Rapid contamination during storage of carbonaceous chondrites prepared for micro FTIR measurements

Abstract— Organic contamination (?2965 and ?1260 cm^?1peaks) was found on Tagish Lake (C2) and Murchison (CM2) carbonaceous chondrites containing abundant hydrous minerals by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy on the samples pressed on Al plates. On the other hand, anhydrous chondrite (Moss, CO3) was not contaminated. This contamination occurred within one day of storage, when the samples pressed on Al were stored within containers including silicone rubber mats. Volatile molecules having similar peaks to the contaminants were detected by long‐path gas cell FTIR measurements for the silicone rubber mat. Rapid adsorption of the volatile contaminants also occurred when silica gel and hydrous minerals such as serpentine were stored in containers including silicone rubber, silicone grease, or adhesive tape. However, they did not show any contamination when stored in glass and polystyrene containers without these compounds. Therefore, precious astronomical samples such as meteorites, interplanetary dust particles (IDPs), and mission‐returned samples from comets, asteroids, and Mars, should be measured by micro FTIR within one day of storage in glass containers without silicone rubber, silicone grease, or adhesive tape.     

Cosmic-ray-produced40K and50V in the metal phase of chondrites

Cosmic-ray-produced⁴⁰K in the metal phase of six chondrites and⁵⁰V in that of one chondrite were determined using a surface ionization mass spectrometer. The²²Ne_total/⁴⁰K_metal ratios of the chondrites are explained in part by shielding effects during cosmic-ray irradiation. The wide variation of this ratio in some groups of meteorites is explained in terms of partial loss of rare-gas nuclides. Radiation ages for the chondrites were determined using⁴⁰K measurements and production-rate estimates from thick target calculations.     

Surface Heat Balance and Spatially Distributed Ablation Modelling at Koryto Glacier, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia

To investigate the characteristics of ablation at Koryto Glacier, a mountain glacier under maritime climate in Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, we made field observations from August to early September 2000. At a site near the equilibrium line, the 31‐day average net radiation, sensible heat flux, and latent heat flux were 43, 59 and 31 W^?2, respectively. We developed a new distributed ablation model, which only needs measurements of air temperature and global radiation at one site. Hourly ablation rates at this site obtained by the energy balance method are related to measured air temperature and global radiation by linear multiple regression. A different set of multiple regression coefficients is fitted for snow and ice surfaces. Better estimates of ablation rate can be obtained by this approach than by other temperature index models. These equations are then applied to each grid cell of a digital elevation model to estimate spatially distributed hourly melt. Air temperature is extrapolated using a constant temperature lapse rate and global radiation is distributed considering topographic effects. The model enables us to calculate the hourly spatial distribution of ablation rates within the glacier area and could well provide a realistic simulation of ablation over the whole glacier.     

Gradients and phase velocities of ULF geomagnetic disturbances used to determine the source of an impending strong earthquake

Results of studying the behavior of the vectors of gradients and phase velocities of ULF geomagnetic disturbances (F < 1 Hz) in the Japan seismic zone are presented. The gradient and phase velocity vectors along the Earth’s surface were determined using data of the group of three high-sensitivity three-component magnetovariation stations (MVC-3DS) located at triangle vertices at a small (～5 km) distance from one another (magnetic gradiometer). Two such groups of stations were installed in 1999 southwest and southeast of Tokyo at a distance of ～150 km from each other. It has been indicated that, several months before strong earthquakes (M > 5), the values of gradients and phase velocities start anomalously changing, and directions toward sources of impending strong earthquakes appear in the distribution of gradient vector directions. Directions from sources of impending earthquakes appear in the distribution of phase velocity vector directions. It is proposed to use gradients and phase velocities of ULF and ELF geomagnetic disturbances as one of the factors in a short-term prediction of strong earthquakes.     

Nonaqueous titration of functional groups in humic acid

Humic acid was titrated by sodium methoxide in dimethylsulfoxide using platinum-calomel electrode systems. Adding benzoic acid and phenol as internal standards to humic acid yielded two inflections. The titer at the first inflection point was equivalent to the carboxyl groups whose pK_a (H₂O) values were less than 7. The difference between the titers at the two inflection points was equivalent to the phenolic hydroxyl groups whose pK_a (H₂O) values were 7–10. Calculated results for the carboxyl and phenolic hydroxyl groups in humic acid obtained by the nonaqueous titration method agreed closely with those obtained by conventional methods.     

Groundmass pargasite in the 1991–1995 dacite of Unzen volcano: phase stability experiments and volcanological implications

Pargasite commonly occurs in the dacitic groundmass of the 1991–1995 eruption products of Unzen volcano. We described the occurrence and chemical compositions of amphibole in the dacite, and also carried out melting experiments to determine the low-pressure stability limit of amphibole in the dacite. The 1991–1995 ejecta of the Unzen volcano show petrographic evidence of magma mixing, such as reverse compositional zoning of plagioclase and amphibole phenocrysts, and we used a groundmass separate as a starting material for the experiments. Reversed experiments show that the maximum temperature for the crystallization of amphibole is 930°C at 196 MPa, 900°C at 98 MPa, and 820°C at 49 MPa. Compared with the experimental results on the Mount St. Helens dacite, present experiments on the Unzen dacitic groundmass show that amphibole is stable to pressures ca. 50 MPa lower at 850°C. Available Fe–Ti oxide thermometry indicates the crystallization temperature of the groundmass of the Unzen dacite to be 880±30°C, suggesting that the groundmass pargasite crystallized at >70 MPa, corresponding to a depth of more than 3 km in the conduit. The chlorine content of the groundmass pargasite is much lower than that of phenocrystic magnesiohornblende in the 1991–1995 dacite of Unzen volcano, indicating that vesiculation/degassing of magma took place before the crystallization of the groundmass pargasite. The present study shows that the magma was water oversaturated and that the degassing of magma along with magma mixing caused crystallization of the groundmass amphibole at depths of more than 3 km in the conduit.     

Geochemical characteristics of zircons in the Ashizuri A‐type granitoids: An additional granite topology tool for detrital zircon studies

Zircon is resistant to alteration over a wide range of geological environments, and isotopic ratios within the mineral provide constraints on ages and their parental magmas. Trace element compositions in zircon are also expected to reflect those of their parent magmas, and have a potential as essential indicators for their host rocks. Because most detrital zircons that accumulate at river mouths are derived primarily from granitoids, the classification of zircon within granitoids is potentially meaningful. This study employs the conventional classification scheme of granites (I‐, S‐, M‐, and A‐types). To clarify geochemical characteristics of zircons in A‐type granites, trace element compositions of zircons extracted from the A‐type Ashizuri granitoids were examined. Zircons from the Ashizuri granitoids commonly show enrichments of heavy rare earth elements and positive Ce anomalies, indicating that these zircons were igneous in origin. In addition, zircons in these A‐type granites are characterized by enrichments of Nb, Y, Ta, Th, and U and strong negative Eu anomalies, which exhibit good positive correlations with those in their whole rocks. This fact indicates that these signatures in zircons reflect well those in their parental bodies and are useful in identifying zircons derived from A‐type granite. Based on compilations of available data, zircons from A‐type granites can be clearly discriminated from other‐types of granites within Nb/Sr–Eu anomaly, U/Sr–Eu anomaly, Nb/Sr–U/Sr, and Nb/Sr–Ta/Sr cross‐plots. All indices used in these diagrams were selected based on the geochemical features of both zircon and whole rock of A‐type granites. Application of these discrimination diagrams to detrital zircons will likely provide further insights. For example, some Hadean detrital zircons plot in similar fields to A‐type granites, implying the existence of A‐type magmatism in the Earth's earliest history.     

Preface to the special issue on electromagnetic phenomena related to seismic and volcanic activities from EMSEV in 2016

<正>EMSEV,Electromagnetic Studies of Earthquake and Volcanoes,set up in 2002,is a joint academic organization by multi-associations in IUGG(International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics),including IAGA(International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy),IASPEI(International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth’s Interior),IAVCEI(International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior).On     

Lead isotope study of the late Archean Lac des Iles palladium deposit,Canada: enrichment of platinum group elements by ponded sulfide melt

Lead isotopic compositions of mineral separates are presented from the mineralized zones (Roby, Twilight, and High Grade zones) of the Lac des Iles palladium deposit (approximately 2.69 Ga) and tonalitic country rocks (approximately 2.727 to 2.775 Ga) in the Wabigoon subprovince of the western Superior Province of Canada. Plagioclase separates show Pb isotope ratios similar to those of the late Archean depleted mantle. Sulfide minerals coexisting with plagioclase have a more radiogenic Pb isotope composition, but very low concentrations of U (<0.2 ppb U) and Th (<0.01 ppb) compared to Pb (≫50 ppb). The isotope data are consistent with a model involving the incorporation of radiogenic Pb from country rocks to sulfide melt near the base of the magma chamber or along the conduit of the parental magmas. The proposed interpretation is also supported by decreasing Cu/Pd ratios from earlier barren to late fertile gabbro intrusions in the complex. The ponding sulfide melt became enriched in platinum group elements, as it was interacting with a large magma volume during the evolution of the Lac des Iles igneous complex.     

Short‐term flood inundation prediction using hydrologic‐hydraulic models forced with downscaled rainfall from global NWP

A short‐term flood inundation prediction model has been formulated based on the combination of the super‐tank model, forced with downscaled rainfall from a global numerical weather prediction model, and a one‐dimensional (1D) hydraulic model. Different statistical methods for downscaled rainfall have been explored, taking into account the availability of historical data. It has been found that the full implementation of a statistical downscaling model considering physically‐based corrections to the numerical weather prediction model output for rainfall prediction performs better compared with an altitudinal correction method. The integration of the super‐tank model into the 1D hydraulic model demonstrates a minimal requirement for the calibration of rainfall–runoff and flood propagation models. Updating the model with antecedent rainfall and regular forecast renewal has enhanced the model's capabilities as a result of the data assimilation processes of the runoff and numerical weather prediction models. The results show that the predicted water levels demonstrate acceptable agreement with those measured by stream gauges and comparable to those reproduced using the actual rainfall. Moreover, the predicted flood inundation depth and extent exhibit reasonably similar tendencies to those observed in the field. However, large uncertainties are observed in the prediction results in lower, flat portions of the river basin where the hydraulic conditions are not properly analysed by the 1D flood propagation model. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.