Microstructural changes accompanying the opal-A to opal-CT transition: new evidence from the siliceous sinters of Geysir, Haukadalur, Iceland

Opaline silica (opal-A) has formed in marine, lacustrine and geothermal environments throughout geological time. During diagenesis opal-A normally changes to opal-CT, then opal-C, and finally to quartz. Such changes commonly destroy the original fabrics and any fossils that opal-A contained. The physical changes that accompany the opal-A to opal-CT transition, however, are known poorly. X-ray diffraction analyses, electron microprobe analyses and high-resolution, high-magnification scanning electron microscope imagery of siliceous sinters from the Geysir geothermal area in Iceland show that opal-A is formed of heterometric arrays of randomly packed microspheres (up to 5  μ m diameter) with neighbouring spheres commonly being joined by small connection pads. In contrast, enlarged spheres, lepispheres, inverse opal (two types) and spindle frameworks with hexagonal motifs characterize opal-CT. The textures in opal-CT, which vary on a microscale, reflect the complex interplay between dissolution (e.g. inverse opal) and precipitation (e.g. enlarged spheres, spindle frameworks) that probably was mediated by groundwater in a near-surface environment. The processes deciphered from these young rocks should, however, be applicable to sedimentary opal-A and opal-CT of all ages, irrespective of their origin.     

Tectono-sedimentary analysis of alternate-polarity half-graben basin-fill successions: Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous Horton Group, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

Abstract The Devono-Carboniferous Horton Group of Cape Breton Island was mostly deposited in two fault-bounded asymmetric sub-basins which were part of a large intracontinental rift system. This system lay at a palaeolatitude of about 10–15^o S–a warm, semi-arid climate. The half-graben sub-basins had opposed polarity, were approximately 100 times 50 km in size and were separated by a narrow zone of elevated Acadian basement. These features are common to the adjacent structural segments of known rifts, and are unlike those of transtensive pull-apart systems. Sedimentation occurred in four successive depositional systems which reflect a tectonic evolution of increased and then decreased extensional subsidence through the 8–12 Myr interval represented. Post-Acadian sedimentation began with System 1 bimodal volcanics and grey distal braided fluvial sediments deposited in a slowly subsiding broad linear sag basin. System 2 consists of reddened braidplain sediments near fault-bounded margins and mudflat/playa sediments in sub-basin centres, deposited in two discrete asymmetric sub-basins with a general upward-fining trend. Gradual expansion of the mudflat setting and confinement of coarse marginal fades is interpreted as a response to increasingly rapid and deep fault-bounded subsidence. Depositional System 3, is a complex of grey lacustrine offshore, shoreline and fan delta facies deposited in two adjacent half-graben segments with opposed polarity of asymmetry. An increased rate of tectonic subsidence allowed a large standing body of water to accumulate lacustrine sediments along the axis of each sub-basin during this phase of maximum subsidence. System 4 consists of reddened proximal alluvial fan, medial fluvial and distal grey meandering fluvial/floodplain sediments which accumulated in sub-basins with fault-bounded margins and asymmetry identical to those of earlier systems, indicating a continuation of tectonic style. However, an overall coarsening-upward trend indicates waning of active fault-related subsidence and consequent progradation of marginal coarse wedges to fill the sub-basins. Rapid marine transgression and deposition of Windsor Group carbonates, evaporites and elastics continued within a more extensive rift basin during renewed fault-bounded subsidence.     

Relative dating of moraines using moraine morphometric and boulder weathering criteria, Kigluaik Mountains, Alaska

Six measurements of surface-boulder weathering and seven measures of moraine morphometrics were taken at 57 sites in the Kigluaik Mountains, Alaska, to test the morphostratigraphic division of five Quaternary glacial units, to test a threefold subdivision of the late Pleistocene glacial unit, and to estimate the timing of glacial advances. Group means from 70% of the relative-age measures exhibit a positive relationship with relative age of the glacial units. The measures most effective at differentiating between moraine groups were: boulder frequency, tall-boulder frequency, boulder height, distal slope, and boulder angularity. Results of dixriminant analysis indicate that moraine-morphometric measures provided slightly better classification results than those of boulder weathering. Discriminant analysis correctly classified 89% of the a priori grouped sites. Multivariate analysis supports the attempted threefold subdivision of the latest Pleistocene Mount Osborn moraines at the 0.056 level of significance. Estimated ages of 60,000 BP for the Salmon Lake and 165,000 BP for the Stewart River glacial units were interpolated by using the relative-age data and ages of 18,000 BP for the Mount Osborn and 810,000 BP for the Nome River units.     

Infrared spectroscopy of interstellar nanodiamonds from the Orgueil meteorite

Abstract— We present results from an ongoing study of the infrared (IR) and optical properties of nanodiamonds, an objective of which is to identify spectral features in the laboratory that could also be used telescopically to trace the presence of these particles in the interstellar medium (ISM). Fourier transform mid-and far-infrared spectra of nanodiamond residue extracted from the Orgueil (CI) chondrite were acquired. All of the mid-IR bands initially present were found to diminish, with the exception of a band at ～1100 cm^?1, following additional oxidation of the diamonds. The ～1100 cm^?1 band can be predominantly attributed to adsorbed species, especially an ether-type linkage, while the “oxidisable” features seem to be associated with less stable, surface-bonded species and residual carbonaceous material. We obtained three far-IR features but are uncertain about the origin of those at 475 and 188 cm^?1. We did not obtain a feature at ～120 cm^?1 reported by another group but do not discount the possibility that the band at 188 cm^?1 could be related to it. The weak absorption band at 475 cm^?1 (21 μm) is especially interesting because it may be strong in emission from hot nanodiamonds and, therefore, related to the unidentified infrared feature (UIF) observed at this wavelength in the spectra of some C-rich protoplanetary nebulae.     

Oxygen isotopic record of silicate alteration in the Shergotty—Nakhla—Chassigny meteorite Lafayette

Abstract— Samples from a suite of Shergotty—Nakhla—Chassigny (SNC) meteorites were analyzed for their O isotopic ratios by a modified version of the laser fluorination technique. Measured isotopic ratios (¹⁷O/¹⁶O and ¹⁸O/¹⁶O) from bulk samples of the Shergottites, EETA79001, Shergotty and Zagami; the Nakhlite Lafayette; and Chassigny are similar to those reported in the literature, as are those from olivine and pyroxene mineral separates from Lafayette. Iddingsite, a preterrestrial alteration product of Lafayette, was measured for the first time as a separate phase. Oxygen isotopic ratios increase with the percentage of iddingsite in a sample to a maximum δ¹⁸O of 14.4% for a ～90% separate. Based on these measurements, end-member iddingsite has a δ¹⁸O of 15.6%, which places it among other ¹⁸O-enriched secondary phases (carbonate and silica) observed in SNC meteorites. The relatively large difference in δ¹⁸O between iddingsite and the olivine and pyroxene it replaces (～11%) is typical of low-temperature alteration products. A range of crustal fluid δ¹⁸O values can be interpreted from the δ¹⁸O for end-member iddingsite, assuming isotopic equilibrium was achieved during low-temperature hydrous alteration (<100 °C; Treiman et al., 1993). The calculated range of values, ?15 to 5%, depends on many factors including: (1) the modal mineralogy of iddingsite, (2) potential isotopic exchange among other O-bearing phases such as host silicate and carbonate, and (3) exchange with evolved or exotic O reservoirs on Mars. Despite the lack of constraints, the calculated range is consistent with isotopic exchange, and possibly equilibria, among components of the CO₂-carbonate-iddingsite-H₂O system at low temperature. The SNC meteorite samples in this study have Δ¹⁷O values that are indistinguishable from bulk Mars (0.30%), except for a single, small sample of iddingsite that has an anomalous Δ¹⁷O of ～1.4%. While analytical difficulties make isotopic measurements for this sample problematic, the Δ¹⁷O is similar in direction to Δ¹⁷O reported for waters extracted from bulk samples of Lafayette (Karlsson et al., 1992). If the Δ¹⁷O for iddingsite is confirmed, it can be concluded that evolved or exotic fluids on Mars have contributed volatiles to the O reservoir from which iddingsite formed 130 to 700 Ma ago.     

A Critical Note on ‘Eco‐Civic Regionalisation’ as the Basis for Local Government Boundaries in Australia

The notion of ‘eco‐civic regionalisation’ has been applied recently to New South Wales by Brunckhorst, Coop and Reeve (2004 Brunckhorst D Coop P Reeve I 2004 An eco‐civic regionalisation for rural New South Wales: final report to the NSW government Institute for Rural Futures and Centre for Bioregional Resource Management, University of New England, Armidale  [Google Scholar]) in order to identify the appropriate administrative boundaries for ‘socio‐civic’ regions and ‘biophysical’ regions. On the basis of this analysis, they recommended inter alia that 49 future non‐metropolitan ‘local government areas’ be established. This proposal was adopted with alacrity by advocates of the NSW government's program of compulsory council amalgamation, including official ‘Facilitators’ appointed by the State government to draft formal consolidation proposals. This paper disputes the applicability of ‘eco‐civic regionalisation’ as the foundation for local government boundaries in Australia.     

THE DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGICAL-BIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF CREPIDULA ONYX IN HONG KONG

C. onyx, originally distributed in California, was found in great quantities in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong in 1982 and was identified according to the study of its morphology and the radula teeth. Lots of the individuals of the species lived in overlapping colony, with the female at the lower, and the male in the upper while the sex-transforming individual at the middle. They attached on the shells of Perna viridis in a high density of 715 ind./m2. Studies have been carried out on its population structure, individual size, age and sex composition and on reproductive biology, such as sex transformation, change of the length of penis and fecundity.     

Silicate--Carbonate Immiscibility at Oldoinyo Lengai

For approximately the last 50 years eruptions at Oldoinyo Lengaihave produced passive natrocarbonatite lavas interspersed withmixed silicate-natrocarbonatite events approximately every 15–25years. In 1993 an unusual blocky lava erupted and preserveddetailed mixed silicate-natrocarbonatite textures clearly indicatingan immiscible origin. The 1993 blocky flow consists of natrocarbonatitewith small silicate crystal aggregates which constitute 2–5%of the rock. These inclusions are composed of nepheline, melanite,clinopyroxene and wollastonite occurring both as isolated crystalsand ijolite micro-xenoliths. Most significantly, these ijoliticinclusions are surrounded by ‘globules’ of a fine-grainedintergrowth of nepheline, wollastonite and gregoryite, interpretedas quenched melt. Petrographic textures are characteristic ofliquid immiscibility between coexisting natrocarbonatite andsilicate melts. The presence of gregoryite within the silicatemelt globules is particularly important as it represents thecommon liquidus phase between the silicate and natrocarbonatitemelts theoretically required to demonstrate immiscibility betweentwo conjugate liquids. This is the first time that liquid immiscibilityhas been so clearly demonstrated in natural rock samples fromOldoinyo Lengai and agrees very closely with recent experimentalwork. Our detailed model for the petrogenesis of the natrocarbonatitesat Oldoinyo Lengai involves extensive fractionation of a carbonate-richalkaline silicate magma followed by immiscible separation ofnatrocarbonatite at low pressures. KEY WORDS: Oldoinyo Lengai; natrocarbonatite; silicate-carbonate immiscibility; East Africa ^*Corresponding author. Present address: Department of Mineralogy, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW_{7 5}BD, UK     

Reliable yield of reservoirs and possible effects of climatic change

Abstract

Statistics of seasonal and daily rainfall in nine regions covering the United Kingdom are presented, together with the best currently available predictions of changes in rainfall and evaporation, based on various general circulation model (GCM) assessments of the climate 40 years ahead. On that basis, runoff sequences are generated for the region of northwest England with north Wales (NWE & NW, humid temperate) and for southeast England (SEE, temperate but less humid), both for the current climate and for the year 2030 estimate, the latter incorporating higher evaporation losses. The future annual runoff is reckoned as 8% less than the current average in the SEE region and 4% less than that in the NWE & NW region. Direct supply reservoir yield versus storage graphs are then derived in each case for a range of duration-based probability of emptiness, their yields (i.e. sustained draw-off rates) and storage capacities being expressed as proportions of current annual runoff. The year 2030 graphs fall systematically below those for the current climate, representing 8% to 15% loss of yield from existing storage in the SEE region and 4% to 25% loss of yield in the NWE & NW region.