Bulk density of ordinary chondrite meteorites and implications for asteroidal internal structure

Abstract— The bulk densities of 82 samples of 72 ordinary chondrites (OCs) were measured to an accuracy of ～1% using a modified Archimedian method. We found the average bulk density to be 3.44 ± 0.19 g/cm³ for the H group, 3.40 ± 0.15 g/cm³ for the L group, and 3.29 ± 0.17 g/cm³ for the LL group (± represent 1σ). Bulk density measurements of 11 pieces of one fall, Pultusk (H group), were also found to vary considerably (3.31 to 3.63 g/cm³). To investigate controls on bulk density within the OCs, we compared density with bulk chemical composition (the ratio of Fe metal to total Fe; the ratio of total Fe to SiO₂; the ratio of FeO to total Fe and MgO). Within each OC group, bulk chemical composition is nearly invariant whereas bulk density varies from about 3.0 to 3.8 g/cm³. Slight but systematic differences in average density between the H, L, and LL groups presumably relate to differences in metallic Fe abundance. However, considerable overlap between OC groups and the wide range of bulk densities within each group suggest differences in porosity dominantly control variations of density within the OC subgroups.     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating of granites from Dulan and the chronological framework of the North Qaidam UHP belt,NW China

Zircon SHRIMP dating of granites from Dulan,east segment of North Qaidam UHP belt shows that they are 406.6±3.5 Ma for Yematan-E,407.3±4.3 and 397±6 Ma for Balijiehatan-W,404.5±4.0 and 397.0±3.7 Ma for Shuiwenzhan-N,380.5±5.0 Ma for Shuiwenzhan-S,382.5±3.6 and 372.5±2.8 Ma for Chachagongma.These granites from Dulan represent the products of the third and fourth periods of Paleozoic magmatism in North Qaidam.Geochemically,the granitoids with metalumious to weak peratuminous are quartz diorite,granodiorite,and granite in composition and mainly belong to calc-alkaline series,a few samples to calc or alkali-calc series.The third period of granites is a rock association of granodiorite+granite,with initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios from 0.7082 to 0.7110 and T2DM model ages from 1.41–1.90 Ga;and the fourth period of granites is a rock association of quartz diorite+granodiorite+granite,with initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios from 0.7072 to 0.7091 and T2DM model ages from 1.07–1.38 Ga.Therefore,the third period of granites has higher initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios and T2DM model ages.On the contrary,the fourth period of granites has Nd(t)values from 0.6 to-3.0,higher than that of the third granite with Nd(t)values-3.2 to-9.3.Thus,the data comparison indicates that the third granites may derive from Paleo-proterzoic continental crust with mantle material whereas the fourth granites may derive from the Meso-proterzoic basalt crust with continental material.Combined with regional geology,we thought that the third granites were formed relative to plate exhumation and the fourth granites to delamination of the lithospheric mantle.     

Geochemical Characterizations of Source and Depositional Environment of Hydrocarbons in the Lake Albert Rift Basin

Despite the upsurge in hydrocarbon exploration in the Lake Albert Rift Basin(LARB)over the past three decades,systematic characterization of hydrocarbon compositions remains lacking,leading to uncertainties in source rock and oil generation determination.We characterized crude oil compositions and oil sand samples in the northern and southern subbasins of LARB.The relative abundance of normal and branched linear alkanes,hopanes,steranes,and aromatic hydrocarbon suggest that northern and southern hydrocarbons were deposited in anoxic to suboxic lacustrine environments and share similar biological source compositions(i.e.,a mixture of plants and aquatic algae and bacteria).Relative to southern samples,northern samples show more negative δ¹³C values for oils,saturates and aromatics,indicating longer migration paths,and exhibit higher MPI-1,DNR-1 and 4-/1-MDBT ratios,indicating higher maturity.Between the two possible sets of source rocks(upper Miocene and Jurassic strata),the positive δ¹³C values of saturated hydrocarbons(average=-20.5‰)suggest that the upper Miocene lacustrine shale is the most likely candidate.Oleanane index(<5% in our samples)does not exclude either source rock possibility,and C₂₈/C₂₉ regular sterane(average=0.63)may be biased by high terrestrial inputs in a lacustrine setting.Together,our data show that northern and southern oils originate from the same source rocks but different oil kitchens.Given the similar geochemical characteristics of southern and northern oils,previous exploration successes in the northern subbasin likely suggest similar potential in the southern sector,while other elements influencing exploration success must be also evaluated.     

Compositional variations in mafic phyllosilicates from regional low-grade metabasites and application of the chlorite geothermometer

Abstract Mafic phyllosilicates in metabasites affected by low-grade regional metamorphism from Wales and eastern North Greenland show variations in their structure and chemistry. These variations are related to four mineral zones in these metabasites, which are recognized on the presence/absence of various key calc-silicate minerals and also actinolite. Zones 1 and 2 equate with the zeolite facies, zone 3 with the prehnite–pumpellyite facies (or prehnite–actinolite facies in rocks with appropriate bulk rock composition) and zone 4 with the greenschist facies. Whilst variations in Fe/(Fe + Mg) in chlorite correlate closely with Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratios in the whole-rock, other chemical variations are clearly unrelated to whole-rock compositions. Contents of Al^iv are seen to increase systematically in samples from zone 1 through to zone 4, which relate to an increase in temperature. Calibration of alteration temperatures, calculated using the chlorite geothermometer (based on Al^iv contents) developed for meta-andesites in the Los Azufres geothermal system (Mexico), against x values (an estimate of the proportion of chlorite to swelling component in the mafic phyllosilicates) shows a decrease in the swelling component in passing from zone 1 to zone 4, i.e. with an increase in temperature. Calculated temperatures compare favourably with published stability estimates for the various key calc-silicates and actinolite. These data indicate that the chlorite geothermometer, although developed for meta-andesites from a hydrothermal system, does show a correlation with temperatures estimated from calc-silicate assemblages in metabasites affected by low-grade metamorphism developed on a regional scale.     

北祁连山西段螯油沟蛇绿岩SHRIMP分析结果及其地质意义

本文通过对北祁连山西段熬油蛇绿岩中辉绿岩岩墙的锆石SHRIMP法年龄 的测定，确定出熬油的沟蛇绿岩形成于中元古代早期（约1777Ma)，这是迄今为止我国发现的最古老的蛇绿岩。该年龄测定的结果还暗示了本区在1466Ma和507Ma各有一次地质事件，前者可能代表了中元古代早期的洋盆闭合的下限年龄，后者代表一次加里东期区域变质事件，并且本区可能还存在未出露的新太古结晶基底（2561Ma)。     

REE and PGE Geochemical Constraints on the Formation of Dunites in the Luobusa Ophiolite, Southern Tibet

The Luobusa ophiolite, Southern Tibet, lies in the Indus–YarlungZangbo suture zone that separates Eurasia to the north fromthe Indian continent to the south. The ophiolite contains awell-preserved mantle sequence consisting of harzburgite, clinopyroxene(cpx)-bearing harzburgite and dunite. The harzburgite containsabundant pods of chromitite, most of which have dunite envelopes,and the cpx-bearing harzburgites host numerous dunite dykes.Dunite also exists as a massive unit similar to those of themantle–crust transition zones in other ophiolites. Allof the dunites in the ophiolite have a similar mineralogy, comprisingmainly olivine with minor orthopyroxene and chromite and tracesof clinopyroxene. They also display similar chemical compositions,including U-shaped chondrite-normalized REE patterns. Mantle-normalizedPGE patterns show variable negative Pt anomalies. Detailed analysisof a chromite-bearing dunite dyke, which grades into the hostcpx-bearing harzburgite, indicates that LREE and Ir decrease,whereas HREE, Pd and Pt increase away from the dunite. Thesefeatures are consistent with formation of the dunite dykes byinteraction of MORB peridotites with boninitic melts from whichthe chromitites were formed. Because the transition-zone dunitesare mineralogically and chemically identical to those formedby such melt–rock reaction, we infer that they are ofsimilar origin. The Luobusa ultramafic rocks originally formedas MORB-source upper mantle, which was subsequently trappedas part of a mantle wedge above a subduction zone. Hydrous meltsgenerated under the influence of the subducted slab at depthmigrated upward and reacted with the cpx-bearing harzburgitesto form the dunite dykes. The modified melts ponded in smallpockets higher in the section, where they produced podiformchromitites with dunite envelopes. At the top of the mantlesection, pervasive reaction between melts and harzburgite producedthe transition-zone dunites. KEY WORDS: melt–rock interaction; REE; PGE; hydrous melt; mantle; ophiolite; Tibet     

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS OF THE SOUTH-EASTERN UNITED STATES AND THE GULF COAST OF MEXICO

The south-eastern United States and Gulf Coast of Mexico is physiographically diverse, although dominated by a broad coastal plain. Much of the region has a humid, warm temperate climate with little seasonality in precipitation but strong seasonality in runoff owing to high rates of summer evapotranspiration. The climate of southern Florida and eastern Mexico is subtropical with a distinct summer wet season and winter dry season. Regional climate models suggest that climate change resulting from a doubling of the pre-industrial levels of atmospheric CO₂ may increase annual air temperatures by 3–4°C. Changes in precipitation are highly uncertain, but the most probable scenario shows higher levels over all but the northern, interior portions of the region, with increases primarily occurring in summer and occurring as more intense or clustered storms. Despite the increases in precipitation, runoff is likely to decline over much of the region owing to increases in evapotranspiration exceeding increases in precipitation. Only in Florida and the Gulf Coast areas of the US and Mexico are precipitation increases likely to exceed evapotranspiration increases, producing an increase in runoff. However, increases in storm intensity and clustering are likely to result in more extreme hydrographs, with larger peaks in flow but lower baseflows and longer periods of drought. The ecological effects of climate change on freshwaters of the region include: (1) a general increase in rates of primary production, organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling as a result of higher temperatures and longer growing seasons: (2) reduction in habitat for cool water species, particularly fish and macroinvertebrates in Appalachian streams; (3) reduction in water quality and in suitable habitat in summer owing to lower baseflows and intensification of the temperature–dissolved oxygen squeeze in many rivers and reservoirs; (4) reduction in organic matter storage and loss of organisms during more intense flushing events in some streams and wetlands; (5) shorter periods of inundation of riparian wetlands and greater drying of wetland soils, particularly in northern and inland areas; (6) expansion of subtropical species northwards, including several non-native nuisance species currently confined to southern Florida; (7) expansion of wetlands in Florida and coastal Mexico, but increase in eutrophication of Florida lakes as a result of greater runoff from urban and agricultural areas; and (8) changes in the flushing rate of estuaries that would alter their salinity regimes, stratification and water quality as well as influence productivity in the Gulf of Mexico. Many of the expected climate change effects will exacerbate current anthropogenic stresses on the region's freshwater systems, including increasing demands for water, increasing waste heat loadings and land use changes that alter the quantity and quality of runoff to streams and reservoirs. Research is needed especially in several critical areas: long-term monitoring of key hydrological, chemical and biological properties (particularly water balances in small, forested catchments and temperature-sensitive species); experimental studies of the effects of warming on organisms and ecosystem processes under realistic conditions (e.g. in situ heating experiments); studies of the effects of natural hydrological variation on biological communities; and assessment of the effects of water management activities on organisms and ecosystem processes, including development and testing of management and restoration strategies designed to counteract changes in climate. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.