Rear-arc vs. arc-front volcanoes in the Katmai reach of the Alaska Peninsula: a critical appraisal of across-arc compositional variation

Physical and compositional data and K-Ar ages are reported for 14 rear-arc volcanoes that lie 11–22 km behind the narrowly linear volcanic front defined by the Mount Katmai-to-Devils Desk chain on the Alaska Peninsula. One is a 30-km³ stratocone (Mount Griggs; 51–63% SiO₂) active intermittently from 292 ka to Holocene. The others are monogenetic cones, domes, lava flows, plugs, and maars, of which 12 were previously unnamed and unstudied; they include seven basalts (48–52% SiO₂), four mafic andesites (53–55% SiO₂), and three andesite-dacite units. Six erupted in the interval 500–88 ka, one historically in 1977, and five in the interval 3–2 Ma. No migration of the volcanic front is discernible since the late Miocene, so even the older units erupted well behind the front. Discussion explores the significance of the volcanic front and the processes that influence compositional overlaps and differences among mafic products of the rear-arc volcanoes and of the several arc-front edifices nearby. The latter have together erupted a magma volume of about 200 km³, at least four times that of all rear-arc products combined. Correlation of Sr-isotope ratios with indices of fractionation indicates crustal contributions in volcanic-front magmas (0.7033–0.7038), but lack of such trends among the rear-arc units (0.70298–0.70356) suggests weaker and less systematic crustal influence. Slab contributions and mantle partial-melt fractions both appear to decline behind the front, but neither trend is crisp and unambiguous. No intraplate mantle contribution is recognized nor is any systematic across-arc difference in intrinsic mantle-wedge source fertility discerned. Both rear-arc and arc-front basalts apparently issued from fluxing of typically fertile NMORB-source mantle beneath the Peninsular terrane, which docked here in the Mesozoic.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article if you access the article at . A link in the frame on the left on that page takes you directly to the supplementary material.Editorial responsibility: T.L. Grove     

Mixed discretization procedure for accurate modelling of plastic collapse

Collapse loads are overestimated by finite-element or finite-difference procedures when the material discretization does not allow locally incompressible plastic flow: for example, constant-strain triangles or tetrahedra give unacceptable results. The use of different discretizations for the isotropic and deviatoric parts of the strain tensor is advocated for preventing this problem. The technique can be easily implemented in existing two- and three-dimensional computer programs. Its effectiveness is demonstrated by several examples.     

Time-temperature relation of mineral isochrons: a thermodynamic model, and illustrative examples for the RbSr system

We have developed a thermodynamic model for the determination of the closure temperature (T_C) at which the minerals defining an internal isochron in RbSr, or similar, geochronological system were set with a geochronological clock. It is shown that the equilibrium fractionation of⁸⁷Rb and⁸⁷Sr between a pair of minerals at T_C [K_D(⁸⁷Rb⁸⁷Sr)_C] is given by the ratio of the quantity (⁸⁷Rb/⁸⁶Sr) in the two minerals as measured at the present time. K_D(⁸⁷Rb-⁸⁷Sr), which equals the element distribution coefficient K_D(RbSr) under equilibrium condition, can be calibrated as a function of temperature, and compared with the retrieved value of K_D(⁸⁷Rb⁸⁷Sr)_C in a natural pair to obtain T_C. The various mineral pairs defining an internal isochron will yield concordant or discordant values of T_C depending on whether or not they closed simultaneously with respect to the diffusion of Rb and Sr. Both types of results are expected, and are important in the analyses of the evolutionary history of the host rocks. Preliminary analyses of the published data in the RbSr system suggest a fairly wide range of T_C even for the same mineral pair, reflecting differences in the cooling rates and physico-chemical environments of the host rocks.     

A proposal for boundary delimitation for integrated coastal zone management initiatives

ICZM relies heavily on the definition of major multidisciplinary characteristics/elements of the coastal area of interest. Usually, only terrestrial boundaries are considered, which tend to respond to a specific sectoral problem and can be determined by administrative limits. In this study, we propose a method for establishing a decision-making tool to inform boundary delimitation for ICZM initiatives that is proactive and widely applicable as opposed to reactive and problem specific. This method integrates environmental, economic and societal characteristics of the marine and terrestrial boundaries of the coastal zone, starting at the boundary of the jurisdictional zone of influence (shoreline units), increasing in detail through the definition of their influential areas from jurisdictional, environmental or socio-economic perspectives (functional areas) and, within them, specifying the finest scale at which relevant indicator data may be obtained (analysis units).     

Trace Element Analysis of Natural Gold by Laser Ablation ICP-MS: A Combined External/Internal Standardisation Approach

For the trace element analysis of gold by laser ablation ICP-MS, external calibration samples of differing matrix composition have been used in previous studies. Data presented here suggest that even for calibration samples and unknowns with closely-matched matrices, discrepancies arise due to variations in the coupling behaviour of the laser with the sample at different power deliveries, and can lead to erroneous trace element determinations. Internal standardisation for gold is complicated because Au and Ag, the most common major elements, do not have minor isotopes that can be used as internal standards. This problem was overcome for natural gold samples by using an external calibration sample only for the major elements Au and Ag, then defocussing the ion path and using ¹⁰⁷Ag in each sample as an internal standard against which μg g^-1 levels of Te, Sb, Hg, Bi, and Cu were determined. The results suggest that trace elements can occupy lattice sites in gold rather than occurring only as micro-inclusions of other phases. The analytical approach taken here may be used in trace element analysis where adequate external calibration samples are not readily available.     

Creating a conceptual framework to improve the re‐usability of open geographic data in cities

Open data has a profound effect on the working environment within which information is created and shared at all levels. At the local government level, open data initiatives have resulted in higher transparency in policy, a greater engagement between decision‐makers and citizens, and have changed the culture about how data analysis and evidence are used to support local governance. This article, based on data collected through an on‐line survey, participatory workshops with data user communities in four cities (in Colombia and Spain), and interviews with Valencia good‐government office, identifies four elements for a conceptual framework to improve the re‐usability of open geographic data in cities. The essential elements defined in this research are the definition of data user communities and their needs, the creation of the community of reuse, user‐focused metadata, and reuse‐focused legal terms. The definition of these indicators provides a framework for authorities to re‐shape their current open data strategy to include data user requirements. At the end of this article, a roadmap for future research and implementation is presented, considering some reflections on the conceptual framework.     

Re–Os isotope systematics for the Lince–Estefanía deposit: constraints on the timing and source of copper mineralization in a stratabound copper deposit, Coastal Cordillera of Northern Chile

The Lince–Estefanía stratabound copper deposit in the Michilla district is one of the most important deposits in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile and is one of the most representative of this type of deposit. Chalcocite and bornite characterize the main stage of hypogene copper sulfide mineralization. Rhenium and osmium isotopes are used here to constrain the age of hypogene mineralization and the source of osmium contained in these ore minerals. A Re–Os isochron yielded an age of 160±16 Ma (2σ), with an associated initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratio of 1.06±0.09 (mean square of weighted deviates=1.8). This age is consistent with available geochronological data from volcanic rocks that host the mineralization and associated alteration phases. The high initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratio indicates a lower crustal component for the source of Os and, by inference, the Cu sulfides that contain this Os. Late hematite occurs as an isolated phase or, more commonly, is associated with the chalcocite–bornite and supergene chalcocite–covellite associations. Analyses performed on pure hematite indicate a disturbance of the Re–Os system, and hence, this mineral phase is not useful as a Re–Os geochronometer.     

Stratigraphy and structure of the southeastern Garona Dome

Abstract

North-facing recumbent folds in the Palaeozoic rocks of the Garona Dome have been recognized, and a modified pre-Silurian stratigraphic sequence is suggested. The gradual disappearance of part of this sequence may be interpreted as a result of truncation by an unconformable late Ordovician conglomeratic unit.     

Geochronology and Nd isotopic data of Grenville-age rocks in the Colombian Andes: new constraints for Late Proterozoic-Early Paleozoic paleocontinental reconstructions of the Americas

New UPb zircon crystallization ages and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar cooling ages from the Colombian Andes confirm the existence of rocks metamorphosed during the Orinoquian Orogenic Event (ca. 1.0 Ga) of northern South America. ε_Nd (t = 1.1 Ga) for these rocks range from −3.9 to +0.91, which is interpreted as a mixture of Late Archean-Early Proterozoic crust with juvenile material produced during the 1.1 Ga orogenic event. The Colombian Grenville age rocks are part of a much longer metamorphic pericratonal belt, sporadically exposed along the Andes, in western-central Peru, southern Bolivia and northern Argentina. In addition, Nd model (T_DM) ages for the Colombian rocks range from 1.9 to 1.45 Ga, similar to those obtained in the Grenville Province of the eastern U.S. and in the Mexican basement, placing constraints on Late Proterozoic-Early Paleozoic paleocontinental reconstructions.