Structural characterization of labradorite-bytownite plagioclase from volcanic,plutonic and metamorphic environments

The transmission electron microscope and the electron microprobe are used to characterize calcic plagioclase (An₆₅ to An₈₅) from a variety of geological environments. The cooling histories of samples from volcanic, plutonic and metamorphic environments are estimated and the transformation and exsolution sequence is inferred from observations in the transmission electron microscope. Several distinctive textural modifications occur depending both on bulk composition and cooling history. (1) Exsolution occurs in increasingly calcic bulk compositions upon slower cooling, and the coexisting phases are An₆₆ intermediate plagioclase and An_85–90 P¯1, c=14 Å plagioclase in the sample from the metamorphic environment, (2) the morphology of b antiphase boundaries (APBs) in An₇₅ to An₈₅ plagioclase changes from smoothly curving (rapid cooling and calcic compositions) to zig-zag (slower cooling or sodic compositions). (3) The concentration of defects in the intermediate plagioclase superstructure changes from a high density in rapidly cooled plagioclase to a lower density in slowly cooled plagioclase. In all plagioclases except for the rapidly cooled, volcanic specimens there is evidence in images and diffraction patterns for short-range ordered domains with P¯1 symmetry. The observations allow the microstructure of a single zoned plagioclase to be used as an indication of the geologic environment under which it cooled.     

Hydrothermal origin of mafic layers in alpine-type peridotites: Evidence from the seiad ultramafic complex,California, USA

Cretaceous alkaline intrusive rocks present in the Bitterfontein area comprise a suite having compositions ranging from olivine melilitite to syenite. These rocks which include some of lamprophyric affinity form part of the widespread dominantly alkaline suite of intrusives occurring in a broad zone parallel to the south western African coastal regions. This paper presents the petrology of the Bitterfontein alkaline rocks together with mineral and rock analyses. The chemistry of the rocks shows the suite to define a SiO₂ enrichment trend linking the compositions of olivine melilitite to oversaturated basic rocks. This trend is compared with trends defined by essentially tholeiitic volcanics and kimberlite-olivine melilitite compositions and a genetic relationship with the latter is apparent. Polybaric crystallisation of a larnite normative liquid in a crustal environment coupled with fractionation especially of phlogopite is important in the generation of members of the Bitterfontein suite. Phlogopite fractionation represents a deviation by the Bitterfontein suite from the evolutionary trend predicted by experimental work for low pressure anhydrous compositions in the Fo-La-Ne-SiO₂ system.     

Activities of components in omphacitic solid solutions

Available experimental data on mixing of disordered C2/c clinopyroxenes in the system diopside-jadeite-hedenbergite-acmite are reviewed and evaluated. Because the methods used to determine jadeite activity suffer from severe uncertainty at high jadeite mol fractions, these data cannot be used to infer asymmetry in the jadeite-diopside or the jadeite-hedenbergite solid solutions. If the measurement uncertainties are taken into account, a single parameter (regular, or reciprocal energy) suffices to describe the mixing properties of these two solid solutions. It is argued that a two-site entropy of mixing satisfies the experiments and is consistent with the C2/c disordered nature of the solid solutions; the data in the range 600–1300° C are consistent with a temperature-independent interaction energy, implying no discernible excess entropy. The available experimental data imply W=26±2 kJ mol^–1 for jd-di, and W=25±3 kJ mol^–1 for jd-hd, solid-solutions. Landau theory for a tricritical phase transformation (C2/c-P2/n) is in good agreement with the calorimetrically determined disordering enthalpy, and may be used to derive a simple expression for the activities in ordered omphacite solid solutions. The derived activities of jadeite at 600° C in ordered omphacites are remarkably close to those reported previously for short-range ordered pyroxenes. A simple model is presented for determining the activities of end-members in the system jadeite-diopside-hedenbergite-acmite.     

A sensitive fast-response probe to measure turbulence and heat flux from any airplane

The theory, configuration, and accuracy of an inexpensive probe to measure turbulence from a small airplane are presented. The probe employs a nine-hole pressure-sphere design along with inprobe high-frequency pressure, temperature, and acceleration sensors. This sensor suite is specifically designed to extend mass, momentum and energy eddy-flux measurement to the higher frequencies characteristic of marine and nocturnal boundary layers. The probe is part of a mobile flux system, independent of the conveyance, which does not require a separate Inertial Navigation System.The new nine-port pressure sphere turbulence probe allows accurate turbulent velocity measurement with proper probe installation and appropriate computation technique for dynamic pressure. A thermistor in the central pressure port provides simultaneous temperature measurement, at a location symmetrical with respect to the flow, for accurate determination of true airspeed and heat flux. The probemounted temperature sensor gives heat fluxes with variance 5% of the mean in a weakly-turbulent marine boundary layer.Oak Ridge Associated Universities, assigned to NOAA/ATDD.     

Theory of internal gravity wave saturation

Gravity wave saturation is an important process affecting the transport and deposition of momentum, heat, and constituents in the earth's atmosphere. This paper informally discusses several saturation mechanisms and their effects, including convection, Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, vortical mode instability, parametric subharmonic instability, and mean flow interaction. Convective saturation is emphasized. The parameterization of convective adjustment is discussed and a few remarks are made concerning the effects of turbulence localization on the convective saturation process. Several outstanding problems in saturation theory are identified that could be addressed with observational, numerical, and laboratory studies.     

Fourier transform infrared kinetic studies of the reaction of HONO with HNO3, NO3 and N2O5 at 295 K

The kinetics of the reaction of nitrous acid (HONO) with nitric acid (HNO₃), nitrate radicals (NO₃) and dinitrogen pentoxide (N₂O₅) have been studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Experiments were performed at 700 torr total pressure using synthetic air or argon as diluents. From the observed decay of HONO in the presence of HNO₃ a rate constant of k<7×10^-19 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1 was derived for the reaction of HONO with HNO₃. From the observed decay of HONO in the presence of mixtures of N₂O₅ and NO₂ we have also derived upper limits for the rate constants of the reactions of HONO with NO₃ and N₂O₅ of 2×10^-15 and 7×10^-19 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1, respectively. These results are discussed with respect to previous studies and to the atmospheric chemistry of HONO.     

The strontium and oxygen isotopic record of hydrothermal alteration of syenites from the Abu Khruq complex,Egypt

Hydrothermal convection initiated by emplacement of the gabbro-syenite complex of Abu Khruq into the Egyptian basement 89 Ma ago systematically altered the trace element and isotopic compositions of the syenites. The scale of Sr transport in migrating solutions was far larger than the scale of Sr isotopic equilibration within rocks. As a result, Sr exchange was heterogeneous in the syenites, an effect which can be observed on three different scales. Within grains of a single mineral species, heterogeneities are related to grain boundaries and microfractures through which fluids migrated. Among minerals within rock samples, heterogeneities are related to differences in susceptibility to Sr alteration. Among samples within a single unit, heterogeneous alteration is apparently related to differences in permeability close to fracture zones.During the early stages of alteration radiogenic Sr derived from the country rocks was added to the syenites, causing small net changes in concentration (5 ppm ave.). Some Rb-Sr mineral isochrons from single rock samples yield the emplacement age because isotopic equilibration of this added Sr sometimes occurred within rock specimens. However, regressions of the whole-rock Rb-Sr data yield apparent ages that are about 10 Ma too old. Later stage alteration involved larger changes in whole-rock Sr concentration (45 ppm ave.) but had little further effect on the isotopic relationships because the Sr was derived from cogenetic gabbros rather than the country rocks.Alterations of Rb, Sr, and Sr isotopic compositions are not well correlated with changes in ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratio because mineralogy played an important role in decoupling trace element and oxygen isotopic alteration. In general, the absence of such correlations for whole-rock data is not diagnostic of rocks with unaltered trace element and isotopic compositions. Mineral-scale Sr isotopic heterogeneities associated with grain boundaries and microfractures may be the most unambiguous evidence of trace element mobility.Deceased on 9/81     

Evidence suggesting anaerobic oxidation of the bisulfide ion in Chesapeake Bay

Upper Chesapeake Bay bottom waters are stratified in the summer. In the water column below the pycnocline, anoxic and sulfidic conditions exist. Hydrogen sulfide concentrations approach 60 μM or greater and elemental sulfur is also present. Water samples brought on board ship, exposed to light, and not treated with formaldehyde show rapid sulfide decomposition which is significantly faster than sulfide oxidation by molecular oxygen. The data presented show evidence for anaerobic, sulfide oxidation. The kinetics of the decomposition are consistent with possible biological mediation. Hydrogen, peroxide produced by microorganisms may be the chemical oxidant responsible for the oxidation. Alternately, solid metal oxides such as colloidal manganese oxide phases may be reponsible.     

OBSERVATIONS OF FAINT,OUTLYING LOOP SYSTEMS IN LARGE FLARES

Faintly visible, darkened regions in H lying outside but adjacentto bright flare emissionwere found to occur in 10 of 31 major flares investigated. Without exception, the darkenings occur over magnetically neutral areas, and these are usually bordered by ridges ofoppositely-poled field, where one border is shared in common with a flare ribbon. Thedarkenings probably result from the formation of faint, outlying loop systems, similar topost-flare loops seen in absorption, but which are connected to magnetic features outsidethe flare and are unresolved or only marginally resolved in patrol images. Simple modelsfor post-flare loops incorporating the results of statistical equilibrium calculations readilydemonstrate that darkenings of several percent (consistent with our photometric measurements) can be produced by loop structures of cross-sectional diameter 10² km (unresolved by patrol instruments) and containing gas at densities 5 × 10¹⁰–5 × 10¹¹ cm^-3 andtemperatures 8000–15000 K. Outlying loop systems might be formed by magnetic fieldreconnection, analogous to the mechanism ascribed to eruptive two-ribbon flares, butassociated with field structures adjacent to the flare. Alternatively, these outlying loopsystems may not erupt but become visible as a result of heating and chromospheric evaporation at the footpoints shared with the flare ribbon. In either case, the observations presented here have interesting implications for both the spatial scale and the topology of thecoronal magnetic fields in which eruptions occur.