Native silicon and iron silicides in the Dhofar 280 lunar meteorite

The Dhofar 280 lunar highland meteorite is the first one in which native silicon was identified in association with iron silicides. This association is surrounded by silicate material enriched in Si, Na, K, and S and occurs within an impact-melt matrix. Compared to the meteorite matrix, the objects with native Si and the silicate material around them show high Al-normalized concentrations of volatile elements and/or elements with low sensitivity to oxygen but are not any significantly enriched in refractory lithophile elements. Some lithophile elements (V, U, Sm, Eu, and Yb) seem to be contained in reduced forms, and this predetermines REE proportions atypical of lunar rocks and a very low Th/U ratio. The admixture of siderophile elements (Ni, Co, Ge, and Sb) suggests that the Si-bearing objects were contaminated with meteorite material and were produced by the impact reworking of lunar rocks. The high concentrations of volatile elements suggest that the genesis of these objects could be related to the condensation of silicate vapor generated during meteorite impacts. The reduction of silicon and other elements could take place in an impact vapor cloud, with the subsequent condensation of these elements together with volatile components. On the other hand, condensates of silicate vapor could be reduced by impact reworking of impact breccias. Impact-induced vaporization and condensation seem not to play any significant role in forming the composition of the lunar crust, but the contents of the products of such processes can be locally relatively high. The greatest amounts of silicate vapor were generated during significant impact events. For example, more than 70% of the total mass of lunar material evaporated in the course of impact events should have resulted from the collision of the Moon with a cosmic body that produced the Moon??s largest South Pole-Aitken basin.     

Phosphorus-bearing sulfides and their associations in CM chondrites

Phosphorus-bearing Fe and Ni sulfides represent a new type of phosphorus compounds and are characteristic accessory phases of CM chondrites. The proportions of atoms in the sulfides can be approximated by the equation (Fe + Ni)/P = 0.965 ± 0.003 (1σ) · S/P + 1.255 ± 0.036 (1σ). Sulfides with high S/P ratios are systematically richer in Fe and poorer in Ni compared with low-S/P sulfides. Their characteristic minor elements are Cr, Ca, Co, K, and Na. The contents of Cr and Ca may reach several weight percent, but their incorporation does not affect the relation between (Fe + Ni)/P and S/P. This is also true of light elements (O and H), which probably occur in the P-bearing sulfides in certain amounts. The sulfides are usually associated with schreibersite, barringerite, eskolaite, and daubreelite. A negative correlation was observed between the Fe/Ni ratios of coexisting P-bearing sulfides and phosphides. Metallic iron was never found in association with the sulfides. It can be suggested that P-bearing sulfide is a primary phase rather than a secondary alteration product formed under the conditions of the CM chondrite parent body. This phase had to be stable in the solar nebula after the formation of Ca-Al inclusions and before the condensation of Fe-Ni metal. At high temperatures, P-bearing sulfide with low Fe/Ni and S/P ratios coexists with schreibersite in the solar gas. During condensation schreibersite is replaced by barringerite, which is accompanied by a decrease in the Fe/Ni ratio of phosphides and an increase in the S/P and Fe/Ni ratios of P-bearing sulfides. Trace element data suggest that the P-bearing sulfides could be formed in the solar nebula by the sulfidization of a precursor phase of extrasolar origin.     

Monomineral universal clinopyroxene and garnet barometers for peridotitic,eclogitic and basaltic systems

New versions of the universal Jd-Di exchange clinopyroxene barometer for peridotites,pyroxenites and eclogites,and also garnet barometer for eclogites and peridotites were developed.They were checked using large experimental data sets for eciogitic(~530) and peridotitic systems(650).The precision of the universal Cpx barometer for peridotites based on Jd-Di exchange is close to Cr-Tschermalite method produced by Nimis and Taylor(2000).Cpx barometer was transformed by the substitution of major multiplier for K_D by the equations dependent from Al-Na-Fe.Obtained equation in combination with the thermometer of Nimis and Taylor(2000) allow to reconstruct position of the magma feeder systems of the alkali basaltic magma within the mantle diapirs in modern platforms like in Vitim plateau and other Southern Siberia localities and several localities worldwide showing good agreement of pressure ranges for black and green suites.These equations allow construct PTX diagrams for the kimberlite localities in Siberia and worldwide calculating simultaneously the PT parameters for different groups of mantle rocks.They give very good results for the concentrates from kimberlite lamproites and placers with mantle minerals.They are useful for PT estimates for diamond inclusions.The positions of eclogite groups in mantle sections are similar to those determined with new Gar—Cpx barometer produced by C.Beyer et al.(2015).The Fe rich eclogites commonly trace the boundary between the lower upper parts of subcontinental lithospheric mantle(SCLM) at 3-4 CPa marking pyroxenite eclogites layer.Ca-rich eclogites and especially grospydires in SCLM beneath Precambrian kimberlites occurs near pyroxenite layer but in younger mantle sections they became common in the lower parts.The diamondiferous Mg Cr-less group eclogites referring to the ancient island arc complexes are also common in the middle part of mantle sections and near 5-6 GPa.Commonly eclogites in lower apart of mantle sections are remelted and trace the high temperature convective branch.The Mg-and Fe-rich pyroxenites also show the extending in pressure trends which suggest the anatexic melting under the influence of volatiles or under the interaction with plums.     

Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment for Japan

A probabilistic seismic hazard assessment was performed for the Japanese islands and surrounding areas. Seismic hazard parameters characteristic of the seismic history of the regions were obtained. The probability of occurrence of a large M ≥ 7 earthquake within a 10- and 50-year period was also calculated. Regions of very high levels of hazard occur where the Pacific, Phillipine and Eurasian Plates meet. High probabilities of occurrence of a large M ≥ 7 earthquake within a 10- and 50-year period occur within the region where the Pacific Plate subducts with the Eurasian Plate.     

Retrospective Prediction of Macroseismic Intensities Using Strong Ground Motion Simulation: The Case of the 1978 Thessaloniki (Greece) Earthquake (M6.5)

The densely populated city of Thessaloniki (Northern Greece) is situated in~the vicinity of active seismic faults, capable of producing moderate to strong earthquakes. The city has been severely affected by such events several times during the last 15 centuries. The most recent event occurred on 20 June 1978 (M6.5) in the Mygdonian graben, with an epicentral distance of about 30 km, causing extended damage in the city, with macroseismic intensities between MSK V+ and VIII+. The majority of buildings affected by the earthquake were of reinforced-concrete typology, typical to many southern European metropolitan areas. The source properties of the normal-faulting causative event and the source-to-city propagation path are well known from previous studies. The soil structure under the metropolitan area of Thessaloniki is assigned NEHRP categories B, C, D on the basis of geotechnical and geologic information and single-station ambient-noise measurements. A finite source model and various rupture scenarios of the June 1978 earthquake are used to perform forward stochastic modeling of strong ground motion in terms of peak ground and spectral acceleration. Rock motion is assessed under the city and it is transferred to the surface in accordance with the respective soil category. A GIS tool is employed to compare the estimated strong-motion parameters with the observed detailed damage pattern induced by the 1978 earthquake. For selected natural periods, a satisfactory correlation is established between macroseismic intensity and peak ground and spectral acceleration, thus encouraging the application of stochastic modeling for generating realistic ground-shaking scenarios in metropolitan areas.     

Slab melt and intraplate metasomatism in Kapfenstein mantle xenoliths (Styrian Basin, Austria)

Anhydrous and amphibole-bearing mantle peridotite xenoliths from Kapfenstein (Styrian Basin) have been studied with the aim of understanding both the processes responsible for amphibole formation and the nature of metasomatizing agents which affected this portion of lithosphere. This area of the Pannonian Basin underwent a subduction event which was followed after about 15 Ma, by alkaline intraplate magmatism. Primary clinopyroxene (cpx1) in four-phase lherzolite xenoliths is characterized by LREE-depleted to slightly LREE-enriched patterns. LREE-depleted cpx1 have low Th and U contents and Zr (and Hf) anomalies varying from slightly negative to positive. LREE-enriched cpx have high Th and U contents and remarkable positive anomalies of Zr and Hf. Primary clinopyroxenes in amphibole-bearing lherzolites present a comparable compositional variation from LREE (and Th, U, Zr, Hf)-depleted type to LREE (and Th, U, Zr, Hf)-enriched type. LREE-depleted cpx1, with strong negative Zr and Ti anomalies, are also recognized in the peridotite matrix of a composite sample cut by a large amphibole vein. Textural and geochemical evidence indicates that amphibole disseminated within the matrix grew at the expense of primary spinel and clinopyroxene, mimicking the trace element patterns of the latter. As a consequence, the geochemical features of amphibole vary in relation to those of clinopyroxene, from enriched to depleted. On the other hand, the composition of vein amphibole in the composite xenolith compares well with amphibole megacrysts and microphenocrysts, suggesting that it represents a fractionation product of alkaline melt that passed through the lithosphere. Two kinds of metasomatism, superimposed on a slightly depleted lithospheric mantle, were identified. A slab-derived melt (proto-adakite?) metasomatic agent was responsible for the first enrichment in Th, U, Zr and Hf observed in clinopyroxene, whereas an alkaline within-plate metasomatic agent caused the formation of the Nb (and Ta)- rich disseminated amphibole. The final process was the alkaline magmatism, which was responsible for the formation of the large amphibole vein and megacrysts. It is proposed that the Nb-poor and Nb-rich amphiboles record the transition between the suprasubduction slab melt-related and the intraplate alkaline metasomatism.

These geochemical features are consistent with a lithospheric portion enriched in slab melt components which was subsequently metasomatized by alkaline melt. Alternatively an asthenospheric uprising could have scavenged a previously slab melt-enriched region of the lithosphere.     

Time-lag of the earthquake energy release between three seismic regions

Three complete data sets of strong earthquakes (M5.5), which occurred in the seismic regions of Chile, Mexico and Kamchatka during the time period 1899–1985, have been used to test the existence of a time-lag in the seismic energy release between these regions. These data sets were cross-correlated in order to determine whether any pair of the sets are correlated. For this purpose statistical tests, such as theT-test, the Fisher's transformation and probability distribution have been applied to determine the significance of the obtained correlation coefficients. The results show that the time-lag between Chile and Kamchatka is –2, which means that Kamchatka precedes Chile by 2 years, with a correlation coefficient significant at 99.80% level, a weak correlation between Kamchatka-Mexico and noncorrelation for Mexico-Chile.     

P-bearing Olivines from the “Luna-20” Soil Samples,Their Sources and Possible Phosphorus Substitution Mechanisms in Lunar Olivine

Rocks with P-bearing olivine were found in soil samples delivered by the “Luna-20” automated station. They are ascribed to the highland anorthosite–norite (more rarely, gabbro-norite)–troctolite rock series enriched in phosphorus and other incompatible elements, but are not related to typical KREEP rocks enriched in incompatible elements. Their source is presumably of hybrid origin and related to primary high- Mg suite (HMS) rocks. The occurrence of high- and low-Cr populations of P-bearing olivine in different structural rock types can be attributed to the annealing-related more rapid chromium diffusion (relative to that of phosphorus) in olivine from metamorphosed rocks. This assumption is supported by stoichiometric formula calculations of these olivines. An alternative explanation for these olivine populations is their derivation from at least two different sources. Disequilibrium crystallization of the P-bearing olivines, which is confirmed by an intricate phosphorus zoning, excludes the existence of P-rich melts, which is consistent with previous observations. At the same time, olivine fractionation can be responsible for the phosphorus content in lunar melts. The incorporation of phosphorus in olivine of the “Luna-20” anorthosite troctolites is presumably controlled by a coupled substitution mechanism of divalent cations and silicon for phosphorus and chromium in the tetrahedral and octahedral sites (Milman-Barris et al., 2008). Another possible mechanism is the substitution of divalent cations in octahedral sites by phosphorus and chromium, which provides the possible presence of P³⁺.     

Analysis of largest earthquakes in Turkey and its vicinity by application of the Gumbel III distribution

A study of the spatial distribution of seismicity parameters is undertaken along Turkey and its vicinity, using the Gumbel’s third asymptotic distribution of extreme values (GIII). The data set used spans of 111 years (1900–2010). The seismicity of the whole region is subdivided into equal area mesh of 1° lat. × 1° long. Various seismicity parameters examined, resulted from the application of the GIII method. The results show a quite good correlation between the seismicity parameters and the tectonic regime of the studied area. For instance high values concentrated around North Anatolian Fault. The x ²-test is applied throughout the whole process and in every stage of GIII, in order to check the accuracy of the obtained results. The spatial distribution of upper-bound (ω) formed a W-shape pattern, which shows the difference in the mechanical structure of the materials in the examined area.     

Isolated olivines in the Yamato 82042 CM2 chondrite: The tracing of major condensation events in the solar nebula

Abstract— Yamato 82042 is an unusual CM2 chondrite consisting mainly of phyllosilicates, a few olivines and carbonates, very minor sulphides and trace metal. Olivine occurs: (1) as isolated grains dispersed in the phyllosilicate matrix, (2) as constituents of mineral aggregates or accretionary fragments associated with abundant phyllosilicates and minor sulphides, and (3) as objects which resemble barred olivine chondrules also associated with phyllosilicates. Olivine, from all occurrences, ranges in composition from 0.26 to 22.6 weight % FeO, but generally contains less than 1.25 wt.% FeO. Minor element contents, particularly Ca, Al, and Cr, are relatively high and are generally correlated, as reported for olivines in other carbonaceous chondrites. However, we report here uncorrected trends for the same minor elements which occur in distinct areas (volumes) within the same olivines. These compositional trends may be due to condensation of olivine from a vapor of non-solar composition and partial mobilization of Ca during later annealing. If this is the case, the data may be used to trace changes in the Ca/Al ratio of the parent medium during the formation of these olivines, provided that it is possible to distinguish the effects of any post-formation annealing which could have redistributed the minor elements. Some isolated olivines show distinctive minor element zoning which severely limits the possibility of any post-formation redistribution of these elements. Accordingly, these isolated olivines indeed retain evidence of early condensation processes in the solar nebula, though non-classic conditions are implied for their formation.