High thallium content in Kuroko-type ore

Tl, Ga and Ge contents of Kuroko and other types of ore deposits were analysed semiquantitatively and quantitatively. The results show that Tl content is extremely high in Kuroko-type deposits compared to other types of mineralization. The T1 content is especially high in yellow ore and pyrite crystals; thus this element is considered to be incorporated in pyrite.     

全新世呼伦湖区植被和气候变化的孢粉记录

文章详细分析了内蒙古呼伦湖HL06岩芯沉积的孢粉组合,基于AMS 14C年代标尺,恢复了全新世湖区植被演变过程;并根据我国北方和蒙古表土孢粉数据和气象资料,建立了孢粉-气候参数转换函数,定量重建了呼伦湖区降水和气温的变化历史.结果表明,11000～8000aB.P.,湖区植被以蒿、藜占优,为干草原景观,气候暖干;8000～6400aB.P.,湖区禾本植物扩张,山地桦林发育,降水显著增加,气温逐渐降低;6400～4400aB.P.,湖区早生草本植物增加,降水减少,气温继续下降;4400～3350aB.P.,耐旱藜科植物大量生长,湖区荒漠化,气候极端干旱;3350～2050aB.P.,湖区草原植被有所恢复,降水略有增加,气温有所回升;2050～1000aB.P.,湖区蒿属植物减少,山地松林发育,气温降至全新世最低;最近1000年,藜科、禾本科等伴人植物大量出现,反映出人类活动对湖区自然环境的影响.全新世呼伦湖区气温变化在轨道尺度上受控于北半球太阳辐射量的变化,而在亚轨道尺度上可能与东亚夏季风强度有关.距今8000年前湖区降水较弱可能因为早全新世北半球高纬残存冰盖抑制了东亚季风雨带的北上,季风降水的千年-百年尺度波动与热带西太平洋海气相互作用密切相关.     

Damped vibration mode superposition method for dynamic response analysis

In the dynamic response analysis of extremely complex structural systems in which the damping characteristics of each element are independent, the damping matrix is not always diagonalized by the use of undamped free vibration mode shapes. In the present paper, a mode-superposition method by the use of damped free vibration mode shapes is developed for such structural systems. It is also shown that the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) procedures, that are available for the dynamic response analysis of linear structural systems, are used effectively in this mode-superposition method with good accuracy.     

Phototrophic activity and redox condition in Lake Hamana, Japan, indicated by sedimentary photosynthetic pigments and molybdenum over the last ∼250 years

We analyzed photosynthetic pigments, total organic carbon (TOC), biogenic silica, and Mo, a redox-sensitive element, in ²¹⁰Pb-dated sediment cores to reconstruct the historical changes in primary productivity and anoxia in the central basin of Lake Hamana, a brackish lake in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, over the last 250 years. The algal photosynthetic pigments we analyzed included chlorophyll a (and its derivatives), chlorophyll b (and its derivatives), and carotenoids such as -carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, diatoxanthin, fucoxanthin, alloxanthin, and -carotene. Marker pigments for phototrophic sulfur bacteria were also recorded, including okenone and bacteriopheophytin a, originating from Chromatium (a genus of purple sulfur bacteria), and isorenieratene and bacteriochlorophylls e ₁, e ₂ and e ₃ (and corresponding bacteriopheophytins) from brown Chlorobium (a brown-colored group of green sulfur bacteria). The occurrence of these pigments throughout the length of all cores indicates that the anoxia in Lake Hamana has existed over at least the last 250 years. The indicators related to primary productivity – TOC and pigments of aerobic and anaerobic phototrophs – and an indicator of anoxia, Mo, increased after 1860, indicating that productivity had increased in both the oxic and anoxic (sulfidic) zones. The depth profiles of the indicators in the sediment cores showed that among phototrophic sulfur bacteria, Chromatium preferentially increased relative to brown Chlorobium when the lake productivity was high, and hence high anoxia existed in the lake. This can be explained by a shallowing of the oxic/anoxic boundary zone due to changes in temporal and/or spatial extents of seasonal anoxia, which made the light intensity in the upper anoxic zone high enough for Chromatium to grow. The upper Chromatium layer may absorb the wavelengths of light that favor the growth of brown Chlorobium in the water column, resulting in a relative decrease in brown Chlorobium. During the 1950s, the trends among the indicators changed significantly. This change is attributed to the construction of training walls, built to direct tidal currents into the lake, on the Imagire-guchi Channel, the sole inlet of seawater to the lake, during 1954–1956, and the resultant increases of seawater intrusion and lake salinity. A decrease in okenone and bacteriopheophytin a, or in okenone/isorenieratene ratio, after 1960 accompanying a decrease in Mo, is attributed to a deepening of the anoxic zone, where the light intensity became too low for growth of Chromatium, more light-demanding than the brown Chlorobium. A decrease of zeaxanthin (cyanobacteria) after 1960 relative to lutein (green algae) and diatoxanthin (diatoms and dinoflagellates) indicated a change in algal assemblage, presumably due to the increased salinity. Principal component analysis with a data set of total algal carotenoids, okenone, isorenieratene, and Mo also suggested that a major change occurred around the 1950s.     

Search for Young Giant Planets with the Subaru 8-Meter Telescope: Instrument and Strategy

Earth, Moon, and Planets -     

Paleogene and Plio-Pleistocene basin formation around northwestern Kyushu, Japan

Cenozoic basin-forming processes in northwestern Kyushu were studied on the basis of geological and geophysical data. Gravity anomaly analysis delineated four sedimentary basins in the study area: Goto-nada, Nishisonogi, Amakusa-nada, and Shimabara. Borehole stratigraphy and reflection seismic interpretation suggest that the Goto-nada Basin was subdivided into the Paleogene and Plio-Pleistocene depocenters (Goto-nada 1 and 2). In the Paleogene, Amakusa-nada Basin was rapidly subsiding together with the Shimabara Basin as part of a large graben. Goto-nada 1 and Nishisonogi basins belonged to another depositional area. After stagnant subsidence stage in the early Miocene, the study area became a site of basaltic activity (since 10 Ma) and vigorous subsidence in the Plio-Pleistocene. Goto-nada 2 Basin is accompanied with numerous east–west active faults, and separated from the Amakusa-nada Basin by a northeast– southwest basement high, Nomo Ridge. Plio-Pleistocene subsidence of the Amakusa-nada Basin is related with low-angle normal faulting on the eastern flank of the Nomo Ridge. Shimabara Basin is a composite volcano-tectonic depression which is studded by east–west faults. Focal mechanism on active faults suggests transtensional stress regime in the study area.     

Quaternary tectonic rotation in central Japan: Paleomagnetism of the Eboshidake volcanic rocks

Abstract   Neotectonic crustal deformation in central Japan near a triple-junction of plates is investigated on the basis of paleomagnetic data. The progressive thermal demagnetization test isolated characteristic remanent magnetization from 18 sites of the early Quaternary Eboshidake volcanic rocks erupted around the termination of active strike-slip faults. The site-mean directions show considerably large scatter in declinations, and easterly deflection in average (D_m = −161.7°). On the basis of inclination statistics, measured inclinations (I_m = −48.9°, δI = 6.6°) are concordant with an expected value from latitude of the study area. Because the sampling was planned to cover a wide stratigraphic range and eliminate the effect of geomagnetic secular variation, an easterly deflection is attributed to clockwise rotation around vertical axis. Together with previous paleomagnetic data, the present study indicates that clockwise-rotated areas in central Japan are aligned on a northeast–southwest recent shear zone delineated through geodetic survey. Deflection and scatter of paleomagnetic declinations of the Eboshidake volcanic rocks are much greater than those extrapolated from a recent strain rate, and might be explained by complicated motion anticipated at fault terminations and/or enhanced crustal rotation under elevated temperatures around a Quaternary volcanic province.     

Holocene East Asian monsoon variation inferred from species assemblage and shell chemistry of the ostracodes from Hulun Lake, Inner Mongolia

A sediment core from Hulun Lake, Inner Mongolia was analyzed for species assemblages and shell chemistry of ostracodes to investigate changes in the hydrology and climate of the East Asian summer monsoon margin during the Holocene. Darwinula stevensoni was abundant, Ilyocypris spp. scarce, littoral ostracodes absent and Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca and δ¹⁸O were low 11,100 to 8300 yr ago, indicating high lake levels and cool/fresh waters. Darwinula stevensoni declined largely, Ilyocypris spp. throve, littoral ostracodes were rare and chemical indicators remained in low values 8300 to 6200 yr ago, suggesting that the lake continued high stands but water became warm. The lake then contracted and water became cool/brackish 6200 to 4300 yr ago. Littoral ostracodes flourished 4300 to 3350 yr ago, marking the lowest lake levels of the entire Holocene. The lake level recovered and water salinity decreased 3350 to 1900 yr ago. From 1900 to 500 yr ago, the lake maintained the preceding status albeit lowered stands and increased salinities 1100 to 800 yr ago. During the recent 500 yr, the lake expanded and water salinity decreased. The data imply that the East Asian summer monsoon did not intensify until 8300 yr ago and weakened dramatically 4300 to 3350 yr ago.     

MURS-300 MK II: A remote inspection system for underwater facilities of hydraulic power plants

While the civil engineering facilities of hydraulic power plants such as dam, water intake, waterway, etc., are usually submerged, there are few effective methods for their inspection. So we at Mitsui Ocean Development and Engineering Co., Ltd. (MODEC) have developed a new remote-controlled inspection system named "MURS-300 MK II" (MODEC Unmanned Remote-Controlled Submersible for 300-m water depth) in cooperation with Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. This MK II system, which consists of a submersible vehicle with a TV camera and a still camera, a handling system, a control van, and a composite cable with optical fibers, was designed, developed, and successfully evaluated at the end of 1984. This new system will find many applications to the inspection of nuclear and thermal power stations, offshore platforms, etc., as well as hydraulic power plants.