Structural phase transition in titanite,CaTiSiO5: A ramanspectroscopic study

The structural phase transition in titanite is correlated with a strong temperature dependence of Raman scattering cross sections and, to a somewhat lesser extent, with shifts of the phonon frequencies. Their quantitative temperature evolution in the low-symmetry phase (P2₁/a) is compatible with a nearly 2D Ising behaviour with β≈0.12 and T _c = 497 K. At temperatures above 860 K, the phonon signals agree with A 2/a symmetry but not in the temperature interval between 497 K and 860 K. In this temperature range new structural states give rise to additional phonon signals. A model based on mobile APBs between slabs of P2₁/a material, first proposed by van Heurck et al. (1991), is in qualitative agreement with our experimental observations.     

An experimental study of the titanomagnetite solid solution series

Summary Analysis of saturation magnetization measurements and data from the literature indicate that the cation distribution in the titanomagnetite solid solution series is temperature dependent. The ionic configuration of ferric and ferrous ions on both lattice sites of their spinel structure can be described by a modified Boltzmann relation in agreement with theoretical consideratios. Thermodynamic equilibrium isotherms for the cation distribution and the resulting variation of saturation magnetization are calculated on the basis of the experimental values. These results should be especially valuable for the interpretation of magnetic properties of rapidly cooled igneous rock units where a respective high-temperature metastable state may exist in the magnetic ore component.Further measurements of the Curie temperature and lattice constant did not confirm a similar effect. Both these parameters should therefore be qualified for the identification of naturally occurring titanomagnetites.     

Prediction of algal growth in batch cultures

The growth of algae in batch cultures is often well characterized by the logistic growth function. The equation used contents three parameters which have to be estimated. Two methods are presented: The linearizing procedure, and the direct method of least squares. We give an example for comparing several logistic growth curves.     

Formation and stability of viridine in microcline leptite from Ultevis District,Northern Sweden

In the Ultevis District, Northern Sweden, viridine occurs in a potassium rich, microcline-bearing leptite together with quartz, plagioclase, phlogopite, opaques, and a retrogradely formed muscovite. The formation of viridine in this rock may be described by a dealkalization process of microcline, in which opaque minerals are involved. A diffusion of K⁺ and H₂O out of the centres of viridine formation and of H⁺ into these localities, which is a prerequisite of such type of reaction, may have been favoured by a contemporaneous migmatization of the rock, since the granite-like melts can be regarded as sinks for potassium and water. The following decomposition of viridine is initiated by the reverse reaction. Texturally this is indicated by small microcline seams along the contacts between viridine and quartz grains. The final alkalization of the viridine-quartz assemblage to form muscovite reflects increasing K⁺/H⁺-ratios and H₂O-contents of the vapor phase and/or decreasing temperatures. The potassium and water amounts necessary for the viridine decomposition reactions may have been generated by the cooling of the granitic liquids. An intergrowth of sillimanite and the muscovite can be described by a degenerated reaction. It can be interpreted as giving way to an equilibration of the alumosilicates und the actual metamorphic conditions, that is here P, T, , a _k ⁺, a _h ⁺ and a _Mn ³⁺.The viridine investigated has the lowest Mn-contents recorded so far for andalusite-type minerals with viridine optics (1.3–2.2 mol-% Mn₂SiO₅-component). Since no andalusite with lower Mn-contents occurs in the rock and since no other Al₂SiO₅-phase formed at this metamorphic stage it may be assumed that the incorporation of manganese stabilizes the andalusite structure under the P-, T-, ^–, a _k ^+-, a _h ^+- and a _Mn ³⁺-conditions verified in this particular leptite.The temperature of viridine formation is estimated to be about 600 ° C, the decomposition of viridine +quartz into the muscovite-sillimanite assemblage may have happened between 650–500 ° C at 6–2.5 kb.     

Beryllium abundance of meteorites determined by “non-destructive” photon activation

The beryllium content of 73 stony and 4 iron meteorites has been determined “non-destructively” by a newly developed sensitive low-level counting device. A fairly widespread beryllium content of stones ranging from 13 to 386 ppb was found. As expected from the lithophilic character of Be the 4 siderites contained < 8 ppb only. The resulting average chondritic abundance of 74 ppb Be is more than one order of magnitude lower than the cosmic abundance value adopted earlier by H.E. Suess and H.C. Urey (1956), but still about a factor of 2 higher than the value chosen by A.G.W. Cameron (1968). 10–15-g samples were taken in order to guarantee a rather good “mean”. For comparison the Be content of the U.S. Geological Survey basalt BCR-1 was determined in the same way to be 1.390 ± 0.006 ppm Be.     

Gesteinsmagnetische Untersuchungen an permischen Nahe-Eruptiven

Zusammenfassung Die natürliche remanente Magnetisierung einiger permischer Eruptivgesteine des Nahe-Gebietes (Südwestdeutschland) wird gemessen und auf ihre Stabilität hin untersucht. Aus der Richtung der als stabil befundenen Remanenzen ergibt sich die Lage des erdmagnetischen Poles im Perm zu 174 östlicher Länge und 42 nördlicher Breite (südöstlich Kamschatka). Dieser magnetischen Pollage entspricht eine aus paläoklimatischen Erwägungen geforderte geographische Pollage im Perm.