Earth's free core nutation determined using C032 superconducting gravimeter at station Wuhan/China

The long series tidal gravity observations from 1997 to 2002 recorded with C032 superconducting gravimeter (SG) at station Wuhan/China are used in order to study the Earth's geodynamics. The tidal gravity parameters are determined precisely using Eterna software package after careful data pre-processing. The Earth's free core nutation (FCN) resonant parameters (eigenperiods, quality factors and resonant strengths) are determined accurately. The results show the determined eigenperiod to be 431.0 sidereal days with an accuracy of ±1.81%, the quality factor is a negative one as of −7002, and the resonance strength can be explained by the elastic property of the Earth's mantle. The discrepancy of the eigenperiods when using various ocean models can amount to ±1.8%. The 30 sidereal days difference between the determined eigenperiod in this paper and the one in theoretical computation given by Wahr and Bergen can be explained by the real dynamic ellipticity of the Earth's liquid core, i.e., it is about 5% larger than the one under the hydrostatic equilibrium assumption.     

Wal-Mart and Aldi: Two Retail Giants in Germany

Wal-Mart entered the German market at the end of 1997 but is still running at a loss in its 92 stores. This article tests the hypothesis that there are two main reasons for Wal-Mart’s problems in Germany. First of all, Wal-Mart is competing against very strong and well established deep discounters, especially Aldi. Secondly, there is the difference between the so-called Wal-Mart culture and German customer values. So far, Wal-Mart has not managed to close this gap or create a positive image in Germany. The first part of the article describes the differences between the two retail companies Wal-Mart and Aldi, whereas the second part focuses on the consumer perspective. Four hundred people were interviewed on the phone about their shopping behaviour in the city of Würzburg (northern Bavaria, 140,000 inhabitants). This survey is part of an international study also undertaken in Canada, Great Britain and China.     

Der petrogenetische Werdegang der Klinopyroxene in den tertiären Vulkaniten der Hocheifel I. Die Klinopyroxene der Alkaliolivinbasalt-Trachyt-Assoziation

Zusammenfassung Von über 150 Eraptionspunkten in der Hocheifel werden. 14 Gesteine als Verwtreter der Entwicklungsreihe. Alkaliolivinbasalt-Trachyt nach petrochemischen, optischen und aufbereitungstechnischen Gesichtspunkten ausgewählt und phasen mechanisch in ihre gesteinsbildenden Minerals zerlegt. Neben verschiedenen Klinopyroxenphasen, die sowohl die Klinopyroxeneingprenglinge als each die Grundmasseklinopyroxene enthalten, können fast ells assoziierten Minerals mitgewonnen und chemisch, optisch and röntgenographisch untersucht werden.Im Verlauf der Petrogenese zeigen die Klinopyroxene sine kontinuierliche Entwicklung vonCr- überTi-reiche Augite als Einsprenglinge zuNa-reichen oilerNa-Augiten in der Grundmasse, ohne daß aber Ägirinaugite oiler Ägirine in den sauersten Differentiaten erreicht werden. Neben intratellurischen und subeffusiven bis effusiven Stadien in der Mineralentwicklung, die rich mineralfaziell belegen lassen, tritt reliktisch mitNi-reichem Olivin, Cr-reichem Augit, Bronzit undCr-Spinell eine Mineralparagenese auf, die mit der der ultrabasitischen Xenolithe aus Alkalibasalten identisch ist and sich bis in die Mugearite in verschiedenen Überprägungszuständen nachweisen. läßt. lhr Vorhandensein wird genetisch auf ein initiates Hochdruck-Hochtemperatur- Stadium zurükgeführt, ilea die alkalibasaltische Schmelze am Anfang ibrer Entwicklung durchlanfen hat and dessen mögliche Ursachen mineralfaziell diskutiert werden.     

Central Andean magmatism can be constrained by three ubiquitous end‐members

The geochemical character of primary magmas and the nature of crustal melts remain poorly constrained at the active continental margin of the Central Andes, where the crustal thickness is >70 km. We identify three end‐members and constrain their full major and trace element compositions by polytopic vector analysis (PVA). The end‐members include two mafic parent magmas: (1) a slightly evolved calcalkaline basaltic andesite derived from the fluid‐fluxed mantle wedge that is typical of the Andes in general and (2) a strongly LREE‐enriched basalt akin in its trace element pattern to back‐arc shoshonites. (3) The third end‐member is a variably HREE‐depleted rhyodacite representing partial melts of lower to middle crustal lithologies. We propose that these end‐members are ubiquitous and typical of such thick‐crust settings, and can explain – in highly variable mixing proportions – the entire compositional range of Central Andean magmatism.     

Aubrites and diogenites: Trace element clues to their origin

We have analyzed by RNAA 25 aubrite and 9 diogenite samples for 13 to 29 siderophile, volatile, and lithophile trace elements. Both meteorite classes show a typically igneous siderophile element pattern, with Ir, Os, Re, Ge more depleted than Au, Ni, Pd, Sb. But aubrites tend to have about 10 × higher abundances (10^?3 ? 10 ^{? 4} × Cl for the first 4 and 10^?2?10^?3 × Cl for the last 4 siderophiles), apparently reflecting smaller metal/silicate distribution coefficients at lowerf(O₂), or less complete segregation of metal. Se is surprisingly abundant in aubrites (up to 0.4 × Cl), but Te is less so ($\text{Se}\text{Te}\text{? 5 × Cl}$), apparently due to its stronger siderophile character. Other volatiles (Ag, Zn, In, Cd, Bi, T1) show depletions intermediate between lunar dunite and the Earth's mantle.Of 7 aubrites analyzed for REE (Ce, Nd, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu), 6 are depleted in REE (0.08?0.5 × Cl) and 5 show negative Eu anomalies (the exceptions are Bishopville and Mt. Egerton silicate). This supports an igneous origin, as already noted by Boynton and Schmitt (1972). No samples of the complementary, basaltic and feldspathic rocks have been found thus far, but one of our samples of Khor Temiki dark is a candidate for the basalt. It is 5?7 × enriched in REE and only slightly less so in Rb, Cs, and U. Though shocked and enriched in siderophiles to ~0.05 × Cl, it apparently represents a new meteorite class.Three diogenites analyzed for REE show very diverse patterns, from strongly depleted in light REE for Tatahouine (Ce = 0.01 × Cl) to flat for Garland (~2.5 × Cl). The data confirm the trends found by Fukuokaet al. (1977) as well as their interpretations.Factor analysis shows several parallel groupings for aubrites and diogenites: siderophiles (Re, Ir, Os, Pd, Ge), chalcophiles (Se, Te), volatiles (Ag, In, Tl) and incompatibles (U, REE, and Cs or Rb). But there are some differences for elements such as Ni, Sb, Cd, Bi, Au, and Zn, most of which behave more sensibly in aubrites than in diogenites.Several element pairs that differ greatly in volatility (Cs-U, Ge-Ir) correlate closely in aubrites, in approximately Cl-chondrite proportions. These correlations, and other lines of evidence, suggest strongly that aubrites originated by igneous processes in their parent body, not by direct nebular condensation. The source material may have resembled EL chondrites in oxidation state and depletion of refractories, metal, and volatiles.     

Geological investigations in West Nepal and their significance for the geology of the Himalayas

In the sedimentary sequence of the Lower Himalayas monotonous geosynclinal deposits are overlain by various shallow-water deposits and a carbonate rock complex at the top. The age of this nonfossiliferous sequence is discussed. Transgressive Jurassic-Tertiary beds are evidence for a minimum thrust distance of 90 km of the Chail Nappes. The facies distribution points to the importance of an axis parallel to the Himalayan strike direction since Lower Paleozoic at least. The metamorphism of the overthrust units is described and the relation to the evolution of the orogen is discussed. An outline of the structure is given. The type of deformation and other features characteristic of the different tectonic units, as well as the relationship to the geology of the whole Himalayas are discussed. It is emphasized that structural development during the Himalayan orogenesis was largely determined by the earlier paleogeographic history. The picture of the structural development in successive stages is given.

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Zusammenfassung In der Sedimentfolge des Niederen Himalaya folgen über einförmigen Geosynklinalsedimenten wechselhafte Scichtwassersedimente mit einem abschließenden Karbonatgesteinskomplex. Das Alter dieser fossilleeren Schichtfolge ist noch nicht endgültig gesichert und wird diskutiert. Darüber liegen transgressiv Jura-Tertiär, deren Vorkommen bis 90 km unter die überschobenen Einheiten nach N reichen. Aus der Faziesanordnung ergibt sich eine Anlage der Himalaya-streichrichtung schon mindestens seit dem Altpaläozoikum. Die Metamorphose der überschobenen Decken wird beschrieben und die Möglichkeiten des Zusammenhanges mit der Orogenentwicklung diskutiert. Es werden die Grundzüge des tektonischen Baues, der charakteristische tektonische Stil der einzelnen Einheiten und deren Beziehungen zur Geologie des gesamten Himalayas beschrieben. Die Entwicklung während der Himalayaorogenese ist stark von der paläogeographischen Ausgangssituation bestimmt. Ein Bild der tektonischen Entwicklung in aufeinanderfolgenden Stadien wird gegeben.

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Résumé Dans la séquence sédimentaire du Bas Himalaya les sédiments géosynclinaux monotones sont couverts par des dépôts variables de faciès peu profond qui se terminent avec un ensemble de roches carbonatées. L'âge de cette séquence de couches non fossilifères n'est pas encore fixé et sera discuté. Audessus se trouvent des couches transgressives du Jurassique au Tertiaire qui s'étendent vers le N jusqu'à 90 km au-dessous des nappes chevauchantes. La position des faciès montre que la direction axiale du Himalaya existe au moins depuis le Paléozoique inférieur. Le metamorphisme des nappes charriées est décrit et les possibilités d'une connection avec l'évolution orogénique sont discutées. Les principaux traits de la structure et le style téctonique caractéristique des différentes unités ainsi que leur position dans l'ensemble géologique du Himalaya sont décrits. L'orogénèse du Himalaya est déterminée notamment par la situation paléogéographique. Enfin les différentes phases de l'évolution tectonique sont décrites.

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Petrographie und Mineralfazies einer konglomeratischen Tanner Grauwacke aus dem Unterharz

A very coarse grained graywacke from Strassberg in the Lower Harz Mountains (Germany) consists of rock-fragments, feldspars, quartz, chlorites, micas, accessories and ores. Low grade metamorphic mineral reactions are indicated by the formation of 2M-muscovite +chlorite+sphene+albite in the matrix of the graywacke, by prehnite+chlorite+ sphene+calcite+sericite+albite (±quartz) in volcanic rock-fragments, and by prehnite +calcite+quartz along fine fissures. The newly formed minerals in the coarse grained graywacke belong to the laumontite-prehnite-quartz-facies of the burial metmorphism. However, the formation of the low grade minerals is caused by thermal metamorphism in outer contact zones of the Ramberg granite intrusion in the Strassberg area.     

Thermal metamorphism of primitive meteorites—XL The enstatite meteorites: origin and evolution of a parent body

We report neutron activation data for Ag, As, Bi, Cd, Co, Cs, Cu, Ga, In, Rb, Se, Te, Tl and Zn in samples of Abee heated at temperatures of 1000–1400°C in a low-pressure environment (initially ~ 10^?5 atm H₂) and in 9 enstatite achondrites (aubrites) and the silicate portion of the unique stony-iron, Mt Egerton. Trace element losses in heated Abee progress with temperature, the lowest retention being 2.4 × 10^?6 of initial contents. These data indicate trace element loss above 1000°C via diffusion-controlled processes having apparent activation energies of 8–55 kcal/mol ; only Co exhibits a significantly higher energy. These trace element data and those for aubrites, Mt Egerton and E4–6 chondrites, and mineralogic and isotopic evidence link all enstatite meteorites to a common parent body. Volatile, mobile elements vary inversely with cobalt content in aubrites and Mt Egerton but directly in E4–6 chondrites; this is inconsistent with all genetic models positing fractionation of such elements during nebular condensation and accretion. However, the data are consistent with the idea that aubrites and Mt. Egerton reflect fractional crystallization of a magma produced from enstatite chondrite-like parent material (probably E6) and late introduction of chalcophiles and mobile elements transported by FeS-Fe eutectic from an E4–6 region experiencing open-system metamorphism. As suggested earlier, the only primary process that affected enstatite meteorites involved fractionation of non-volatile lithophiles from sulfides and metal during condensation and accretion of chondritic parent material from the nebula. If, as seems likely, volatile/mobile elements reflect secondary processes, they can only be used to establish alteration conditions within the enstatite parent body and not to estimate temperatures during primary nebular condensation and accretion.