The thermal evolution of Mars as constrained by paleo-heat flows

Lithospheric strength can be used to estimate the heat flow at the time when a given region was deformed, allowing us to constrain the thermal evolution of a planetary body. In this sense, the high (>300 km) effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere deduced from the very limited deflection caused by the north polar cap of Mars indicates a low surface heat flow for this region at the present time, a finding difficult to reconcile with thermal history models. This has started a debate on the current heat flow of Mars and the implications for the thermal evolution of the planet. Here we perform refined estimates of paleo-heat flow for 22 martian regions of different periods and geological context, derived from the effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere or from faulting depth beneath large thrust faults, by considering regional radioactive element abundances and realistic thermal conductivities for the crust and mantle lithosphere. For the calculations based on the effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere we also consider the respective contributions of crust and mantle lithosphere to the total lithospheric strength. The obtained surface heat flows are in general lower than the equivalent radioactive heat production of Mars at the corresponding times, suggesting a limited contribution from secular cooling to the heat flow during the majority of the history of Mars. This is contrary to the predictions from the majority of thermal history models, but is consistent with evidence suggesting a currently fluid core, limited secular contraction for Mars, and recent extensive volcanism. Moreover, the interior of Mars could even have been heating up during part of the thermal history of the planet.     

The combined inelastic neutron scattering and solid state DFT study of hydrogen atoms dynamics in a highly ordered kaolinite

The dynamics of the hydrogen atoms in the highly ordered kaolinite was studied by vibrational spectroscopy based on inelastic neutron scattering method with the focus on the spectral region of 100–1,250 cm⁻¹. The experimental spectrum was interpreted by means of the solid state density functional theory calculations covering both normal mode analysis and molecular dynamics going beyond the harmonic approximation. The Al–O–H bending modes were found to be spread over the large interval of 100–1,100 cm⁻¹, with the dominant contributions located between 800 and 1,100 cm^-1. The shapes of the individual hydrogen spectra depend on the strengths of the individual interlayer O–H···O hydrogen bonds involving the inner surface hydroxyl groups. The modes assigned to the in-plane movements of the respective hydrogen atoms are well-defined and always appear on the top of the intervals of energy transfer. In contrast, the modes generated by the out-of-plane movements are spread over large intervals of energies spanning down to the region of external (lattice) modes.     

Metalliferous sediments from the H.M.S. Challenger voyage (1872-1876)

The legendary cruise of H.M.S. Challenger (1872-1876) around the globe must always occupy an eminent place in the annals of oceanography, as being the first systematic attempt made on a global scale to explore the ocean. This expedition made fundamental discoveries in biology and geology which have not been surpassed by any later scientific cruise. Sediment with high content of metals (later called “metalliferous”) was among the enigmatic findings taken onboard. Although the nature of metalliferous sediments is well known today, the very first sampled sediments of this type have not been studied to date. Motivated by the historical value of Challenger’s metalliferous sediment collection we undertook an investigation addressing two questions: (1) the composition of sediments from seafloor for which we have very limited data; (2) Sr-Nd-Pb-Fe-Zn-isotope signature of these sediments collected before the substantial human impact on the ocean during the 20th century.The SE Pacific metalliferous sediments sampled by the Challenger’s explorers are of 2 types: (1) metalliferous oozes blanketing ridge crests and flanks down to the calcite compensation depth (CCD); and (2) stripped of CaCO₃ metalliferous sediments located beneath the CCD in the deeps near the mid-ocean ridges. The abiogenic part of these sediments is composed mainly of poorly-crystalline to X-ray amorphous Fe-Mn-oxyhydroxides, and an amorphous silicate phase. These sediments have geochemical features similar to those of all the other metalliferous sediments: very high Fe and Mn content (on abiogenic basis), very low Al/(Al + Fe + Mn), and high content (on abiogenic basis) of As, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Th, Tl, U, V, W, Y, Zn and Zr. Their REE distribution patterns are similar to that of deep seawater and show weak signs of hydrothermal imprint (weak positive or no Eu anomaly).Seawater and/or terrigenous input from South America control the Sr-Nd-Pb-isotope signature of the Challenger metalliferous sediments and have almost completely obliterated any original MORB-derived hydrothermal signal. Zn isotopes are mainly contributed from seawater although other Zn sources (hydrothermal fluid and detrital aluminosilicates, barite and volcanic glass) are necessary to fully explain Zn-isotope ratios. Fe isotopes indicate relatively slow Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺ oxidation in the non-buoyant plume, thus producing relatively lighter Fe-isotope signature of the FeOOH particles that formed the studied metalliferous sediments.     

Geochemistry and geochronology of the volcanic rocks associated with the Dong'an adularia–sericite epithermal gold deposit,Lesser Hinggan Range,Heilongjiang province,NE China: Constraints on the metallogenesis

Late Mesozoic volcanism is widespread throughout NE China. On the basis of lithological associations and spatial relationships, the volcanic rocks in the Lesser Hinggan Range can be divided into two formations, i.e., felsic-dominant Fuminghe Formation and overlying mafic-dominant Ganhe Formation. The Dong'an gold deposit, a typical adularia–sericite epithermal system, is spatially closely associated with rhyolitic porphyry, which is a subvolcanic intrusion of the Fuminghe Formation. Total measured, indicated, and inferred resources for the Dong'an deposit are 70 tonnes (2.25 Moz) of gold with the grade of 5.04 g/t Au, making it one of the largest epithermal gold deposits in China.SHRIMP U–Pb zircon and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology applied to one rhyolitic porphyry sample and sericite separated from auriferous quartz veins of the main mineralization stage were carried out to constrain magmatic and hydrothermal events. The results suggest that the mineralization age of 107.2 ± 0.6 Ma overlaps with the age of the rhyolitic porphyry 108.1 ± 2.4 Ma. Our new age data indicate that there was a previously unrecognized mineralization event in NE China at 107–108 Ma.Systematic geochemical investigations on the volcanic rocks in the Lesser Hinggan Range show that both Fuminghe and Ganhe Formations are characterized by significant large ion lithophile elements (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE) enrichment coupled with high field strength elements (HFSE) depletion, but they have distinct Sr and Nd isotopic compositions. The Fuminghe Formation has relative high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.707253 to 0.707373, and negative ε_Nd(t) values of ?2.78 to ?3.05 (t = 108 Ma), whereas the Ganhe Formation displays slightly lower ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr range of 0.705434–0.705763 and positive ε_Nd(t) values of + 0.76 to +1.83. These geochemical data suggest that the rhyolitic magmas of the Fuminghe Formation probably represent the final differentiates of parental andesitic magmas, resulted from the partial melting of mafic lower crust, whereas the volcanic rocks of the Ganhe Formation were produced by fractionation of basaltic magmas generated from partial melting of a mixture of an incompatible element depleted anhydrous lherzolite asthenospheric mantle source and a hydrous enriched lithospheric mantle source in an extensional tectonic setting, in response to upwelling of asthenospheric mantle. The rhyolite porphyries of the Fuminghe Formation are inferred to have supplied heat that drove the convective hydrothermal system at Dong'an deposit, but also provided some of the fluid sources responsible for the development of the Dong'an epithermal system.     

Hydrogeochemistry of abandoned Pb sulphide mines: the mining district of La Carolina (southern Spain)

The impact of past mining activities on the quality of groundwater and surface water has been investigated in the mining district of La Carolina (southern Spain, province of Jaén), a region characterised by the presence of mineralisations of Pb–Ag, Cu and Fe sulphides and Ba sulphates. The chemistry of waters from flooded galleries, shafts and drainage adits has been compared with that of surface waters in the same area. Generally, waters present neutral pH, since carbonates neutralise the acidity produced by the oxidation of Fe-bearing sulphide minerals in the mine impacted water. Despite of this natural attenuation process, in most of the cases, the mine groundwater is of low quality and shows high dissolved SO₄ (up to 3.7 g/l), Fe and Mn contents (tens to hundreds mg/l), exceeding the limit established by the guidelines of the World Health Organization for drinking water. Generally, the surface waters are of the sulphate calcium–magnesium to magnesium types, with moderate mineralisation. Post-rebound mine waters caused degradation of receiving watercourses in which the Fe contents are usually high, with values close to 3 g/l, and the mineralisation is greater as the channels run down in the mining zone. During dry seasons a considerable increase of salts and metals dissolved in stream waters was found, due to the decreasing contributions by run-off in this semiarid region, whereas the abandoned mine discharges remained practically constant.     

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.     

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.