An expanding high velocity hi cloud probably ejected from the galactic nucleus

An object located approximately atl=8°,b=–4° with a mean radial velocity of –212.3 km s^–1 has been observed in the 21 cm neutral hydrogen line. The mean weighted velocity dispersion is 11.2 km s^–1 and the total mass is estimated to be 190R ² (kpc) solar masses. We discuss possible interpretations of the origin and nature of this object. The most likely interpretation is that we observe an expanding object which has been ejected from the galactic nucleus.     

Ore Geology, Fluid Geochemistry and Genesis of the Shanggong Gold Deposit, Eastern Qinling Orogen, China

Abstract. The Shanggong Au deposit in the Xiong'er Terrane, East Qinling, has reserves of about 30 t Au, making it one of the largest orogenic‐type Au deposits hosted in volcanic rocks in China. The deposit is hosted in the andesitic assemblage of the Xiong'er Group of 1.85?1.4 Ga. Three stages of hydrothermal ore‐forming processes are recognized, Early (E), Middle (M) and Late (L), characterised by quartz‐pyrite, polymetallic sulfides and carbonate‐quartz, respectively. Homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions are between 380‐320d?C for the E‐stage, 300‐220d?C for the M‐stage and 200‐120d?C for the L‐stage. The composition of fluid inclusions changed from CO₂‐rich in the E‐stage to CO₂‐poor L‐stage. The M‐stage fluid has the highest contents of cations and anions (e.g., SO₄^2‐, Cl¹, K+), the highest (K+Na)/(Mg+Ca) and lowest CO₂/H₂O ratios, which probably resulted from CO₂ phase separation. This, together with the alkaline and reducing conditions, as indicated by highest pH and lowest Eh values, is most conducive to the deposition of polymetallic sulfides and native elements such as Au, Ag and Te. H‐O isotope systematics indicate that ore fluids evolved from deep‐sourced through to shallow‐sourced, with the M‐stage being a mixing phase of these two fluid‐systems. Nineteen δ¹⁸O_W values, from 4.2 to 13.4 %o, averaging 8.1 %o, suggest that the E‐stage fluids derived from metamorphic devolatilization of sedimentary rocks at depth. Comparison of the H‐O isotope systematics between the Shanggong deposit and the main lithologies in the Xiong'er Terrane, shows that neither these nor the underlying lower crust and mantle, or combinations thereof, could be considered as the source of ore fluids and metals for the Shanggong Au deposit. Instead, a source which meets the isotopic constraints, is a carbonaceous carbonate‐sandstone‐shale‐chert (CSC) sequence, which is present in the Guandaokou and Luanchuan Groups in the south of the Xiong'er Terrane. This conclusion is supported by thirteen high δ¹⁸O values of the Meso‐Neoproterozoic strata south of the Machaoying fault, and the high δ¹⁸O_W values calculated for their possibly metamorphic fluids. It can be also supported by previous observation that the Guandaokou and Luanchuan Groups were underthrust beneath the Xiong'er Terrane, during the Mesozoic collision between the Yangtze and Sinokorean continents. Available isotope ages, together with geological field data, constrain the timing of the Au metallogenesis between 250?110 Ma. This metallogenesis and associated granitic magmatism, can be related to the Yangtze‐Sinokorean continental collision that resulted in the formation of the Qinling Orogen. This collision event progressed from early compression (Triassic to Early Jurassic), through middle compression‐to‐extension transition (Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous), to late extension (Cretaceous). These three stages in the evolution of the Qinling Orogen form the basis of an ore genesis model that combines collisional orogeny, metallogeny and fluid flow (CMF model). These three evolutionary stages correspond to the three‐stages of ore‐forming fluids of the Shanggong Au deposit. We conclude that the formation of the Shanggong Au deposit is a result of the Mesozoic northward intracontinental A‐type subduction along the Machaoying fault during Yangtze‐Sinokorean continental collision, which led to the metamorphic devolatilization of the CSC sequence, thereby providing both fluids and metals.     

Environmental monitoring of magnetic iron phases of urban water reservoir lake sediments (Taiaçupeba Lake,metropolitan region of São Paulo,Brazil) by using Mössbauer spectroscopy

In the present work, we investigate the iron oxides and oxyhydroxides behavior and evolution, related to the geochemical behavior of some metals, which could be retained as solid phases in the sediments from an urban water reservoir lake, placed in Taiaçupeba, Great São Paulo, Brazil. These tasks were performed by the establishment of a proceduring setting for environmental monitoring analysis through Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements associated to hysteresis loops measurements and chemical analysis [X-ray fluorescence (XRF)]. We inferred the possibility of goethite occurrence in broad particle size distribution (5–50 nm), and related to ferrihydrite, and small grain-size hematite (about 8 nm). The magnetometry results pointed to the paramagnetic/superparamagnetic behavior of the magnetic phases present in the samples and also suggested the occurrence of small grain-size magnetite. We also verified the presence of clay minerals related to Fe, as well as the occurrence of Fe³⁺ and/or Fe²⁺ in short-range structural order. Through a straight correlation among Mössbauer spectra data gained at T = 77 K and Al-metal, metal-Fe molar ratios, provided through XRF data, we found remarkable indications of interference on meta-stable phases evolution to its final products. Such results can be pointing for evidences about the possible isomorphic replacing and/or adsorption of Al and other metals in goethite and hematite.     

Metazoan/microbial biostalactites from present‐day submarine caves in the Mediterranean Sea

Biostalactites formed by metazoan–microbialite associations from three submerged marine caves in the Plemmirio Peninsula (south of Syracuse, Ionian Sea) are randomly distributed and show different sizes and morphologies, as well as variations in surface roughness/smoothness. The biostalactites consist of crusts a few centimeters thick of small serpulids and other metazoans, associated with fine‐grained carbonate; the larger ones often include a nucleus of serpulid tubes (Protula). The metazoans include mainly serpuloideans, sponges, bryozoans and foraminifers but microbial carbonates are also significant components. The composition of both the living communities and thanatocoenoses on the outer surfaces, as well as the composition and fabric of the internal framework, were analysed and used to reconstruct the history of the caves. All of the identified sessile faunas mainly consist of cryptic and sciaphilic dwellers that reflect cave conditions and their variations through time. The distribution pattern, composition and abundance of the present‐day dwellers largely depend on the degree of roughness of the biostalactite surfaces and their positions within the caves. It has been suggested that the Protula specimens in the nuclei represent pioneer populations that formed aggregates during the early cave colonization phase, in response to relatively high food supply from seawater inflow and intruding continental waters. By contrast, the outer metazoan–microbialite carbonates reflect more confined conditions in the caves caused by Holocene sea‐level rises. Hypotheses are proposed for biostalactite growth, taking into account information about the growth rates of some constituents, and evidence of dissolution effects. Similarities and differences between these biostalactites and other Holocene deposits previously described from submarine caves in the Mediterranean Sea and in tropical reefs are discussed.     

The Hf-INATOR: A free data reduction spreadsheet for Lu/Hf isotope analysis

During the last decade, the in situ Lu-Hf isotope methodology has been widely used in Earth sciences and the number of laboratories performing Lu-Hf analysis has increased together with dedicated scientific software. However, free and user-friendly software for the Lu-Hf data reduction is currently missing. We present the ‘Hf-INATOR’, a new interactive Excel spreadsheet, simple to use and completely free (compatible with Libreoffice and Openoffice) that performs data reduction of the Lu-Hf analytical outputs and calculates the main parameters of the Lu-Hf systematic, such as the 2σ errors, the εHf₍₀₎, the εHf_(t), the T_DM, the T_DM ^C and the f_Lu/Hf.     

Decadal interactions between the western tropical Pacific and the North Atlantic Oscillation

The relationship between interdecadal variations of tropical sea surface temperature (SST) in the last 120 years and circulation anomalies related to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is investigated in this study. Using an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM), we confirm observational evidence that variations in the SST gradient in the western tropical Pacific are related to the NAO anomalies on decadal timescale, and may be contributing to the shift towards the positive NAO phase observed in the late 20th century. The role played by the Indian Ocean-NAO teleconnection, advocated in recent studies focused on the last 50 years, is also assessed in the context of the 120-year long record. It is suggested that a positive feedback between the Pacific SST and the hemispheric circulation pattern embedding the decadal NAO signal may act to enhance the internal variability of the coupled ocean–atmosphere system, and justify the stronger teleconnection found in observational data than in SST-forced AGCM experiments.

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Evaluation of forecast strategies for seasonal and decadal forecasts in presence of systematic model errors

This study discusses and compares three different strategies used to deal with model error in seasonal and decadal forecasts. The strategies discussed are the so-called full initialisation, anomaly initialisation and flux correction. In the full initialisation the coupled model is initialised to a state close to the real-world attractor and after initialisation the model drifts towards its own attractor, giving rise to model bias. The anomaly initialisation aims to initialise the model close to its own attractor, by initialising only the anomalies. The flux correction strategy aims to keep the model trajectory close to the real-world attractor by adding empirical corrections. These three strategies have been implemented in the ECMWF coupled model, and are evaluated at seasonal and decadal time-scales. The practical implications of the different strategies are also discussed. Results show that full initialisation results in a clear model drift towards a colder climate. The anomaly initialisation is able to reduce the drift, by initialising around the model mean state. However, the erroneous model mean state results in degraded seasonal forecast skill. The best results on the seasonal time-scale are obtained using momentum-flux correction, mainly because it avoids the positive feedback responsible for a strong cold bias in the tropical Pacific. It is likely that these results are model dependent: the coupled model used here shows a strong cold bias in the Central Pacific, resulting from a positive coupled feedback between winds and SST. At decadal time-scales it is difficult to determine whether any of the strategies is superior to the others.     

Large-Eddy Simulation of the Daytime Boundary Layer in an Idealized Valley Using the Weather Research and Forecasting Numerical Model

A three-dimensional numerical meteorological model is used to perform large-eddy simulations of the upslope flow circulation over a periodic ridge-valley terrain. The subgrid-scale quantities are modelled using a prognostic turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) scheme, with a grid that has a constant horizontal resolution of 50 m and is stretched along the vertical direction. To account for the grid anisotropy, a modified subgrid length scale is used. To allow for the response of the surface fluxes to the valley-flow circulation, the soil surface temperature is imposed and the surface heat and momentum fluxes are computed based on Monin–Obukhov similarity theory. The model is designed with a symmetrical geometry using periodic boundary conditions in both the x and y directions. Two cases are simulated to study the influence of along-valley geostrophic wind forcing with different intensities. The presence of the orography introduces numerous complexities both in the mean properties of the flow and in the turbulent features, even for the idealized symmetric geometry. Classical definitions for the height of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) are revisited and redefined to capture the complex structure of the boundary layer. Analysis of first- and second-moment statistics, along with TKE budget, highlights the different structure of the PBL at different regions of the domain.     

Recycling of palaeo-Pacific subducted oceanic crust related to a Fe–Cu–Au mineralization in the Xu-Huai region of North Anhui-Jiangsu,East China: Geochronological and geochemical constraints

ABSTRACT

In this study, Early Cretaceous skarn deposits and genesis of their host diorite/monzodiorite porphyry in the Xuzhou-Huaibei (Xu-Huai) region, northern Anhui-Jiangsu have been discussed by detailed geochemical work. In-situ zircon U–Pb dating of the diorites related to Fe–Cu–Au deposits shows that they were formed between 131.4 ± 1.5 Ma and 130.8 ± 1.8 Ma. Geochemical data indicate a depletion of high field strength elements (HFSE) in the diorite porphyry with similarity to that of arc-related igneous rocks. The diorite porphyry was probably derived from typical arc magmas related to continental margin subduction characterized by light rare earth elements (LREEs) enrichment and HFSE depletion. REEs compositions of apatite in the diorite porphyry indicate that the dioritic magma was produced from the metasomatized subcontinental mantle by slab-derived fluids. The magma was proven to be a high oxygen fugacity; thus, it was particularly conducive to the precipitation of Fe, Cu, Au and other ore-forming elements. The δ³⁴S values of pyrite and chalcopyrite of Fe–Cu–Au ores range from ?0.2‰ to 2.8‰, indicating that the sulphur in the ore was probably derived from deep-seated magmas. Integrated with geochronological and geochemical analyses, we suggest that the Early Cretaceous igneous suites associated with Fe–Cu–Au deposits in the Xu-Huai region are related to recycling subduction of Pacific oceanic crust.     

Possible correlation between a mantle plume and the evolution of Paleo-Tethys Jinshajiang Ocean: Evidence from a volcanic rifted margin in the Xiaru-Tuoding area, Yunnan, SW China

Several Paleozoic sutures in Southwestern China provide a record of the history of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean, whose birth and final closure are associated with the breakup and assembly of Gondwanaland. Recent studies indicate that there are widespread OIB-type mafic volcanic rocks within these suture zones and intervening terranes. This paper examines the geology and geochemistry of volcanic rocks in the Xiaruo-Tuoding area, a remnant passive margin succession of the Jinshajiang Paleo-Tethyan Ocean. The sedimentary and volcanic stratigraphy of this area is interpreted as a seaward dipping margin with a few continentward dipping normal faults. The available geochemistry of these volcanic rocks suggest that they are OIB-like basalts, characterised by SiO₂ = 42.78–50.46 wt.%, high TiO₂ contents (TiO₂ = 2.2–3.55 wt.%), moderate MgO = 4.15–6.49 wt.%, Mg# = 0.37–0.50, high Ti/Y ratios (mostly > 450), large ion lithosphere elements enrichment, high strength field elements and rare earth elements, with La/Nb = 1.04–1.39, Ce/Yb = 18.38–30, Sm/Yb = 2.16–3.52, (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)i = 0.705350–0.707867, and Nd(t) = − 1.43–1.90. These geochemical and isotopic signatures are generally similar to those of the Emeishan flood basalts, which together with stratigraphic constraints, demonstrate that these volcanics were formed in a volcanic rifted margin, probably associated with a mantle plume. A new model is proposed to interpret the evolution of the Jinshajiang Paleo-Tethyan Ocean and its possible relationship to the Emeishan mantle plume. In this model, we argue that the opening of the Jinshajiang Paleo-Tethyan Ocean in the Carboniferous was caused by a mantle plume. The mantle plume was active to the east along the western margin of the Yangtze Craton between 300 and 260 Ma, from which the voluminous Emeishan flood basalts were erupted at 260 Ma. The closure of the Jinshajiang Ocean occurred since the Middle Permian. Continuous westward subduction generated the Jiangda-Weixi magmatic arc to the west of the Jinshajiang suture. This subduction also partly destroyed and/or tectonically sliced the volcanic rifted margin. Some seaward dipping volcanic-sedimentary sequences on the east flank of the Jinshajiang Ocean were preserved, but are strongly deformed.