The ancient water system at the Upper city of Hasankeyf,Turkey

In this paper, the water distribution system at the Upper city of a well-preserved medieval town of Hasankeyf near the Tigris is questioned and its relation to the urban settlement pattern is assessed. The discussions are based on the cistern-intensive and available canal data collected within the residential borders of the Upper city in 2005. Being the third level features of the water system, the cisterns the majority of which are now attributable to the “conical, small and individual” typology, have shown that they were actively operated through the open rock-cut canals which were fed by the backbone of the distribution network—namely the siphon system, until recent times. Although a considerable number of converted cisterns hallmark shifts in the function of the water system and the changing conjectures over time, the blue prints of such a big “hydro-design” reveal the competence of semi-arid occupational environments in Upper Mesopotamia in showing how to cope with the topographical constraints and climatic disadvantages and turn these into an opportunity through the efficient use of terrain along with a carefully designed settlement area. That the Upper city now offers numerous water features makes this piece of land quite a representative of the regional works and shows the apex of the perception of ancient technology achieved with the siphon that could have been launched in the Roman era, and the state of art of planning ancient natural and man-made habitats.     

Geochronology of Alkaline Rocks of the Aryskan Rare Metal Deposit,East Sayan

Doklady Earth Sciences - The temporal relations between alkaline rocks of the Aryskan rare metal (Y, REEs, Nb, Ta) deposit are determined using metamict zircon with high U and Th contents, which...     

Multi-Stage Modification of the Northern Slave Mantle Lithosphere: Evidence from Zircon- and Diamond-Bearing Eclogite Xenoliths Entrained in Jericho Kimberlite, Canada

The Jericho kimberlites are part of a small Jurassic kimberlitecluster in the northern Slave craton, Canada. A variety of datingtechniques were applied to constrain the nature and age of twoJericho kimberlites, JD-1 (170·2 ± 4·3Ma Rb–Sr phlogopite megacrysts, 172·8 ±0·7 Ma U–Pb eclogite rutile, 178 ± 5 MaU–Pb eclogite zircon lower intercept) and JD-3 (173 ±2 Ma Rb–Sr phlogopite megacryst; 176·6 ±3·2 Ma U–Pb perovskite), and all yielded identicalresults within analytical uncertainty. As there is no discernibledifference in the radiometric ages obtained for these two pipes,the composite Rb–Sr phlogopite megacryst date of 173·1± 1·3 Ma is interpreted as the best estimate forthe emplacement age of both Jericho pipes. The initial Sr isotopecomposition of 0·7053 ± 0·0003 derivedfrom phlogopite megacrysts overlaps the range (0·7043–0·7084)previously reported for Jericho whole-rocks. These strontiumisotope data, combined with the radiogenic initial ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pbratio of 18·99 ± 0·33 obtained in thisstudy, indicate that the Jericho kimberlites are isotopicallysimilar to Group 1 kimberlites as defined in southern Africa.The Jericho kimberlites are an important new source of mantlexenoliths that hold clues to the nature of the Slave cratonsubcontinental mantle. A high proportion (30%) of the Jerichomantle xenolith population consists of various eclogite typesincluding a small number (2–3%) of apatite-, diamond-,kyanite- and zircon-bearing eclogites. The most striking aspectof the Jericho zircon-bearing eclogite xenoliths is their peculiargeochemistry. Reconstructed whole-rock compositions indicatethat they were derived from protoliths with high FeO, Al₂O₃and Na₂O contents, reflected in the high-FeO (22·6–27·5wt %) nature of garnet and the high-Na₂O (8·47–9·44wt %) and high-Al₂O₃ (13·12–14·33 wt %)character of the clinopyroxene. These eclogite whole-rock compositionsare highly enriched in high field strength elements (HFSE) suchas Nb (133–1134 ppm), Ta (5–28 ppm), Zr (1779–4934ppm) and Hf (23–64 ppm). This HFSE enrichment is linkedto growth of large (up to 2 mm) zircon and niobian rutile crystals(up to 3 modal %) near the time of eclogite metamorphism. Thediamond-bearing eclogites on the other hand are characterizedby high-MgO (19·6–21·3 wt %) garnet andultralow-Na₂O (0·44–1·50 wt %) clinopyroxene.Paleotemperature estimates indicate that both the zircon- anddiamond-bearing eclogites have similar equilibration temperaturesof 950–1020°C and 990–1030°C, respectively,corresponding to mantle depths of 150–180 km. Integrationof petrographic, whole-rock and mineral geochemistry, geochronologyand isotope tracer techniques indicates that the Jericho zircon-bearingeclogite xenoliths have had a complex history involving Paleoproterozoicmetamorphism, thermal perturbations, and two or more episodesof Precambrian mantle metasomatism. The oldest metasomatic event(Type 1) occurred near the time of Paleoproterozoic metamorphism(1·8 Ga) and is responsible for the extreme HFSE enrichmentand growth of zircon and high-niobian rutile. A second thermalperturbation and concomitant carbonatite metasomatism (Type2) is responsible for significant apatite growth in some xenolithsand profound light rare earth element enrichment. Type 2 metasomatismoccurred in the period 1·0–1·3 Ga and isrecorded by relatively consistent whole-rock eclogite modelNd ages and secondary U–Pb zircon upper intercept dates.These eclogite xenoliths were derived from a variety of protoliths,some of which could represent metasomatized pieces of oceaniccrust, possibly linked to east-dipping subduction beneath theSlave craton during construction of the 1·88–1·84Ga Great Bear continental arc. Others, including the diamond-bearingeclogites, could be cumulates from mafic or ultramafic sillcomplexes that intruded the Slave lithospheric mantle at depthsof about 150–180 km. KEY WORDS: zircon- and diamond-bearing eclogites; Jericho kimberlite, geochronology; Precambrian metasomatism, northern Slave Craton     

The Role of Lithospheric Mantle Heterogeneity in the Generation of Plio-Pleistocene Alkali Basaltic Suites from NW Harrat Ash Shaam (Israel)

Plio-Pleistocene volcanism in the Golan and Galilee (northeasternIsrael) shows systematic variability with time and location:alkali basalts were erupted in the south during the Early Pliocene,whereas enriched basanitic lavas erupted in the north duringthe Late Pliocene (Galilee) and Pleistocene (Golan). The basaltsshow positive correlations in plots of ratios of highly to moderatelyincompatible elements versus the concentration of the highlyincompatible element (e.g. Nb/Zr vs Nb, La/Sm vs La) and indiagrams of REE/HFSE (rare earth elements/high field strengthelements) vs REE concentration (e.g. La/Nb vs La). Some of thesecorrelations are not linear but upward convex. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratiosvary between 0·7031 and 0·7034 and correlate negativelywith incompatible element concentrations and positively withRb/Sr ratios. We interpret these observations as an indicationthat the main control on magma composition is binary mixingof melts derived from two end-member mantle source components.Based on the high Sr/Ba ratios and negative Rb anomalies inprimitive mantle normalized trace element diagrams and the moderateslopes of MREE–HREE (middle REE–heavy REE) in chondrite-normalizeddiagrams, we suggest that the source for the alkali basalticend-member was a garnet-bearing amphibole peridotite that hadexperienced partial dehydration. The very high incompatibleelement concentrations, low K content, very low Rb contentsand steep MREE–HREE patterns in the basanites are attributedto derivation from amphibole- and garnet-bearing pyroxeniteveins. It is suggested that the veins were produced via partialmelting of amphibole peridotites, followed by complete solidificationand dehydration that effectively removed Rb and K. The requirementfor the presence of amphibole limits both sources to lithosphericdepths. The spatial geochemical variability of the basalts indicatesthat the lithosphere beneath the region is heterogeneous, composedof vein-rich and vein-poor domains. The relatively uniform ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd(Nd = 4·0–5·2) suggests that the two mantlesources were formed by dehydration and partial melting of anoriginally isotopically uniform reservoir, probably as a resultof a Paleozoic thermal event. KEY WORDS: basanites; lithospheric heterogeneity; magma mixing; amphibole peridotite; pyroxenites     

Controls on low-pressure anatexis

Low-pressure anatexis, whereby rocks melt in place after passing through the andalusite stability field, develops under more restricted conditions than does low-pressure metamorphism. Our thermal modelling and review of published work indicate that the following mechanisms, operating alone, may induce anatexis in typical pelitic rocks without inducing wholesale melting in the lower crust: (i) magmatic advection by pervasive flow; (ii) crustal-scale detachment faulting; and (iii) the presence of a high heat-producing layer. Of these, only magmatic advection by pervasive flow and crustal-scale detachment faulting have been shown quantitatively to provide sufficient heat to cause widespread melting. Combinations of the above mechanisms with pluton-scale magmatic advection, shear heating, removal of the lithospheric mantle, or with each other provide additional means of developing suitable high temperatures at shallow crustal levels to generate low-pressure anatexis.     

Aftershocks series monitoring of the September 18, 2004 M = 4.6 earthquake at the western Pyrenees: A case of reservoir-triggered seismicity?

On September 18, 2004, a 4.6 mbLg earthquake was widely felt in the region around Pamplona, at the western Pyrenees. Preliminary locations reported an epicenter less than 20 km ESE of Pamplona and close to the Itoiz reservoir, which started impounding in January 2004. The area apparently lacks of significant seismic activity in recent times. After the main shock, which was preceded by series of foreshocks reaching magnitudes of 3.3 mbLg, a dense temporal network of 13 seismic stations was deployed there to monitor the aftershocks series and to constrain the hypocentral pattern. Aftershock determinations obtained with a double-difference algorithm define a narrow epicentral zone of less than 10 km², ESE–WNW oriented. The events are mainly concentrated between 3 and 9 km depth. Focal solutions were computed for the main event and 12 aftershocks including the highest secondary one of 3.8 mbLg. They show mainly normal faulting with some strike-slip component and one of the nodal planes oriented NW–SE and dipping to the NE. Cross-correlation techniques applied to detect and associate events with similar waveforms, provided up to 33 families relating the 67% of the 326 relocated aftershocks. Families show event clusters grouped by periods and migrating from NW to SE. Interestingly, the narrow epicentral zone inferred here is located less than 4 km away from the 111-m high Itoiz dam. These hypocentral results, and the correlation observed between fluctuations of the reservoir water level and the seismic activity, favour the explanation of this foreshock–aftershock series as a rapid response case of reservoir-triggered seismicity, burst by the first impoundment of the Itoiz reservoir. The region is folded and affected by shallow dipping thrusts, and the Itoiz reservoir is located on the hangingwall of a low angle southward verging thrust, which might be a case sensible to water level fluctuations. However, continued seismic monitoring in the coming years is mandatory in this area to infer more reliable seismotectonic and hazard assessments.     

The structure and dynamics of 2-dimensional fluids in swelling clays

The interlayer pores of swelling 2:1 clays provide an ideal 2-dimensional environment in which to study confined fluids. In this paper we discuss our understanding of the structure and dynamics of interlayer fluid species in expanded clays, based primarily on the outcome of recent molecular modelling and neutron scattering studies. Counterion solvation is compared with that measured in bulk solutions, and at a local level the cation-oxygen coordination is found to be remarkably similar in these two environments. However, for the monovalent ions the contribution to the first coordination shell from the clay surfaces increases with counterion radius. This gives rise to inner-sphere (surface) complexes in the case of potassium and caesium. In this context, the location of the negative clay surface charge (i.e. arising from octahedral or tetrahedral substitution) is also found to be of major importance. Divalent cations, such as calcium, eagerly solvate to form outer-sphere complexes. These complexes are able to pin adjacent clay layers together, and thereby prevent colloidal swelling. Confined water molecules form hydrogen bonds to each other and to the clays' surfaces. In this way their local environment relaxes to close to the bulk water structure within two molecular layers of the clay surface. Finally, we discuss the way in which the simple organic molecules methane, methanol and ethylene glycol behave in the interlayer region of hydrated clays. Quasi-elastic neutron scattering of isotopically labelled interlayer CH₃OD and (CH₂OD)₂ in deuterated clay allows us to measure the diffusion of the CH₃- and CH₂-groups in both clay and liquid environments. We find that in both the one-layer methanol solvates and the two-layer glycol solvates the diffusion of the most mobile organic molecules is close to that in the bulk solution.