The opaque minerals and economic geology of the nemeiben ultramafic complex,saskatchewan, canada

The main rock types of the Nemeiben ultramafic complex form grossly concentric layers of clinopyroxenite, websterite, wehrlite and dunite. These rocks were partially amphibolitized late in the Hudsonian orogeny; consequently numerous relict primary textural and mineralogical features are preserved. Disseminated primary magmatic nickeliferous pyrrhotite, pentlandite, chalcopyrite, magnetite and chromite occur throughout this complex and local concentrations of sulfides occur. Textures, mineralogy and chemistry of these phases are indicative of a high temperature magmatic origin. Unmixing phenomena in pyrrhotite are attributable to post crystallization dissociation of a high temperature Fe-Ni-Cu-Co monosulfide solid solution. A secondary assemblage of fine-grained iron oxides, sulfides and native metals developed in altered ultramafic rocks. Magnetite and hematite, bravoite, violarite and millerite are among the minerals formed during serpentinization. Trace amounts of nickeliferous copper, native gold and silver occur in hematite veinlets and at the center of hematized former sulfide grains. Supergene alteration has affected most of the sulfides. Thus the most plausible explanation of the opaque minerals is that they represent a metamorphosed primary magmatic assemblage modified by supergene alteration.     

Karroo basalts from western Zambia and geochemical provinces in central and southern Africa

New chemical analyses of Mesozoic basalts from Zambia show that low K₂O tholeiites are present in central as well as southern Africa. The distribution of geochemical provinces thus recognised supports the view that the Karroo Volcanic Cycle was initiated by the convective uprise of mantle material beneath the Nuanetsi area of Zimbabwe.

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Zusammenfassung Neue chemische Analysen mesozoischer Basalte von Zambia zeigen, da\ Tholeiite mit niedrigen Gehalten an K₂O sowohl in Zentralals auch in Südafrika vorkommen. Die auf diese Weise ermittelte Verbreitung geochemischer Provinzen unterstützt die Ansicht, da\ der Vulkanische Zyklus von Karroo durch den konvektiven Aufstieg von Mantelmaterial unter dem Gebiet von Nuanetsi Zimbabwes ausgelöst wurde.

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Résumé De nouvelles analyses chimiques de basaltes mésozoÎques de Zambie indiquent que des tholéiites à teneur basse en K₂O se présentent dans le centre aussi bien que dans le sud de l'Afrique. La distribution des provinces géochimiques ainsi reconnue confirme la théorie que »La Période Volcanique de Karoo« débuta par le soulèvement convectif du matériau du manteau sous la région de Nuanetsi en Zimbabwe.

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Occasional paper No. 75 Geological Survey of Zambia. Published by permission of the Director.

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Publishes with the approval of the Director, Institute of Geological Sciences (N.E.R.C.). U.K.     

Influence of an americium solid phase on americium concentrations in solutions

Americium-241 concentrations in solutions contacting contaminated sediments for up to 2 yr were measured as a function of pH. Steady-state concentrations were reached within a few days. The solubility-limited Am concentration was found to decrease approximately 10-fold with one unit increase in pH. The log equilibrium constant for the solubility of Am_(soil) solid $\text{[Am}{}_{\mathrm{(soil)}}\text{+ H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{? Am}{}_{\mathrm{(aq\; complex)}}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{]}$ was found to be ?4.12. The predictions based upon thermodynamic data suggest that Am_{(aq complex)}⁺ is likely to be Am(OH)₂⁺. Although the chemical formula of Am_(soil) was not determined, it does not appear to be Am(OH)₃(a).Published data on sorption coefficients of Am by different rocks, soils, and minerals were critically evaluated. Final Am solution concentrations calculated from the sorption coefficients of a variety of earth materials with several solutions agreed well with the concentrations predicted from the solubility of Am_(soil) solid, indicating that the sorption coefficient data are controlled by Am precipitation.     

Comparative discharges of fresh and waste water along the California coast

As the population of California grows, the discharge of domestic and industrial waste water and power-plant cooling water into coastal waters continuously increases. About 0.75 × 10⁶ m³ of industrial waste water, 3.75 × 10⁶ m³ of domestic waste water, and 26.5 × 10⁶ m³ of thermal effluent are discharged daily into California's nearshore waters. These waters do not have an infinite capacity to break down and disperse the pollutants. Waste water discharged near shore may remain there for considerable time and have a significant effect on water quality and marine life. The low population and wet climate of the northern coastal region have led to small discharges of waste water but very large inputs of fresh water to the ocean. Southward along the Pacific Coast the climate becomes more arid, and population increases. This combination leads to a large excess of waste-water over fresh-water discharge. Many individual waste-water discharges exceed the average daily discharge of most of the rivers which enter the coastal waters.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy: A suggested approach to trace metal analysis in marine environments

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy analysis of marine samples from different environments appears to differentiate between adsorbed and structural Mn (II) and Fe (III) sites in the sediment. This suggests that EPR may provide a means of distinguishing different environmental influences on sediment. Acid extract solutions from sediment samples exhibit clearly defined EPR spectra due to Mn(II), Ti(III), Fe(III), and VO(IV), which are amenable to qualitative and quantitative analysis at concentrations below one part per million. Spectra of several shellfish vary considerably, both between species, and within a species, depending on sampling localities. Resonances from Mn(II), Mo(V), and Fe(III) can be obtained. Mn(II) is substituted for Ca(II) in the calcite structure of some shells. The low detection limits, small sample size, required and identification of oxidation states by EPR complement other analytical techniques and may prove useful in marine systems.     

An evaluation of CM patterns for grain-size studies of fine grained sediments

Grain-size data of Boom clay (Belgium) are represented on CM, AM, LM diagrams as suggested by Passega. They show a typical ‘uniform suspension’ pattern. It is argued that a ‘uniform suspension’ pattern can be due simply to the clay-rich nature of the sediments. As these sediments are not deposited by a single transport mechanism, the ‘uniform suspension’pattern does not necessarily indicate a specific transport mechanism.     

Some limitations of the Rfφ technique of strain analysis — Reply

The analysis presented in the discussion is statistically invalid.     

Crustal structure from deep seismic soundings along the Koyna II (Kelsi-Loni) profile in the Deccan Trap area, India

The crustal depth section obtained from deep seismic soundings along the Koyna II (Kelsi-Loni) profile, which lies near latitude 18°N roughly in the east-west direction in that part of the Deccan Trap Maharashtra State, India, shows a number of reflection segments below the Deccan Traps down to the Moho discontinuity. A deep fault below the Deccan Traps 13 km east of Mahad divides the entire cross-section including the Moho boundary into two crustal blocks. The reflection segments show updip towards the west coast in the western block. The Moho discontinuity which is at a depth of 39 km near the deep fault starts rising towards the coast, reaching a depth of 31.5 km at the west coast. The eastern block is thrown up by 1.5 km with respect to the western block along the deep fault. A structural contour map of the Moho discontinuity for the Koyna reservoir area has been prepared from the present results and the crustal information obtained along the Koyna I profile (Kaila et al., 1979a), shows that the deep fault in the Koyna area is aligned in the NNW-SSE direction.Refraction seismic data analysis by the wave front method reveals that the thickness of the Deccan Trap increases towards the west coast. The Deccan Trap is 600–700 m thick in the eastern region between Nira (SP 130) and Loni (SP 200) and attains a thickness of 1500 m at 10 km east of the west coast. The longitudinal wave velocity in the Deccan Traps along the profile varies from 4.8 to 5.0 km/sec and in the crystalline basement from 6.0 to 6.15 km/sec. A tentative isopach contour map of the Deccan Traps and a tentative structural contour map of the Pre-Deccan Trap contact have been prepared for the Koyna reservoir area from the results along the Koyna II and Koyna I profiles. A flexure aligned in a NNW-SSE direction, in the Pre-Deccan Trap contact, which is an expression of the deep fault into the basement, has been clearly brought out. The flexure coincides in general with the orientation of the Deccan volcanic scarp in this area.     

Trace element fractionation trends of tholeiitic magma at moderate pressure: Evidence from an Al-spinel ultramafic-mafic inclusion suite

Trace element data on an Al-spinel ultramafic-mafic inclusion suite in an analcimite support earlier proposals that the various inclusions are comagmatic and represent fragments of a layered tholeiitic ‘pluton’ which differentiated at pressures close to 8 kb. Ultramafic inclusions are dominantly pyroxenites, often websteritic, whereas the mafic inclusions are largely two pyroxene-plagioclase assemblages. Appropriate experimental data and abundances of Sc, Cr and V indicate that subcalcic clinopyroxene or relatively Ca-rich clinopyroxene was the major ferromagnesian phase fractionated, often accompanied by spinel in the early and middle stages of differentiation and, in the later stages, by titanomagnetite. Comparatively moderate decreases in Ni and Co suggest that olivine was a relatively unimportant fractionating phase. Clinopyroxene fractionation at moderate pressures should be assigned only a comparatively insignificant role in the production of evolved basaltic compositions.