The observability of topological defects with ground-based interferometers

Topological defect theories lead to non-Gaussian features on maps of fluctuations of the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR), which enable us to distinguish them from maps predicted by standard inflationary models. We have recently presented a maximum entropy method (MEM) which simultaneously deconvolves interferometer maps of CMBR fluctuations, and separates out foreground contaminants. By applying this method to simulated observations using a realistic ground-based interferometer, we demonstrate that it is possible to recover the prominent hotspots in the CMBR maps which delineate individual defects, even in the presence of a significant Galactic foreground.     

Velocity sensitivity in transversely isotropic media1

We consider the problem of determining and predicting how the wave speeds in particular directions for a transversely isotropic (TI) medium depend on particular combinations of the density-normalized moduli A_ij. The expressions for the q^P and q^SV velocities are known to depend on four moduli. Normally, we can only determine three independent parameters from q^P data, or two from q^SZ data, as the others have much lower sensitivity. The resolvable parameters are conveniently described by axial and off-axis parameters: for q^P rays, P_0°= A₁₁, P_90°= A₃₃ and P_45°=(A₁₁+ A₃₃)/4 + (A₁₃+2A₅₅)/2; and for q^SV rays, S_0°= S_90°=A₅₅ and S 45°= (A₁₁+ A ₃₃)/4- A₁₃/2. These parameters control the magnitude of the squared-velocities on the axes and at approximately 45°. For an arbitrary TI medium, if the medium is perturbed in a way that preserves a particular parameter, then slowness points in the associated direction and mode witl be approximately preserved in the new medium. we refer to these parameters as ‘push-pins’, i.e. if a parameter is fixed, the associated part of the slowness surface is pinned in place. Because, these five push-pins only contain four independent moduli, we can only fix at most three push-pins. Perturbing one of the other parameters inevitably perturbs the other. Numerical results illustrating the linkage between two push-pins, when three are fixed, are presented. So-called anomalous TI media occur when the roles of the q^P and q^SV waves are reversed: in some directions the faster ray has transverse polarization. That, in turn, requires anomalous velocities at the push-pins, i.e. S_0° > P_0°, S_45° > P_45° and/or S_90° > P_90° (equivalent to the usual anomalous conditions A₁₁ < A₅₅, < 0 and/or A₃₃ < A⁵⁵). In the Appendix, we confirm that anomalous sensitivities of the velocities at the five push-pins only occur in such media, although the push-pins still apply if interpreted appropriately. Truly anomalous sensitivities, in which push-pins play no role, only occur in media near the boundary between normal and anomalous.     

Digital photogrammetry based automatic measurement of sandstone roof of a mine

Automatic close range photogrammetric measurements are of immense importance for a hazardous industry like mining. Unfortunately, available stereomatching techniques fail for high resolution close range images due to the large variation of object depth. In this paper a diffraction grating based laser dot-matrix projector along with a CCD camera is used for automatic close range measurement of a textureless and featureless object like massive sand stone strata. Targeting of object’s surface with large number of laser dots simultaneously solved two major problems: identification of conjugate points and precise image co-ordinate measurement. Least squares based template matching is used for centroid location of images of laser dots which provided 0.03 (mean) pixels accuracy. Using analytical techniques, camera model of the projector was developed by placing it rigidly on the teleseope of a geodimeter Bundle adjustment procedure is adopted for accurate estimation of interior orientation parameters of the projector which resulted precise co-ordinates of the object space during a test scan by the developed system.     

High-latitude HF Doppler observations of ULF waves. 1. Waves with large spatial scale sizes

A quantitative study of observations of the ionospheric signatures of magnetospheric ultra low frequency (ULF) waves by a high-latitude (geographic: 69.6°N 19.2°E) high-frequency Doppler sounder has been undertaken. The signatures, which are clearly correlated with pulsations in ground magnetometer data, exhibit periods in the range 100–400 s and have azimuthal wave numbers in the range 3–8. They are interpreted here as local field line resonances. Phase information provided by O- and X-mode Doppler data support the view that these are associated with field line resonances having large azimuthal scale sizes. The relative phases and amplitudes of the signatures in the Doppler and ground magnetometer data are compared with a model for the generation of Doppler signatures from incident ULF waves. The outcome suggests that the dominant mechanism involved in producing the Doppler signature is the vertical component of an E × B bulk motion of the local plasma caused by the electric field perturbation of the ULF wave.     

Late-glacial paleoenvironment of Lake Algonquin sediments near Clarksburg,Ontario

Excavation below the Lake Algonquin gravel beach bar near Clarksburg, Ontario, exposed mollusc-bearing clay over a lens of plant debris. This is the northernmost and most deeply buried Lake Algonquin fossil site found thus far in Ontario. It is the first site to provide dates from directly below the Algonquin beach bar. Two radiocarbon dates of about 11 200 years confirm the age of isostatically transgressing Lake Algonquin. Plant macrofossils (21 taxa), pollen (39 taxa), molluscs (12 taxa), and ostracodes (18 taxa) indicate that the climate was colder than present by several degrees and the forest-tundra ecotone was nearby initially but retreated northward rather quickly. Upward increases in abundances and diversity of molluscs and ostracodes suggest it was a time of rapid migration and colonization of species.Deceased, 1 November 1994This is the 7th in a series of papers published in this special AMQUA issue. These papers were presented at the 1994 meeting of the American Quaternary Association held 19–22 June, 1994, at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Dr Linda C. K. Shane served as guest editor for these papers.     

Population movement studied at microscale: Experience and extrapolation

The context for this paper is the nature of generalization deriving from the study of particular cases of human behaviour. With specific reference to field research on population movement conducted amongst individuals, households, small groups, and village communities in third world societies, it challenges the convention that both generalization and extrapolation are based inevitably and exclusively on the number of cases or events subject to examination. An evaluation is made of the methodological aspects of four different studies of population mobility at microscale, undertaken between 1965 and 1977 in the Solomon Islands and northwest Thailand. On this basis, integrated field designs that incorporate a range of intersecting instruments are favoured for their technical flexibility and logical strength. With case studies of third world villages, market centres, and urban neighbourhoods, generalization and extrapolation is based on depth of understanding and the power of theoretical connections.     

The genesis and tectonic control on archaean gold deposits of the Western Australian Shield — A metamorphic replacement model

Gold deposits occur in greenstone belts world wide, and contribute to anomalously high gold production from Archaean terranes. As in other cratons, Archaean gold mineralization of Western Australia represents a complex array of deposit styles. Despite this, most deposits are clearly epigenetic, and large deposits have a number of features in common, including their strong structural controls, distinctive wallrock alteration (Fe-sulphide, K-mica±albite, Ca---Mg---Fe carbonates), consistent metal associations (Au---Ag---As---Sb---W---B; low base metals), commonly Fe-rich host rocks, great depth extension and lack of appreciable vertical zonation. These shared characteristics, combined with their ubiquitous occurrence, indicate that Archaean gold deposits had a common origin related to the tectonic evolution of greenstone belts.Auriferous hydrothermal systems were broadly synchronous with regional metamorphism and emplacement of synkinematic granitoids and felsic (porphyry) intrusions. Although these gold systems involved low-salinity, lowdensity, reduced, near-neutral H₂O---CO₂ fluids carrying gold as reduced sulphur complexes, the origin of the fluids is equivocal. Most timing evidence and stable isotope data cannot distinguish metamorphic from magmatic (granitoid or felsic porphyry) orggins, but the lack of consistent spatial relationships between specific, volumetrically significant intrusive phases and large gold deposits in a number of cratons strongly favours metamorphic derivation of fluids.The metamorphic-replacement model for gold mineralization involves devolatilization of the lower portions of the greenstone pile, with high geothermal gradients inhibiting significant melting. CO₂ possibly formed by the decarbonation of early alteration, related to mantle degassing along crustal-scale, synbasinal fault zones. Auriferous fluids were channelled along greenstone-scale faults, in part developed during reactivation of crustal-scale faults in a strike-slip regime. Gold deposition occurred largely under greenschist facies conditions (about 300–400°C, 1–2 kb) in response to decreasing gold solubility with declining temperature. However, a major control on gold deposition was fluid/wallrock interaction. Many large deposits formed by sulphidation of Fe-rich host rocks, with synchronous deposition of Fe-sulphides and gold. However, the variable nature of gold-depositing reactions, including lowering of fO₂ and pH, allowed a multitude of small, and some large, deposits to form wherever that fluid circulation occurred. In consequence, several of the relatively small deposits currently worked from open pit are hosted by ultramafic and felsic rocks. There are few constraints on the source of components (Au, S, K, CO₂) added to gold deposits, but even giant deposits such as the Golden Mile, Kalgoorlie could have formed from a realistic greenstone source volume (ca. 8×8×5 km). Convective circulation of fluids could have contributed to the generation of high fluid-rock ratios.On the regional scale, the markedly heterogeneous distribution of large gold deposits, gold productivity and host rocks to deposits can be accommodated by the metamorphic-replacement model. The most favourable conditions for development of auriferous hydrothermal systems operated in younger (ca. 2.7±0.1 Ga) rift-phase greenstones where greatest extension and crustal thinning produced high geothermal gradients, crustal-scale synbasinal faults, and rapid extrusion and burial of volcanics, including abundant komatiites. Iron-rich tholeiitic basalts and dolerites were preferred host rocks for large gold deposits. The least favourable conditions existed in older (ca. 3.5-3.4 Ga) platformphase greenstones, where gentle sagging on submerged continental crust produced eruption of mainly mafic volcanics with few komatiites, commonly in very shallow-water environments. This allowed intense synvolcanic alteration of both gold source rocks and potential host rocks. The generally smaller gold deposits formed mainly in ultramafic or greywacke hosts. Younger (ca. 3.0 Ga) platform-phase greenstones appear intermediate in nature but, unlike other greenstones, have significant epigenetic gold deposits in originally oxide-facies BIF, which were deposited on relatively deep-water platforms. Similar controls appear to exist on a world scale, with gold mineralization peaking at ca. 2.7±0.1 Ga in response to development of major rift zones in thickened, relatively mature continental crust. Interestingly, the giant Witwatersrand goldfield formed at about the same time.     

Tourism and gambling

Gambling by tourists occurs in many places around the world. More regions and countries are establishing casinos, regarded as attractions. How are gambling and tourism related? Why and how do casinos attract tourists? The characteristics of gambling games can be compared with the gambles of normal life, to help explain why such games are popular. Aligning that analysis with two types of tourism, wanderlust and sunlust, leads to a conclusion that the former type is not prone to gambling games. Evidence from several countries also suggests that the proximity to a political border with a neighbouring country or province that outlaws casinos can be a factor behind the success of tourist destinations offering gambling facilities for sunlust tourists. To overcome objections by local residents to proposals for establishing gambling facilities, pro-casino lobbies appear to use “tourism” as a kind of Trojan Horse, disguising the point that the major gambler market is in the local population. New Zealand is a recent case where this appears to be happening.