Episodic granite accumulation and extraction from the mid‐crust

The processes of long‐range granitic magma transfer from mid‐ and lower crustal anatectic zones to upper crustal pluton emplacement sites remain controversial in the literature. This is partly because feeder networks that could have accommodated this large‐scale magma transport remain elusive in the field. Existing granite ascent models are based largely on numerical and theoretical studies that seek to demonstrate the viability of fracture‐controlled magma transport through dykes or self‐propagating hydrofractures. In most cases, the models present very little supporting field evidence, such as sufficiently voluminous near‐ or within‐source magma accumulations, to support their basic premises. We document large (deca‐ to hectometre‐scale), steeply dipping and largely homogeneous granite lenses in suprasolidus (~5 kbar, ~750 °C) mid‐crustal rocks in the Damara Belt in Namibia. The lenses are surrounded by and connected to shallowly dipping networks of stromatic leucogranites in the well‐layered gneisses of the deeply incised Husab Gorge. The outcrops define a four‐stage process from (i) the initial formation and growth of large, subvertical magma‐filled lenses as extension fractures developed at high angles to the subhorizontal regional extension in relatively competent wall‐rock layers. This stage is followed by (ii) the simultaneous lateral inflation and (iii) subcritical vertical growth of the lenses to a critical length that (iv) promotes fracture destabilization, buoyancy‐driven upward fracture mobilization and, consequently, vertical magma transport. These field observations are compared with existing numerical models and are used to constrain, by referring to the dimensions of the largest preserved inflated leucogranite lens, an estimate of the minimum fracture length (~100 m) and volume (~2.4 × 10⁵ m³) required to initiate buoyancy‐driven brittle fracture propagation in this particular mid‐crustal section. The critical values and field relationships compare favourably with theoretical models of magma ascent along vertical self‐propagating hydrofractures which close at their tails during propagation. This process leaves behind subtle wake‐like structures and thin leucogranite trails that mark the path of magma ascent. Reutilization of such conduits by repeated inflation and drainage is consistent with the episodic accumulation and removal of magma from the mid‐crust and is reflected in the sheeted nature of many upper crustal granitoid plutons.     

Noble gas investigations of lunar rocks 10017 and 10071

The noble gases He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe and also K and Ba were measured in the Apollo 11 igneous rocks 10017 and 10071, and in an ilmenite and two feldspar concentrates separated from rock 10071. Whole rock K/Ar ages of rocks 10017 and 10071 are (2350 ± 60) × 10⁶ yr and (2880 ± 60) × 10⁶ yr, respectively. The two feldspar concentrates of rock 10071 have distinctly higher ages: (3260 ± 60) × 10⁶ yr and (3350 ± 70) × 10⁶ yr. These ages are still 10 per cent lower than the Rb/Sr age obtained by Papanastassiouet al. (1970) and some Ar⁴⁰ diffusion loss must have occurred even in the relatively coarse-grained feldspar.The relative abundance patterns of spallation Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe are in agreement with the ratios predicted from meteoritic production rates. However, diffusion loss of spallation He³ is evident in the whole rock samples, and even more in the feldspar concentrates. The ilmenite shows little or no diffusion loss. The isotopic composition of spallation Kr and Xe is similar to the one observed in meteorites. Small, systematic differences in the spallation Kr spectra of rocks 10017 and 10071 are due to variations in the irradiation hardness (shielding). The Kr spallation spectra in the mineral concentrates are different from the whole rock spectra and also show individual variations, reflecting the differences in target element composition. The relative abundance of cosmic ray produced Xe¹³¹ differs by nearly 50 per cent in the two rocks. The other Xe isotopes show no variations of similar magnitude. The origin of the Xe¹³¹ yield variability is discussed.Kr⁸¹ was measured in all the samples investigated. The Kr⁸¹/Kr exposure ages of rocks 10017 and 10071 are (480 ± 25) × 10⁶ yr and (350 ± 15) × 10⁶ yr, respectively. Exposure ages derived from spallation Ne²¹, Ar³⁸, Kr⁸³ and Xe¹²⁶ are essentially in agreement with the Kr⁸¹/Kr ages. The age of rock 10071 might be somewhat low because of a possible recent exposure of our sample to solar flare particles.     

Premieres datations par la methode K/Ar de quelques laves cenozoiques et quaternaires de sardaigne nord-occidentale

The K/Ar datings made on recent lavas of northwest Sardinia (Logudoro and Bosano districts) show that the calc-alkaline volcanism lasted about 11 m.y. It began at the Oligocene—Miocene limit and ended in the Middle Miocene.A Plio—Quaternary alkaline volcanic cycle followed the Middle Miocene sea transgression. These geochronological measurements complement a recent paleomagnetic study made on these Sardinian lavas.These data enable us to show that the northwest Sardinian volcanism is subsequent to the island drift. Thus, this movement would have ended in the Late Oligocene at the latest.

Résumé

Les datations K/Ar réalisées sur les laves récentes de Sardaigne nord-occidentale (régions du Logudoro et du Bosano) montrent que le volcanisme calco-alcalin a couvert une période de 11 M.A. environ; il a débuté à la limite Oligocène—Miocène pour s'achever au Miocène moyen. Un cycle volcanique alcalin d'âge plio—quaternaire a succédé à la transgression marine du Miocène moyen. Ces mesures géochronologiques complètent une étude paléomagnétique récente effectuée sur ces laves sardes. Ces données permettent de montrer que le volcanisme de la Sardaigne nord-occidentale est postérieur à la dérive de l'ile; ce mouvement aurait donc pris fin, au plus tard, à l'Oligocène supérieur.     

Dust formation and evolution in a Ca–Fe–SiO–H2–O2 vapour phase condensation experiment and astronomical implications

Here, we report on a kinetically controlled vapour phase condensation experiment using a low-calcium Ca–Fe–SiO–H₂–O₂ vapour. Under these conditions of extreme disequilibrium, the condensate properties become predictable. They are amorphous solids with (predictable) deep metastable eutectic compositions. This study also shows how chemical evolution of the condensate grains will lead to chemically complex amorphous solids. The highly disordered structure of the deep metastable eutectic condensates is the very key to this predictable chemical evolution to grains with a silicate mineral composition, yet being amorphous. We compare our results with astronomical observations of dust around young stellar objects.     

Variable stars in the field of open cluster NGC 6819

We report on the discovery of 25 variable stars plus 13 suspected variables found in the field of the open cluster NGC 6819. The stars were identified from time-series photometric data obtained on the Isaac Newton Telescope, La Palma, during two observing runs covering the 19 nights between 1999 June  22–30  and 1999 July  22–31  . The variables found include 12 eclipsing binaries with an additional three suspected, nine BY Draconis systems, plus four variables of other types, including one star believed to be a Cepheid. Three of the 15 eclipsing binaries are believed to be cluster members. Details of a further 10 suspected variable stars are also included.     

On the models of core-helium-burning stars

Summary Some aspects concerning the core-mass increase and the appearance and development of an intermediate semiconvective zone in helium-burning stars are discussed. An iterative method of computation of core increase and semiconvection is also presented. Details of this procedure are given with regard to the horizontal-branch stars of globular clusters.

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Riassunto Sono presi in esame alcuni aspetti relativi all'aumento in massa del nucleo ed alla comparsa e sviluppo di una zona semiconvettiva intermedia in modelli di stelle con combustione centrale dell'elio. E'inoltre schematizzato il metodo iterativo di calcolo con particolare riferimento alle stelle di ramo orizzontale degli ammassi globulari.

     

New type of extragalactic objects?

We have reported the discovery of a population of the normal extragalactic field galaxies with the clear presence of strong FHIL (forbidden high by ionized lines) and HeII 4686 emission. In this paper we present a dozen of them extracted from the SDSS dr7. The high resolution spectra 0.86 ? /px obtained with the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical observatory of Russia are introduced for one of them, SDSS J093801.63 + 135317.0 confirming the presence of strong and wide FHIL and HeII 4686 emission. These objects show typical narrow (FWHM ~ 120 - 250 km s^-1) emission lines both of HI and forbidden emission lines of [NII] 6548/84, [SII] 6717/31, [OI] 6300, [OII] 3727, and [OIII] 5007/4959 with underlying stellar absorption lines, coupled with the strong FHIL emission of [FeVII] 5721, 6087, [FeX] 6375, [FeXI] 7892, [FeXIV] 5303, and HeII 4686, sometimes very broad up to 1500 km s^-1. Following the direct images, all morphological types are introduced, spherical, elliptical, spiral, barred spiral, etc., without morphological or other peculiarity and any signs of "standard" AGN activity. None of them are X-ray source. The appearance of the FHIL emission in normal galaxies (the objects of SBN/HII/ELG spectral types) might be one of the important sign of the beginning of the AGN activity. The existence of the numerous normal extragalactic objects with FHIL and HeII 4686 emission tell us that the link between the AGNs and the normal galaxies perhaps might be realized with the FHIL flare in normal galaxies. For all of them, the existence of the nonthermal source in normal galaxies should be proposed.     

UV transit observations of EUV-heated expanded thermospheres of Earth-like exoplanets around M-stars: testing atmosphere evolution scenarios

The detection and investigation of EUV heated, extended and non-hydrostatic upper atmospheres around terrestrial exoplanets would provide important insights into the interaction of the host stars plasma environment as well as the evolution of Earth-type planets their atmospheres and possible magnetic environments. We discuss different scenarios where one can expect that Earth-like planets should experience non-hydrostatic upper atmosphere conditions so that dynamically outward flowing neutral atoms can interact with the stellar plasma flow so that huge hydrogen coronae and energetic neutral atoms (ENA) can be produced via charge exchange. By observing the size of the extended upper atmospheres and related ENA-clouds and by determining the velocities of the surrounding hydrogen atoms, conclusions can be drawn in respect to the origin of these features. Due to the large number of M-type stars in our neighbourhood and their long periods of strong and moderate stellar activity in comparison to G-stars, we expect that M-type stars represent the most promising candidates for the detection of hydrogen ENA-clouds and the subsequent study of the interaction between the host star and the planets?? upper atmosphere. We show that the low mass of M-type stars also makes them preferable targets to observe extended hydrogen clouds around terrestrial exoplanets with a mass as low as one Earth mass. Transit follow-up observations in the UV-range of terrestrial exoplanets around M-type stars with space observatories such as the World Space Observatory-UV (WSO-UV) would provide a unique opportunity to shed more light on the early evolution of Earth-like planets, including those of our own Solar System.