Active region asymmetry as a result of the rise of magnetic flux tubes

The magnetic flux tubes that rise across the convection zone to produce active regions are shown to develop a difference in inclination between their preceding and follower sides. This asymmetry is such that the follower wing is more vertical (i.e., closer to the radial direction) than the preceding side. An asymmetry of this kind can be obtained as a natural consequence of the conservation of angular momentum along the rise. This process may explain a number of the observed asymmetries in morphology and behavior of the preceding and follower parts of the active regions. We present results of numerical simulations showing this effect and discuss possible observational consequences.     

Mendigite,Mn2Mn2MnCa(Si3O9)2, a new mineral species of the bustamite group from the Eifel volcanic region,Germany

A new mineral, mendigite (IMA no. 2014-007), isostructural with bustamite, has been found in the In den Dellen pumice quarry near Mendig, Laacher Lake area, Eifel Mountains, Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz), Germany. Associated minerals are sanidine, nosean, rhodonite, tephroite, magnetite, and a pyrochlore-group mineral. Mendigite occurs as clusters of long-prismatic crystals (up to 0.1 × 0.2 × 2.5 mm in size) in cavities within sanidinite. The color is dark brown with a brown streak. Perfect cleavage is parallel to (001). D _calc = 3.56 g/cm³. The IR spectrum shows the absence of H₂O and OH groups. Mendigite is biaxial (–), α = 1.722 (calc), β = 1.782(5), γ = 1.796(5), 2V _meas = 50(10)°. The chemical composition (electron microprobe, mean of 4 point analyses, the Mn²⁺/Mn³⁺ ratio determined from structural data and charge-balance constraints) is as follows (wt %): 0.36 MgO, 10.78 CaO, 37.47 MnO, 2.91 Mn₂O₃, 4.42 Fe₂O₃, 1.08 Al₂O₃, 43.80 SiO₂, total 100.82. The empirical formula is Mn_2.00(Mn_1.33Ca_0.67) (Mn_0.50 ²⁺ Mn_0.28 ³⁺ Fe_0.15 ³⁺ Mg_0.07)(Ca_0.80 (Mn_0.20 ²⁺)(Si_5.57 Fe_0.27 ³⁺ Al_0.16O₁₈). The idealized formula is Mn₂Mn₂MnCa(Si₃O₉)₂. The crystal structure has been refined for a single crystal. Mendigite is triclinic, space group \(P\bar 1\); the unit-cell parameters are a = 7.0993(4), b = 7.6370(5), c = 7.7037(4) Å, α = 79.58(1)°, β = 62.62(1)°, γ = 76.47(1)°; V = 359.29(4) ų, Z = 1. The strongest reflections on the X-ray powder diffraction pattern [d, Å (I, %) (hkl)] are: 3.72 (32) (020), 3.40 (20) (002, 021), 3.199 (25) (012), 3.000 (26), (\(01\bar 2\), \(1\bar 20\)), 2.885 (100) (221, \(2\bar 11\), \(1\bar 21\)), 2.691 (21) (222, \(2\bar 10\)), 2.397 (21) (\(02\bar 2\), \(21\bar 1\), 203, 031), 1.774 (37) (412, \(3\bar 21\)). The type specimen is deposited in the Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, registration number 4420/1.     

Neutron and proton interaction backgrounds in compton-telescopes used for gamma-ray astronomy

Gamma-ray background counting rates encountered in astronomy observations are calculated for a double Compton scatter telescope. Backgrounds not eliminated by the usual growth curve could be produced by albedo neutrons and/or cosmic ray protons interacting with the carbon and/or hydrogen of the detector. They are the albedo neutron-carbon interaction gamma-rays, cosmic ray proton interaction delayed gamma rays and the moderated albedo neutron-proton photocapture gamma rays. It is decisive to know the contribution of these backgrounds, because they must be subtracted before the cosmic diffuse flux can be determined. Estimates of the neutron induced background events in a Compton telescope show that they might contribute a considerable fraction of the counting rate. In the near future the calculations will be checked with a calibrated neutron beam.     

The Nuclear Stellar Cluster in NGC 1068

We present new near-infrared integral field spectroscopy and adaptive optics imaging of the nucleus of NGC 1068. Using the stellar CO absorption features in the H and K bands, we have identified a moderately extincted stellar core centered on the nuclear position and of intrinsic size ~50 pc. We show that this nuclear stellar core is probably 5-16 × 108 years in age and contributes at least 7% of the total nuclear luminosity of ~1 × 1011 L⊙. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Carbonatite diversity in the Central Andes: the Ayopaya alkaline province,Bolivia

The Ayopaya province in the eastern Andes of Bolivia, 100 km NW of Cochabamba, hosts a Cretaceous alkaline rock series within a Palaeozoic sedimentary sequence. The alkaline rock association comprises nepheline-syenitic/foyaitic to ijolitic intrusions, carbonatite, kimberlite, melilititic, nephelinitic to basanitic dykes and diatremes, and a variety of alkaline dykes. The carbonatites display a wide petrographic and geochemical spectrum. The Cerro Sapo area hosts a small calciocarbonatite intrusion and a multitude of ferrocarbonatitic dykes and lenses in association with a nepheline-syenitic stock. The stock is crosscut by a spectacular REE-Sr-Th-rich sodalite-ankerite-baryte dyke system. The nearby Chiaracke complex represents a magnesiocarbonatite intrusion with no evidence for a relationship to igneous silicate rocks. The magnesiocarbonatite ( REE up to 1.3 wt%) shows strong HREE depletion, i.e. unusually high La/Yb ratios (520–1,500). Calciocarbonatites ( REE up to 0.5 wt%) have a flatter REE distribution pattern (La/Yb 95–160) and higher Nb and Zr contents. The sodalite-ankerite-baryte dyke system shows geochemical enrichment features, particularly in Na, Ba, Cl, Sr, REE, which are similar to the unusual natrocarbonatitic lavas of the recent volcano of Oldoinyo Lengai, Tanzania. The Cerro Sapo complex may be regarded as an intrusive equivalent of natrocarbonatitic volcanism, and provides an example for carbonatite genesis by late-stage crystal fractionation and liquid immiscibility. The magnesiocarbonatite intrusion of Chiaracke, on the other hand, appears to result from a primary carbonatitic mantle melt. Deep seated mantle magmatism/metasomatism is also expressed by the occurrence of a kimberlite dyke. Neodymium and strontium isotope data (_Nd 1.4–5.4, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶ Sr<Bulk Earth) indicate a depleted mantle source for the alkaline magmatism. The magmatism of the Ayopaya region is attributed to failed rifting of western South America during the Mesozoic and represents the only occurrence of carbonatite and kimberlite rocks in the Andes.