Ries impact crater,southern Germany: search for meteoritic material

Twenty-three samples from the Ries crater, representing a wide range of shock metamorphism, were analyzed for seven siderophile elements (Au, Ge, Ir, Ni, Os, Pd, Re) and five volatile elements (Ag, Cd, Sb, Se, Zn). Taking Ir as an example, we found siderophile enrichments over the indigenous level of 0.015 ppb Ir occur in only eight samples. The excess is very modest; even the most enriched samples (a weakly shocked biotite gneiss and a metal-impregnated amphibolite) have Ir, Os corresponding to ~4 × 10^?4 C1 chondrite abundances. Of five flädle glasses analyzed only one shows excess Ir. Suevite matrix and vesicular glass have slight enrichment, but homogenous glass from the same rock does not. In flädle glasses, Ni and Se are strongly correlated and apparently reside in Ir, Os-poor Sulfides [pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, pentlandite(?)]of terrestrial, probably sedimentary, origin. The Ir, Os and Ni enrichments of the metal-bearing amphibolite are compatible with chondritic ratios, but these are ill-defined because of uncertainty in Ni. In the other samples enriched in siderophiles Ir(Os), Ni and Se are mutually correlated; $\text{Ni}\text{Ir}$ and $\text{Ni}\text{Os}$ ~ 11 × C1 and are much higher than any chondritic ratios; $\text{Se}\text{Ni}\text{~ 2 × C1}$ and suggests a sulfide phase, rather than metal may be the host of the correlated elements. Lacking a plausible local source, this material is apparently meteoritic in origin. The unusual elemental ratios, coupled with the very low enrichments, tend to exclude chondrites and most irons as likely projectile material. Of the achondrites, aubrites seem slightly preferable. Ratios of excess siderophiles in Ries materiel match tolerably those of an aubrite (possibly atypical) occurring as an inclusion in the Bencubbin meteorite, Australia. The Hungaria group of Mars-crossing asteroids may be a source of aubritic projectiles.     

Strontium and hydrogen isotope geochemistry of fresh and metabasalt dredged from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Fresh basalt and metabasalt dredged from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge were studied for Na, K, Rb, Sr, and H₂O(+) contents, and strontium and hydrogen isotope ratios. Na, K, Rb, and Sr contents of these samples are within the range of those of oceanic tholeiite. H₂O(+) content, strontium, and hydrogen isotope ratios vary widely. The variation in water content of metabasalt is apparently related to the chlorite content. The metamorphic temperature was about 550 °C based on the estimated δD value of chlorite. There is positive linear relationship between water content and strontium isotope ratio. Based on this relationship, the variation of strontium isotope ratio of the metabasalt was interpreted as follows: complete exchange occurred between strontium in the chlorite portion of the metabasalt and strontium in sea water (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio=0.7090), while the original strontium (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr∼0.7023) was retained in the non-altered portion of the basalts.     

S-wave velocity structures of sediments estimated from array microtremor records and site responses in the near-fault region of the 1999 Chi-Chi,Taiwan earthquake

The 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan earthquake, M_W = 7.6, caused severe damage in the near-fault region of the earthquake. In order to evaluate site effects in the near-field strong motions we estimate S-wave velocity structures of sediments at four sites using array records of microtremors. We also recalculated S-wave velocity structures at other four sites previously reported. To show the validity of the estimated S-wave velocity structures we separate empirical site responses from aftershock records using the generalized inversion method and show the agreement between empirical and theoretical site responses. We also show an observed fact that suggests soil nonlinearity during the Chi-Chi earthquake by comparing horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios (HVRs) for main shock records with HVRs for aftershock records. Then we calculate one-dimensional equivalent-linear site responses using the estimated S-wave velocity structures and the main shock records observed on the surface. It is found that site amplification due to thick (about 6 km) sediments is one of the important factors for explaining the long-period velocity pulses of about 5 to 10 sec observed at sites in the footwall during the Chi-Chi earthquake. It is also found that the theoretical site responses of shallow soft sediments at sites that sustained severe damage in the hanging wall shows significant amplification around 1 sec. As the amplitude of velocity pulses with period around 1 sec is most critical in causing damage to ordinary buildings of moderate heights, our results suggest that the 1-sec period velocity pulses, amplified by the site response of shallow sediments should contribute to the severe damage during the Chi-Chi earthquake.     

The Apsidal Antialignment of the HD 82943 System

We perform numerical simulations to explore the dynamical evolution of the HD 82943 planetary system. By simulating diverse planetary configurations, we find two mechanisms of stabilizing the system: the 2:1 mean motion resonance (MMR) between the two planets can act as the first mechanism for all stable orbits. The second mechanism is a dynamical antialignment of the apsidal lines of the orbiting planets, which implies that the difference of the periastron longitudes ₃ librates about 180° in the simulations. We also use a semi-analytical model to explain the numerical results for the system under study.     

Effects of deposit feeder Stichopus japonicus on algal bloom and organic matter contents of bottom sediments of the enclosed sea

Algae growing in an enclosed sea may inhibit eutrophication because they absorb nutrients in the water. However, dead algae often cause anaerobic conditions in the water just above and on sediment after they are deposited on the bottom. We found that Stichopus japonicus inhibited the anaerobic processes coupling water sulfite production in sediment. The present study investigates whether S. japonicus inhibits algal flourish and influences sediment properties such as organic matter contents. Aquarium experiments were carried out at Komatsushima port in Tokushima Prefecture, western Japan. The aquaria used in the experiments were supplied with water directly from the adjacent sea (6 L/min), laid with sand of 10 cm depths, and lighted at 12 h intervals. Six aquaria each containing a sea cucumber from Komatsushima port and six aquaria without any were used in the experiments. Water temperature ranged between 9 and 15 degrees C during December 2000 and April 2001. Salinity ranged between 32 per thousand and 34 per thousand. Algae began to cover the bottom of the aquaria without S. japonicus after 2 weeks, whereas no growth was evident in the aquaria containing sea cucumbers. Chlorophyll a concentration in the surface sediment of the aquaria with S. japonicus (6.1+/-3.6 microg/g, mean S.D.+/-standard deviation) was significantly lower than that without it (60+/-17 microg/g, U-test, p<0.05). Phaeophytin concentration in the surface sediment of the aquaria with S. japonicus (0.9+/-0.09 microg/g) was also significantly lower than that without it (4.5+/-1.0 microg/g, U-test, p<0.05). TOC concentration in the surface sediment of the aquaria with S. japonicus (2.6+/-1.3 microg/g) was slightly lower than that without it (4.0+/-1.2 microg/g). These results showed that algal biomass and organic matter concentration of the bottom were decreased in the presence of S. japonicus. Therefore, S. japonicus inhibits algal bloom and decrease the contents of organic matter deposited on the bottom of enclosed sea areas.     

Résultats préliminaires sur la sédimentation pélagique de l'Atlantique tropical au Crétacé et au Tertiaire (plateau de Demerara,Leg ODP 207)

Five sites located on a bathymetric transect of the distal Demerara Rise were studied by ODP Leg 207. Albian sediments of essentially terrigenous nature (clay, siltstone, sandstone) are the oldest drilled stratigraphic levels and form apparently the top of the synrift sequence. They are overlain by Cenomanian to Santonian finely laminated black shales, rich in organic matter of marine origin, which accumulated on a thermally subsiding ramp. Early Campanian hiatuses are thought to be the result of final disjunction of Demerara Rise (South America) from Africa and the onset of deep water communication between the two Atlantic basins (south and central). The overlying Uppermost Cretaceous–Oligocene chalk includes rich and diversified calcareous plankton assemblages, as well as two radiolarian-rich intervals (Late Campanian and Middle Eocene). A complex erosional surface developed during the Late Oligocene–Early Miocene. Sedimentation was impeded since then on the intermediate and deep sites of Demerara Rise, possibly due to the action of deep submarine currents. To cite this article: T. Danelian et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Trace Fossils and Sulfur Isotopes in Mudstones around the Kuroko Deposits in the Hokuroku Basin, Northeast Japan: An Attempt to Delineate the Depositional Environment

Abstract. A comprehensive investigation was carried out on the distribution of both trace fossils and sulfur isotopes in mud-stones in the Hokuroku district, northeast Japan, in the hope of delineating the depositional environment of the mudstones in which the Kuroko deposits are embedded. The mudstones are generally massive in structure and usually contain large trace fossils, being indicative of an aerobic biofacies. On the other hand, some mudstones in and above the Kuroko ore horizon are partly laminated and usually contain smaller trace fossils, being assignable to an anaerobic or dysaerobic biofacies. The δ³⁴S values of sulfides in the mudstones above and below the ore horizon range from -40 to -12 %o, indicating mostly oxic depositional conditions in equilibrium with the inferred aerobic biofacies. In the mudstones in the ore horizon, the δ³⁴S values exhibit regionally discriminated variations: -44 to -12 %o in areas far (>1 km) from the known Kuroko deposits and -24 to +6 %o in areas closer to them. The latter high δ³⁴S group implies the temporal occurrence of local anoxic basins in the vicinity of the known Kuroko deposits. At the time of late Nishikurosawa Stage (i.e. the currently assumed Kuroko metallogenic epoch), an intense oceanic stagnation is suggested to have taken place to form the local anoxic basins responsible for the formation and preservation of Kuroko deposits. This oceanic environmental event is considered to be most likely due to increasing biological productivity primarily triggered and enhanced by upwelling of NADW in the paleo-Sea of Japan at that time.     

Discontinuity of the Mozumi–Sukenobu fault low-velocity zone, central Japan, inferred from 3-D finite-difference simulation of fault zone waves excited by explosive sources

We delineate shallow structures of the Mozumi–Sukenobu fault, central Japan, using fault zone waves generated by near-surface explosions and detected by a seismometer array. Two explosive sources, S1 and S2, were placed at a distance of about 2 km from the array, and the other two, S3 and S4, were at a distance of about 4 km. Fault zone head waves and fault zone trapped waves following direct P wave arrivals were clearly identified in the seismograms recorded by a linear seismometer array deployed across the fault in a research tunnel at a depth of 300 m. Synthetic waveforms generated by a 3-D finite-difference (3-D FD) method were compared with observed fault zone waves up to 25 Hz. The best fitting model indicates a 200-m-wide low-velocity zone extending at least to shot site S1 located 2 km east of the seismic array with a 20% decrease in the P wave velocity relative to the wall rock. The width of the low-velocity zone is consistent with the fault zone defined by direct geological observation in the research tunnel. However, the low-velocity zone should disappear just to the east of the site S1 to explain the observed fault zone waves for shot S3 and S4 located 4 km east of the seismometer array. Yet the observation and the simulation show notable trapped wave excitation even though shots S3 and S4 are outside the fault zone. These results indicate that (1) the effective waveguide for seismic waves along the fault does not exist east of source site S1 although the surface traces of the fault are observed in this region, and (2) considerable trapped waves can be excited by sources well outside the fault zone. These results highlight the along-strike variability in fault zone structure.