Spectroscopic binaries near the North Galactic Pole paper 14: HD 118234

Photoelectric radial-velocity measurements show that the Seventh-magnitude star HD 118234 is a spectroscopic binary in a very eccentric 59-day orbit.     

Spectroscopic binaries near the north galactic pole

Photoelectric radial-velocity measurements confirm and refine the preliminary orbit derived for HR 4668 by Christie on the basis of eight Lick spectrograms taken more than 50 years ago.     

Alkaline magmatism from Kutch, NW India: implications for plume–lithosphere interaction

Geochemical data are presented for primitive alkaline rocks from the Kutch region, north–northwest of Deccan Volcanic Province (DVP) of west central India, which is generally regarded as related to the Reunion Plume. The trace element systematics of these rocks are similar to those of ocean-island basalts, but there is considerable compositional variation, which is related to a strong overprint from the lithosphere on plume-derived magmas. This subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) component has geochemical characteristics that overlap those observed in spinel lherzolite xenoliths entrained in these rocks. Phlogopite and apatite in the SCLM are of metasomatic origin attributed to the infiltrating fluids and/or melts derived from rising mantle plume material. The composition of the alkaline rocks is consistent with a regional upwelling of deep mantle related to marginal rifting and with OIB-type geochemical characteristics. Thermal inhomogeneities within such plume swath resulted in small diapirs, which may have undergone melt segregation at the base of the lithosphere (100 km) and incorporated varying amounts of SCLM during ascent.     

Imaging global chemical and thermal heterogeneity in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle with garnets and xenoliths: Geophysical implications

Suites of mantle-derived xenoliths in volcanic rocks provide estimates of the geothermal gradient and composition of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) at the time of the volcanic eruption. The development of single-grain thermometry and barometry, applied to xenocryst minerals in volcanic rocks, has greatly expanded the number of localities for which such data can be obtained and made it feasible to map the geology of the SCLM on a broader scale, both vertically and laterally. From garnet xenocrysts, it is possible to derive profiles showing mean values of olivine composition, bulk-rock composition, density and seismic velocities, as well as geotherm parameters and constraints on the thickness of the SCLM. Geochemical profiles, coupled with Re–Os dating of peridotites and their enclosed sulfide minerals, show that Archean or Proterozoic SCLM is preserved at shallow levels beneath many areas of younger tectonothermal age; this implies rapid vertical variations in Vs and Vp with depth, which may affect seismic interpretations. Data from several hundred localities worldwide define a secular evolution in the composition of the SCLM, related to the tectonothermal age of the overlying crust. Archean SCLM is typically strongly depleted in basaltic components, highly magnesian and thick (160–250 km), and has low geotherms; Phanerozoic SCLM is typically fertile (rich in basaltic components), Fe-rich, thin (50–100 km) and has a range of high geotherms; Proterozoic SCLM (much of which may be reworked Archean mantle) tends to be intermediate in all respects. The correlated variations in SCLM fertility, lithospheric thickness and geotherm reinforce the effects of each on seismic velocity, and produce more rapid lateral variations in seismic response than would result from thermal effects alone. These correlations are the key to using seismic tomography images to map the lateral extent of different types of SCLM.     

辽东半岛中生代岩浆活动与华北陆块去克拉通化

华北陆块是中国最大、最古老的克拉通(图la),像世界上其他古老克拉通一样,由上部古老地壳和下部厚的、冷的、耐熔的古老岩石圈地幔组成,自古元古代末东、西部陆块碰撞、拼合、克拉通化后直到奥陶纪,一直保持着相对稳定,缺乏强烈的岩浆、构造活动和显著的大陆地壳生长[1].然而,自古生代以来,随着岩石圈强烈减薄作用,在华北克拉通东部广泛发育强烈的构造、岩浆、成矿作用,形成大面积花岗岩(图1b)和火山岩[2].     

Resetting of the U-Pb Zircon System in Cambro-Ordovician Intrusives of the Deep Freeze Range, Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica

A detailed in situ isotopic (U–Pb, Lu–Hf) and geochemicalstudy of zircon populations in a composite sequence of foliatedto massive Cambro-Ordovician intrusions in the Deep Freeze Range(North Victoria Land, Antarctica), has highlighted great complexityin zircon systematics. Zircons in deformed granitoids and tonalitesdisplay complex internal textures, a wide spread of concordantU–Pb ages (between 522 and 435 Ma) and unusual trace-elementcompositions (anomalous enrichment of light rare earth elements,U, Th and Y) within single zircon grains. In contrast, zirconsfrom undeformed samples display a limited range of U–Pbages and trace-element compositions. Zircons from all age andtextural populations in most of the deformed and undeformedsamples show a relatively narrow range of _Hf values, suggestingthat the Lu–Hf system remained undisturbed. Inferred emplacementages cover a time interval of about 30 Myr: from 508 to 493Ma for the oldest strongly foliated synkinematic Howard Peaksmegacrystic monzogranites and high-K calc-alkaline mafic tointermediate rocks of the ‘Corner Tonalite’ unit;from about 489 to 481 Ma for the younger massive shoshoniticmafic dyke suite and the high-K calc-alkaline Keinath granite.The observed isotopic and chemical variations in zircon areattributed to a sub-solidus recrystallization under hydrousconditions and varying temperature, in a setting characterizedby a transpressional to extensional stress regime. KEY WORDS: Antarctica; Cambro-Ordovician intrusives; Ross Orogen; zircon U–Pb geochronology     

White Knights: will wind and solar come to the rescue of a looming capacity gap from nuclear phase-out or slow CCS start-up?

In the wake of the Fukushima nuclear accident, countries like Germany and Japan have planned a phase-out of nuclear generation. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology has yet to become a commercially viable technology with little prospect of doing so without strong climate policy to spur development. The possibility of using renewable power generation from wind and solar as a non-emitting alternative to replace a nuclear phase-out or failure to deploy CCS technology is investigated using scenarios from EMF27 and the POLES model. A strong carbon price appears necessary to have significant penetration of renewables regardless of alternative generation technologies available, but especially if nuclear or CCS are absent from the energy supply system. The feasibility of replacing nuclear generation appears possible at realistic costs (evaluated as total abatement costs and final user prices to households); however for ambitious climate policies, such as a 450 ppm target, CCS could represent a critical technology that renewables will not be able to fully replace without unbearable economic costs.     

SPIRE point source photometry: within the Herschel interactive processing environment (HIPE)

The different algorithms appropriate for point source photometry on data from the SPIRE instrument on-board the Herschel Space Observatory, within the Herschel Interactive Processing Environment (HIPE) are compared. Point source photometry of a large ensemble of standard calibration stars and dark sky observations is carried out using the 4 major methods within HIPE: SUSSEXtractor, DAOphot, the SPIRE Timeline Fitter and simple Aperture Photometry. Colour corrections and effective beam areas as a function of the assumed source spectral index are also included to produce a large number of photometric measurements per individual target, in each of the 3 SPIRE bands (250, 350, 500μm), to examine both the accuracy and repeatability of each of the 4 algorithms. It is concluded that for flux densities down to the level of 30mJy that the SPIRE Timeline Fitter is the method of choice. However, at least in the 250 and 350μm bands, all 4 methods provide photometric repeatability better than a few percent down to at approximately 100mJy. The DAOphot method appears in many cases to have a systematic offset of ～8 % in all SPIRE bands which may be indicative of a sub-optimal aperture correction. In general, aperture photometry is the least reliable method, i.e. largest scatter between observations, especially in the longest wavelength band. At the faintest fluxes, <30mJy, SUSSEXtractor or DAOphot provide a better alternative to the Timeline Fitter.     

Water contents of Roberts Victor xenolithic eclogites: primary and metasomatic controls

A suite of eclogites from the Roberts Victor kimberlite has been extensively characterized in terms of petrology and geochemical compositions (Gréau et al. in Geochim Cosmochim Acta 75(22):6927–6954, 2011; Huang et al. in Lithos 142–143:161–181, 2012a). In the present study, the water contents of eclogitic garnet and omphacite were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Garnet does not contain measureable OH in any sample. The water content of omphacite in the studied eclogites ranges from 211 to 1,496 ppm. Mantle metasomatism has modified the water content of some of the eclogites, while others retain water contents characteristic of their original environment. The OH contents of the metasomatized eclogites may be mainly controlled by the H₂O fugacity and mineral compositions. The OH contents of the non-metasomatized samples are interpreted to be more sensitive to their mantle equilibration temperature, pressure, and the local fugacities of H₂O and O₂. The calculated water content of the metasomatic medium is similar to that of carbonatitic–kimberlitic melts/fluids. Eclogites contain more water than peridotites recorded in the literature (341 ± 161 vs 122 ± 54 ppm) and represent an important water reservoir in the lithospheric mantle wherever they occur. This is an important parameter to be considered in the interpretation of mantle processes and geophysical data such as seismic wave speeds and electrical conductivity, and in geodynamic modeling.