Geochemical Characterization of Magnetite and Geological Setting of the Iron Oxide ± Iron Silicate ± Iron Carbonate Rich Pb–Zn Sulfides from the La Unión and Mazarrón Stratabound Deposits (SE Spain)

From a mineralogical point of view the La Unión ore field (SE Spain) can be regarded as an oddity as some of its hydrothermal, stratabound type deposits display an extremely unusual paragenesis comprising magnetite ± greenalite ± minnesotaite ± siderite and galena ± sphalerite (IOSC – LZS). Recent mineralogical studies have shown that this paragenesis is also present at the neighboring Mazarrón ore field. These ore fields share a similar geologic setting, involving metamorphic and sedimentary rocks (Paleozoic s.l. to Permian) hosting late Miocene high‐K calc‐alkaline volcanic and subvolcanic rocks. The latter have andesitic to dacitic composition, and triggered hydrothermal activity and ore deposition. This study discusses the detailed mineral chemistry of magnetite samples from Mazarrón and La Unión and provides some hints for the origin of the IOSC – LZS paragenesis. We performed electron microprobe (EPMA) analyses in magnetite samples from La Unión and Mazarrón to determine the contents of minor and trace elements (Zn, Ni, Mn, Cr, V, K, Ca, Ti, Al, Si, Mg). Given that some results fell below the detection limit for the EPMA instrumental conditions we used robust regression on order statistics (robust ROS), with the NADA package in R to deal with these data sets. The Ca + Al + Mn contents in magnetites from San Cristóbal and Emilia are equivalent to the mean contents of those of IOCG, Kiruna, BIF, Cu porphyry, skarn, VMS, hydrothermal and clastic Pb–Zn deposits, but they are low in Ti + V and Ni + Cr. The principal components analysis indicates that Zn, Ni, Cr, V, K, Ca, Ti, and Mg are roughly collinear, therefore correlated, being also independent from Fe. Besides, the function discriminant analysis of data shows that the magnetites from Emilia and San Cristóbal cluster in differentiated groups, thus probably reflecting some differences related to the distance to the magmatic source that triggered the hydrothermal system: proximal in the case of San Cristóbal and distal in Emilia.     

Torsional balance of plan‐asymmetric structures with frictional dampers: experimental results

This investigation deals with the measured seismic response of a six‐storey asymmetric structural model with frictional dampers. Its main objective is to experimentally prove the concept of weak torsional balance for mass‐ and stiffness‐eccentric model configurations. The goal is to control the torsional response of these asymmetric structures and to achieve, if possible, a weak form of torsional balance by placing the so‐called empirical centre of balance (ECB) of the structure at equal distance from the edges of the building plan. The control of the dynamic response of asymmetric structures is investigated herein by using steel–teflon frictional dampers. As expected from theory, experimental results show that the mean‐square and peak displacement demand at the flexible and stiff edges of the plan may be similar in magnitude if the dampers are optimally placed. Frictional dampers have proven equally effective in controlling lateral‐torsional coupling of torsionally flexible as well as stiff structures. On the other hand, it is shown that impulsive ground motions require larger frictional capacities to achieve weak torsional balance. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the non-gravitational forces in the 1986 return of P/Halley

In this paper we study the time evolution of the non-gravitational forces (NGF) along with the observational bias, during the 1986 return of comet Halley. First, evidence is presented which shows that a NGF model with constant coefficients along the radial and transverse directions (A1 andA2), and a constant coefficient radial-only observation bias model fails to represent the observations within the conservative optical measurement noise of one second of arc. Second, we present a stochastic approach to the problem, where coefficients for the radial, transverse and normal components of both the NGF and the observation bias, are allowed to vary in time as three statistically independent Gauss-Markov processes. Finally, an orbit is estimated with this model, to fit observations made during the last apparition, employing a stochastic optimal smoother.Results are given in terms of time histories of the coefficient estimates along with their smoother computed uncertainties. A plot of the observation residuals is also included, showing a uniform and unbiased behavior. The analysis of the results confirms some of the assumptions often made when modelling cometary motion, but questions others. In particular, the normal bias coefficient shows an unexpected pre-perihelion peak (–1200±250 km) which proves that a radial-only observation bias model may lead to biased orbital estimates and unrealistic computed uncertainties.     

About some very small harmonics which are present in the tide of the Pacific

Summary Over 85% of the harmonic components of the tide along the west coast of Mexico have amplitudes smaller than 2 cm. Yet they are fully resolvable from the noise back-ground so that cotidal charts could be drawn for minor components such asQ ₁ andT ₂ . A cotidal chart forS ₁ ist also presented; the presence of this component is attributed not to the tidal forces but to some irregularity in the shape of the Earth or in the distribution of its mass. Third order effects of a magnitude of 1 to 9 mm are evident in the semidiurnal band; they actually exceed the second order input at some stations. The presence of compound harmonics of nonlinear origin, such as2MK ₂ ,MOK ₂ andNK ₃ is also detectable.

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Über einige sehr kleine harmonische Konstanten, die in den Gezeiten des Pazifiks vorkommen

Zusammenfassung Über 85% der harmonischen Komponenten entlang der Westküste von Mexiko haben Amplituden kleiner als 2 cm. Dennoch sind sie vollständig aus dem Hintergrundrauschen herauszufiltern, so daß für kleinere Komponenten wieQ ₁ undT ₂ Karten der Linien gleicher Amplitude und Phase gezeichnet werden können. FürS ₁ wird ebenfalls eine solche Karte dargestellt. Das Vorhandensein dieser Komponente ist nicht auf die Gezeitenkräfte zurückzuführen, sondern auf Unregelmäßigkeiten in der Gestalt der Erde oder in der Verteilung ihrer Masse. Effekte dritter Ordnung in einer Größe von 1 bis 9 mm sind offensichtlich in halbtägigen Gezeiten enthalten. Sie übersteigen sogar die der zweiten Ordnung an einigen Stationen. Das Vorhandensein von Verbundtiden nichtlinearen Ursprungs wie2MK ₂ ,MOK ₂ undNK ₃ ist ebenfalls erkennbar.

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Propos sur les très petites constantes harmoniques perceptibles dans les marées du Pacifique

Résumé Plus de 85% des composantes de la marée, le long de la côte occidentale du Mexique, ont une amplitude qui n'excède pas 2 cm. Néanmoins, elles émergent clairement du bruit de fond, ce qui permet même d'en tracer des cartes cotidales, soient celles deQ ₁ ouT ₂ par exemple. Nous présentons aussi une telle carte pourS ₁ : nous attribuons son existence non à la force de marée, mais plutôt à quelque déformité dans la géoide ou dans la distribution de sa masse. Des effets de troisième ordre, de 1 à 9 mm d'envergure, sont manifestes dans la bande semidiurne; en fait ils dépassent la contribution du deuxième ordre en certains endroits. Des composantes d'origine non linéaire, comme2MK ₂ ,MOK ₂ etNK ₃ , se descernent aussi.

     

Untangling the Palaeocene climatic rhythm: an astronomically calibrated Early Palaeocene magnetostratigraphy and biostratigraphy at Zumaia (Basque basin, northern Spain)

The magnetostratigraphy of a 54-m-long section above the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary at the sea-cliff section of Zumaia in the Basque basin (northern Spain) has been established. The section encompasses the entire Danian and the lower part of the Selandian stages as indicated by calcareous plankton biostratigraphy. The studied interval consists of (hemi)pelagic limestone-marl alternations in the form of couplets and bundles, which range from centimetre/decimetre to metre scale respectively and a few thin-bedded calcareous turbidites. The magnetostratigraphy, based on samples from about 200 stratigraphic levels, allows the identification of six reversal boundaries from chron C29r to C26r at a bed level. The spatial (or temporal) evolution of periodicities from a lithologically coded series is studied with the continuous wavelet transform technique. A preliminary age model based on the standard CK95 GPTS indicates that the basic lithologic carbonate-marl couplet corresponds to the 19-23-kyr precession cycle (21-31-cm cycle in the depth domain) and that a bundle cycle (usually groups of four to six basic couplets) with global periodicity centred at 1.22 m corresponds to the ∼110-kyr eccentricity cycle. We have tuned the bundle cycles to the Va03_R7 eccentricity orbital solution [Astrophys. J. 592 (2003) 620-630] following an initial match of a node of the ∼2.4-Ma eccentricity modulatory cycle in the target time series to particularly carbonate-rich bundles from the upper part of the Zumaia section that displays significant power of a 4.4-m-period cycle corresponding to the ∼404-kyr eccentricity cycle. Consistency between lithologic patterns and characteristics in the eccentricity target is reasonably met although the ∼404-kyr eccentricity cycle is not persistent throughout. The tuning, however, appears robust as it brings the age of the K/T boundary at ∼65.8 Ma. It is argued that a sea-level signal (tectonically driven?) is superimposed on the climatic forcing at the Milankovitch band masking the full expression of the low-frequency astronomical periods. We provide a cycle-tuned duration for all intervening Early Palaeocene polarity chrons and estimate relative ages for bioevents. The cycle-tuned chronology indicates that the CK95 GPTS overestimates the duration of chrons C28 and C27 by 20 and 26% respectively. Our data may prove useful to better constrain Early Palaeocene biostratigraphy of calcareous plankton and in the redefinition of the boundary between the Danian and Selandian stages.     

Use of machine learning for unraveling hidden correlations between particle size distributions and the mechanical behavior of granular materials

Acta Geotechnica - A data-driven framework was used to predict the macroscopic mechanical behavior of dense packings of polydisperse granular materials. The discrete element method, DEM, was used...     

Early Pragian conodont‐based correlations between the Barrandian area and the Spanish Central Pyrenees

Occurrences and distribution of extremely scarce eognathodontids do not facilitate reliable correlation across the European regions. The correlation of the traditional early Pragian of the Prague Synform (a part of the classical Barrandian area) and the Spanish Central Pyrenees (section Segre 1) is based on conodont taxa of the Icriodus steinachensis and the Pelekysgnathus serratus stocks. This correlation has the potential to be extended to other peri‐Gondwanan regions where this scarcity of eognathodontid faunas exists as well. Application of the morphotype subdivision in I. steinachensis enables approximation of the beginning of the Pragian in the Pyrenees. It is based on the entry of I. steinachensis beta morphotype; it enters together with early eognathodontid taxa in the Barrandian sections. These correlations show that routine application of certain zonal concepts can lead to misleading conclusions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.