Flexible Automatic Scheduling for Autonomous Telescopes: The MAJORDOME

We have developped a new method for the scheduling ofastronomical automatic telescopes, in the framework of theautonomous TAROT instrument. The MAJORDOME software canhandle a variety of observations, constrained, periodic,etc., and produces a timeline for the night, which may bemodified at any time to take into account the specificconditions of the night. The MAJORDOME can also handletarget of opportunity observations without delay.     

Forbidden sulphur I lines in the solar spectrum

The [SI] lines are due to transitions within the 3s²3p⁴ ground configuration of neutral sulphur. The results are presented from a search for the [Si] lines in the Fraunhofer spectrum. Two identifications are proposed with faint features in the Fraunhofer spectrum: ¹D₂-¹S₀ at = 7725.02 Å and ³P₂-¹D₂ at = 10821.23 Å. Their measured equivalent widths are shown to confirm the value for the solar abundance of sulphur, logN _S = 7.21 (in the scale logN _H = 12.00), which is derived from the permitted high-excitation lines. These lines give the first convincing identification of [Si] lines in an astrophysical source.     

Carbon contents of sedimentary rocks within and around the McArthur zinc-lead-silver deposit, northern territory

Organic carbon and inorganic carbonate contents previously reported for ore and pyritic shale country rocks from the McArthur area have been found to be in error because of saturation of the sulphur oxides trap during combustion of the samples. Corrected organic carbon values do not show good correlations with iron, zinc, lead, or sulphur contents.     

Vertical zonation and petrogenesis of the early Precambrian crust in Western Australia

Variations in metamorphic grade, structural style, isotopic ages and granite geochemistry observed within the Yilgarn craton, and between the Yilgarn and Pilbara cratons, Western Australia, are interpreted in terms of vertical zonation of the Archaean crust. We correlate the gneiss-granulite suite of the Wheat Belt (southwestern Yilgarn) with concealed coeval infracrustal roots of the low-grade granite—greenstone Kalgoorlie terrain (eastern Yilgarn). Differences between the Pilbara, Southern Cross and Laverton granite—greenstone blocks and the downfaulted linear greenstone belts of the Kalgoorlie block are interpreted in terms of deeper-level exposure in the first three blocks.Ultramafic—mafic volcanic sequences in the Yilgarn craton can be divided into at least two major groups — the lower greenstones, regarded as relicts of a once extensive simatic crust, and the significantly younger upper greenstones, believed to have formed within linear troughs following the intrusion of Na-rich granites.At least three major Archaean granite phases occur in Western Australia: (1) 3.1-2.9 b.y. old (recognized to date only in the western Yilgarn and in the Pilbara craton); (2) 2.8-2.7 b.y. old, and (3) 2.6 b.y. old (the two latter phases can only be separated from each other in the eastern Yilgarn, and phase (3) is also identified in the Pilbara). In the main, granites of phases (1) and (2) are Na-rich and those of phase (3) are K-rich. There is evidence for a secular increase in Rb levels and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. It is suggested that the K-rich granites grade down into Na-rich granites, and the former were generated by ensialic anatexis resulting in upward migration of K, Rb, U, and Th-enriched magmas.A review of data from several Archaean cratons in other continents suggests that evidence from these regions can be interpreted in terms of the general model of crustal evolution proposed for Western Australia. Implications of this model concerning petrogenesis of Archaean plutonic and volcanic suites, geothermal gradients and tectonic evolution of greenstone belts are discussed. Partial melting associated with mantle diapirism is thought to have given rise to the ultramafic—mafic volcanic cycles. Widespread subsidence and partial melting of this crust yielded Na-rich acid magmas. The development of the upper greenstones was confined to linear belts in a partly cratonized crustal environment. About 2.6 b.y. ago a rise in the geothermal gradient resulted in regional metamorphism and crusctal anatexis which gave rise to the K-rich granites.     

Mineral isotopic age relationships in the polymetamorphic Amîtsoq gneisses,Godthaab district,West Greenland

U-Th-Pb, Pb-Pb, Rb-Sr and K-Ar radiometric relationships in the minerals from six selected Amîtsoq gneiss samples reveal a complicated history of variable mineral response to polymetamorphism.K-Ar dates on biotite range from 2170 to 3220 m.y. (excess argon present), on hornblende from 2340 to 2510, and on a single muscovite at 1670 m.y.Rb-Sr whole rock results give an apparent isochron of at least 4065 m.y., but this result is likely fortuitous from a small sample selection since Pb-Pb whole rock analyses give ~ 3600 m.y. and the zircons in these rocks yield a concordia-discordia intersection at 3600 m.y. Rb-Sr mineral analyses generally give a confusing and variable pattern of isotopic relationships; but hornblende, K-feldspar, apatite, allanite and sphene appear to have last responded to metamorphism at 2200–2600 m.y. Rb-Sr in biotite, epidote and, in part, plagioclase have been affected by an event at ~ 1550 m.y.U-Th-Pb data from sphene, apatite and allanite give almost concordant dates at 2500–2600 m.y. $\text{soul}{}^{207}\text{Pb}{}^{204}\text{Pb}$ vs $\text{soul}{}^{206}\text{Pb}{}^{204}\text{Pb}$ plots yield two separate lines for apatite (slope age 2435 m.y.) and for sphene + allanite (slope age 2530 m.y.), indicating apatite to have a different (less-radiogenic) ‘initial’ Pb than that for sphene and allanite. A similar pattern is found for the $\text{soul}{}^{208}\text{Pb}{}^{204}\text{Pb}$ vs $\text{soul}{}^{207}\text{Pb}{}^{204}\text{Pb}$ plot for sphene and apatite. The Pb-isotopic composition of the feldspars is very homogeneous and the least-radiogenic of all components, pointing towards a homogeneous parent material for the now lithologically diverse Amîtsoq gneisses. Using a₀ = 9.307, b₀ = 10.294, C₀ = 29.476, t₀ = 4.56 b.y., ω = 6.9 and $\text{soul}{}^{232}\text{Th}{}^{204}\text{Pb = 27.1}$; the feldspars give a model Pb age of 3500–3600 m.y. by either U-derived or Th-derived Pb. The segregation of the present Amîtsoq gneisses from the homogeneous parent material was apparently accompanied by a U and Th loss with preservation or enrichment of Pb at ~ 3600 m.y. ago. No consistent treatment of the present U-Th-Pb data will produce viable data indicating an age > 3600 m.y. for the parent materials of the Amîtsoq gneiss.Petrographie observations generally concur with radiometric results and permit the postulation of the reaction: Hbl + K-feld→ biotite + epidote + sodic plag, to account for some of the effects of the latest metamorphism.The total internal radiometric evidence indicates three major metamorphic events affected the Amîtsoq gneisses close to 3600, 2500 and 1550 m.y.     

Multiscale approach to geo‐composite cellular structures subjected to rock impacts

Geo‐composite cellular structures are an efficient technological solution for various applications in civil engineering. This type of structure is particularly well adapted to resisting rockfalls and can act as a defensive structure. However, the design of such structures is for the most part empirically based; this lack of research‐based design stagnates optimization and advanced development. In this paper, the mechanical behaviour of a geo‐composite cellular structure is investigated using a multi‐scale approach, from the individual cell made up of an assembly of rocky particles contained in a wire netting cage to the entire structure composed of a regular array of cells. Based on discrete modelling of both the cell and structure scales, a computational tool has been developed for design purposes. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of calcium leaching on the mechanical behavior of a rock–mortar interface: A DEM analysis

Being a potential preferential way for water to flow, interfaces between host rock and engineered barriers are critical in the design of deep radioactive waste repositories. In case of cementitious materials, presence of water may lead to long term degradation by leaching. Such a phenomenon could impede the integrity of the confinement by its effect on the hydro-mechanical properties of the interface. Recent experimental results from Buzzi et al. [8] have evidenced some effects of leaching on the hydro-mechanical behavior of rock–concrete interfaces for one leaching time. This paper intends to investigate the influence of leaching on the mechanical behavior of rock–mortar interfaces by means of numerical simulations. These latter will be run for several leaching times to produce a better understanding of the phenomenon. For this purpose, a DEM approach has been developed to simulate the increase of the macro-porosity resulting from the leaching process. The implementation of the approach is first discussed. Then direct shear tests under constant normal stress are performed on a simple interface geometry and on a natural interface geometry. The results after Buzzi et al. [8] are corroborated by this research.