NanoSIMS analysis of organic carbon from the Tissint Martian meteorite: Evidence for the past existence of subsurface organic‐bearing fluids on Mars

Two petrographic settings of carbonaceous components, mainly filling open fractures and occasionally enclosed in shock‐melt veins, were found in the recently fallen Tissint Martian meteorite. The presence in shock‐melt veins and the deuterium enrichments (δD up to +1183‰) of these components clearly indicate a pristine Martian origin. The carbonaceous components are kerogen‐like, based on micro‐Raman spectra and multielemental ratios, and were probably deposited from fluids in shock‐induced fractures in the parent rock of Tissint. After precipitation of the organic matter, the rock experienced another severe shock event, producing the melt veins that encapsulated a part of the organic matter. The C isotopic compositions of the organic matter (δ¹³C = ?12.8 to ?33.1‰) are significantly lighter than Martian atmospheric CO₂ and carbonate, providing a tantalizing hint for a possible biotic process. Alternatively, the organic matter could be derived from carbonaceous chondrites, as insoluble organic matter from the latter has similar chemical and isotopic compositions. The presence of organic‐rich fluids that infiltrated rocks near the surface of Mars has significant implications for the study of Martian paleoenvironment and perhaps to search for possible ancient biological activities on Mars.     

利用瞬变电磁和多频电磁方法监测地下水位及其对Hawara遗址的影响

利用瞬变电磁（TEM）和地面电磁（GEM）方法,本文研究了埃及Hawara遗址区的地下水对遗址的影响.这个遗址包括Hawara金字塔、北区墓地、以及被称作“迷宫”的南区墓葬场所.现今Hawara遗址已经完全荒废,被耕作区和Bahr Wahba运河包围.地表水和地下水会破坏Hawara金字塔和“迷宫”遗址的地基,现在金字塔入口已被淹没至地面下约6 m深处.本文在耕作区、金字塔以及“迷宫”等三个地区进行了TEM勘察;在“迷宫”地区进行了GEM勘察.综合分析以上两种勘察数据,我们发现,农业灌溉是浸入到地下的水的主要来源;本地区地下水位随着观测点及海拔的不同,在地面以下2~7 m之间变化.     

Nature of serpentinization and carbonation of ophiolitic peridotites (Eastern Desert,Egypt): constrains from stable isotopes and whole-rock geochemistry

Serpentinites are widespread in the Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS) of the Eastern Desert of Egypt and usually enclose a tremendous carbonate alteration. Combined investigation of the stable isotope compositions of both O-H in serpentines and O-C in the whole-rock and the chemistry of the fluid-mobile elements (FMEs) in whole-rock serpentinites from Wadi (W.) Alam, Gabal (G.) El-Maiyit, and W. Atalla (Eastern Desert of Egypt) allowed to better understand the subsequent fluid sources of serpentinization and carbonation, as well as impact of these processes on the geochemistry of protolith ultramafic rocks. δ ¹⁸O values of W. Alam and W. Atalla serpentine minerals are close to the unaltered mantle and propose a lower temperature serpentinization if compared with those of G. El-Maiyit rocks. Moreover, δD values of W. Alam and W. Atalla serpentines (? 94 to ? 65‰) correspond to an igneous source that might be hydrothermal solutions mixed with the seawater in the mid-ocean ridge-arc transition setting. On the other hand, G. El-Maiyit serpentine is more depleted in ¹⁸O (with lower δ ¹⁸O values = 4.08–4.85‰), and its δD values (? 73 to 56 ‰) are most probably caused by an interaction with metamorphic fluids, acquired during on-land emplacement of oceanic peridotites or during burial in fore-arc setting. In addition, the oceanic oxygen isotope composition of most studied ophiolitic serpentinites points to the preservation of the pre-obduction δ ¹⁸O signatures and thus local-scale fluid flow at low water/rock ratios. Serpentinization fluids were CO₂-poor and the carbonation of the serpentinites resulted from infiltration of externally derived fluids. δ ¹⁸O_VSMOW values of carbonates in the studied serpentinites vary between heavier oxygen isotope composition in G. El-Maiyit samples (av. = 25.32‰) to lighter composition in W. Alam samples (av. = 19.43‰). However, δ ¹³C values of all serpentinites point mantle source of carbon. This source might have been evolved in mid-ocean ridge (W. Atalla) and subduction zone (W. Alam and G. El-Maiyit) settings. The studied serpentinites are usually enriched in FMEs, particularly Pb, Sr, Cs, and U. These enrichments were most probably the result of serpentinization and/or carbonation.     

Contrasting sources of Late Paleozoic rhyolite magma in the Polish Lowlands: evidence from U–Pb ages and Hf and O isotope composition in zircon

International Journal of Earth Sciences - The Polish Lowlands, located southwest of the Teisseyre–Tornquist Zone, within Trans-European Suture Zone, were affected by bimodal, but dominantly...     

Parameters affect foaming and foam stability during foam drilling

The authors presented indoor practice experiments of parameters affect on foaming and foam stability. Experiments were carried out and special equipments were used to determine foaming and foam stability; tests were tabulated and charted. The effects of chemical and physical parameters on foaming and foam stability have been conducted.     

Estimation of Hourly and Daily Global Solar Radiation at Clear Days Using an Approach Based on Modified Version of Gaussian Distribution

The performance of two models,Jam and Baig,based on the modified version of Gaussian distribution function in estimating the daily total of global solar radiation and its distribution through the hours of the day from sunrise to sunset al any clear day is evaluated with our own measured data in the period from June 1992 to May 1993 in Qena Egypt The results show a high relative deviation of calculated values from measured ones,especially for Jain model,in the most hours of the day,except for those near to local noon.This misfit behavior is quite obvious in the early morning and late afternoon A new approach has been proposed in this paper to estimate the daily and hourly global solar radiation This model performs with very high accuracy on the recorded data in our region.The validity of this approach was verified with new measurements in some clear days in June and August 1994.The resultant very low relative deviation of the calculated values of global solar radiation from the measured ones confirms the     

Tectono-sedimentary evolution of the Miocene Oued Dayr Formation (Ghomaride Complex,Internal Domain of the Maghrebian Rif Belt,Morocco)

This work deals with sedimentological, petrographic, and structural analyses of a middle Miocene late-orogenic sedimentary cycle, denoted Oued Dayr Formation, recognized in the Rifian sector of the Maghrebian Chain (Morocco). The analyzed Formation (75 m thick) starts with 15–20 m of light colored polymict conglomerates, with minor sandstone beds, lying on the Paleozoic basement and Mesozoic cover of the Ghomaride Nappe. Facies analysis indicates a fining-upward deposition in a marine environment characterized by increasing deepening, reflecting a subsidence rate that exceeds sedimentary supply. Petrographic analysis points out that sandstones are represented by litharenites originated by erosion of recycled orogen. The conglomerates pebbles and cobbles consist of Alpine low- to high-grade metamorphic rocks as metarenites, phyllites, mylonitic quartzites, micaschists, augen gneisses deriving from the exhumed deep metamorphic basement, the overlying metasedimentary of the Sebtide Nappes and of sedimentary rocks as sandstones, jaspes, limestones, and shales deriving from the Ghomaride Nappes and their sedimentary cover. Data reveal mixed provenance indicating that the Oued Dayr Formation was fed by the Internal Nappes stack of the Maghrebian Chain. Structural analysis shows that the Oued Dayr Formation accumulated in a Thrust-Top basin, during an early extension (D₀ phase), recorded by synsedimentary normal faults within middle Langhian deposits on the rear of the Internal Nappes stack. Subsequent ductile and brittle compressional (D₁, D₂, D₃) and extensional (D₄) deformation phases occurred during and/or after the stacking, exhumation, and early unroofing of Sebtide Complex coeval with the opening of the western Mediterranean back-arc basins since middle Miocene time.     

Astronomical research activities with the 74 inch telescope at Kottamia observatory

Two topics of research, namely extragalactic and variable star studies represent the main attitudes of astronomical work at the Helwan Observatory.The 74 inch telescope at Kottamia (476 m, 2^h.12, 29^°.93 N) some 60 km to the east of Cairo is the main instrument. Some other auxiliary equipment (Cassegrain and echelle spectrographs, Westinghouse and Japanese cameras and photoelectric photometer) can be attached at both Cassegrain and Newtonian foci.Paper presented at the IAU Third Asian-Pacific Regional Meeting, held in Kyoto, Japan, between 30 September–6 October, 1984.