P-T Conditions of Metamorphism in the Neoproterozoic Rocks of the Negele Area, Southern Ethiopia

Neoproterozoic rocks constitute the Kenticha, Alghe and Bulbul litho-tectonic domains in the Negele area of southern Ethiopia. Structural features and fabrics in these rocks were developed during north-south folding (D1), thrusting (D2) and shearing (D3) deformation. From micro-structural inferences and fabric relationships in semi-pelitic schists/gneisses of the Kenticha and Alghe domains, three episodes of metamorphic mineral growths (M1, M2 and M3) are inferred to have accompanied the deformational events. Pressure-Temperature estimates on equilibrium garnet-plagioclase-biotite and garnet-biotite assemblages from semi-pelitic schists/gneisses of the two domains indicate metamorphic recrystallization at temperatures of 520–580°C and 590–640°C, and pressures of 4–5 kb and 6–7 kb in the Kenticha and Alghe domains, respectively. These results correspond to regional metamorphism at a depth of 16–20 km for the Kenticha and 22–25 km for the Alghe domains. The P-T results suggest that the protoliths to the rocks of the Kenticha and Alghe domains were subjected to metamorphism at different crustal depths. This implies exhumation of the Alghe gneissic rocks from intermediate crustal level (ca. 25 km) before juxtaposition with the Kenticha sequence along a north-south trending thrust at the present crustal level during the Neoproterozoic. The combined deformation, fabric and mineral growth data suggest that rocks in the Kenticha and Alghe domains evolved under similar tectono-metamorphic conditions, which resulted from crustal thickening and uplift followed by extension and orogenic collapse, exhumation and cooling before litho-tectonic domains coalesced and cratonized in the Neoproterozoic southern Ethiopian segment of the East African Orogen.     

Exsolution textures in orthopyroxene in aluminous granulites as indicators of UHT metamorphism: New evidence from the Eastern Ghats Belt, India

Highly aluminous orthopyroxene, coexisting with sapphirine, cordierite, sillimanite, quartz and garnet in various combinations, constitute granoblastic mosaic peak metamorphic assemblages in aluminous granulites from three localities in the Eastern Ghats Belt, India. Orthopyroxene contains four types of intergrowths: (a) involving sapphirine with or without cordierite, (b) involving spinel, but without sapphirine, (c) involving cordierite, but without sapphirine and spinel, and (d) involving garnet, without sapphirine, spinel or cordierite. On the basis of textural and compositional data, origin of the intergrowths is ascribed to breakdown of Mg-Tschermak component, locally also involving Fe- and Ti-Tschermak. An attempt is made to compute the “pre-breakdown” compositions of orthopyroxene by image analysis, which shows maximum Al₂O₃ content of 13.4 wt.% in the pristine orthopyroxene. Geothermometry, phase equilibria consideration and application of existing experimental data on alumina solubility in orthopyroxene coexisting with sapphirine and quartz, collectively indicate extreme thermal conditions of metamorphism (> 1000 °C) for the studied assemblages. This re-affirms the notion that Al₂O₃ solubility in orthopyroxene is the most powerful indicator of UHT metamorphism (Harley, S.L., 2004. Extending our understanding of ultrahigh temperature crustal metamorphism. J. Mineral. Petrol. Sci. 99, 140–158). The intergrowths are considered to have formed due to cooling from the thermal peak spanning a temperature range of approximately 150 °C. Appearance of diverse types of intergrowths is probably related to subtle differences in bulk composition, particularly Fe:Mg ratios.     

Chemical Assessment of Oceanic and Terrestrial Sulfur in the Marine Boundary Layer over the Northern North Pacific during Summer

Dimethylsulfide (DMS) in surface seawater and the air, methanesulfonic acid (MSA) and non-sea-salt sulfate (nss-SO₄ ²–) in aerosol, and radon-222 (Rn-222) were measured in the northern North Pacific, including the Bering Sea, during summer (13 July – 6 September 1997). The mean atmospheric DMS concentrations in the eastern region (21.0 ± 5.8 nmole/m³ (mean ± S.D.), n=30) and Bering Sea (19.9 ± 9.8 nmole/m³, n=10) were higher than that in the western region (11.1 ± 6.4 nmole/m³, n=31) (p<0.05), although these regions did not significantly differ in the mean DMS concentration in surface seawater. Mean sea-to-air DMS flux in the eastern region (21.0 ± 10.4 mole/m²/day, n=19) was larger than those in the western region (11.3 ± 16.9 mole /m²/day, n=22) and Bering Sea (11.2 ± 7.8 mole/m²/day, n=7) (p<0.05). This suggests that the longitudinal difference in atmospheric DMS was produced by that in DMS flux owing to wind speed, while the possible causes of the higher DMS concentrations in the Bering Sea include (1) later DMS oxidation rates, (2) lower heights of the marine boundary layer, and (3) more inactive convection. The mean MSA concentrations in the eastern region (1.18 ± 0.84 nmole/m³, n=35) and Bering Sea (1.17 ± 0.87 nmole/m³, n=13) were higher than that in the western region (0.49 ± 0.25 nmole/m³, n=28) (p < 0.05). Thus the distribution of MSA was similar to that of DMS, while the nss-SO₄ ²– concentrations were higher near the continent. This suggests that nss-SO₄ ²– concentrations were regionally influenced by anthropogenic sulfur input, because the distribution of nss-SO₄ ²– was similar to that of Rn-222 used as a tracer of continental air masses.     

Boltzmann approach to the large-angle cosmic X-ray background fluctuations

Large-angle fluctuations in the cosmic X-ray background are investigated by a new formalism with a simple model of the X-ray sources. Our method is formulated from the Boltzmann equation and a simple extension of the work by Lahav et al. to be applicable to a hyperbolic (open) universe. The low multipole fluctuations due to the source clustering are analysed in various cosmological models in both numerical and analytic ways. The fluctuations strongly depend on the X-ray source evolution model, as pointed out previously. It turns out that the nearby ( z  ≲ 0.1) sources are the dominant contributors to the large-angle fluctuations. If these nearby sources are removed in an observed X-ray map, the dipole (low multipole) moment of the fluctuation drastically decreases. In this case the Compton–Getting effect of an observer's motion can be a dominant contribution to the dipole fluctuation. This feature of fluctuation, relating to the matter power spectrum, is discussed.     

Chemical and isotopic signatures of the basement rocks from the Campi Flegrei geothermal field (Naples, southern Italy): inferences about the origin and evolution of its hydrothermal fluids

The Campi Flegrei (Naples, Campanian Plain, southern Italy) geothermal system is hosted by Quaternary volcanic rocks erupted before, during and after the formation of the caldera that represents one of the major structural features in the Neapolitan area. The volcanic products rest on a Mesozoic carbonate basement, cropping out north, east and south of the area. Chemical (major, minor and trace elements) and stable isotope (C, H, O) analyses were conducted on drill-core samples recovered from geothermal wells MF-1, MF-5, SV-1 and SV-3, at depths of ˜ 1100 to 2900 m. The study was complemented by petrographic and SEM examination of thin sections. The water which feeds the system is both marine and meteoric in origin. Mineral zonation typical of a high-temperature geothermal system exists in all the geothermal wells; measured temperatures in wells are as high as ˜ 400 °C. The chemical composition of the waters suggests the existence of two reservoirs: a shallow reservoir (depth < 2000 m) fed by seawater that boiled at 320 °C and became progressively diluted by steam-heated local meteoric water during its ascent; and a deeper reservoir (depth > 2000 m) of hypersaline water. The drill-cores are mainly hydrothermally altered volcanics of trachy-latitic affinity, but some altered pelites and limestones are also present. Published Na, Mg and K concentrations of selected geothermal waters indicate that the hydrothermal fluids are in equilibrium with their host rocks, with respect to K-feldspar, albite, sericite and chlorite. The measured δ¹⁸O_(SMOW) values of rocks range from +4.3 to + 16.5%. The measured δD_(SMOW) values range from − 79 to − 46%. The calculated isotopic composition of the fluids at equilibrium with the samples vary from + 1 to + 8.3%. δ¹⁸O and from − 52 to + 1%. δD. The estimated isotopic composition of the waters at equilibrium with the studied samples confirmed the existence of two distinct fluid types circulating in the geothermal system. The shallower has a marine water signature, while the deeper water has a signature consistent both with magmatic and meteoric origins. In the latter case, the recharge of this aquifer likely occurs at the outcrop of the Mesozoic Limestones surrounding the Campanian Plain; after infiltration, the water percolates through evaporitic layers, becoming hypersaline and D-depleted.     

Jurassic kimberlites from Picton and Varty Lake,Ontario: Geochemical and stable isotopic characteristics

Micaceous ultramafic dikes of Jurassic age from Picton and Varty Lake, Ontario, consist mineralogically of olivine — phlogopite — serpentine — calcite-spinel. The rocks are characterized by abundant Ba-rich phlogopite (up to 6.5 wt.% BaO) and spinels with a diagnostic kimberlite trend-1. Compositionally the dikes are characterized by extreme silica-undersaturation (21–30 wt.% SiO₂), primitive Mg/(Mg + Fe^T) ratios (0.75–0.83), large enrichments of volatile components (CO₂ and H₂O), and relatively high abundances of both incompatible and compatible trace elements. The dikes exhibit pronounced enrichments of light rare earth elements (LREE) (La_N=320–1330) combined with strongly fractionated patterns (La_N/Yb_N=45–108). Calcite in the dikes is a primary magmatic phase, from textural relations and C-isotopic compositions ( ¹³C= –4.0 to –8.3). A calcite-rich aphanitic phase of the Picton dike is interpreted to be a late stage magmatic differentiate, which possibly involved olivine fractionation. Although the dikes lack most of the macrocrysts generally considered to be important diagnostic minerals of kimberlite magmatism, the geochemical, mineralogical and C- and O-isotopic characteristics collectively indicate that the dikes are evolved varieties of hypabyssal facies kimerlite.     

Effect of the contraction of Zn-O bonds on X-ray emission spectra

Physics and Chemistry of Minerals - The X-ray emission spectra were measured for tetrahedrally coordinated Zn ion in several synthetic compounds. Intensity ratios of L β and L α spectral...     

Magnetic and electric field observations during the 2000 activity of Miyake-jima volcano, Central Japan

Magnetic and electric field variations associated with the 2000 eruption of Miyake-jima volcano are summarized. For about 1 week prior to the July 8 phreatic explosion, significant changes in the total intensity were observed at a few stations, which indicated uprising of a demagnetized area from a depth of 2 km towards the summit: this non-magnetic source can be regarded as a vacant space itself. Electric and magnetic field variations were observed simultaneously associated with the tilt-step event, which was the abrupt (∼50 s) inflation at a few km depth within the volcano followed by gradual recovery (∼several hours). The electric field is ascribed to the electrokinetic effect most probably due to forced injection of fluids from the source, while the magnetic field to the piezomagnetic effect due to increased pressure. Large magnetic variations amounting to a few tens of nT were observed at several stations since July 8, and they turned almost flat after the August 18 largest eruption. Magnetic changes are explained mostly by the vanishing of magnetic mass in the summit and additionally by the thermal demagnetization at a rather shallow depth. A large increase in the self-potential by 130 mV was also observed near the summit caldera associated with the August 18 eruption, which suggests that the hydrothermal circulation system sustained within the volcano for the past more than 10 years was destroyed by this eruption.