STDGL3, a Reference Material for Analysis of Sulfide Minerals by Laser Ablation ICP-MS: An Assessment of Matrix Effects and the Impact of Laser Wavelengths and Pulse Widths

A new reference material, STDGL3, for the calibration of in situ analyses of sulfide minerals by LA-ICP-MS has been developed and characterised. It represents a lithium-borate-based glass containing a mixture of Zn- and Fe-sulfide concentrates doped with several chalcophile elements as well as Zr, Gd, Hf and Ta required for assessing common interferences on Ag, Au and Pt. STDGL3 has a wider range of elements and a better homogeneity compared with existing reference materials for LA-ICP-MS analysis of sulfides. Compositional variations for most elements are below 3% RSD, below 5% RSD for Ag, Au and Pt, and below 7% RSD for Se, when performing spot analyses with a 50 μm beam size. Its preparation recipe is reproducible allowing for multiple batches to be made. Use of STDGL3 significantly improves accuracy of sulfide mineral analysis by LA-ICP-MS when compared with use of other available reference materials. Performance of STDGL3 was evaluated using several different laser systems. No significant change was observed between 193 nm ArF excimer lasers with 5 and 20 ns pulse widths, but use of 213 and 248 nm lasers displays more systematic differences, especially when analysing galena. Correction coefficients are needed for some elements (Zn and Cd in particular) when analysing sulfide minerals using STDGL3 as a calibration reference material.     

Petrological evolution of the Middle Triassic Predazzo Intrusive Complex,Italian Alps

The Predazzo Intrusive Complex (PIC), a Ladinian plutonic body located in the Southern Alps (NE Italy), is made up of a 4.5 km³ gabbroic to syenitic and syenogranitic intrusion, basaltic to latitic volcanic products (about 6 km³ in volume) and by an extended dike swarm intruding both intrusive and volcanic rocks. An extensive field survey of the complex, followed by detailed petrographic and geochemical analyses, allowed the identification of three different magmatic units: a Shoshonitic Silica Saturated Unit (SS), 3.1 km³ in volume, a Shoshonitic Silica Undersaturated Unit (SU), 0.3 km³ in volume, and a Granitic Unit (GU), 1.1 km³ in volume. K-affinity, marked Nb and Ti negative anomalies and a strong Pb enrichment are distinctive markers for all PIC lithotypes. A general HFSE (Th, U, Pb), LREE (La, Ce, Pr, Nd) and Na enrichment characterizes the SU suite with respect to the SS series. Mass balance calculations, based on major and trace element whole rock and mineral compositions, have been used to simulate the fractionation process of SS and SU suites, showing (i) the complexity of the evolutionary stages of the PIC and (ii) the analogy between the calculated subtracted solid assemblages and the natural cumulitic lithotypes outcropping in the area. The field relationships between the various portions of the intrusive complex, the volcanic products and the dike swarm define the temporal evolution of the PIC, in which the SS magma batch was followed by the GU and later on by the SU intrusion. The presence, in both eastern and western portions of the complex, of a transitional magmatic contact between the intrusive rocks of the SS suite and the volcanics is not in favour of the hypothesis of a caldera collapse to explain the ring-like shape of the PIC.     

40Ar/39Ar age of the onset of high-Ti phase of the Emeishan volcanism strengthens the link with the end-Guadalupian mass extinction

Precise time constraints of the main extrusive phase of the Emeishan large igneous province (ELIP) remain unresolved because basalts commonly do not contain suitable minerals for U–Pb dating, whereas previous ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar studies on basalts yielded tectonothermal overprint ages. The timing for the ELIP was deduced from indirect dating of minor intrusions of ultramafic/mafic and felsic compositions by geochronological methods and geological correlations. The extrusive part of the ELIP consists of an older low-Ti and younger high-Ti basalt phases. We have found fresh samples of plagioclase-phyric rocks at the lower Qiaojia extrusive section (the Yunnan province of China), which belong to the ELIP unit of the high-Ti basalt series. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating on plagioclase from two samples conducted at two different laboratories using different age standards yielded statistically indistinguishable results with the weighted mean age of 260.1 ± 1.2 Ma for five individual measurements. This provides the direct constraints on the onset of the ELIP high-Ti basalt extrusive phase. The obtained age is within the error or slightly older than the age of the Guadalupian–Lopingian boundary and felsic ignimbrite capping the ELIP lava succession (both dated at 259.1 ± 0.5 Ma). Our new data are strengthening the short duration of the, at least, high-Ti phase of the ELIP volcanism and its temporal link with the end-Guadalupian mass extinction. Estimation of the total duration of the ELIP volcanism awaits finding of suitable for dating low-Ti basalts.     

Do fecundity‐time models really predict extreme optimal egg sizes?

In 1973, Vance published a mathematical model that explains differences in reproductive strategies such as planktotrophy and lecithotrophy found in marine invertebrates. The original model Vance (The American Naturalist, 107 , 339–352) traded fecundity against development time and resulted in a U‐shaped fitness function suggesting that only extreme levels of egg provisioning (referred to as egg size) are evolutionarily stable. Several later models independently predicted evolutionary stability of extreme egg sizes, and this has been commonly interpreted as a proof that the Vance model, albeit oversimplified, reflects the fundamental evolutionary principle of disruptive egg size evolution in marine invertebrates. However, empirical studies of the last several decades have illustrated that intermediate levels of egg provisioning are commonly observed in nature. As a result, the recent modifications of the original Vance model have attempted to explain evolution of such intermediate strategies. Here we re‐examine the earlier fecundity‐time models of the ‘Vance family’ and show that only Vance and its minor modification by Grant (The American Naturalist, 122 , 549–555) invariably predict evolutionary stability of extreme egg sizes. Most modifications of the original Vance model in fact can predict at least some intermediate optimal egg sizes and reproductive strategies. There is no reason to assume that selection towards extreme egg sizes is the driving force in the evolution of marine invertebrate life histories.     

Antarctic shallow water benthos in an area of recent rapid glacier retreat

The West Antarctic Peninsula is one of the fastest warming regions on Earth. Faster glacier retreat and related calving events lead to more frequent iceberg scouring, fresh water input and higher sediment loads, which in turn affect shallow water benthic marine assemblages in coastal regions. In addition, ice retreat creates new benthic substrates for colonization. We investigated three size classes of benthic biota (microbenthos, meiofauna and macrofauna) at three sites in Potter Cove (King George Island, West Antarctic Peninsula) situated at similar water depths but experiencing different disturbance regimes related to glacier retreat. Our results revealed the presence of a patchy distribution of highly divergent benthic assemblages within a relatively small area (about 1 km²). In areas with frequent ice scouring and higher sediment accumulation rates, an assemblage mainly dominated by macrobenthic scavengers (such as the polychaete Barrukia cristata), vagile organisms and younger individuals of sessile species (such as the bivalve Yoldia eightsi) was found. Macrofauna were low in abundance and very patchily distributed in recently ice‐free areas close to the glacier, whereas the pioneer nematode genus Microlaimus reached a higher relative abundance in these newly exposed sites. The most diverse and abundant macrofaunal assemblage was found in areas most remote from recent glacier influence. By contrast, the meiofauna showed relatively low densities in these areas. The three benthic size classes appeared to respond in different ways to disturbances likely related to ice retreat, suggesting that the capacity to adapt and colonize habitats is dependent on both body size and specific life traits. We predict that, under continued deglaciation, more diverse, but less patchy, benthic assemblages will become established in areas out of reach of glacier‐related disturbance.     

Simulation of damage in RC frames with variable axial forces

The purpose of this paper is to describe how the methods and concepts of continuum damage and fracture mechanics can be applied to the modelling of the hysteretic behaviour of Reinforced Concrete (RC) frame members under variable axial loads. A frame member is considered as the assemblage of an elastic beam-column and two inelastic hinges, as in conventional nonlinear analysis of RC frames. As a result of the combination of damage mechanics and standard RC theory, a simplified model of damage is proposed and implemented as a finite element (FE). This new element can be used with any non-linear commercial FE program. The numerical simulation of several experiments, for which data were available in the literature, verifies the accuracy of the model. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Water Table Depth Estimates over the Contiguous United States Using a Random Forest Model

Water table depth (WTD) has a substantial impact on the connection between groundwater dynamics and land surface processes. Due to the scarcity of WTD observations, physically-based groundwater models are growing in their ability to map WTD at large scales; however, they are still challenged to represent simulated WTD compared to well observations. In this study, we develop a purely data-driven approach to estimating WTD at continental scale. We apply a random forest (RF) model to estimate WTD over most of the contiguous United States (CONUS) based on available WTD observations. The estimated WTD are in good agreement with well observations, with a Pearson correlation coefficient (r) of 0.96 (0.81 during testing), a Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) of 0.93 (0.65 during testing), and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 6.87 m (15.31 m during testing). The location of each grid cell is rated as the most important feature in estimating WTD over most of the CONUS, which might be a surrogate for spatial information. In addition, the uncertainty of the RF model is quantified using quantile regression forests. High uncertainties are generally associated with locations having a shallow WTD. Our study demonstrates that the RF model can produce reasonable WTD estimates over most of the CONUS, providing an alternative to physics-based modeling for modeling large-scale freshwater resources. Since the CONUS covers many different hydrologic regimes, the RF model trained for the CONUS may be transferrable to other regions with a similar hydrologic regime and limited observations.     

Advanced sensitivity calibration of the Los Angeles strong motion array

Results are presented of recent sensitivity calibration of 76 accelerographs (SMA-1) of the Los Angeles Strong Motion Array. These have pendulum-like transducers and optical recording system. One characteristic of their design is off-axis sensitivity, which is magnified by transducer misalignment. A new calibration procedure was applied, which considers off-axis sensitivity and measures the angles of misalignment (φ and ψ), as well as the incident angle of the light beam onto the film (θ₀). These are required (1) for accurate estimation of sensitivity, and (2) for proper instrument correction of recorded accelerograms which considers also cross-axis sensitivity and misalignment. These effects are important near large acceleration peaks (approaching and exceeding 1g), e.g. like the ones recorded near the source of the 1994 Northridge earthquake (M_L=6·4). This earthquake was recorded by 65 stations of the Los Angeles Strong Motion Array, at epicentral distances from 2 to 85 km. Histograms showing distribution of the misalignment angles, light beam incidence angle θ₀ (for unloaded position) and the transducer sensitivities are presented. These indicate that the misalignment angles are typically 1–1·5°, but may also be 3–4°. Angle θ₀ (usually neglected), is mostly between ±8°, but may reach ±12°. Assuming θ₀=0 leads to systematically smaller values of the measured sensitivity (e.g. by ∼3% for θ₀=8° and ∼4% for θ₀=12°). Comparison of the newly measured sensitivities with those measured prior to installation (in 1979/1980), s^old, shows that, in general, the new values are systematically smaller. The difference is typically within 5 per cent, but in some cases is as large as 10 per cent. Other principal sources of the observed differences and their mechanisms are discussed. Those include long-term changes in the transducers (e.g. change of stiffness, reflected in changes of the natural frequency) and differences in the calibration procedure (e.g. errors associated with manual reading film records with tilt test data, and with transducer and instrument housing misalignment). The presented results may be considered typical of similar strong motion arrays worldwide. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigating the structure of the accretion disc in WZ Sge from multiwaveband time-resolved spectroscopic observations – II

We present our second paper describing multiwaveband time-resolved spectroscopy of WZ Sge. We analyse the evolution of both optical and IR emission lines throughout the orbital period and find evidence, in the Balmer lines, for an optically thin accretion disc and an optically thick hotspot. Optical and IR emission lines are used to compute radial velocity curves. Fits to our radial velocity measurements give an internally inconsistent set of values for K ₁, γ and the phase of red-to-blue crossing. We present a probable explanation for these discrepancies, and provide evidence for similar behaviour in other short orbital period dwarf novae. Selected optical and IR spectra are measured to determine the accretion disc radii. Values for the disc radii are found to be strongly dependent on the assumed WD mass and binary orbital inclination. However, the separation of the peaks in the optical emission line (i.e., an indication of the outer disc radius) has been found to be constant during all phases of the supercycle period over the last 40 years.     

Investigating the structure of the accretion disc in WZ Sge from multiwaveband time-resolved spectroscopic observations – I

We present the first of two papers describing an in-depth study of multiwaveband phase-resolved spectroscopy of the unusual dwarf nova WZ Sge. In this paper we present an extensive set of Doppler maps of WZ Sge covering optical and infrared emission lines, and describe a new technique for studying the accretion discs of cataclysmic variables using ratioed Doppler maps. Applying the ratioed Doppler map technique to our WZ Sge data shows that the radial temperature profile of the disc is unlike that predicted for a steady state α disc. Time-averaged spectra of the accretion disc line flux (with the bright spot contribution removed) show evidence in the shapes of the line profiles for the presence of shear broadening in a quiescent non-turbulent accretion disc. From the positions of the bright spots in the Doppler maps of different lines, we conclude that the bright spot region is elongated along the ballistic stream, and that the density of the outer disc is low. The velocity of the outer edge of the accretion disc measured from the H α line is found to be 723±23 km s⁻¹. Assuming that the accretion disc reaches to the 3:1 tidal resonance radius, we derive a value for the primary star mass of 0.82 M_⊙. We discuss the implications of our results on the present theories of WZ Sge type dwarf nova outbursts.