Thermobarometry of the Bleikvassli Zn-Pb-(Cu) deposit, Nordland, Norway

The Bleikvassli massive sulfide ore deposit is hosted by Proterozoic pelitic, quartzofeldspathic, and amphibolitic rocks of the Uppermost Allochthon of the Scandinavian Caledonides. Staurolite-garnet-biotite and kyanite-staurolite-biotite assemblages indicate that metamorphism reached the kyanite zone of the amphibolite facies. Geothermobarometry was conducted on rocks in and around the deposit using a variety of silicate and sulfide calibrations. Temperature determinations are most reliant on the garnet-biotite exchange reaction, with analyses obtained from 259 garnet rims and adjacent biotite. Results from nine calibrations of the garnet-biotite geothermometer are considered, but compositional limitations of many calibrations involving high Ca and Mn contents in garnet and Al^VI and Ti in biotite make many of the coexisting mineral pairs unsuitable. Average temperatures calculated from the two calibrations that most closely address the garnet-biotite compositions observed at Bleikvassli are 584 °C ± 49 °C and 570 °C ± 40 °C. The application of two calibrations of the garnet-staurolite geothermometer on a limited number of samples yields 581 °C ± 2 °C and 589 °C ± 12 °C, assuming a _H2O=0.84, based upon calculations of the modal proportions of gaseous species. Pressure determinations are less constrained. Phengite and plagioclase-biotite-garnet-muscovite geobarometers give average pressures of approximately 5.0 kbar and 8.5 ± 1.2 kbar, respectively. Pressures obtained from the sphalerite-hexagonal pyrrhotite-pyrite barometer average 7.7 ± 1.0 kbar. In consideration of these results, the peak metamorphic conditions at the Bleikvassli deposit are estimated to be 580 °C and 8 kbar. Received: 18 June 1997 / Accepted: 14 May 1998     

The Néel transition and magnetic properties of terrestrial,synthetic, and lunar ilmenites

The magnetic susceptibility of a terrestrial, synthetic and lunar ilmenite specimen has been measured from 4 to 300 K. All specimens had a single Néel temperature transition which ranged from 56 to 57.7 K. In one case the powdered specimen was partially aligned in the magnetic field prior to the susceptibility measurements and the Néel transition was observed to shift to 60 K indicating magnetic anisotropy. A study of several magnetic parameters calculated from the experimental data showed gross impurities in the terrestrial specimen, single-domain to multi-domain metallic iron in the synthetic specimen, and a small amount of superparamagnetic metallic iron in the lunar sample. No multidomain iron was observed in the lunar ilmenite. The results of electron spin resonance measurements were also in general agreement with these findings. Because of the absence of Fe³⁺ compared to most terrestrial samples it is suggested that the anisotropic magnetic parameters be determined on lunar ilmenite when a large enough single crystal becomes available.     

Late thermal events based on zircon fission track ages in northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland: Links to Sydney Basin seismicity?

Zircon, concentrated from basaltic terrains in northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland, reveals some unexpectedly young fission track peaks. Between 2 to 13 Ma in age, these peaks are younger than known Tertiary basaltic ages from these regions which match older fission track peaks. Analysis of the fission track data suggests that the young dates are probably not reset ages due to recent heating events such as bush fires, but more likely mark thermal resetting by later volcanic eruptions.

The young ages decrease southwards from Queensland through northern New South Wales and trend toward seismic zones within the Sydney Basin in the Newcastle, Blue Mountains and Illawarra regions. A model based on northward motion of the Australian plate over a hot asthenospheric source (0.75° latitude/Ma over 12 Ma)) predicts the positions of most young zircon ages to within ± 70 km in latitude when projected from seismic sites at Newcastle and Bowral‐Robertson.

A minor hot spot source is proposed, some 250 km across, which triggered isolated basaltic and zircon‐bearing eruptions every few million years and now underlies the southern Sydney Basin. This would bring Sydney Basin seismicity into line with other seismic zones known at present hot spot positions across southeastern Australia and the Tasman Sea. It raises questions concerning activation of local seismicity, potential for volcanic risk and distribution of young uplift in the Sydney region. Similar studies are needed to test other puzzling seismic zones (e.g. the Dalton‐Gunning Zone).     

Wind erosion climatic erosivity

A physically based wind-erosion climatic factor has been derived: $$CE = \rho \int {[u^2 } - (u_T^2 + \gamma ^l /\rho a^2 )]^{3/2} f(u)du$$ where ? is the air density, a is a constant made up of other constants (von Karman, height of wind speed observation, roughness parameter), u is the horizontal wind speed, u _T is threshold wind speed, f(u) u) is a wind speed probability density function, and γ is the cohesive resistance caused by water on the soil particles. Cohesive resistance is proportional to the square of water content relative to water content at ?1500 J kg^?1. Relative water content is approximated from the Budyko dryness ratio and the Thornthwaite PE index with similar results. CE is calculable from wind speed and other generally available meteorological data, and is usable in the wind erosion equation without some of the limitations of a previously used wind erosion climatic factor.     

Generation of long barotropic waves by moving baric disturbances in a system of basins connected by a channel

We consider long barotropic waves in a system of two rectangular basins connected by a channel in the case where waves are generated by the moving region of disturbances of atmospheric pressure passing above one of the basins. By using a numerical model, we compute the characteristics of the wave process for various values of the parameters of this system. The results of numerical calculations are compared with the corresponding characteristics obtained for the case of a closed basin. We also analyze the distinctive features of long-wave processes induced in the presence of the channel. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Morphometric analysis of a subtropical Andean basin (Tucumán, Argentina)

A morphometric analysis was done to determine the drainage characteristics of Lules River basin using land-sat imageries and topographical maps. This catchment was divided into seven sub-basins for the analysis: Liquimayo, Hoyada, Ciénaga, De Las Tablas, Siambón, Potrerillo and San Javier. Yungas ecoregion covers almost all the watershed. The drainage patterns of the sub-basins are dendritic and parallel. The basin includes seventh order stream and lower streams order mostly dominate the basin. The development of stream segments is affected by slope and local relief. The mean bifurcation ratio indicates that the drainage pattern is not much influenced by geological structures. The shape parameters also reveal the elongation of the basin and sub-basins.     

Observational study of the seasonality of the submonthly and intraseasonal signal over the tropics

Summary Atmospheric variability in outgoing long-wave radiation (OLR) and tropospheric relative vorticity (VOR) over the South American region was studied from 1979 to 1996 using the complex Morlet wavelet function. The analyses focus on spatial variation in intraseasonal and submonthly scales. Scalograms were used to measure submonthly intraseasonal oscillations in convection, which were found to be predominant in the tropical regions. However, 7-day and 15-day oscillations were observed at tropical and extratropical latitudes in spring and winter, indicating that transient disturbances play a more prominent role. Regarding VOR, tropical energy intensities were highest in the spring and summer, whereas subtropical and extratropical energy intensities were highest in the autumn and winter. The dynamics of the 25-day and 45-day VOR oscillations indicates a possible correlation with Rossby waves over the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, mainly during the summer. During winter, the 7-day and 15-day VOR oscillations are more frequent at higher latitudes and are enhanced along storm tracks. It was also observed that convection amplitudes in the regions of maximum intensity change appreciably from year to year and from season to season, showing that the behavior of the submonthly and intraseasonal oscillations is nonperiodic and correlates strongly with El Ni?o/Southern Oscillation years. These results confirm the efficiency of wavelet analysis for time-scale studies of atmospheric variability.     

Orbital elements of GSC 0114401023, a new eclipsing binary

We present Strömgrenuvby photometric observations and a series of radial velocities obtained with the Coravel scanner for the 11th magnitude star catalogued in the Guide Star Catalogue as GSC 0114401023. This star was serendipitously identified on UV frames taken with the Very-Wide-Field-Camera aboard Spacelab-1. Radial velocities show the star to be binary and we have determined accurate orbital elements. Photometric data and orbital elements are consistent with the system being a previously-unrecognized eclipsing binary, with period = 33.8766 days and eccentricity = 0.262.Based on observations collected at the Observatoire de Haute Provence (OHP), CNRS, Saint-Michel l'Observatoire, France, and at the European Southern Observatory (ESO), La Silla, Chile.     

Method for comparing fish growth curves

The method of comparing growth curves that is described in this paper consists of describing growth for the ith group by the equation Li(t) = ai + bi r^t, which is linear in the two parameters ai and bi, and subsequently using the analysis of variance to compare the curves. The advantages of the linear growth equation over the von Bertalanffy equation, l i (t) ⁼ ai + bi r^t i, are easier analysis and a much simpler interpretation of the differences in the parameters in terms of growth rate and maximum size. An example comparing the growth of male and female red gurnard Chelidonichthys kumu from four areas within the Hauraki Gulf is given.     

Groundwater Flow Field Distortion by Monitoring Wells and Passive Flux Meters

Due to differences in hydraulic conductivity and effects of well construction geometry, groundwater lateral flow through a monitoring well typically differs from groundwater flow in the surrounding aquifer. These differences must be well understood in order to apply passive measuring techniques, such as passive flux meters (PFMs) used for the measurement of groundwater and contaminant mass fluxes. To understand these differences, lab flow tank experiments were performed to evaluate the influences of the well screen, the surrounding filter pack and the presence of a PFM on the natural groundwater flux through a monitoring well. The results were compared with analytical calculations of flow field distortion based on the potential theory of Drost et al. (1968). Measured well flow field distortion factors were found to be lower than calculated flow field distortion factors, while measured PFM flow field distortion factors were comparable to the calculated ones. However, this latter is not the case for all conditions. The slotted geometry of the well screen seems to make a correct analytical calculation challenging for conditions where flow field deviation occurs, because the potential theory assumes a uniform flow field. Finally, plots of the functional relationships of the distortion of the flow field with the hydraulic conductivities of the filter screen, surrounding filter pack and corresponding radii make it possible to design well construction to optimally function during PFM applications.