Le régime thermique des eaux de l'Ardèche dans son cours inférieur

A study of the thermal regime of the Lower Ardeche River was carried out from July 1982 to December 1984 using a chemical method (sucrose inversion) and a continuous temperature recorder. Yearly, monthly and daily temperature fluctuations were analyzed. The main factors that influence thermal variations are air temperature and geomorphology of the canyon. The hydrological regime is responsible of the water temperature fluctuations between years Despite the low winter temperatures, the Lower Ardeche can be classified among Mediterranean rivers, which typically have a very high maximum in summer.      

Least-squares prediction of horizontal coordinate distortions in Canada

A least-squares prediction method is described to estimate horizontal coordinate distortions at lower order points of a network using known coordinate differences (NAD27 coordinate distortions Δϕ′s and Δλ′s) at higher order points between NAD27 coordinates and coordinates derived from a recent (MAY 76), relatively distortion free, adjustment of these points. Empirical autocovariance functions of Δϕ and Δλ and crosscovariance function between Δϕ and Δλ are derived from some 5,250 data points and modelled using series of exponential functions. Empirical mean square values of Δϕ and Δλ, which are a measure of the distortions in NAD27 ϕ and λ, are 0.051 and 0.645 arcsecs² respectively. The corresponding mean value of the product ΔϕΔλ, which is a measure of the correlation between Δϕ and Δλ, is 0.056 arcsecs². The accuracy obtainable for predicted Δϕ and Δλ at an arbitrary point (e.g., lower order station) is a function of the accuracy and configuration of known Δϕ′s and Δλ′s in the surrounding area. Accuracies obtainable for various types of data configuration are given. Under favorable conditions taking place in about 60% of cases, accuracies in terms of ms agreement with known values of 0″.02 (0.6 m) and 0″.01 (0.2 m along parallel at latitude 50°) for the predicted latitude and longitude distortions are obtainable. Finally, a comparison with a method based on the use of complex polynomials is made. Presented at International Symposium on Geodetic Networks and Computations, Munich, August–September 1981.     

A new calcium-aluminate from a refractory inclusion in the Leoville carbonaceous chondrite

The first meteoritic occurrence of CaAl₄O₇ is described from a Ca-Al-rich inclusion (CAI) in the Leoville carbonaceous chondrite. This CAI consists mainly of gehlenitic melilite, spinel, perovskite, and hibonite. CaAl₄O₇ is a minor component and occurs within melilite preferentially in portions rich in perovskite.The CAI is enveloped by a succession of three rims (from inside out): (a) hibonite+melilite+spinel+perovskite, (b) diopside, and (c) olivine.On the basis of mineral associations found and from the presence of moderately volatile elements (Fe and Cr) we conclude that the CaAl₄O₇-bearing CAI from Leoville is of residual nature. CaAl₄O₇ is apparently stable in the very Mg- and Si-poor environment of this CAI and is probably of igneous origin.The rims are interpreted as products of partial evaporation (rim (a)) and associated re-condensation (rims (b) and (c)).     

Caracteristiques de la Distribution des Gisements à Etain et Tungstene Dans L'Ouest de L'Europe

Résumé L'analyse de la distribution des gisements et indices à Sn-W de la province ouesteuropéenne permet de constater une organisation en bandes parallèles, alternativement à Sn et à W dominant. Leur orientation relativement constante, N 110 dans le Massif Central français et E-W dans le Nw de l'Ibérie, et leur indépendance par rapport aux axes structuraux de l'orogène varisque, suggèrent l'existence d'anisotropies crustales antérieures aux granitisations varisques. En effet, le comportement géochimique de Sn-W dans les processus de différenciation magmatique, et une polarité éventuelle du magmatisme dans l'orogène varisque, ne suffisent pas seuls à expliquer une telle distribution. Il faut rechercher ces anisotropies géochimiques bien avant la mise en place des granites peu différenciés subautochtones tardi-dévoniens qui sont déjà spécialisés en Sn. Depuis le Cadomien même, les granitoïdes qui ont concentré Sn-W par cristallisation fractionnée et fusion répétées ont été des révélateurs de plus en plus efficaces pour Sn, un peu moins pour W qui est surtout concentré par une phase hydrothermale. Deux grandes époques de mise en place des minéralisations en Sn-W peuvent être ainsi attribuées à deux lignées différenciées de granitoïdes: 1) namurienne et westphalienne dans le Massif Central; 2) westphalienne et autunienne dans le NW de la péninsule ibérique. Les gisements s'ordonnent suivant deux directions. Les unes N 110/N 90 sont les structures plicatives qui guident la mise en place des granites namuriens à westphaliens. Les autres sont N 20/N160 et guident les différenciations du toit des granites.

---

The Sn-W spatial distribution (deposits and occurrences) in the west-european province emphazises an alternating W and Sn rich banded pattern. The bands have a fairly constant trend (N 110 in the french Massif Central, E-W in the northwestern Iberia) and are generally independant of that of the variscan orogenic domains. This supports the idea of crustal anisotropies previous to late paleozoïc granite emplacement. The banded organization is not readily explained by the geochemical behaviour of Sn-W during the magmatic evolution and the possible magmatic polarity of the orogen. So, geochemical anisotropies must be sought in rocks older than the late devonian poorly differentiated subautochtonous granites which were already anomalous in Sn. Since cadomian time, the granites which have concentrated Sn and W through repeated fractionate crystallization and remelting have been more and more effective revealers for Sn, a little less for W, which especially concentrates through hydrothermal processes. So, two main periods of Sn-W mineralization can be bound to two differentiated suites of granites: 1) Namurian-Westphalian in the french Massif Central; 2) Westphalian-Autunian in the north-western Iberia. The ore deposits occur along two directions: N 110/N 90 which are the trends of late fold axis and the guide of the setting of namurian granites and N 20/N 160 the trends of zones of differentiation in the roofs of the granites.

     

Structure of the upper mantle in the Northeastern Atlantic close to the azores-gibraltar ridge from surface-wave and body-wave observations

Phase velocities of teleseismic Rayleigh waves have been measured in the central North Atlantic on both sides of the Azores-Gibraltar Ridge (AGR) by means of a specially designed long-period station network. The dispersion data obtained were regionalized and then subjected to a “hedgehog” inversion, which gives a set of upper mantle models compatible with the observational data within specified error bounds.Reasonable model solutions were selected by using regional body-wave observations, such as P_n- and S_n-wave velocities determined from earthquakes along the AGR. The S_(itn) velocities measured indicate that the shear-wave velocity in the mantle part of the lithosphere is much higher on the northern side of the AGR. Strongly negative P-wave residuals in this area indicate faster seismic propagation than implied by the Jeffreys-Bullen travel-time tables, while propagation is much slower in the Gulf of Cadiz area. Furthermore the residuals show a clear difference for paths through oceanic and continental domains and suggest that the transition between these two domains extends much further into the ocean on the southern side of the AGR than on the northern side.The proposed model for the structure of the upper mantle in that region shows that there exists a pronounced velocity contrast across the AGR. Thickening of the lithospheric plate with increasing plate age is indicated to the south of the ridge. The greatest thickness is reached close to the continental margin within a zone about 500 km wide, whose velocity close to the Canary Islands and Madeira is significantly lower, probably due to the well-known volcanic activity there. These observations together with the travel time residuals reveal that this zone seems to be of a transitional nature somewhere between a continental and oceanic structure.     

Les Quartzites à Silicates Calciques et Scheelite: Préconcentrations Familières ou Pièges pour un Tungstène Etranger lié à L'Hydrothermalisme Périgranitique? Exemple du Nord-Est Transmontain (Portugal)

Three groups of Sn-W veins occur in the contact aureole of composite granitic plutons South of Bragança (Trás-os-Montes, Portugal). Thin layers of calcic quartzites with or without scheelite are interbedded in the Ordovician and Silurian metamorphic country-rocks. Could they represent synsedimentary preconcentrations and a likely source for the W-deposits? The geologic features and the trace-elements distribution (W, Sn, Be, B, Li, F, Rb) in the metasedimentary and granitic rocks support the following conclusions: 1) the scheelite-bearing calcic quartzites are tactites, that occur only in the contact aureole of the granites; 2) the dynamo-metamorphic country-rocks are weakly enriched in W and impoverished in Sn compared to the "clarke" values; 3) the trace-elements concentration is higher in the contact aureole (X 2) than outwards; 4) the quartzites are scheelite-bearing only in the vicinity of the wolframite veins. Thus, scheelite appears related to mineralizing hydrothermal processes. Through their chemical composition and their mechanical properties, the calcic quartzites appear as traps for a tungsten mainly foreign to the metamorphic rocks close to the granites. Thus, the source of W lies deeper in lower crust levels or in the upper-mantle.     

Lithification of gas-rich chondrite regolith breccias by grain boundary and localized shock melting

We studied the fine-grained matrices (< 150 μm) of 14 gas-rich ordinary chondrite regolith breccias in an attempt to decipher the nature of the lithification process that converted loose regolith material into consolidated breccias. We find that there is a continuous gradation in matrix textures from nearly completely clastic (class A) to highly cemented (class C) breccias in which the remaining clasts are completely surrounded by interstitial, shock-melted material. We conclude that this interstitial material formed by shock melting in the porous regolith. In general, the abundances of solar-wind-implanted ⁴He and ²⁰Ne are inversely correlated with the abundance of interstitial, shock-melted, feldspathic material. Chondrites with the highest abundance of interstitial, melted material (class C) experienced the highest shock pressures and temperatures and suffered the most extensive degassing. It is this interstitial, feldspathic melt that lithifies and cements the breccias together; those breccias with very little interstitial melt (class A) are the most porous and least consolidated.