Structure of the αFexAl1:xOOH solid solution

The three-dimensional local organisation around Fe atoms in a natural diaspore (Al_0.9955Fe_0.0045OOH) has been investigated by angular measurements of X-ray absorption spectra. It is demonstrated that in a single crystal of diaspore, the absorption cross-section exhibits the special case of trichroism where three independent measurements are needed to determine the absorption cross-section for any direction of polarization. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra were thus recorded at the following orientations of the polarization vector: , , and . The incoming white beam was monochromatized using two Si(331) crystals, which deliver at the Fe K-edge a completely linearly polarized X-ray beam. The reliability of our measurements was checked by comparing the isotropic EXAFS spectrum calculated from the three orthogonal measurements to the one of the diaspore powder recorded at the magic angle. It is shown that Fe³⁺ ions are not randomly distributed within the diaspore framework. Furthermore, only part of the Fe³⁺ ions substitutes Al, the others being located in the channels of the structure. The 3D local structure of the Fe domains has been modeled assuming hematite-like clusters of three Fe octahedra topotactically grafted to aluminous chains. These Fe clusters are thought to represent ancient multinuclear Fe surface complexes having formed at the time of the diaspore growth, and being sealed in its bulk structure. The whole crystal of diaspore is then thought to have kept the memory of the heterogeneous nucleation mechanism of these hematite nuclei. In addition to the well-known examples of atom segregations, ion vacancies, and intergrowths of discrete phases, this new type of crystal defect represents another evidence of non-equilibrium crystallization process under the thermodynamic and kinetic conditions that prevail at the earth's surface.     

Using numerical modelling to evaluate tsunami hazard near the Kuril Island

A sequence of computer experiments is used to study questions concerning the tsunami problem as a quantitative estimate of tsunami danger, detailed geographical tsunami classification, determination of the parameters of critical tsunami waves, and the conditions of their development. We call a wave critical, if its impact on the coast is most hazardous.Using the Middle Kuril Island as an example, we present the results of a computer experiment which includes determining the wavefields on the shelf and estimating the effects connected with the deep-water Bussol and Diana Straits.Numerical simulation of tsunami waves of different sources permits the assessment of the extent of tsunami danger in different areas of the coastal zone of Simushir Island, depending on the location of the focus zone and their geometry.The major singularities of the wavefield arise in the zones of the deep-water straits. The distribution of the amplification factors is determined by both the global parameters of the wavefields and the local properties of individual harbours. The results obtained for a particular harbour in the northern part of Simushir Island, formed the basis for the quantitative estimate of tsunami danger for this area.     

Synthesis and stability of bastnaesites in a part of the system (Ce,La)-F-H-C-O

Summary Bastnaesites of Ce and La and their OH-analogs were synthesized and their stability relations were determined atPf = 1 kbar andT = 400 to 900°C in a part of the system (Ce,La)-F-H-C-0. The initial fluid compositions were such that and HF/(HF + H₂O) ratios were 0 to 0.172. XRD and IR studies indicate that bastnaesites equilibrated in initial fluids low in HF are all F-enriched. The hydroxylbastnaesite-(La) is stable up to 810°C and the fluorbastnaesite-(La) is stable up to 860°C. Their condensed breakdown products are La₂O₂CO₃ and LaOF, respectively. The stability of Ce bastnaesites is slightly dependent. The hydroxylbastnaesite-(Ce) is stable up to 660°C at the defined by the IQF buffer and up to 640°C by the MH buffer. The fluorbastnaesite-(Ce) is stable up to 800°C at the defined by the IQF and up to 760°C by the MH buffer. The condensed breakdown product for the hydroxyl end-member is simply CeO₂ but for the fluorine one is a combination of CeO₂, CeF₃, and CeOF. Factors, such as OH vs F, , and bulk composition, that affect the stability of individual species are discussed. Petrogenic implications resulting from the present study include that bastnaesites can be stable from hydrothermal to magmatic conditions, that F-enriched species can form in an environment relatively low in F content, and that OH-species are rare and occur only in low-temperature environments essentially devoid of F.

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Synthese und Stabilität von Bastndsil in einem Teil des Systems (Ce,La)-F-H-C-O

Zusammenfassung Ce- und La-Bastnäsite, sowie deren OH-Analoga wurden synthetisiert und ihre Stabilitätsbeziehunger beiP _f = 1 kbar undT = 400 bis 900°C wurden im System (Ce,La)F-H-C-O bestimmt. Die anfänglichen Flüssigkeitszusammensetzungen waren so, daß und die HF/(HF + H₂O)-Verhältnisse 0–0.172 waren. Röntgenpulver- und Ultrarot-Untersuchungen zeigten, daß Bastnäsite, die mit anfänglich HF-armen Flüssigkeiten equilibriert wurden, alle an F angereichert sind. Hydroxilbastndsit-(La) ist bis 810°C und Fluorbastnäsit-(La) bis 860°C stabil. Ihre festen Zersetzungsprodukte sind La₂O₂O₃, bzw. LaOF. Die Stabilität der Ce-Bastnäsite hängt etwas von ab. Hydroxilbastnäsit-(Ce) ist bei des Eisen-Quarz-Fayalit-Puffers bis 660°C stabil und mit Magnetit-Hämatit-Puffer bis 640°C. Das feste Zerfallsprodukt ist für das Hydroxil-Glied nur CeO₂, für das Fluor-Glied eine Mischung aus CeO₂, CeF₃ und CeOF. Faktoren, welche die Stabilität der einzelnen Spezies beeinflussen, werden diskutiert, wie das Verhältnis OH zu F, und die Gesamtzusammensetzung. Petrogenetische Folgerungen aus der vorliegenden Studie schließen ein, daß Bastnäsite von hydrothermalen bis zu magmatischen Bedingungen stabil sein können, daß sich an F angereicherte Glieder in relativ F-armer Umgebung bilden können, und daß OH-Glieder selten sind und nur unter Bildungsbedingungen niedriger Temperatur und weitgehender Abwesenheit von F auftreten.

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With 8 Figures     

TREK: A cosmic-ray experiment on the Russian space station MIR

The goals of the TREK experiment, now in place on the MIR Space Station, are to resolve and measure the composition of both odd-Z and even-Z cosmic-ray nuclei up to uranium, to measure the isotopic composition of Fe-group nuclei, and to search for transuranic nucleic and exotic particles such as strangelets. To collect tracks of ultraheavy cosmic rays, exterior panels holding an array of BP-1 phosphate glass 1.2m² in area and 16 plates thick are now mounted outside the Kvant-2 module on MIR. Heaters and relays regulate the temperature of the glass at 25°±5°C. The detectors will record 10³ cosmic-ray tracks withZ50 during 2.5 years. An interior panel consisting of an array 0.09 m² in area and 32 plates thick and mounted on the inside wall of the Soyuz spacecraft (attached to the Space Station) will collect tracks of about 13000 Fe and 500 Ni nuclei.     

Book reviews

REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY: Current Developments and Future Prospects edited by R. J. Johnston, J Hauer and G. A. Hoekveld. 14 × 22 cm, xiii and 216 pages. Routledge: London 1990 (ISBN 0 415 05247 5) $A89.95 (hard).

THE MAKING OF THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE edited by M. P. Conzen. 19 × 25 cm, xvi and 433 pages. Unwin Hyman: Boston 1990 (ISBN 0 04 917010 4) $A59.95 (soft).

EASTERN EUROPE: An Historical Geography 1815–1945 by D. Turnock. 14 × 22 cm, ix and 357 pages. Routledge: London 1989 (ISBN 0 415 01269 4) $A115.00 (hard), distributed by the Law Book Co.

THE HUMAN GEOGRAPHY OF EASTERN EUROPE by D. Turnock. 14 × 22 cm, xii and 345 pages. Routledge: London 1989 (ISBN 0 415 00469 1) $A105.00 (hard), distributed by the Law Book Co.

A HISTORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS by I. C. Campbell. 14 × 21 cm, 239 pages. University of Queensland Press: St Lucia 1990 (ISBN 0 7022 2291 7) $A34.95 (soft).

THE CORPORATE FIRM IN A CHANGING WORLD ECONOMY: Case Studies in the Geography of Enterprise edited by M. de Smidt and E. Wev‐er. 14 × 23 cm, xiv and 247 pages. Routledge: London 1990 (ISBN 0 415 03497 3) $A105.00 (hard).

THE CAPITALIST CITY: Global Restructuring and Community Politics by M. P. Smith and J. R. Feagin. 15 × 23 cm, 393 pages. Basil Black‐well: Oxford 1988 (ISBN 0 631 15182 6) £35 (hard).

CONFLICT AND CHANGE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE: Rural Society, Economy and Planning in the Developed World by G. M. Robinson. 15 × 23 cm, xxvi and 482 pages. Belhaven Press: London 1990 (ISBN 1 85293 043 8) £40.00 (hard); (ISBN 1 85293 044 6) £14.95 (soft).

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (Collins Reference Dictionary) by G. Jones, A. Robertson, J. Forbes and G. Hollier. 13 × 20 cm, vi and 473 pages. Collins: London 1990 (ISBN 0 00 434348 4) £5.95 (soft).

THE HUMAN IMPACT ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT (Third Edition) by A. Goudie. 17 × 24 cm, xi and 388 pages. Blackwell: Oxford 1990 (ISBN 0 631 16164 3) $A39.95 (soft).

PATTERNS OF LIFE: Biogeography of a Changing World by H. W. Mielke. 19 × 24 cm, xiv and 370 pages. Unwin Hyman: London 1989 (ISBN 0 04 574032 1).     

The Mees CCD imaging spectrograph

The Mees CCD (MCCD) instrument is an imaging spectroscopy device which uses the 25 cm coronagraph telescope and the 3.0 m Coudé spectrograph at Mees Solar Observatory (MSO) on Haleakala, Maui. The instrument works with resolving power up to R 200 000 with significant throughput from 3934 Å (Caii K) to 10 000 Å. A fast guiding active mirror stabilizes the image during observations. A rapidly writing magnetic tape storage system allows observations to be recorded at 256 kbytes s^–1. Currently, the MCCD is used for imaging spectroscopy of solar flares at 6563 Å (H), and velocity measurements of umbral oscillations; future plans include emission line studies of active region coronae, and photospheric studies of solar oscillations.     

The effect of solar wind latitudinal dependence on the cosmic-ray propagation in the heliosphere

We have investigated how the latitude dependence of the solar wind velocity (SWV) influenced the cosmic-ray (CR) modulation and distribution in the heliosphere. The dependence proposed by Fry and Akasofu (1987) is used:v _SW=v _O+v ₁(1-cos ⁿ _m , where the SWV,v _SW is a function of the heliomagnetic latitude _m andv ₀ andv ₁ are constants. An estimation of the diffusion and drift terms in the transport equation is made, which shows that towards the poles the effects of the drift transfer decrease, while the diffusion terms in the equation increase due to the change of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) geometry. The numerical solutions of the two-dimensional (2-D) transport equation show that when the SWV changes with latitude: (1) The CR intensities away from the neutral sheet are larger for both IMF polarity periods in comparison with the case when the SWV does not change with the latitude. (2) The latitude gradients are negative during negative magnetic polarity periods. (3) The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 long-time observations showing greater galactic CR intensities nearer the Sun at greater distances, could be explained by the proposed model.     

Geology and tectonics of the Themis Regio-Lavinia Planitia-Alpha Regio-Lada Terra area,Venus: Results from Arecibo image data

New radar images obtained from the Arecibo Observatory (resolution 1.5–4.0 km) for portions of the southern hemisphere of Venus show that: the upland of Phoebe Regio contains the southern extension of Devana Chasma, a rift zone extending 4200 km south from Theia Mons and interpreted as a zone of extension; Alpha Regio, the only large region of tessera within the imaged area, is similar to tessera mapped elsewhere on the planet and covers a smaller percentage of the surface than that observed in the northern high latitudes; the upland made of Ushas, Innini and Hathor Montes consists of three distinct volcanic constructs; Themis Regio is mapped as an ovoid chain of radar-bright arcuate single and double ring structures, edifices and bright lineaments. This area is interpreted as a region of mantle upwelling and on the basis of apparent split and separated features, a zone of localized faulting and extension. Linear zones of deformation in Lavinia Planitia are characterized by lineament belts that are often locally elevated, are similar to ridge belts mapped in the northern high latitudes and are interpreted to be characterized mainly by compression; radar-bright lava complexes within Lavinia Planitia are unique to this part of the planet and are interpreted to represent areas of eruption of high volumes of extremely fluid lava; the upland of Lada Terra is bound to the north by a linear deformation zone interpreted as extensional, is characterized by large ovoids and coronae, is interpreted to be associated with an area of mantle upwelling, and is in contrast to the northern high latitude highland of Ishtar Terra. Regions of plains in the southern hemisphere cover about 78%; of the mapped area and are interpreted to be volcanic in origin. Located within the area imaged (10–78 S) are 52 craters interpreted to be of impact origin ranging from 8 to 157 km in diameter. On the basis of an overall crater density of 0.94 craters/10⁶ km², it is determined that the age of this part of the Venus surface is similar to the 0.3 to 1.0 billion year age calculated for the equatorial region and northern high latitudes. The geologic characteristics of the portion of the Venus southern hemisphere imaged by Arecibo are generally similar to those mapped elsewhere on the planet. This part of the planet is characterized by widespread volcanic plains, large volcanic edifices, and zones of linear belt deformation. The southern hemisphere of Venus differs from northern high latitudes in that tessera makes up only a small percentage of the surface area and the ovoid chain in Themis Regio is unique to this part of the planet. On the basis of the analysis presented here, the southern hemisphere of Venus is interpreted to be characterized by regions of mantle upwelling on a variety of scales (ovoids, region made up of Ushas, Innini and Hathor Montes), upwelling and extension (Themis Regio) and localized compression (lineament belts in Lavinia Planitia).     

Structure and oscillations in quiescent filaments from observations in He i λ10830 å

Observations of two quiescent filaments show oscillatory variations in Doppler shift and central intensity of the He i 10830 Å line.The oscillatory periods range from about 5 to 15 min, with dominant periods of 5, 9, and 16 min. The 5-min period is also detected in the intensity variations, after correction for atmospheric effects. Doppler shifts precede intensity variations by about one period. The possibility that the oscillations are Alfvén waves is discussed.The Doppler signals of the filament form fibril-like structures. The fibrils are all inclined at an angle of about 25° to the long axis of the filament. The magnetic field has a similar orientation relative to the major direction of the filament, and the measured Doppler signals are apparently produced by motions along magnetic flux tubes threading the filament.The measured lifetimes of the small-scale fibrils of quiescent disk filaments are very likely a combined effect of intensity modulations and reshuffling of the structures.     

Geologic features and durability of limestones at the sphinx

Geologic features considered to influence durability of the limestone at the sphinx are depositional history, evolution of porosity, and development of joints. These strata have two orthogonal groups of vertical joints. Where these joints intersect, wedge-shaped blocks are separating, causing loss of material from the core. Major reduction of the sphinx, however, is occurring due to salt crystallization aided by the ink-bottle pore systems prevailing in these rocks.The weathering profile exhibits alternating layers, less and more highly weathered. The less weathered rock is a biomicritic grainstone with smaller quantities of halite and gypsum and a larger large-pore-to-throat ratio than the indented, predominantly micritic, layers with larger concentration of salts and a smaller large-pore-to-throat ratio. Based upon poresize distributions, pressures generated in the pores have been calculated using thermodynamic principles, and an equation has been derived that provides a quantitative measure of durability of these rocks.