A Reconnaisance Study of Phase Boundaries in Low-Alkali Basaltic Liquids

New data, derived from microprobe analyses of melting experiments,are presented in the form of sub-projections in the model basaltsystem, Ol-Pl-Wo-SiO₂, to illustrate the shifts in the liquidusfields of olivine, plagioclase, spinel, pyroxene, and silicain low-alkali liquids as functions of variable Wo componentand Mg. The projections are calculated in terms of oxygen unitsto avoid the ‘non conservative’ properties of moleunits and to provide a better representation of the volume proportionsof minerals. These projections show that over a wide range ofcomposition the complex, natural basalt system has liquidusboundaries that resemble many of those in the simpler CaO-MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂system. One important feature of the natural system is the progressivechange in the dominant low-Ca pyroxene along the olivine liquidussurface from protoenstatite to orthoenstatite to pigeonite asMg decreases. Another notable feature is the expansion of theplagioclase liquid field at the expense of the olivine and low-Capyroxene fields as Mg decreases in low-alkali liquids. Increasingalkali concentration has almost exactly the opposite effectso that evolved terrestrial basalts have higher proportionsof feldspar components than their lunar and eucritic counterparts. The new phase diagrams indicate that low-alkali liquids residualto those that produced the ancient, ferroan lunar anorthositesshould have crystallized an amount of ferro-quartz-gabbro equivalentto 10 per cent of the volumes of their parents. The scarcityof such rocks among the returned lunar samples poses a problemfor simple models of lunar petrogenesis.     

Textural and geochemical alternations in Late Cenozoic Bahamian dolomites

Dolomitized intervals of a core from San Salvador Island, Bahamas, exhibit variations of two texturally and geochemically distinct end-members. In the Pliocene section of the dolomitized interval, the two end-members alternate in a pattern that may reflect originally and/or diagenetically modified depositional facies. Formerly mud-free intervals, locally capped by exposure surfaces are massive crystalline, mimetic dolomites (CM). Muddier sediments are replaced by friable microsucrosic dolomites (MS). CM and MS dolomites also differ in porosity (< 10% vs > 30%), permeability (< 10 md vs > 100 md), mol% MgCO₃ (44–9 vs 47–7) mol%), oxygen isotopic composition (1–7 vs 2–7‰) and strontium content (241 vs 106 ppm). These data indicate that depositional and diagenetic fabric are the principal controls governing the distribution of dolomite types. Differences in texture and geochemistry are suggested as arising through differential rates of crystallization produced as a result of variations in permeability and reactivity of the precursor sediments and rocks.     

Tidal inlet sequence, Sundance Formation (Upper Jurassic), north-central Wyoming

The sandstones and coquinas of the upper 20 m of the Sundance Formation are interpreted as a tidal inlet, back-barrier shoal and sandy tidal-flat sequence deposited at the close of marine Jurassic sedimentation in north-central Wyoming. The barrier strandline maintained a generally E-W trend as it prograded to the north. The lateral migration of inter-barrier tidal inlets along the regressive shoreline of the late Sundance sea caused the coquinas and sandstones of the uppermost Sundance Formation to be deposited as tabular, laterally-extensive units. Tidal bundles, sigmoidal reactivation surfaces, herringbone cross-lamination and abundant mud drapes within the sandstones are evidence of considerable tidal influence during the deposition of the uppermost Sundance Formation. Earlier models, which attach an offshore environment of deposition to the sequence, do not explain the tabular geometries of the sandstone and coquina units and their conformable stratigraphic relationship with the overlying non-marine sediments of the Morrison Formation.     

Faceted garnets from sandstones of the Munising Formation (Cambrian), northern Michigan: petrographic evidence for their origin by intrastratal dissolution

Imbricate wedge marks (facets) on garnets in sandstones of the Cambrian Munising Formation of northern Michigan are associated with mouldic secondary porosity developed at the expense of garnet. Mouldic pores surrounding faceted garnets indicate that garnets in these sandstones have been affected by intrastratal dissolution (retreat of the mineral surface from its original boundaries) rather than by grain enlargement, which would be expected if garnet overgrowths had formed. The association of garnet facets with textural evidence of garnet dissolution proves that garnet facets form by intrastratal dissolution. These results confirm similar findings in other recent studies, and extend the geographic and stratigraphic range of proven occurrences of facet formation by intrastratal dissolution.     

The Scots Bay formation, Nova Scotia, Canada, a Jurassic carbonate lake with Silica-rich hydrothermal springs

During Early Jurassic time, the Scots Bay Formation accumulated in an aerobic lake on the floor of the subtropical Fundy rift valley. A diverse biota flourished in the lake as evidenced by algal stromatolites, oncolites, charophytes, ostracods, gastropods, conchostracans, fish bones, calcispheres and logs. Carbonate wackestone and packstone were deposited in the littoral zone and lime mudstone accumulated offshore on a proximal slope. Silica-rich hydrothermal springs and seeps around and on the floor of the lake precipitated siliceous tufa and silicified adjacent carbonate strata. The tufa is characterized by the progressive sequence: (1) open-framework, porous substrate of goethite spheres, (2) encrusting chalcedony spherulites where goethite inclusions decrease in size and number outwards towards the surfaces of the spherulites, (3) a fringe of quartz on the chalcedony spherulites and (4) coarsening inwards mosaics of quartz that filled the remaining voids. Carbonate diagenesis included conversion of low-Mg calcite ooze to micrite and microspar-pseudospar, and local dissolution and reprecipitation of calcite cement. At times the lake shrank in size, concentrating silica in increasingly alkaline lake water which then silicified some of the carbonate strata and logs. The latest cements were calcite, zeolites and celadonite.     

Combined flow origin of edgewise intraclast conglomerates: Sellick Hill Formation (Lower Cambrian), South Australia

Unusually thick, coarse grained edgewise intraclast conglomerates occur at eight or more horizons within subtidal nodular and ribbon bedded wackestones and packstones of the Lower Cambrian Sellick Hill Formation, South Australia. The intraclast beds are flat based and laterally discontinuous, forming bar-like structures that must have exhibited bathymetric relief of as much as 1 m. The internal fabrics of these beds are variable. Thinner beds are dominated by flat-lying intraclasts; thicker beds contain both chaotic, randomly oriented, steeply inclined intraclasts and clusters of fan-shaped, vertically stacked edgewise intraclasts. The Sellick Hill Formation intraclast conglomerates are inferred to have been formed by intense, storm-generated combined flows on a broad, subtidal carbonate ramp. Superimposition of wave-induced oscillatory motions on geostrophic bottom flows during large storms generates short-lived, but exceptionally high instantaneous shear stresses in the bottom boundary layer. Entrainment of the relatively large intraclasts occurs through sliding, rather than pivoting. Edgewise fabrics are a product of asymmetric acceleration and deceleration of intraclasts during passage of waves and the chaotic nature of collisions between intraclasts moving within the boundary layer. Collisions between intraclasts impart a rotating moment, causing intraclasts to tip up during maximum fluid shear stress. Lodgement or packing of clasts in vertical or steeply inclined positions occurs within scours, where intraclasts can wedge between other vertically inclined clasts, or where intraclasts are pinned in steep orientations by collisions with shallowly inclined intraclasts. Differential erosional resistance of the intraclast deposits probably led to the development of sharp lateral changes in thickness. The Sellick Hill Formation intraclast conglomerates record erosion and reworking of subtidal, subfairweather wave base environments by exceptionally intense and presumably rare storm flows. The intraclast horizons represent a substantial loss in stratigraphic resolution due to widespread erosion of the ramp.     

Planned Shopping Centres

Planned shopping centres affect the geographical direction of retailing and the nature of retailing in general. As major marketing outlets for national and international chains they are especially attractive to consumers. This paper examines shopping centres in New Zealand and their impact on stand alone retailers and includes a case study of the Queensgate shopping centre in Lower Hutt.     

Transform-normal extension on the Northern Death Valley fault system, California-Nevada

The Northern Death Valley fault zone is a major right-lateral structure that has accommodated 70 km or more of regional transtensional deformation in Tertiary to Recent time. Extension parallel to its north-west transport direction in the Death Valley region of California has produced ‘pull-apart’ structures that are responsible for opening the central Death Valley rhombochasm. In several ranges along the length of the Northern Death Valley fault zone, there is also evidence for extension directed to the south-west, normal to strike-slip movement. Evidence from the Funeral, Grapevine and Cottonwood Mountains suggests that a significant amount of down-dip slip has occurred on the Northern Death Valley fault zone and parallel structures (together referred to as the Northern Death Valley fault system) coeval with the majority of right-lateral slip and transform-parallel extension. As a result of both these components of extension, a separate basin opened in northern Death Valley with an orientation and architecture very different from that of central Death Valley. In addition, the Northern Death Valley fault system may be responsible for the present topography of the Funeral and Grapevine Mountains. Transform-normal extension appears to be the result of a misorientation of the Northern Death Valley fault zone within the regional stress field over the past 6 Myr, as suggested by simple geometric calculations.     

The Geochemistry and Experimental Petrology of Sodic Alkaline Basalts from Oatlands, Tasmania

Sodic basalts of Oligocene-Early Micene age occur within anEarly Tertiary graben in the Oatlands district of Tasmania.They include olivine tholeiites, alkali olivine basalts, basanites,transitional nephelinites, nepheline hawaiites, and nephelinemugearites. They have compositional characteristics in commonwith sodic alkaline basalt suites from other parts of the world.With decreasing SiO₂, concentrations of CaO, alkalis, P₂O₅,and incompatible trace elements increase. Compositional and experimental data for the basalts are consistentwith their derivation by polybaric partial melting of a garnetlherzolite source enriched in P₂O₅, light rare earths, Nb, andother incompatible trace elements. Experimental data for a primitivenepheline basanite from the Oatlands district indicate thatconcentrations of H₂O+CO₂ need not have been more than 6?5 wt.%for the original basanite magma to have derived from an amphibole-bearinggarnet lherzolite source. In the case of more SiO₂-undersaturatedolivine melilitites from the neighbouring Central Plateau, theexperimental evidence is consistent with either higher concentrationsof H₂O+CO₂ (approaching 14 wt.%), or higher pressures of origin(>35 kb). Petrographic and geochemical evidence suggeststhat the latter is the more probable of the alternatives.