U-Pb calcite age of the Late Permian Castile Formation, Delaware Basin: a constraint on the age of the Permian-Triassic boundary (?)

Organic-rich calcite laminated with gypsum in the evaporitic, non-fossiliferous Castile Formation of the Delaware Basin, southwest USA, yields a Total Pb/U isochron age of 251.5±2.8 Ma (MSWD=1.3). The Castile Formation is almost certainly Late Permian based on its ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr value of 0.706923, identical to the distinct minimum in the late Permian Sr curve. In this paper we explore the potential for using U-Pb calcite ages to date traditionally undatable sections and show how this southern-midcontinent USA (far west Texas and southeast New Mexico) deposit can be correlated to the type section in China. We accept that diagenetic alteration can bias U-Pb results, but the data set we present shows no evidence for such alteration. Clearly with alteration the age we present would represent a minimum age for the Castile Formation. If the age actually dates the Castile Formation then it requires the Permian-Triassic boundary to be younger than 251.5±2.8 Ma.     

Growth and characterization of synthetic iron-bearing olivine

Single crystals of olivine were grown at 0.1 MPa total pressure in a floating-zone image furnace. Composition of crystals grown ranged from 67 mol% forsterite to 90 mol% forsterite. Improvements in the crystal growth technique allowed growth of large crystals (0.005 m diameter, 0.070 m length) with very low dislocation density, no visible bubbles, and no cracks. The most significant improvement was the addition of a platinum-wound resistance heater internal to the image furnace. This heater provided the dual improvements of better control over oxygen fugacity from a CO/CO₂ gas mix and alteration of the crystal growth interface resulting in a significant reduction in crystal defects. No subgrain boundaries have been observed in crystals growth here and dislocation densities on the order of 10⁸-10⁹ m^-2 have been achieved. Iron concentration is nearly uniform across the diameter (0.005 m) of crystals and varies approximately 5 mol% along the crystal length (0.040 to 0.050 m).     

The Cortlandt complex: evidence for large-scale liquid immiscibility involving granodiorite and diorite magmas

Granodiorite and diorite plutons of the Rosetown complex, N.Y., which are associated with the nearby Cortlandt complex, have chemical and textural characteristics indicating that large-scale liquid immiscibility played a major role in their petrogenesis. Rare earth element, zirconium, niobium and phosphorus abundances are much greater in the diorite precluding the possibility that the Rosetown diorite and granodiorite are related by fractional crystallization. The trace element data also eliminate the possibility that the granodiorite represents: (1) a partial melt of crustal rocks including basalt; (2) a granitic cumulate; or (3) a residue from an aqueous fluid derived either from a silicate melt or crustal rocks. Liquid immiscibility appears to be viable model for the origin of the Rosetown granodiorite and iron-rich diorite. This model is supported by the following: (1) the major element compositions occur in a two-liquid field on a Greig diagram; (2) both bodies have similar Sr isotope compositions; (3) common phases in the two rock types have overlapping compositions; (4) the major and trace element data of the diorite and granodiorite are similar to the experimentally determined partition data of immiscible liquid pairs; and (5) possible ocelli of iron-rich diorite are found in the granodiorite.     

Volcanic facies analysis of a subaqueous basalt lava-flow complex at Hruškovec,NW Croatia — Evidence of advanced rifting in the Tethyan domain

The Hruškovec quarry of basaltoid rocks is situated on the northwestern slopes of Mt. Kalnik, within the Zagorje–Mid-Transdanubian zone, a part of the North-western Dinarides. The basaltoids are inter-bedded with radiolarites of the Middle and Upper Triassic age (Langobardian, Carnian–Norian). Spilites, altered diabases and meta-basalts form part of Triassic volcanic-sedimentary sequence, made of sandstones, shales, micritic limestone, altered vitric tuffs and radiolarian cherts, incorporated tectonically into the Jurassic–Cretaceous mélange.     

Nd, O and Sr isotopic constraints on the origin of Precambrian rocks, Southern Black Hills, South Dakota

The Nd, O and Sr isotopic characteristics of Precambrian metasedimentary, metavolcanic and granitic rocks from the Black Hills of South Dakota are examined. Two late-Archean granites (2.5-2.6 Ga) have T_dm ages of 3.05 and 3.30 Ga, suggesting that at least one of the granites was derived through the melting of significantly older crust. Early-Proterozoic metasedimentary rocks have T_dm ages that range from 2.32 to 2.45 Ga. These model ages, in conjunction with probable stratigraphic ages ranging from 1.9 to 2.2 Ga, indicate that mantle-derived material was added to the continental crust of this region during the early-Proterozoic. Previous studies of the Harney Peak Granite complex have reported U-Pb and Rb-Sr ages of about 1.71 Ga and most granite samples examined in this study have Sr isotopic compositions consistent with that age. Two granite samples taken from the same sill, however, give two-point Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd ages of 2.08 ±0.08 and 2.20 ±0.20 Ga (∑²²⁰⁰_Nd = −15.5), respectively. In addition, whole-rock and apatite samples of the spatially associated Tin Mountain pegmatite give a Sm-Nd isochron age of 2000 ±100 Ma (∑²²⁰⁰_Nd = −5.8 ±1.8).

The Sm-Nd, O and Rb-Sr isotopic systematics of these granitic rocks have been complicated to some degree by both crystallization and post-crystallization processes, and the age of the pegmatite and parts of the Harney Peak Granite complex remain uncertain. Processes that probably complicated the isotopic systematics of these rocks include derivation from heterogeneous source material, assimilation, mixing of REE between granite and country rock during crystallization via a fluid phase and post-crystallization mobility of Sr. The Nd isotopic compositions of the pegmatite and the Harney Peak Granite indicate that they were not derived primarily from the exposed metasedimentary rocks.     

Examining the physical meaning of the bank erosion coefficient used in meander migration modeling

Widely used models of meander evolution relate migration rate to vertically averaged near-bank velocity through the use of a coefficient of bank erosion (E). In applications to floodplain management problems, E is typically determined through calibration to historical planform changes, and thus its physical meaning remains unclear. This study attempts to clarify the extent to which E depends on measurable physical characteristics of the channel boundary materials using data from the Sacramento River, California, USA. Bend-average values of E were calculated from measured long-term migration rates and computed near-bank velocities. In the field, unvegetated bank material resistance to fluvial shear (k) was measured for four cohesive and noncohesive bank types using a jet-test device. At a small set of bends for which both E and k were obtained, we discovered that variability in k explains much of the variability in E. The form of this relationship suggests that when modeling long-term meander migration of large rivers, E depends largely on bank material properties. This finding opens up the possibility that E may be estimated directly from field data, enabling prediction of meander migration rates for systems where historical data are unavailable or controlling conditions have changed. Another implication is that vegetation plays a limited role in affecting long-term meander migration rates of large rivers like the Sacramento River. These hypotheses require further testing with data sets from other large rivers.     

Networking

This essay outlines the ways that networks structure opportunities foremployment and advancement and the ways that networks build frameworks of support, particularly for women in geography. I consider the evidence supporting the contention that personal contacts and social networks affect careeroutcomes. I then note that each person's networks are likely to be biased in favor of others who share common interests and concerns. In particular, gender affects network composition in significant ways. Because network composition affects how a network functions, it is worth considering the personal and professional advantages of building diverse networks. In the final section I suggest ways to build such networks.     

Scale and timing of Rare Earth Element redistribution in the Taconian foreland of New England

Clastic sedimentary rocks, deposited on eastern North America in response to the Taconian Orogeny, commonly have Sm/Nd isotope relationships indicating substantial isotope disturbance near or subsequent to the time of sedimentation that may be associated with severe depletion in light rare earth elements (LREE). Affected units [Normanskill Formation (Austin Glen and Pawlet Members), Frankfort Formation and Perry Mountain Formation] are widely separated both geographically (western New York to western Maine) and stratigraphically (Middle Ordovician to Silurian). A model is proposed for the most likely explanation of the observed REE and Sm/Nd isotope relationships involving a two‐stage process. In the first stage, REE are redistributed on a mineralogical scale (dissolution/precipitation on a sample scale) often with the involvement of REE‐enriched trace phases such as apatite and monazite. This stage typically takes place during diagenesis but may also take place later during metamorphism and/or recent weathering, and results in isotope re‐equilibration on a sample scale. The second stage occurs when one or more of these phases is redissolved and REE are transported on large advective scales. Where LREE‐enriched phases are involved, this gives rise to LREE depletion in whole rocks. The timing of this second stage cannot be constrained from Sm/Nd isotope data and may take place at any time subsequent to the isotope re‐equilibration. Such complex histories of REE redistribution may result in serious errors in estimating Nd model ages but not in estimating the Nd isotope composition at the age of sedimentation. Thus, Sm/Nd ratios even of unmetamorphosed sedimentary rocks have to be carefully evaluated before the calculation of depleted mantle model ages for the provenance.