Immiscible two-liquid regions in the Fe-O-S system at high pressure: Implications for planetary cores

We have determined phase relations in the Fe-O and Fe-O-S systems in the range of 15-21 GPa and 1825-2300 °C. Below the liquidus temperatures, solid FeO and metallic liquids are observed in both the Fe-O and the Fe-O-S systems. An immiscible two-liquid region exists in the Fe-O binary system in the pressure range investigated, and the immiscibility gap between Fe-rich metallic liquid and FeO-rich ionic liquid does not greatly change with either pressure or temperature. On the other hand, an immiscible two-liquid region in the Fe-O-S ternary system narrows significantly with increasing pressure at constant temperature and vice versa, and it almost disappears at 21 GPa, and 2300 °C. Immiscible two-liquid regions are thus not expected to exist in the Fe-O-S system in the Earth's core, suggesting that both oxygen and sulfur can be incorporated into the core. Our results are consistent with a geochemical model for the core containing 5.8 wt.% oxygen and 1.9 wt.% sulfur as proposed by McDonough and Sun [McDonough, W.F., Sun, S.-S., 1995. The composition of the Earth. Chem. Geol. 120, 223-253].     

High-pressure X-ray diffraction studies on β- and γ-Mg2SiO4

Pressure effects on the lattice parameters of β- and γ-Mg₂SiO₄ have been measured at room temperature and at pressures up to 100 kbar using a multi-anvil high-pressure X-ray diffraction apparatus. The volume changes (ΔV/V₀) at 90 kbar are 5.4 · 10^?2 and 4.2 · 10^?2 for β- and γ-Mg₂SiO₄, respectively. Isothermal bulk moduli at zero pressure have been calculated from least-square fits of the data to straight lines. They turn out to be 1.66 ± 0.4 and 2.13 ± 0.1 Mbar for β- and γ-Mg₂SiO₄, respectively. The α → γ transition obeys Wang's linear V_φ?ρ relation but the α → β transition does not.     

Relative transport in the Alaskan Stream in winter

Between late January and March of 1966, the western Subarctic region was widely investigated by MVArgo and MVG. B. Kelez. That is the first oceanographic measurement in this region during winter season. Oceanographic conditions and relative transports are discussed using these data. The Alaskan Stream which is closely related with the formation of the salmon fishing ground, is continuous as far west as long. 170°E and the westward transport of 8×10⁶m³/sec occurs across long. 165°W. That are similar to the conditions in summer. The isolated warm water mass separated from the Alaskan Stream is more clearly defined as a clockwise gyre at the west of Komandorski Ridge. Transport of approximately 9×10⁶m³/sec in the East Kamchatka Current reaches east of the Kurile Islands, where its water, mixing with the Okhotsk Sea water, forms the Oyashio Current having the volume transport of 7×10⁶m³/sec. Generally, the circulation pattern in winter is similar to that in summer. Schematic diagram of relative transport and circulation in the Subarctic region in the North Pacific Ocean in winter is proposed.     

Oscillatory orbits in the planar three‐body problem with equal masses

In the free‐fall three‐body problem, distributions of escape, binary, and triple collision orbits are obtained. Interpretation of the results leads us to the existence of oscillatory orbits in the planar three‐body problem with equal masses. A scenario to prove their existence is described. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Explicit Symplectic Algorithms For Time‐Transformed Hamiltonians

By Hamiltonian manipulation we demonstrate the existence of separable time‐transformed Hamiltonians in the extended phase‐space. Due to separability explicit symplectic methods are available for the solution of the equations of motion. If the simple leapfrog integrator is used, in case of two‐body motion, the method produces an exact Keplerian ellipse in which only the time‐coordinate has an error. Numerical tests show that even the rectilinear N‐body problem is feasible using only the leapfrog integrator. In practical terms the method cannot compete with regularized codes, but may provide new directions for studies of symplectic N‐body integration. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Structure and cation disorder of hydrous ringwoodite, γ-Mg1.89Si0.98H0.30O4

The structure of a single crystal hydrous ringwoodite, Mg_1.89Si_0.98H_0.30O₄ synthesized at conditions of 1300?°C and 20?GPa has been analyzed. Crystallographic data for hydrous ringwoodite obtained are; Cubic with Space group: Fd3m (no. 227). a= 8.0693(5)?Å, V=526.41(9)?ų, Z=8, D_calc= 3.48?g?cm^?3. The results of site occupancy refinement using higher angle reflections showed the existence of a small degree of Mg²⁺-Si⁴⁺ disorder in the structure such as (Mg_1.84Si_0.05□_0.11)(Si_0.93Mg_0.05□_0.02)H_0.30O₄. The IR and Raman spectra were measured and OH vibration spectra were observed. A broad absorption band was observed in the IR spectrum and the maxima were observed at 3160?cm^?1 in the IR and at 3165?cm^?1 and 3685?cm^?1 in relatively sharp Raman spectra, which suggest that locations between O-O pairs around the octahedral 16c and 16d sites are possible sites for hydrogen.     

A new hydrous phase δ-AlOOH synthesized at 21 GPa and 1000 °C

A new phase of AlOOH (tentatively called δ-AlOOH) was synthesized at 21?GPa and 1000?°C and its crystal structure was identified by a powder X-ray diffraction method. Rietveld refinement revealed that this aluminum oxide hydroxide has an orthorhombic unit cell, a?=?4.7134(1) Å, b?=?4.2241(1) Å, c?=?2.83252(8) Å, V?=?56.395 (5) ų, and Z?=?2 in the space group of P2₁?nm. A calculated density is 3.533?g?cm^?3, which is about 4.48 and 15.04% denser than that of diaspore and boehmite, respectively. The δ-[Al_0.86Mg_0.07Si_0.07]OOH is also stable at 21?GPa and 1000?°C, coexisting with majorite and phase egg, and its cell parameters are a?=?4.710(1) Å, b?=?4.215(1) Å, c?=?2.839(1) Å, and V?=?56.37(1) ų.     

Continuous Observation of Groundwater and Crustal Deformation for Forecasting Tonankai and Nankai Earthquakes in Japan

In 2006, we started construction of an observation network of 12 stations in and around Shikoku and the Kii Peninsula to conduct research for forecasting Tonankai and Nankai earthquakes. The purpose of the network is to clarify the mechanism of past preseismic groundwater changes and crustal deformation related to Tonankai and Nankai earthquakes. Construction of the network of 12 stations was completed in January 2009. Work on two stations, Hongu-Mikoshi (HGM) and Ichiura (ICU), was finished earlier and they began observations in 2007. These two stations detected strain changes caused by the slow-slip events on the plate boundary in June 2008, although related changes in groundwater levels were not clearly recognized.     

Petrography of Yamato 984028 lherzolitic shergottite and its melt vein: Implications for its shock metamorphism and origin of the vein

Yamato 984028 (Y984028) is a newly identified lherzolitic shergottite, recovered from the Yamato Mountains, Antarctica, in 1999. As part of a consortium study, we conducted petrographic observations of Y984028 and its melt vein in order to investigate its shock metamorphism. The rock displays the typical non-poikilitic texture of lherzolitic shergottite, characterized by a framework of olivine, minor pyroxene (pigeonite and augite), and interstitial maskelynite. Shock metamorphic features include irregular fractures in olivine and pyroxene, shock-induced twin-lamellae in pyroxene, and the complete conversion of plagioclase to maskelynite, features consistent with those found in other lherzolitic shergottites. The melt vein is composed of coarse mineral fragments (mainly olivine) entrained in a matrix of fine-grained euhedral olivine (with several modes of compositional zoning) and interstitial glassy material. Some coarse olivine fragments consist of an assemblage of fine-grained euhedral to subhedral olivine crystals, suggesting shock-induced fragmentation, recrystallization, and/or a process of sintering. The implication is that the fine-grained olivine crystals in the matrix of the melt vein represent complicated crystallization environments and histories.     

Analyses of age and population genetic structure of the broadbanded thornyhead Sebastolobus macrochir in North Japan suggest its broad dispersion and migration before settlement

Body size, age, and population genetic structure of the broadbanded thornyhead Sebastolobus macrochir inhabiting areas off the Pacific coast of Tohoku and off Abashiri, the Sea of Okhotsk, Japan, were analyzed. On the basis of significant differences in body size (growth) between certain year classes at Tohoku and Abashiri, it appears that S. macrochir does not migrate extensively after settlement and subsists on food within the settled environment. Meanwhile, no genetic isolation was observed between the populations at these two sites. Thus, it is highly likely that its pelagic egg balloons, larvae, and juveniles widely disperse and migrate before settlement.