Late Quaternary marine terraces in the Mediterranean coastal area of Syria: Geochronology and neotectonics

In order to provide new data on the neotectonics and geodynamic properties of western Syria, studies of marine terraces have been carried out. The most attention was paid to the lower terraces in the range of 3–5 to 30–35 m above sea level, because they have more complete distributions along the shore. The lower terraces were examined along the coastal area from Tartus to Latakia, and along the carbonate cliff on Arwad Island. Seven ²³⁰Th/U dates for these terraces are in the range of 85–130 ka, suggesting the age interval of the last interglacial (MIS 5). New dates on the lower terraces provide a basis for stratigraphical and geomorphological interpretation as well as neotectonic reconstruction. According to the geomorphological data and lithological composition of those terraces, two main uplifted blocks can be established. One coincides with the Latakia block, and another corresponds to the western margin of the Banias volcanic plateau. These blocks are divided by a subsided structure corresponding to the Nahr el Kebir graben. The amplitude of neotectonic uplifting in the Latakia and Banias blocks reaches 15–20 m for the Late Pleistocene.     

Different magneto-rotational supernovae

We present the results of two-dimensional calculations of a magneto-rotational (MR) supernova explosion with a collapsing core for various core masses, rotational angular momenta, and magnetic-field configurations. It is shown that the MR mechanism produces an explosion energy that corresponds to observed values. The form of the explosion depends substantially on the initial configuration of the magnetic field. MR instability develops during the evolution of the magnetic field in an MR supernova explosion, resulting in an exponential increase of all components of the magnetic field, thereby substantially decreasing the time scale of the MR explosion. The energy of the supernova increases with the core’s mass and initial rotational energy.     

Elpasolite from hyperalkaline pegmatite of the Khibiny pluton, Kola Peninsula. Symmetry of elpasolite

Elpasolite, K₂NaAlF₆, has been found for the first time in a pegmatite related to peralkaline foid syenite at Mt. Koashva, Khibiny alkaline pluton, Kola Peninsula, Russia, as pale pink octahedral crystals up to 2 mm in size within cavities in the natrolite core of pegmatite in association with amicite, sodalite, aegirine, pectolite, catapleiite, sitinakite, lemmleinite-K, and vinogradovite. The chemical composition determined with an electron microprobe is as follows, wt %: 31.53 K; 9.22 Na; 11.20 Al; 47.21 F; total is 99.16. The empirical formula is K_1.96Na_0.98Al_1.01F_6.05. The infrared spectrum is given. The crystal structure has been refined to R = 0.030, space group Fm $ \bar 3 Elpasolite, K₂NaAlF₆, has been found for the first time in a pegmatite related to peralkaline foid syenite at Mt. Koashva, Khibiny alkaline pluton, Kola Peninsula, Russia, as pale pink octahedral crystals up to 2 mm in size within cavities in the natrolite core of pegmatite in association with amicite, sodalite, aegirine, pectolite, catapleiite, sitinakite, lemmleinite-K, and vinogradovite. The chemical composition determined with an electron microprobe is as follows, wt %: 31.53 K; 9.22 Na; 11.20 Al; 47.21 F; total is 99.16. The empirical formula is K_1.96Na_0.98Al_1.01F_6.05. The infrared spectrum is given. The crystal structure has been refined to R = 0.030, space group Fm m, a = 8.092 ?. The result of a special X-ray powder diffraction study confirmed the suggestion made by Morss (1974) that reflections violating space group Fm m in some published X-ray powder patterns of natural elpasolite are Kβ-lines. Original Russian Text ? I.V. Pekov, N.V. Chukanov, N.N. Kononkova, N.V. Zubkova, M.Kh. Rabadanov, D.Yu. Pushcharovsky, 2007, published in Zapiski Rossiiskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva, 2007, No. 6, pp. 76–84.     

Rare earth elements in tourmaline and chlorite from tin-bearing assemblages: Factors controlling fractionation of REE in hydrothermal systems

The REE distribution in minerals from tin-bearing ore-magmatic systems of the Russian Far East, including the Komsomolsk, Khingan, and Badzhal districts in the Amur region and the Kavalerovo, Lesozavodsk, Voznesenka, Furmanovo, and other districts in Primorsky krai, has been studied. The main attention was focused on tourmaline and chlorite; in addition, associated biotite, feldspar, apatite, fluorite, and carbonates were examined. The major factors affecting the REE distribution in the studied minerals are the temperature, Eh, and pH of the mineral-forming medium; crystal chemistry; partition coefficients of REE between fluid and minerals; and complexation that disturbs the coherent behavior of REE. Fluid evolution at different stages is characterized.