Excess 3He in deep water on the East Pacific Rise

Helium isotope measurements show that water on the crest and flanks of the East Pacific Rise has the highest enrichment in ³He so far observed in the oceans; the ³He/⁴He ratio anomaly relative to atmospheric helium is + 32% at the mid-depth maximum in the profiles. The corresponding ³He solubility anomaly relative to saturation with atmospheric helium is +50%. These data indicate that active sea-floor spreading sites on the crests of the mid-ocean rises are the sources of primordial helium injected into the ocean from the earth's interior. The ³He/⁴He ratio in this flux is approximately 1.6 × 10^?5, about 11 times the atmospheric ratio of 1.4 × 10^?6. The total flux of ³He into the atmosphere is 4.6 atoms cm^?2 earth-surface sec^?1, most of which (4.0 atoms cm^?2 sec^?1) is supplied by the oceanic flux. The corresponding atmospheric residence time for ³He is 10⁶ years, which, within the large uncertainties of supply and demand (thermal escape), is consistent with the requirement for a steady state.     

Constraining the age and origin of the seamount province in the Northeast Indian Ocean using geophysical techniques

The breakup of western margin of Australia from Greater India started around 155 Ma and progressed southwards. After the separation, the interceding intraplate region experienced large volumes of submarine volcanism, extending over 100 Myrs. The Christmas Island Seamount Province (CHRISP, as it has been dubbed) lies south of the Java-Sunda Trench, and contains numerous submerged volcanic seamounts, and two sub-aerially exposed island groups—Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Christmas Island. While recent geochronological investigations have shed light on the diverse eruption ages of the volcanics of this region, some islands/seamounts have demonstrated protracted volcanic histories, and it is not clear how the volcanic loading, tectonic subsidence, and subsequent emergence history of the islands relates to these discrete volcanic episodes. This study utilises a number of geophysical techniques to determine the crustal structure, loading and subsidence history, and last sub-aerial exposure age for the CHRISP. The study shows that flexural and subsidence modelling are reliable techniques in constraining the age of the seamounts when geochronological techniques are not possible. Utilising regional gravity signatures, we model the crustal structure underneath the Cocos (Keeling) Island, and constrain the thickness of the limestone cover between 900 and 2,100 m. Using age-depth subsidence curves for oceanic lithosphere the time since these seamounts were exposed above sea-level was determined, and a trend in exposure ages that youngs towards the west is observed. Two episodes of volcanism have been recorded at Christmas Island and they are of different origin. The younger phase in the Pliocene is a manifestation of flexure induced cracks produced in the lithosphere as it rides the subduction fore-bulge, whereas a low velocity seismic zone rising from the lower mantle, and tectonic reorganization, may be associated with the older Eocene volcanic phase, as well as much of the rest of the province. Our modelling also supports the existence of an older, undated volcanic core to Christmas Island, based on the loading ages from flexural modelling.     

Final evolution of stars in the range 103–104 M ⊙

The final dynamical collapse of oxygen cores of 10³ and 10⁴ M which undergo the pair formation instability is computed. These cores are found to suffer complete collapse, presumably to form black holes, in contrast to cores of 100M which have previously been found to explode completely, leaving no remnant. These calculations represent a first attempt to ascertain the outcome of evolution over several decades of mass previously unexplored. The outcome may have some relevance to models of X-ray sources in globular clusters.     

Implications of Arctic industrial growth and strategies to mitigate future vessel and fishing gear impacts on bowhead whales

The objective of this paper was to investigate and illustrate how insights gained from experience managing human activities in order to protect North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) along the heavily industrialized east coast of North America might be applied in the Arctic, where bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) face some of the same risks as right whales. The reduced extent and thickness of sea ice and the resultant longer open-water season have major, complex implications for the Arctic marine ecosystem. Increased maritime ship traffic and commercial fishing in the Arctic are bound to affect bowheads and Native (indigenous) hunting communities who depend on whales for subsistence and cultural identity. Bowheads and right whales were greatly depleted by commercial whaling in the 19th and early 20th centuries. While the Western Arctic bowhead population has been recovering steadily in recent decades, North Atlantic right whales remain highly endangered because of persistent lethal and sublethal vessel strikes and frequent entanglement in commercial fishing gear. Entanglement can be transitory or persistent, with debilitation lasting for months before the animal finally succumbs. Vessel strike and fishing gear trauma has been documented in bowheads, but at a much lower rate than in right whales. Initiatives intended to mitigate the impacts of ship traffic on North Atlantic right whales have included speed limits and routing changes. Those meant to reduce the incidence and severity of entanglements include the modification of gear design and gear deployment practices. Management measures need to be considered in advance in the Arctic in order to minimize the risks to bowhead whales as shipping and industrial fishing expand in the Arctic with ice retreat.     

Deeply buried ancient volcanoes control hydrocarbon migration in the South China Sea

Seismic reflection data image now-buried and inactive volcanoes, both onshore and along the submarine portions of continental margins. However, the impact that these volcanoes have on later, post-eruption fluid flow events (e.g., hydrocarbon migration and accumulation) is poorly understood. Determining how buried volcanoes and their underlying plumbing systems influence subsurface fluid or gas flow, or form traps for hydrocarbon accumulations, is critical to de-risk hydrocarbon exploration and production. Here, we focus on evaluating how buried volcanoes affect the bulk permeability of hydrocarbon seals, and channel and focus hydrocarbons. We use high-resolution 3D seismic reflection and borehole data from the northern South China Sea to show how ca. <10 km wide, ca. <590 m high Miocene volcanoes, buried several kilometres (ca. 1.9 km) below the seabed and fed by a sub-volcanic plumbing system that exploited rift-related faults: (i) acted as long-lived migration pathways, and perhaps reservoirs, for hydrocarbons generated from even more deeply buried (ca. 8–10 km) source rocks; and (ii) instigated differential compaction and doming of the overburden during subsequent burial, producing extensional faults that breached regional seal rocks. Considering that volcanism and related deformation are both common on many magma-rich passive margins, the interplay between the magmatic products and hydrocarbon migration documented here may be more common than currently thought. Our results demonstrate that now-buried and inactive volcanoes can locally degrade hydrocarbon reservoir seals and control the migration of hydrocarbon-rich fluids and gas. These fluids and gases can migrate into and be stored in shallower reservoirs, where they may then represent geohazards to drilling and impact slope stability.     

Case studies of earthquake-induced effects on concrete channels

Case studies are presented for two concrete lined channels shaken by strong ground motions during the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the high speed channel (HSC) and bypass channel (BC), on the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s Van Norman Complex. Performances of these two channels as they pass through different subsurface materials identify several important seismic aspects and the critical role of geotechnical earthquake engineering in assessing channel behaviors. Preliminary evaluations using deta...     

Phase relations and mineral assemblages in the Ag-Bi-Pb-S system

Phase relations within the Ag-Bi-S, Bi-Pb-S, and Ag-Pb-S systems have been determined in evacuated silica tube experiments. Integration of experimental data from these systems has permitted examination and extrapolation of phase relations within the Ag-Bi-Pb-S quaternary system. — In the Ag-Bi-S system liquid immiscibility fields exist in the metal-rich portion above 597±3°C and in the sulfur-rich portion above 563±3°C. Ternary phases present correspond to matildite (AgBiS₂) and pavonite (AgBi₃S₅). Throughout the temperature range 802±2°C to 343±2°C the assemblage argentite (Ag₂S) + bismuth-rich liquid is stable; below 343°C this assemblage is replaced by the assemblage silver + matildite. — Five ternary phases are stable on the PbS-Bi₂S₃ join above 400°C — phase II (18 mol-% Bi₂S₃), phase III (27 mol-% Bi₂S₃), cosalite (33.3 mol-% Bi₂S₃), phase IV (51 mol-% Bi₂S₃), and phase V (65 mol-% Bi₂S₃). Phase IV corresponds to the mineral galenobismutite and is stable below 750±3°C. Phases II, III, and V do not occur as minerals, but typical lamellar and myrmekitic textures commonly observed among the Pb-Bi sulfosalts and galena evidence their previous existence in ores. Phase II and III are stable from 829±6°C and 816±6°C, respectively, to below 200°C; Phase V, stable only between 730±5°C and 680±5°C in the pure Bi-Pb-S system is stabilized to 625±5°C by the presence of 2% Ag₂S. Experiments conducted with natural cosalites suggest that this phase is stable only below 425±25°C in the presence of vapor. — In the Ag-Pb-S system the silver-galena assemblage is stable below 784±2°C, whereas the argentite + galena mineral pair is stable below 605±5°C. — Solid solution between matildite and galena is complete above 215±15°C; below this temperature characteristic Widmanstätten structure-like textures are formed through exsolution. Schematic phase relations within the quaternary system are presented at 1050°C, at 400°C, and at low temperature.

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Zusammenfassung Die Phasenbeziehungen in den Systemen Ag-Bi-S, Bi-Pb-S und Ag-Pb-S wurden durch Versuche in evakuierten Quarzglasröhrchen bestimmt. Die Auswertung aller experimentellen Daten gestattete eine Extrapolation der Phasenbeziehungen im quaternären System Ag-Bi-Pb-S. — Im System Ag-Bi-S besteht ein Zwei-Schemlzenfeld im metallreichen Teil über 597±3°C und im schwefelreichen Teil über 563±3°C. Die ternären Phasen entsprechen den Mineralien Schapbachit (AgBiS₂) und Pavonit (AgBi₃S₅). Zwischen 802±2°C und 343±2°C ist die Paragenese Silberglanz (Ag₂S) + Bi-reiche Schmelze stabil; unterhalb 343°C wird sie jedoch ersetzt durch die Paragenese Silber + Schapbachit. — Fünf ternäre Phasen sind stabil im Schnitt PbS-Bi₂S₃ oberhalb von 400°C: Phase II (18 Mol-% Bi₂S₃), Phase III (27 Mol-% Bi₂S₃), Cosalite (33.3 Mol-% Bi₂S₃), Phase IV (51 Mol-% Bi₂S₃) und Phase V (65 Mol-% Bi₂S₃). Phase IV entspricht dem Mineral Galenobismutit und ist stabil unterhalb 750±3°C. Die Phasen II, III und V kommen zwar nicht in der Natur vor, jedoch weisen typische myrmekitische und lamellare Gefüge, die man häufig in Pb-Bi-Sulfosalzen und deren Verwachsungen mit Bleiglanz beobachtet, auf die ehemalige Existenz solcher Phasen in diesen Erzen hin. Die Phasen II und III sind stabil von 829±6°C bzw. 816±6°C bis unter 200°C. Die Phase V, die im reinen System Bi-Pb-S zwischen 730±5°C und 680±5°C auftritt, wird in Gegenwart von 2% Ag₂S stabilisiert bis herab zu 625±5°C. Versuche mit natürlichen Cosaliten lassen darauf schließen, daß diese Phase nur unterhalb 425±25°C in Gegenwart einer Gasphase stabil ist. — Im System Ag-Pb-S ist die Paragenese Silber-Bleiglanz unterhalb von 784±2°C stabil, die Paragenese Silberglanz-Bleiglanz dagegen unterhalb 605±5°C. — Die Mischkristallreihe von Schapbachit und Bleiglanz ist vollständig oberhalb 215±15°C; unterhalb dieser Temperatur entstehen charakteristische Entmischungsgefüge ähnlich den Widmannstättenschen Figuren. Für das quaternäre System werden schematische Phasenbeziehungen für 1050°C, 400°C und eine noch tiefere Temperatur gegeben.