Gas mixing with aqueous solution in the ore-forming hydrothermal process: an example of gold

The mixing of gas and aqueous fluid in hydrothermal ore-forming processes is discussed with reference to gold deposits to demonstrate that this phenomenon may affect ore deposition. Data on fluid inclusions in samples from the Sukhoi Log and Olimpiadinskoe deposits in Russia are utilized to demonstrate possible implications of gas mixing with hydrothermal solution when gold ores are formed. A simplified thermodynamic model is suggested to show how interaction between aqueous saline solutions with pure carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide—methane mixture may affect gold solubility. Further studying such processes may provide interesting information for understanding the genesis of ore mineralization.     

Diamonds in the products of the 2012–2013 Tolbachik eruption (Kamchatka) and mechanism of their formation

The origin of diamonds in the lava and ash of the recent Tolbachik eruption of 2012–2013 (Kamchatka) is enigmatic. The mineralogy of the host rocks provides no evidence for the existence of the high pressure that is necessary for diamond formation. The analysis of carbon isotope systematics showed a similarity between the diamonds and dispersed carbon from the Tolbachik lava, which could serve as a primary material for diamond synthesis. There are grounds to believe that the formation of Tolbachik diamonds was related to fluid dynamics. Based on the obtained results, it was suggested that Tolbachik microdiamonds were formed as a result of cavitation during the rapid movement of volcanic fluid. The possibility of cavitation-induced diamond formation was previously theoretically substantiated by us and confirmed experimentally. During cavitation, ultrahigh pressure is generated locally (in collapsing bubbles), while the external pressure is not critical for diamond synthesis. The conditions of the occurrence of cavitation are rather common in geologic processes. Therefore, microdiamonds of such an origin may be much more abundant in nature than was supposed previously.     

Provenance analysis for Middle Eocene sediments in the West Kamchatka sedimentary basin (Tigil area)

The paper presents the results of reconstruction of Middle Eocene provenances for the West Kamchatka sedimentary basin (WKSB) corresponding to the Tigil area. It has been established that the early (Eocene) evolution stage of WKSB was marked by the deposition of terrigenous sediments in intermontane depressions followed by the accumulation of shallow-marine sediments after transgression. In terms of the composition, sandstones of the Middle Eocene Snatol Formation correspond to graywackes. With respect to the geochemistry of sandstones, their provenances were confined to an active continental margin and island arc. The mineral composition of the heavy fraction suggests an alternating dominance of felsic and mafic rocks in the provenances. Dating of the clastic zircon from sandstones of the Snatol Formation by the LA-ICP-MS method revealed a wide variation range of their age. The most significant peak is close to the age of calc-alkaline magmatism in the Okhotsk–Chukotka volcanic belt. This fact provides insight into the Eocene paleogeography: the major rock provenances were located in the Okhotsk–Chukotka volcanic belt and the eastern Achaivayam–Valagin island arc. Local sources of clastic material were represented by the Utkholok and Kinkil volcanic belts.     

Some general relations of the development of complex molecular objects at early stages of biosphere formation as a consequence of the physical properties of condensed medium

We analyzed the character of molecular transformations under conditions of condensed media, in which intermolecular interactions always occur. It was shown that, instead of discrete transfer of external energy into the molecule, the energy characteristics of the condensed medium (appearance of zones) could result in gradual accumulation of internal energy in reaction centers owing to sequential thermal collisions with particles of the medium initiating the chemical reaction. This does not require high temperatures. The established physical properties related to the energy characteristics of condensed media could play an important role in molecular transformations and, consequently, formation of complex molecular objects at early stages of biosphere formation.     

Geochemistry and petrogenesis of the Late Mesozoic–Early Cenozoic volcanic rocks of the Okhotsk and Japan marginal seas

The results of ICP-MS trace-element (LILE, HFSE, REE) study of the Late Mesozoic–Early Cenozoic volcanic rocks of the Okhotsk and Japan seas and geochronological K-Ar dating of the Eocene volcanic rocks are presented. Specifics of volcanism developed on submarine rises of these seas was characterized for the first time, and magma sources and geodynamic settings of the volcanic complexes predating the formation of the deep-water basins were determined. It is established that the Late Mesozoic magmas were formed in a subduction setting from spinel peridotites of suprasubduction mantle wedge, which was metasomatically reworked by aqueous fluids that were released by dehydration of sedimentary layer of subducting oceanic plate. This follows from the elevated concentrations of H₂O, alkalis, potassium, LILE and LREE, and lowered HFSE (including Ta-Nb minimum) and HREE contents, at lowered Sm/Yb, Nb/Ta, Nb/Y and elevated La/Nb, Ba/La, and Zr/Y ratios. Eocene adakite-like volcanic rocks were identified for the first time in the Sea of Okhotsk. They vary from andesitic to more felsic compositions with elevated MgO (>4%) and elevated La/Yb (>14) and Sr/Y (50–60) ratios. Identification of adakite-like volcanic rocks serves as evidence in support of the transform continental-margin (or plate sliding) setting, which is characterized by breaking apart of subduction slab and formation of slab “windows” acting as pathways for the transfer of asthenospheric mantle into continental lithosphere. New geochemical data on the Late Mesozoic–Early Cenozoic volcanic rocks of the Okhotsk and Japan seas and analysis of literature data were used to distinguish two geodynamic settings within these seas: subduction and transform margin. Similar settings operated at that time in the adjacent continental- margin volcanic belts (Akinin and Miller, 2011; Martynov and Khanchuk, 2013; et al.).     

Mesoscale numerical simulation study of warm fog dissipation by salt particles seeding

Based on the dynamic framework of WRF and Morrison 2-moment explicit cloud scheme, a salt-seeding scheme was developed and used to simulate the dissipation of a warm fog event during 6–7 November 2009 in the Beijing and Tianjin area. The seeding effect and its physical mechanism were studied. The results indicate that when seeding fog with salt particles sized 80 μm and at a quantity of 6 gm~(-2) at the fog top, the seeding effect near the ground surface layer is negative in the beginning period, and then a positive seeding effect begins to appear at 18 min, with the best effect appearing at 21 min after seeding operation. The positive effect can last about 35 min. The microphysical mechanism of the warm fog dissipation is because of the evaporation due to the water vapor condensation on the salt particles and coalescence with salt particles.The process of fog water coalescence with salt particles contributed mostly to this warm fog dissipation. Furthermore, two series of sensitivity experiments were performed to study the seeding effect under different seeding amounts and salt particles sizes. The results show that seeding fog with salt particles sized of 80 μm can have the best seeding effect, and the seeding effect is negative when the salt particle size is less than 10 μm. For salt particles sized 80 μm, the best seeding effect, with corresponding visibility of 380 m, can be achieved when the seeding amount is 30 g m~(-2).     

An algorithm to retrieve precipitation with synthetic aperture radar

This paper presents a new type of rainfall retrieval algorithm, called the model-oriented statistical and Volterra integration. It is a combination of the model-oriented statistical (MOS) and Volterra integral equation (VIE) approaches. The steps involved in this new algorithm can be briefly illustrated as follows. Firstly, information such as the start point and width of the rain is obtained through pre-analysis of the data received by synthetic aperture radar (SAR). Secondly, the VIE retrieval algorithm is employed over a short distance to obtain information on the shape of the rain. Finally, the rain rate can be calculated by using the MOS retrieval algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm is effective and simple, and can lead to time savings of nearly 50% compared with MOS. An example of application of SAR data is also discussed, involving the retrieval of precipitation information over the South China Sea.     

Occurrence,durée et intensité des précipitations simulées par deux modèles régionaux canadiens du climat sur la région du Maghreb

[Translated by the editorial staff] Simulating the precipitation regime of Northern Africa is challenging for regional climate models, particularly because of the strong spatial and temporal variability of rain events in the region. In this study we evaluate simulations conducted with two recent versions of regional climate models (RCM) developed in Canada: the CRCM5 and CanRCM4. Both are also used in the COordinated Regional Climate Downscaling EXperiment (CORDEX)-Africa. The assessment is based on the occurrence, duration, and intensity indices of daily precipitation in Maghreb during the fall and spring seasons from 1998 to 2008. We also examine the links between the North-Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index, weather systems, and the precipitation regime over the region. During the rainy season (September to February), the CRCM5 reproduces the frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation adequately, as well as the occurrence of days with rain, while the CanRCM4 underestimates precipitation extremes. The study of links between weather systems and the precipitation regime shows that, along the Atlantic coast, precipitation (occurrence, intensity, and wet sequences) increases significantly with storm frequency in the fall. In winter, these links grow stronger going east, from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean coast. The negative phases of the NAO index are statistically associated with the increase in rain intensity, extremes, and accumulation along the Atlantic coast in the fall. However, the link weakens in winter over these regions and strengthens along the Mediterranean coast as the precipitation frequency rises during negative phases of the NAO. Both RCMs generally reproduce the links between the NAO and the precipitation regime well, regardless of location.