Olivines and olivine coronas in mesosiderites

Olivines and their surrounding coronas in mesosiderites have been studied texturally and compositionally by optical and microprobe methods. Most olivine is compositionally homogeneous but some is irregularly zoned. It ranges from Fo_58–92 and shows no consistent pattern of distribution within and between mesosiderites. Olivine occurs as large single crystals or as partially recrystallized mineral clasts, except for two lithic clasts. One is in Emery, the other in Vaca Muerta, and they are both shock-modified olivine orthopyroxenites. $\text{FeO}\text{MnO}$ ratios in olivine exhibit a variety of differing trends and range from 22–46, most commonly 35–40. These values are lower than those in olivine from diogenites sensu stricto (45–50) and have therefore experienced a different history. Some of the olivine clasts could have coexisted with some of the large orthopyroxene clasts as equilibrium assemblages, but some could not. Much of the olivine may be derived from mesosiderite olivine orthopyroxenites, which differ from diogenites sensu stricto. More magnesian olivine may be a residue from one or more source rocks, with varying degrees of melting. These events probably occurred in a highly evolved and differentiated parent body.Fine-grained coronas surround olivine, except for those in impact-melt group mesosiderites (Simondium, Hainholz, Pinnaroo) and those without tridymite in their matrices (Bondoc, Veramin). Coronas consist largely of orthopyroxene, plagioclase, clinopyroxene, chromite, merrillite and ilmenite and are similar to the matrix, but lack metal and tridymite. Coronas contain abundant orthopyroxene but are unusually rich in chromite (up to 7%) and merrillite (up to 20%). The outer parts of the corona grade into the matrix, but have little or no metal and tridymite. Texturally the innermost part of the corona can be divided into three stages of development: I Radiating acicular; II Intermediate; III Granular. Stage I is the result of the greatest disequilibrium between olivine and matrix orthopyroxene and Stage III has the least disequilibrium. Coronas are the result of the reaction olivine + tridymite = orthopyroxene, probably because FeO (and MgO) diffuse from olivine to tridymite in the matrix. Absence of metal and concentration of chromite in the corona are probably the result of an FeO potential gradient away from the olivine. Merrillite concentrations are a result of P₂O₅ migration into the corona but are controlled by the availability of calcic pyroxene, or possibly plagioclase. Although the coronas are texturally similar to terrestrial and lunar counterparts, they are unique and represent different kinds of reactions marked by a large degree of intra-corona diffusion under dry conditions. Opaque oxide-silicate-metal buffer assemblages yield apparent equilibration conditions of about 840°C and fO₂ near 10^?20. Poikiloblastic pyroxene textures in some coronas suggest a closing of reaction systems between 900 and 1000°C and such systems may record a higher temperature stage of development.     

Analysis of the Hipparcos Measurements of HD 10697: A Mass Determination of a Brown Dwarf Secondary

HD 10697 is a nearby main-sequence star around which a planet candidate has recently been discovered by means of radial velocity measurements (Vogt et al.). The stellar orbit has a period of about 3 yr, the secondary minimum mass is 6.35 Jupiter masses (MJ), and the minimum semimajor axis is 0.36 mas. Using the Hipparcos data of HD 10697 together with the spectroscopic elements of Vogt et al., we found a semimajor axis of 2.1+/-0.7 mas, implying a mass of 38+/-13 MJ for the unseen companion. We therefore suggest that the secondary of HD 10697 is probably a brown dwarf, orbiting around its parent star at a distance of 2 AU.     

Morphometric variation in the cutlassfish Trichiurus lepturus on the Kenyan coast: implications for stock identification and management

Morphometric variation was used to study population structure of the cutlassfish Trichiurus lepturus on the Kenyan coast. In all, 16 morphometric measurements taken from 193 individuals from six sites were subjected to multivariate statistical analysis in order to determine possible stock differentiation. Multivariate analysis of variance indicated significant differences in the means of a combination of the morphometric characters among the sites, and discriminant function analysis by groups showed the presence of phenotypically distinct populations on the south and north coasts of Kenya. A classification tree analysis of morphometric characters validated the distinct groups and indicated certain characters to be useful for classifying specimens to source sites. The likely presence of distinct north and south stocks of T. lepturus on the Kenyan coast observed in our study will require validation by other methods, but indicates the potential need for spatially explicit models for managing fish populations on a large spatial scale.     

Biological data from sharks landed within the United Arab Emirates artisanal fishery

Landing site and market surveys of sharks landed along the Arabian Gulf coast of the United Arab Emirates were undertaken between October 2010 and September 2012 to obtain biological data from this artisanal fishery. Data were collected on the size and sex of 12 482 individuals representing 30 species. Maximum sizes of Carcharhinus sorrah, C. amblyrhynchoides and Hemipristis elongata were extended by at least 300?mm total length (TL) compared with published global maxima. The size at 50% maturity was determined for males of five species and this indicated that the males of smaller shark species (<1 000 mm maximum TL) in the fishery were largely mature. For many species, including Loxodon macrorhinus and Mustelus mosis, overall sex ratios were male-biased, indicating that sexual segregation is likely in those species. Furthermore, sex ratios for several species, such as Rhizoprionodon acutus, showed differences across seasons. Overall, the landings contained a high proportion of juveniles, causing concerns about the sustainability of this fishery. Biological parameters of a number of species differed from those recorded earlier for the region, demonstrating a need for additional local data collection to support the development of management measures.     

徐家围子断陷构造地质特征研究新进展

在徐家围子断陷深层连片三维地震精细解释的基础上,结合前人的研究成果,系统的刻画了深大断裂的性质、产状和时空分布规律。从区域构造应力场着手,详细剖析了徐家围子断陷的构造地质特征,重新构建了深大断裂体系。依据剖面特征和断陷的地质结构,首次在徐家围子断陷内解释出两条深大走滑断裂带,发现深大走滑断裂控制了营城组火山岩的形成和分布。明确了徐家围子断陷"两凹夹一隆、东西分带、南北分块"构造格局的动态演化过程及其控制因素。详细剖析了断陷期地层的沉积发育过程、后期改造过程以及现今赋存特征。为庆深气田火山岩储层分布规律预测奠定了基础。