K–Ca ages of authigenic sediments: examples from Paleozoic glauconite and applications to low-temperature thermochronometry

K–Ca ages of Cambrian glauconites from the Llano uplift, central Texas, were determined in order to re-evaluate the ability of the K–Ca system to constrain the timing of deposition of sedimentary packages. All of the K–Ca ages presented here were found to be younger than their stratigraphic ages. In addition to being too young, the K–Ca ages are also highly variable, ranging in age from Silurian to Permian. The oldest subset of glauconite ages are in agreement with previously published Rb–Sr ages from the same outcrop and provide further evidence for there having been a post-depositional thermal or recrystallization event that reset both the Rb–Sr and K–Ca systems. The range of younger glauconite K–Ca ages is similar to the distribution of available apatite fission track ages for the Llano basement. K–Ca ages are interpreted as thermochronologic data reflecting partial retention of Ca in thermally fluctuating basin conditions. Estimates of the closure temperature of Ca in glauconite are found to be 60–90°C for cooling rates of ~0.5–1°C/My. The K–Ca system is potentially useful as a low-temperature thermochronometer with closure temperatures <100°C for glauconite.     

Thermal field in the Romanian Carpathian bend and some aspects of its interpretation

Summary Using heat flow and heat generation measurements together with deep seismic sounding and gravity data, a reasonable geothermal model has been constructed for the Romanian Carpathian Bend. At the level of the MOHO discontinuity the calculated temperatures exhibit conspicuous differences between inner and outer border of the Carpathian Bend and a horizontal gradient of 200–300 °C/100 km in the region is not to be excluded.Paper presented at the KAPG Symposium on Geothermics in Liblice, November 1976.     

Magnetic Bianchi type II string cosmological model in loop quantum cosmology

The loop quantum cosmology of the Bianchi type II string cosmological model in the presence of a homogeneous magnetic field is studied. We present the effective equations which provide modifications to the classical equations of motion due to quantum effects. The numerical simulations confirm that the big bang singularity is resolved by quantum gravity effects.     

Separation of small nonferrous particles using a two successive steps eddy-current separator with permanent magnets

The paper presents a method for separating the small metallic nonferrous particles from two component metallic nonferrous mixtures using a new type of dynamic eddy-current separator with permanent magnets. The so-called two successive steps eddy-current separator (TSECS) consists of a horizontal rotary drum covered with permanent magnets, alternately N–S and S–N oriented. The separation process takes place in two stages, first the strongly conducting particles are separated on the upper part of the drum, and then the remaining undecided and poorly conducting particles are separated at the lower part of the magnetic drum. The experimental results and comments regarding the values obtained for separation efficiency, grade and recovery for wastes consisting in Cu–Pb and Cu–Al mixtures are given. The obtained results are in good agreement with the theoretical analysis.     

Avalonian and Cadomian terranes in North Dobrogea,Romania

The North Dobrogea orogen is a collage of dismembered terrane fragments between the Moesian platform and East European craton (Baltica). It records Alpine and Variscan deformation, magmatism and metamorphism. Its basement comprises three metamorphic complexes (Boclugea, Megina and Orliga) that are separated by tectonic boundaries. Detrital zircon U/Pb ages suggest the Boclugea and Orliga complexes represent two peri-Gondwanan terranes of Avalonian and Cadomian affinities, respectively. The new data clarify the original relationships between the North Dobrogea terranes, and Baltica and Moesia platform.     

Pengelly's legacy reconsidered: a GIS approach to spatial analysis of palaeontological and archaeological collections from Kents Cavern, England

Tens of thousands of palaeontological and archaeological remains were collected by William Pengelly during 19th century excavations of Kents Cavern, but are now widely dispersed between museums. This has previously precluded spatial analysis. We have now assembled available museum records into a single database, and, using our previously-reconstructed Pengelly excavation map as a base, we have been able to exploit the unique Pengelly location code to set up a GIS mapping system. This allows, for the first time, the analysis of spatial patterns. In addition, the GIS serves to highlight potential problems of recording or curation in the original data. Here we report on the construction of the GIS system and its first use in the analysis of spatial distribution of bear remains. The maps demonstrate that Ursus deningeri entered the cave through a now-sealed High Level Chamber entrance at the back of the cave in the middle Pleistocene, whereas Ursus arctos accessed the cave in the late Pleistocene through the now-sealed Northeast Gallery entrance. The denning areas are reconstructed as Labyrinth/Bear's Den for U. deningeri and Vestibule/Great Chamber for U. arctos. Considerable post-mortem re-distribution of the remains of both species is indicated.     

下地壳拆沉作用及大陆地壳演化

讨论了下地壳拆沉作用的地球化学示踪方法,并以近来对秦岭－大别造山带和美国西部内华达岩基地区的研究成果为例,说明了下地壳拆沉在两地区壳－幔演化方面可能起的重要作用。     

Temporal–compositional trends over short and long time-scales in basalts of the Big Pine Volcanic Field, California

Primitive basaltic single eruptions in the Big Pine Volcanic Field (BPVF) of Owens Valley, California show systematic temporal–compositional variation that cannot be described by simple models of fractional crystallization, partial melting of a single source, or crustal contamination. We targeted five monogenetic eruption sequences in the BPVF for detailed chemical and isotopic measurements and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating, focusing primarily on the Papoose Canyon sequence. The vent of the primitive (Mg# = 69) Papoose Canyon sequence (760.8 ± 22.8 ka) produced magmas with systematically decreasing (up to a factor of two) incompatible element concentrations, at roughly constant MgO (9.8 ± 0.3 (1σ) wt.%) and Na₂O. SiO₂ and compatible elements (Cr and Ni) show systematic increases, while ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr systematically decreases (0.7063–0.7055) and ε_Nd increases (− 3.4 to − 1.1). ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os is highly radiogenic (0.20–0.31), but variations among four samples do not correlate with other chemical or isotopic indices, are not systematic with respect to eruption order, and thus the Os system appears to be decoupled from the dominant trends. The single eruption trends likely result from coupled melting and mixing of two isotopically distinct sources, either through melt-rock interaction or melting of a lithologically heterogeneous source. The other four sequences, Jalopy Cone (469.4 ± 9.2 ka), Quarry Cone (90.5 ±17.6 ka), Volcanic Bomb Cone (61.6 ± 23.4 ka), and Goodale Bee Cone (31.8 ± 12.1 ka) show similar systematic temporal decreases in incompatible elements. Monogenetic volcanic fields are often used to decipher tectonic changes on the order of 10⁵–10⁶ yr through long-term changes in lava chemistry. However, the systematic variation found in Papoose Canyon (10⁰–10² yr) nearly spans that of the entire volcanic field, and straddles cutoffs for models of changing tectonic regime over much longer time-scales. Moreover, ten new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages combined with chemistry from all BPVF single eruption sequences show the long-term trend of BPVF evolution comprises the overlapping, temporal–compositional trends of the monogenetic vents. This suggests that the single eruption sequences contain the bulk of the systematic chemical variation, whereas their aggregate compositions define the long-term trend of volcanic field evolution.     

Separation of small metallic nonferrous particles in low concentration from mineral wastes using dielectrophoresis

This paper presents a theoretical study and a method regarding the separation of small nonferrous particles (Au, Ag) in low concentration from mineral wastes, using the dielectrophoresis phenomenon. The main theoretical considerations referring to the dielectrophoresis and the appearance and action of the electric gradient forces, typical for nonuniform fields, are presented. The gradient and superficial electric forces, in competition with gravitational forces, act on the dielectric particles from the surface of the material subjected to the separation process. Under the combined actions of all these forces, the metallic particles are concentrated on the surface of the mixture, forming a superficial conductive layer. Finally, the experimental results and conclusions regarding the concentrations in Au and Ag of the particles collected from the formed layer are presented, based on chemical analysis.