Constraints from geochemistry and Sr–Nd isotopes for the origin of albitite deposits from Central Sardinia (Italy)

Major- and trace-element contents and Sr–Nd isotope ratios were determined in albitite, albitized and unaltered late-Variscan granitoid samples from the world-class Na-feldspar deposits of central Sardinia, Italy. The albite deposit of high economic grade has geological, textural, and chemical features typical of metasomatic alteration affecting the host granitoids. Albitization, locally accompanied by chloritization and epidotization, was characterized by strong leaching of Mg, Fe, K, and geochemically similar trace elements, and by a significant increase of Na. Ca, and P were moderately leached in the most metasomatized rocks. Other major (Si, Ti, Ca) and trace elements (U, Th, Y, and Zr), along with light (LREE) and middle (MREE) rare-earth elements, behaved essentially immobile at the deposit scale. The Nd-isotope ratios (0.512098 to 0.512248) do not provide information on the emplacement age of the unaltered late-Variscan granitoids. On the other hand, their Sr-isotope ratios fit an errorchron of 274±29 Ma (1σ error), in fair agreement with all published ages of Sardinian Variscan granitoids. The very low Rb content of albitized rocks precludes application of the Rb–Sr radiometric system to determine the age of albitization. The Sm–Nd system is not applicable either, because the ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios of albitized rocks and unaltered granitoids overlap. The overlap confirms that Sm and Nd were substantially immobile during albitization. On the other hand, the measured ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the albitized rocks are appreciably lower than those of the unaltered host granitoids, whereas, their initial Sr-isotope ratios are higher. This seems to suggest that a) albitization was induced by non-magmatic fluids rich in radiogenic Sr, and b) albitization occurred shortly after the granitoid emplacement. This conclusion is supported by Nd isotopes, because unaltered granitoids and albitites fit the same reference isochron at 274 Ma. The fluids acquired radiogenic Sr by circulation through the Lower Paleozoic metasedimentary basement. Specifically, it is estimated that Sr supplied by the non-carbonatic basement represents about 22 wt% of total Sr in albitite.     

Transition from mildly-tholeiitic to calc-alkaline suite: the case of Chichontepec volcanic centre, El Salvador, Central America

The Chichontepec volcano is a Plio-Pleistocene composite volcano that erupted lavas ranging from high-alumina basalts to dacites. It experienced a caldera-forming paroxysmal eruption during the early Pleistocene. Pre-caldera lavas are mildly tholeiitic and they evolved mainly by low pressure crystal fractionation, notwithstanding the fact that most mafic lavas (low-MgO high-alumina basalts) retain traces of polybaric evolution. Conversely, post-caldera lavas, which are mainly pyroxene andesites, are clearly calc-alkaline, having evolved by open-system crystal fractionation. Sr–Nd isotopic data and trace elements characteristics indicate that the same mantle source was involved in the petrogenesis of these series. Modelling the AFC process showed that it did not play any role in the petrogenesis of these rocks; a crystal fractionation model is considered to be more relevant. A slight variation in the fractionating assemblage could have caused the transition from an early mildly tholeiitic trend to a late calc-alkaline one. Mineralogical evidence, mass-balance calculations and elemental chemistry support this hypothesis, assuming that the greater amount of pyroxene on the liquidus is at the expense of plagioclase; this would have prevented the trend in iron enrichment.     

A possible theoretical explanation of metallicity gradients in elliptical galaxies

Models of chemical evolution of elliptical galaxies taking into account different escape velocities at different galactocentric radii are presented. As a consequence of this, the chemical evolution develops differently in different galactic regions; in particular, we find that the galactic wind, powered by supernovae (of Type II and I) starts, under suitable conditions, in the outer regions and successively develops in the central ones. The star formation is assumed to stop after the onset of the galactic wind in each region. The main result found in the present work is that this mechanism is able to reproduce metallicity gradients, namely the gradients in the Mg₂ index, in good agreement with observational data. We also find that in order to honour the constant [〈Mg/Fe〉] ratio with galactocentric distance, as inferred from metallicity indices, a variable initial mass function as a function of galactocentric distance is required. This is only a suggestion, as trends on abundances inferred purely from metallicity indices are still uncertain.     

Isotope Geochemical Characteristics and Material Sources of Tin--Bearing Porphyries in South China

Tin-bearing porphyries in South China can be divided into the F-rich and F-poorsubtypes. They are high-silica (SiO_2>71%), peraluminous (A/NKC>1.0) and rich inincompatible elements (Rb, Zr, U, W, Sn) and have weak Ce (δCe=0.68-0.82) and strong Eu(δEu=0.01-0.38) negative anomalies. Meantime, they also have low δ_(Nd)(-6.3- -8.4), high~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb (15.588-15.790), medium to high (~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)_i (0.7084-0.7287) and relatively highδ~(18)O(9.1-10.3‰). These characteristics clearly suggest that the two subtypes of tin-bearingporphyries were derived from the crustal materials. Their differences lie only in the existence ofcertain different components in their source materials. Therefore, there is only one type oftin-bearing prophyry in South China. that is continental crust transformation type.     

我国花岗岩研究的回顾与展望

本文中回顾了８０年代以来国内花岗岩研究的概况。阐述了造山带花岗岩的形成和演化,次火山花岗岩的特征,Ａ－型花岗岩的成因,花岗岩形成过程中的岩浆混合作用、玄武岩浆底侵作用与花岗岩形成的联系以及花岗岩的实验岩石学研究方面的问题。展望了下一世纪花岗岩研究的某些趋向。     

浙闽沿海地区I型-A型复合花岗岩体的地球化学及成因

以鼓山－魁岐、青田和普陀山－桃花岛三个典型岩体为例,系统研究了浙闽沿海Ｉ型－Ａ型复合花岗岩体的地质和地球化学特征。研究结果表明：复合岩体中Ｉ型与Ａ型花岗岩在主量、微量和稀土元素特征上均存在明显变异。总体而言,Ａ型花岗岩较之Ｉ型花岗岩富硅、富碱、贫钙、镁、铝,并具偏高的Ｒｂ／Ｓｒ、Ｒｂ／Ｂａ、Ｇａ／Ａｌ和偏低的ＬＲＥＥ／ＨＲＥＥ比值及显著的铕负异常。两类花岗岩的Ｎｄ、Ｓｒ同位素组成均具有壳幔混熔岩浆的特点,但仍存在一定的变异。上述变异既有岩浆分异演化的影响,又有幔源岩浆卷入的贡献,在不同的复合岩体中起主导作用的因素各不相同。通过对岩石产出动力地质背景的全面分析,结合本区不同复合岩体中二类花岗岩具不同地球化学变异特点的地质事实,提出浙闽沿海Ｉ型－Ａ型复合花岗岩是区域构造应力、断裂构造、幔源岩浆卷入和岩浆分异演化多种因素综合作用的结果     

Seismic retrofitting of braced frame buildings by RC rocking walls and viscous dampers

A design procedure for seismic retrofitting of concentrically and eccentrically braced frame buildings is proposed and validated in this paper. Rocking walls are added to the existing system to ensure an almost uniform distribution of the interstorey displacement in elevation. To achieve direct and efficient control over the seismic performance, the design procedure is founded on the displacement‐based approach and makes use of overdamped elastic response spectra. The top displacement capacity of the building is evaluated based on a rigid lateral deformed configuration of the structure and on the ductility capacity of the dissipative members of the braced frames. The equivalent viscous damping ratio of the braced structure with rocking walls is calculated based on semi‐empirical relationships specifically calibrated in this paper for concentrically and eccentrically braced frames. If the equivalent viscous damping ratio of the structure is lower than the required equivalent viscous damping ratio, viscous dampers are added and arranged between the rocking walls and adjacent reaction columns. The design internal forces of the rocking walls are evaluated considering the contributions of more than one mode of vibration. The proposed design procedure is applied to a large set of archetype braced frame buildings and its effectiveness verified by nonlinear dynamic analysis.     

A lumped parameter model for time‐domain inertial soil‐structure interaction analysis of structures on pile foundations

The paper presents a lumped parameter model for the approximation of the frequency‐dependent dynamic stiffness of pile group foundations. The model can be implemented in commercial software to perform linear or nonlinear dynamic analyses of structures founded on piles taking into account the frequency‐dependent coupled roto‐translational, vertical, and torsional behaviour of the soil‐foundation system. Closed‐form formulas for estimating parameters of the model are proposed with reference to pile groups embedded in homogeneous soil deposits. These are calibrated with a nonlinear least square procedure, based on data provided by an extensive non‐dimensional parametric analysis performed with a model previously developed by the authors. Pile groups with square layout and different number of piles embedded in soft and stiff soils are considered. Formulas are overall well capable to reproduce parameters of the proposed lumped system that can be straightforwardly incorporated into inertial structural analyses to account for the dynamic behaviour of the soil‐foundation system. Some applications on typical bridge piers are finally presented to show examples of practical use of the proposed model. Results demonstrate the capability of the proposed lumped system as well as the formulas efficiency in approximating impedances of pile groups and the relevant effect on the response of the superstructure.     

Sustainable Yield of a Hydrothermal Area: From Theoretical Concepts to the Practical Approach

Sustainable use of groundwater in the hydrothermal area of Viterbo (Central Italy) was analyzed. In this area, multipurposes utilization of groundwater coexists: several thermal springs and wells supply spas and public pools, cold and fresh water is used for irrigation and drinking-water. Starting from theoretical concepts, a management plan has been developed to ensure groundwater sustainability in response to the increased demand of withdrawal from thermal wells, by integrating previous hydrogeological studies, new investigations and a new finite-difference model. The most stringent constraints considered are: to maintain the quality of thermal and fresh waters, to limit the effects on the hydraulic equilibrium existing between overlapping aquifers, to ensure a significant flow to the natural thermal springs and the quality and flow rate of the spring used for drinking purposes. The practical approach included identification of the maximum pumping rate from the wells of the spas, analysis of the response time of the system under development and drafting of a safeguard and monitoring plan. The case examined takes into account the complexity of the task in defining practical measures for groundwater management on the basis of theoretical concepts of its sustainable use. A participative approach among the different water decision-makers and adaptive management in the use of groundwater resources with different quality represent the key points to overcome conflicts between different users, with the awareness of the ineludible uncertainties of the hydrogeological model.