Placing constraints on phase equilibria and thermophysical properties in the system MgO-SiO2 by a thermodynamically consistent vibrational method

We use a lattice vibrational technique to derive thermophysical and thermochemical properties and phase equilibria in the system MgO-SiO₂ at pressures and temperatures relevant to Earth’s mantle. The technique is based on an extension of Kieffer’s model to incorporate details of the phonon spectrum, and it includes treatment of intrinsic anharmonicity. We use a least squares inversion technique applied to available experimental data, and show that it results in an accurate representation of thermodynamic properties and sound wave velocities of high-pressure phases in the system MgSiO₃. The vibrational method has been validated against laboratory experimental data in the temperature range between 0 and 2500 K and at pressures between 1 bar and 30 GPa. The technique results in a phase diagram consistent with the majority of thermophysical and thermochemical data. It is shown that intrinsic anharmonicity affects significantly slopes and positions of the phase boundaries. Our analysis indicates inconsistencies in a number of data sets of thermophysical properties for stishovite, majorite and ortho-enstatite necessitating new measurements. For akimotoite elasticity data at high-pressure and high-temperature conditions and 1 bar heat capacity measurements are needed. For stishovite elasticity measurements are necessary to reconcile elasticity data with V-P-T measurements. Additionally V-P-T measurements at pressures higher than 10 GPa are needed, which should be reconciled with V-P-T data at lower pressures. Raman and infrared spectroscopic data are necessary for both clino-enstatite and majorite. Additionally structural data are needed to resolve the discrepancy between values for the degree of disorder in majorite. Volume expansion data for ortho-enstatite are needed and effects causing differences in measured volume expansion should be elucidated.     

Textural and fluid inclusion constraints on the origin of the banded-iron-formation-hosted gold deposits at Maevatanana,central Madagascar

The Maevatanana deposits consist of gold-bearing quartz–sulphide veins crosscutting banded iron formation (BIF) within a metamorphosed 2.5 Ga greenstone belt. The host rocks are dominated by a sequence of migmatites, gneisses, amphibolites, magnetite-rich quartzites and soapstones, intruded by large granitoid batholiths (e.g. the 0.8 Ga Beanana granodiorite). In the mineralised rocks, pyrite is the dominant sulphide, in addition to accessory chalcopyrite and galena. Outside the immediate ore zone, the BIF is dominated by quartz + magnetite ± hematite, accompanied by cummingtonite, albite and biotite. Gold occurs as globular grains (usually <500 μm) within quartz crystals close to the sulphides and as invisible inclusions within pyrite and chalcopyrite (up to 2,500 ppm Au content). Fluid inclusion textural and microthermometric studies indicate heterogeneous trapping of a low-salinity (∼3.6 wt.% eq. NaCl) aqueous fluid coexisting with a carbonic fluid. Evidence for fluid-phase immiscibility during ore formation includes variable L/V ratios in the inclusions and the fact that inclusions containing different phase proportions occur in the same area, growth zone, or plane. Laser Raman spectroscopy confirms that the vapour phase in these inclusions is dominated by CO₂ but shows that it may contain small amounts of CH₄ (<1 mol%), H₂S (<0.05 mol%) and traces of N₂. Fluid inclusion trapping conditions ranged from 220 to 380°C and averaged 250°C. Pressure was on the order of 1–2 kbar. The abundant CO₂ and low salinity of the inclusions suggest a metamorphic origin for the fluid. Likewise, the presence of H₂S in the fluid and pyritisation of the wall-rock indicate that gold was likely transported by sulphide complexing. Fluid immiscibility was probably triggered by the pressure released by fracturing of the quartzites during fault movements due to competence differences with the softer greenstones. Fracturing greatly enhanced fluid circulation through the BIF, allowing reaction of the sulphide-bearing fluids with the iron oxides. This caused pyrite deposition and concomitant Au precipitation, enhanced by fluid phase separation as H₂S partitioned preferentially into the carbonic phase.     

Impact of partial steps and momentum advection schemes in a global ocean circulation model at eddy-permitting resolution

Series of sensitivity tests were performed with a z-coordinate, global eddy-permitting (1/4°) ocean/sea-ice model (the ORCA-R025 model configuration developed for the DRAKKAR project) to carefully evaluate the impact of recent state-of-the-art numerical schemes on model solutions. The combination of an energy–enstrophy conserving (EEN) scheme for momentum advection with a partial step (PS) representation of the bottom topography yields significant improvements in the mean circulation. Well known biases in the representation of western boundary currents, such as in the Atlantic the detachment of the Gulf Stream, the path of the North Atlantic Current, the location of the Confluence, and the strength of the Zapiola Eddy in the south Atlantic, are partly corrected. Similar improvements are found in the Pacific, Indian, and Southern Oceans, and characteristics of the mean flow are generally much closer to observations. Comparisons with other state-of-the-art models show that the ORCA-R025 configuration generally performs better at similar resolution. In addition, the model solution is often comparable to solutions obtained at 1/6 or 1/10° resolution in some aspects concerning mean flow patterns and distribution of eddy kinetic energy. Although the reasons for these improvements are not analyzed in detail in this paper, evidence is shown that the combination of EEN with PS reduces numerical noise near the bottom, which is likely to affect current–topography interactions in a systematic way. We conclude that significant corrections of the mean biases presently seen in general circulation model solutions at eddy-permitting resolution can still be expected from the development of numerical methods, which represent an alternative to increasing resolution.     

Geostatistical analysis in weathering studies: case study for Stanton Moor building sandstone

Geostatistical techniques for spatial prediction and spatial simulation have been used in an innovative application to the study of weathering of natural building stone. The study investigates the differences in the spatial variation of permeability characteristics between fine‐ and coarse‐grained Stanton Moor building sandstone. Non‐destructive permeability measurements, using an unsteady‐state Portable Probe Permeameter, were made on three adjacent faces of two cubic blocks representative of fine‐ to medium‐grained and medium‐ to coarse‐grained Stanton Moor Sandstone. The findings provide greater understanding in the investigation of the durability characteristics of the Stanton Moor Sandstone and show that the spatial distribution and variability of permeability is more important in predicting the overall strength and weathering properties than mean permeability and absolute minimum and maximum values. The results suggest that both primary textural characteristics (such as grain size) and extent of cementation appear to be important factors in determining the overall durability properties of Stanton Moor Sandstone as a building stone. Geostatistical analysis has been shown to be an important tool in the characterization of spatial variation for the investigation of weathering of building stones. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of observed and RCM-simulated precipitation on the water discharge over the Sirba basin, Burkina Faso/Niger

The forcing of a hydrologic model (ABC) by both observed and simulated precipitation from a regional climate model (MAR) has been performed over the Sirba watershed (39,000 km²) located in the Sahelian region. Two aspects have been more specifically examined: the spatial and temporal representations of precipitation. The comparison between simulated and observed discharges—using observed rainfall datasets as forcing of the hydrologic model—has shown that the representation of daily precipitation (which is mainly convective in the Sahelian region) was not sufficiently accurate to correctly simulate the hydrologic response of the watershed. Since this response drives the soil water budget and consequently the amount of evaporation in forthcoming coupling experiments, it is thus necessary to develop more realistic infra-daily precipitation associated with convective events. A new temporal disaggregation scheme has been then developed. Considering observed as well as simulated precipitation fields, this method has significantly improved the simulated discharge at the catchment outlet. The major role played by the temporal component compared to spatial component of the precipitation has been then underlined. In addition, the present study shows the unsuitability of the simulated precipitation from the RCM to directly force a hydrologic model at infra daily timescale even if the cumulative amount and the main features of the precipitation seasonal cycle are well simulated.     

Deposits related to degradation processes on Piton des Neiges Volcano (Reunion Island): overview and geological hazard

Piton des Neiges (PN) Volcano on Reunion Island offers a rare opportunity to study deposits related to degradation processes in a deeply eroded oceanic shield volcano. Both the inner parts and flanks reveal a large amount of resedimented volcaniclastic material, including extensive debris avalanche deposits. PN litho–structural units, first studied by Upton and Wadsworth [1965, Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond., A 271, pp. 105–130], are re-examined. This review highlights the importance of long volcanic repose periods and erosion processes during PN history. volcaniclastic deposits have been studied in the field in order to evaluate the spatial and temporal distribution of the three main types of PN degradation processes. The deposits of these processes have been classified into: (1) talus, (2) mudflow and debris flow, and (3) debris avalanche. Lithology, frequency and estimated volumes of each deposit type imply that the structural evolution of PN can be considered in terms of the competition between the volcanic productivity and the degradation and erosion processes. The occurrence of huge catastrophic avalanches produced by flank failure is convincingly linked to the basaltic activity of PN, which implies a very low risk at present. On the contrary, mudflows and debris flows pose an important risk due to the high population density focussed around the basin outlets. Moreover, if smaller debris avalanches can occur in the cirques of PN, another major risk must be evaluated.     

Présence de Paléocène marin dans les Grands Causses (France)

In the Grands Causses, incised valleys, lapies, fissures and sinkholes inherited from successive polyphase karstifications were filled by Palaeocene marine sediments overall assigned to the P1c–P3 interval (Upper Danian–Lower Selandian). These sediments are distributed into three detritic facies, generated by extensional tectonics controlling karstic and erosional processes. Upper Cretaceous marine fossils known within these facies are interpreted as reworked from hypothetically pellicular deposits. The probable palaeogeographic connection with the Pyrenean Palaeocene ‘Breccia trough’ supposes the presence of a SE–NW ‘ria’ running across the continental areas of Lower Languedoc and draining towards the northwest the marine waters of the Palaeocene transgression as far as the Rodez region. To cite this article: B. Peybernès et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).