Polarization in the young cluster NGC 6611: circumstellar, interstellar, or ... both?

We obtained linear polarization observations of 82 A/B-type stars in the young cluster NGC 6611, in order to probe the circumstellar material and to search for any evidence of intracluster or interstellar material that could also contribute to the polarization. We found linear polarization values that reach up to 14%. We consider the distribution of the polarization, its position angle, correlations with extinction and membership probability, polarization variability and wavelength distribution to identify the origin of the polarization toward NGC 6611. The polarization is found to be dominated by interstellar polarization, although some stars also have some circumstellar polarization. There is no evidence for intracluster dust. Rather, the dust must be located in a low density cloud toward the general line of sight to NGC 6611 and in front of it. The depth of that cloud along the line of sight increases slowly from the south–east to the north–west. The cloud is threaded by a very uniform magnetic field.     

Origin of Pyroxenite-Peridotite Veined Mantle by Refertilization Reactions: Evidence from the Ronda Peridotite (Southern Spain)

The Ronda orogenic peridotite (southern Spain) contains a varietyof pyroxene-rich rocks ranging from high-pressure garnet granulitesand pyroxenites to low-pressure plagioclase–spinel websterites.The ‘asthenospherized’ part of the Ronda peridotitecontains abundant layered websterites (‘group C’pyroxenites), without significant deformation, that occur asswarms of layers showing gradual modal transitions towards theirhost peridotites. Previous studies have suggested that theselayered pyroxenites formed by the replacement of refractoryspinel peridotites. Here, we present a major- and trace-element,and numerical modelling study of a layered outcrop of groupC pyroxenite near the locality of Tolox aimed at constrainingthe origin of these pyroxenites after host peridotites by pervasivepyroxene-producing, refertilization melt–rock reactions.Mg-number [= Mg/(Mg + Fe) cationic ratio] numerical modellingshows that decreasing Mg-number with increasing pyroxene proportion,characteristic of Ronda group C pyroxenites, can be accountedfor by a melt-consuming reaction resulting in the formationof mildly evolved, relatively low Mg-number melts (0·65)provided that the melt fraction during reaction and the time-integratedmelt/rock ratio are high enough (>0·1 and > 1,respectively) to balance Mg–Fe buffering by peridotiteminerals. This implies strong melt focusing caused by melt channellingin high-porosity domains resulting from compaction processesin a partial melted lithospheric domain below a solidus isothermrepresented by the Ronda peridotite recrystallization front.The chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns ofgroup C whole-rocks and clinopyroxenes are convex-upward. Numericalmodeling of REE variations in clinopyroxene produced by a pyroxene-forming,melt-consuming reaction results in curved trajectories in the(Ce/Nd)_N vs (Sm/Yb)_N diagram (where N indicates chondrite normalized).Based on (Ce/Nd)_N values, two transient, enriched domains betweenthe light REE (LREE)-depleted composition of the initial peridotiteand that of the infiltrated melt may be distinguished in thereaction column: (1) a lower domain characterized by convex-upwardREE patterns similar to those observed in Ronda group C pyroxenite–peridotite;(2) an upper domain characterized by melts with strongly LREE-enrichedcompositions. The latter are probably volatile-rich, small-volumemelt fractions residual after the refertilization reactionsthat generated group C pyroxenites, which migrated throughoutthe massif—including the unmelted lithospheric spinel-tectonitedomain. The Ronda mantle domains affected by pyroxenite- anddunite- or harzburgite-forming reactions (the ‘layeredgranular’ subdomain and ‘plagioclase-tectonite’domain) are on average more fertile than the residual, ‘coarsegranular’ subdomain at the recrystallization front. Thisindicates that refertilization traces the moving boundariesof receding cooling of a thinned and partially melted subcontinentallithosphere. This refertilization process may be widespreadduring transient thinning and melting of depleted subcontinentallithospheric mantle above upwelling asthenospheric mantle. KEY WORDS: subcontinental mantle; refertilization; pyroxenite; peridotite; websterite; melt–rock reaction; plagioclase; trace elements     

A process oriented characterization of tropical oceanic clouds for climate model evaluation, based on a statistical analysis of daytime A-train observations

This paper aims at characterizing how different key cloud properties (cloud fraction, cloud vertical distribution, cloud reflectance, a surrogate of the cloud optical depth) vary as a function of the others over the tropical oceans. The correlations between the different cloud properties are built from 2?years of collocated A-train observations (CALIPSO-GOCCP and MODIS) at a scale close to cloud processes; it results in a characterization of the physical processes in tropical clouds, that can be used to better understand cloud behaviors, and constitute a powerful tool to develop and evaluate cloud parameterizations in climate models. First, we examine a case study of shallow cumulus cloud observed simultaneously by the two sensors (CALIPSO, MODIS), and develop a methodology that allows to build global scale statistics by keeping the separation between clear and cloudy areas at the pixel level (250, 330?m). Then we build statistical instantaneous relationships between the cloud cover, the cloud vertical distribution and the cloud reflectance. The vertical cloud distribution indicates that the optically thin clouds (optical thickness <1.5) dominate the boundary layer over the trade wind regions. Optically thick clouds (optical thickness >3.4) are composed of high and mid-level clouds associated with deep convection along the ITCZ and SPCZ and over the warm pool, and by stratocumulus low level clouds located along the East coast of tropical oceans. The cloud properties are analyzed as a function of the large scale circulation regime. Optically thick high clouds are dominant in convective regions (CF?>?80?%), while low level clouds with low optical thickness (<3.5) are present in regimes of subsidence but in convective regimes as well, associated principally to low cloud fractions (CF?<?50?%). A focus on low-level clouds allows us to quantify how the cloud optical depth increases with cloud top altitude and with cloud fraction.     

Origin and U–Pb dating of zircon-bearing nepheline syenite xenoliths preserved in basaltic tephra (Massif Central, France)

Zircon-bearing xenoliths in continental basalts are often interpreted as witnesses of the continental basement uplifted during volcanic eruptions. Nevertheless, their origin is still debated. The Devès basaltic plateau belongs to the alkaline volcanic province of the French Massif Central. In few outcrops, zircon-bearing nepheline syenite xenoliths were preserved. U–Pb dating of the zircon crystals define an age of 956 ± 11 kyr constraining the crystallisation time of the zircons and consequently of the host xenoliths. This age, together with mineral chemistry arguments lead us to conclude that these minerals do not derive from a continental protolith. Rather, they likely result from the crystallisation of a liquid characterised by a nepheline–felspar composition and produced by the differentiation of a basaltic magma or, alternatively, by the low degree partial melting of a metasomatised lithospheric mantle. Such alkaline sialic rock and xenoliths may occur in large volumes at depth and generate the large amounts of zircon megacrysts discovered worldwide in secondary deposits within continental basaltic provinces.     

A new view on gold speciation in sulfur-bearing hydrothermal fluids from in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and quantum-chemical modeling

Despite the common belief that Au^I complexes with hydrogen sulfide ligands (H₂S/HS⁻) are the major carriers of gold in natural hydrothermal fluids, their identity, structure and stability are still subjects of debate. Here we present the first in situ measurement, using X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy, of the stability and structure of aqueous Au^I–S complexes at temperatures and pressures (T–P) typical of natural sulfur-rich ore-forming fluids. The solubility of native gold and the local atomic structure around the dissolved metal in S–NaOH–Na₂SO₄–H₂SO₄ aqueous solutions were characterized at temperatures 200–450 °C and pressures 300–600 bar using an X-ray cell that allows simultaneous measurement of the absolute concentration of the absorbing atom (Au) and its local atomic environment in the fluid phase. Structural and solubility data obtained from XAFS spectra, combined with quantum-chemical calculations of species geometries, show that gold bis(hydrogensulfide) Au(HS)₂⁻ is the dominant Au species in neutral-to-basic solutions (5.5  pH  8.5; H₂O–S–NaOH) over a wide range of sulfur concentrations (0.2 < ΣS < 3.6 mol/kg), in agreement with previous solubility studies. Our results provide the first direct determination of this species structure, in which two sulfur atoms are in a linear geometry around Au^I at an average distance of 2.29 ± 0.01 Å. At acidic conditions (1.5  pH  5.0; H₂O–S–Na₂SO₄–H₂SO₄), the Au atomic environment determined by XAFS is similar to that in neutral solutions. These findings, together with measured high Au solubilities, are inconsistent with the predominance of the gold hydrogensulfide Au(HS)⁰ complex suggested by recent solubility studies. Our spectroscopic data and quantum-chemical calculations imply the formation of species composed of linear S–Au–S moieties, like the neutral [H₂S–Au–SH] complex. This species may account for the elevated Au solubilities in acidic fluids and vapors with H₂S concentrations higher than 0.1–0.2 mol/kg. However, because of the complex sulfur speciation in acidic solutions that involves sulfite, thiosulfate and polysulfide species, the formation of Au^I complexes with these ligands (e.g., AuHS(SO₂)⁰, Au(HS₂O₃)₂⁻, Au(HS_n)₂⁻) cannot be ruled out. The existence of such species may significantly enhance Au transport by high T–P acidic ore-forming fluids and vapors, responsible for the formation of a major part of the gold resources on Earth.     

Role of natural nanoparticles on the speciation of Ni in andosols of la Reunion

Andosols on the island of Réunion have high nickel (Ni) concentrations due to the natural pedo-geochemical background. Enhanced knowledge of Ni speciation is necessary to predict the bioavailability and potential toxicity of this element. Ni speciation in these andosols, marked by the presence of high amounts of natural aluminosilicate nanoparticles, was investigated in two complementary systems: (i) In a soil sample—densimetric fractionation was first performed in order to separate the potential bearing phases, prior to Ni speciation characterization. (ii) In a synthetic sample—Ni reactivity with synthetic aluminosilicate nanoparticle analogs were studied. In both cases, Ni speciation was determined using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The results revealed that Ni had the same local environment in both systems (natural and synthetic systems), and Ni was chemically linked to natural short-range ordered aluminosilicates or analogs. This complex represented about 75% of the total Ni in the studied soil.     

Emissions ‘froides’ dans la couronne solaire

Prominences have been photographed through a coronagraph and an H Lyot filter with long exposure times. Faint H emissions are often detected down to the threshold 2 × 10^-6 times of the Sun's brightness; they show definite structures but their relations to the low-level ordinary prominences are not very clear. Estimates are given for the density and thickness of such cool regions.     

Simultaneous measurements of the polarization in Hα and D3 prominence emissions

Simultaneous observations of the polarization of radiations H and D₃ have been performed in 1979 at Pic du Midi on 60 solar prominences (300 pairs of measurements). For the essential part of the sample, the degree of polarization p(D₃) does not depend strongly upon the intensity E(D₃); on the contrary p(H) decreases steeply when E(H) goes beyond the brightness which corresponds to (H) = 1 (Figure 4); the deviation of the polarization direction (H) does not show such a strong dependance upon E(H) (Figure 6). A crude estimate of the possible role of multiple scattering in an optically thick prominence is in general agreement with observational data but a detailed comparison will be possible only when a complete theory of the Hanle effect in non optically thin layers will be available.Therefore, H polarization measurements are presently useful mainly when (H) < 1 and, in connexion with D₃ measurements (Figure 8), they should make possible to determine the three components of the prominence magnetic vector. Prospects are given for the observation of other lines (H; 10 830 Å) which do not suffer heavy self-absorption effects and would be well-suited to this type of study.     

Biokinetics of selected heavy metals and radionuclides in two marine macrophytes: the seagrass Posidonia oceanica and the alga Caulerpa taxifolia

Uptake and loss kinetics of Zn, Ag, Cd, ¹³⁴Cs, and ²⁴¹Am by shoots of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica and fronds of the green alga Caulerpa taxifolia were determined in controlled laboratory radiotracer experiments using low contaminant concentrations. The two species accumulated most of the elements efficiently. The only exceptions were ¹³⁴Cs in both P. oceanica and C. taxifolia and Cd in C. Taxifolia (concentration factors 6.4). Steady state in uptake was reached in C. taxifolia for each element except Ag. In P. oceanica, steady state was noted for the uptake of Ag and ¹³⁴Cs whereas Zn, Cd, and ²⁴¹Am were linearly accumulated during the course of the experiment (15 d). With respect to relative metal bioavailability, the different compartments of P. oceanica shoots were generally ranked in the order: leaf epiphytes > adult LEAVES = intermediate leaves > leaf sheaths. The long-lived component of the loss kinetics for each element in P. oceanica was characterized by a relatively short biological half-life (T_b1/2 28 d). However, observations for the individual compartments indicated that adult leaves had a high retention capacity for Ag and ¹³⁴Cs, with virtually 100% retained after 21 d in uncontaminated sea water. In C. taxifolia, the long-lived component of the loss kinetics for each element was characterized by a T_b1/2 value that was not significantly different from infinity, an observation which suggests that a substantial fraction of the metal or radionuclide incorporated during a contamination event would be irreversibly bound by this algal species.