Late Quaternary neotectonics and mass movement in South East Raasay,Inner Hebrides,Scotland

Features associated with the Hallaig Fault, SE Raasay, are examined. The fault, which runs along the NW slope of the hill mass of Beinn na Leac, is marked by a narrow trench, running for over 3 km NE–SW. About 600 m from its N end, the trench becomes almost obscured for 500 m by a bench composed of talus. SW of this a ridge of talus up to 5 m high occupies the downslope side of the trench for 1.2 km. The total volume of talus is estimated at around 90,000 m³. In the SW, the trench splits into two, separating discrete bedrock areas from the hillside. Possible mechanisms forming the trench and associated features are considered. It is maintained that the features were primarily the result of the reactivation of a listric fault, triggered by isostatic processes during and following deglaciation and that they reached their present form during the Younger Dryas. Maximum vertical movement is estimated at at least 5 m. The unconsolidated sediment comprising the ridge and bench is believed to have been primarily the product of periglacial processes and paraglacial activity.     

Topographic controls on glacier sediment–landform associations around the temperate North Patagonian Icefield

Glacier sediment–landform associations are commonly used as interpretive and predictive tools to reconstruct the nature of past glacial events. Here we provide a regional-scale study of the sediments and landforms around the temperate North Patagonian Icefield, an area with outlet glaciers that terminate in the full range of environments possible in a temperate glacier setting (land-terminating, lake-terminating and tidewater-terminating). We present a regional-scale geomorphological map and sedimentological data collected at 11 outlet glaciers of the icefield. Key sediments and landforms include large tracts of ice-scoured bedrock, extensive sandar, terminal moraines, ice-contact glaciofluvial landforms and evidence of paraglacial slope adjustment following glacier recession. The sediments and landforms developed around the North Patagonian Icefield contrast with those previously identified at other temperate outlet glaciers in Iceland and Alaska, and we argue that this is largely a result of topographic controls on glacier terminal environment (e.g. local relief, topography and geomorphological setting).     

An evaluation of the simulated water balance of Eurasia and northern Africa at 6000 y BP using lake status data

Changes in the water balance of Eurasia and northern Africa in response to insolation forcing at 6000 y BP simulated by five atmospheric general circulation models have been compared with observations of changes in lake status. All of the simulations show enhancement of the Asian summer monsoon and of the high pressure cells over the Pacific and Central Asia and the Middle East, causing wetter conditions in northern India and southern China and drier conditions along the Chinese coast and west of the monsoon core. All of the models show enhancement of the African monsoon, causing wetter conditions in the zone between ca 10–20 °N. Four of the models show conditions wetter than present in southern Europe and drier than present in northern Europe. Three of the models show conditions similar to present in the mid-latitude continental interior, while the remaining models show conditions somewhat drier than present. The extent and location of each of the simulated changes varies between the models, as does the mechanism producing these changes. The lake data confirm some features of the simulations, but indicate discrepancies between observed and simulated climates. For example, the data show: (1) conditions wetter than present in central Asia, from India to northern China and Mongolia, indicating that the simulated Asian monsoon expansion is too small; (2) conditions wetter than present between ca. 10–30 °N in Africa, indicating that the simulated African monsoon expansion is too small; (3) that northern Europe was drier, but the area of significantly drier conditions was more localized (around the Baltic) than shown in the simulations; (4) that southern Europe was wetter than present, apparently consistent with the simulations, but pollen data suggest that this reflects an increase in summer rainfall whereas the models show winter precipitation, and (5) that the mid-latitude continental interior was generally wetter than present. Received: 29 March 1996 / Accepted: 31 May 1996     

The Geysers-Cobb Mountain Magma System, California (Part 2): timescales of pluton emplacement and implications for its thermal history

Over 400 ion microprobe U-Pb isotopic ages measured for zircons extracted from 24 geothermal wells that penetrate the Geysers Plutonic complex (GPC) allow us to conclude that the entire known extent of the GPC crystallized during the early Pleistocene. Nine samples of the microgranite porphyry that forms the shallow cupola (100-1,500 m below sea-level, mbsl) of the GPC yield the oldest model U-Pb age (1.75 ± 0.01 Ma after correction for initial U series disequilibrium; errors 1σ). Twelve samples from the main intrusive phase (orthopyroxene-biotite granite) present at depths >1,250 mbsl define a crystallization age of 1.27 ± 0.01 Ma. This coincides with the age determined for a structurally and compositionally distinct body of granodiorite (1.25 ± 0.01 Ma; N = 5 samples) that is intruded over a similar depth range. Two petrographically distinct varieties of orthopyroxene-biotite granite yield ages of 1.46 ± 0.03 (GPC21-6000) and 1.16 ± 0.02 Ma (CA5636 74F 21; three samples). U-Pb zircon ages for dikes intruded in metagraywacke country-rocks overlap with those obtained from the main body of the GPC and include the youngest material identified (dike sample NEGU2 ST1-7700: 1.11 ± 0.03 Ma). Overall, the U-Pb results demonstrate that the main body of the GPC (∼300 km³) was emplaced and crystallized within the upper crust over a short time interval (0.2 Ma) that overlaps with zircon crystallization ages of overlying silicic volcanic units.     

National parks and nature reserves in mountain environments and development

Major mountain environments of the world are delineated and all their protected areas (MTNPA) are listed by IUCN categories. MTNPA are those places subjected to nature conservation such as national parks and nature reserves. A total of 442 IUCN Category I–IV areas with a minimal size of 10,000 ha and a minimal relief of 500 m are listed. These MTNPA constitute 42 percent of the world's area devoted to nature conservation. Summaries of the mountain protected areas in each biogeographical realm are given, sites of international importance are identified and observations are made on lacunae. The review concludes with six recommendations for more and better managed mountain parks and reserves.     

Estimation of the rate constant for the reaction of acid sulphate aerosol with NH3 gas from atmospheric measurements

Horizontal gradients in atmospheric aerosol strong acidity have been interpreted in terms of the rate of neutralisation of aerosol H⁺ by gaseous ammonia. The results indicate a pseudo-first-order rate constant for this reaction within the range 4×10^-6 s^-1 to 4.1×10^-4 s^-1 consistent with model results and experimental data derived by other methods. The rate constant is reduced as the aerosol becomes less acidic, which is reflected in a positive correlation between rate constant and aerosol H⁺/NH₄ ⁺ ratio.     

The heating duration and provenance age of rocks in the Salton Sea geothermal field, southern California

⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar step heating of single K-feldspar crystals ( 500 μg) in a furnace with a low argon blank and accurate temperature control provide constraints on the thermal history of the Salton Sea geothermal field, southern California. Estimates of ⁴⁰Ar loss from detrital K-feldspars, coupled with kinetic information gleaned from laboratory degassing of ³⁹Ar, allow possible thermal histories to be evaluated. Samples from core and cuttings of sandstones from the State 2–14, Landers #1, Dearborn Farms #1, Magmamax #2, Elmore #3 and Sinclair #3 wells have been analyzed for this purpose. No recent ⁴⁰Ar^* loss is recognized in any of the 17 crystals measured, even for samples currently at temperatures greater than 275°C. This observation suggests that the present temperature distributions in these wells have not been maintained for greater than 1000 years. However, aggregates ( 100 mg) of two K-feldspar samples do reveal recent ⁴⁰Ar^* loss from the State 2–14 well, suggesting a time scale of 1000 to 5000 years for near-peak thermal conditions. These estimates of heating duration are broadly consistent with earlier results from thermal modelling, but do not support interpretations that paleotemperatures were once hotter than present.Provenance ages span the Tertiary through Middle Proterozoic but cluster at ages of 25, 70 and 1250 Ma. These age peaks are very common K-feldspar K-Ar ages in detachment terranes of southeastern California and southwestern Arizona, both drained by the Colorado River. This coincidence supports earlier suggestions that the sands of the Salton Trough were derived mainly from the Colorado River.Unrealistically low apparent activation energies (< 20 kcal/mol) for argon transport are observed for several single crystals which yield absurdly low calculated closure temperatures (e.g., -100°C). We infer that this anomalous behaviour results from a combination of the laboratory heating schedule and the distribution of diffusion domain sizes.     

Investigations of an intrusive contact,northwest Nelson,New Zealand—II. Diffusion of radiogenic and excess 40Ar in hornblende revealed by 40Ar39Ar age spectrum analysis

The Rameka Gabbro, emplaced 367 Ma ago, experienced a well documented reheating on intrusion of the Separation Point Batholith 114 Ma ago. ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ age spectrum analyses of hornblende from the Rameka Gabbro show diffusion gradients which provide information on the ⁴⁰Ar boundary concentration during reheating.Three samples of hornblende exhibit age spectra that conform to a model of ⁴⁰Ar loss by diffusion, implying a zero ⁴⁰Ar boundary concentration during heating. The calculated ⁴⁰Ar loss from these samples, together with a model of heat flow in the aureole, provide estimates of diffusion coefficients of ⁴⁰Ar in Mg-rich hornblende which correspond to an activation energy, E, of ~60 kcal-mol^?1 and a frequency factor. D₀, of ~ 10^?3 cm²-sec^?1. When combined with laboratory diffusion results, these data yield a well defined diffusion law (E = 63.3 ± 1.7 kcal-mol^?1, $\text{D}{}_0\text{= 0.022}{}^{\mathrm{+0.048}}{}_{\mathrm{?0.010}}\text{cm}{}^2\text{-}\text{sec}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$).The age spectra of the eight other samples record steep gradients of excess ⁴⁰Ar over the first few percent of gas release. Although this effect causes high apparent conventional K-Ar ages, the plateau segments of many sampes still record the crystallization age of 367 ± 5 Ma. These measurements show that the excess ⁴⁰Ar phase developed locally in the intergranular regions of the gabbro, following intrusion of the batholith. on time scales that varied from 10⁴ to 10⁶years. The minimum average ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{36}\text{Ar}$ ratio of this component was found to be 1300 ± 400. The partial pressure of Ar was at least 10^?2 bars in some places.A single ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ age spectrum analysis of plagioclase reveals a ‘saddle-shaped” release pattern with a minimum at 140 Ma.In conjunction with theoretical diffusion models and a diffusion law, ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ age spectrum analysis of hornblende that has experienced a post-crystallization heating can provide close estimates of the maximum temperature of the thermal event as well as both age of crystallization and reheating.     

Opening of the red sea with two poles of rotation

Previous studies have shown that the Red Sea was formed by two stages of sea-floor spreading, with a quiescent period in between. We suggest that these two phases have occurred in different directions. The shape of the central trough indicates that the present-day motion is almost E-W, whereas the total opening, deduced from the shape of the coastlines, is NE-SW. If the axial trough has opened in an E-W direction, the earlier stage of opening was in a direction which made the Dead Sea Rift fall along a small circle to the pole of early opening, and hence suggests that the Dead Sea Rift was a transform fault during this early stage. The later movement gives almost pure extension along the Dead Sea Rift, and this should be seen by normal faulting. Available first-motion studies are not precise enough to confirm or deny this hypothesis.