Crystallization temperature determination of Itokawa particles by plagioclase thermometry with X‐ray diffraction data obtained by a high‐resolution synchrotron Gandolfi camera

The crystallization temperatures of Itokawa surface particles recovered by the space probe Hayabusa were estimated by a plagioclase geothermometer using sodic plagioclase triclinicity. The Δ131‐index required for the thermometer, which is the difference in X‐ray diffraction peak positions between the 131 and 11 reflections of plagioclase, was obtained by a high‐resolution synchrotron Gandolfi camera developed for the third generation synchrotron radiation beamline, BL15XU at SPring‐8. Crystallization temperatures were successfully determined from the Δ131‐indices for four particles. The observed plagioclase crystallization temperatures were in a range from 655 to 660 °C. The temperatures indicate crystallization temperatures of plagioclases in the process of prograde metamorphism before the peak metamorphic stage.     

Sedimentary Steryl Chlorin Esters (SCEs) and Other Photosynthetic Pigments as Indicators of Paleolimnological Change Over the Last 28,000 Years from the Buguldeika Saddle of Lake Baikal

Detailed depth profiles of photosynthetic pigments in a sediment core (G-12) collected at the BDP93 site, the Buguldeika saddle, of south Lake Baikal, along with depth profiles of total organic carbon (TOC) and biogenic silica, were studied to elucidate the temporal changes of phytoplankton assemblages in the lake during the past 28 kyr. In addition to the quantification of carotenoids by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode-array detection (HPLC-PDA), steryl chlorin esters (SCEs) were analyzed by HPLC-PDA, HPLC-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and sterols in SCEs by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to enrich the taxonomical information on the phytoplankton composition. Allochthonous input of organic matter from the Selenga River resulted in the higher TOC contents in core G-12 than in a previously reported core (G-6) collected at another site from the southern basin. The poorer correlation in core G-12 than in G-6 between TOC and chlorophyll-a-originating pigments, which are indicative of autochthonous production, also indicated a significant allochthonous input at the site. The abundance of lutein among the carotenoids detected, and the good correlation of total chlorophyll a and b shows that green algae represented a significant portion of the phytoplankton, accompanying the diatoms at the G-12 site, after the last glacial period. The presence of cryptomonads and cyanobacteria were confirmed from marker carotenoids in the sediment core. GC–MS analysis of sterols in SCEs detected marker sterols of diatoms, green algae, chrysophytes and dinoflagellates. The depth profiles of the measured indicators gave consistent features for temporal changes in phytoplankton assemblage at the G-12 site of Lake Baikal after the last glacial maximum. Notably, the profile of a chrysophyte-specific sterol in SCEs was consistent with the reported distribution of chrysophyte cysts during the Holocene. The presence of phytoplankton, such as green algae, diatoms and chrysophytes, in Lake Baikal during the late last glacial period was indicated by the analysis of sterols in SCEs. Sedimentary carotenoids and sterols in SCEs were found to give complementary information about phytoplankton composition. These molecular indicators allow us to reconstruct past lake phytoplankton assemblages responding to environmental changes with a time resolution as high as age–depth relationship in sediments attainable at present.     

Identification of stable remanence carriers through a magneto-impedance scanning magnetic microscope

To identify the stable remanence carrier in rock samples, we conducted magnetic microscopic observations combined with conventional stepwise demagnetization experiments. The instrument, which employs an amorphous wire-based magneto-impedance sensor (30 μm diameter, 5 mm length), can document magnetic anomalies (vertical component) of the millimeter to sub-millimeter-thick rock samples with a resolution of 500 μm. Our new technique allows identification of the sources of both stable and unstable remanence components in meteorite and shocked granite samples. However, stray magnetic fields from the sensor magnetize the magnetic minerals in the sample and makes serious artifacts on the magnetic images. Although the artifacts of the induced magnetization should be solved, this new corroborative technique leads to a microscopic discrimination of stable paleomagnetic records from terrestrial and extraterrestrial materials.     

Rates of Thermal and Chemical Evolution of Magmas in a Cooling Magma Chamber: a Chronological and Theoretical Study on Basaltic and Andesitic Lavas from Rishiri Volcano, Japan

Rates of magmatic processes in a cooling magma chamber wereinvestigated for alkali basalt and trachytic andesite lavaserupted sequentially from Rishiri Volcano, northern Japan, bydating of these lavas using ²³⁸U–²³⁰Th radioactive disequilibriumand ¹⁴C dating methods, in combination with theoretical analyses.We obtained the eruption age of the basaltic lavas to be 29·3± 0·6 ka by ¹⁴C dating of charcoals. The eruptionage of the andesitic lavas was estimated to be 20·2 ±3·1 ka, utilizing a whole-rock isochron formed by U–Thfractionation as a result of degassing after lava emplacement.Because these two lavas represent a series of magmas producedby assimilation and fractional crystallization in the same magmachamber, the difference of the ages (i.e. 9 kyr) is a timescaleof magmatic evolution. The thermal and chemical evolution ofthe Rishiri magma chamber was modeled using mass and energybalance constraints, as well as quantitative information obtainedfrom petrological and geochemical observations on the lavas.Using the timescale of 9 kyr, the thickness of the magma chamberis estimated to have been about 1·7 km. The model calculationsshow that, in the early stage of the evolution, the magma cooledat a relatively high rate (>0·1°C/year), and thecooling rate decreased with time. Convective heat flux fromthe main magma body exceeded 2 W/m² when the magma was basaltic,and the intensity diminished exponentially with magmatic evolution.Volume flux of crustal materials to the magma chamber and rateof convective melt exchange (compositional convection) betweenthe main magma and mush melt also decreased with time, from 0·1 m/year to 10^–3 m/year, and from 1 m/yearto 10^–2 m/year, respectively, as the magmas evolved frombasaltic to andesitic compositions. Although the mechanism ofthe cooling (i.e. thermal convection and/or compositional convection)of the main magma could not be constrained uniquely by the model,it is suggested that compositional convection was not effectivein cooling the main magma, and the magma chamber is consideredto have been cooled by thermal convection, in addition to heatconduction. KEY WORDS: convection; magma chamber; heat and mass transport; timescale; U-series disequilibria     

Transform methods for frequency‐dependent complex stiffness to time domain using real or imaginary data only

The author has studied the transform method of complex stiffness, which is strongly dependent on frequency, to the time domain. In this paper, new transform methods that use only the real part or the imaginary part data are proposed. By applying them to example problems, it is confirmed that the accuracy of the proposed methods is almost high in both causal and noncausal cases. These methods can also be thought as a standby for the Hilbert transform, because the undefined part is easily calculated by the recovering complex function from the obtained impulse response. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The dynamics of big mantle wedge, magma factory, and metamorphic–metasomatic factory in subduction zones

The East Asian continental margin is underlain by stagnant slabs resulting from subduction of the Pacific plate from the east and the Philippine Sea plate from the south. We classify the upper mantle in this region into three major domains: (a) metasomatic–metamorphic factory (MMF), subduction zone magma factory (SZMF), and the ‘big mantle wedge’ (BMW). Whereas the convection pattern is anticlockwise in the MMF domain, it is predominantly clockwise in the SZMF and BMW, along a cross section from the south. Here we define the MMF as a small wedge corner which is driven by the subducting Pacific plate and dominated by H₂O-rich fluids derived by dehydration reactions, and enriched in large ion lithophile elements (LILE) which cause the metasomatism. The SZMF is a zone intermediate between MMF and BMW domains and constitutes the main region of continental crust production by partial melting through wedge counter-corner flow. Large hydrous plume generated at about 200 km depth causes extensive reduction in viscosity and the smaller scale hydrous plumes between 60 km and 200 km also bring about an overall reduction in the viscosity of SZMF. More fertile and high temperature peridotites are supplied from the entrance to this domain. The domain extends obliquely to the volcanic front and then swings back to the deep mantle together with the subducting slab. The BMW occupies the major portion of upper mantle in the western Pacific and convects largely with a clockwise sense removing the eastern trench oceanward. Sporadic formation of hydrous plume at the depth of around 410 km and the curtain flow adjacent to the trench cause back arc spreading. We envisage that the heat source in BMW could be the accumulated TTG (tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite) crust on the bottom of the mantle transition zone. The ongoing process of transportation of granitic crust into the mantle transition zone is evident from the deep subduction of five intra-oceanic arcs on the subducting Philippine Sea plate from the south, in addition to the sediment trapped subduction by the Pacific plate and Philippine Sea plate. The dynamics of MMF, SZMF and BMW domains are controlled by the angle of subduction; a wide zone of MMF in SW Japan is caused by shallow angle subduction of the Philippine Sea plate and the markedly small MMF domain in the Mariana trench is due to the high angle subduction of Pacific plate. The domains in NE Japan and Kyushu region are intermediate between these two. During the Tertiary, a series of marginal basins were formed because of the nearly 2000 km northward shift of the subduction zone along the southern margin of Tethyan Asia, which may be related to the collision of India with Asia and the indentation. The volume of upper mantle under Asia was reduced extensively on the southern margin with a resultant oceanward trench retreat along the eastern margin of Asia, leading to the formation of a series of marginal basins. The western Pacific domain in general is characterized by double-sided subduction; from the east by the oldest Pacific plate and from the south by the oldest Indo-Australian plate. The old plates are hence hydrated extensively even in their central domains and therefore of low temperature. The cracks have allowed the transport of water into the deeper portions of the slab and these domains supply hydrous fluids even to the bottom of the upper mantle. Thus, a fluid dominated upper mantle in the western Pacific drives a number of microplates and promote the plate boundary processes.     

Garnet Lu–Hf dating of retrograde fluid activity during ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic eclogites exhumation

Previous studies on the atoll-shaped garnets in ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic eclogites from the Dabie orogen, east-central China, suggest a fluid-enhanced overgrowth origin at the onset of exhumation. The atoll-garnets bearing eclogite place better constraints on the timing of the retrograde fluid activity and are a straightforward target to gain insight into the isotopic equilibrium and/or disequilibrium during exhumation. Comprehensive textural, chemical and Lu–Hf geochronological analyses on the atoll garnet-bearing eclogite show that the retrograde fluid activity event likely occurred at ca. 221 Ma. The Lu–Hf age of 221.0?±?2.3 Ma marks the last garnet overgrowth episode during exhumation rather than prograde metamorphism. This somewhat restricted study suggests that dating the prograde-zoning-preserved garnets may bias results towards a particular metamorphic event rather than the prograde timing, as previously thought. The general assumption that larger garnet crystals in metamorphic rocks are older should be made with caution, and it is likely invalid in atoll garnet-bearing metamorphic eclogites because the preliminary garnet cores have been largely consumed. These observations highlight that linking textural and chemical analyses is crucial for interpreting geochronological data.     

Tourmaline breakdown in a pelitic system: implications for boron cycling through subduction zones

Pressure–temperature conditions of tourmaline breakdown in a metapelite were determined by high-pressure experiments at 700–900°C and 4–6 GPa. These experiments produced an eclogite–facies assemblage of garnet, clinopyroxene, phengite, coesite, kyanite and rare rutile. The modal proportions of tourmaline clearly decreased between 4.5 and 5 GPa at 700°C, between 4 and 4.5 GPa at 800°C, and between 800 and 850°C at 4 GPa, with tourmaline that survived the higher temperature conditions appearing corroded and thus metastable. Decreases in the modal abundance of tourmaline are accompanied by decreasing modal abundance of coesite, and increasing that of clinopyroxene, garnet and kyanite; the boron content of phengite increases significantly. These changes suggest that, with increasing pressure and temperature, tourmaline reacts with coesite to produce clinopyroxene, garnet, kyanite, and boron-bearing phengite and fluid. Our results suggest that: (1) tourmaline breakdown occurs at lower pressures and temperatures in SiO₂-saturated systems than in SiO₂-undersaturated systems. (2) In even cold subduction zones, subducting sediments should release boron-rich fluids by tourmaline breakdown before reaching depths of 150 km, and (3) even after tourmaline breakdown, a significant amount of boron partitioned into phengite could be stored in deeply subducted sediments.     

Temporal dynamics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) produced in a microcosm with red tide forming algae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chattonella marina</Emphasis> and its associated bacteria

Acute and severe hypoxia associated with harmful algal bloom has become one of the major causes for the environmental deterioration of coastal areas. Although it is generally thought that a large part of the dissolved oxygen consumption at a bloom site is initiated by heterotrophic bacteria that attack organic matter derived from dead or dying algal cells, precise microbial processes leading to the hypoxia are yet to be examined. Here we show temporal dynamics of extracellular dissolved organic carbon (DOC) of the red tide forming raphidophyte Chattonella marina and bacterial populations associating with the algae under laboratory conditions. During the growth of non-axenic strains of C. marina, we monitored abundance of algae, associated bacteria, and DOC in the culture media. Bacterial cell abundance increased in response to the increase in DOC both at the beginning and the late log phase of the algal growth. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that transient increase in the percentage of respiratory-active bacterial cells also coincided with the timing of the increase in bacterial abundance and DOC. These results strongly suggest that DOC released from growing C. marina fuels respiration and growth of planktonic bacteria surrounding the algae. This has implications for the role of DOC released from C. marina bloom before the collapse in mediating interactions between neighboring algae and bacterial assemblage which may eventually lead to algal bloom-associated hypoxia.     

Continental shelf waves off the fukushima coast Part I: Observations

Current records obtained in the inshore region along the Fukushima coast are analyzed. The existence of periodical current fluctuations whose period is about 100 hours and whose amplitude is as large as 15–25cm s^–1 is recognized. Auto-spectral analyses are made also for sea level, atmospheric pressure and wind records. Each spectrum has significant peaks at the similar period to the current spectrum. The wind spectrum has a broad peak compared with the current. The periodical current fluctuations propagate southward with speed of 3–5 km h^–1. These propagation speeds seem to correspond to those of the second-and third-mode shelf waves.