Capture of Helium and Other Volatiles during the Growth of Olivine Phenocrysts in Picritic Basalts from the Juan Fernandez Islands

Olivine crystals in basalt contain helium that can be extractedfor isotopic analysis. Helium-bearing olivine phenocrysts inpicritic tholeiites from the Juan Fernandez Islands, SE Pacific,crystallized from moderately differentiated liquids. None arexenocrysts of mantle peridotite. The helium occurs in cavitiesor bubbles in inclusions best seen at high magnification inthe olivine. The olivine grew around spinel, sulfide, and bubblesthat preferentially nucleated on crystal surfaces. Inclusionswithin these phases range from large cavities to tiny, facetedpits arranged in rows. Many crystals contain curving trainsof inclusions along annealed features. The inclusions formedduring mixing between cooler differentiated magma and hotterolivine-charged magma, which accelerated vesiculation. Bubblesnucleated on the olivine as they do on ice when stirred in carbonatedwater. Mixing also induced thermal stress fracturing, like thecracking of ice dropped into water. Cracking, irregular extinction,and subgrain formation occurred when faceted crystals collidedwith each other or with conduit walls. Boundary layer meltsand bubbles were drawn quickly into the fractures. Thus fewinclusions contain equilibrium proportions of minerals and vapor.Mantle-derived helium clearly permeated into shallow storagereservoirs, including rift zones where magmatic differentiation,mixing, and vapor exsolution were fairly extensive. KEY WORDS: Juan Fernandez; volatiles; inclusions; olivine; picrite     

Non‐unique stratal geometries: implications for sequence stratigraphic interpretations

There is now strong evidence that stratal geometries on basin margins are most likely a consequence of multiple controls, not just variations in accommodation. Consequently, correct sequence stratigraphic interpretation of stratal geometries requires an understanding of how multiple different controls may generate similar geometries. Using a simple numerical stratigraphic forward model, we explore the impact of time variable sediment supply and different sediment transport rates on stratal geometries. We demonstrate how four common types of stratal geometry can form by more than one set of controlling parameter values and are thus likely to be non‐unique, meaning that there may be several sets of controlling factors that can plausibly explain their formation. For example, a maximum transgressive surface can occur in the model due to an increase in rate of relative sea‐level rise during constant sediment supply, and due to a reduction in rate of sediment supply during a constant rate of relative sea‐level rise. Sequence boundaries, topset aggradation and shoreline trajectories are also examples of non‐unique stratal geometries. If the model simulations in this work are sufficiently realistic, then the modelled stratal geometries are important examples of non‐uniqueness, suggesting the need for a shift towards sequence stratigraphic methods based on constructing and evaluating multiple hypotheses and scenarios.     

Sodic(–calcic) alteration in Fe-oxide–Cu–Au districts: an origin via unmixing of magmatic H2O–CO2–NaCl ± CaCl2–KCl fluids

Iron-oxide–Cu–Au deposits, particularly those formed in deeper level (plutonic) environments, are commonly characterized by regional scale sodic(–calcic) alteration, which typically formed pre- or syn-Cu–Au mineralization. The sodic(–calcic) assemblages include albite, scapolite, pyroxene, actinolite, apatite, titanite, epidote and calcite. The consistent presence of coexisting hypersaline aqueous and CO₂-rich fluids in minerals from sodic(–calcic) alteration and associated Fe-oxide–Cu–Au deposits is the result of unmixing of H₂O–CO₂–NaCl ± CaCl₂–KCl magmatic fluids. Experimental evidence indicates that the Na/(Na + K) ratio of fluids in equilibrium with two alkali feldspars in CO₃ ²⁻-bearing parent fluids would be significantly higher than in unmixed chloride-bearing aqueous fluids. Therefore, fluid unmixing caused by decreases in temperature and/or pressure, will result in albitization of wall rocks, as is observed in most deeper level Fe-oxide–Cu–Au deposits. This alteration style may be succeeded by K-feldspathization with decreasing temperature because of the increase in equilibrium Na/(Na + K) in chloride-bearing fluids buffered by alkali feldspars. Received: 26 May 1999 / Accepted: 8 June 2000     

Cretaceous crustal thinning in North Africa: Implications for magmatic and thermal events in the Eastern Tunisian margin and the Pelagic Sea

The integrated use of geological, geophysical, and geochemical data from Eastern Tunisia onshore and offshore samples indicate a crustal thinning induced from the Tethyan rifting. This is responsible for the subsequent evolution of the North African passive margin during the Late Cretaceous, and the creation of the fold–thrust belt and associated foreland deformations. This thinned crust was an area of mantle upwelling that favoured the increase of isotherms, the uprise of basalt magma, and the circulation of hydrothermal fluids. The Cretaceous magmatism generated a major hydrothermal event characterised by the circulation of hot fluids along faults and a relatively high heat flow in the basin. Temperature elevation and hydrothermal conditions led to alteration of basalts and generated a new mineral equilibrium around the enclosing sedimentary deposits.     

Evaluation of urban thermal environments in commercial and residential spaces in Okayama City, Japan, using the wet-bulb globe temperature index

We estimated wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) using measured meteorological data to understand the bioclimates of human living spaces during the summer season. Our research focused on commercial and residential areas of Okayama City, Japan (population ～700,000). The commercial spaces (CO) mainly consisted of multi-story office buildings, whereas the residential spaces (RE) consisted of one- or two-story residential buildings. On a fine day with southeast winds, the spatially averaged WBGT measured in the CO was higher than that in the RE. The difference was statistically significant and would have caused noticeable discomfort and a high risk of heat disorder for occupants of the CO over the long term. For instance, at 1900 Japan Standard Time (JST), the maximum difference in the WBGT between the CO and RE sites was 2.0°C (23.5°C for the CO and 21.5°C for the RE). From 1800 to 1900 JST, the wet-bulb temperature in the CO was still 1.5–2.0°C higher than that in the RE, even though both areas had the same dry-bulb temperature. This indicates that the CO retained greater amounts of water vapor for longer periods compared to the RE. The wet-bulb temperature in the CO increased rapidly at most observation points when the southeast sea breeze arrived. In contrast, in the RE, the wet-bulb temperature decreased until evening. This difference was caused by moist air transported from a river about 1 km upwind from the CO. The moist air forced an increase in the WBGT and elevated the risk of heat disorder in the CO. The spatially averaged globe temperature of the CO at 1500 JST was 6.2°C lower than that at the RE, causing the WBGT of the CO to decrease. The results suggest that the higher WBGT in the CO was caused by higher wet-bulb temperatures. On a day with southwest winds, the CO and RE showed no difference in WBGT because the river was not included in the upwind source area.     

Cosmogenic-nuclide ages for New England coastal moraines, Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Cosmogenic-nuclide exposure ages for 13 glacially transported boulders atop the Martha's Vineyard moraine, MA, USA, indicate that the southeastern margin of the Laurentide ice sheet reached its maximum extent during the last glaciation 23,200±500 yr ago. Another 10 age determinations from the younger Buzzards Bay moraine near Woods Hole, MA, indicate that this moraine complex was formed 18,800±400 yr ago. These ages correlate approximately with the terminations of cooling cycles recorded in Greenland ice cores and coeval ice-rafting events, suggesting that the marginal position of this sector of the ice sheet was tightly coupled to North Atlantic climate during the last glacial maximum.