Complex refractive index of Martian dust: Wavelength dependence and composition

Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectra of the 1971 dust clouds were analyzed to obtain the phase function times single scattering albedo of the dust particles. The phase functions were matched with Mie scattering calculations for size distributions of spheres of homogeneous and isotropic material. The absorption index of the dust particles was found to increase with decreasing wavelenght from 350 nm down to about 210 nm, and drop off shortward of this wavelength. A structural shoulder occurs in the absorption spectrum between 240 and 250 nm. Titanium dioxide (anatase) has the correct transitions at 210 and 250 nm to match the absorption curve of Martian dust, and is proposed as a candidate constituent in Martian surface material. The spectral neutrality of TiO₂ between 0.5 and 4 μm is consistent with visible and infrared observations of Mars. The high refractive index of TiO₂ can explain the large refringence of Martian dust. The titanium dioxide content of the dust particles is estimated to be a few percent or less. Uncertainties in the results due to limitations in the model and data are discussed.     

Boundary-layer parameterizations for applied dispersion modeling over urban areas

Many applied dispersion models require the knowledge of boundary-layer parameters such as sensible heat flux,Q _H , friction velocity,u _*, and turbulent energy components, _w and _v . Formulas are suggested for calculating these parameters over a wide variety of types of ground surfaces, based on simple observations of wind speed near the ground and fractional cloud cover, and specification of constants such as roughness length, albedo, and soil moisture availability. Observations ofu _*,Q _H , _w , and _v during field experiments in St. Louis and Indianapolis are used to test the formulas for urban sites. Relative errors of about ±20% in the predictions are seen to occur whenu _*,Q _H , _w , and _v are large. However, when these quantities are small (e.g.,u _* < 0.2 m/s), the errors in the predictions are as large as the mean value of the quantity itself.In addition, it is concluded from studies of available field data and theories that the magnitude of _w is not well-known at elevations above about 100m during the late afternoon and night. Some simple parameterizations for _w . are suggested that are consistent with the observed steady decrease in ground-level concentration in the afternoon and the sudden increase in concentration that can occur a few hours after sunset due to wind shears associated with a low-level jet, for continuous plumes emitted from moderate to tall stacks.     

Chemical study of tectonically controlled hydrothermal dolomitization: an example from the Lessini mountains,Italy

In the Central Southern Alps (Feltre, Verona — Italy), a 750 m thick interval of Jurassic and Cretaceous pelagic limestones shows post-depositional partial brecciation and dolomitization. The overlying 500 m thick Tertiary sedimentary sequence is unaffected. Through the Paleogene, mostly submarine, mafic volcanism has been documented in the area. Small-scale extensional features were observed in the limestone near the contact with the dolomitized breccias. Their orientations measured in the field correspond to the tectonic framework of the area and give evidence for the contemporaneousness of the volcanic activity and the brecciation. The distribution and petrologic characteristics of the basalts, combined with the orientation of the extensional features observed in the field, allow a paleotectonic reconstruction. This tectonic scenario can be viewed as a back-arc extension, an eastward prolongation of the spreading that divided Southern France from the Sardinia-Corsica-Calabria block, generating the Ligurian-balearic basin in the Late Oligocene.The dolomite is fine-grained to sucrosic, with a microamygdaloidal porosity, partially filled with ankerite and calcite. The matrix shows a homogeneous, orange-red cathodoluminescence, indicating a single phase of iron-poor dolomite. The carbonate fraction consists of more than 90% dolomite. The dolomite is almost stoichiometric (Ca_0.6Mg_0.4 to Ca_0.5Mg_0.5). The ¹³C values of the dolomite are less than 1%. more negative than the unaffected limestone. The ¹⁸O values are between –5%. to –13%., with a depletion of 2–11%. relative to the undolomitized limestone. The depleted oxygen isotope ratios in the dolomitized rock can be derived either from fluids impoverished in the heavy isotopes (e.g. meteoric water) or high temperatures. The unvaried carbon isotopic ratios make the second interpretation the most acceptable. As the⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values increase from a mean of 0.7077 in the unaffected limestones to 0.7085 in the dolomitized limestones, a derivation of the dolomitizing fluids from the volcanic rocks can be excluded. Comparing the obtained data with the Phanerozoic seawater isotope curve, however, the radiogenic Sr may be derived from marine waters of Late Oligocene-Early Miocene age. Microthermometric analyses of the fluid inclusions in the dolomite crystals from the bulk rocks and from the veins suggest a trapping temperature ranging from a minimum of 70°C (dolomite rock) to a maximum of 120°C (dolomite in veins). The solution contained in the inclusions is water with NaCl and MgCl₂ with salinities of 46%. (dolomite bulk rock) and 17%. (dolomite in veins). The pressure correction calculated from the fluid inclusion data is about 250 bars, which roughly correspond to the lithostatic pressure over the Mesozoic limestones in the Early Miocene.These results point to a hydrothermal origin of the dolomitization during the Late Oligocene-Early Miocene, as ascertained from the strontium isotope and fluid inclusion data. The circulation of hot marine water through the brecciated limestones in convective cells, triggered by the geothermal gradient related to the volcanic activity, is the proposed hydrodynamic model. Hydrologie considerations demonstrate that the proposed model is feasible.

---

Zusammenfassung In den zentralen Südalpen (Feltre, Verona — Italien) findet sich eine etwa 750 m dicke Abfolge jurassischer und kretazischer pelagischer Kalke, die nach der Ablagerung zum Teil breckziert und dolomitisiert wurde, während die darüberliegenden 500 m mächtigen tertiären Sedimente keine Dolomitisierung zeigen. Im Paläogen ist im Gebiet ein mafischer, überwiegend mariner Vulkanismus dokumentiert. Kleinmaßstäbliche listrische Brüche in Kalken am Kontakt mit der dolomitisierten Breckzie entsprechen geometrisch einem großräumigen extensiven Regime im Paläogen. Sie beweisen die Gleichzeitigkeit der vulkanischen Aktivität und der Breckzierung. Die Verteilung und petrographischen Eigenschaften der Basalte, mit der Geometrie der Extensionsstrukturen, erlauben eine paläotektonische Rekonstruktion. Diese tektonische Situation entspricht einem Back-arc-basin und stellt die östliche Verlängerung des ligurisch-balearischen Beckens dar, das Südfrankreich vom Sardisch-Korsisch-Kalabrischen-Block im späten Oligozän getrennt hat.Die ¹³C Werte der Dolomite sind weniger als 1%. negativer als die entsprechender nicht dolomitisierter Kalke. Die ¹⁸O-Werte (relativ zum PDB Standard) variieren zwischen –5%. und –13%., das ist 2 bis 11%. negativer als die nicht dolomitisierter Kalke. Dies wird auf erhöhte Bildungstemperaturen zurückgeführt. Ein Anstieg der⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr-Signaturen im Mittel von 0.7077 in den nicht dolomitisierten Kalken auf 0.7085 in den dolomitisierten Kalken schließt eine Herkunft der dolomitisierenden Fluide von den vulkanischen Gesteinen aus. Beim Vergleich der Isotopensignaturen mit der phanerozoischen Meerwasser-Isotopenkurve, könnte aber das radiogene Strontium von spät oligozänem — früh miozänem Meerwasser kommen. Mikrothermometrische Analysen flüssiger Einschlüsse in Dolomitkristallen im Gestein und in Adern deutet auf eine Einschlußtemperatur von 70°C (Dolomitgestein) bzw. 120°C (Dolomit in Adern) hin. Die Lösung in den Einschlüssen ist Wasser mit NaCl und MgCl₂, mit einer Salinität von 46%. (Dolomitgestein) bzw. 17%. (Adern). Die aus den Einschlüssen berechnete Druckkorrektur ist etwa 250 bar. Dies entspricht ungefähr der früh miozänen Gesteinssäule über den mesozoischen Kalken.Aufgrund dieser Daten wird eine hydrothermale Bildung der Dolomite im späten Oligozän - frühen Miozän postuliert. Es wird ein hydrodynamisches Modell vorgeschlagen, in dem aufgeheiztes Meerwasser konvektiv durch die breckzierte mesozoische Abfolge zirkuliert. Als Motor wirkt ein vulkanischer geothermischer Gradient. Dieses Modell läßt sich mit hydrologischen Betrachtungen testen und stützen.

---

Résumé Dans la partie sud des Alpes Centrales (Feltre, Verone: Italie) il existe une succession, épaisse de 750 m, de calcaires pélagiques jurassiques et crétacés, qui ont subi après leur sédimentation une bréchification et une dolomitisation partielles. Les sédiments tertiaires surincombants, épais de 500 m, ne sont pas affectés par ces phénomènes. Un volcanisme paléogène mafique, essentiellement sousmarin, a été reconnu dans la région. Dans les calcaires, au contact de la brèche dolomitisée, existent des cassures listriques de petite échelle dont la géométrie témoigne d'un régime extensif général au Paléogène. Leurs orientations, mesurées sur le terrain, indiquent la contemporanéité de l'activité volcanique et de la bréchification. La distribution et les caractères pétrologiques des basaltes, combinés à la géometrie des structures extensives, permet une reconstitution paléotectonique. Celle-ci montre une extension dans un bassin d'arrière-arc, prolongement oriental de l'expansion qui, à l'Oligocène supérieur, a séparé du sud de la France le bloc corsico-sardo-calabrais en créant le bassin liguro-baléare.La dolomie, finement grenue à saccharoïde, possède une porosité à vides micro-amygdaloïdes, partiellement occupés par de l'ankérite et de la calcite. La matrice présente une cathodoluminescence homogène rouge-orange, indiquant la présence d'une seule phase constituée de dolomite pauvre en Fe. La fraction carbonatée consiste en dolomite pour plus de 90%. Cette dolomite est à peu près stoechiométrique (Ca_0,6Mg_0,4 à Ca_0,5Mg_0,5). Les rapports ¹³C de la dolomie sont inférieurs de moins de 1%. à ceux du calcaire intact. Les rapports ¹⁸O sont compris entre –5%. et –13%., soit 2 à 11%. inférieurs à ceux du calcaire non dolomitisé. Cette baisse du rapport isotopique peut provenir soit de fluides appauvris en isotopes lourds (p. ex. l'eau météorique), soit d'une température élevée; la constance des rapports isotopiques du C rend cette deuxième explication la plus plausible. Le rapport⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr passe d'une valeur moyenne de 0,7077 dans les calcaires non affectés à 0,7085 dans les calcaires dolomitisés; cet accroissement exclut une origine volcanique pour les fluides dolomitisants. En comparant ces valeurs à la courbe isotopique du Sr de l'eau de mer au Phanérozoïque, on peut déduire que le Sr radiogénique est dérivé d'eaux marines d'âge oligocène tardif à miocène inférieur. L'analyse microthermométrique des inclusions fluides contenues dans les cristaux de dolomite suggère une température de formation qui va de 70°C (dans la roche) à 120° (dans les veines). Le contenu de ces inclusions est une solution aqueuse de NaCl et MgCl₂ avec une salinité de 44%. (dans la roche) et de 17%. (dans les veines). La correction de pression calculée à partir des inclusions fluides est d'environ 250 bars, ce qui correspond grosso modo à la pression lithostatique qui s'exerçait au Miocène inférieur sur les calcaires mésozoïques.Sur la base de ces données, on conclut à une origine hydrothermale de la dolomie au cours de l'Oligocène supérieur - Miocène inférieur. Le modèle hydrodynamique proposé fait appel à la circulation convective, à travers le calcaire bréchié, d'eau marine échauffée grâce au gradient géothermique élevé dû à l'activité volcanique. Ce modèle est en accord avec des considérations hydrologiques.

---

(, — ) , 750 , , , , 500 , . , . , . , . . - , - . ¹³ , 1%. ¹⁸, PDB –5 –13%, .. 2 11% . , , . ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr 0.7077 0,7085 . , - . 70° , 120° . , , 44%, 17%. , , 250 . - . , - . , . , . .

     

Study on the kinetics of iron oxide leaching by oxalic acid

The presence of iron oxides in clay or silica raw materials is detrimental to the manufacturing of high quality ceramics. Although iron has been traditionally removed by physical mineral processing, acid washing has been tested as it is more effective, especially for extremely low iron (of less than 0.1% w/w). However, inorganic acids such as sulphuric or hydrochloric acids easily contaminate the clay products with SO₄²⁻ and Cl⁻, and therefore should be avoided as much as possible. On the other hand, if oxalic acid is used, any acid left behind will be destroyed during the firing of the ceramic products. The characteristics of dissolution of iron oxides were therefore investigated in this study.The dissolution of iron oxides in oxalic acid was found to be very slow at temperatures within the range 25–60 °C, but its rate increases rapidly above 90 °C. The dissolution rate also increases with increasing oxalate concentration at the constant pH values set within the optimum range of pH2.5–3.0. At this optimum pH, the dissolution of fine pure hematite (Fe₂O₃) (105–140 μm) follows a diffusion-controlled shrinking core model. The rate expression expressed as 1 − (2 / 3)x − (1 − x)^2 / 3 where x is a fraction of iron dissolution was found to be proportional to [oxalate]^1.5.The addition of magnetite to the leach liquor at 10% w/w hematite was found to enhance the dissolution rate dramatically. Such addition of magnetite allows coarser hematite in the range 0.5–1.4 mm to be leached at a reasonable rate.     

Hydrometallurgical processing and recovery of molybdenum trioxide from spent catalyst

Hydrometallurgical processing of spent hydrodesulphurisation (HDS) catalyst for the recovery of molybdenum using sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide mixtures was investigated. The results indicated that the recovery of molybdenum was largely dependent on the concentrations of Na₂CO₃ and H₂O₂ in the reaction medium, which controls the acidity of the leach liquor and carry over of impurities such as Al, Ni, P, Si and V. Leaching process was exothermic and leaching efficiency of molybdenum decreased with increasing solid to liquid ratio. Large scale leaching of spent catalyst, under optimum conditions: 20% pulp density, 85 g/L Na₂CO₃, 10 vol.% H₂O₂ and 1 h reaction, resulted a leaching efficiency of 84% Mo. The obtained leach liquor contained (g/L): Mo — 22.0, Ni — 0.015 and Al — 0.82, P — 1.1, Si — 0.094 and minor quantities of V — 8 mg/L, As and Co — < 1 mg/L. Recovery of Mo from leach solution as MoO₃ of 97.30% purity was achieved by ammonium molybdate precipitation method.     

Fault slip analysis of Quaternary faults in southeastern Korea

The Quaternary stress field has been reconstructed for southeast Korea using sets of fault data. The subhorizontal direction of the maximum principal stress (σ₁) trended ENE and the direction of the minimum principal stress (σ₃) was nearly vertical. The stress ratio (Φ = (σ₂ − σ₃) / (σ₁ − σ₃)) value was 0.65. Two possible interpretations for the stress field can be made in the framework of eastern Asian tectonics; (1) The σ_Hmax trajectory for southeast Korea fits well with the fan-shaped radial pattern of maximum principal stress induced by the India–Eurasia collision. Thus, we suggest that the main source for this recent stress field in southeast Korea is related to the remote India–Eurasia continental collision. (2) The stress field in Korea shows a pattern similar to that in southwestern Japan. The origin for the E–W trending σ_Hmax in Japan is known to be related to the mantle upwelling in the East China Sea. Thus, it is possible that Quaternary stress field in Korea has evolved synchronously with that in Japan. We suggest further studies (GPS and in situ stress measurement) to test these hypotheses.     

Diachronous evolution of volcano-sedimentary basins north of the Congo craton: Insights from U–Pb ion microprobe dating of zircons from the Poli, Lom and Yaoundé Groups (Cameroon)

Ion microprobe U–Pb dating of zircons from Neoproterozoic volcano-sedimentary sequences in Cameroon north of the Congo craton is presented. For the Poli basin, the depositional age is constrained between 700–665 Ma; detrital sources comprise ca. 920, 830, 780 and 736 Ma magmatic zircons. In the Lom basin, the depositional age is constrained between 613 and 600 Ma, and detrital sources include Archaean to Palaeoproterozoic, late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic (1100–950 Ma), and Neoproterozoic (735, 644 and 613 Ma) zircons. The Yaoundé Group is probably younger than 625 Ma, and detrital sources include Palaeoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic zircons. The depositional age of the Mahan metavolcano-sedimentary sequence is post-820 Ma, and detrital sources include late Mesoproterozoic (1070 Ma) and early Neoproterozoic volcanic rocks (824 Ma). The following conclusions can be made from these data. (1) The three basins evolved during the Pan-African event but are significantly different in age and tectonic setting; the Poli is a pre- to syn-collisional basin developed upon, or in the vicinity of young magmatic arcs; the Lom basin is post-collisional and intracontinental and developed on old crust; the tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Yaoundé Group resulted from rapid tectonic burial and subsequent collision between the Congo craton and the Adamawa–Yade block. (2) Late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic inheritance reflects the presence of magmatic event(s) of this age in west–central Africa.     

Yeosu dinosaur track sites of Korea: The youngest dinosaur track records in Asia

Eighty two dinosaur trackways were newly discovered in Upper Cretaceous lacustrine deposits on islands in the vicinity of Yeosu, Korea. Most dinosaur tracks occur in marginal lake deposits with polygonal desiccation cracks. The dinosaur tracks at the Yeosu site include 65 ornithopod trackways, 16 theropod trackways and one sauropod trackway. The prevalence of ornithopod tracks and the limited occurrence of sauropod tracks at the Yeosu site evidently reflect decreased sauropod diversity in the Upper Cretaceous. All ornithopod trackways represent bipeds, and most of the ornithopod tracks are similar to Caririchnium from other sites of the Korean peninsula. All fossil wood specimens collected in the study area represent conifers (three species of cupressaceous and two species of taxodiaceous conifers, and a new species) except for one, which is a discotyledon. It is thus inferred that the southwestern part of the Korean Peninsula was primarily covered with mesic forests with taxodiaceous trees during the Late Cretaceous. The K–Ar age of the Yeosu tracksite is determined as 81–65 Ma (Camapnian to Maastrichtian). It indicates that the Yeosu track site contains the last records of dinosaurs living in Asia. Consequently, semi-arid palaeoclimatic conditions, together with a large lake as a persistent water source and rich vegetation of gymnosperm trees as food, resulted in the preservation of abundant dinosaur tracks in the Upper Cretaceous on the Korean Peninsula.     

Reply to comment by Y. Park and J.-H. Ree on 'Chemical remagnetization of the Upper Carboniferous-Lower Triassic Pyeongan Supergroup in the Jeongseon area, Korea: fluid migration through the Ogcheon Fold Belt'

In their comment, Park & Ree have raised several points against the interpretation by Park et al. , and argued that the remagnetization in the Jeongseon area was caused by the thermal effects of a Late Cretaceous pluton and/or associated short-range hydrothermal fluids, rather than by long-range fluids advocated by us.
We disagree with most points raised by Park & Ree and we make a case that these are invalid because of what we believe is incorrect geologic evidence. Hence, our model—that the fluids causing the chemical remagnetization might migrate through the fault system within the Ogcheon Fold Belt—is the most plausible scenario. We recognize that our model needs to be tested in a future study and we welcome new interpretations for or against our model based on reliable geologic or geophysical data.