The natural thermoluminescence of Antarctic meteorites and their terrestrial ages and orbits: A 2010 update

Abstract– We have examined the relationship between natural thermoluminescence (TL) and ²⁶Al in 120 Antarctic meteorites in order to explore the orbital history and terrestrial ages of these meteorites. Our results confirm the observations of Hasan et al. (1987) which were based on 23 meteorites. For most meteorites there was a positive correlation between natural TL and ²⁶Al, reflecting their similarity in decay rate under Antarctic conditions and thus in terrestrial age. For a small group with low TL and high ²⁶Al a small perihelion was proposed. Within this group, natural TL decreases with terrestrial age as determined by ³⁶Cl measurements, although the rate of TL decay is faster (half‐life approximately 10 ka) and the ages that can be determined are smaller (<200 ka) than for most meteorites. The faster decay rate and lower natural TL levels are a reflection of recent exposure to higher radiation doses and higher temperatures, since this history would populate less stable TL traps with smaller electron densities. We sort the 120 meteorites by perihelion and terrestrial age. The normal perihelion group range up to approximately 1000 ka and the small perihelion group range up to approximately 200 ka. An intermediate perihelion group tends to have short terrestrial ages (20–60 ka). There is acceptable agreement between most (34 out of 43) of our present terrestrial age estimates and those determined by isotopic means, the exceptions reflecting complex irradiation histories, long burial times in the Antarctic, or other issues.     

Coral bleaching indices and thresholds for the Florida Reef Tract, Bahamas, and St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

It is well established that elevated sea temperatures cause widespread coral bleaching, yet confusion lingers as to what facet of extreme temperatures is most important. Utilizing long-term in situ datasets, we calculated nine thermal stress indices and tested their effectiveness at segregating bleaching years a posteriori for multiple reefs on the Florida Reef Tract. The indices examined represent three aspects of thermal stress: (1) short-term, acute temperature stress; (2) cumulative temperature stress; and (3) temperature variability. Maximum monthly sea surface temperature (SST) and the number of days >30.5 °C were the most significant; indicating that cumulative exposure to temperature extremes characterized bleaching years. Bleaching thresholds were warmer for Florida than the Bahamas and St. Croix, US Virgin Islands reflecting differences in seasonal maximum SST. Hind-casts showed that monthly mean SST above a local threshold explained all bleaching years in Florida, the Bahamas, and US Virgin Islands.     

The 2007 Fox Creek landslide,Peace River Lowland,Alberta, Canada

Fox Creek is a small tributary of the Saddle River, a tributary of the Peace River in northwestern Alberta. It has several dormant landslides with degraded scarps and grabens. A new, reactivated landslide on the north bank of the Fox Creek occurred on 5 May 2007. The landslide formed two major sliding blocks. A rapid translational block slide, it mobilized 47 Mm³ of displaced materials, blocked the creek, and made a natural dam with a maximum height of 19 m at the tips of the displaced blocks. The rupture surfaces of the 2007 landslide were within the advance phase glaciolacustrine sediments. The residual friction angles are about 10° similar to those of the previous landslides in the Peace River Lowland. Precipitation and snow melt prior to the landslide are likely triggers of the 2007 Fox Creek landslide. The farmlands on the crest of the river valley and timber resources were impacted. The current landslide dam in Fox Creek does not have any evidence of seepage downstream; it may last for many years. Eventually, the creek will overtop and erode the dam. The same cycle of actions, landsliding, damming, and erosion will continue in the foreseeable future.     

西准噶尔包古图成矿斑岩年代学与地球化学:岩石成因与构造、铜金成矿意义

西准噶尔包古图地区的一些小型斑岩体或脉岩与铜金矿化的关系非常密切,引起了人们的广泛关注.报道了一些斑岩的LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年结果和岩石地球化学成分资料.Ⅱ、V岩体的石英闪长斑岩中岩浆结晶锆石的定年结果分别为314.9±1.7 Ma和309.9±1.9 Ma,Ⅲ岩体的闪长玢岩中岩浆结晶锆石的定年结果为313.9±2.6 Ma,表明包古图地区的岩体形成于晚石炭世.包古图地区小岩体的岩石富Na、高Sr,贫Y和Yb,无明显的Eu异常,具有埃达克岩特征,同时有些岩石富集MgO(3.93%～4.78%),具有高的Mg#(68～74),类似高镁安山岩.结合区域地质和岩浆岩的资料,认为:(1)包古图地区的小岩体形成于晚石炭世的岛弧环境,并可能与石炭纪的洋脊俯冲有关,其中埃达克质岩为俯冲洋脊两侧的板片熔融而形成,而高镁闪长岩类为俯冲板片熔体与地幔橄榄岩相互作用的产物;(2)包古图地区的铜金矿床也很可能与洋脊俯冲有关,高氧逸度的板片熔体上升并与地幔橄榄岩相互作用,这使得地幔中的金属硫化物不稳定,释放出金属成矿物质,从而使得Cu、Au等在熔体中不断富集而形成矿床.     

贵州荔波黑洞碎屑沉积物宇宙成因核素26Al/10Be埋藏年龄

河流下切在岩溶区形成的多级层状洞穴,记录了地体隆升和地貌演化历史,但由于测年手段的限制,国内在这方面的研究一直进展不大.近年来,运用宇宙成因核素得到洞穴碎屑沉积物埋藏年龄的方法,已成为反演山地区域构造-地貌演化的新途径.本文尝试运用宇宙成因核素26AL/10Be埋藏测年技术,对属于贵州荔波地区4层洞穴系统的黑洞(第二层)碎屑沉积物进行年龄测定,假设样品进洞前无埋藏史,测年结果显示黑洞年龄至少有1.06±0.23Ma,并且该地区三岔河流域的侵蚀速率为55.1±2.3m/Ma.这是对该地区洞穴测年的一次新探索,体现出洞穴沉积物宇宙成因核素埋藏测年技术在我国晚新生代地质地貌演化研究方面具有良好的应用前景.     

The glaciation of the outer hebrides

For the last 100 years there has been general acceptance for J. Geikie's hypothesis that during the last glacial maximum the Outer Hebrides was over-run by the Scottish ice-cap. An examination of the roches moutonnees on the east side of the islands from Stornoway to S. Uist shows that the ice flowed towards and not away from Scotland. During the last glacial maximum the Outer Hebrides were glaciated by their own ice-cap. There is evidence that the Scottish ice-cap overran the area during an earlier glaciation.