Stability and equation of state of post-aragonite BaCO3

At ambient conditions, witherite is the stable form of BaCO₃ and has the aragonite structure with space group Pmcn. Above ~10 GPa, BaCO₃ adopts a post-aragonite structure with space group Pmmn. High-pressure and high-temperature synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiments were used to study the stability and equation of state of post-aragonite BaCO₃, which remained stable to the highest experimental P–T conditions of 150 GPa and 2,000 K. We obtained a bulk modulus K ₀ = 88(2) GPa with $K'$  = 4.8(3) and V ₀ = 128.1(5) ų using a third-order Birch-Murnaghan fit to the 300 K experimental data. We also carried out density functional theory (DFT) calculations of enthalpy (H) of two structures of BaCO₃ relative to the enthalpy of the post-aragonite phase. In agreement with previous studies and the current experiments, the calculations show aragonite to post-aragonite phase transitions at ~8 GPa. We also tested a potential high-pressure post–post-aragonite structure (space group C222 ₁ ) featuring four-fold coordination of oxygen around carbon. In agreement with previous DFT studies, ΔH between the C222 ₁ structure and post-aragonite (Pmmn) decreases with pressure, but the Pmmn structure remains energetically favorable to pressures greater than 200 GPa. We conclude that post–post-aragonite phase transformations of carbonates do not follow systematic trends observed for post-aragonite transitions governed solely by the ionic radii of their metal cations.     

Genetic analysis of quartz from pegmatites of the Mama-Chuya mica belt based on distribuition of isomorphic impurities, Russia

The effect of the formation conditions of pegmatites in the Mama-Chuya mica belt on the distribution of isomorphic Al, Ti, and Ge impurities in quartz detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) has been estimated using the isogen method, which takes into account the relationship between this distribution and geological time. It has been revealed that each of the studied types of pegmatite veins is described by special isogens that reflect interrelations between concentrations of various isomorphic impurities. The typification of veins, enrichment of parental melt in water, and other factors affect the isogens. New potentialities of the isogen method for genetic analysis of quartz have been established.     

Global trends in the evolution of metallogenic processes as a reflection of supercontinent cyclicity

The worldwide distribution of large and superlarge mineral deposits (LSLDs) on a geological time scale is analyzed. It has been established that their formation from Eoarchean to Cenozoic was nonuniform in time. The maxima and minima of ore generation intensity correlate well with global cyclical processes, eventually resulting in the assembly and breakup of supercontinents. The periods of supercontinent amalgamation are characterized by the highest rate of continental crust growth due to the contribution of juvenile sources, a maximum of orogenic activity, and the most intense deposit formation. Periods close to betweencycle boundaries are distinguished by a low intensity of both endogenic and ore-forming processes. As follows from the available data, the number of known LSLDs slightly decreases from the Kenoran to Columbian cycle, significantly decreases in the next Rodinian cycle, which, in turn, is followed by abrupt growth in the Pangaean and Amasian cycles, especially as concerns LSLDs of the granitoid-related class. The intensification of metallogenic activity correlates with a commensurable increase in orogenic activity of the Earth’s crust probably caused by continental crust expansion, an increase in the number of sialic blocks participating in the formation of accretionary and collisional orogens, and acceleration of lithospheric plate motion. Some trends are also described for other LSLD classes (basic–alkaline, volcanic-hosted massive sulfide, sedimentary, epigenetic sediment-hosted), caused to a certain extent by supercontinent cycles and their evolutionary variations.     

The Formation Age of Pegmatites of the Mama Mica Belt: New U–Pb (ID-TIMS) Data on Zircons

Doklady Earth Sciences - New geochronological (U–Pb ID-TIMS) data on zircons from pegmatites of the Mama mica belt in the Baikal Highlands are presented. The ages obtained for the plagioclase...     

The Main Features of Lithium Metallogeny in Geological Time

Doklady Earth Sciences - This paper reports on lithium metallogeny in geological time. The geochronological analysis was conducted on the basis of data on 71 lithium deposits distributed globally....     

Peculiarities of Supercontinent Cycles in Tantalum Metallogeny

Doklady Earth Sciences - Tantalum metallogeny throughout the geological history is analyzed. The respective deposits are presented by five types (pegmatitic, granitic, alkaligranitic, foidic, and...     

Modeling Dark-Matter Halos. Verification of the Entropy Approach to the Cusp Problem

The entropy approach to the problem of the formation of a dark-matter halo is analyzed and verified. The model described predicts that the density profile of the halo is determined by the sum of the initial entropy associated with fluctuations of the matter density in the early Universe and the entropy generated in the course of the formation of the halo. The model also predicts the formation of halos without cusps in most galaxies with high initial entropy. Special numerical models are used to measure the initial entropy of the halo, which proves to be an order of magnitude lower than the values calculated using the linear theory, suggesting that most galactic-mass halos should possess cusps.

     

Global Metallogeny of Tantalum Through Geological Time

Geology of Ore Deposits - The global distribution of tantalum deposits and their resources on the geological time scale is analyzed. The analysis is based on the data for 65 deposits of the world...     

A model of the cosmic infrared background produced by distant galaxies

The extragalactic background radiation produced by distant galaxies emitting in the far infrared limits the sensitivity of telescopes operating in this range due to confusion. We have constructed a model of the infrared background based on numerical simulations of the large-scale structure of the Universe and the evolution of dark matter halos. The predictions of this model agree well with the existing data on source counts. We have constructed maps of a sky field with an area of 1 deg² directly from our simulated observations and measured the confusion limit. At wavelengths 100–300 μm the confusion limit for a 10-m telescope has been shown to be at least an order of magnitude lower than that for a 3.5-m one. A spectral analysis of the simulated infrared background maps clearly reveals the large-scale structure of the Universe. The two-dimensional power spectrum of these maps has turned out to be close to that measured by space observatories in the infrared. However, the fluctuations in the number of intensity peaks observed in the simulated field show no clear correlation with superclusters of galaxies; the large-scale structure has virtually no effect on the confusion limit.