Natural shock behavior of almandite in metamorphic rocks from the ries crater,Germany

An extensive study of a big number of gneiss specimens with various shock features from the suevite allowed unravelling of the shock behavior of almandite garnets.Almandites in shocked metamorphic rocks show with increasing dynamic pressures strong irregular fracturing. differently oriented sets of planar fractures or elements, brown turbidity and nucleation of minute crystals of an unknown phase in solid garnets. At higher peak pressures garnet was found to break down to (1) orthopyroxene + spinel + glass, and to (2) spinel + glass due to fast shock-melting.Extensive quantitative electron microprobe studies of almandite garnets and their breakdown products were carried out. The breakdown products within the original grain boundaries of the garnets consist of an alumina-rich orthopyroxene (with up to 10 wt. % Al₂O₃), hercynite to pleonaste spinels and a silica and calcium-rich glass matrix. The chemical zonation of magnesium and manganese of the former garnets is inherited in the composition of the newly formed orthopyroxenes.Petrographic evidence and chemical composition suggest a fast breakdown of the almandite garnets after passing of shock waves at rapidly falling pressures and very high post-shock temperatures within the ejected gneissic rock material.     

INTEGRAL/XMM views on the MeV source GRO J1411-64

The COMPTEL unidentified source GRO J 1411-64 was observed by INTEGRAL and XMM-Newton in 2005. The Circinus Galaxy is the only source detected within the 4σ location error of GRO J1411-64, but in here excluded as the possible counterpart. At soft X-rays, 22 reliable and statistically significant sources (likelihood >10) were extracted and analyzed from XMM-Newton data. Only one of these sources, XMMU J141255.6-635932, is spectrally compatible with GRO J1411-64 although the fact the soft X-ray observations do not cover the full extent of the COMPTEL source position uncertainty make an association hard to quantify and thus risky. At the best location of the source, detections at hard X-rays show only upper limits, which, together with MeV results obtained by COMPTEL suggest the existence of a peak in power output located somewhere between 300–700 keV for the so-called low state. Such a spectrum resembles those in blazars or microquasars, and might suggest at work by the models accordingly. However, an analysis using a microquasar model consisting on a magnetized conical jet filled with relativistic electrons, shows that it is hard to comply with all observational constrains. This fact and the non-detection at hard X-rays introduce an a-posteriori question mark upon the physical reality of this source, what is discussed here.     

GETEMME—a mission to explore the Martian satellites and the fundamentals of solar system physics

GETEMME (Gravity, Einstein??s Theory, and Exploration of the Martian Moons?? Environment), a mission which is being proposed in ESA??s Cosmic Vision program, shall be launched for Mars on a Soyuz Fregat in 2020. The spacecraft will initially rendezvous with Phobos and Deimos in order to carry out a comprehensive mapping and characterization of the two satellites and to deploy passive Laser retro-reflectors on their surfaces. In the second stage of the mission, the spacecraft will be transferred into a lower 1500-km Mars orbit, to carry out routine Laser range measurements to the reflectors on Phobos and Deimos. Also, asynchronous two-way Laser ranging measurements between the spacecraft and stations of the ILRS (International Laser Ranging Service) on Earth are foreseen. An onboard accelerometer will ensure a high accuracy for the spacecraft orbit determination. The inversion of all range and accelerometer data will allow us to determine or improve dramatically on a host of dynamic parameters of the Martian satellite system. From the complex motion and rotation of Phobos and Deimos we will obtain clues on internal structures and the origins of the satellites. Also, crucial data on the time-varying gravity field of Mars related to climate variation and internal structure will be obtained. Ranging measurements will also be essential to improve on several parameters in fundamental physics, such as the Post-Newtonian parameter ?? as well as time-rate changes of the gravitational constant and the Lense-Thirring effect. Measurements by GETEMME will firmly embed Mars and its satellites into the Solar System reference frame.     

The observational signature of the first H ii regions

We use three-dimensional smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations together with a dynamical ray-tracing scheme to investigate the build-up of the first H  ii regions around massive Population III stars in minihaloes. We trace the highly anisotropic breakout of the ionizing radiation into the intergalactic medium, allowing us to predict the resulting recombination radiation with greatly increased realism. Our simulations, together with Press–Schechter type arguments, allow us to predict the Population III contribution to the radio background at  ∼100 MHz  via bremsstrahlung and 21-cm emission. We find a global bremsstrahlung signal of around  1 mK  , and a combined 21-cm signature which is an order of magnitude larger. Both might be within the reach of the planned Square Kilometer Array experiment, although detection of the free–free emission is only marginal. The imprint of the first stars on the cosmic radio background might provide us with one of the few diagnostics to test the otherwise elusive minihalo star formation site.     

Mediterrane Trias — Grundzüge und Probleme

Zusammenfassung Die mediterrane oder alpine Trias wurde im 19. Jh. nahezu als Standard-Typus der marinen Entwicklung dieses Systems aufgefaßt. Sie lieferte fast ausschließlich die Faunenfolgen zur biochronologischen Gliederung; Schicht- und Fazies-Bezeichnungen wurden aus dem alpinen Raum bis nach Südostasien übertragen. Eine gewisse Sonderstellung maß man nur ihren Ammonoideen-Faunen zu. Ihre Erforschung schien bald nach der Jahrhundertwende abgeschlossen.Seit zwei Jahrzehnten wird jedoch die Gliederung der mediterranen Trias mit Hilfe der Ammonoidea völlig revidiert. Darüber hinaus konnten neue biochronologische Standards von der phylogenetischen Entwicklung anderer Organismen-Gruppen (Conodonten, Ostracoden, Foraminiferen, Holothurien, Dasycladaceen, Sporen und Pollen) abgeleitet werden. Die marinen Sequenzen des Mittelmeerraumes haben dabei eine wesentliche Rolle gespielt.Zahlreiche moderne Fazies-Analysen, auf die nur kursorisch verwiesen wird, erlauben, die paläogeographischen Konturen im Westteil der triassischen Tethys schärfer zu sehen und ihre geotektonische Entwicklung plattentektonisch zu deuten. Ausgehend von permischen Vorzeichnungen öffneten sich ozeanische Arme im Norden (Vardar-Zone, wahrscheinlich mit Fortsetzung bis in die Alpen) und Süden (Sizilien, Alboran). Dabei wurden einige Mikroplatten von Afrika bzw. Europa abgespalten, von denen die Adria-Platte und ihre geotektonische Differenzierung während der Trias diskutiert werden.

---

In a first period of exploration, until the beginning of our century, the Mediterranean or Alpine Triassic advanced to be a standard type of the marine development of that period. It served as well as the base for a world-wide biochronological division as for the deviation of facies types.Nevertheless the subdivision of the Triassic with the help of ammonoids was revised during the past decades, and new biochronological standards were derived from the phylogenetic evolution of other taxa: conodonts, ostracodes, foraminifera, holothuroids, dasycladacean algae, and from the palynological record. For these investigations, the Mediterranean region is again of special importance.The results of modern facies analysis which are not reviewed extensely in this paper, allow to discern the palaeogeographic contures in the western part of the Triassic Tethys with more accuracy and to sketch the outlines of a plate tectonic interpretation. Following to Permian configurations two deep branches of this oceans developed, one to the north (Vardar zone, probably to the Alps) and another in the south (Sicily-Alboran). Several microplates were split off from Africa and Europe. The geotectonic differentiation of one of them (Adria microplate) is discussed.

---

Résumé Au 19ième siècle le Trias méditerranéen ou «alpin» a presque partout été considé ré comme type standard du développement marin de ce système. La subdivision biochronologique est largement basée sur ses faunes, et sa nomenclature stratigraphique fut transférée aux autres régions. Concernant les ammonoïdes, le Trias méditerranéen a, en effet, pris une position spéciale. Au début de notre siècle leur exploration semblait bientôt être achevée.Depuis vingt ans on travaille cependant à la révision de la subdivision du Trias sur la base des ammonoïdes. De plus de nouveaux standards biochronologiques ont pu être établis sur la base de l'évolution d'autres taxa (conodontes, ostracodes, foraminifères, holothuroïdes, algues, spores et pollens). Au cours de ces recherches les séries marines ont joué un rôle important.De nombreuses analyses de faciès dont il n'a été fait mention qu'en passant, permettent de voir plus distinctement dans la région de la Téthys les contours paléogéographiques et d'interpréter, selon la théorie de la tectonique de plaques, leur évolution géotectonique. Tracés déjà au Permien, deux bras océaniques s'ouvraient dans la Téthys occidentale, l'un marqué par la zône du Vardar et allant probablement jusqu'aux Alpes et l'autre dans région de Sicile et de Tunisie. Au cours de ce processus, plusieurs microplaques furent séparées de l'Afrique ainsi que de l'Europe. L'exemple de la microplaque adriatique et son évolution géotectonique au cours du Trias sont brièvement discutés.

---

, , 19- , - . , . . 19- . . , — , , , , Dasycladaceen, . . , , . — — , . . , .

     

Spatial Sciences on Ice: 50 years of Australian activities on the Amery Ice Shelf,East Antarctica

The Antarctic climate system involves many complex interactions between the atmosphere, oceans and ice and is sensitive to variations in these components. Ice shelves represent the ice–ocean–atmosphere interface of the Antarctic continent and are therefore very important indicators of climate change in the region. The Amery Ice Shelf is the largest ice shelf in East Antarctica and has been the focus of many scientific research projects over the past 50 years. This paper presents a history of the use of spatial science techniques from basic survey equipment to satellite systems in Australian research projects based on the Amery Ice Shelf (and surrounding glaciers) since 1955. The application of these spatial data to projects based primarily in the fields of geodesy, glaciology, climatology, and oceanography has allowed the measurement and monitoring of the physical, dynamic and environmental characteristics of this large and remote region. This new information provides scientists with a better understanding of the ice shelf/ocean/atmosphere system allowing future monitoring to observe the effects of global climate change.     

Verteilung und Wanderung von Neunaugen im Elbeästuar (Deutschland)

From March 1989 until May 1995 overall 675 hauls were performed using a commercial stow net vessel to get information concerning spatial and seasonal distribution, length frequency distribution, stock situation and migration patterns of lampreys in the Elbe estuary in northern Germany.2217 river lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis) and 10 sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) were caught during the whole study period. The river lamprey occurred in 40.3% of the performed stow net hauls. The catch success was highest in the western main channel, whereas the frequency of occurrence of river lampreys was only about 10.9% at the most upstream site in the southern marginal area. In 1989 and 1990 significantly more than 50% of the hauls contained river lampreys. In contrast, from 1991 to 1995 their frequency of occurrence was lower than 40%, in 1991 even lower than 20%. Sea lampreys occurred only at 6 from 9 sampled sites and were only observed in 1990 and 1992-1994.Total lengths of river lampreys varied between 7 and 46 cm. Based on the length frequency distribution, the following three size classes of river lampreys were separated: LF I (7 to 16 cm), LF II (17-26 cm) and LF III (27-46 cm). The majority of the caught individuals could be grouped in size class LF III. Total lengths of sea lampreys ranged between 69 and 85 cm and were restricted to only one size class (PM III).70% of all sea lampreys were caught in April and May. Most of the sea lampreys were observed in the eastern main channel. The maximum average abundance of river lampreys was observed with 6.75 Ind · m⁻³ · 10⁻⁶ in the same area in 1992. However, in 1993 and 1994 the highest average abundances of river lampreys occurred in the western main channel.Based on redundance analysis, a significant correlation between the abundances of lampreys and the environmental variables autumn, spring, summer, salinity, water temperature, grain size, new moon and first moon quarter was found. The downstream migrating river lampreys of size class LF I und the sea lampreys during their anadromous spawning migration showed highest abundances mainly in spring, whereas high abundances of river lampreys of size class LF II in the feeding phase occurred in summer. The presence of both size classes LF I and LF II confirms the successful reproduction of river lampreys in the catchment area of the Elbe. The observation of river lampreys of size class LF III during their anadromous spawning migration was closely correlated with the variable autumn. A spring spawning migration of river lampreys was not observed.     

Temperature induced decoupling of enzymatic hydrolysis and carbon remineralization in long-term incubations of Arctic and temperate sediments

Extracellular enzymatic hydrolysis of high-molecular weight organic matter is the initial step in sedimentary organic carbon degradation and is often regarded as the rate-limiting step. Temperature effects on enzyme activities may therefore exert an indirect control on carbon mineralization. We explored the temperature sensitivity of enzymatic hydrolysis and its connection to subsequent steps in anoxic organic carbon degradation in long-term incubations of sediments from the Arctic and the North Sea. These sediments were incubated under anaerobic conditions for 24 months at temperatures of 0, 10, and 20 °C. The short-term temperature response of the active microbial community was tested in temperature gradient block incubations. The temperature optimum of extracellular enzymatic hydrolysis, as measured with a polysaccharide (chondroitin sulfate), differed between Arctic and temperate habitats by about 8-13 °C in fresh sediments and in sediments incubated for 24 months. In both Arctic and temperate sediments, the temperature response of chondroitin sulfate hydrolysis was initially similar to that of sulfate reduction. After 24 months, however, hydrolysis outpaced sulfate reduction rates, as demonstrated by increased concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total dissolved carbohydrates. This effect was stronger at higher incubation temperatures, particularly in the Arctic sediments. In all experiments, concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFA) were low, indicating tight coupling between VFA production and consumption. Together, these data indicate that long-term incubation at elevated temperatures led to increased decoupling of hydrolytic DOC production relative to fermentation. Temperature increases in marine sedimentary environments may thus significantly affect the downstream carbon mineralization and lead to the increased formation of refractory DOC.     

Genetic relationship between silver–lead–zinc mineralization in the Wutong deposit,Guangxi Province and Mesozoic granitic magmatism in the Nanling belt,southeast China

More than 50 % of the world's total reserves of tungsten are in China and most tungsten deposits are located in the Nanling range in southeast China. This study explores the potential genetic relationship between tungsten–tin (W–Sn) mineralization and shallower Ag–Pb–Zn deposits in the Nanling range based on data from the Wutong deposit, Guangxi Province. The lead, oxygen, carbon, sulfur, and strontium isotopic compositions of minerals at Wutong indicate that a single crustal-derived fluid was responsible for mineralization. Wutong likely formed at relatively low temperatures (～200–300 °C) and low pressures, as indicated by the similarity between homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions and those estimated from S isotopic compositions of minerals. The hübnerite age (92.3–104.4 Ma) indicates that the Wutong mineralization is likely related to nearby Late Yanshanian (Cretaceous) S-type granites derived from Proterozoic crust. This mineralization event coincides with the last W–Sn mineralization event and the Cretaceous peak of mineralization in the Nanling range.