Small Antarctic micrometeorites: A mineralogical and in situ oxygen isotope study

Abstract— We have investigated the texture, bulk chemistry, mineralogy, as well as the anhydrous minerals oxygen isotopic composition of 67 small Antarctic micrometeorites (AMMs) collected at Cap Prudhomme, Antarctica, and belonging to the currently poorly studied size fraction 25–50 μm. When compared to larger (50–400 μm) micrometeorites collected at the same site in Antarctica with the same techniques, no significant differences are found between the two populations. We therefore conclude that the population of Cap Prudhomme AMMs is homogeneous over the size range 25–400 μm. In contrast, small AMMs have different textures, mineralogy, and oxygen isotopic compositions than those of stratospheric interplanetary dust particles (IDPs). Because small AMMs (<50 μm) overlap in size with IDPs, the differences between these two important sources of micrometeorites can no longer be attributed to a variation of the micrometeorite composition with size. Physical biases introduced by the collection procedures might account for these differences.     

Description and evaluation of the high quality photogrammetric scanner UltraScan 5000

Scanning of analogue images has become a key hardware technology specific to modern digital photogrammetry. Since specialised photogrammetric scanners have been introduced in the late 1980s, a gradual development and improvement of their performance regarding hardware, software and functionality, and productivity has been observed. Originally, geometric accuracy of scanners was the overriding specification for scanners. This is increasingly being augmented by a concern for good colour and radiometric performance. This article describes the UltraScan 5000, a modern photogrammetric scanner manufactured by Vexcel Imaging Austria, and its features, assesses its radiometric and geometric performance with various well-founded tests, and discusses its versatility and use in production. The UltraScan 5000 was introduced in November 1998 and since then, a surprisingly large number of systems has been installed worldwide. Their successful operation illustrates on a daily basis the validity of the technical solution and tests at user sites have confirmed a good to excellent performance regarding geometric accuracy and resolution, radiometric performance (noise, dynamic range) and colour rendition.     

Early Palaeozoic tectonothermal events in basement complexes of the eastern Greywacke Zone (Eastern Alps): evidence from U–Pb zircon data

Field observations and U-Pb zircon data yield evidence that the Kaintaleck Complex represents a distinct crystalline basement unit of the eastern Greywacke Zone and contrasts partly with other pre-Alpine basement complexes of the Eastern Alps. The age data indicate possible Late Archean rock formation, several magmatic and metamorphic events in the Early Palaeozoic (ca. 520-490 and ca. 400-360 Ma), and low-grade metamorphic overprint in the Cretaceous. Zircons from a garnet gneiss layer in a plagioclase gneiss and amphibolite sequence yield an upper intercept age of ca. 2.55 Ga which is interpreted as a possible protolith age. The lower intercept age at 514 Ma represents either (1) a magmatic event or (2) a metamorphic overprint within amphibolite facies conditions. Magmatic zircons derived from granitic orthogneiss boulders of the Kalwang Conglomerate, which covers the crystalline basement, crystallised at ca. 500 Ma. The lower discordia intercepts of the orthogneiss boulders mark the Cretaceous low-grade metamorphic overprint. The lower intercept age of paragneiss zircons from another slice of the Kaintaleck Complex suggests a likely Devonian metamorphic event at ca. 390-400 Ma. The new data demonstrate that the Kaintaleck Complex experienced several stages of tectonothermal evolutions, which are in contrast to the evolution of the main mass of the Austroalpine basement. The data constrain linkages of this part of the Austroalpine basement to the Cordillere Ligérienne and Cadomian block within West-European Variscides.     

Synthesis of tourmaline solid solutions in the system Na2O–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2–B2O3–H2O–HCl and the distribution of Na between tourmaline and fluid at 300 to 700 °C and 200 MPa

Tourmaline has been synthesized hydrothermally at 200 MPa between 300 and 700 °C from oxide mixtures with Mg-Al ratios for the end members dravite NaMg₃Al₆(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃(OH) and Mg-foitite &ding6F;(Mg₂Al)Al₆ (Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃(OH). Six different Na concentrations were investigated to determine the distribution of Na between tourmaline and fluid in the SiO₂-saturated system Na₂O-MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-B₂O₃-H₂O-HCl. Synthetic tourmaline ranges from X-site vacant (&ding6F;) tourmaline (Mg-foitite) to nearly ideal dravite with Na=0.95 apfu. There are small, but significant, amounts of proton deficiency and negligible tetrahedral Al. Chemical variation is primarily caused by the substitutions Al&ding6F;Mg_-1Na_-1 and minor AlMg_-1H_-1. Varying amounts of Na and &ding6F; determine the Mg/Al ratios. Besides tourmaline and quartz, additional Mg-Al phases are chlorite and, at 700 °C, cordierite. Albite is also present at high Na concentrations in the bulk composition. The c dimension of the tourmaline crystals increases with Na in tourmaline. The amount of Na in the X-site depends strongly on the bulk concentration of Na in the system as well as on the temperature. These factors in turn control the phase assemblage and the composition of the fluid phase. For the assemblage tourmaline + quartz + chlorite/cordierite + fluid, a linear relationship exists between Na concentration in the fluid (quenched after the run) and tourmaline with temperature: T °C [ᆭ °C]=(Na_fluid/Na_tur)앾.878-14.692 (r²=0.96). For the assemblage tourmaline + albite + quartz + fluid, it is: T °C [ᆣ °C]=(Na_fluid/Na_tur)욝.813-6.231 (r²=0.95), where Na_fluid is the concentration of Na⁺ in the final fluid (mol/l) and Na_tur is the number of Na cations in the X-site of tourmaline. The equations are valid in the temperature range of 500-715 °C. Our experiments demonstrate that the occupancy of the X-site in combination with the changing concentrations of Al and Mg can be used to monitor changes in the fluid composition in equilibrium with a growing tourmaline crystal. Currently, this relation can be applied qualitatively to natural tourmaline to explain zoning in Na- and Al/(Al+Mg).     

Evolution of quartz microstructures and textures during polyphase deformation within the Tauern Window (Eastern Alps)

The interior of the Tauern Window exposes underplated Penninic continental lithosphere and the overlying obducted Penninic oceanic crust within a large antiformal dome in the internal zone of the Eastern Alps. These units have been affected by a polyphase deformation history. Generally, three deformation events are distinguished. D₁ is related to underplating of, and top-to-the-N nappe stacking within, the Penninic continental units of the Tauern Window. Deformation stage D₂ is interpreted to reflect the subsequent continent collision between the Penninic continental units and the European foreland, D₃ is related to the formation of the dome structure within the Tauern Window. During thickening of continental lithosphere and nappe stacking (D₁), and subsequent intracontinental shortening (D₂), these tectonic units have been ductilely deformed close to a plane strain geometry. Conditions for the plastic deformation of the main rock-forming mineral phases (quartz, feldspar, dolomite, calcite) have prevailed during all three phases of crustal deformation. Generally, two types of quartz microstructures that are related to D₁ are distinguished within the Tauern Window: (a) Equilibrated and annealed fabrics without crystallographic preferred orientations (CPO) have only been observed in the central part of the southeastern Tauern Window, corresponding with amphibolite-grade metamorphic conditions. (b) In the northeastern and central part of the Tauern Window microstructures are characterized by quartz grains that show equilibrated shape fabrics, but well preserved CPO with type-I cross girdle distributions, indicating a deformation geometry close to plane strain. During D₂, two types of quartz microstructures are distinguished, too: (a) Quartz grains that show equilibrated shape fabrics, but well-preserved CPO. The c-axes distributions generally are characterized by type-I cross girdles, locally by type-II cross girdles, and in places, oblique single girdle distributions. (b) A second type of quartz microstructure is characterized by highly elongated grains and fabrics typical for dislocation creep and grain-boundary migration, and strong CPO. This type is restricted to the southern sections of the western and eastern Tauern Window. The c-axis distributions show type-I cross girdles in the western part of the Tauern Window and single girdles in the southeastern part. In the western part of the Tauern Window, a continuous transition from type (b) microstructures in the south to type (a) microstructures in the north is documented. The microstructural evolution also documents that the dome formation in the southeastern and western Tauern Window has already started during D₂ and has continued subsequent to the equilibration during amphibolite to greenschist facies metamorphism. D₃ is restricted to distinct zones of localized deformation. D₃-related quartz fabrics are characterized by the formation of ribbon grains; the c-axes show small-circle distributions around the Z-axis of the finite-strain ellipsoid. During exhumation and doming (D₃), deformation occurred under continuously decreasing temperatures.     

Recruitment, survivorship, and age structure of a New York ribbed mussel population (Geukensia demissa) in relation to shore level—a nine year study

Age structure, recruitment, and survivorship of a Jamaica Bay, New York ribbed mussel (Geukensia demissa) population were studied over nine years at two shore elevations. Mussels were collected in November (following seasonal growth and recruitment) and March (to assay over-winter mortality). Larval recruits (0-class) averaged 55% of the population at the marsh edge compared with <9% at the higher elevation (6 m upshore). High larval settlement at the edge apparently depletes the larval supply available for settlement within the marsh interior. At the edge, the population generally contained 7 monotonically decreasing age classes compared to 15–20 age classes at the interior site. At the interior site, most 0-class mussels may not directly settle into existing mussel aggregations, but instead immigrate over a period of two years following settlement. The linear survivorship curve at the edge reflects 40–50% mortality every year. Over-winter mortality is sensitive to winter ice conditions. Simulations of reproductive output based on survivorship and fertility data combined suggest that mussel cohorts living in the marsh may approach the life time reproductive output of marsh edge mussels after about 15 years, a life span which is not uncommon at higher shore levels.     

Arc related Jurassic igneous and meta-igneous rocks in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile/Region Antofagasta

A deep section of the Jurassic, 200-150 Ma old magmatic arc is exposed in the Coastal Cordillera south of Antofagasta in northern Chile. The chemical compositions of metabasic and plutonic rocks from the deep level are compared with those of Jurassic volcanic rocks and ≈ 150 Ma old dykes. The metabasites, most of the plutonic rocks, and the dykes have calc-alkaline characteristics. However, small postmetamorphic gabbro plutons are tholeiitic. The composition of the volcanic rocks is not related to the plutonic rocks, metabasites and dykes. All igneous and meta-igneous rocks of the arc are derived from a similar source in the upper mantle and evolved without major crustal contamination.

The general tectonic setting was dominated by extension, and Pre-Jurassic crust is extremely thinned or absent in the area. Details of the tectonic, magmatic and metamorphic development remain still a matter of speculation.