Complexities of rock fracture and rock friction from deformation of Westerly granite

A series of rock friction experiments has been carried out to study the complexities in rock fracture and rock friction. Intact Westerly granite samples were loaded to shear failure in a laboratory polyaxial loading apparatus. The resultant fractured samples were reloaded to cause frictional sliding. Both polyaxial loading (₁ > ₂ > ₃ > 0) and equal confining condition (₁ > ₂ = ₃ > 0) were used. The deformation processes were monitored by macroscopic axial stress-strain, optical holography, and ultrasonic velocity measurements.Intense localized deformation along the fracture occurred very early in the loading of fractured samples. Contacts on the fracture surfaces continuously broke during loading. No acoustic velocity anomaly was observed for the fractured sample, in contrast to a 25% drop in the velocity before the failure of the corresponding intact sample. The current study and previous research suggest that the deformation localization is an important process in governing the instability of rock friction. Instability analysis of rock friction needs to include not only the deformation processes along the sliding surfaces, but also those adjacent to the fractures such as the localized deformation along the fractures observed in the current study. The instability analysis of rock friction with rate- and state-dependent friction laws does not specifically include the deformation localization adjacent to the faults and thus ignores an important class of instability as described byRudnicki (1977).A dependence of frictional strengths on the stress components normal to the sliding and in the plane of the fracture surface was observed. This dependence can be understood by considering the loading of the irregular fracture surface under polyaxial loading conditions. This observation requires the friction laws in the macroscopic scale to be modified for those cases where the three principal stresses (₁, ₂, and ₃) are significantly different.     

A New TanSat XCO_2 Global Product towards Climate Studies

The 1st Chinese carbon dioxide(CO2)monitoring satellite mission,TanSat,was launched in 2016.The 1st TanSat global map of CO2 dry-air mixing ratio(XCO2)measurements over land was released as version 1 data product with an accuracy of 2.11 ppmv(parts per million by volume).In this paper,we introduce a new(version 2)TanSat global XCO2 product that is approached by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics Carbon dioxide retrieval Algorithm for Satellite remote sensing(IAPCAS),and the European Space Agency(ESA)Climate Change Initiative plus(CCI+)TanSat XCO2 product by University of Leicester Full Physics(UoL-FP)retrieval algorithm.The correction of the measurement spectrum improves the accuracy(?0.08 ppmv)and precision(1.47 ppmv)of the new retrieval,which provides opportunity for further application in global carbon flux studies in the future.Inter-comparison between the two retrievals indicates a good agreement,with a standard deviation of 1.28 ppmv and a bias of?0.35 ppmv.     

Lamellar exsolution systems in clinopyroxene

Exsolution systems in synthetic pyroxenes were studied by transmission electron microscopy. An iron free sample En₈₀Wo₂₀ was prepared by devitrifying glass at 1300°C. Samples with bulk composition En₅₀Fs₃₀Wo₂₀ and En₃₅Fs₃₈Wo₂₇ were given various but well-defined heat treatments. The exsolution systems observed cannot unambiguously be related to the heat treatment. Periodic lamellar exsolution was observed parallel to (001) and (100) with sharp satellite reflections in the diffraction diagram. In more complex exsolution systems coarse (100) lamellae were found together with fine lamellae parallel to (001) and (100). An unusual phenomenon occurs at a (100) twin boundary where both individuals display exsolution lamellae parallel to (001). Pigeonite lamellae in one twin meet augite lamellae of the other individual at the twin boundary and vice-versa. The precise matching is achieved by a change in width near the boundary. Smoothly curved phase boundaries are developed in the obtuse angle of crosshatched (100) and (001) pigeonite lamellae in augite, whereas the boundaries in the acute angle are straight with sharp edges. This is consistent with elastic energy constraints.     

Über die Synthese von Albiten bei Temperaturen von 250 bis 700° C

A glass of composition NaAlSi₃O₈ with small contents of Fe has been crystallized in the presence of water vapor under 1000 bars, at temperatures in the range of 250 to 700° C for varying periods of time. The synthetic crystals were investigated microscopically and by x-ray powder diffraction methods. Most of the crystals are twinned according to the albite law, but other twins are found too. Size and form of the crystals seem to depend on the temperature of crystallization. The optic axial angles (2V _x ) of the albites being measurable on the universal stage are in the range of 50 to 100 degrees. There seems to exist a linear relation between the 2₁₃₁–2_1¯31 values (used as an indicator for the degree of ordering) and the 2V _x values. The change of the lattice parameters from albite (D) to albite (O) is suggested to deviate slightly from linearity.In contrast to previous investigations the steady value of 2₁₃₁–2_1¯31 which is characteristic of the temperature of crystallization was reached more rapidly. These results suggest that small content of Fe in the glass had a catalytic effect on the Al/Si ordering.

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Herrn Dr. F. Seifert (Ruhruniversität Bochum) danken wir herzlich für die Einweisung in die experimentellen Untersuchungsmethoden sowie für manchen kritischen Hinweis. Danken möchten wir auch Herrn Dr. P. K. Hörmann für die Kontrolle der chemischen Zusammensetzung des Albitglases sowie Herrn Dr. C. W. Burnham (Harvard University) für die Bereitstellung des Rechenprogramms. Nicht zuletzt danken wir Herrn Prof. Dr. F. Karl für die kritische Durchsicht des Manuskriptes.     

Tantalite-(Mn) from the Borborema Pegmatite Province,northeastern Brazil: conditions of formation and melt- and fluid-inclusion constraints on experimental studies

Carbon dioxide-rich fluid and carbonate-rich aluminosilicate melt inclusions in tantalite-(Mn) from the Alto do Giz pegmatite in the Borborema Pegmatite Province, northeastern Brazil were investigated to constrain the formation of the host crystals. The results demonstrate that in the Alto do Giz pegmatite, water- and alkaline carbonate-rich fluids and melts are responsible for the transport and deposition of tantalite-(Mn) at temperatures around 600°C and about 4 kbar. Moreover, evidence is presented to show that during crystallization of the tantalite-(Mn), three different components coexisted, which are now trapped as separate inclusions: two immiscible silicate melts (types A and B melt inclusions) and a CO₂-rich aqueous fluid. We hypothesize that immiscible fluid separation may have been a critical factor in producing the water- and alkaline carbonate-rich fluids and melts necessary for Ta and Nb transport. Since the tantalite-(Mn) crystallized during pegmatite formation, this mechanism must also have implications for pegmatite genesis in general.     

Nitrate reduction potential of a fractured Middle Triassic carbonate aquifer in Southwest Germany

Hydrogeology Journal - Nitrate reduction constitutes an important natural mechanism to mitigate the widespread and persistent nitrate contamination of groundwater resources. In fractured aquifers,...     

The solar Na/Ca and S/Ca ratios: A close comparison with carbonaceous chondrites

Solar abundances based on recent laboratory oscillator strengths confirm the relationship between solar matter and carbonaceous chondrites. Within spectroscopic uncertainties (typically±40%) these meteorites contain refractory and volatile elements in solar proportions. Significant improvement of accuracy at present seems restricted to a few abundant elements having reliable quantum-mechanical oscillator strengths, and necessitates strictly differential spectrum analysis. Taking this into account, the solar abundance ratios Na/Ca and S/Ca have been determined to an accuracy of±15%. The results are:Na/Ca= 0.91and S/Ca= 6.8. These volatile/refractory ratios just match type 1 carbonaceous chondrites, but contrast with other types.These and related interstellar abundance features place constraints on the condensation process and a potential heterogeneity of the solar nebula. There is evidence that no drastic pre-solar separation of interstellar gas and grains has occurred, but minor imbalance may be a common mechanism co-determining stellar metal content.     

Distribution of Crenarchaeota tetraether membrane lipids in surface sediments from the Red Sea

The Red Sea represents an extreme marine environment, with high salinity, high temperature and low level of nutrients, complicating the application of standard geochemical palaeotemperature proxies. In order to investigate the applicability of the TEX₈₆ (TetraEther indeX of GDGTs with 86 carbons) proxy for sea surface temperature (SST) in the Red Sea, the distribution of glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether membrane lipids (GDGTs) in sediments from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden were examined. Against expectations, TEX₈₆ values for the Red Sea do not show a simple linear relationship with SST and deviate from the global core top calibration. In the northern Red Sea, at temperatures between 25 and 28 °C, the values increase linearly with SST, whereas in the southern Red Sea, at temperatures above 28 °C, TEX₈₆ decreases with increasing temperature. Factors like seasonality and depth of production, salinity and nutrient availability, as well as diagenetic overprint or influence of allochtonous terrestrial lipids, cannot explain this pattern. However, the observed TEX₈₆ relationship with SST could be explained by the presence of a hypothetical endemic Crenarchaeota population in the Red Sea with a specific TEX₈₆ vs. SST relationship. In the Southern Red Sea, a two-component mixing model implies an exponential decrease in the endemic population towards the Gulf of Aden. Thus, the application of the TEX₈₆ as a palaeotemperature proxy in the Red Sea is likely only possible for the northern Red Sea area with the specific SST vs. TEX₈₆ relationship determined in this study and potentially for the whole Red Sea basin during glacials, when water exchange with the Indian Ocean was more restricted than today and the endemic archaeal lipid distribution was not affected by transport from the Indian Ocean. Our results suggest that distinct populations of Crenarchaeota in extreme environments such as evaporitic basins may have different membrane composition, necessitating application of another calibration than the global core top calibration for TEX₈₆ palaeothermometry.     

Speciation of Trace Elements in Acidic PoreWaters from Waste Rock Dumps by Ultrafiltration andIon Exchange Combined with ICPMS and ICPOES

A speciation procedure developed on reactive acidicpore water samples from mining areas is presented.Methods with low consumption of solution are requiredthat allow rapid sample preparation to avoid equilibriumchanges as far as possible. The entire procedure includesonly three parallel separation steps. One aliquot is filteredthrough an 1 kd ultrafiltration membrane to separate traceelements adsorbed or complexed by colloids. One cationand one anion exchange are performed with two additionalaliquots to determine simple hydrated ions and smallinorganic complex ions. Commonly used procedures ofion exchange seem to be problematic. This new techniqueis based on a novel ion exchanger. Subsequently the threefractions obtained from the separation procedures and theoriginal pore water sample are analysed by ICPMS, ICPOES,ET-AAS, Flame-AAS, FES and IC to determine the concentrationsof the major ions and additionally up to 50 trace elements. Theinfluence of pH-values and several dissolved compounds iscontrolled in experiment series with synthetically preparedsolutions to reveal potential artifacts.