Experimental insights into the formation of high-Mg basaltic andesites in the trans-Mexican volcanic belt

High-Mg basaltic andesites and andesites occur in the central trans-Mexican volcanic belt, and their primitive geochemical characteristics suggest equilibration with mantle peridotite. These lavas may represent slab melts that reequilibrated with overlying peridotite or hydrous partial melts of a peridotite source. Here, we experimentally map the liquidus mineralogy for a high-Mg basaltic andesite (9.6 wt% MgO, 54.4 wt% SiO₂, Mg# = 75.3) as a function of temperature and H₂O content over a range of mantle wedge pressures. Our results permit equilibration of this composition with a harzburgite residue at relatively high water contents (>7 wt%) and low temperatures (1,080–1,150°C) at 11–14 kbar. However, in contrast to the high Ni contents characteristic of olivine phenocrysts in many such samples from central Mexico, those of olivine phenocrysts in our sample are more typical of mantle melts that have fractionated a small amount of olivine. To account for this and the possibility that the refractory mantle source may have had olivine more Fo-rich than Fo₉₀, we numerically evaluated alternative equilibration conditions, using our starting bulk composition adjusted to be in equilibrium with Fo₉₂ olivine. This shifts equilibration conditions to higher temperatures (1,180–1,250°C) at mantle wedge pressures (11–15 kbar) for H₂O contents (>3 wt%) comparable to those analyzed in olivine-hosted melt inclusions from this region. Comparison with geodynamic models shows that final equilibration occurred shallower than the peak temperature of the mantle wedge, suggesting that basaltic melts from the hottest part of the wedge reequilibrated with shallower mantle as they approached the Moho.     

The International GLONASS Service – Pilot Project

The International GLONASS Service – Pilot Project (IGLOS-PP), a project of the International GPS Service, was launched in order to underscore the importance and benefits of integrating data from multiple systmes and techniques within IGS products. At first this article summarizes the contributing organizations and the available infrastructure. Later on the GLONASS related modeling techniques at the involved IGS Analysis Centers are described and we conclude with some remarks concerning the advantages for the expected user commmunity. ? 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Enregistrement de la dernière remontée du niveau marin dans l'architecture interne d'une vallée incisée : le pertuis Breton (Charente-Maritime)

Recent very high-resolution seismic profiles ground-truthed by vibrocores allow us to evidence an atypical incised valley fill in a drowned valley segment, the ‘Pertuis Breton’ (Bay of Biscay, France). The sedimentary valley-fill architecture mainly includes five superimposed progradational wedges composed by marine sands. Sandbodies show a landward migration of their depocentres upward and are topped by almost flat unconformities extended by submarine terraces. This sedimentary infill pattern is similar to backstepping wedges, described on continental shelfs. It suggests that this valley fill records sea-level rise during the last transgression. To cite this article: N. Weber et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

A new combined European permanent network station coordinates solution

The EUREF [International Association of Geodesy (IAG) Reference Frame Sub-Commission for Europe] network of continuously operating GPS stations (EPN) was primarily established for reference frame maintenance, and also plays an important role for geodynamical research in Europe. The main objective of this paper is to obtain an independent homogeneous time series of the EPN station coordinates, which is also available in SINEX format. A new combined solution of the EPN station coordinates was computed. The combination was performed independently for every week, in three steps: (1) the stated constraints on the coordinates were removed from the individual solutions of the Analysis Centers; (2) the de-constrained solutions were aligned to ITRF2000; (3) the resulting solutions were combined using the Helmert blocking technique. All the data from GPS weeks 900 to 1302 (April 1997–December 2004) were used. We investigated in detail the behavior of the transformation parameters aligning the new combined solution to ITRF2000. In general, the time series of the transformation parameters show a good stability in time although small systematic effects can be seen, most likely caused by station instabilities. A comparison of the new combined solution to the official EUREF weekly combined solution is also presented.     

Resettlement experiences and alternatives in Thailand

Problems concerning the resettlement of those made homeless by the construction of dams to create reservoirs in Thailand are considered. The authors attempt "firstly, to examine the rationale for spontaneous and planned resettlement in Thailand. Secondly, the determinants of the success or failure of resettlers are explored with reference to selected planned resettlement projects. Finally, resettlement alternatives for prospective reservoir evacuees are proposed."     

Atmosphere and ocean dynamics: contributors to the European Little Ice Age?

The role of a reduction in the Atlantic meridional overturning and that of a persistently negative North Atlantic Oscillation in explaining the coldness of the European Little Ice Age (LIA) has been assessed in two sets of numerical experiments. These experiments are performed using an intermediate complexity climate model and a full complexity GCM. The reduction in the Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC) of ca. 25% is triggered by a conventional fresh-water hosing set-up. A persistently negative NAO winter circulation, at NAO-index value ?0.5, is imposed using recently developed data-assimilation techniques applicable on paleoclimatic timescales. The hosing experiments lead to a reduction in oceanic meridional heat transport and cooler sea-surface temperatures. Next to a direct cooling effect on European climate, the change in ocean surface temperatures feedback on the atmospheric circulation modifying European climate significantly. The data-assimilation experiments showed a reduction of winter temperatures over parts of Europe, but there is little persistence into the summer season. The output of all model experiments are compared to reconstructions of winter and summer temperature based on the available temperature data for the LIA period. This demonstrates that the hypothesis of a persistently negative NAO as an explanation for the European LIA does not hold. The hosing experiments do not clearly support the hypothesis that a reduction in the MOC is the primary driver of LIA climate change. However, a reduction in the Atlantic overturning might have been a cause of the European LIA climate, depending on whether there is a strong enough feedback on the atmospheric circulation.     

U-Pb zircon age and Nd isotopic composition of granitoids,charnockites and supracrustal rocks from Heimefrontfjella,Antarctica

Heimefrontfjella and Mannefallknausane, in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, comprise an amphibolite-facies terrain and a granulite terrain, separated by a major mylonite zone. The amphibolite terrain is made up of mafic to felsic metavolcanics and metasediments, intruded by granitoid plutons: the granulite terrain has supracrustal rocks with similar lithologies, intruded by felsic plutonic rocks that crystallized as charnockites.U-Pb zircon ages (conventional and ion microprobe) demonstrate that magmatic activity was confined to a relatively short interval between 1130 and 1045 Ma and was followed in the amphibolite terrain by metamorphism around 1060 Ma. Specific ages are as follows: metarhyolite in the amphibolite terrain, 1093 ± 38 Ma; granitoids in the amphibolite terrain, 1045 ± 9 Ma to 1107 ± 16 Ma, charnockites in the granulite terrain, 1073 ± 8 Ma to 1135 ± 8 Ma, metamorphic zircons in garnet amphibolite and a post-metamorphic pegmatite, both 1060 ± 8 Ma. Older zircons were found only in a metasediment which yielded discordant zircon fractions with²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages between 1250 and 1450 Ma, and in a granulite facies metaquartzite, which contained concordant zircons with the following ages: 1104 ± 5 Ma, 1215 ± 15 Ma, 1400 Ma, 1700 Ma, 2000 Ma. The youngest age is interpreted as the age of granulite metamorphism, the older ages as those of detrital zircons.A Sm-Nd mineral isochron age of the garnet amphibolite (960 ± 120 Ma) agrees within error with the U-Pb age of metamorphic zircons (1060 ± 8 Ma). Initial _Nd values (T = 1.1 Ga) for 15 samples range from +4 to–4. The highest came from a metabasalt and two granitoids from Milorgfjella, the northern area; the lowest from the granulite-facies metasediment and from a charnockite, both from Vardeklettane, a nunatak in the south. The positive but subdued values preclude generation directly from depleted MORB-type mantle _Nd + 6 to + 7 at 1.1 Ga) and indicate generation from a source containing older crustal material.

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Zusammenfassung Die Gebiete um Heimefrontfjella und Mannefallknausane in Dronning Maud Land, Antarktis, bestehen aus amphibolith- und granulitfaziellen Grundgebirgskomplexen, die durch eine große Mylonitzone voneinander getrennt sind. Der amphibolithfazielle Komplex besteht aus mafisch bis felsischen Metavulkaniten und Metasedimenten, die von Granitplutonen intrudiert werden. Der Granulitkomplex enthält Suprakrustalgesteine ähnlicher Art, die von Charnockiten intrudiert werden.U-Pb-Alter, die mit der konventionellen Multikorn-Methode und an der Ionen-Mikrosonde an Einzelkörner bestimmt wurden, engen die magmatische Aktivität zwischen 1130 und 1045 Ma ein. Auf diese Periode folgte in dem amphibolithfaziellen Gebiet eine Regionalmetamorphose um 1060 Ma. Die Einzelalter sind wie folgt: in dem amphibolithfaziellen Komplex ergab ein Metarhyolith 1039 ± 38 Ma, während die Granitoide zwischen 1045 ± 9 Ma und 1107 ± 16 Ma variieren. In dem Granulitkomplex wurden die Charnockite auf 1073 ± 8 Ma bis 1135 ± 8 Ma datiert, während metamorphe Zirkone aus einem Granatamphibolith sowie aus einem posttektonischen Pegmatit identische Alter von 1060 ± 8 Ma ergaben. Ältere Komponenten wurden lediglich in einer Metasediment-Probe gefunden, die diskordante Zirkone mit²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb Altern zwischen ca. 1250 und 1450 Ma enthielt, sowie in einem granulitfaziellen Metaquarzit, in dem konkordante Zirkone die folgenden Alter ergaben: 1104 ± 5 Ma, 1215 ± 15 Ma, 1400 Ma, 1700 Ma, 2000 Ma. Das jüngste Zirkonalter aus dem Metaquarzit interpretieren wir als Zeitpunkt der Granulitmetamorphose, während die höheren Alter detritische Komponenten repräsentieren.Eine Sm-Nd Mineralisochrone für einen Granatamphibolith hat ein Alter von 960 ± 120 Ma, das innerhalb der experimentellen Fehler mit einem U-Pb-Alter von 1060 ± 8 Ma für metamorphe Zirkone übereinstimmt. Initiale _Nd-Werte (T = l.1 Ga) für 15 Proben variieren zwischen +4 und -4. Die höchsten Werte wurden für einen Metabasalt und zwei Granitoide von Milorgfjella im nördlichen Arbeitsgebiet bestimmt. Die niedrigsten Werte stammen aus dem granulitfaziellen Metaquarzit und von einem Charnockit, beide aus Vardeklettane, einem Nunatak im Süden. Die leicht positiven Werte lassen eine juvenile Bildung der Wirtsgesteine aus einem MORB-ähnlichen Mantel (_Nd + 6 bis + 7 um 1.1 Ga) nicht zu und deuten ein Ausgangsmaterial mit Komponenten älterer kontinentaler Kruste an.

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Résumé Les régions de Heimefrontfjella et Mannefallknausane situées dans le Dronning Maud Land en Antartique sont formées par deux zones principales à degrés métamorphiques différents: une à faciès amphibolitique et une autre à faciès granulitiques, séparées par une zone mylonitique. Des roches métavolcaniques à composition variant de basique à felsique ainsi que des roches d'origine sédimentaire composent la zone amphibolitique. Elles sont recoupées par des plutons granitiques. La zone granulitique est formée également par des roches d'origine volcanique et sedimentaire qui sont, elles, recoupées par des charnockites.Les mesures d'U-Pb sur zircons (utilisant la méthode conventionnelle et la microsonde ionique) montrent que l'activité magmatique s'est confinée à une période relativement courte entre 1130 Ma et 1045 Ma. Elle a été suivie par un métamorphisme, il y a 1060 Ma, dans la zone amphibolitique. De façon plus détaillée, les âges sont les suivants: dans la zone amphibolitique, rhyolite datée à 1093 ± 38 Ma, granitoïdes datés à 1045 ± 9 Ma et 1107 ± 16 Ma; dans la zone granulitique, charnockites datées entre 1073 ± 8 Ma et 1135 ± 8 Ma, zircons métamorphiques provenant d'une amphibolite à grenat datés à 1060 ± 8 Ma et pegmatite postmétamorphique datée à 1060 ± 8 Ma. Deux roches ont fourni des zircons donnant des âges plus anciens: un sédiment métamorphisé et un metaquartzite. Les âges²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb obtenus pour les fractions discordantes des zircons du metasediment varient entre 1250 et 1450 Ma alors que le metaquartzite contient des zircons concordants avec les âges suivants: 1104±5 Ma, 1215±15Ma, 1400 Ma, 1700 Ma et 2000 Ma. L'âge le plus jeune obtenu pour le métaquartzite est interprété comme représentant l'âge du métamorphisme granulitique alors que les âges plus anciens représentent les âges de zircons détritiques.Une isochrone Sm-Nd sur minéraux a été obtenue sur une amphibolite à grenat. Elle définit un âge de 960 ± 120 Ma qui correspond, aux erreurs près, à l'âge U-Pb des zircons métamorphiques (1060 ± 8 Ma). Les _Ndinitiaux (T = 1,l Ga) obtenus pour 15 échantillons varient entre +4 et –4. Les valeurs les plus élevées ont été obtenues pour un basalte et deux granitoïdes de Milorgfjella situés dans la partie nord; les valeur _Nd les plus faibles proviennent du métasédiment dans la zone granulitique et d'une charnockite. Ces deux échantillons se situent dans le nunatak Vardeklettane dans le Sud. Les _Nd étant positifs mais toutefois plus faibles que la valeur du manteau appauvri à cette période (entre +6 et +7 à 1,1 Ma), une extraction directe du manteau ne peut être retenue et nous suggérons que la région source contenait du matériau crustal plus ancien.

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Heimfreontfjella Mannefallknausane Dronning Maud, , , . , . , ., , 1130 1045 Ma. 1060 . : — 1093±38 Ma, 1045±9 Ma 1107±16 Ma. 1073±8 Ma 1135±8 Ma, - 1060±8 Ma. , , 1250 1450 Ma. : 1104±5 Ma, 1215±15 Ma, 1400 Ma, 1700 Ma 2000 Ma. , , , . Sm-Nd, -, 960±120 Ma, , - 1060±8 Ma. Nd (T=1,1 ) 15 + 4 — 4. Milogrfjella . , Vardeklettane . , MORB (Nd + 6 + 7, 1,1 ); .

     

Characterization of Asian Dust during ACE-Asia

ACE-Asia was a multi-national collaboration organized to investigate and understand the chemistry, radiative properties, and climatic effects of mineral dust and other aerosol particles in the East Asia/Northwest Pacific region. Studies conducted at the Gosan and Zhenbeitai surface supersites show striking variations in aerosol concentrations and properties that were affected by the occurrence and origins of the Asian dust storms, air mass pathways, and mixing during the transport. Investigations conducted on the R/V Ronald H. Brown (RHB) showed that dust had a pervasive influence on the chemical composition, size distribution, and optical properties of the aerosol. Analyses using an aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer on the RHB showed that most of the coarse-particle nitrate and sulfate in post-frontal air was associated with dust, and more remarkably, that competitive or exclusionary processes evidently are involved in the uptake or production of these substances. Studies conducted onboard the NCAR C-130 aircraft showed that coarse-mode dust was less absorbing and less hygroscopic than pollution aerosol and that there was little correlation in light scattering and absorption by the sub- vs. super-micrometer aerosol. Below 2 km, dust was commonly mixed with pollutants, and this had a stronger influence on the optical properties of the submicrometer particles than the coarse-mode dust; at higher altitudes, the dust was less affected by pollution. Single particle analyses of C-130 samples showed that the mixing of black carbon (BC) with dust was common, but only certain types of BC particles were aggregated. Models were used in the planning, execution and interpretative phases of ACE-Asia; and summaries of modeling results are presented to illustrate the progress being made in identifying new dust sources; in depicting the time-varying, three-dimensional structure of dust plumes; and in quantifying the production, transport, and deposition of Asian dust.