Geochemical behavior of rare earth elements in hydrothermally altered rocks of the Kuroko mining area,Japan

In this study we analyzed the chemical composition of hydrothermally altered dacite and basalt from the Kuroko mining area, northeastern Honshu, Japan, by REE (rare earth element). Features of rare earth element analyses include: (1) altered footwall dacite exhibits a negative Eu anomaly compared with fresh dacite, suggesting preferential removal of Eu²⁺ from the altered dacite via hydrothermal solutions, (2) altered hangingwall dacite and basalt and dacite and basalt adjacent to ore deposits exhibit positive Eu anomalies compared with fresh dacite and basalt, suggesting addition of Eu²⁺ from hydrothermal solutions, (3) LREE ratio (∑LREE/∑REE) from altered dacite of chlorite–sericite zone and K-feldspar zone show a negative relationship with δ¹⁸O, and La/Sm ratios show a positive correlation with the K₂O index. These trends indicate the addition of light rare earth elements such as La to the altered dacite from hydrothermal solution and/or leaching of heavy rare earth elements such as Sm and Yb, (4) Principal component analysis (PCA) indicates that light rare earth elements enrichment is related to the formation of sericite zone near the Kuroko deposits but not to the formations of chlorite and K-feldspar zones, and (5) The correlations among REE features (LREE ratio, MREE ratio, HREE ratio, Eu/Eu?), δ¹⁸O and K₂O index are not found for montmorillonite zone, mixed layer clay mineral zone and mordenite zone. Therefore, it is inferred that sericite, chlorite and K-feldspar alterations are related to the Kuroko and vein-type mineralization, but montmorillonite and mordenite alterations are not related to the mineralizations, and probably they formed at the post-mineralization stage.     

Interannual variability of the Kuroshio Extension and its relation to the Southern Oscillation/El Niño

The interannual variability of the temperature structure of the Kuroshio Extension is studied by establishing time series for the period 1950 to 1970 and then comparing it with the time series of sea level differences across the North Equatorial Current obtained by Wyrtki (1975). First, the present analysis shows a significant correlation between the interannual fluctuation of the Kuroshio Extension and the eddy activity south of the Kuroshio axis, suggesting the importance of the eddy-driven mechanism. Secondly, spectral analysis shows close connections between the Kuroshio Extension and the North Equatorial Current with a reasonable time lag of about 1.5 years. This time lag of the mid-latitude variability is also supported by other independent data. In particular, the present preliminary study strongly suggests that the bimodal behavior of the Kuroshio path south of Japan and the intensity of the Kuroshio Countercurrent are closely connected with the Southern Oscillation/El Niño.     

Local balance in the air-sea boundary processes

A new growth equation for wind waves of simple spectrum is presented upon three basic concepts. The period and the wave height of significant waves in dimensionless forms, which are considered to correspond to the peak frequency and the energy level, respectively, are used as representative quantities of wind waves. One of the three basic concepts is the concept of local balance, and the other two concern the acquisition of wave energy and the dissipation of wave energy, respectively. It is shown from some actual data that the equation, together with two universal constants concerning the acquisition and the dissipation of wave energy (B=6.2×10^?2 andK=2.16×10^?5, respectively), is applied universally to wide ranges of wind waves from those in a wind-wave tunnel to fully developed sea in the open ocean. “The three-second power law for wind waves of simple spectrum”, and a few relations as the lemmas, are derived, such that the mean surface transport due to the orbital motion of wind waves is always proportional to the friction velocity in wind, and that the steepness is inversely proportional to the root of the wave age. It is also derived that the portion of wind stress which directly enters the wind waves decreases exponentially with increasing wave age and is 7.5 % of the total wind stress for very young waves. Also, equations are presented as to the increase of momentum of drift current, and as to the supply of turbulent energy by wind waves into the upper ocean.     

A Spectral Approach for Determining Altimeter Wind Speed Model Functions

We propose a new analytical algorithm for the estimation of wind speeds from altimeter data using the mean square slope of the ocean surface, which is obtained by integration of a widely accepted wind-wave spectrum including the gravity-capillary wave range. It indicates that the normalized radar cross section depends not only on the wind speed but also on the wave age. The wave state effect on the altimeter radar return becomes remarkable with increasing wind speed and cannot be neglected at high wind speeds. A relationship between wave age and nondimensional wave height based on buoy observational data is applied to compute the wave age using the significant wave height of ocean waves, which could be simultaneously obtained from altimeter data. Comparison with actual data shows that this new algorithm produces more reliable wind speeds than do empirical algorithms. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Scutum ring ofHii regions

A ring of compact radio continuum sources was found atl=24°.6b=0°.0, which we call the Scutum ring. Radio continuum,Hi line, and CO line observations are suggested that it is a star-forming region triggered by an expanding diffuseHii region.Paper presented at the IAU Third Asian-Pacific Regional Meeting, held in Kyoto, Japan, between 30 September–6 October, 1984.NRO, a branch of the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory, University of Tokyo, is a cosmic radio observing facility open for outside users.     

Pan-African Alkali Granitoids from the Sør Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica

Alkali granitoids (500-550 Ma) representing a prominent Pan-African magmatic event are widely distributed in the Sør Rondane Mountains, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica. Geochemically, they are granitic to syenitic in composition and show an alkaline affinity of A-type granites. They are characterized by high K₂O+Na₂O (7-13 wt%) and K₂O/Na₂O (1-2), low to intermediate Mg#, wide ranges of SiO₂ (45-78 wt%), Sr (20-6500 ppm) and Ba (40-13000 ppm) and have Nb and Ti depletion in the primitive mantle normalized diagram. The granitoids are subdivided into Group I granites, Group II granites, Lunckeryggen Syenitic Complex and Mefjell Plutonic Complex. The Group I granites have higher Mg#, Sr/Ba, Sr/Y, (La/Yb)_N and LREE/HREE, lower A/CNK, SREE and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁷Sr ratios and lack Eu anomalies compared to those with negative Eu anomalies in the Group II granites. The syenitic rocks from the Mefjell Plutonic Complex are higher in alkali, Ga, Zr, Ba, and have lower Mg#, Rb, Sr, Nb, Y, F and LREE/HREE with positive Eu anomaly, whereas the granites from the Mefjell Plutonic Complex have high LREE/HREE ratios with negative Eu anomaly. The Lunckeryggen syenitic rocks have intermediate Mg#, higher K₂O, P₂O₅, TiO₂, Fe₂O₃/FeO, Ba, Sr/Y and LREE/HREE ratios with lack of Eu anomalies and are lower in Al₂O₃, Ga, Y, Nb and Rb/Sr ratios. Based on chemical characteristics combined with isotopic data, we suggest that the Lunckeryggen syenitic body and Group I granitic bodies may be derived from the mantle-derived hot basic magma by fractional crystallization with minor assimilation. We also suggest that the Group II granites may be derived from assimilation with crustal rocks to varing degrees and then fractional crystallization in higher crustal levels (ACF model). The Mefjell Plutonic Complex seems to be derived from a heterogenetic magma source compared with other granitoids from the Sør Rondane Mountains. The syenitic rocks in the Mefjell Plutonic complex have a unique source (iron-enriched) and have a chemical affinity with the charnockites in Gjelsvikjella and western Mühlig-Hofmannfjella, but not like the Yamato syenites in adjacent areas.     

Duality of turbulence and wave in wind waves

The three-seconds power law for wind waves of simple spectra, already derived byToba (1972 and 1973), may also be derived by introducing surface-wave properties into the form of the rate of energy dissipation in the theory of turbulence. The universal constantB, which was formerly determined empirically as 0.062 is here obtained asB=(2)^–3/2=0.0635. Thus wind waves have the duality of turbulence and wave.     

A new expression for the production rate of sea water droplets on the sea surface

A new set of empirical formulas for the production rate and the number concentration of sea-water droplets on the sea surface are proposed, synthesizing past observation data of sea-salt particles in the sea and water droplets in wind-wave tanks. A new levelz _c is introduced as the effective wind-sea surface where seawater droplets are produced. The new formulas are expressed in linear functions in logarithmic scales ofu*²/v _p , a parameter to describe overall conditions of airsea boundary processes, whereu _* is the friction velocity of air,v the kinematic viscosity of air and _p the peak angular frequency of wind-wave part of wave spectra. A model of coexistence of spray droplets and suspended particles near the sea surface is proposed. As for the independent parameter, a comparison between the uses ofu*²/v _p and ofu _* ³ which was the traditional way of parameterization excluding wave measure, shows that the advantage of usingu*²/v _p is statistically significant with a confidence limit 89% in F-test.     

Experimental study on strong interaction between regular waves and wind waves—I

The interaction between mechanically generated regular waves and wind waves is experimentally investigated in a wind-wave tunnel. It is shown that the growth process of regular waves is divided into the four distinct stages as follows: (1) almost independent coexistence of wind waves and regular waves, (2) attenuation of wind waves with simultaneous growth of regular waves, (3) rapid growth of regular waves after disappearance of wind waves, and (4) transition of regular waves to wind waves after the wave breaking. At the second stage there is an apparent relation between the attenuation of wind waves and the growth of regular waves. This fact suggests that there is some strong nonlinear interactions which transfers energy effectively from wind waves to regular waves.