International Mineralogical Association (IMA)

International Mineralogical Association (IMA)15th General Meeting, Beijing, China, June 28–July 3, 1990     

The Ninole Basalt — Implications for the structural evolution of Mauna Loa volcano, Hawaii

Lava flows of the Ninole Basalt, the oldest rocks exposed on the south side of the island of Hawaii, provide age and compositional constraints on the evolution of Mauna Loa volcano and the southeastward age progression of Hawaiian volcanism. Although the tholeiitic Ninole Basalt differs from historic lavas of Mauna Loa volcano in most major-element contents (e.g., variably lower K, Na, Si; higher Al, Fe, Ti, Ca), REE and other relatively immobile minor elements are similar to historic and prehistoric Mauna Loa lavas, and the present major-element differences are mainly due to incipient weathering in the tropical environment. New K-Ar whole-rock ages, from relatively fresh roadcut samples, suggest that the age of the Ninole Basalt is approximately 0.1–0.2 Ma, although resolution is poor because of low contents of K and radiogenic Ar. Originally considered the remnants of a separate volcano, the Ninole Hills are here interpreted as faulted remnants of the old south flank of Mauna Loa. Deep canyons in the Ninole Hills, eroded after massive landslide failure of flanks of the southwest rift zone, have been preserved from burial by younger lava due to westward migration of the rift zone. Landslide-induced depressurization of the southwest rift zone may also have induced phreatomagmatic eruptions that could have deposited widespread Basaltic ash that overlies the Ninole Basalt. Subaerial presence of the Ninole Basalt documents that the southern part of Hawaii Island had grown to much of its present size above sea level by 0.1–0.2 Ma, and places significant limits on subsequent enlargement of the south flank of Mauna Loa.     

Assessment of the sensitivity of the landscape in a sample area in Hungary for climatic variability

In the northeastern part of Hungary near the township of Tokaj a landscape research project has been performed in a 9 km² area. The aim of this study is to examine the possibilities of expressing the climatic sensitivity of the given small landscape unit by analysing the capabilities of such a small sample area and synthésizing the data obtained. The landscape analysis consisted of field and laboratory measurements, theoretical calculations, analyses of maps, as well as the construction of thematic maps (on the scale of 1:10000) and cartograms. In view of climatic sensitivity four of the landscape factors were regarded as crucial: (1) the water budget of the soils, (2) the thickness of the soils and loose sediments, (3) insolation, and (4) land use. By synthesis of these factors a five-grade climatic sensitivity map was produced. On the basis of the areal proportion of the different classes of sensitivity it was established that the study area is moderately sensitive to climate. Examination of the moisture content of soil clearly indicated different responses of the areas from the different sensitivity classes to changes in temperature and precipitation. The four main landscape factors selected proved to be useful in the rough delineation of the classes on the climatic sensitivity map. However, the use of the other landscape factors improved its accuracy.     

Arctic hazes in summer over Greenland and the North American Arctic: II. Nature and concentrations of accumulation-mode and giant particles

Airborne measurements made during August 1985 over Greenland and its environs show that both accumulation-mode (0.1 m D2.0 m) and giant (D2 m) particles were present in relatively high concentrations in arctic haze layers and that the accumulation-mode particles dominated light scattering. Particles with diameters (D) between 1 and 4 m consisted predominately of mixed materials, small and dense inclusions, and probably organic compounds containing sulfur. Many of the particles from 0.1 to 1 m in diameter were also of mixed composition, with sulfuric acid, ammonium sulfate and organics probably the dominant constituents.     

First and second moments of non-linear least-squares estimators

The first two moments of non-linear and least-squares estimators are studied. Approximate expressions for the moments are derived and discussed. The results are compared with those ofJeudy [1988].     

The Antarctic circumpolar current and its influence on the Earth's rotation

Summary At least in case of semidiurnal tides, theirmotions contain most of their relative angular momentum. There are other periodic currents in the ocean with cycles of months to years which may influence the Earth's rotation within such time scales. These currents are mainly due to seasonal or climatic variations of the wind stress and the water mass distribution in the oceans. The main question is: how much of the oceanic angular momentum is temporarily stored within the oceans and what is the time scale of the transfer to the solid Earth. As an example, we have estimated the phase and the amplitude of the angular momentum which is stored in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Its phase resembles the one of the whole observed semiannual discrepancy in the angular momentum budget of the solid Earth plus the atmosphere; the amplitudes are comparable.

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Der Antarktische Ringstrom und sein Einfluß auf die Erdrotation

Zusammenfassung Zumindest im Fall der halbtägigen Gezeiten der Ozeane enthalten derenBewegungen den größten Teil ihres variablen Drehimpulses. Andere periodische Meeresströmungen mit Perioden von Monaten bis Jahren könnten die Erdrotation ebenfalls beeinflussen. Solche Strömungen werden vor allem durch jahreszeitliche oder klimatische Veränderungen der Schubspannung des Windes und der Wasserstände verursacht. Die Hauptfrage ist jedenfalls diese: Wieviel Drehimpuls ist in jeder Phase in den Ozeanen gespeichert, und in welcher Zeit wird er mit der festen Erde ausgetauscht. Als Beispiel haben wir Phase und Amplitude des Drehimpulses abgeschätzt, der im Antarktischen Ringstrom enthalten ist. Diese Werte wurden mit den entsprechenden der Diskrepanz verglichen, die in der Bilanz feste Erde plus Atmosphäre offen bleibt. Die Phasen stimmen gut überein, und die Amplituden sind vergleichbar.

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Le courant circumpolaire antarctique et son influence sur la rotation de la terre

Résumé Au moins dans le cas des marées semi-diurnes lesmouvements des océans «contiennent» la plus grande partie de la variabilité de la quantité de moment angulaire de la terre. D'autres courants océaniques périodiques dont la période varie du mois à l'année peuvent aussi avoir une influence sur la rotation de la terre. De tels courants sont avant tout provoqués par des variations saisonnières ou climatiques de la tension superficielle due aux vents et des niveaux d'eau dans les océans. La question principale est en tout cas la suivante: quelle est à chaque phase la quantité de moment angulaire stockée dans les océans et en combien de temps est-elle échangée avec la masse solide de la terre. A titre d'exemple, nous avons évalué la phase et l'amplitude de la quantité de moment angulaire stockée dans le courant circumpolaire antarctique. Ces valeurs furent comparées aux valeurs correspondantes de l'anomalie qui subsiste dans le bilan terre solide plus atmosphère. Les phases sont concordantes et les amplitudes sont comparables.

     

Halite and sylvite as solid inclusions in high-grade metamorphic rocks

Solid inclusions of halite and sylvite, formed during regional and contact metamorphism have been identified by microscopy and by electron microprobe analysis in rocks from Campolungo, Switzerland and Cornone di Blumone, Italy. The solid inclusions occur in several of the major minerals crystallized during metamorphism and have been observed as idiomorphic crystals and dendrites. The compositions measured in 100 analyses from Campolungo, Switzerland and 40 analyses from Cornone di Blumone, Italy extend across the two-phase region in the system, KCl-NaCl, indicating that the salt inclusions are high temperature precipitates. In both localities compositionally zoned and unzoned crystals have been found. Measured compositions on the temperature maximum of the two-phase region indicate at least 500° C which can be compared with 500°±20° C determined by Mercolli (1982) and Walther (1983) from the Mg content of calcites from Campolungo. The solid inclusions have been trapped apart from CO₂-rich and saline, H₂O-rich fluid inclusions which have been described by Mercolli (1982) as the earliest preserved fluid inclusions in the rocks. The early precipitation of salt minerals at Campolungo indicates that fluids were saturated with NaCl and KCl at 500° C and pressures of 2,000 bars or higher. Similar relationships exist between solid and fluid inclusions in the rocks of Cornone di Blumone which formed at temperatures as high as 800° C and pressures between 0.5 and 1 kilobar (Ulmer 1983). The entrapment of halite and sylvite as solid inclusions preserves the composition of the minerals which may therefore be useful as geothermometers.     

210Pb dating of scottish lake sediments,afforestation and accelerated soil erosion

Changes in the rate of soil erosion in lake catchments can be identified from changes in the rate of sediment accumulation in lakes. Here we compare recently afforested sites with non-afforested sites in the Galloway area of Southwest Scotland. We show that lakes with non-afforested catchments have slow, constant sediment accumulation rates, whereas lakes with recently afforested catchments have changes in accumulation that parallel the known history of afforestation. For Loch Grannoch the sediment accumulation rate increases from 0.1 cm yr^?1 to over 2 cm yr^?2 during the disturbance period. Data from L. Skerrow, however, suggest that the rate might decline to predisturbance levels after approximately 10 years as the forest canopy closes and drainage channels stabilize.