Pb and Sr systematics of ultrapotassic and basaltic rocks from the central Sierra Nevada,California

This study presents Sr and Pb isotopic ratios and Rb, Sr, U, Th, and Pb concentrations of an ultrapotassic basaltic suite and related rocks from the central Sierra Nevada, California. The ultrapotassic suite yields a narrow range of Sr and Pb isotopic compositions (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.70597–0.70653; ²⁰⁶Pb/ ²⁰⁴Pb=18.862–19.018; ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=15.640–15.686; ²⁰⁸Pb/ ²⁰⁴Pb=38.833–38.950). Associated basalts containing ultramafic nodules have less radiogenic Sr (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶=0.70430–0.70521) and generally higher Rb/Sr ratios than the ultrapotassic suite. Leucitites from Deep Springs Valley, California, contain high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (71141–0.71240) and low ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (17.169–17.234) ratios, reflecting contamination by crustal granulite.The isotopic relationships support an origin of the ultrapotassic basaltic suite by partial melting of an enriched upper mantle source. Dehydration of a gently inclined oceanic slab beneath the Sierra Nevada may have provided Ba, K, Rb, Sr, and H₂O, which migrated into the overlying upper mantle lithosphere. The end of subduction 10 m.y. ago allowed increased asthenospheric heat flow into the upper mantle lithosphere. The increased heat flow enhanced fluid movement in the upper mantle and contributed towards isotopic homogenization of the upper mantle source areas. Continued heating of the enriched upper mantle caused partial melting and subsequent eruption of the ultrapotassic lavas.     

The comparability of carbonatitic fluid inclusions in ijolites with natrocarbonatite lava

The composition of carbonate, sulphate, halide and other phases trapped as fluid inclusions in apatite crystals in ijolite and urtite from sub-volcanic complexes in East Africa have been determined using the electron micro-probe. The bulk composition of these inclusions is alkali-rich and closely comparable to the natrocarbonatite lava from the active volcano of Oldoinyo Lengai in N. Tanzania. The inclusions are interpreted as having been originally immiscible alkali carbonate-rich droplets within a nephelinitic melt. The evidence suggests that magma of the composition of natrocarbonatite lava is that most likely for the parent magma during carbonatite petrogenesis.     

Axial depth anomalies from 10 to 50° north along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: correlation with other mantle properties

We present an analysis of intermediate- to long-wavelength (a few hundred to a few thousand kilometers) axial depth anomalies along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 10 and 50°N. The maximum depth of the rift valley is chosen as the elevation datum for oceanic crust of zero-age. The large depth anomalies are correlated, for short wavelengths (less than a few hundred kilometers), with some fracture zones irrespective of their offset and, for intermediate to long wavelengths, with mantle properties expressed in (1) excess elevation near triple junctions, (2) trace element and isotope geochemistry of the basaltic liquids emplaced at the ridge axis, and (3) anomalies in the Earth's gravity field. We suggest that the correlations may be explained in two ways: the depth anomalies of intermediate to long wavelength may represent the sites of upwelling and downwelling of the deep mantle; alternatively, the depth anomalies could be due to a regionalization in temperature or mineralogy in the asthenosphere.     

Amplitude curves ofP waves for the region of central Asia

Summary The amplitude-distance curves of P waves, valid for the region of Central Asia, were derived in the distance range between 13° and 36° using observations of a network of eight Caucasian seismic stations. The curves are characterized by an anomalous increase of amplitudes between 13° and 20° followed by a large decrease of amplitudes in the distance range between 20° and 35°. Both the increase and decrease of amplitudes are interrupted by several local maxima. A comparison of the present amplitude curves with those derived for the regions of South-Eastern Europe and Asia Minor enabled us to correlate the individual local maxima of amplitude curves and to investigate the variation of their position due to the lateral inhomogeneity of the upper mantle structure in Eurasia.A. Tskhakaya deceased in 1970.     

Paleomagnetism of the triassic chugwater redbeds revisited (Wyoming, U.S.A.)

Paleomagnetic results from 107 samples of the Chugwater Group near Lander, Wyoming, show a regular progression in pole positions from bottom to top of the sequence. This pole position trend of about 25° matches very well the North American apparent polar wander path between Early Permian and Early Triassic. It could be argued that this “agreement” results in a conflict between the apparent magnetic age (Permian) and the Early to Late Triassic age generally assigned to the Chugwater Group. However, similar progressions of paleomagnetic pole positions have been reported for the Early Triassic Moenkopi Formation in Colorado; thus it appears that long-term variations and swings characterized the geomagnetic field at that time. With detailed paleomagnetic sampling, these features can be utilized for stratigraphic correlation in addition to magnetic-reversal stratigraphy. This will eliminate, to some degree, part of the non-uniqueness inherently present in correlations based on reversal stratigraphy only.     

Formation of artifacts in sediments upon freeze-drying

Comparison of the analytical data on the alkenes extracted from both dried and wet Messel shale sediment points to the formation of artifacts, presumably as a result of clay-catalyzed dehydration reactions.     

Thermochemical remanent magnetization in Jurassic silicic volcanics from Nevada,U.S.A.

Characteristic magnetizations from Middle Jurassic dacitic to andesitic subaerial volcanics (the Fulstone and Artesia Formations) in the Buckskin Mountain Range, western central Basin and Range Province, are well-grouped, generally display univectorial decays to the origin in demagnetization and have hematite blocking temperatures restricted almost entirely to above 620°C. Petrographic, rock magnetic and electron microprobe investigations confirm that nearly pure hematite is the essential magnetic phase (up to about 10 vol. %) occurring as a replacement of coarse titaniferous magnetite phenocrysts and fine groundmass particles, as a secondary alteration product of ferromagnesian phenocrysts and as a mobilized phase filling cracks and other open spaces. The presence of antipodal directions in each flow unit and in interbedded volcanoclastic units (some having retained magnetite as a major magnetic phase) and magnetite-dominated remanences in time-equivalent intrusives cutting the flows indicates that the volcanics acquired their hematite remanence, a faithful record of the geomagnetic field, in high-temperature, deuteric oxidation during and following their emplacement, not during a later thermal event such as regional metamorphism. The remanence is probably a thermochemical remanent magnetization, although part may be of thermoremanent origin.     

Paleomagnetic and rock magnetic results from the Twin Creek Formation (Middle Jurassic), Wyoming

A magnetization which passes the fold test has been observed in 73 limestone samples (10 sites) from the Middle Jurassic Twin Creek Formation. The pole calculated from the site mean poles is located at 68.4°N, 145.0°E (K = 31.8,A₉₅ = 8.7°). This pole lies in a segment of the North American apparent polar wander (APW) path for which there are only a few reliable poles in the literature. The results corroborate earlier studies which conclude that the Jurassic segment of the APW path does not include the present north pole. However, the position of the Twin Creek pole suggests that significantly more APW took place prior to the late Jurassic than previous studies indicated.     

The worldwide character of the 1969–1970 impulse of the secular acceleration rate

This paper continues earlier studies to ascertain whether the distribution of the 1969–1970 jump of the secular variation rate has a worldwide character. The geometry of the jump presents some similarities with the geometry of the secular variation itself. We give a new estimation of the westward drift rate and information about spatial and temporal variations of the secular variation field.