Identification and Genesis of the Mixed-Layer Lizardite–Saponite Phase in a Kimberlite Pipe,South Africa

In autolithic breccia of a kimberlite pipe in South Africa, the ordered mixed-layer lizardite–saponite phase was first identified in rocks containing a mechanical mixture of lizardite and saponite or only saponite in association with lizardite. The mixed-layer phase consists of 52% lizardite and 48% saponite layers. The trioctahedral type of this phase indicates its formation in a closed system and reducing environment, whereas the high content of expanding layers suggests low PT parameters.     

Rapid variability of the radio flux density of the blazar J0721+7120 (S5 0716+714) in 2010

Results of a study of the variability of the blazar J0721+7120 carried out on the RATAN-600 based on daily observations from March 5, 2010 to April 30, 2010 at five frequencies from 2.3 to 21.7 GHz are reported. In the same time interval, 13 observing sessions at 37 GHz were carried out on the 14-m radio telescope of the Mets?hovi Radio Astronomy Observatory of the Aalto University School of Technology (Finland). From March 19, 2010 to October 20, 2010, 16 daily sessions at 6.2 cm and five sessions at 3.5 cm were conducted on the 32-m radio telescope of the Zelenchukskaya Observatory (Quasar-KVO complex of the Institute of Applied Astronomy, Russian Academy of Sciences). A powerful flare was detected during the observations, with a time scale of approximately 20 days, derived from an analysis of the light curves and the structure and autocorrelation functions. The flare spectrum has been determined. In five sessions on the 32-m Zelenchukskaya telescope at 6.2 cm, intraday variability with time scales 8-16 h was detected; in four sessions, trends with time scales longer than a day were observed. In three sessions at 3.5 cm, intraday variability with a time scale of approximately 5 h was detected.     

Analysis of the geomagnetic field of the White Sea: The Gorlo Strait

The objective of our research is the interpretation of the results of the geomagnetic survey of the geologic structure in the Gorlo Strait of the White Sea. We used the maps of the anomalous magnetic field (AMF) available and processed them with original interpretation software. As a result of this processing, we compiled a structural-tectonic chart of this region. We distinguished the boundaries of the major first-order tectonic structures such as the underwater extension of the Leshukon graben and a number of minor structures related to the Proterozoic and Paleozoic stages of the magmatic activity in the region. Modeling was performed for the most important objects, which allowed us to refine the geological structure of these objects and their genesis.     

Sulfides in phosphorites of Africain Island: Morphological peculiarities and origin

The investigation of phosphorites from Africain Island situated in the Indian Ocean revealed that they contain iron sulfides in the form of framboids consisting of separate crystallites, as well as fine-dispersed colloidal particles of micrometer and submicrometer size. Crystallites consist of pyrite, whereas colloidal matter consists of troilite, which is initially formed as hydrogel inside voids. During the subsequent interaction of gelatinous troilite with sulfur, pyrite crystals are formed. The growth of crystals inside a 10987ted microvoid space in the rock leads to their dense hexagonal and tetragonal packing.     

Variability Observations of a Complete Sample of Flat-Spectrum Radio Sources: Preliminary Results

This report presents preliminary results of daily observations, over 60and 100 days, of a complete, flux-limited sample of radio sources with flat spectra. The existence of flicker up to 21.7 GHz was confirmed, for sources with flat spectra, on a time-scale of 4 days. A model explaining the flux density variations of the unique radio source 0524+034, on long and short time-scales, by an intrinsic mechanism is proposed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Delineation of the geometry of nodes in the Alps–Dinarides hinge zone and recognition of seismogenic nodes (M ≥ 6)

We introduce a new method based on the analysis of the topographical alignments and used to delineate the structural boundaries of the nodes, which permits the definition of relatively narrow earthquake-prone areas by the pattern recognition approach. The structurally bounded nodes capable of earthquakes with M  ≥ 6.0, identified with pattern recognition, in fact, cover a significantly smaller area of the study region as compared with that defined by Gorshkov et al. (2004) who used conventional circles. The proposed method thus improves the precision in the location of potential large earthquakes.     

Study of the interannual variations of the Earth’s rotation

In this work we investigate the variations of the Earth’s rotation in the interval of periods from 2 to 8 years using the longest available observational series obtained both by means of astrometry and space geodesy. We found an abrupt change of the variation pattern in the middle of the 1980s, when classical ground-based astrometric facilities for studying the Earth Rotation Parameters (ERP) were replaced with space geodesy methods. Variations with a 6-year periodicity and ∼0.2-ms amplitude practically disappeared (space geodesy instruments did not detect these variations right from the start), but the 2- to 4-year periodicities increased in amplitude and began to dominate in this frequency range under consideration. In this study, we analyze some possible excitation sources and possible causes of the change in the variability pattern.     

Microinclusions in dark gray diamond crystals of octahedral habit from Yakutian kimberlites

Micrometer-sized inclusions in dark gray diamond crystals of octahedral habit from Yakutian kimberlites were studied by analytical scanning electron microscopy and analytical transmission electron microscopy. In addition to peridotite-suite silicate inclusions (enstatie and olivine), which were previously studied in detail as macroinclusions in perfect diamond crystals, there are abundant inclusions of native metals (Fe-Cr and Fe-Cr-Ti intermetallic compounds and metallic Fe), sulfides (Fe-Ni sulfide, polydymite, and chalcopyrite), and carbonates (calcite). Rare grains of ilmenite, fluorite, apatite, zircon, phlogopite, and some other minerals were also found. The gray and black colors of diamonds were previously attributed to the presence of graphite. Although this phase was identified in the electron diffraction patterns of all the samples, its content was very low. Microinclusions of induced octahedral morphology composed of intimate enstatite-calcite intergrowths were also found. Possible deep processes responsible for the formation of diamonds with such a peculiar inclusion association are discussed in light of new data on experimental synthesis. Original Russian Text ? S.V. Titkov, A.I. Gorshkov, N.G. Zudin, I.D. Ryabchikov, L.O. Magazina, A.V. Sivtsov, 2006, published in Geokhimiya, 2006, No. 11, pp. 1209–1217.