Experimental Crystallization of Leucogranite Magmas

Both crystallization and melting experiments have been carriedout on two natural, biotite-muscovite (DK) and tourmaline-muscovite(GB) High Himalayan leucogranites (HHL) at 4 kbar, logfO₂ =FMQ–05, aH₂O = 1–0•03, and at five temperaturesbetween 803 and 663C H₂O contents of the quenched glasses wereanalysed by ion microprobe. Plagioclase and biotite are theliquidus phases for reduced melt H₂O contents and H₂O-rich conditions,respectively. H₂O saturation limits range from 8 to 10 wt%.DK has a wider crystallization interval than GB (150 vs 80Cfor conditions close to H₂O saturation), and a slightly higherH₂O-saturated solidus (645 compared with 630C for GB). Tourmalinenever crystallized spontaneously from the melt. Tourmaline seedsalways reacted out to biotite in the biotite-muscovite sample,whereas they remained stable in the tourmaline-muscovite sample.Biotite is replaced by hercynite as the main ferromagnesianphase at high temperature and reduced aH₂O. Muscovite crystallizationis restricted to near-solidus conditions. The compositions ofplagioclase, alkali feldspar, biotite and muscovite are givenas a function of bulk composition, temperature and aH₂O. Glasscompositions are richer in normative quartz than the 4 kbarH₂O-saturated Qz–Ab–Or eutectic, and become moreperaluminous and less mafic with increasing fractionation. Biotitecrystallization in peraluminous liquids is favoured by elevatedFe, Mg and Ti contents. Muscovite crystallization is not promotedunder H₂O-saturated conditions. Tourmaline stability is stronglydependent on aH₂O. For GB, tourmaline is present at elevatedtemperatures for intermediate values of aH₂O (803 C, 0–7),but not above 650C for H₂O-saturated conditions. Comparisonof the natural crystallization sequence with experiments suggestsinitial water contents between 5 and 75 wt % for the DK magma,and > 7 wt% for the GB magma. Plagioclase core compositionsgive minimum temperatures of 700C for GB and 750C for DK,consistent with an emplacement of these HHL as almost entirelyliquid bodies. The restricted occurrence of biotite in the GBgranite suggests that it reacted out during the magmatic evolution,owing to a marked change in fO₂ toward more oxidizing conditions.Tourmaline leucogranites can be generated from biotite leucogranitesby fractional crystallization under conditions of increasingdegree of oxidation. KEY WORDS: leucogranite; melting experiments; crystlization experiments; Himalayas; phase relations ^*Corresponding author     

A Whole Plant Herbaceous Angiosperm from the Middle Jurassic of China

In contrast to woody habit with secondary growth, truthful herbaceous habit lacking secondary growth is restricted to angiosperms among seed plants. Although angiosperms might have occurred as early as in the Triassic and herbaceous habit theoretically may have been well adopted by pioneer angiosperms, pre-Cretaceous herbs are missing hitherto, leaving the origin of herbs and evolution of herbaceous angiosperms mysterious. Here we report Juraherba bodae gen. et sp. nov, a whole plant herbaceous angiosperm, from the Middle Jurassic (>164 Ma) at Daohugou Village, Inner Mongolia, China, a fossil Lagerst?tten that is worldwide famous for various fossil finds. The angiospermous affinity of Juraherba is ensured by its enclosed ovules/seeds. The plant is small but complete, with physically connected hairy root, stem, leaves, and fructifications. The Middle Jurassic age recommends Juraherba as the earliest record of herbaceous seed plants, demanding a refresh look at the evolutionary history of angiosperms.     

SOME ASPECTS OF INDUCED POLARIZATION (TIME DOMAIN)*

In the first part, the author, recalling the principle of d/c current measurements, shows by means of some examples, different experimental results relative to the induced polarization phenomenon. He presents the case of the negative induced polarization which can be explained by geometric effects. He gives some examples of saturation curves and discusses the problem of the linearity of the I.P. phenomenon. Then he shows some aspects which demonstrate that I.P. decay curves do not always conform to the general law. He concludes by showing the influence of the current electrodes, the position of which, relative to the polarizable bodies, may alter the shape of the I.P. anomalies. In the second part, the author presents different case histories of I.P. mineral surveys where I.P. is compared to other geophysical methods and drilling results.     

LIDAR DETERMINATION OF THE ENTRAINMENT ZONE THICKNESS AT THE TOP OF THE UNSTABLE MARINE ATMOSPHERIC BOUNDARY LAYER

The thickness of the entrainment zone at the top of the marine atmosphericboundary layer (MABL) has been documented by an airborne lidar on twoconsecutive days during a cold-air outbreak episode over the Mediterranean.In addition to the lidar observations, in situ turbulent flux measurementsat three levels in the MABL were made by a second aircraft. The flights' tracksare broken down in segments 25–30 km long and the data are filtered for theparametrization of turbulent entrainment in the MABL at scales smaller thana few kilometres. The structural parameters of the entrainment zone aredetermined by lidar from the distributions of the instantaneous MABL topheight. The average values Ph0 and Ph2 of the cumulativeprobability distributions are used to define the bottom and top heights of the entrainment zone h0 and h2, respectively. The parameters h0 andh2 are calculated by reference to a linear vertical buoyancy flux profilein the framework of a first-order jump model. The model is constrained by bothlidar and in situ data to determine Ph0 and Ph2 and so h0and h2. In unstable conditions theaverage fraction Ph0 is estimated to be 6.0 ± 1%. It is shown to beslightly sensitive to the presence of cloud at small cloud fractions.The mean value of the ratio of the inversion level buoyancy flux to the surfacebuoyancy flux ARv is found to range from 0.15 to 0.30 depending on the shearin the MABL. The average value is 0.22 ± 0.05. Our resultsare in good agreement with previous analysis at comparable spatial scales.In purely convective conditions, the value of ARv given by theparametrizations fitted to our results is about 0.10–0.12, a value smallerthan the commonly accepted value of 0.2. When compared to previousparametrization results, our proportionality constant for the mechanicalproduction of turbulent kinetic energy is also found to be scaled down, ingood agreement with large-eddy simulation results. It is suggestedthat mesoscale organized motions in the MABL is the source of thisdifference.     

Aluminous Granulites of the Archean Craton of Kasai (Zaire): Petrology and P-T Conditions

Aluminous granulites of the Archean (2?8 Ga) Kasai craton (Zaire)consist of two main mineral assemblages: Grt-Opx and Sil?Grt?Crdrocks. The high-grade metamorphic conditions as deduced from Grt-Opxand Grt-Opx-Pl-Qtz equilibria are 720?C-6?7 kb. Consideringthe zoning of the same minerals, the slope of the P-T path isestimated at 15 b/?C. Thermobarometry involving Crd is consistentwith those P-T conditions. Three cordierite-forming reactions have been observed petrographically: These equilibria are continuous reactions; end-member reactionshave slopes less than 15 b/?C; they are decompression reactionsoccurring after the metamorphic climax. Using available thermodynamic data, (R3) fixes the oxygen fugacityto a value below the QFM buffer (log₁₀f_O2 = – 17?6 at720?C, 6?7 kb and in the graphite stability field. The absence of graphite in the rocks showsthat the end of the granulite facies metamorphism did not occurunder important CO₂ streaming. The polymetamorphic history of this Archean craton is considered.     

Synsedimentary faulting and palaeocurrent patterns in the Triassic sandstones of the High Atlas (Morocco)

The influence of syndepositional fault patterns on palaeocurrents is demonstrated in fluvial to shallow-marine sandstones of Upper Triassic basins in the High Atlas. The synsedimentary nature of faults is deduced from hydroplastic slickensides, thickness variations due to block tilting and dislocation of layers next to the fault scarp. On a regional scale, it is shown that the major normal fault trend of N050–070° controlled the overall palaeocurrent pattern which was directed towards the west-southwest, i.e. in the direction of the future Atlantic ocean. Some anomalies in the palaeocurrent pattern could be related to an increase in subsidence which induced a general coarsening of sediment towards the top of the Triassic.     

Petrology and Thermal History of Highly Deformed Mantle Xenoliths from the Montferrier Basanites, Languedoc, Southern France: A Comparison with Ultramafic Complexes from the North Pyrenean Zone

The Oligocene basanites from Montferrier near Montpellier containvarious ultramafic xenoliths, predominantly spinel-lherzoliteslocally rich in amphibole, and a unique garnet-clinopyroxenite.The sulfide content of spinel-lherzolites is unusually highfor xenoliths and approaches that of MORB mantle sources. Thegarnet-clinopyroxenite, now consisting of recrystallized cpx+ garnet + opx + sp assemblage, results from subsolidus evolutionof a primary subcalcic clinopyroxene (plus minor spinel) compositionallysimilar to those experimentally obtained during high-pressurecrystallization of MORB; such an origin is also attested bythe Ni/Cu ratio of the coexisting sulfide component which isclose to 1. The spinel lherzolites display generally fine-grained porphyroclastictextures with varying proportions of porphyroclasts and neoblasts,and more rarely granuloblastic textures. Within each singlesample, the cores of the pyroxene and spinel porphyroclastshave nearly constant compositions. Significantly inhomogeneouschemical changes appear at the extreme edges of some large crystals,as well as in the fine-grained pyroxenes and spinel, whereasolivine composition is invariable. Such compositional variationsresult from the superimposed effects of two episodes of deformationand recrystallization. Geothermometric determinations show that all the spinel lherzolitesand the garnet-pyroxenite attained an equilibrium state around950?C. From a discussion on the origin of relict opx–cpx–spclusters and relatively high sulfide contents in peridotites,on the reconstructed primary paragenesis of the garnet-pyroxenite,and from a comparison with the North Pyrenean ultramafic associations,it is inferred that this equilibration occurred at the end ofan episode involving partial melting, crystallization, and subsolidusrecrystallization consequent on plastic deformation. Sulfideswere probably retained as sulfide melt early in this episodewhile metasomatism responsible for the crystallization of amphiboleoccurred late. This event is ascribed to a diapiric uplift upto a 45–50 km depth in relation with Oligocene riftingwhich started 35–40 m.y. ago in the Languedoc area. The compositional disequilibrium observed in a number of lherzolitesis related to a second episode of shearing deformation responsiblefor generating porphyroclastic textures, grading locally intomylonites. As a consequence of a concomitant cooling, Al andCr contents decrease in both pyroxenes, and Na content alsodecreases in clinopyroxene. The main chemical change of spinelconsists of a systematic substitution of MgAl₂O₄ by FeCr₂O₄,linked to the development of a porphyroclastic texture, i.e.to the degree of shearing deformations imposed upon the peridotites.The temperature decrease down to 750?C resulted from the ascentof previously equilibrated mantle blocks into colder parts nearthe Moho. This event occurred a few millions years before thecollection of xenoliths by the Montferrier basanites, probablyas the Cevennes fault zone below Oligocene grabens was reactivedat depth.     

Impact of lake‐level changes on the formation of thermogene travertine in continental rifts: Evidence from Lake Bogoria,Kenya Rift Valley

Travertine is present at 20% of the ca 60 hot springs that discharge on Loburu delta plain on the western margin of saline, alkaline Lake Bogoria in the Kenya Rift. Much of the travertine, which forms mounds, low terraces and pool‐rim dams, is sub‐fossil (relict) and undergoing erosion, but calcite‐encrusted artefacts show that carbonate is actively precipitating at several springs. Most of the springs discharge alkaline (pH: 8·3 to 8·9), Na‐HCO₃ waters containing little Ca (<2 mg l^?1) at temperatures of 94 to 97·5°C. These travertines are unusual because most probably precipitated at temperatures of >80°C. The travertines are composed mainly of dendritic and platy calcite, with minor Mg‐silicates, aragonite, fluorite and opaline silica. Calcite precipitation is attributed mainly to rapid CO₂ degassing, which led to high‐disequilibrium crystal morphologies. Stratigraphic evidence shows that the travertine formed during several stages separated by intervals of non‐deposition. Radiometric ages imply that the main phase of travertine formation occurred during the late Pleistocene (ca 32 to 35 ka). Periods of precipitation were influenced strongly by fluctuations in lake level, mostly under climate control, and by related changes in the depth of boiling. During relatively arid phases, meteoric recharge of ground water declines, the lake is low and becomes hypersaline, and the reduced hydrostatic pressure lowers the level of boiling in the plumbing system of the hot springs. Any carbonate precipitation then occurs below the land surface. During humid phases, the dilute meteoric recharge increases, enhancing geothermal circulation, but the rising lake waters, which become relatively dilute, flood most spring vents. Much of the aqueous Ca²⁺ then precipitates as lacustrine stromatolites on shallow firm substrates, including submerged older travertines. Optimal conditions for subaerial travertine precipitation at Loburu occur when the lake is at intermediate levels, and may be favoured during transitions from humid to drier conditions.