The IAU 2009 system of astronomical constants: the report of the IAU working group on numerical standards for Fundamental Astronomy

In the 2006?C2009 triennium, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group on Numerical Standards for Fundamental Astronomy determined a list of Current Best Estimates (CBEs). The IAU 2009 Resolution B2 adopted these CBEs as the IAU (2009) System of Astronomical Constants. Additional work continues to define the process of updating the CBEs and creating a standard electronic document.     

Geology of coal bearing Palaeogene sediments,onshore Torquay Basin,Victoria

New mapping at Anglesea coal mine, and coal resource and deep groundwater drilling have provided new perspectives on the economically important Eastern View Group coal bearing sedimentary succession in the onshore Torquay Basin. In the Anglesea Syncline, the upper 35 m thick brown coal seam of the Eastern View Group is overlain by a low angle unconformity. Units overlying the coal seams include high energy, cross cutting sand channels of the Boonah Formation and lower energy channel and interchannel systems of the overlying Salt Creek and Anglesea Formations. The mine section can be correlated from borehole data with the Eastern View Group and Demons Bluff Group exposed in coastal cliff sections along the adjacent Anglesea to Torquay coast. Recently drilled coal and groundwater exploration bores provide new data on the extent of the coal measures in the Anglesea area, and details of the underlying Tertiary succession that include typical Otway Basin units such as the Pember Mudstone and Pebble Point Formations. The stratigraphy below the coal measures suggests that the Otway Ranges were not present during Palaeogene times. The rank of the brown coals on and around the Otway Ranges is higher than any other Tertiary coals in onshore Victoria, and they preserve similar patterns of rank distribution to the high rank black coals in the underlying Lower Cretaceous Otway Group. Evidence for large overburden thicknesses is lacking, and the high ranks may have been augmented by higher than normal geothermal gradients in the Early Tertiary. Comparisons between the observed depositional cycles, sequence stratigraphic cycles, and worldwide coastal onlap curves suggest that the observed disconformity boundaries are sequence boundaries that provide a chronostratigraphic framework. Sequences present may include TB4.1–4.5 in the overburden units, and TB 2.4–3.6 in the coal bearing interval.     

Cenozoic fault control on ‘deep lead’ palaeoriver systems,Central Highlands,Victoria

Basaltic eruptions across the Central Highlands of Victoria have sealed in-place Early to middle Cenozoic palaeodrainage systems (also known as deep leads). The basal gravels of the deep leads have been mined extensively in the past for their rich placer-gold deposits. Detailed mapping of the distribution of all palaeorivers has been carried out using drilling results and modern aeromagnetic/radiometric surveys. The palaeochannel isopachs (including basalt and sediment) do not thicken in a modern downvalley direction. Instead, deeper depressions alternate with shallower areas. The variations in thickness, and parts of the palaeochannel courses, are controlled by a series of east-northeast-trending basement highs. The basement highs are caused by a set of east-northeast-trending (Otway Basin-style) faults visible on radar shuttle imagery in the Central Highlands. They have not previously been recognised in regional geological mapping. Most published fault trends are north – south oriented, parallel to the strike of the Palaeozoic basement rocks. Exceptions occur at Ballarat where there is an orthogonal east-northeast set mapped in underground quartz reef workings that show right-lateral strike-slip movements. The east-northeast faults show half-graben block-style rotational movement on basement, creating north- and south-facing fault scarps along the horst ridges. Where palaeochannels overlie the grabens, valleys broadened, infill thickens, and locally drainage directions may change. When the drainage cuts through the horsts, steeper incised valleys result, and this is where, in the historical past, some gold leads were ‘lost’. The initial timing of the block movement pre-dates at least the Early Oligocene to Late Miocene ages of the basal palaeovalley sediments, as shown by revised palynological dating. In places, the modern drainage divide coincides with east-northeast-trending faults. In the Ballarat area, an earlier divide accentuated by the aeromagnetic palaeodrainage mapping occurs up to 25 km south and appears to pre-date the earliest basalt flows at around 7.0 Ma. This evidence suggests the divide can change position through time by differential movements along east-northeast faults and transferral of maximum uplift to adjacent blocks.     

Rock varnish microlamination dating of late Quaternary geomorphic features in the drylands of western USA

Varnish microlamination (VML) dating is a correlative age determination technique that can be used to date and correlate various geomorphic features in deserts. In this study, we establish a generalized late Quaternary (i.e., 0–300 ka) varnish layering sequence for the drylands of western USA and tentatively correlate it with the SPECMAP oxygen isotope record. We then use this climatically correlated varnish layering sequence as a correlative dating tool to determine surface exposure ages for late Quaternary geomorphic features in the study region. VML dating of alluvial fan deposits in Death Valley of eastern California indicates that, during the mid to late Pleistocene, 5–15 ky long aggradation events occurred during either wet or dry climatic periods and that major climate shifts between glacial and interglacial conditions may be the pacemaker for alteration of major episodes of fan aggradation. During the Holocene interglacial time, however, 0.5–1 ky long brief episodes of fan deposition may be linked to short periods of relatively wet climate. VML dating of alluvial desert pavements in Death Valley and the Mojave Desert reveals that pavements can be developed rapidly (< 10 ky) during the Holocene (and probably late Pleistocene) in the arid lowlands (< 800 m msl) of these regions; but once formed, they may survive for 74–85 ky or even longer without being significantly disturbed by geomorphic processes operative at the pavement surface. Data from this study also support the currently accepted, “being born at the surface” model of desert pavement formation. VML dating of colluvial boulder deposits on the west slope of Yucca Mountain, southern Nevada, yields a minimum age of 46 ka for the emplacement of these deposits on the slope, suggesting that they were probably formed during the early phase of the last glaciation or before. These results, combined with those from our previous studies, demonstrate that VML dating has great potential to yield numerical age estimates for various late Quaternary geomorphic features in the western USA drylands.     

The origin of hydrous,high-δ<Superscript>18</Superscript>O voluminous volcanism: diverse oxygen isotope values and high magmatic water contents within the volcanic record of Klyuchevskoy volcano,Kamchatka, Russia

Klyuchevskoy volcano, in Kamchatka’s subduction zone, is one of the most active arc volcanoes in the world and contains some of the highest δ¹⁸O values for olivines and basalts. We present an oxygen isotope and melt inclusion study of olivine phenocrysts in conjunction with major and trace element analyses of ¹⁴C- and tephrochronologically-dated tephra layers and lavas spanning the eruptive history of Klyuchevskoy. Whole-rock and groundmass analyses of tephra layers and lava samples demonstrate that both high-Mg (7–12.5 wt% MgO) and high-Al (17–19 wt% Al₂O₃, 3–6.5 wt% MgO) basalt and basaltic andesite erupted coevally from the central vent and flank cones. Individual and bulk olivine δ¹⁸O range from normal MORB values of 5.1‰ to values as high as 7.6‰. Likewise, tephra and lava matrix glass have high-δ¹⁸O values of 5.8–8.1‰. High-Al basalts dominate volumetrically in Klyuchevskoy’s volcanic record and are mostly high in δ¹⁸O. High-δ¹⁸O olivines and more normal-δ¹⁸O olivines occur in both high-Mg and high-Al samples. Most olivines in either high-Al or high-Mg basalts are not in oxygen isotopic equilibrium with their host glasses, and Δ¹⁸O_{olivine–glass} values are out of equilibrium by up to 1.5‰. Olivines are also out of Fe–Mg equilibrium with the host glasses, but to a lesser extent. Water concentrations in olivine-hosted melt inclusions from five tephra samples range from 0.4 to 7.1 wt%. Melt inclusion CO₂ concentrations vary from below detection (<50 ppm) to 1,900 ppm. These values indicate depths of crystallization up to ~17 km (5 kbar). The variable H₂O and CO₂ concentrations likely reflect crystallization of olivine and entrapment of inclusions in ascending and degassing magma. Oxygen isotope and Fe–Mg disequilibria together with melt inclusion data indicate that olivine was mixed and recycled between high-Al and high-Mg basaltic melts and cumulates, and Fe–Mg and δ¹⁸O re-equilibration processes were incomplete. Major and trace elements in the variably high-δ¹⁸O olivines suggest a peridotite source for the parental magmas. Voluminous, highest in the world with respect to δ¹⁸O, and hydrous basic volcanism in Klyuchevskoy and other Central Kamchatka depression volcanoes is explained by a model in which the ascending primitive melts that resulted from the hydrous melt fluxing of mantle wedge peridotite, interacted with the shallow high-δ¹⁸O lithospheric mantle that had been extensively hydrated during earlier times when it was part of the Kamchatka forearc. Following accretion of the Eastern Peninsula terrains several million years ago, a trench jump eastward caused the old forearc mantle to be beneath the presently active arc. Variable interaction of ascending flux-melting-derived melts with this older, high-δ¹⁸O lithospheric mantle has produced mafic parental magmas with a spectrum of δ¹⁸O values. Differentiation of the higher δ¹⁸O parental magmas has created the volumetrically dominant high-Al basalt series. Both basalt types incessantly rise and mix between themselves and with variable in δ¹⁸O cumulates within dynamic Klyuchevskoy magma plumbing system, causing biannual eruptions and heterogeneous magma products. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Mineralogy and petrology of xenoliths in a diatreme from south Westland,New Zealand

Xenoliths up to a metre in length occur in a carbonatitic diatreme member of a lamprophyric dike swarm at Moeraki River, south Westland, New Zealand. The xenoliths reported here consist of Iherzolite (chromite, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene and olivine) and harzburgite (chromite, olivine and orthopyroxene). A clinopyroxene xenocryst is also reported. Analyses of these phases are presented. The chemistry, low CaO and high Al₂O₃ and Na₂O content of the clinopyroxenes; low CaO and high forsterite content of the olivine, suggests that these phases were in equilibrium under high pressures within the spinel Iherzolite field. An orthopyroxene-chromite intergrowth is described and is interpreted as the product of the re-equilibration of garnet in passing from the garnet Iherzolite field to the spinel Iherzolite field.     

INTERACTION BETWEEN ATMOSPHERE AND OCEAN AND TELECONNECTION IN THE ATLANTIC DURING THE COLD SEASON

In this paper,the WA teleconnection pattern of SST in the Atlantic during the cold season is confirmed.The resultsshow the WA pattern of atmosphere is linked to the SST pattern and relative higher frequencies account for most of theWA signal.The linked pair of atmosphere and ocean patterns might be mutually supportive and exhibit“quasi-annualcycle”.The possible explanation for the polarity reversal of WA pattern is also discussed.     

The biogeochemical fate and toxicity of mercury in Controlled Experimental Ecosystems

The affinity of mercury for organic matter was the most important parameter governing its chemical speciation, transport and toxicity in Controlled Experimental Ecosystems (CEEs) of the Controlled Ecosystem Pollution Experiment (CEPEX) deployed in Saanich Inlet, B.C., Canada, Particulate, colloidal and high molecular weight dissolved forms of mercury accounted for about 90% of the total mercury present in the water column. Bioassays indicated that organic matter in the above size classes had an important influence on the toxicity of mercury to phytoplankton.Sorption of mercury to particulate organic matter in the CEEs could be described by either Freundlich or linear adsorption isotherms. An observed depth-dependent increase in mercury content of particulate matter was attributed to selective biological degradation of non-mercury-binding organic components of the particles during settling.The high affinity of mercury for settling particulate organic matter led to rapid removal of mercury from CEEs. Removal rates could be described as first order and were a function of primary production rates. Deviations of measured half-removal times from those predicted by an empirically formulated relationship between primary production and mercury half-removal times could be related successfully to the influence of other occasionally significant biological parameters such as zooplankton grazing activity.