Electron microscopy of clinoenstatite from a boninite and a chondrite

Clinoenstatite crystals from a boninite and the Yamato-74191 chondrite have been studied with an analytical electron microscope. (100) twins and cracks perpendicular and parallel to the c axis are characteristic of their submicroscopic textures. The frequency in appearance along the c axis and widths of the cracks have been explained by the dimensional change of the c axis in the direct transformation of protoenstatite to clinoenstatite and by the cooling rate around the transformation temperature. The cracks in the crystals from the boninite are filled with fibrous crystals of talc, while those from the chondrite are open or filled with glass in which fine crystals of plagioclase are common.     

Geochronology of the khondalite belt of Trivandrum Block, Southern India: Electron probe ages and implications for Gondwana tectonics

In a comprehensive U–Pb electron microprobe study of zircon and monazite from the khondalite belt of Trivandrum Block in southern Kerala, we present age data on five key metapelite locations (Nedumpara, Oottukuzhi, Kulappara, Poolanthara and Paranthal). The rocks here, characterized by the assemblage of garnet–sillimanite–spinel–cordierite–biotite–K–feldsapr–plagiocalse–quartz–graphite, have been subjected to granulite facies metamorphism under extreme thermal conditions as indicated by the stability of spinel + quartz and the presence of mesoperthites that equilibrated at ultrahigh-temperature (ca. 1000 °C) conditions. The oldest spot age of 3534 Ma comes from the core of a detrital zircon at Nedumpara and is by far the oldest age reported from this supracrustal belt. Regression of age data from several spot analyses in single zircons shows “isochrons” ranging from 3193 ± 72 to 2148 ± 94 Ma, indicating heterogeneous population of zircons derived from multiple provenance. However, majority of zircons from the various localities shows Neoproterozoic apparent ages with sharply defined peaks in individual localities, ranging between 644–746 Ma. The youngest zircon age of 483 Ma was obtained from the outermost rim of a grain that incorporates a relict core displaying ages in the range of 2061–2543 Ma.The cores of monazites also show apparent older ages of Palaeo-Mesoproterozoic range, which are mantled by late Neoproterozoic/Cambrian rims. The oldest monazite core has an apparent age of 2057 Ma. Extensive growth of new monazite during latest Neoproterozoic to Cambrian–Ordovician times is also displayed by grain cores with apparent ages up to 622 Ma. The homogeneous core of a sub-rounded monazite grain yielded a maximum age of 569 Ma, markedly younger than the 610 Ma age reported in a previous study from homogenous and rounded zircon core from a metapelite in Trivandrum Block. These younger ages from abraded grains that have undergone fluvial transport are interpreted to indicate that deposition within the khondalite belt was as young as, or later than, this range. Probability density plots indicate that majority of the monazite grain population belong to Late Proterozoic/Cambrian age (ca. 560–520 Ma) with major peaks defining sharp spikes in individual localities.The age data presented in this study indicate that the metasediments of the Trivandrum Block sourced from Archaean and Paleo-Mesoproterozoic crustal fragments that were probably assembled in older supercontinents like Ur and Columbia. The largest age population of zircons belong to the Neoproterozoic, and are obviously related to orogenies during the pre-assembly phase of Gondwana, possibly from terrains belonging to the East African Orogen. Several prominent age spikes within the broad late Neoproterozoic–Cambrian age range displayed by monazites denote the dynamic conditions and extreme thermal perturbations attending the birth of Gondwana. Our study further establishes the coherent link between India and Madagascar within the East Gondwana ensemble prior to the final assembly of the Gondwana supercontinent.     

RC pile–soil interaction analysis using a 3D‐finite element method with fibre theory‐based beam elements

To evaluate the overall response of a structural system including its foundation and surrounding soil, an equivalent finite element model with reduced degrees of freedom using fibre theory‐based beam element was proposed. The proposed model was based on investigations of the subgrade soil reaction of a single‐layer model, and was verified for the cyclic behaviour of a laterally loaded single RC pile in terms of the load–displacement relationship, pile deformation, and soil pressures on the pile surface. Also investigated was the effect of the interfacial element between pile and soil on the behaviour of the laterally loaded pile. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pressure dependence of electrical conductivity of (Mg,Fe)SiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> ilmenite

The electrical conductivity of (Mg_0.93Fe_0.07)SiO₃ ilmenite was measured at temperatures of 500–1,200 K and pressures of 25–35 GPa in a Kawai-type multi-anvil apparatus equipped with sintered diamond anvils. In order to verify the reliability of this study, the electrical conductivity of (Mg_0.93Fe_0.07)SiO₃ perovskite was also measured at temperatures of 500–1,400 K and pressures of 30–35 GPa. The pressure calibration was carried out using in situ X-ray diffraction of MgO as pressure marker. The oxidation conditions of the samples were controlled by the Fe disk. The activation energy at zero pressure and activation volume for ilmenite are 0.82(6) eV and −1.5(2) cm³/mol, respectively. Those for perovskite were 0.5(1) eV and −0.4(4) cm³/mol, respectively, which are in agreement with the experimental results reported previously. It is concluded that ilmenite conductivity has a large pressure dependence in the investigated P–T range.     

Irradiation of NH3CH4 mixtures as a model of photochemical processes in the Jovian planets and Titan

Photolysis of NH₃ in the presence of CH₄ with a 185-nm light source results in the generation of hot hydrogen atoms that abstract hydrogen from the CH₄ to produce CH₃·. Subsequent reactions of CH₃· and NH₂· give hydrocarbons, CH₃NH₂, and HCN. The extent of reaction of CH₄ was measured by the ratio of the moles of CH₄ reacted per mole of NH₃ decomposed ($\text{Δ}\text{CH}{}_4\text{Δ}\text{NH}{}_3$). This ratio increases with diminishing NH₃ pressure at constant CH₄ pressure but it remains constant if $\text{CH}{}_4\text{NH}{}_3\text{?3}$. The $\text{Δ}\text{CH}{}_4\text{Δ}\text{NH}{}_3$ ratio is independent of temperature in the range 156–298° K, suggesting that hot hydrogen atoms were responsible for the reaction of CH₄. This postulate was confirmed by the observation that this reaction was quenched when H₂ or SF₆ was added to the reaction mixture.     

Cyclic behavior of laterally loaded concrete piles embedded into cohesive soil

Modern seismic design codes stipulate that the response analysis should be conducted by considering the complete structural system including superstructure, foundation, and ground. However, for the development of seismic response analysis method for a complete structural system, it is first imperative to clarify the behavior of the soil and piles during earthquakes. In this study, full‐scale monotonic and reversed cyclic lateral loading tests were carried out on concrete piles embedded into the ground. The test piles were hollow, precast, prestressed concrete piles with an outer diameter of 300 mm and a thickness of 60 mm. The test piles were 26 m long. Three‐dimensional (3D) finite element analysis was then performed to study the behavior of the experimental specimens analytically. The study revealed that the lateral load‐carrying capacity of the piles degrades when subjected to cyclic loading compared with monotonic loading. The effect of the use of an interface element between the soil and pile surface in the analysis was also investigated. With proper consideration of the constitutive models of soil and pile, an interface element between the pile surface and the soil, and the degradation of soil stiffness under cyclic loading, a 3D analysis was found to simulate well the actual behavior of pile and soil. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Probing the evolution of early-type galaxies using multicolour number counts and redshift distributions

We investigate pure luminosity evolution models for early-type (elliptical and S0) galaxies (i.e. no number density change or morphological transition), and examine whether these models are consistent with observed number counts in the B , I and K bands, and redshift distributions of two samples of faint galaxies selected in the I and K bands. The models are characterized by the star formation time-scale τ _SF and the time t _gw when the galactic wind starts to blow, in addition to several other conventional parameters. We find that the single-burst model ( τ _SF=0.1 Gyr and t _gw=0.353 Gyr), which is known to reproduce the photometric properties of early-type galaxies in clusters, is inconsistent with the redshift distributions of early-type galaxies in the field environment, owing to overpredictions of the number of galaxies at z ≳1.4 even with strong extinction which is at work until t _gw. In order for dust extinction to be more effective, we treat τ _SF and t _gw as free parameters, and find that models with τ _SF≳0.5 Gyr and t _gw>1.0 Gyr can be made consistent with both the observed redshift distributions and the number counts, if we introduce strong extinction [ E ( B − V )≥1 as a peak value]. These results suggest that early-type galaxies in the field environment do not have the same evolutionary history as described by the single-burst model.     

Characteristics of Sea Surface Circulation and Eddy Field in the South China Sea Revealed by Satellite Altimetric Data

Temporal and spatial variations of sea surface circulation in the South China Sea were revealed with use of altimetric data provided by TOPEX/POSEIDON from December 1992 to October 1997. The estimated distribution of sea surface dynamic heights from altimetric data coincide well with the results of observation by Soong et al. (1995) and Chu et al. (1998). The RMS variability of sea surface dynamic height, which is obtained after tidal correction based on Yanagi et al. (1997), is high in the central part of the South China Sea, the Gulf of Tongking, the Sunda Shelf and the Gulf of Thailand. The high RMS variability in the Gulf of Tongking, the Sunda Shelf and the Gulf of Thailand is due to set up and set down of sea water by the East Asian monsoon, which is northeasterly during winter and southwesterly during summer. Also, the high RMS variability in the central part of the South China Sea is due to the variations of basin-wide circulation. The circulations are dominant in the central part of the South China Sea during summer and winter, an anticyclonic circulation during summer and a cyclonic circulation during winter. It is suggested that these circulations are controlled by the East Asian monsoon. Hence, there is an interannual variability of the basin-wide circulation associated with the variation of the East Asian monsoon.