Strontium isotope studies on ultramafic inclusions from Dreiser Weiher,Eifel, Germany

The isotopic composition of strontium, and rubidium and strontium concentrations in eight ultramafic inclusions and two host basalts from Dreiser Weiher, Eifel, Germany are presented. Comparison of the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the inclusions with the basaltic hosts indicates that the lherzolite inclusions are exotic in nature but the wehrlite-clino-pyroxenites are probably cognate with the host rocks. An apparent age of 550 m.y. (±a large uncertainty) shown by the lherzolites is believed to reflect a mantle event.     

Prograde and retrograde equilibria in garnet-cordierite gneisses in south-central Massachusetts

Partial electron microprobe analyses of garnet, biotite and cordierite in sillimanite-K feldspar gneisses of the Brimfield Formation in south-central Massachusetts indicate that the compositions of these minerals are not constant in a thin section. The FeO/MgO mol ratio of biotite is sensitive to the nature of other FeO-MgO minerals occurring in close proximity. The most iron-rich biotites are those that do not contact either cordierite or garnet. The most iron-poor biotites occur as inclusions in garnet. Biotites in direct contact with either cordierite or garnet have intermediate FeO/MgO ratios. The bulk of a given grain of garnet or cordierite is homogeneous in composition. Chemical zoning is absent. All grains of garnet and cordierite in a thin section are constant in composition. However, where garnet and cordierite abut biotite, the FeO/MgO ratio of the garnet rim is increased and that of cordierite is decreased. The FeO/MgO ratios of garnet, cordierite and biotite bare a regular relation to each other indicating a possible equilibrium state. However the distribution coefficient defined by the compositions of minerals in direct contact are greater than those defined by the compositions of the interiors of garnet and cordierite matched with the compositions of biotites removed from these phases. This pattern is believed to be the result of two thermal events. The first event produced the mineral assemblages and widespread equilibrium was obtained. A subsequent retrograde event left the mineralogy intact but caused cation exchange reactions at immediate contacts between garnet, cordierite and biotite. The physical conditions of the first event are estimated at P=5–6 kb, T=700–750° C. The retrograde event occurred at lower temperatures and very low activities of H₂O since no muscovite is developed at microcline-sillimanite contacts.     

The Broken Hill ore body,Australia

The paper reviews recent works on the Broken Hill ore body to see what data is available on the origin and history of the ore. A high grade metamorphism is recognizable (the Willyama Metamorphism) and this was followed by a number of retrograde metamorphic events. The characteristics of these events is described and this is followed by an analysis of the hypothesis that there is a stratigraphic control of Broken Hill type mineralization. It is concluded that any control that does exist is of a regional nature and that the evidence is equally as good for a restriction of mineralization to areas of high grade metamorphism. Many of the isotopic and geochronological results for Broken Hill are not diagnostic as far as ore genesis is concerned. They do present an internally consistent set of data that records three major events, the Willyama Metamorphism and introduction of the Broken Hill type mineralization at 1700 m. y., the intrusion of the Mundi Mundi Granite and cross cutting pegmatites at 1560 m. y., and retrograde metamorphism and introduction of the Thackaringa Mineralization at or prior to 500 m.y. The sulphides have been deformed in the retrograde schist zones and the ore therefore predates this event. But there is no evidence at the moment that unambiguously establishes that the sulphides were present prior to the Willyama Metamorphism. If it was present prior to or during the Willyama Metamorphism and there is no period of deformation prior to the first recognizable folds at Broken Hill, then the sulphide mass was initially grossly discordant with bedding.

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Zusammenfassung Die Arbeit bringt Ergebnisse der neuesten Untersuchungen über die Broken-Hill-Lagerstätte anschließend an einen Überblick früherer Arbeiten. Der intensiven Willyama-Metamorphose folgen verschiedene retrograde Vorgänge, über die Einzelheiten mitgeteilt werden. Ferner wird die Hypothese einer stratigraphischen Kontrolle der Vererzung einer Prüfung unterzogen und festgestellt, daß die maßgeblichen Frakturen regionaler Natur sein müssen und daß die Beobachtungen somit eine Annahme der Vererzung der hochmetamorphen Gebiete ebenso stark stützt. Viele Resultate von Isotopenzusammensetzungen und geochronologischen Untersuchungen sind für Broken Hill nicht diagnostisch, wenigstens was die Erzgenese betrifft. Sie belegen 3 Hauptereignisse: die Willyama-Metamorphose und den Beginn der Vererzung um 1700.10⁶a, die Intrusion des Mundi Mundi Granits und querschlägiger Pegmatite um 1560.10⁶a und eine retrograde Metamorphose und den Eintritt der Thackaringa-Vererzung um oder vor 500.10⁶a. Die Sulfide sind in der Zone der retrograden Schiefer deformiert worden, was beweist, daß die Vererzung älter ist als dieses Ereignis. Es gibt aber z. Z. keinen Beweis, daß die Sulfide vor der Willyama Metamorphose vorhanden gewesen sind. Wenn sie vor oder während dieses Ereignisses vorhanden gewesen sind und wenn vor der Zeit der ersten deutlichen Falten in Broken Hill keine Deformation stattgefunden hat, dann war die Sulfidmasse ursprünglich in der Schichtung stark diskordant.

     

On computation of equal area blocks

This paper describes a method of computing equal area elements (blocks) on the surface of a unit sphere. In this method, the surface is initially divided into a number of strips bounded by parallel circles. These strips are then divided into blocks with equal increment of longitude. The number of blocks may be different in different strips. Making use of this flexibility, we can (i) obtain blocks with ratios of (mean) horizontal sides to vertical sides that are close to unity (ii) minimize the number of polar blocks.     

The variation of tetrahedral bond lengths in sodic plagioclase feldspars

Multiple linear regression analysis has been applied to the geometric and chemical variables in sodic plagioclases in order to determine their relative effects on individual T-O bond lengths in the Al_1+xSi_3?xO₈ tetrahedral framework. Using data from crystal structure analyses of low and high albite, An₁₆ and An₂₈, and assuming that low albite is completely ordered, 1 $$\begin{gathered} {\text{T}} - {\text{O = 1}}{\text{.568}} + {\text{[(0}}{\text{.122) x (Al content of the T site)]}} \hfill \\ {\text{ }} - {\text{[(0}}{\text{.037) x (}}\Delta {\text{{\rm A}l}}_{{\text{br}}} )] + [0.063){\text{ x }}(\Sigma {\text{[}}q{\text{/(Na,Ca}} - {\text{O)}}^{\text{2}} ])] \hfill \\ {\text{ }} + {\text{[(0}}{\text{.029) x (}} - {\text{1/cosT}} - {\text{O}} - {\text{T)]}} \hfill \\ \end{gathered}$$ where the Al content of a particular tetrahedral (T) site can be estimated from empirically-derived determinative curves, where Δ Al_br is a linkage factor to account for the Al content of adjacent tetrahedral sites, where the formal charge on the (Na_1?xCa_x) atom is q=1+x, and where T-O-T is the inter-tetrahedral angle involving the T-O bond. For sodic plagioclases it is essential to know only the anorthite content and the 2Θ₁₃₁-2Θ_1¯31 spacing (CuK _α radiation) in order to determine the independent variables in this equation and thus to evaluate the individual T-O distances. The 64 individual T-O distances predicted for the four sodic plagioclases by this equation agree well with the observed T-O bond lengths (σ=0.004 Å; r=0.994), and the method has been used by way of example to rationalize the T-O bond lengths in analcime (cf. Ferraris, Jones and Yerkess, 1972).     

Der Einfluss chinesischer Spaltproduktaerosole auf den in Stuttgart-Hohenheim gemessenen radioaktiven Befall

Zusammenfassung Am 9. Mai wurde der dritte chinesische Kernwaffenversuch durchgeführt. Als Folge konnte etwa vierzehn Tage nach dem Explosionszeitpunkt in Stuttgart-Hohenheim eine deutliche Zunahme des radioaktiven Befalls festgestellt werden. Für die gewonneuen Niederschlags-, Staub- und Luftfilterproben, sowie für ein Heisses Teilchen wurdent ^–(1+x )-Kurven gemessen, diex-Werte bestimmt und gammaspektrometrisch die Nuklidzusammensetzung untersucht. An den aufgefundenen Nukliddiskriminierungen ist bemerkenswert, dass das Heisse Teilchen eine deutliche⁹⁵Zr-⁹⁵ Nb-Anreicherung aufwies.

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Summary The results of an investigation of the deposition of nuclear weapon debris from the third Chinese test explosion are discussed.t ^–(1+x )-curves were measured and the values of the parameterx are presented. The dry and precipitation fallout samples and a hot particle were gammaspectrometrically examined. Fractionation phenomena were studied.

     

Impacts of droughts on low flows and water quality near power stations

ABSTRACT

Power plants often use river waters for cooling purposes and can be sensitive to droughts and low flows. Water quality is also a concern, due to algal blooms and sediment loads that might clog filters. We assessed the impacts of droughts on river flow and water quality from the point of view of power plant operation. The INCA (INtegrated CAtchment) water quality model was coupled with a climate model to create a dataset of flow and water quality time series, using the River Trent (UK) as a case study. The result hints to a significant decrease in flows and an increase in phosphorus concentrations, potentially enhancing algal production. Power plants should expect more stress in the future based on the results of this study, due to reduced cooling water availability and decreasing upstream water quality. This issue might have serious consequences also on the whole national power network.     

Avalanche models for solar flares (Invited Review)

This paper is a pedagogical introduction to avalanche models of solar flares, including a comprehensive review of recent modeling efforts and directions. This class of flare model is built on a recent paradigm in statistical physics, known as self-organized criticality. The basic idea is that flares are the result of an ‘avalanche’ of small-scale magnetic reconnection events cascading through a highly stressed coronal magnetic structure, driven to a critical state by random photospheric motions of its magnetic footpoints. Such models thus provide a natural and convenient computational framework to examine Parker's hypothesis of coronal heating by nanoflares. Supplementary material to this paper is available in electronic form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1013301521745     

Stepwise mass extinctions: the case for the Late Cenomanian event

The various extinctions of marine taxa in the Late Cenomanian can be shown as conforming to the 'step-wise extinction' model. The order of such extinctions is, however, compatible with the presence of an expanded oxygen minimum zone in the world ocean. The occurrence of iridium anomalies at this level in the succession may, however, indicate a volcanogenic control on the global environment. Detailed time-analysis of the Late Cenomanian event has been used to produce a correlation of some key successions.