Distribution of alkalinity and dissolved calcium in the Sea of Okhotsk

During the summer seasons of 2002 and 2004, the total alkalinity (TA) and dissolved calcium (Ca) were studied at 41 stations in different areas of the Sea of Okhotsk: the Kuril depression, Deryugin Basin, the slopes of the Kamchatka Peninsula and Sakhalin Island, and in Sakhalin Bay. It was shown that the distributions of the TA and Ca in the water mass of deep sea areas are determined by the processes of CaCO₃ formation and dissolution according to the relation Δ Ca = 0.5 Δ TA (1). The variations of the TA and Ca values observed in the upper 10-m layer and in the near-bottom layers of local depressions in the Deryugin Basin do not satisfy relationship (1). Probable reasons for this discrepancy are considered: organic matter mineralization, mixing of water masses with different preform TA and Ca values, sea ice melting, runoff from land, and sea bottom effects. It is shown that the enrichment in the alkalinity and calcium is caused by the Amur River runoff in the desalinated sea surface layer and by the high geochemical activity in the Deryugin Basin in the near-bottom 200-m layer of local depressions.     

The interacting subsystems theory of active galactic nuclei – I. The broad-absorption-line QSO theory

The theory of broad-absorption-line (BAL) QSOs is worked out on the basis of the radiation hydrodynamics equation solution for the two-phase media of active galactic nuclei. We suppose that the BAL QSO physics depends on some 'hidden' AGN parameters, such as the mass and size of the compact stellar system. We therefore approach this problem in the more general framework of the 'interacting subsystems theory', which includes these parameters. We compare the results of the numerical model calculations with the observed spectra and show that the BAL QSOs (and the radio-quiet quasars as well) contain massive compact stellar kernels in their central regions. We show that the line-locking effect is determined by the radiation pressure, and is also favoured by the drag force of the hot gas acting on the line-absorbing clouds.
We derive some general conclusions about the physics of AGN. In particular, we show that the radio-quiet versus radio-loud dichotomy can be explained by using two types of hot gas outstreams in quasars.     

Irrigation expansion and dynamics of desertification in the Circum-Aral region of Central Asia

The aim of this paper is to examine the causes and dynamics of desertification in one of the world's worst disaster areas, the Aral Sea region. During the 1960s, a large-scale irrigation campaign aimed at achieving independence in cotton production was launched in Soviet Central Asia. From 1960, ever-increasing water withdrawal from the two inflowing rivers—the Amudarya and Syrdarya—has resulted in the dramatic decline of the level, area and volume of the sea. Desiccation was accompanied by the development and further acceleration of various desertification processes. The study reveals that, for different reasons, the predominant direction and trends of desertification have been changing during each of the four identified periods from 1961 to 1995. The main desertification processes recorded in the Circum-Aral region (‘Priaraliye’ in Russian) were a decline in the groundwater level, increased mineralization and chemical pollution of watercourses, soil salinization, the spread of xerophytic and halophytic vegetation, and deflation and aeolian accumulation, with the development of salt storms. Recent improvements in the situation are also discussed, along with their causes. Zonation of Priaraliye is carried out and an outlook for the future is given.     

Mineralogy, geochemistry and stratigraphy of the Maslovsky Pt–Cu–Ni sulfide deposit, Noril’sk Region, Russia

We report new data on the stratigraphy, mineralogy and geochemistry of the rocks and ores of the Maslovsky Pt–Cu–Ni sulfide deposit which is thought to be the southwestern extension of the Noril’sk 1 intrusion. Variations in the Ta/Nb ratio of the gabbro-dolerites hosting the sulfide mineralization and the compositions of their pyroxene and olivine indicate that these rocks were produced by two discrete magmatic pulses, which gave rise to the Northern and Southern Maslovsky intrusions that together host the Maslovsky deposit. The Northern intrusion is located inside the Tungusska sandstones and basalt of the Ivakinsky Formation. The Southern intrusion cuts through all of the lower units of the Siberian Trap tuff-lavas, including the Lower Nadezhdinsky Formation; demonstrating that the ore-bearing intrusions of the Noril’sk Complex post-date that unit. Rocks in both intrusions have low TiO₂ and elevated MgO contents (average mean TiO₂ <1 and MgO?=?12?wt.%) that are more primitive than the lavas of the Upper Formations of the Siberian Traps which suggests that the ore-bearing intrusions result from a separate magmatic event. Unusually high concentrations of both HREE (Dy+Yb+Er+Lu) and Y (up to 1.2 and 2.1?ppm, respectively) occur in olivines (Fo_79.5 and 0.25% NiO) from picritic and taxitic gabbro-dolerites with disseminated sulfide mineralization. Thus accumulation of HREE, Y and Ni in the melts is correlated with the mineral potential of the intrusions. The TiO₂ concentration in pyroxene has a strong negative correlation with the Mg# of both host mineral and Mg# of host rock. Sulfides from the Northern Maslovsky intrusion are predominantly chalcopyrite–pyrrhotite–pentlandite with subordinate and minor amounts of cubanite, bornite and millerite and a diverse assemblage of rare precious metal minerals including native metals (Au, Ag and Pd), Sn–Pd–Pt–Bi–Pb compounds and Fe–Pt alloys. Sulfides from the Southern Maslovsky intrusion have δ ³⁴S?=?5–6‰ up to 10.8‰ in two samples whereas the country rock basalt have δ ³⁴S?=?3–4‰, implying there was no in situ assimilation of surrounding rocks by magmas.