The effect of chrysotile nanotubes on the serpentine-fluid Li-isotopic fractionation

We determined the lithium isotope fractionation between synthetic Li-bearing serpentine phases lizardite, chrysotile, antigorite, and aqueous fluid in the P,T range 0.2–4.0 GPa, 200–500°C. For experiments in the systems lizardite-fluid and antigorite-fluid, ⁷Li preferentially partitioned into the fluid and Δ⁷Li values followed the T-dependent fractionation of Li-bearing mica-fluid (Wunder et al. 2007). By contrast, for chrysotile-fluid experiments, ⁷Li weakly partitioned into chrysotile. This contrasting behavior might be due to different Li environments in the three serpentine varieties: in lizardite and antigorite lithium is sixfold coordinated, whereas in chrysotile lithium is incorporated in two ways, octahedrally and as Li-bearing water cluster filling the nanotube cores. Low-temperature IR spectroscopic measurements of chrysotile showed significant amounts of water, whose freezing point was suppressed due to the Li contents and the confined geometry of the fluid within the tubes. The small inverse Li-isotopic fractionation for chrysotile-fluid results from intra-crystalline Li isotope fractionation of octahedral Li^[6] with preference to ⁶Li and lithium within the channels (Li^[Ch]) of chrysotile, favoring ⁷Li. The nanotubes of chrysotile possibly serve as important carrier of Li and perhaps also of other fluid-mobile elements in serpentinized oceanic crust. This might explain higher Li abundances for low-T chrysotile-bearing serpentinites relative to high-T serpentinites. Isotopically heavy Li-bearing fluids of chrysotile nanotubes could be released at relatively shallow depths during subduction, prior to complete chrysotile reactions to form antigorite. During further subduction, fluids produced during breakdown of serpentine phases will be depleted in ⁷Li. This behavior might explain some of the Li-isotopic heterogeneities observed for serpentinized peridotites.     

Sedimentological proof and dating of the Early Holocene volcanic eruption of Ulmener Maar (Vulkaneifel,Germany)

A minerogeniclayer occurs in early postglacial organic sediments from five maar lakes (West Eifel Volcanic Field, Germany). The mineralogy and stratigraphic position of this tephra suggests that it is related to the youngest German volcano, Ulmener Maar, nearby. Radiocarbon dating of wood from the base of the Ulmener Maar Tephra at two locations provide ages in agreement with an accelerator mass spectrometer ¹⁴C date for the minerogenic layer from sediments of Lake Holzmaar situated 13 km south-west of Ulmener Maar. The mean radiocarbon age is 9 560 years BP. Dating by varve chronology provides an age of 10017 years VT (varve time in years before 1950) or 10 895 years corrected VT. Based on palynology the Ulmener Maar Tephra was deposited at the end of the Preboreal. High values of natural remnant magnetization intensity, typical of pyroclastic material, confirm that this minerogenic layer differs in composition from other clastic deposits of the sedimentary record. Geochemical analyses reveal increased values of total trace elements for the Laacher See Tephra and Ulmener Maar Tephra. An isopach map based on thickness variations of the Ulmener Maar Tephra at five investigated maar lakes indicates that the tephra was mainly transported to the south west.     

Struktur des Alpenrandes zwischen Inn und Bodensee im Satellitenbild

1. Multispectral scanning imageries, revealed from ERTS-1 satellite, show a young lineament pattern in the region of the Northern Calcareous Alps. The statistical distribution of the lineament directions accords well with that of mapped faults. On the other hand, many of these lineaments are not mapped as faults. A more complex type of fracture is supposed for them, composed of many joints and minor faults. With increasing length of the fracture, the acute angle of the shear system increases from about 40° at joints to 70° at faults and 80° at lineaments.
2. The satellite imagery shows a relationship between the structures of the folded molasse and the alpine nappes. The mimer and depth of folds, the width of the folded zone, and the lateral limitation of the synclines are related to the amount of thrusting of parts of the nappe system. A model for the genesis of the folded molasse is given.

     

Magnitude determination based on short-period core waves

Summary PKP-amplitudes of about 400 earthquakes from the SW Pacific Ocean observed at three stations in Central Europe were used to obtain the calibration function q_PKP(D, h) based on the NEIS m_b magnitudes. The calibration function allows us to determine the magnitudes for week earthquakes from the Pacific, for which the magnitudes from the P-waves cannot be derived.     

A Precambrian core sample from the Altiplano/Bolivia

Drilling in the Bolivian Altiplano discovered the Precambrian basement at 2.744 m of depth, Paleozoic strata lacking. The core is composed of hornblende meta-granite (hornblende granoblastite), in the upper part of biotite meta-granite (biotite granoblastite). Radiometric dating provides evidence for a Grenvillian magmatic or anatectic rock formation (1.050±100 my) and a later metamorphic event of 530±30 my in age.

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Zusammenfassung In einem Bohraufschluß vom Altiplano in Bolivien wurde in 2.744 m Teufe unter tertiärer und kretazischer Bedeckung das präkambrische Basement angetroffen. Der präkambrische Bohrkern besteht teils aus Hornblende-Meta-Granit (Hornblende-Kalifeldspat-Quarz-Plagioklas-Gneis), teils aus Biotit-Meta-Granit (Biotit-Kalifeldspat-Quarz-Plagioklas-Gneis). Nach Rb-Sr Datierung dürfte das Bildungsalter etwa 1.050±100 my betragen, eine Aufheizungsperiode um 530±30 my ist nach K-Ar Analyse zu vermuten.

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Résumé Lors d'un forage dans l'Altiplano bolivien le substratum précambrien a été rencontré à une profondeur de 2.744 m. La couverture sédimentaire comprend des couches tertiaires et crétaciques. La carotte précambrienne se compose d'un micro-granite gneissique de l'assemblage hornblende — feldspath potassique — quartz — plagioclase et d'un microgranite gneissique de biotite — feldspath potassique — quartz — plagioclase. L'âge de constitution de la roche est d'après l'analyse Rb-Sr de 1.050 ± 100 my. L'analyse K-Ar laisse supposer une transformation métamorphique de 530 ± 30 my.

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- , 2744 . — ( - -- —, - (- -- -). - 1050 ± 100 , , - , 530 ± 30 .

     

A framework for evaluating potential ecological effects of implementing biological control of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmites australis</Emphasis>

The increasing abundance ofPhragmites australis in many North American coastal and inland wetlands is of great concern to many scientists and land managers. While some considered the species native, others considered it an introduced invasive species. Regardless of its origin, control measures using mechanical, physical, and chemical means are implemented widely. With the exception of increased salinity, reductions in the abundance ofP. australis are usually temporary and control measures need to be repeated frequently increasing the cost and the potential for nontarget effects. The failure of traditional control attempts resulted in increased interest to develop a biological control program. Recent research suggests that genetically distinct populations (introduced and native) occur in North America. The native genotypes appear noninvasive and declining while the introduced genotypes are invasive replacing native genotypes where they co-occur. Accidentally introduced European herbivores specialized onP. australis are spreading across North America and can be extremely abundant in the Northeast. Introduction of additional specialized herbivores as biological control agents from the European range ofP. australis, if approved and successful, will result in changes in plant communities, wetland food webs, and management practices. The potential changes associated with introduction of biological control agents to wetland plant communities and their food webs may be more beneficial than current management strategies allowing the introducedP. australis genotypes and its associated herbivores to spread.     

The geochemical cycle of boron: Constraints from boron isotope partitioning experiments between mica and fluid

The fractionation of boron isotopes between synthetic boromuscovite and fluid was experimentally determined at 3.0 GPa/500 °C and 3.0 GPa/700 °C. For near-neutral fluids Δ¹¹B_(mica-fluid) = δ¹¹B_(mica) − δ¹¹B_(fluid) is − 10.9 ± 1.3‰ at 500 °C, and − 6.5 ± 0.4‰ at 700 °C. This supports earlier assumptions that the main fractionation effect is due to the change from trigonal coordination of boron in neutral fluids to tetrahedrally coordinated boron in micas, clays and melts. The T-dependence of this effect is approximated by the equation Δ¹¹B_{(mica,clay,melt–neutral fluid)} = − 10.69 · (1000/T [K]) + 3.88; R² = 0.992, valid from 25 °C for fluid–clay up to about 1000 °C for fluid–silicate melt. Experiments at 0.4 GPa that used strongly basic fluids produced significantly lower fractionations with Δ¹¹B_{(mica–fluid)} of − 7.4 ± 1.0‰ at 400 °C, and − 4.8 ± 1.0‰ at 500 °C, showing the reduced fractionation effect when large amounts of boron in basic fluids are tetrahedrally coordinated. Field studies have shown that boron concentrations and ¹¹B/¹⁰B-ratios in volcanic arcs systematically decrease across the arc with increasing distance from the trench, thus reflecting the thermal structure of the subducting slab. Our experiments show that the boron isotopic signature in volcanic arcs probably results from continuous dehydration of micas along a distinct P–T range. Continuous slab dehydration and boron transport via fluid into the mantle wedge is responsible for the boron isotopic signature in volcanic arcs.     

中德联合冬给措纳湖地区寒区环境变迁研究进展

青藏高原腹地的内陆湖及其湖相沉积物能够较真实地反映气候变化特征,在高原环境变迁研究中备受中外科学家的关注.2006年8月15日~9月10日,中德联合考察小组对青藏高原东北部的冬给措纳湖一带进行了第四纪冻土、地貌和地质学考察,并对湖岸阶地做了初步的数字高程分析.调查了冬给措纳湖底地形、地貌,采集了湖相沉积物样本.在湖的东岸和西岸发现多年冻土,湖泊西北山谷观察到古冰川活动遗迹.初步推测该湖是由断陷沉降形成.为进一步分析湖区气候和环境变迁,联合小组拟定2007年3月份钻取湖芯.     

Equilibrium experiments in the system MgO–SiO2–H2O (MSH): stability fields of clinohumite-OH [Mg9Si4O16(OH)2], chondrodite-OH [Mg5Si2O8(OH)2] and phase A (Mg7Si2O8(OH)6)

The water-pressure and temperature stability fields of clinohumite-OH, chondrodite-OH and phase A were determined in reversed equilibrium experiments up to 100 kbar within the system MgO–SiO₂–H₂O. Their PT-fields differ from results from former synthesis experiments. Bracketing experiments on the reaction phase A + low P-clinoenstatite ⇆ forsterite + water resulted in a slightly steeper dP/dT-slope compared to earlier experiments for this equilibrium. Clinohumite-OH and chondrodite-OH both have large stability fields which extend over pressure ranges of more than 80 kbar. However, they are hardly relevant as hydrous minerals within the subducted oceanic lithosphere. Both are too Mg-rich for a typical mantle bulk composition. In addition, the dehydration of subducted oceanic lithosphere – due to (forsterite + water)-forming reactions – will occur before the two humite-group phases even become stable. Restricted to the cool region of cold subducting slabs, phase A, however, might be formed via the reactions phase A + low P-/high P-clinoenstatite ⇆ forsterite + water or antigorite + brucite ⇆ phase A + water, before dehydration of the oceanic lithosphere occurs. Received: 22 July 1997 / Accepted: 12 March 1998