A thermodynamic theory of the Grüneisen ratio at extreme conditions: MgO as an example

The Grüneisen ratio, γ, is defined as γy=αK _TV/C_v. The volume dependence of γ(V) is solved for a wide range in temperature. The volume dependence of αK _T is solved from the identity (? ln(αK _T)/? ln V)T ≡ δ _T-K′. α is the thermal expansivity; K _T is the bulk modulus; C _V is specific heat; and δ _Tand K′ are dimensionless thermoelastic constants. The approach is to find values of δ _T and K′, each as functions of T and V. We also solve for q=(? ln γ/? ln V) where q=δ _T -K′+ 1-(? ln C _V/? ln V)T. Calculations are taken down to a compression of 0.6, thus covering all possible values pertaining to the earth's mantle, q=? ln γ/? ln V; δ _T=? ln α/? ln V; and K′= (?K _T/?P)T. New experimental information related to the volume dependence of δ _T, q, K′ and C _V was used. For MgO, as the compression, η=V/V ₀, drops from 1.0 to 0.7 at 2000 K, the results show that q drops from 1.2 to about 0.8; δ _T drops from 5.0 to 3.2; δ _T becomes slightly less than K′; ? ln C _V/? In V→0; and γ drops from 1.5 to about 1. These observations are all in accord with recent laboratory data, seismic observations, and theoretical results.     

Error propagation by the Monte Carlo method in geochemical calculations

The Monte Carlo method of error propagation consists of repeated calculation of a quantity, each time varying the input data randomly within their stated limits of precision. The distribution of the calculated quantity then shows the effects of the imprecision of the data. It is an inefficient but very simple method of error propagation. Three examples are given—calculation of the free energy of a compound from phase equilibrium data; calculation of a reaction equilibrium temperature from free energy data; and the calculation of sulfide solubilities. Fifty iterations were generally found to be sufficient in these cases. The method is also useful where precision or accuracy of the data is not known, since the effect of various assumed possible errors is easily calculated.     

Magma mixing: petrological process and volcanological tool

Magma mixing is a widespread, if not universal igneous phenomenon of variable importance. The evidence for magma mixing is found primarily in glassy tephra; the consolidation of lava obscures the evidence. Inclusions of glass in big crystals in tephra, because of their greater range in composition compared to the whole rock and the residual glass, indicate that the big crystals were derived from separate systems which mixed together prior to and during eruption. The observed or reconstructed concentration of K₂O in inclusions of glass in large crystals represent the composition of the contaminant and host systems. Selective enrichment in K₂O during entrapment of melt by growing crystals is shown to be negligible. The weight percents of K₂O in host, contaminant and residual glass and bulk rock determine the proportions of contaminant and host required to yield either the residual glass or bulk rock. In several cases the proportion of contaminant required is substantially larger than the proportion of crystals in the hybrid magma; therefore, by heat budget argument, the contaminant was partly liquid when contamination began. In some tephra individual phenocrysts contain glasses which are more silicic toward the center of the crystal indicating that the crystal grew from a melt whose composition changed in the opposite sense to that expected for progressive solidification of a closed system. Space time associations of compositionally distinct glassy tephra with contaminated magmas suggest coexistence of basaltic and silicic melts within magma systems. Evidence of contamination is present in most tephra studied so far. Magma mixing appears to be the prevalent process whereby contamination occurs. Magma mixing seems to be particularly evident in systems where there is independent evidence for a vapor-saturated magma reservoir. Probably vapor saturation promotes mixing in magma systems. Magma mixing probably is an important mechanism of compositional diversification (differentiation) of volcanic rocks from continental margin and possibly other environments.Textural evidence of the onset of magma mixing can be related to disturbance of a complex reservoir immediately before ascent and eruption. Thus, conditions before mixing can be ascribed to the reservoir. In this way it is possible to learn about the reservoir: its composition, its diversity, its depth, its walls. It is also possible to learn about the causes of eruption: whether by increase in gas pressure due to either progressive consolidation, or heating from below by an injection of hot magma, or by encounter with ground water; whether by buoyant rise. Evaluation of these problems requires also a thorough knowledge of the chronology of particular eruptions. Thus, magma mixing is a useful volcanological tool.     

An inexpensive circuit design for the acoustic detection of oscillations in bedload transport in natural streams

A circuit design is reported which is demonstrated to be capable of receiving and recording the underwater sound of inter-particle collisions on natural stream beds during the process of bedload transport. Field trials were undertaken in a natural stream with sand-sized bedload particles. The results obtained, for a constant stream stage, give support to the idea of the occurrence of short period oscillations in the rate of bedload transport.     

Major synchronous events in continental shelves

Kent, P.E., 1976. Major synchronous events in continental shelves. In: M.H.P. Bott (editor), Sedimentary Basins of Continental Margins and Cratons. Tectonophysics, 36 (1–3): 87–91.The modern Atlantic-type continental shelves mostly originated around the Permian, and showed a history of dominantly fault-controlled subsidence through the Trias, Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. In Albian—Aptian times there was a widespread nearly simultaneous change to subsidence by intercratonic downwarping, which has continued through Late Cretaceous and Tertiary into Recent times.     

Genetic differentiation and speciation in the estuarine isopodsCyathura polita andCyathura burbancki

We investigated the electrophoretically detectable variation at nine protein loci in seven populations ofCyathura polita and one population of the closely relatedC. burbancki from the Atlantic coast of North America. The average proportion of the genome heterozygous per individual \((\bar H)\) inC. polita ranges from about 0% in New Brunswick and Massachusetts to 9.3% in a Georgia population. \(\bar H\) in the population ofC. burbancki was 2.6%. On the basis of our results,C. polita can be separated into two geographic forms,northern (New Brunswick, Massachusetts, and Maryland) andsouthern (Georgia and Florida). The genetic distances between the southern and northernC. polita are similar to the genetic distances reported between species of several other invertebrate groups. Our genetic data support the idea that the northern and southern forms ofC. polita andC. burbancki comprise a triad of species that diverged from each other 2–3 million years ago. Since we know nothing about the genetic structure of populations ofCyathura between Georgia and Maryland, this interpretation must be considered preliminary.     

Geothermal springs of the West Florida continental shelf: Evidence for dolomitization and radionuclide enrichment

On the sea bed of the West Florida continental shelf about 45 km SSW of Ft. Myers, Florida, an 85-km² area has been discovered in which six thermal springs discharge warm, chemically altered seawater from vents and seepage zones. The spring water apparently originates in the subsurface ocean around the Florida Platform and penetrates the highly porous strata of the platform about 500–1000 meters below sea level. It percolates toward the interior of the platform and is geothermally heated to about 40°C en route. Then it rises along more vertical flow channels and is discharged in warm submarine springs.Beneath the platform, several chemical processes alter the percolating seawater. One process seems to be a secondary dolomitization of the limestone of the platform because, in the discharging seawater, magnesium is lower by 2.7 mmole/kg and calcium higher by 3.6 mmole/kg than in normal seawater with the same chlorinity. Other reactions within the sediments of the platform enrich the spring effluents 1000-fold in²²⁶Ra, 10,000-fold in²²²Rn, and 90-fold in²²⁸Ra compared to the seawater surrounding the platform. Thus, the springs may be important sources of radionuclides for the Gulf of Mexico. The percolating seawater also loses all of its oxygen and nitrate to reduction processes, loses most of its phosphate and 40% of its²³⁸U, and roughly quadruples its silica content.Coastal carbonate platforms are fairly common geological features. Thus, processes like those beneath the West Florida Shelf may function on a world-wide basis to play an important role in the diagenesis of carbonate sediments.     

The variation in suspended sediment and water properties in the flood-water front traversing the tidal flat

The initial flooding waters from twenty-four consecutive tides were examined for changes in water properties as the flood-front traversed the intertidal zone. The flood-front water temperature depended on the time of flooding as well as the sun’s insolation. On warm sunny days, the water temperature at the leading edge of the tide successively increased as the water flooded the tidal flat. In contrast, during cloudy days, and early morning and evening samplings, the flood-front water decreased during flooding. Flood-front water temperatures on warm days exceeded 34°C, some 15°C higher than the water observed in the deeper tidal channels. Flood-front salinities increased progressively across the intertidal zone regardless of local weather conditions, and were primarily controlled by mixing of surface waters with interstitial waters during the flooding process. Particulate matter concentrations were dependent on the interaction between small amplitude waves and varying intertidal bottom slope. Extreme variability in the particulate matter concentration across the tidal flat was in part caused by alternate resuspension and settling of fecal pellets composed of silty-clay aggregates which partly form the bottom sediment of the test area. The texture of the suspended particulate matter coarsens near shore, where wave resuspension became more effective on a steeper portion of the intertidal zone. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY009 00003     

Towards a materialist conception of geography

Geography has been traditionally concerned with “Nature”, “Place” and “Space”, and yet has failed to make profound contributions to their study and analysis because the discipline lacks a consistent theory of society and its relationships with “Nature”. This paper examines some of the reasons for this deficiency and proposes that Historical Materialism provides the best framework for resolving this problem.