North-south asymmetry of the heliosphere from cosmic-ray observations

The evidence that the heliosphere retains a pronounced north-south asymmetry during a long period (five solar cycles) is discussed. A modification of the standard model for the interplanetary magnetic field that provides the observed asymmetry is considered.     

Heliolatitudinal dependence of cosmic-ray anisotropy

We analyze the heliolatitudinal dependence of the cosmic-ray anisotropy using data from the Yakutsk complex of muon telescopes on the ground and underground at depths of 7, 20, and 60 m w. e. for 1972–2002. The radial cosmic-ray anisotropy component during this period at all recording levels is shown to have been systematically enhanced southward from the helioequator irrespective of the polarity of the general solar magnetic field. The azimuthal anisotropy component depends on heliolatitude only at negative polarity of the general solar magnetic field; it increases northward from the helioequator. Such a situation can take place in the case of interaction of the fast solar wind from coronal holes with the slow wind in the northern part of the heliosphere and continuous particle removal in its southern part.     

Isotopic systematics of He,Ar, S,Cu, Ni,Re, Os,Pb, U,Sm, Nd,Rb, Sr,Lu, and Hf in the rocks and ores of the Norilsk deposits

This paper reports the first results of a study of 11 isotope systems (³He/⁴He, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar, ³⁴S/³²S, ⁶⁵Cu/⁶³Cu, ⁶²Ni/⁶⁰Ni, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd, ^206–208Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, Hf–Nd, U–Pb, and Re–Os) in the rocks and ores of the Cu–Ni–PGE deposits of the Norilsk ore district. Almost all the results were obtained at the Center of Isotopic Research of the Karpinskii All-Russia Research Institute of Geology. The use of a number of independent genetic isotopic signatures and comprehensive isotopic knowledge provided a methodic basis for the interpretation of approximately 5000 isotopic analyses of various elements. The presence of materials from two sources, crust and mantle, was detected in the composition of the rocks and ores. The contribution of the crustal source is especially significant in the paleofluids (gas–liquid microinclusions) of the ore-forming medium. Crustal solutions were probably a transport medium during ore formation. Air argon is dominant in the ores, which indicates a connection between the paleofluids and the atmosphere. This suggests intense groundwater circulation during the crystallization of ore minerals. The age of the rocks and ores of the Norilsk deposits was determined. The stage of orebody formation is restricted to a narrow age interval of 250 ± 10 Ma. An isotopic criterion was proposed for the ore-bearing potential of mafic intrusions in the Norilsk–Taimyr region. It includes several interrelated isotopic ratios of various elements: He, Ar, S, and others.     

Geology, geochemistry, and U–Pb geochronology of the Archean (2.74 Ga) Serra do Rabo granite stocks, Carajás Metallogenetic Province, northern Brazil

The Carajás region, located in the southeastern part of the Amazon Craton, has been considered one of the most important mineral provinces in the world. The Serra do Rabo Granite (SRG) crops out near the eastern termination of the Carajás fault as two granite stocks, elongated approximately in an E–W direction, concordant with the regional structures. Leucomicrocline granite, hornblende–microcline granite, biotite–hornblende–microcline granite, hornblende syenogranite, and subordinate aplite are identified. The granites are grayish pink and coarse to medium grained and have mainly hypidiomorphic granular texture. Granophyric textures are common. The accessory minerals are ilmenite, apatite, zircon, allanite, and rare pyroxene.The SRG rocks are either massive or foliated, with a slightly anastomosed continuous S₁ foliation (E–W/subvertical) outlined by the preferred orientation of quartz, feldspars, and mafic minerals. Locally, decimeter- to meter-wide mylonite/ultramylonite bands (S_1m) occur along the E–W foliation. The S₁ foliation was developed under higher temperatures than those of the S_1m mylonite foliation. The SRG structural evolution was controlled by progressive deformation under decreasing temperature, indicative of syntectonic emplacement. The SRG also has relatively high SiO₂, K₂O, and Na₂O contents; high FeO*/(FeO*+MgO) ratios; high Zr, Ba, Nb, and Ga; and very high rare-earth element contents. The chemical signature is moderately alkaline and metaluminous, comparable to that of the A-type, A2, and ALK-3 granites. The origin of the SRG magmas may be related to the partial melting of crustal sources, such as previously metamorphosed calc-alkaline granites.The SRG crosscuts supracrustal rocks, promoting low-pressure/high-temperature metamorphism. The interaction between regional compressive stresses and the ballooning effect of the granite stocks promoted slight aureole flattening and rheological changes in the supracrustal rocks. The U–Pb zircon age of 2743±1.6 Ma is interpreted as the age of zircon crystallization, granite stock emplacement, and regional horizontal shortening. Other 2.7 Ga syntectonic alkaline granites (e.g. Estrela, Plaquê, Planalto) have been reported in the region.     

A beam of particles in ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays?

Three particles with energies of 36, 35, and 58 EeV arrived from one sky region were recorded by two EAS arrays during a day. The events are assumed to have been produced by the beam of particles that resulted from the interaction of cosmic rays with a relativistic shock front.     

Metasomatites Developed after Shungite-Bearing Rocks of the Maksovo Deposit (Onega Basin,Karelia)

Lithology and Mineral Resources - The Maksovo shungite-bearing metasapropelite (maksovite) deposit is located in the eastern part of the Onega Basin that was initiated and formed in the...     

Age and growth rates of ferromanganese concretions from the gulf of Finland derived from 210Pb measurements

The formation of ferromanganese concretions on continental shelves is a widespread recent biogeochemical process, which is particularly intense in the Baltic Sea. The proposed new technique for dating ferromanganese concretions is based on the equilibrium ²¹⁰Pb, which is produced immediately within them due to the decay of ²²⁶Ra, which is intensely sorbed by concretions from the seawater. This method is principally different from the traditional dating of bottom sediments using nonequilibrium ²¹⁰Pb, which represents a decay product of atmospheric Ra. A mathematical tool for the calculation of the concretion ages is proposed. The latter is used for calculating the ages and growth rates of ferromanganese concretions belonging to two morphological varieties. The age and average growth rates of spheroidal concretions are estimated to be 670–850 years and 0.014 mm/year, respectively. The central part of a pancake-shaped concretion is dated back to 2500–3800 years, and its calculated respective horizontal and vertical growth rates are approximately 0.028 and 0.004 mm/year.