A preferred method for the determination of bulk compositions of coarse-grained refractory inclusions and some implications of the results

Analyses of coarse-grained refractory inclusions typically do not have the solar CaO/Al₂O₃ ratio, probably reflecting nonrepresentative sampling of them in the laboratory. Many previous studies, especially those done by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), were based on very small amounts of material removed from those restricted portions of inclusions that happened to be exposed on surfaces of bulk meteorite samples. Here, we address the sampling problem by studying thin sections of large inclusions, and by analyzing much larger aliquots of powders of these inclusions by INAA than has typically been done in the past. These results do show convergence toward the solar CaO/Al₂O₃ ratio of 0.792. The bulk compositions of 15 coarse-grained inclusions determined by INAA of samples >2 mg have an average CaO/Al₂O₃ ratio of 0.80 ± 0.18. When bulk compositions are obtained by modal recombination based on analysis of thin sections with cross-sections of entire, large, unbroken inclusions, the average of 11 samples (0.79 ± 0.15) also matches the solar value. Among those analyzed by INAA and by modal recombination, there were no inclusions for which both techniques agreed on a CaO/Al₂O₃ ratio deviating by >∼15% from the solar value. These results suggest that: individual inclusions may have the solar CaO/Al₂O₃ ratio; departures from this value are due to sample heterogeneity and nonrepresentative sampling in the laboratory; and it is therefore valid to correct compositions to this value. We present a method for doing so by mathematical addition or subtraction of melilite, spinel, or pyroxene. This yields a set of multiple, usually slightly different, corrected compositions for each inclusion. The best estimate of the bulk composition of an inclusion is the average of these corrected compositions, which simultaneously accounts for errors in sampling of all major phases. Results show that Type B2 inclusions tend to be more SiO₂-rich and have higher normative Anorthite/Gehlenite component ratios than Type B1s. The inclusion bulk compositions lie in a field that can result from evaporation at 1700-2000K of CMAS liquids with solar CaO/Al₂O₃, but with a wide range of initial MgO (30-60 wt%) and SiO₂ (15-50 wt%) contents.     

Quasi-simultaneous VLBI and RATAN-600 observations of active galactic nuclei

VLBI observations of several quasars and BL Lacertae objects were carried out at 1.66 GHz in November–December 1999 using six antennas (Medvezh'i Ozera, Svetloe, Pushchino, Noto, HartRAO, and Shanghai). Maps of six sources (0420+022, 0420-014, 1308+326, 1345+125, 1803+784, and DA 193) obtained with milliarcsecond resolution are presented and discussed, together with their broad-band (1–22 GHz) spectra obtained on the RATAN-600 radio telescope at epochs close to those of the VLBI observations. Comparison of the VLBI maps with maps of these sources obtained on standard VLBI networks and with the RATAN-600 quasisimultaneous total-flux measurements indicates the reliability of the results obtained on this Low Frequency VLBI Network and the good efficiency of this network.     

Soil moisture potential and water content in the unsaturated zone within the arid Ejina Oasis in Northwest China

Three soil profiles were selected in the Ejina Oasis, northwest China, to determine water content profiles and evolution of soil moisture potentials in the unsaturated zone within the arid area. The total soil moisture potentials have been monitored for about 3 months in 2001 at different depths in the soil profiles. The occurrence and movement of water in the unsaturated zone was analyzed using the zero flux plane (ZFP) method. It is shown that convergent ZFPs and divergent ZFPs may occur at depths between 0.5 and 3.0 m, and that the depth of the ZFPs was controlled by the root zone of plants growing on the land surface. Profiles of the total soil moisture potentials were observed to be coincident with those of the water contents at the three experimental sites. The total soil moisture potential showed a slight increasing trend and the ZFPs tend to vanish from summer to winter as the water extraction by roots decreased. Evapotranspiration through vegetation has an important bearing on the water content and the total potential in the unsaturated zone.     

Velocity field in the spiral-wave pattern observed in rotating shallow-water experiments

The paper presents the first quantitative results of a laboratory study of the velocity field in a two-arm spiral-wave pattern generated in a steady-state fashion by a hydrodynamical instability in a differentially rotating, thin layer of liquid. The liquid layer has a free surface, and the rotational profile includes an interval where the velocity drops abruptly, as in the gaseous disks of spiral galaxies. The properties of anticyclonic vortices observed between the arms of this pattern at the corotation radius are considered.     

The magnetic-field geometry in polar ray structures of the solar corona

Variations in the positions of the intersection points of tangents to ray structures in the polar corona of the Sun during the solar cycle are considered. At first glance, the decrease in the distance q between the tangent intersection point and the center of the solar disk during activity maximum contradicts harmonic analyses that indicate that the relative weight of higher harmonics in the global field increases during this period. Indeed, the higher the harmonic number in an axisymmetric field, the closer the intersection point of the field-line tangents (the magnetic focus) to the solar surface. It is shown that q for a field composed of two harmonics with opposite polarities at the poles can be smaller than q for either of them taken alone. A simple model representing the global field using the third and seventh harmonics is analyzed; this model can reproduce quite satisfactorily the observed dynamics of magnetic foci of the polar field.     

Topological model for the large solar flare of July 14, 2000

Using observational data obtained with the Yohkoh, SOHO, and TRACE satellites, it is shown that the three-dimensional structure of the large solar flare of July 14, 2000 was determined by the topology of the large-scale magnetic field of the active region giving rise to the flare. The locations and shapes of chromospheric ribbons and brightness centers on these ribbons are explained. The observed behavior of the flare is attributed to rapid magnetic reconnection in the corona. The electric field accelerating particles in the reconnecting current sheets is estimated.     

Analysis of a high-amplitude event in component A of the gravitational lens QSO 2237+0305

We present an analysis of a high-amplitude event in the flux curve of component A of the gravitational lens QSO 2237+0305 observed by the OGLE and GLITP groups in autumn 1999. Hypothesizing this event to be associated with microlensing of a fold caustic, we analyzed the observational data using a method for the successive reconstruction of branches of the one-dimensional strip brightness distribution across the source corresponding to positive and negative arguments. The search for the branches was carried out on compact sets of nonnegative, monotonically nonincreasing, convex downward functions. The resulting shape of the strip brightness distribution for the accretion disk of the quasar is in agreement with results obtained earlier via model fitting. Features in the lensing curve that could be associated with curvature of the caustic, nearness of a cusp, or the influence of nearby caustics are noted.     

Petrology and Geochemistry of Early Cretaceous Bimodal Continental Flood Volcanism of the NW Etendeka, Namibia. Part 1: Introduction, Mafic Lavas and Re-evaluation of Mantle Source Components

The bimodal NW Etendeka province is located at the continentalend of the Tristan plume trace in coastal Namibia. It comprisesa high-Ti (Khumib type) and three low-Ti basalt (Tafelberg,Kuidas and Esmeralda types) suites, with, at stratigraphicallyhigher level, interstratified high-Ti latites (three units)and quartz latites (five units), and one low-Ti quartz latite.Khumib basalts are enriched in high field strength elementsand light rare earth elements relative to low-Ti types and exhibittrace element affinities with Tristan da Cunha lavas. The unradiogenic²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios of Khumib basalts are distinctive, most plottingto the left of the 132 Ma Geochron, together with elevated ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pbratios, and Sr–Nd isotopic compositions plotting in thelower ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd part of mantle array (EM1-like). The low-Tibasalts have less coherent trace element patterns and variable,radiogenic initial Sr (     

The Influence of Geodynamic Factors on the Postsedimentary Lithogenesis of Jurassic Terrigenous Complexes of the Caucasus (Southern Dagestan)

The influence of geodynamic factors on the postsedimentary lithogenesis of terrigenous sequences during the replacement of the passive continental-margin regime to the active regime is considered with the Toarcian–Aalenian complexes of southern Dagestan as an example. It has been established that clayey rocks were lithified under conditions of subsidence lithogenesis, whereas the orogenic catagenesis of sandy rocks was related to stress initiated by the initial (amagmatic) subduction phase. The Kübler index has been used to reveal the postsedimentary zonality that is consistent with the intensity of folding and cleavage. The metagenesis zone fits the cleavage zone. The Rb–Sr and K–Ar datings of clayey rocks from the metagenesis zone yielded 180–190 Ma that can be interpreted as the timing of the maximal manifestation of postsedimentary lithogenesis.     

Beds comprising debrite sandwiched within co-genetic turbidite: origin and widespread occurrence in distal depositional environments

Co‐genetic debrite–turbidite beds occur in a variety of modern and ancient turbidite systems. Their basic character is distinctive. An ungraded muddy sandstone interval is encased within mud‐poor graded sandstone, siltstone and mudstone. The muddy sandstone interval preserves evidence of en masse deposition and is thus termed a debrite. The mud‐poor sandstone, siltstone and mudstone show features indicating progressive layer‐by‐layer deposition and are thus called a turbidite. Palaeocurrent indicators, ubiquitous stratigraphic association and the position of hemipelagic intervals demonstrate that debrite and enclosing turbidite originate in the same event. Detailed field observations are presented for co‐genetic debrite–turbidite beds in three widespread sequences of variable age: the Miocene Marnoso Arenacea Formation in the Italian Apennines; the Silurian Aberystwyth Grits in Wales; and Quaternary deposits of the Agadir Basin, offshore Morocco. Deposition of these sequences occurred in similar unchannellized basin‐plain settings. Co‐genetic debrite–turbidite beds were deposited from longitudinally segregated flow events, comprising both debris flow and forerunning turbidity current. It is most likely that the debris flow was generated by relatively shallow (few tens of centimetres) erosion of mud‐rich sea‐floor sediment. Changes in the settling behaviour of sand grains from a muddy fluid as flows decelerated may also have contributed to debrite deposition. The association with distal settings results from the ubiquitous presence of muddy deposits in such locations, which may be eroded and disaggregated to form a cohesive debris flow. Debrite intervals may be extensive (> 26 × 10 km in the Marnoso Arenacea Formation) and are not restricted to basin margins. Such long debris flow run‐out on low‐gradient sea floor (< 0·1°) may simply be due to low yield strength (? 50 Pa) of the debris–water mixture. This study emphasizes that multiple flow types, and transformations between flow types, can occur within the distal parts of submarine flow events.