Three generations of monazite in Austroalpine basement rocks to the south of the Tauern Window: evidence for Variscan, Permian and Eo-Alpine metamorphic events

Three monazite generations were observed in garnet-bearing micaschists from the Schobergruppe in the basement to the south of the Tauern Window, Eastern Alps. Low-Y monazite of Variscan age (321?±?14?Ma) and high-Y monazite of Permian age (261?±?18?Ma) are abundant in the mica-rich rock matrix and in the outer domains of large garnet crystals. Pre-Alpine monazite commonly occurs as polyphase grains with low-Y Variscan cores and high-Y Permian rims. Monazite of Eo-Alpine age (112?±?22?Ma) is rarer and was observed as small, partly Y-enriched grains (3?wt. %?Y₂O₃) in the rock matrix and within garnet. Based on monazite-xenotime thermometry, Y?+?HREE values in monazite indicate minimum crystallization conditions of 500?°C during the Variscan and 650?°C for the Permian and Alpine events, respectively. Garnet zoning and thermobarometric calculations with THERMOCALC 3.21 record an amphibolite facies, high-pressure stage of ~600?°C/13?C16?kbar, followed by a thermal maximum at 650?C700?°C and 6?C9?kbar. The Eo-Alpine age for these two events is supported by inclusions of Cretaceous monazite in the garnet domains used for thermobarometric constraints and through the high growth temperatures of Eo-Alpine monazite, which is consistent with that of the thermal maximum (~700?°C). The age and growth conditions of a few Mn-rich garnet cores, sporadically present within Eo-Alpine garnet, are unclear because inclusions of monazite, plagioclase and biotite necessary for thermobarometric- and age constraints are absent. However, based on monazite thermometry, Permian and Variscan metamorphic conditions were high enough for the growth of pre-Alpine garnet. The formation of Variscan garnet and its later resorption, plus Y-release, would also explain the high Y in Permian monazite, which cannot originate from preexisting Variscan monazite only. Monazite of Variscan, Permian and/or Eo-Alpine ages were also observed in other garnet-bearing micaschists from the Schobergruppe. This suggests that the basement of the Schobergruppe was overprinted by three discrete metamorphic events at conditions of at least lower amphibolite facies. While the Variscan event affected all parts of this basement, the younger events are more pronounced in its structurally lower units.     

Improving the representation of major landforms in analytical relief shading

Relief shading is the most common type of cartographic relief representation for print and digital maps. Manual relief shading results in informative and visually pleasing representations of terrain, but it is time consuming and expensive to produce. Current analytical relief shading can be created quickly, but the resulting maps are not as aesthetically appealing and do not show landscape features in an explicit manner. This article introduces an automated digital method that produces shaded relief with locally adjusted illumination directions to simulate the techniques and cartographic principles of manual relief shading. Ridgelines and valley lines are derived from a digital terrain model, vectorized, and used in a diffusion curve algorithm. A graph analysis generalizes the lines before using them for diffusion curve shading. The direction of illumination is adjusted based on the spatial orientation of ridgelines and valley lines. The diffusion curve shading is combined with standard analytical relief shading to create a final diffusion relief shading image. Similar to manual relief shading, major landforms and the structure of the terrain are more clearly shown in the diffusion relief shading. The presented method best highlights major landforms in terrain characterized by sharp, clearly defined ridges and valleys.     

Climate forcing due to the 8200 cal yr BP event observed at Early Neolithic sites in the eastern Mediterranean

We explore the hypothesis that the abrupt drainage of Laurentide lakes and associated rapid switch of the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation 8200 yr ago had a catastrophic influence on Neolithic civilisation in large parts of southeastern Europe, Anatolia, Cyprus, and the Near East. The event at 8200 cal yr BP is observed in a large number of high-resolution climate proxies in the Northern Hemisphere, and in many cases corresponds to markedly cold and arid conditions. We identify the relevant archaeological levels of major Neolithic settlements in Central Anatolia, Cyprus, Greece and Bulgaria, and examine published stratigraphic, architectural, cultural and geoarchaeological studies for these sites. The specific archaeological events and processes we observe at a number of these sites during the study interval 8400–8000 cal yr BP lead us to refine some previously established Neolithisation models. The introduction of farming to South-East Europe occurs in all study regions (Thrace, Macedonia, Thessaly, Bulgaria) near 8200 cal yr BP. We observe major disruptions of Neolithic cultures in the Levant, North Syria, South-East Anatolia, Central Anatolia and Cyprus, at the same time. We conclude that the 8200 cal yr BP aridity event triggered the spread of early farmers, by different routes, out of West Asia and the Near East into Greece and Bulgaria.     

A catalogue of RR Lyrae stars from the Northern Sky Variability Survey

A search for RR Lyrae stars has been conducted in the publicly available data of the Northern Sky Variability Survey. Candidates have been selected by the statistical properties of their variation; the standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis with appropriate limits determined from a sample 314 known RRab and RRc stars listed in the General Catalogue of Variable Stars. From the period analysis and light-curve shape of over 3000 candidates 785 RR Lyrae have been identified of which 188 are previously unknown. The light curves were examined for the Blazhko effect and several new stars showing this were found. Six double-mode RR Lyrae stars were also found of which two are new discoveries. Some previously known variables have been reclassified as RR Lyrae stars and similarly some RR Lyrae stars have been found to be other types of variable, or not variable at all.     

Lichenometry in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru: “Little Ice Age” moraine chronology

This paper is a comparison and compilation of lichenometric and geomorphic studies performed by two independent teams in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru, in 1996 and 2002 on 66 “Little Ice Age” moraines of 14 glaciers. Using eleven new control points, we recalibrated the initial rapid growth phase of the previously established Rhizocarpon subgenus Rhizocarpon growth curve. This curve was then used to estimate the age of “Little Ice Age” moraines. The time of deposition of the most prominent and numerous terminal and lateral moraines on the Pacific-facing side of the Cordillera Blanca (between AD 1590 and AD 1720) corresponds to the coldest and wettest phase in the tropical Andes as revealed by ice-core data. Less prominent advances occurred between AD 1780 and 1880.     

Gain and loss of uranium by meteorites and rocks,and implications for the redistribution of uranium on Mars

Abstract Terrestrial alteration of meteorites results in the redistribution, gain, or loss of uranium and other elements. We have measured the maximum U adsorption capacity of a meteorite and two geochemical reference materials under conditions resembling terrestrial ones (pH 5.8). The basaltic eucrite Sioux County adsorbs 7 ppm of U. The result for the terrestrial granite AC‐E is similar (5 ppm), while the basalt BE‐N adsorbs 34 ppm of U. We have also investigated U adsorption in the presence of phosphate (0.01 M or less) in imitation of conditions that probably occurred in the earlier history of Mars. Such a process would have alterated Martian surface material and would be noticeable in Martian meteorites from the affected surface. The experiments demonstrated the counteracting effects of phosphate, which increases U adsorption, but decreases the quantity of dissolved U that is available for adsorption. U adsorption by AC‐E increases to 7 ppm. The lowered value for BE‐N of 8 ppm results from the low quantity of dissolved U in the volume of solution used. The results from the adsorption experiments and from leaching the Martian meteorite Zagami and a terrestrial basalt imply that the aqueous redistribution of U on Mars was moderate. Acidic liquids mobilized uranium and other metals, but present phosphate impeded the dissolution of U compounds. Some mobilized U may have reached the global sinks, while most of it probably was transported in the form of suspended particles over a limited distance and then settled.     

The loss of K,REE, Th,and U from a Martian and a terrestrial basalt by acidic leaching

Abstract— The mobilization of K, rare earth elements (REE), Th, and U from Martian surface material upon contact with acidic solutions probably occurred extensively on Mars about 4 to 3.5 Ga ago and seems to have occurred locally in more recent times. We have studied the dissolution of these elements by leaching the basaltic shergottite Zagami and the terrestrial basalt BE‐N at constant pH values ranging from 5 to 1 in the absence and presence of added salts. Potassium is nearly immobile in Zagami and mobilized readily from BE‐N. The REE reside mostly in calcium phosphates and dissolve readily, with those in whitlockite of Zagami reacting slightly better than those in apatite of BE‐N. Thorium and U also reside mostly in calcium phosphates. Both dissolve similarly for both basalts and less readily than the REE. The experiments indicate the extent of the mobilization of K, REE, Th, and U, when acidic water leached the surface of Mars. Potassium was released slowly and in a small relative amount. The REE, and particularly the LREE, became mobile readily and were possibly distributed over large areas before immobilization. Thorium and U dissolved more slowly than the REE and were distributed less widely.     

Geochemistry and origin of metal,olivine clasts,and matrix in the Dong Ujimqin Qi mesosiderite

Abstract— The Dong Ujimqin Qi mesosiderite is the first recorded fall of a stony‐iron meteorite in China. According to silicate textures and metal composition, this meteorite is classified as a member of subgroup IB. Instrumental neutron activation analyses (INAA) of metals show that the matrix metal has lower concentrations of Os, Ir, Re, and Pt, but higher concentrations of Ni and Au than the 7.5 cm metal nodule present in the meteorite. We attribute these compositional differences to fractional crystallization of molten metal. Studies of olivine clasts show that FeO contents are uniform in individual olivine crystals but are variable for different olivine clasts. Although concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs) change within olivine clasts, they all exhibit a vee‐shaped pattern relative to CI chondrites. The relatively high concentrations of REEs in olivine and the shape of REE patterns require a liquid high in REEs and especially in light REEs. As such a liquid was absent from the region where basaltic and gabbroic clasts formed, mesosiderite olivine must have formed in a part of the differentiated asteroid that is different from the location where other mesosiderite silicate clasts formed.