Clinoeulite (magnesian clinoferrosilite) in a eulysite of a metamorphosed iron formation in the vredefort structure,South Africa

A unique clinopyroxene (En₁₉Fs₇₈Wo₃), clinoeulite, space group P2₁/c, $${\text{(Fe}}_{{\text{1}}{\text{.48}}} {\text{Mg}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.37}}} {\text{Mn}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.08}}}^{{\text{2 + }}} {\text{Ca}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.05}}} {\text{Al}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.01}}} {\text{)}}_{{\text{1}}{\text{.99}}} {\text{ [Si}}_{{\text{2}}{\text{.01}}} {\text{O6],}}$$ contains sharp exsolution lamellae of ferroaugite (En₁₇Fs₄₃Wo₄₀) from which the former presence of a ferropigeonite near En₁₇Fs₇₀Wo₁₃ can be calculated. This two-pyroxene intergrowth is the main component of a eulysite containing also magnetite, olivine (Fo₉Fa₈₆Te₅), quartz, oligoclase-K feldspar inter-growth, and retrograde cummingtonite with about 76 % grunerite end member. The occurrence of this most unusual rock type in the center of the Vredefort structure is attributed to a period of high-temperature metamorphism (at least 800 °–850 °C) which was followed by hot deformation of the rock during the Vredefort event thus probably preventing the common formation of orthopyroxene through pigeonite exsolution and inversion upon cooling. After this tectonic deformation, the rock recrystallized within the low-temperature stability range of clinoeulite to yield fine annealing textures. Late-stage equilibria at temperatures well below 500 °C include the complete unmixing of a former high-temperature anorthoclase, a Mg/Fe redistribution in the clinoeulite and olivine and, with the introduction of water, the partial formation of cummingtonite through reaction of clinoeulite, olivine, and quartz. During weathering the olivine was transformed to a nearly opaque, anhydrous ferrisilicate which, except for the change of Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺ and the oxygen introduction, largely retained its original chemistry.     

Numerical integration of a quasi-geostrophic atmospheric model with an asymmetric zonal current

Summary A two-level quasi-geostrophic model on a -plane, with an initial state characterized by an asymmetric zonal current was integrated numerically for a period of 14 days. Various field variables were computed and compared with the corresponding distributions obtained in two experiments with the same model and with initial states characterized by a constant zonal flow and by a flow varying sinusoidally with latitude.The research in this report has been sponsored wholly by the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories under Grant AF EOAR 63-108 through the European Office of Aerospace Research (OAR), US Air Force.     

Apatite nodules as an indicator of depositional environment and ore genesis for the Mesoproterozoic Broken Hill-type Gamsberg Zn–Pb deposit,Namaqua Province,South Africa

Nodules consisting of fluorapatite are concentrated as a discrete band in the polymetallic sulfide ore of the Gamsberg deposit in central Bushmanland, South Africa. Their shape, zonal features, and geochemistry, in particular rare earth element (REE) abundances, are similar to authigenic francolite concretions that precipitate during diagenesis in organic-rich muds. As a result, the apatite nodules are regarded as primary. The nodules have a strong lithostratigraphic control, occurring at the transition of siliciclastic-hosted pyrite–sphalerite–graphite mineralization to calc-silicate-hosted pyrrhotite–sphalerite mineralization. Mineralogical and chemical evidence indicates that this transition also corresponds to a paleo-redox boundary that separates sediments deposited under oxygen-deficient conditions from those that developed in a more oxygenated environment. The apatite nodules can morphologically and chemically clearly be distinguished from coarse apatite grains that occur in oxide-facies iron formations stratigraphically above the ore horizon. However, similar REE profiles and in particular positive Eu anomalies in both types of apatite are indicative of a close genetic relationship between the two units and favor a common hydrothermal origin of the P. The contrasting morphologies and chemical signatures of the two occurrences can rather be attributed to differences in behavior of the phosphates during precipitation within the contrasting host sediments (chemical versus fine-grained clastic). Taking modern phosphorites as an analogue, these results are used to postulate a genetic model for the deposition of the sulfide ore and associated iron formations. The model envisages differentiation of the depositional basin into oxygen-deficient basin facies hosting the sulfide ore and oxygenated shelf facies, which are composed of manganiferous iron formations. The intimate association of sedimentary apatite with base metal sulfides indicates that basin conditions were conducive to the precipitation of both phases. This relationship might act as a potential exploration guide in similar basins elsewhere.Editorial handling: E. Frimmel     

Effects of the Jessica oil spill on artisanal fisheries in the Galápagos

In contrast to local perceptions, the impact on the local Galápagos artisanal fishery of the 16 January 2001 grounding of the Jessica and subsequent oil spill was relatively minor. No significant changes in fishing effort, total fishing catches or catch-per-unit effort were detected after the spill based on analyses of fisheries monitoring data. Nevertheless, large boats tended to move away from sites near the path of the spill following the grounding in 2001, with no fishing recorded from the oil-affected regions of Floreana and southern Isabela in February 2001. The total fishing effort of small boats operating from the Jessica-grounding island of San Cristóbal also declined immediately after the spill, probably in part because such boats were used in clean up operations. During 2001, prices paid to fishers remained stable at levels higher than in 2000, with the notable anomaly that prices fell precipitously to 30% of previous levels during a 1-2 week period in early February 2001. Fish exports remained at similar levels for the years 2000 and 2001; however, as in the previous year, little fish product was exported from Galápagos in the month following the spill, with most fish product dried and stored for up to two months prior to transport to the continent.     

Six years of dew observations in the Negev Desert, Israel

Dew measurements taken at the desert site of Sede Boker for nearly 6 years are analysed. The instrument used is a Hiltner-type dew balance. Several parameters describing various aspects of dew formation are discussed. The total monthly amount of dew and the distribution of the number of dew nights per month shows two maxima (in September and in December–January) and two minima (in April and November). The average dew deposit per dew night behaves differently: the most striking feature of this quantity is the appearance of distinct summer and winter regimes, with the winter having more dew per dew night. With respect to the total monthly dew hours, the year appears to be divided in half: first, the 6 months from August to January, with an average of 145 h per month, and second, the 6 months from February to June, with 80 h per month. The average duration of dew per dew night appears to follow very closely the length of the night: there is a clear maximum of dew duration in December (9·7 h) and a clear minimum in July (5·5 h). Finally, the rate of dew accumulation is found to have a distinct dry season regime and a winter, rainy season regime.     

A miscibility gap in trioctahedral Mn-Mg-Fe chlorites: Evidence from the Lienne Valley manganese deposit,Ardennes, Belgium

Low-temperature veinlets crosscutting low-grade manganiferous ironstones of Ordovician age contain four texturally distinct types of chlorites with nearly constant Al/Si-ratios that form two separate populations regarding their Mn/Mg/Fe-ratios: One with low iron contents (<1.5 w.% FeO) and molar Mg/Mn-ratios just below unity (magnesian pennantites), the other with higher iron (7–11 w.% FeO) and Mg/Mn?4 (manganoan clinochlores). The two populations, which can be distinguished readily by their characteristic optical elongation and dispersion colors, are intimately intergrown and have formed partly during consecutive stages of a chlorite crystallization sequence, partly by simultaneous growth and possibly even as exsolution products of a pre-existing homogeneous chlorite phase of intermediate composition. These findings indicate a miscibility gap in the chlorite solid solutions beginning along the binary Mg-Mn series and extending into the ternary system. There may be a solvus relationship with the miscibility gap closing at higher temperatures (400° C?). One very intensely colored chlorite type of the pennantite population may contain Fe³⁺ or Mn³⁺ or both. Additional minerals in the veinlets are spessartine, kutnahorite, quartz, and an allanite-piemontite phase. Crystallization began near the centers of the present veins with Mn-rich minerals and continued towards their edges and into the extremely thin ends of the developing fractures with the deposition of the more Fe-rich chlorites that are in equilibrium with the ironstone.