Late Mesozoic low-P/high-T metamorphism preceding emplacement of Cretaceous granitic rocks in the Gosaisho-Takanuki district, Abukuma metamorphic belt

Abstract The central part of Abukuma metamorphic belt consists of two geologic units, the Gosaisho Group and the Takanuki Group. Although the deformation styles differ between the Gosaisho and the Takanuki Groups, their rock facies show a gradual transition. In both Groups early regional low-pressure (over 3 kb) metamorphism has been overprinted by contact metamorphism. Evidence for the P/T condition of the regional metamorphism is recorded in cores of armored minerals. Metamorphic zones have been defined on mineral rim assemblages of meta-mafite, meta-pelite and meta-calc-siliceous schist and on the degree of graphitization of meta-pelite. The mineral-core chemistry of plagioclase, Ca-amphibole and garnet changes with increasing metamorphic grade, and indicates that the regional metamorphism of the Gosaisho Group took place in a high pressure region of the andalusite stability field. The Takanuki metamorphic rocks are structurally overlain by the Gosaisho Group and have undergone regional metamorphism whose conditions have passed near the triple point of Al-silicates and kyanite has crystallized. The contact aureoles in both groups are developed around middle Cretaceous granitic intrusions. Rims of plagioclase, Ca-amphibole and garnet overgrew on the mineral-cores during the contact metamorphism. The regional metamorphism began after the sedimentation of Jurassic chert and was succeeded by the contact metamorphism in the middle Cretaceous.     

The international at-sea intercomparison of fCO2 systems during the R/V Meteor Cruise 36/1 in the North Atlantic Ocean

The ‘International Intercomparison Exercise of fCO₂ Systems’ was carried out in 1996 during the R/V Meteor Cruise 36/1 from Bermuda/UK to Gran Canaria/Spain. Nine groups from six countries (Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, USA) participated in this exercise, bringing together 15 participants with seven underway fugacity of carbon dioxide (fCO₂) systems, one discrete fCO₂ system, and two underway pH systems, as well as systems for discrete measurement of total alkalinity and total dissolved inorganic carbon. Here, we compare surface seawater fCO₂ measured synchronously by all participating instruments. A common infrastructure (seawater and calibration gas supply), different quality checks (performance of calibration procedures for CO₂, temperature measurements) and a common procedure for calculation of final fCO₂ were provided to reduce the largest possible amount of controllable sources of error. The results show that under such conditions underway measurements of the fCO₂ in surface seawater and overlying air can be made to a high degree of agreement (±1 μatm) with a variety of possible equilibrator and system designs. Also, discrete fCO₂ measurements can be made in good agreement (±3 μatm) with underway fCO₂ data sets. However, even well-designed systems, which are operated without any obvious sign of malfunction, can show significant differences of the order of 10 μatm. Based on our results, no “best choice” for the type of the equilibrator nor specifics on its dimensions and flow rates of seawater and air can be made in regard to the achievable accuracy of the fCO₂ system. Measurements of equilibrator temperature do not seem to be made with the required accuracy resulting in significant errors in fCO₂ results. Calculation of fCO₂ from high-quality total dissolved inorganic carbon (C_T) and total alkalinity (A_T) measurements does not yield results comparable in accuracy and precision to fCO₂ measurements.     

Spatial distribution of the apatite fission‐track ages in the Toki granite,central Japan: Exhumation rate of a Cretaceous pluton emplaced in the East Asian continental margin

The Cretaceous Toki granitic pluton of the Tono district, central Japan was emplaced in the East Asian continental margin at about 70 Ma. The Toki granite has apatite fission‐track (AFT) ages ranging from 52.1 ±2.8 Ma to 37.1 ±3.6 Ma (number of measurements, n = 33); this indicates the three‐dimensional thermal evolution during the pluton's low‐temperature history (temperature in the AFT partial annealing zone: 60–120 °C). The majority of the Toki granite has a spatial distribution of older ages in the shallower parts and younger ages in the deeper parts, representing that the shallower regions arrived (were exhumed) at the AFT closure depth earlier than the deeper regions. Such a cooling pattern was predominantly constrained by the exhumation of the Toki granitic pluton and was related to the regional denudation of the Tono district. The age–elevation relationships (AERs) of the Toki granite indicate a fast exhumation rate of about 0.16 ±0.04 mm/year between 50 Ma and 40 Ma. The AFT inverse calculation using HeFTy program gives time‐temperature paths (t–T paths), suggesting that the pluton experienced continuous slow cooling without massive reheating since about 40 Ma until the present day. A combination of the AERs and AFT inverse calculations represents the following exhumation history of the Toki granite: (i) the fast exhumation at a rate of 0.16 ±0.04 mm/year between 50 Ma and 40 Ma; (ii) slow exhumation at less than 0.16 ±0.04 mm/year after 40 Ma; and (iii) exposure at the surface prior to 30–20 Ma. The Tono district, which contains the Toki granite, underwent slow denudation at a rate of less than 0.16 ±0.04 mm/year within the East Asian continental margin before the Japan Sea opening at 25–15 Ma and then within the Southwest Japan Arc after the Japan Sea opening, which is in good agreement with representative denudation rates obtained in low‐relief hill and plain fields.     

A three-dimensional numerical study of river plume mixing processes in Otsuchi Bay,Japan

The three-dimensional numerical model SUNTANS is applied to investigate river plume mixing in Otsuchi Bay, an estuary located along the Sanriku Coast of Iwate, Japan. Results from numerical simulations with different idealized forcing scenarios (barotropic tide, baroclinic tide, and diurnal wind) are compared with field observations to diagnose dominant mixing mechanisms. Under the influence of combined barotropic, baroclinic and wind forcing, the model reproduces observed salinity profiles well and achieves a skill score of 0.94. In addition, the model forced by baroclinic internal tides reproduces observed cold-water intrusions in the bay, and barotropic tidal forcing reproduces observed salt wedge dynamics near the river mouths. Near these river mouths, vertically sheared flows are generated due to the interaction of river discharge and tidal elevations. River plume mixing is quantified using vertical salt flux and reveals that mixing near the vicinity of the river mouth, is primarily generated by the barotropic tidal forcing. A 10 ms^?1 strong diurnal breeze compared to a 5 ms^?1 weak breeze generates higher mixing in the bay. In contrast to the barotropic forcing, internal tidal (baroclinic) effects are the dominant mixing mechanisms away from the river mouths, particularly in the middle of the bay, where a narrow channel strengthens the flow speed. The mixing structure is horizontally asymmetric, with the middle and northern parts exhibiting stronger mixing than the southern part of the bay. This study identifies several mixing hot-spots within the bay and is of great importance for the coastal aquaculture system.     

Gold-bearing Quartz Veins and Hydrothermal Alteration of the Paleozoic Epithermal System in the Francis Creek Area, North Queensland, Australia

Abstract. The Francis Creek area located at the Sybil graben in North Queensland, Australia, has some features of epithermal gold mineralization such as gold-bearing quartz vein and silica body hosted in rhyodacitic rocks of the Late Carboniferous Hells Gate Formation. In order to understand the nature of the paleo-hydrothermal activity in this area and to aid exploration for an economic gold deposit in this area, we carried out hydrothermal alteration mapping surrounding the veins and silica body, over an area of about 7 times 5 km².
We defined two alteration zones and inferred the center of hydrothermal activity. Fluid inclusion shows the boiling feature, and the microthermometry analysis resulted in the trapping temperature of 240°C and low salinity. This temperature is consistent with the formation temperature of clay mineral in the host rocks. On the basis of whole-rock composition, the silica body was identified as silicified rocks. Precious metal minerals such as electrum and acanthite coexist with sulfide minerals. Iodagylite was identified as a product of weathering. The sulfide minerals imply that the low-sulfidation epithermal gold mineralization occurred in the Francis Creek area.     

A Study of Correlations of Scalar Quantities in the Atmospheric Surface Layer

Standard deviations for vertical velocity and scalar quantities, such as temperature, T, and specific humidity, q, were analyzed on the basis of Monin-Obukhov (M-O) similarity theory in the atmospheric surface layer. The correlation coefficient between scalar quantities T and q, R_Tq, was derived from the similarity functions and can be expressed as the ratio of B_T/B_q (B_T≤ B_q), where parameter B is the value of the normalized standard deviation of any scalar quantity at neutral conditions.     

High-pressure phase transitions of CaRhO<Subscript>3</Subscript> perovskite

High-pressure phase transitions of CaRhO₃ perovskite were examined at pressures of 6–27 GPa and temperatures of 1,000–1,930°C, using a multi-anvil apparatus. The results indicate that CaRhO₃ perovskite successively transforms to two new high-pressure phases with increasing pressure. Rietveld analysis of powder X-ray diffraction data indicated that, in the two new phases, the phase stable at higher pressure possesses the CaIrO₃-type post-perovskite structure (space group Cmcm) with lattice parameters: a = 3.1013(1) Å, b = 9.8555(2) Å, c = 7.2643(1) Å, V _m  = 33.43(1) cm³/mol. The Rietveld analysis also indicated that CaRhO₃ perovskite has the GdFeO₃-type structure (space group Pnma) with lattice parameters: a = 5.5631(1) Å, b = 7.6308(1) Å, c = 5.3267(1) Å, V _m  = 34.04(1) cm³/mol. The third phase stable in the intermediate P, T conditions between perovskite and post-perovskite has monoclinic symmetry with the cell parameters: a = 12.490(3) Å, b = 3.1233(3) Å, c = 8.8630(7) Å, β = 103.96(1)°, V _m  = 33.66(1) cm³/mol (Z = 6). Molar volume changes from perovskite to the intermediate phase and from the intermediate phase to post-perovskite are –1.1 and –0.7%, respectively. The equilibrium phase relations determined indicate that the boundary slopes are large positive values: 29 ± 2 MPa/K for the perovskite—intermediate phase transition and 62 ± 6 MPa/K for the intermediate phase—post-perovskite transition. The structural features of the CaRhO₃ intermediate phase suggest that the phase has edge-sharing RhO₆ octahedra and may have an intermediate structure between perovskite and post-perovskite.     

Assessment of digital camera-derived vegetation indices in quantitative monitoring of seasonal rice growth

A commercially available digital camera can be used in a low-cost automatic observation system for monitoring crop growth change in open-air fields. We developed a prototype Crop Phenology Recording System (CPRS) for monitoring rice growth, but the ready-made waterproof cases that we used produced shadows on the images. After modifying the waterproof cases, we repeated the fixed-point camera observations to clarify questions regarding digital camera-derived vegetation indices (VIs), namely, the visible atmospherically resistant index (VARI) based on daytime normal color images (RGB image) and the nighttime relative brightness index (NRBI_NIR) based on nighttime near infrared (NIR) images. We also took frequent measurements of agronomic data such as plant length, leaf area index (LAI), and aboveground dry matter weight to gain a detailed understanding of the temporal relationship between the VIs and the biophysical parameters of rice. In addition, we conducted another nighttime outdoor experiment to establish the link between NRBI_NIR and camera-to-object distance. The study produced the following findings. (1) The customized waterproof cases succeeded in preventing large shadows from being cast, especially on nighttime images, and it was confirmed that the brightness of the nighttime NIR images had spatial heterogeneity when a point light source (flashlight) was used, in contrast to the daytime RGB images. (2) The additional experiment using a forklift showed that both the ISO sensitivity and the calibrated digital number of the NIR (cDN_NIR) had significant effects on the sensitivity of NRBI_NIR to the camera-to-object distance. (3) Detailed measurements of a reproductive stem were collected to investigate the connection between the morphological feature change caused by the panicle sagging process and the downtrend in NRBI_NIR during the reproductive stages. However, these agronomic data were not completely in accord with NRBI_NIR in terms of the temporal pattern. (4) The time-series data for the LAI, plant length, and aboveground dry matter weight could be well approximated by a sigmoid curve based on NRBI_NIR and VARI. The results confirmed that NRBI_NIR was more sensitive to all of the agronomic data for overall season, including the early reproductive stages. VARI had an especially high correlation with LAI, unless yellow panicles appeared in the field of view.     

Full‐scale shaking table test for examination of safety and functionality of base‐isolated medical facilities

A series of full‐scale shaking table tests are conducted using the E‐Defense shaking table facility on a base‐isolated four‐story RC hospital structure. A variety of furniture items, medical appliances, and service utilities are placed on the hospital specimen in as realistic a manner as possible. Four ground motions are adopted, including recorded near‐fault ground motions and synthesized long‐period, long‐duration ground motions. The test results show that the base‐isolated system performed very effectively against near‐fault ground motions due to significant reduction in the floor acceleration response, and operability and functionality of the hospital service is improved significantly as compared with the case observed for the corresponding base‐fixed system. Against the long‐period ground motion, however, the hospital service is difficult to maintain, primarily because of the significant motion of furniture items and medical appliances supported by casters. Resonance accentuated large displacements and velocities on the floors of the base‐isolated system, which causes such furniture items and medical appliances to slide, sometimes more than 3 m, resulting in occasional collision with other furnitures or against the surrounding partition walls. It is notable that a key to maintaining the function of the medical facilities is to securely lock the casters of furniture and medical appliances. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gold Content in Siliceous Deposits Formed from Acidic and Iron-rich Geothermal Waters at Hatchobaru, Central Kyushu, Japan

Abstract: The gold content in siliceous deposits formed from geothermal waters at the Hatchobaru geothermal power station in central Kyushu, Japan, was determined by inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP–MS). It ranges from 1.3 to 4.6 mg/kg. The highest gold content was obtained from the siliceous deposit formed from acidic waters. In this siliceous deposit, hydrous iron(III) oxide of amorphous state is a major constituent, suggesting that hydrous iron(III) oxide might play an important role when gold is concentrated into siliceous deposits formed from acidic and iron-rich geothermal waters.