Stability and phase relations of nonstoichiometric clinopyroxenes in the join diopside-Ca-Eskola component at high pressures

The stability of nonstoichiometric clinopyroxenes in the Di-CaEsk join was experimentally studied, and phase diagrams were constructed for this join at pressures of 2.0 and 3.0 GPa. It was found that melting in the diopside part of the join occurs at anomalously low temperatures, and nonstoichiometric clinopyroxene coexists with a phase approaching diopside in composition. Phase relations along the Di-CaEsk join can be described and consistently interpreted only assuming that the diopside phase (α-diopside) is thermodynamically stable. The following phase volumes were observed along the solidus of the join at a pressure of 3.0 GPa: Cpx, αDi+Cpx, αDi+Cpx+Qtz, αDi+Cpx+Grt+Qtz, Cpx+Grt+Qtz, Cpx+Grt+Ky+Qtz, Grt+Ky+Qtz. Melting occurs via the eutectic reaction αDi+Cpx+Grt+Qtz=L at a temperature of about 1200°C in the diopside part of the system and via the eutectic reaction Cpx+Grt+Ky+Qtz=L at a temperature of 1400°C in the calcium-rich part of the system. At a pressure of 2.0 GPa, melting occurs at temperatures of 1200–1300°C via the eutectic reaction αDi+Cpx+ An + Qtz=L. The invariant equilibrium (L, An, Cpx, Grt, αDi, Qtz) lies within the pressure range 2.0–3.0 GPa. Nonstoichiometric clinopyroxenes form complex solid solutions, the compositions of which are not strictly confined to the Di-CaEsk join and depend on temperature, pressure, and phase association. Grossular garnets coexist with nonstoichiometric clinopyroxenes and α-diopside.     

呼伦贝尔地区土地荒漠化动态变化

呼伦贝尔地区是中国重要的天然草原和畜牧基地, 随着该地区经济和社会的发展及人类对资源的不合理利用, 土地荒漠化现象加重。笔者应用RS和GIS技术, 以1970 年MSS、2000 年ETM和 2007年CBERS数据为数据源, 主要采用人工目视解译方法, 并辅助野外调查验证, 获得三期解译数据, 并利用空间分析、网格剖分方法, 对呼伦贝尔地区荒漠化的时空变化情况进行研究。结果表明: 近40年来, 该地区土地荒漠化总面积不断增加, 1970 年该地区土地荒漠化面积为7408.76 km2 , 2000年为7 539.52 km2 , 2007年增加到7 852.12 km2 , 共增加面积443.36 km2。1970-2000年间, 沙漠化减轻、盐碱化加重的面积为134.09 km2 , 沙漠化加重、盐碱化减轻的面积为53.35 km2 ; 2000- 2007年间, 沙漠化减轻、盐碱化加重的面积为41.71 km2 , 沙漠化加重、盐碱化减轻的面积为172.8 km2。     

Mapping of sound scattering objects in the northern part of the Barents Sea and their geological interpretation

On cruises 25 (2007) and 28 (2011) of the R/V Akademik Nikolai Strakhov in the northern part of the Barents Sea, the Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, conducted comprehensive research on the bottom relief and upper part of the sedimentary cover profile under the auspices of the International Polar Year program. One of the instrument components was the SeaBat 8111 shallow-water multibeam echo sounder, which can map the acoustic field similarly to a side scan sonar, which records the response both from the bottom and from the water column. In the operations area, intense sound scattering objects produced by the discharge of deep fluid flows are detected in the water column. The sound scattering objects and pockmarks in the bottom relief are related to anomalies in hydrocarbon gas concentrations in bottom sediments. The sound scattering objects are localized over Triassic sequences outcropping from the bottom. The most intense degassing processes manifest themselves near the contact of the Triassic sequences and Jurassic clay deposits, as well as over deep depressions in a field of Bouguer anomalies related to the basement of the Jurassic–Cretaceous rift system     

新疆西南天山阿万达金矿区赋矿围岩物源及形成时代:碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学制约

阿万达金矿位于西南天山造山带内。此次研究在简要总结其矿床地质特征基础上,对与阿万达金矿成矿密切相关的阿克苏群中硅质片岩围岩分别进行了岩石地球化学分析和LA-ICP-MS碎屑锆石U-Pb定年研究,以期对围岩的沉积环境、物源及形成时代进行讨论。岩石地球化学分析结果显示,阿万达金矿赋矿围岩中硅质片岩的原岩可能为一套成熟度较低的泥岩或砂岩,物源主要为石英岩质沉积物,沉积环境可能处于活动大陆弧内的沉积盆地内。U-Pb定年结果显示,其碎屑锆石定年数据主要形成了加权平均年龄值为405 Ma或406 Ma的年龄峰,其谐和年龄最小峰值即405 Ma可以作为其最大沉积年龄。因此笔者认为阿克苏群中硅质片岩的沉积时代并不是前人所定的长城纪,而是不老于早泥盆世。另外,这一地层的物源组成具有多样性,～405 Ma碎屑锆石占主体,可能与哈尔克山北缘火山弧内的早泥盆世岩浆活动有关;～745Ma的碎屑锆石的出现,表明其物源有少部分来自新元古代岩石;极少数～2.50 Ga的碎屑锆石的出现,反映了华北地台对本地层有物源上的贡献。     

The production of light elements in unconventional cosmologies with VMOs

The abundances of light elements (deuterium, helium and lithium) are calculated in unconventional cosmologies in which these elements are produced by interaction of fast -particles ejected by massive pregalactic stars with a purely hydrogenous cosmological substrate. The number density and energetics of such stars needed for suitable production of light elements are estimated. It is shown that the models always lead to overproduction of lithium. The intensity of ultraviolet, X-ray, and -ray emission caused by explosions of pregalactic massive stars is calculated. The distortions of cosmic background radiation by Compton losses of electrons heated by explosive stars are also calculated.     

Using Models of the Deep Structure of the Earth’s Crust and Upper Mantle Based on GOCE Gravity Data in Metallogenic Analysis

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Gravimetric data obtained by the GOCE spacecraft contributes to the development of global models of the deep structure of the Earth’s crust and...     

The impact of rural land management changes on soil hydraulic properties and runoff processes: results from experimental plots in upland UK

To develop an evidence base to help predict the impacts of land management change on flood generation, four experimental sites were established on improved grassland used for sheep grazing at the Pontbren catchment in upland Wales, UK. At each site, three plots were established where surface runoff was measured, supplemented by measurements of soil infiltration rates and soil and vegetation physical properties. Following baseline monitoring, treatments were applied to two of the plots: exclusion of sheep (ungrazed) and exclusion of sheep and planting with native broadleaf tree species (tree planted), with the third plot acting as a control (grazed pasture). Due to a particularly dry summer that occurred pre‐treatment, the soil hydrological responses were initially impacted by the effects of the climate on soil structure. Nevertheless, treatments did have a clear influence on soil hydrological response. On average, post‐treatment runoff volumes were reduced by 48% and 78% in ungrazed and tree‐planted plots relative to the control, although all results varied greatly over the sites. Five years following treatment application, near‐surface soil bulk density was reduced and median soil infiltration rates were 67 times greater in plots planted with trees compared to grazed pasture. The results illustrate the potential use of upland land management for ameliorating local‐scale flood generation but emphasise the need for long‐term monitoring to more clearly separate the effects of land management from those of climatic variability. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling rhamnolipids production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa from immiscible carbon source in a batch system

A mathematical model to predict the rhamnolipids production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa from oleic acid in a two phase liquid-liquid batch reaction system, was developed in this study. The model was based on two theoretical assumptions: 1) the convective oleic acid mass transfer is coupled to a bioreaction in the aqueous liquid bulk, and 2) the volume of the immiscible oleic acid drops and the saturation concentration at the interface are a function of rhamnolipids production. The model was able to accurately predict the experimental growth of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain, and the rhamnolipids production data with oleic acid as carbon source. This mathematical approach indicated a high correspondence between the saturation dimensionless profiles of oleic acid at the interface and the experimental profiles of surface tension difference. This modeling approach may constitute a useful tool in the design and scaling-up of bioreactors applied to the production of biosurfactants with immiscible carbon sources.     

Maximum extent of the Eurasian ice sheets in the Barents and Kara Sea region during the Weichselian

Based on field investigations in northern Russia and interpretation of offshore seismic data, we have made a preliminary reconstruction of the maximum ice-sheet extent in the Barents and Kara Sea region during the Early/Middle Weichselian and the Late Weichselian. Our investigations indicate that the Barents and Kara ice sheets attained their maximum Weichselian positions in northern Russia prior to 50 000 yr BP, whereas the northeastern flank of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet advanced to a maximum position shortly after 17 000 calendar years ago. During the Late Weichselian (25 000-10 000 yr BP), much of the Russian Arctic remained ice-free. According to our reconstruction, the extent of the ice sheets in the Barents and Kara Sea region during the Late Weichselian glacial maximum was less than half that of the maximum model which, up to now, has been widely used as a boundary condition for testing and refining General Circulation Models (GCMs). Preliminary numerical-modelling experiments predict Late Weichselian ice sheets which are larger than the ice extent implied for the Kara Sea region from dated geological evidence, suggesting very low precipitation.     

黑龙江东部依兰珠山变辉长岩的年代学、地球化学及其构造意义

对黑龙江东部依兰珠山变辉长岩进行了锆石年代学和地球化学研究,以确定其形成时代、成因及构造背景。变辉长岩锆石均呈自形-半自形晶,具典型的条痕状吸收特征和较高的Th/U比值(0.20~0.86),暗示其岩浆成因。LA-ICP-MS U-Pb测年结果为(256±3)Ma,表明珠山变辉长岩形成于晚二叠世。地球化学特征显示变辉长岩具有贫硅,富镁、铁、铝、钙的特征;其轻稀土元素(LREEs)和大离子亲石元素(Rb、Ba)富集,重稀土元素(HREEs)和高场强元素(Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf和Ti)亏损。结合区域地质资料,认为珠山变辉长岩为俯冲流体交代地幔楔的产物,其形成可能与古大洋板块的俯冲作用有关,暗示佳木斯地块与松嫩地块在晚二叠世之前尚未碰撞拼合。