Thermal Stability of Assemblages in the Cu--Fe--S System

The phase relations in the Cu-Fe-S system were determined from700 C to approximately 200 C in most portions of the systemand below 100 C in restricted areas. Approximate solid solutionlimits for bornite, chalcopyrite, and pyrrhotite were determinedat elevated temperatures. At low temperatures emphasis was placedon establishing the stable assemblages and less on determiningthe compositions of coexisting phases. At 700 C two extensiveternary solid solutions dominate the phase relations in thissystem. One of these solid solutions (bornite) includes thecompositions Cu₂S, Cu₁₈S, and Cu₅FeS₄and the other (chalcopyrite)lies with in the area bounded by the compositions CuFeS₂ CuFe₂S₃,and CU₃Fe₄S₄. The two fields are separated by approximately10 weight per cent copper at 700 C. The chalcopyrite volume,as seen in a trigonal prism representing temperature and composition,is intersected by a miscibility gap below approximately 600C.Below this temperature the two one-phase volumes are referredto as chalcopyrite and cubanite. Chalcopyrite is tetragonalat low temperature but isometric above approximately 550C.The temperature of the transformation is a function of composition.Cubanite is isometric above 252C, tetragonal from 252 to atleast 213C, and orthorhombic at lower temperature. The temperatureof the second transformation is unknown because the tetragonal-to-orthorhombictransformation has not been achieved in the laboratory. Borniteand pyrite become stable together at 568C and coexist downto 228C. Covellite appears with lowering temperature at 507C,and idaite at 501C. Idaite—pyrite and idaite—borniteare stable assemblages below 501 C. The composition of bornitecoexisting with idaite changes gradually towards digenite withdecreasing temperature, thus permitting the change from thebornite—pyrite tie-line to the digenite—chalcopyritetie-line at 228C. Other major tie-line changes are bornite—ironto pyrrhotite—copper below 475C and cubanite—pyriteto chalcopyrite—pyrrhotite below 334C. A new syntheticphase, x-bornite, which has a composition close to bornite (Cu₅FeS₄)but contains about 04 weight per cent more sulfur, forms whensulfur-rich bornite synthesized at high temperature is annealedbetween 62 and 140C. Optically this new phase is very similarto bornite, and their X-ray powder diffraction patterns aregiven for comparison. o The determined phase relations are applicable to numerous deposits.The tie-line changes involving bornitepyrite reacting to producedigenitechalcopyrite below 228 C and cubanite (isometric)pyritegoing to chalcopyritepyrrhotite below 334 C are of considerablegeological interest. The rates of these reactions are sufficientlyslow to allow the higher temperature assemblages to be observedin some ores. The cubic—tetragonal inversion in chalcopyriteis often deduced in ores by inversion twins. However, twinningis also commonly produced through deformation. Geological applicationof the inversion therefore depends on correct interpretationof the twinning. Because of the considerable solubility of copperin pyrrhotite the pyrrhotite—pyrite solvus of the pureFe—S system cannot be applied indiscriminately to oresthat also contain chalcopyrite or cubanite, or both. The newx-bornite phase was identified with the natural ‘anomalousbornites’, which when heated exsolve chalcopyrite and,depending on their composition, also digenite. The experimental results indicate that the mineral commonlyidentified as chalcopyrrhotite is in reality tetragonal or evenisometric cubanite. Experimental evidence could not be obtainedfor the existence of a phase of Cu₂Fe₄S₇ or Cu₂Fe₄S₇ composition,the older formulae given foor valleriite. The thermal breakdownof natural material supports the idea that valleriite is a low-temperaturepolymorph of chalcopyrite. The relatively uncommon occurrenceof idaite in comparison to covellite is attributed to the greaterdifficulty in nucleating idaite. The possibility of stable coexistenceof chalcocite and pyrite was investigated but was found to beprohibited by tie-lines between bornite and digenite even aslow as 100 C.     

Near-infrared reflectance spectra from bulk samples of the two Martian meteorites Zagami and Nakhla

Abstract— Zagami and Nakhla are achondrites and belong to the Shergotty-Nakhla-Chassigny (SNC) meteorite group. It is generally accepted that Mars is their parent body. Mineralogical and chemical analyses have revealed that the major mineral phases of these two meteorites are pyroxene, olivine, maskelynite, and plagioclase. In this work, near-infrared biconical reflectance measurements were performed on sawed surfaces of chips from Zagami and Nakhla. Spectra obtained with an analytical spot diameter on the order of the mineral grain size reflect the heterogeneous distribution of different mineral phases. The characteristic absorption bands of the pyroxenes are numerically evaluated in terms of the modified Gaussian model. Spectra with overlapping absorption features are resolved into the basic absorption bands. From these results, it can be estimated what kind of clinopyroxenes belong to the investigated mineral assemblages. As a result, the major clinopyroxene phase in Nakhla is Ca-rich augite, whereas in Zagami both Ca-rich and Ca-poor pyroxenes are present. By means of such a procedure, laboratory spectra of minerals become more informative and may help in discussing Martian remote sensing data in the near-infrared region.     

Late Weichselian–Early Holocene shore displacement west of Mt. Billingen, within the Middle Swedish end-moraine zone

Fourteen lake basins on and west of Mt. Billingen have been analysed with respect to different stratigraphic methods: pollen, diatoms, other microfossils, ¹⁴C datings, lithology, grain-size distribution and chemical characteristics. The aim has been to establish a well-dated pollen stratigraphy for the area in order to date when lakes west of Mt. Billingen were raised above sea level. Previous studies and results from the area have also been included in the study. Distance diagrams, with different tilting directions, have been constructed. A shore displacement curve from c . 11,300 to c . 9,300 B.P., based on the most probable tilting direction, shows a complex uplift picture. A rather low regression gradient (3–4 m/100 years) during c . 1,000 years was, at c . 10,200 B.P., followed by a distinctly increasing gradient (8–9 m/100 years) followed by a marked gradient decrease at c . 9,500 B.P. The latter was possibly caused by a distinct sea level transgression on the Swedish West Coast. Indications of a short transgression around 10,000 B.P. as well as the possibly complicated course of isolation of Lake Vänern from the sea are also discussed. Finally the shore displacement is related to the deglaciation of the area and the supposed two drainages of the Baltic Ice Lake.     

Genesis of hummocky moraine in the Bolmen area, southwestern Sweden

During the late Weichselian deglaciation of southern Scandinavia vast areas of hummocky moraine were formed. The genesis of this landform was studied by geomorphological and sedimentological methods in an area in southwestern Sweden. Four exposures in moraine hummocks were investigated using sedimentological methods. They were found to be composed of stratified diamictons with frost-shattered boulders and deformed intrabeds of sorted sediments. The diamictons were interpreted as sediment-flow deposits, with the hummocks formed in stagnant ice by flowage of supraglacial glacial debris into depressions and subsequent inversion of the landscape due to ice melt. With the exception of hummocky moraine, the study area contains low relief moraine, which like the hummocky moraine was supraglacially formed. A new model is presented where the distribution of hummocky and low relief moraine is dependent on the vertical distribution of glacial debris in the ice sheet, which in turn is related to the flow regime of the ice sheet prior to stagnation. A compressive flow before stagnation favoured development of the hummocky moraine, while low relief moraine formation occurred where the ice flow was extending or at steady state.     

A CASE STUDY OF A FRESHWATER PEARL MUSSEL (MARGARITIFERA MARGARITIFERA) POPULATION IN CENTRAL SWEDEN

Most of the Margaritifera margaritifera populations in Sweden are not reproducing. Land use such as forestry, eutrophication and water regulation for hydropower are commonly reported causes for the absence of reproduction. A brook with a very dense population of pearl mussels has been investigated with regard to the age distribution of the population and their habitat, in order to discover the reason for the absence of reproduction. The population consisted almost entirely of old mussels with very few young ones. The water flow and chemistry of the water are very stable and well buffered, due to a large glacifluvial deposit in the catchment area. The substrate in the stream is favourable and well aerated to a depth of at least 15 cm. Forestry has been practised with care for at least the last 15 years to avoid siltation of the stream sediments. The most likely reason for the lack of reproduction seems to be the water regulation of the main stream introduced 60 years ago, which has left the main stream dry seasonally. This is likely to have affected the population of brown trout which is the host for the first life‐stage of the mussels, the glochidia.     

Allerød- Younger Dryas sea level changes in southwestern Sweden and their relation to the Baltic Ice Lake development

Mt. Kroppefjall is situated just south of the Middle Swedish (Younger Dryas) ice-marginal zone. Its abundance of lake basins makes it very suitable for detailed shore displacement studies close to the Younger Dryas ice margin. Altogether 12 lakes at altitudes between 157 and 78 m were studied and all but one situated above the marine limit contained marine sediments. The dating of their isolation from the sea resulted in a shore displacement curve from c. 11,200 to c. 98M)BP. The relative uplift almost ceased between 10,900 and 10,300 BP, which is mainly related to an ice readvance in the Lake Vanern basin. This period of balance between uplift and sea level rise was preceded by a relative uplift rate of 5 m/lW yr and followed by as high rates as 7–8 m/100 yr, possibly caused by a delayed uplift effect and perhaps also a local fall in sea level caused by the rapidly receding ice margin. The time difference between the formation of two delta surfaces at Odskolts Moar is estimated at 60&800 years. Shoreline diagrams along the Swedish west and east coasts, mainly based on a number of shore displacement curves, reveal large anomalies that are believed to have been caused by dammings and drainages of the Baltic basin. The southwards extrapolated shorelines indicate that the bedrock threshold in the Oresund Strait, between Denmark and Sweden, functioned as the outlet threshold for the Baltic Ice Lake during its dammed stages, while the erosion of the Store Balt and Darss Sill straits began at the culmination of the Ancylus transgression and continued during the rapid IS20 m Ancylus regression.     

A symposium on Nordic Quaternary research in 1986

Different topics of Quaternary geology were dealt with at a symposium arranged in 1986 in Århus, Denmark: (1) reviews on recent Quaternary research in the Nordic countries, (2) studies of stratigraphy and geological processes in the Fennoscandian Border Zone, which demonstrate that the Quaternary deposition pattern is highly influenced by tectonic movements, and (3) Quaternary research as it can be applied to geotechnical investigations in the search for raw materials, in connection with pollution, and with conservation.