Moderate pressure metamorphism and anatexis due to anorthosite intrusion,western Adirondack Highlands,New York

 Garnet-sillimanite-biotite gneiss near Port Leyden, in the western Adirondack Highlands, New York, contains mineral assemblages and textures that formed during high temperature metamorphism and anatexis at mid-crustal pressures. Evidence for melting includes thin, plagioclase-rich veins, sieve textures in biotite, and the presence of small, euhedral garnet neoblasts. Hercynite-silicate equilibria in combination with the solidus for biotite dehydration melting indicate metamorphic pressure was between 4 and 6.4 kbar at the temperature of melting (ca. 735° C). The gneiss is intruded by a small, discordant Fe-Ti oxide-apatite (nelsonite) dike. Reported field occurrences of nelsonite demonstrate its common association with anorthosite plutons. Although no anorthosite bodies are exposed in the Port Leyden region, the presence of nelsonite is evidence of anorthositic magmatism in the western Adirondacks. Post-intrusion metamorphism has caused partial apatite recrystallization and produced a weak foliated texture in the dike. U-Pb ages from zircon and monazite from both the gneiss and the nelsonite dike indicate that these rocks experienced a complex, polymetamorphic history that we interpret to reflect two thermal episodes. An older event is recorded by discordant zircons in the gneiss, which indicate a minimum age of 1129±6 Ma. A linear best fit to the data yields an upper intercept at 1166±53 Ma. This range of ages coincides with anorthosite-suite magmatism in the Adirondacks. A minimum zircon age of 1104±3 Ma was obtained from the nelsonite dike. Lead-loss or late zircon crystallization at about 1020 Ma affected the U-Pb systematics of zircon in the dike. Monazite ages from both rocks also indicate high temperature metamorphism (>700° C) between 1040 and 960 Ma. The older zircon ages and textural relations in the metapelite are viewed as evidence for anatexis at ca. 1150 Ma, and the presence of nelsonite suggests that the intrusion of anorthosite was coincident with partial melting in the gneiss. P-T estimates of metamorphism, therefore, imply that anorthosite was emplaced to about 15 km depth in the western Adirondack Highlands. Received: 13 September 1994 / Accepted: 10 May 1995     

Estimating extreme losses for the Florida Public Hurricane Model—part II

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - Rising global temperatures are leading to an increase in the number of extreme events and losses ( http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/indicators/ )....     

Seasonal Variations in Drag Coefficient over a Sastrugi-Covered Snowfield in Coastal East Antarctica

The surface of windy Antarctic snowfields is subject to drifting snow, which leads to the formation of sastrugi. In turn, sastrugi contribute to the drag exerted by the snow surface on the atmosphere and hence influence drifting snow. Although the surface drag over rough sastrugi fields has been estimated for individual locations in Antarctica, its variation over time and with respect to drifting snow has received little attention. Using year-round data from a meteorological mast, seasonal variations in the neutral drag coefficient at a height of 10 m \((C_{{ DN}10})\) in coastal Adelie Land are presented and discussed in light of the formation and behaviour of sastrugi based on observed aeolian erosion patterns. The measurements revealed high \(C_{{ DN}10} \) values \((\ge \) 2 \(\times \) 10\(^{-3})\) and limited drifting snow (35% of the time) in summer (December–February) versus lower \(C_{{ DN}10} \) values \((\approx \) 1.5 \(\times \) \(10^{-3})\) associated with more frequent drifting snow (70% of the time) in winter (March–November). Without the seasonal distinction, there was no clear dependence of \(C_{{ DN}10} \) on friction velocity or wind direction, but observations revealed a general increase in \(C_{{ DN}10} \) with rising air temperature. The main hypothesis defended here is that higher temperatures increase snow cohesion and the development of sastrugi just after snow deposition while inhibiting the sastrugi streamlining process by raising the erosion threshold. This increases the contribution of the sastrugi form drag to the total surface drag in summer when winds are lighter and more variable. The analysis also showed that, in the absence of erosion, single snowfall events can reduce \(C_{{ DN}10} \) to \(1\,\times \,10^{-3}\) due to the burying of pre-existing microrelief under newly deposited snow. The results suggest that polar atmospheric models should account for spatial and temporal variations in snow surface roughness through a dynamic representation of the sastrugi form drag.     

Heavy minerals in surficial sediments from lower Cook Inlet,Alaska

Amphiboles, orthopyroxenes, and clinopyroxenes dominate the heavy mineral suite of surficial sediments in lower Cook Inlet, Alaska. Sources for these sediments include the igneous arc terrane of the northeast Alaska Range, reworked intrabasinal sediments, and local drainages in lower Cook Inlet. The distribution of these deposits is a reflection of both the tidal currents and the prevailing southerly net movement from the head of Cook Inlet. The heavy mineral studies concur with similar findings from gravel analyses, clay mineral investigations, and quartz microtexture observations.     

In vivo metabolism of aromatic amines by the bay mussel, Mytilus edulis

The hazard posed to aquatic organisms by exposure to aromatic amines will depend on their ability to activate or detoxify these potentially genotoxic compounds. We studied the metabolism of four aromatic amines (p-toluidine, aniline, 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) and 2-aminofluorene (2-AF)) in Bay mussels (Mytilus edulis) to gain an understanding of their metabolic capabilities in vivo. Mussels rapidly accumulated these compounds from the water column and depurated the majority of their steady-state body burdens as metabolites and unmetabolized parent compounds. The biotransformation pathways of [¹⁴C]-labeled parent compounds were determined by analyses of depurated metabolites and tissue residues. Biotransformation of p-toluidine and aniline resulted in the formation of their corresponding N-acetylated detoxification products. Mussels converted small amounts of 2-AAF into a deacetylated product (2-AF) and a mutagenically active metabolite (N-hydroxy-2-AF). 2-AF was extensively detoxified via N-acetylation, which limited the amount of primary amine available for activation.     

Frequency-domain electromagnetic sensing of leaching in a Californian substratum

Frequency-domain electromagnetic sensing can be an effective tool for ascertaining subsurface water dynamics. In California, the paucity of available irrigation water, recurrence of drought and presence of indigenous salts within the geological parent materials affect crop health. Subsurface leaching variability analyses were performed using dual dipolar induction surveys and stochastic computations to determine salinity conditions conducive to plant growth. Soils in the study area had randomly variable salinity with elevated salt levels within the substratum. The salinity values were mostly above 300 mS m^?1 and some areas exceeded the 1500 mS m^?1 level. The leaching conditions across the fields varied generally from 5 to 50%. Both variables showed slightly positive skewness with minutely asymmetrical tailing. The salinity distribution had less peakedness than the leaching distribution. Albeit with spatially dependent variability and skewness, the distribution patterns had low errors. There was a strong and significant correlation (r?=?0.939 at P?<?0.05) between the observed and predicted conductivity data. The leaching variables exhibited directional dependence along vertical and horizontal gradients. Spatial increase in salinity within the substratum conformed to salt leaching and water percolation processes. All observed salinity values within the substratum exceeded salt tolerance threshold limits for major crops and favorable leaching conditions were observed at low salinity levels. Sustainability of agriculture in California is heavily dependent on adequate water use planning and our approach of leaching variability analyses can facilitate water management and crop production by assessing removal of superfluous salts from the soil substratum.     

Petrography,Geochemistry and Physical Properties of a Continuous Extrusive Section from the Sarami Massif,Semail Ophiolite

As opposed to ocean crustal drilling that often yields a discontinuous core, ophiolites provide a unique opportunity to study continuous sections of oceanic basalts. In order to provide high frequency constraints on the construction of the upper oceanic crust, a continuous 280 m thick volcanic transect was sampled in the Semail ophiolite in Oman. The analyzed section is located in the Sarami Massif, in the central part of the ophiolite, and exposed along Wadi Shaffan. A multidisciplinary study was carried out after sampling in the field. Core measurements including porosity, grain density, compressional velocity, magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity for over 100 samples from this transect have been made. Geochemical analyses including major, trace and Rare Earth Elements were also performed on 23 selected samples from this transect. The Wadi Shaffan transect appears as composed of two main petrological and geochemical members providing the main lithostratigraphic signal. The boundary between the two sequences is marked by the presence of a massive flow unit equating to the most primitive lava and across which significant changes in mineralogy and texture are observed. The physical properties equally record significant changes. In all, the section is characterized by chemical compositions coherent with that of V1-Geotime volcanism and appears as built through two main sequences of volcanic activity. The magnetic susceptibility profile correlated to geochemical variations present the most detailed evolution allowing to individualize a succession of at least 4 volcanic phases. These phases are interpreted as magmatic cycles characterized by differentiation processes, allowing one to place high frequency constraints on the volcanic behavior of fast spreading ridges. Some of the physical properties also reflect this series of differentiation trends, as noticed in the past from downhole measurements recorded in the context of deep ocean drilling into the crust.     

Processes influencing dissolved iron distributions below the surface at the Atlantic Ocean–Celtic Sea shelf edge

Shelf break systems are highly dynamic environments. However little is known about the influence that benthic interactions and water mass mixing may have on vertical distributions of iron in these systems. Dissolved Fe (< 0.4 μm) concentrations were measured in samples from nine vertical profiles across the upper slope (150–2950 m water depth) at the Atlantic Ocean–Celtic Sea shelf break. Dissolved iron concentrations varied between less than 0.2 and 5.4 nM, and the resulting detailed section showed evidence of a range of processes influencing the Fe distributions. The near sea floor data were interpreted in terms of release and removal processes. The concentrations of dissolved Fe present in near seabed waters were consistent with release of Fe from in situ remineralisation of particulate organic matter at two upper slope stations, and possibly release from pore water upon resuspension on shelf. Lateral transport of dissolved iron was evident from elevated Fe concentrations in an intermediate nepheloid layer and its advection along isopycnals. Surface waters at the shelf break also showed evidence of vertical mixing of deeper iron-rich waters. These waters contained macronutrients that sustained primary productivity in these otherwise nutrient-depleted surface waters. The data also suggest some degree of stabilisation of relatively high concentrations of iron, presumably through ligand association or as colloids. This study supports the view that lateral export of dissolved iron to the interior of the ocean from shelf and coastal zones and may have important implications for the global budget of oceanic iron.