Heterogeneous enriched mantle materials and dupal-type magmatism along the SW margin of the São Francisco craton, Brazil

The nature and restricted range of Dupal-type Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic compositions of Cretaceous kimberlites, tuffaceous diatremes of kamafugitic affinity and carbonatite complexes which intrude the southwestern São Francisco craton margin in Brazil, indicate that these magmas either interacted extensively with, or were derived from, a light rare earth element (LREE) enriched homogeneous lithospheric mantle source isotopically similar to the “enriched mantle I” (EMI) component. The shallow-derived alkalic rocks contain a greater proportion of this EMI-like component, whereas the lower time-averaged Rb/Sr, Nd/Sm and Pb/U ratios of the kimberlites compared to the other rock types suggest mixing of the EMI-like mantle material with variable amounts of mantle with a high ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb (HIMU-like) component. Systematic variations in rock types and geochemistry on a regional scale are believed to be indicative of vertical geochemical heterogeneities which are translated into lateral heterogeneities by different depths of melting. It is proposed that HIMU- and EMI-like signatures in particular, are concentrated in laterally extensive but vertically distinctive portions of the mantle beneath the São Francisco craton. The EMI-type signatures appear to be restricted to shallow-derived volcanism, whereas the HIMU-type signatures may originate from a source that started melting deeper in the mantle. The Nd signatures of the EMI-type volcanics follow the evolution path defined by the NeoProterozoic crustal sequences which overlie and flank the craton margin. This suggests that the source of the EMI-type mantle signatures might be related to the tectono-thermal processes which led to the formation and evolution of such crustal sequences. The isotopic similarity of the sources of the studied rocks and of the high-Ti basalts of the northern Paraná basin to those of some Ocean Island Basalts with Dupal signatures in the South Atlantic (viz. in Walvis Ridge) is ascribed to processes by which continental lithosphere became firstly delaminated, and then contaminated a zone of South Atlantic asthenosphere from which hotspot islands have been erupting.     

Elemental composition of individual chondrules from ordinary chondrites

Sequential non-destructive neutron activation analysis was used to determine the bulk abundance of Fe, Al, Na, Mn, Or, Sc, Co and Ir in approximately 300 individual chondrules from 16 chondrites representing the H (3–5), L4 and LL(3–6) compositional and petrologic classes. For some of the chondrules, Si, Ni, Ca and V were also determined. The histograms indicate that the most probable abundances for lithophilic elements, except Cr, are enriched in the chondrules, while the siderophilic elements are depleted in the chondrules compared to the whole chondrite. Some of the abundance populations, such as Al and Fe, appear to be multimodal. Systematic variations in the composition of the chondrules with increasing petrologic type were observed; most consistent are an increasing Na-Al and Cr-Al correlation, a decreasing Na-Mn correlation, increasing Na abundance and decreasing Na and Mn dispersions among chondrules. The systematic compositional variations with increasing petrologic type are consistent with an increasing approach to equilibrium between chondrules and matrix.Observed elemental correlations are generally consistent with mineralogical controls expected on the basis of geochemical affinities suggested by the mineral assemblages present in the chondrules. However, a prevalent Al-Ir correlation was observed, and is most pronounced for a group of chondrules belonging to a population high in Al. A Sc-Ir correlation was observed. Also, an anti-correlation between chondrule masses and Al (and Ir for some chondrules) content of the chondrules was observed. These correlations are attributed to a fractionation during condensation or chondrule formation and cannot be attributed to classical geochemical similarities i.e. these correlations result from a cosmochemical fractionation. From the compositional evidence, it is suggested that there may be two mechanisms for chondrule production. Some high Al chondrules which exhibit the Al-Ir correlation are believed to be remelted primitive high-temperature aggregates. The elemental composition of the chondrules from the lower Al abundance population is consistent with a preferential remelting of pre-existing silicates.     

Aragonite crystallization from strained calcite at reduced pressures and its bearing on aragonite in low-grade metamorphism

Aragonite, the dense form of CaCO₃, grew hydrothermally at 100–300° C and dry at 300–400° C at very low pressures from calcite strained by grinding. Nearly complete inversion to aragonite occurred in some runs with Ca-Mg chloride solutions at 0–2.4 kb and 100–200° C on strained calcite having a (10¯14) reflection with a half-width of 0.48° 2 Cu K. A little aragonite grew dry at one atm. from the ground calcite at 300–400° C in a few hrs. Simultaneous shear during recrystallization of calcite in a rotating squeezer resulted in significant aragonite at 300–400° C several kb. below the stability field. No inversion occurred in any ground calcite when previously annealed in CO₂ at 500° C for a few hrs. Thermochemical data show that at least 200 cal/mole of strain energy can be produced in calcite by mild deformation. This much stored energy would lower the pressure requirements of aragonite, relative to the strained calcite by more than 3 kb, and our observation that aragonite growth was faster than strain recovery of calcite indicates that aragonite can grow in nature at reduced pressures from strained calcite.Some experiments were also carried out on highly magnesian calcites with the thought that aragonite might also form at the expense of this metastable material. No aragonite was produced, but the possibility that this mechanism could be operative in nature cannot be discounted.The microtexture of aragonitic deformed marbles from NW Washington (prehnite-pumpellyite facies rocks, courtesy of J. A. Vance) as well as electron probe microanalysis of these rocks indicates that aragonite selectively replaced highly strained calcite. The calcite-aragonite transition is thus a questionable indicator of high-pressure in certain metamorphic rocks.     

The relationship between anomalies of interannual net radiation and 37 GHz polarization difference over North Africa

We show evidence that interannual variations in the net radiation balance at the top-of-atmosphere over North Africa may be linked to variations at the land surface within the Sahelian zone. By utilizing concurrent monthly time series of earth radiation budget and passive microwave measurements obtained from the Nimbus 7 satellite over a five year period from 1979 to 1983, we have examined the spatial distribution of the amplitude of interannual variability of the net radiation at the top of the atmosphere. A strong association is found between the radiation budget anomalies derived from ERB-WFOV measurements and the anomalies of 37 GHz polarized brightness temperature difference derived from SMMR measurements. Previous research has shown that the interannual anomalies in the top-of-atmosphere net radiation balance in the Sahelian zone mostly arise from changes taking place at the surface, not from variations in cloudiness which brings variable rainfall throughout the African Sahel. Since microwave polarization difference is related in part to vegetation cover, we suggest that the main control of the modulation of North Africa's radiation balance may be year to year fluctuations of vegetation cover within the Sahelian zone, likely stemming from fluctuations in the rainfall. This relationship is relevant to the problem of radiation control and feedback on global climate through processes taking place within the biosphere of a semi-arid zone.     

HO x production due to radon decay in air

The HO _x (OH and HO₂) production rate in indoor air caused by radon decay was measured by the chemical amplification technique. The average HO _x production rate was found to be (4.31±0.07)×10⁵ HO _x per Rn decay per second (Bq) within the range of relative humidity from 3.4 to 55.0 percent at 22 °C. This work providedG(HO _x )-value, 7.86±0.13 #/100 eV in air by directly measuring [HO _x ] from radiolysis of water vapor. It is also found that there is no obvious relationship between the HO _x production rate and the relative humidity in this range. Therefore, this work provides both the basic data for the evaluation of radioactive pollution in indoor air as well as a potentially useful way to produce HO _x concentrations in air.     

Upstream stagnation points in stratified flow past obstacles

An experimental study has been made of stagnation points and flow splitting on the upstream side of obstacles in uniformly stratified flow. A range from small to large values of Nh/U (where N is the buoyancy frequency, h_m is the maximum obstacle height and U is the undisturbed fluid velocity) has been covered, for three obstacle shapes which are, respectively, axisymmetric, and elongated in the across-stream and in the downstream directions. Upstream stagnation for the first two of these models does not occur until Nh_m/U > 1.05, where it occurs at z ≈ h_m/2. On the central line below this point the flow descends and diverges, and we term this ‘flow splitting’. For the third model (elongated in the downstream direction), stagnation upstream first occurs at Nh_m/U ≈ 1.43, at z ≈ 0. Results for this obstacle are not consistent with the ‘Sheppard criterion’, and this upstream flow stagnation is not apparently related to lee wave overturning, in contrast to flow over two-dimensional obstacles.     

CRRES/Ground-based multi-instrument observations of an interval of substorm activity

Observations are presented of data taken during a 3-h interval in which five clear substorm onsets/intensifications took place. During this interval ground-based data from the EISCAT incoherent scatter radar, a digital CCD all sky camera, and an extensive array of magnetometers were recorded. In addition data from the CRRES and DMSP spacecraft, whose footprints passed over Scandinavia very close to most of the ground-based instrumentation, are available. The locations and movements of the substorm current system in latitude and longitude, determined from ground and spacecraft magnetic field data, have been correlated with the locations and propagation of increased particle precipitation in the E-region at EISCAT, increased particle fluxes measured by CRRES and DMSP, with auroral luminosity and with ionospheric convection velocities. The onsets and propagation of the injection of magnetospheric particle populations and auroral luminosity have been compared. CRRES was within or very close to the substorm expansion phase onset sector during the interval. The onset region was observed at low latitudes on the ground, and has been confirmed to map back to within L=7 in the magnetotail. The active region was then observed to propagate tailward and poleward. Delays between the magnetic signature of the substorm field aligned currents and field dipolarisation have been measured. The observations support a near-Earth plasma instability mechanism for substorm expansion phase onset.     

Ground-Water Tracing with Injected Helium

Helium has several characteristics that make it attractive for use as a tracer in hydrological studies. Two types of experiments were conducted to investigate applicability of helium as a tracer of ground-water movement. The experiments included studies using laboratory sand and soil columns and field ground-water tracing in a basaltic aquifer. A water helium analyzer comprised of a thin quartz glass membrane and diode ion pump (making use of the preferential permeation of helium through the quartz glass into an evacuated space) was developed and used for the experiments. Results of our studies demonstrated that breakthrough curves of specific conductance and helium were similar under saturated conditions. In the unsaturated sand/soil columns, breakthrough curves of helium were retarded relative to specific conductance reducing the usefulness of helium as a tracer.