (S₁---S₇) are much smaller, between 0.1 and 0.3 μgal mbar⁻¹, for most of the harmonics of a day. In the second approach we fit a symmetrical time domain admittance function having lengths between 1 and 19 h using both a standard least-squares fit to a white noise residual and a new, and clearly superior, fit assuming a brown noise residual. Both time and frequency domain approaches give comparable results and contribute to a significant lowering of the residual level in non-tidal bands.     

Geology and eruptive history of the Rabaul Caldera area, Papua New Guinea

Rabaul Caldera is the most recently active (1937–1943) of four adjoining volcanic centres aligned north-south through the northern extremity of eastern New Britain. Geological mapping after the 1983–1985 Rabaul seismic and deformation crisis has partially revealed a long and complex eruption history dominated by numerous explosive eruptions, the largest accompanied by caldera collapse. The oldest exposed eruptives are the basaltic pre-caldera cone Tovanumbatir Lavas K/Ar dated at 0.5 Ma. The dacitic Rabaul Quarry Lavas exposed in the caldera wall and K/Ar dated at 0.19 Ma, are overlain by a sequence of dacitic and andesitic pyroclastic flow and fall deposits. Uplifted coral reef limestones, interbedded within the pyroclastic sequence on the northeast coast, suggest that explosive eruptions in the Rabaul area had commenced prior to the 0.125 Ma last interglacial high sea level stand. The pyroclastic sequence includes the large Boroi Ignimbrites and Malaguna Pyroclastics both ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dated at about 0.1 Ma, and the Barge Tunnel Ignimbrite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dated at around 0.04 Ma. Few reliable ages exist for the many younger eruptives. These include Holocene ignimbrites of the latest caldera-forming eruptions—the Raluan Pyroclastics variously dated (¹⁴C) at either about 3500 or 7000 yr B.P., and the ca. 1400 yr B.P. Rabaul Pyroclastics. At least eight intracaldera eruptions have occurred since the 1400 yr B.P. collapse, building small pyroclastic and lava cones within the caldera.A major erosional episode is evident as a widespread unconformity in the upper pyroclastic stratigraphy at Rabaul. Lacking relevant radiometric ages, this episode is assumed to have occurred during last glaciation low sea levels and is here arbitarily dated at ca. ?20 ka. At least five, possibly nine, significant ignimbrite eruptions have occurred at Rabaul during the last ?20 ka. The new eruptive history differs considerably from that previously published, which considered ignimbrite eruption and caldera collapse to have first occurred at 3500 yr B.P.Rabaul volcanism has been dominated by two main types: (a) basaltic and basaltic andesite cone building eruptions; and (b) dacitic, and rarely andesitic or rhyolitic, plinian/ignimbrite eruptions of both high- and low-aspect ratio types. The 1400 yr B.P. Rabaul Ignimbrite is a type example of a low-aspect ratio, high-energy, and potentially very damaging eruption. Fine vitric ash deposits, common in the Rabaul pyroclastic sequence, demonstrate the frequent modification of eruptions by external water probably related to early caldera lakes or bays. Interbedding of these fine ashes with plinian pumice lapilli beds suggests that many early eruptions occurred from multiple vents, located in both wet and dry areas.     

The inverse gravimetric problem: Existence,uniqueness and stability of the solution

Summary The paper is concerned with the mathematical properties of the density distribution within the Earth obtained by inverting of the external gravity field, provided an Earth's reference density model, used as the initial guess, is available. The method of regularization, which proves the existence, the uniqueness and the stability of the solution, which is nearest the initial guess in the L ² norm, is described.

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Micro-scale modelling in the study of plume evolution in heterogeneous media

The migration of contaminants in heterogeneous aquifers involves dispersive processes that act at different scales. The interaction of these processes as a plume evolves can be studied by micro-scale modelling whereby two scales, a local- or micro-scale and an aquifer- or macro-scale, are covered simultaneously. Local-scale dispersive processes are represented through the local dispersion coefficient in the transport equation, while large-scale dispersion due to heterogeneities is represented through the resolution of the flow field and the diffusive exchange between streamtubes. The micro-scale model provides both the high degree of resolution compatible with local-scale processes, and the extent required for the approach to asymptotic conditions, using grids of up to a million nodal points. The model is based on the dual potential-streamfunction formulation for flow, and the transport problem is formulated in a natural coordinate system provided by the flownet. Simulations can be used to verify stochastic theories of dispersion, without the restrictive assumptions inherent in the theory. For the two-dimensional case, results indicate convergence of the effective dispersivity to the theoretical macrodispersivity value. Convergence takes place within a travel distance of about 50 correlation lengths of the hydraulic conductivity field. However, the approach taken to asymptotic conditions, as well as the macrodispersivity value, may differ for different realizations of the same medium. The influence of early-time events such as plume splitting on the asymptotic convergence remains to be investigated.